The third dinner at the Hattori residence was finally a bit quieter, with only Yuu Hoshimiya, Shizuka Hattori, Ran Mouri, and Ai Haibara present.
With so many people today, it was impossible for everyone to stay at the Hattori house.
Taking advantage of the free afternoon, the others booked hotels, rested briefly, and then went shopping for souvenirs in Osaka.
Sonoko had wanted to come with Ai for dinner, but after being scolded by Shizuka in the morning, she was a bit afraid of the strict matriarch. Plus, knowing she couldn't do anything intimate at the Hattori house anyway, she decided not to come.
Shizuka's cooking was as delicious as ever. Ran asked, "Auntie Shizuka, isn't Uncle Heizo coming back tonight?"
Shizuka replied, "The incident at the TV station caused a huge uproar. The higher-ups gave him only three days to find the culprit behind the bombing. He's under a lot of pressure, so he's staying at the police headquarters tonight."
Yuu finished his soup and looked at Shizuka.
"Madam, would you like to come with us to Kyoto tomorrow to watch the Karuta competition? The autumn leaves in Kyoto are at their most beautiful right now!"
Shizuka's beautiful eyes seemed tempted.
Ran turned to Yuu.
"Brother Yuu, are we going back to Tokyo after the competition tomorrow?"
"Barring any accidents, we'll head back with Sonoko and the others tomorrow."
Hearing that Yuu was leaving, Shizuka's heart was thrown into chaos again, her gaze toward Yuu growing more complex.
Hearing Yuu press the question again, she nodded.
"Yes. I have time tomorrow anyway. Besides, I haven't played competitive Karuta in a long time; I'd like to see how strong the current players are."
In truth, Shizuka just wanted to spend more time with Yuu.
Ran smiled. "Even if Auntie doesn't play anymore, you must still be very strong. You were once known as the Karuta Queen!"
Shizuka covered her mouth and laughed softly. "My reflexes can't keep up anymore."
After dinner, steam rose in the large bathhouse of the Hattori residence. Yuu sat with his eyes closed, his solid upper body exposed.
He was sorting through the information he had gathered. Since he had successfully blocked the news about the Karuta cards surviving, President Achiwa had likely relaxed his guard.
It seemed unlikely that any mistakes would occur this time.
Just then, the door to the bathhouse slid open. The sound of wooden clogs on the floor approached the wooden tub.
A faint smile appeared on Yuu's lips, but he didn't open his eyes.
After a long moment, he heard a splash as someone entered the water. Sensing the movement of the currents, Yuu knew exactly where she was.
He reached out and pulled the soft body into his arms. Sure enough, it was a familiar touch.
"Madam, why are you here? Missing me so soon?"
Yuu knew Shizuka was reluctant to see him leave, so he teased her knowingly.
As he spoke, his hands moved to Shizuka's breasts, gripping the soft yet elastic peaks, pinching and teasing the tantalizing red buds with two fingers.
Being kneaded like this, Shizuka's face flushed red. She closed her seductive eyes shyly and opened her inviting mouth to reply.
"Mmm... I missed you."
After speaking, her arms wrapped tighter around Yuu's neck.
Yuu looked at her inviting mouth and the uncontrollable blush spreading across her face.
Her cheeks looked like ripe peaches, making one want to take a bite.
Yuu couldn't help but lean in, extending his tongue to lick her crystal-like earlobe gently.
"Oh..."
Teased by Yuu, Shizuka let out an involuntary moan, her body trembling slightly. She turned her head to glare at him playfully, scolding, "Bad man."
"Madam, I'm about to show you what a bad man really is."
Yuu hugged Shizuka tightly, smelling her fresh, elegant scent, his mind wandering into wild fantasies.
One hand roamed over her waist, slowly moving down to cup her perky buttocks.
The other hand traced the curve of her waist and hip down to her thigh, gently stroking the long, snow-white leg, feeling the delicate, smooth skin.
Under Yuu's kneading and stroking, Shizuka's beautiful face turned shy.
Her breathing became rapid.
Currents of pleasure heated her body.
She twisted her body, thrusting her snowy peaks forward so her soft yet firm breasts pressed against Yuu's chest.
Her mature, full body twisted continuously, her plump buttocks swaying.
Yuu kissed her soft, cherry-red lips. Shizuka trembled, letting out an unconscious whimper.
The pleasure made her part her teeth involuntarily, extending her small tongue to entwine with Yuu's in a fierce battle.
Amidst the passionate kiss, Yuu pressed Shizuka against the wooden wall of the tub and lifted one of her legs.
Yuu gripped his dragon, aiming at her center. After rubbing fiercely a few times, he thrust upward hard!
Subsequently, the water in the large wooden tub began to churn violently. A familiar symphony began to play, lasting for a long, long time.
