Inside the Funeral Hall, the candlelight flickered dimly, reflecting Kazuha's tear-stained face. The impact of Heiji Hattori's angry departure, intertwined with the immense grief of losing her father, left her heartbroken. She could only lean weakly in Kanjuro's seemingly solid and reliable embrace.
Kanjuro's hand patted her back rhythmically, like the most patient of comforters. He lowered his head, his warm breath brushing against her ear, his voice low and full of suggestion:
"Kazuha, perhaps it's time to let go of some people and some things." He didn't specify anything, but the direction of his words was self-evident.
Kazuha stiffened slightly in his arms and raised her tearful eyes, meeting his deep gaze directly. In the flickering candlelight, his eyes seemed like two whirlpools, threatening to suck in one's soul. She naturally understood what Kanjuro meant—letting go of her childhood feelings for Heiji Hattori.
"I... I know..." she choked out, her eyes struggling. "But... I always feel like... it would be unfair to Heiji..." Years of friendship couldn't be completely severed just like that, especially at a time when she was most vulnerable and needed support; Heiji's figure still brought a complex pang of heartache.
Kanjuro saw the struggle in her eyes, and the corner of his mouth twitched imperceptibly before being covered by a deeper "tenderness." He cupped her face, his thumb gently wiping away the tears on her cheek, his actions intimate beyond the boundaries of ordinary friends.
"Silly girl, how could it be unfair to him?" His voice carried a reassuring magic. "Because for me, I also like you very much, Kazuha."
These words were like a stone cast into a calm lake, creating massive ripples in Kazuha's heart. Her body trembled violently, her pupils contracted slightly, and she looked at Kanjuro in disbelief. Like... Brother Ye Xiao said... he likes her?
A mixture of shock, shyness, and a hint of secret joy instantly diluted some of her grief. She looked at the handsome face close at hand, that gentle gaze seemingly reserved for her alone, and her heart skipped several beats uncontrollably. Her body, which had been leaning on him, now felt as if all strength had been drained from it, and she pressed herself softly and more tightly against his chest.
Kanjuro felt her change and knew the seed had begun to sprout. He continued to water it with words, while not forgetting to deepen the contrast and belittle the "immature" boy:
"Look at just now. In a place like this, at a time when you needed peace and comfort most, Hattori only cared about his own emotions, questioning you loudly and forcing you, unable to empathize with your pain at all." His tone carried just the right amount of regret and accusation. "Is his so-called care just to make you feel more embarrassed in front of your father's altar?"
These words accurately struck Kazuha's point of grievance. Recalling Heiji's angry and uncomprehending gaze just now, as well as his aggressive interrogation, and contrasting it with Kanjuro's consistent gentleness and tolerance, the scales tipped instantly.
"Kanjuro, you're right..." Kazuha murmured, burying her face in his chest, her voice muffled but carrying agreement. "You're still the best... you understand me most..."
However, a hint of doubt still surfaced like a hidden reef. She hesitated for a moment, but finally couldn't help looking up, gazing longingly at Kanjuro's face—a face that could make any woman's heart flutter—and asked timidly:
"But... Brother Ye Xiao... there seem to be many women around you... I can tell, Sonoko, and Ran... they also have deep feelings for you..."
This question was sharp and realistic. There were indeed several women around Kanjuro, and their relationships were ambiguous.
Hearing this, Kanjuro didn't show any panic at being exposed. Instead, he revealed a somewhat helpless yet incredibly "sincere" smile. He gently stroked Kazuha's hair, his gaze as open as if it could reflect the candlelight.
"Matters of the heart cannot go against one's individual will, Kazuha." His voice was full of philosophical undertones, skillfully shifting the concept. "Just like the feelings you now have for me, they are natural, uncontrollable, and unchangeable, aren't they?"
He paused, his eyes burning as he stared into Kazuha's somewhat dazed eyes, throwing out the final and most lethal counter-question:
"Otherwise, why would you feel angry and disappointed by Heiji Hattori's questioning, yet not feel the slightest disgust or resistance toward me—the man who is also 'holding you tight'?"
This question was like a key, instantly unlocking all the locks of self-justification and hesitation in Kazuha's heart.
Yes... why?
Why did Heiji's proximity make her feel pressured and unhappy, while Kanjuro's embrace made her feel safe and dependent?
Why did Heiji's questioning make her feel aggrieved and angry, while Kanjuro's closeness made her heart race?
The answer seemed self-evident.
Because her feelings for Kanjuro were already different. It was no longer a simple sibling-like affection or friendship, but an unspeakable admiration mixed with romantic desire.
Kanjuro watched as her eyes gradually cleared, yet held a look of resignation-like intoxication. He knew she had been successfully guided by him to rationalize and justify that transgressive emotion.
He smiled slightly, pulling her tighter into his embrace, and whispered into her ear like a vow:
"Follow your heart, Kazuha. I will treat you well."
The candlelight flickered, reflecting the portrait of Ginshiro Toyama on the altar, as well as the embracing man and woman below.
The atmosphere of sorrow remained.
Kazuha closed her eyes, allowing herself to indulge in this "warmth" woven from lies and calculations, as if this could make her temporarily forget the pain of losing her father, and... the faint ache of betraying her childhood friend. Heiji Hattori rushed out of the Toyama Family, the cold night wind unable to disperse the burning pain and anger in his heart. He Ran aimlessly through the streets of Osaka until a tearing sensation in his lungs forced him to stop, leaning against a wall and gasping for breath.
"Bastard... Kanjuro...!" He slammed his fist hard against the wall beside him, his knuckles turning red and swollen instantly.