The next day, the Satsuki Cup began as scheduled at the Achiwa Hall in Kyoto, the venue for the preliminary rounds.
The hall was nestled in a forest of red maple leaves, with a small blue lake behind it fed by a mountain waterfall.
Beside the waterfall stood a high wooden platform. At the very top sat the Satsuki Hall, the venue for the finals.
The Satsuki Hall stood above the lake; it could only be reached by boat, followed by an elevator ride up fifty meters to the hall itself.
The Achiwa Hall and Satsuki Hall were built by the Real Estate King of Naniwa to commemorate his love for his wife.
Due to Heiji's deduction, Heizo suspected the culprit might target the Satsuki Cup, so police presence was heavy.
There was even a special identification system to filter out anyone suspicious; security was tight.
Behind the Achiwa Hall, Yuu had changed into a suit for the formal occasion.
Beside him stood Shizuka Hattori in a kimono.
The two stood by the lake, quietly admiring the mountains covered in red leaves, the lake, the waterfall—the entire picturesque scene.
As the wind blew, vibrant red leaves drifted down like fire, creating a scene straight out of a painting!
Yuu's large hand wrapped around Shizuka's soft waist without hesitation.
"Madam, what should I do? Even this beautiful scenery isn't as beautiful as you in my eyes!"
A faint smile played on Yuu's lips.
"I want to kiss you, Madam. May I?"
Shizuka's heart pounded. A casual remark from Yuu was enough to make her heart race like a deer. She lowered her head, a blush spreading across her face—a silent consent.
But Yuu wasn't going to let her off that easily.
"Madam, I changed my mind! Maybe I'd be happier if you kissed me as a parting gift."
Shizuka lifted her flushed face, her eyes filled with hesitation.
"Yuu-kun... you're going too far!"
Yuu laughed, his smile dazzling in the sunlight.
"Too far? I wonder which woman went too far last night, sneaking in while I was bathing? Where did that bold woman go?"
Shizuka's face turned even redder. She was the wife of the Osaka Police Superintendent. Unlike at home, this was an open-air venue. Being discovered would have unimaginable consequences.
Even though she belonged to Yuu body and soul, for the sake of the bigger picture, their relationship couldn't be exposed yet.
But seeing the tenderness in Yuu's eyes, Shizuka couldn't refuse.
She glanced behind her to ensure no one was there, then moved close to Yuu, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed him on the lips.
Yuu wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her tight against him. The two indulged in a greedy, deep kiss amidst the mountains and water, with only the falling red leaves as their company.
Yuu and Shizuka walked back from the lake to the Achiwa Hall. Ran and Kazuha, who had been looking for them, approached immediately.
"Brother Yuu, the match is about to start! Where did you go?"
Shizuka smiled gently. "I saw the view by the lake was nice, so I asked Mr. Hoshimiya to accompany me to admire the leaves. It was quite a nice experience. Ran, Kazuha, you should go see it when you have time."
Shizuka was an elder, after all. Even if the girls knew she had snuck off, they couldn't exactly scold her, so they accepted the explanation.
Kazuha said, "We'll have to wait until after the match. Mikiko and the others are starting soon. Auntie Shizuka, let's go inside!"
"Brother Yuu, let's go too. Professor Agasa and Ai are waiting for us!"
Yuu had already spotted a burly figure, so he shook his head. "You go in first. I have something to take care of. I might miss the match."
He had no interest in Karuta anyway. Since the target had appeared, he would use this time to complete his plan.
Solving the case early meant getting the full experience points sooner and finding a chance to strengthen his bond with Momiji Ooka.
If the timing was right, contracting her directly would be ideal.
Ran and the others looked at Yuu with confusion.
Yuu explained briefly.
Knowing it was related to the explosion, the three women nodded in understanding.
After their habitual warning to be careful, Ran and Kazuha escorted Shizuka into the Achiwa Hall.
Yuu walked toward the disguised burly man—Togo Kaieda, President Achiwa's former secretary.
He hadn't resigned but had moved into the shadows to handle the Achiwa Group's dirty work.
He held many of President Achiwa's secrets. He was the one who had planted the bombs at Nichiuri TV.
However, the incident had blown up too big, labeled as a terrorist attack by the Osaka police. Kaieda had become a liability to President Achiwa.
Barring any accidents, Kaieda was about to be silenced by the very bomb he planted.
Yuu's plan was simple: stop the second explosion and save Kaieda.
With him alive, President Achiwa would have no choice but to confess.
However, Kaieda was alert. Seeing Yuu walking toward him, he turned sideways and left.
Yuu was about to chase him when a girl blocked his path—Momiji Ooka.
Momiji was wearing a hakama, typically used for matches.
The top was a short-sleeved blue kimono, and the bottom was a dark red pleated skirt-pant, revealing her fair arms and calves. She looked very energetic.
"Yuu-kun! I've been looking for you forever! I thought you weren't coming!"
Momiji giggled, clearly delighted to see Yuu. She hugged his arm without hesitation, burying it between two soft mounds.
"Momiji, how is your leg?"
Momiji shook her right leg. "Completely fine! Yuu-kun, let's go for tea after I win the championship!"
Momiji was full of confidence. Aside from Yuu, she had never lost to anyone. She was determined to win.
She was already the candidate for the next Karuta Queen; she only needed to come of age to inherit the title.
"Tea? I'm afraid that's not possible. We plan to return to Tokyo after watching the match today."
"Ah? Is that so?" Momiji's expression fell instantly.
Yuu smiled and teased, "We're just going back to Tokyo, not saying goodbye forever. I can come back, and you can come to Tokyo to find me!"
Hearing this, Momiji realized he was right.
She beamed, her mood lifting instantly.
Right! It's not like we'll never meet again!
A round trip between Tokyo and Osaka might be troublesome for ordinary people, but for their class, it was as easy as going to the grocery store.
If the train took too long, she could just take a helicopter.
Remembering his promise to Mikiko, Yuu handed the traditional cards to Momiji and whispered a few instructions in her ear.
Although Momiji was puzzled, she agreed obediently.
The preparatory bell for the match rang, and Momiji turned to enter the hall.
Yuu walked out of the hall toward the dense forest to the northwest.
Although Kaieda had disappeared, tracking an ordinary person was too simple for Yuu.
He didn't even need magic; observing the traces was enough to determine Kaieda's whereabouts.
Kaieda sneaked into a storage shed in the northwest woods of the Achiwa Hall grounds. He checked his surroundings carefully to ensure no one was around.
He entered the shed and took a bomb out of his backpack, muttering, "Seriously, why plant a bomb here?"
Just as he was about to activate it, Yuu spoke.
"If you want to die, go ahead and activate it."
Kaieda turned pale with shock. Turning around and seeing Yuu, the still-trending famous detective, he didn't hesitate to try escaping through the window.
But before he could take two steps, his legs felt as if they had been hit by a heavy weight, and he knelt instantly.
The nearly two-meter-tall man knelt before Yuu, unable to get up.
Yuu walked up to him. "Mr. Kaieda, President Achiwa's former secretary. Why run when you see me?"
Kaieda tried to force his legs to move, but he couldn't stand up, as if his legs were bound.
This was naturally Yuu using invisible wind magic to restrain him.
Cold sweat dripped from Kaieda's fierce face. This was too weird. Hearing Yuu's question, he tried to play dumb.
"Mr. Hoshimiya, I wasn't running! I just remembered something important and wanted to leave first!"
Seeing Kaieda try to argue, Yuu lost his patience.
He had saved Kaieda for his own convenience, not because Kaieda was a good person.
The Karuta match was boring, but at least it featured young girls competing, one of whom was the busty Momiji Ooka—eye candy, at least.
Kaieda's performance offered nothing but annoyance.
Yuu didn't bother to engage or explain the truth to him.
Although he had saved Kaieda, he didn't care for the man's gratitude.
Blue mana surged within him, and a mental force more subtle than the wind spread out.
Under Yuu's increasingly powerful magic, Kaieda had no room to resist.
His shifty eyes became dull and vacant as he confessed every crime he had committed and every piece of evidence against President Achiwa.
While Yuu was collecting Kaieda's testimony, Conan and Heiji also found President Achiwa.
They were capable. Although they lacked some key clues and time to fully lock onto the culprit, they had confirmed certain things.
By finding Achiwa today, they were essentially marking him as a suspect, planning to look for flaws and evidence.
After recording the confession on his phone, Yuu notified the Osaka police.
Soon, Inspector Otaki arrived with two officers, looking excited to make the arrest.
To avoid trouble, Yuu used suggestion on Kaieda, making him believe he had been caught red-handed and had confessed voluntarily to seek leniency.
Given the gravity of the situation, although Otaki wanted to chat with Yuu to express his admiration, time didn't permit it.
After bowing to Yuu, he ordered his officers to take Kaieda, the bomb, and Yuu's video recording away.
Yuu turned and walked back toward the Achiwa Hall.
He entered the spectator seating area. Several large screens were broadcasting the match in real-time.
By the time Yuu entered, the match was nearing its end. The screen showed Momiji Ooka defeating Sekine to qualify for the finals.
Yuu sat back down next to Ran to watch the other semi-final. Mikiko fought hard and, though it was tough, managed to win her spot in the finals.
Kazuha clapped happily for her friend's victory.
The finals would be held at the Satsuki Hall. Yuu stood up again to head there and wait.