"Anger alone won't solve the problem, Hattori." A calm voice sounded from behind him.
Heiji Hattori turned around abruptly to see Conan Edogawa had followed him at some point. The small figure stood in the shadow of a streetlamp, his expression solemn beyond his years.
"Kudo..." Heiji Hattori panted heavily, his eyes pained. "How do you expect me to stay calm? Kazuha... she actually..."
"I understand." Conan interrupted him, stepping forward, his gaze sharp behind his glasses. "But because of that, we need to stay calm even more. This man, Kanjuro, acts meticulously and leaves almost no trace. From how easily he made the Suzuki Family disappear, to Officer Toyama's 'accidental' death now, and how the women around him are so devoted to him... all of this shows he is no ordinary person. Conventional means probably won't work against him."
"Then what should we do? Are we just supposed to watch as he drags Kazuha, Ran, and the others down with him?!" Heiji Hattori growled, his voice filled with a sense of helplessness.
Conan fell silent for a moment, his mind working rapidly to connect all the clues. Suddenly, a neglected detail flashed through his mind.
"Kiyomizu Temple..." Conan looked up, a light flashing in his eyes. "Hattori, do you remember about half a month ago when Ran, Sonoko, and Kazuha went to Kiyomizu Temple, and later reported that they were drugged by the head priest?"
Heiji Hattori paused and nodded. "I remember. Kazuha mentioned it to me, saying it was a misunderstanding and the priest had already turned himself in. I didn't pay much attention to it then..." Thinking back now, that incident was suspicious in every way.
"Why would a highly respected temple priest inexplicably drug a few schoolgirls? And then confess so easily?" Conan said deeply. "Moreover, the timing was just shortly after Kanjuro appeared. I suspect that something we don't know about must have happened at Kiyomizu Temple that night! That might be the first breakthrough to uncovering Kanjuro's true face!"
Heiji Hattori's eyes lit up as if he saw a glimmer of hope in the darkness. "Right! Why didn't I think of that! Let's go! We're going to the police station to pull the files!"
Leveraging Heiji Hattori's status as the son of the Osaka Police Superintendent, they easily entered the police archives and retrieved all the files regarding the Kiyomizu Temple priest's "Drugging Case." The contents of the files were basically consistent with Ran and the others' initial statements; the priest had confessed fully to his "crimes," and the case was closed.
"This is too smooth, unnaturally smooth." Conan frowned. "Come on, let's go see that priest."
In the detention center's meeting room, they met the old priest. He wore a prison uniform and looked haggard, but his eyes were exceptionally hollow, like a shell whose soul had been extracted.
Facing the questions from Heiji Hattori and Conan (who was listening in as a curious elementary student), the old priest's reaction made their hearts sink.
His description of the motive and process of the "drugging" was vague, repeating over and over: "It was me... evil thoughts arose in my heart... I ordered someone to administer the drug..."
When Heiji Hattori pressed for specific details, such as the source of the drugs or the person who actually carried it out, a clear look of confusion and pain appeared on the priest's face.
"I... I don't know..." The old priest rubbed his temples hard, his eyes struggling. "That night... I seem to... my memory is very blurry... like... like I was in a dream..."
He looked up, his hollow eyes carrying a trace of confusion that even he couldn't understand:
"In my mind... there seems to be a memory that doesn't belong to me... In my subconscious, I always feel like I was the one who had the food poisoned... but how it was done, why... I... I really can't remember..."
"In my subconscious, I feel like I was the one who did the poisoning"!
These words were like a thunderclap exploding in the ears of Conan and Heiji Hattori!
A "memory" forcibly implanted that even the person themselves couldn't distinguish as true or false! This had completely exceeded the scope of ordinary crime and psychological suggestion!
Walking out of the detention center, the night grew deeper. Both of them felt heavy-hearted, a chill rising up their spines.
"Kudo... how... how is this possible?" Heiji Hattori's voice was dry. "Modifying memories? This is simply..."
"Supernatural power?" Conan finished his sentence, his expression more severe than ever. "Although it's hard to believe, it's the most logical explanation at the moment. Kanjuro might possess some kind of ability or technology we can't understand. Something terrifying definitely happened at Kiyomizu Temple that night, and the priest became the scapegoat!"
He looked at Heiji Hattori and said word by word, "Officer Toyama's 'death from overwork' is also likely far from natural. From the beginning, Kanjuro's goal wasn't just Ran or Kazuha; he is systematically and premeditatedly destroying and controlling every target he sets his sights on and the people around them!"
Heiji Hattori clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms. Anger was still burning, but it was joined by a hair-raising fear and extreme worry for Kazuha's situation.
"We must find evidence! Evidence that he used these unconventional means!" Heiji Hattori gritted his teeth.
"Exactly." Conan nodded, his gaze sharp as a hawk's. "Start with Kiyomizu Temple and re-investigate every detail of that night! Also, we must find a way to get more detailed information from Officer Toyama's autopsy report! No matter how powerful Kanjuro is, as long as he has acted, he will definitely leave traces!"
Two detectives, one a famous high school detective from Kansai and the other a shrunken famous detective from Kanto, reached a consensus at this moment and formed an alliance against a common enemy. They were facing a powerful opponent with eerie abilities, a meticulous mind, and a cold-blooded nature.
Night shrouded Osaka, and an unequal contest unfolding along both light and dark lines officially began. Kanjuro's shadow, like this heavy night, was suffocatingly deep. Heiji Hattori returned home filled with exhaustion and anger. The Mansion was brightly lit, but it couldn't dispel the gloom in his heart. He kicked off his shoes roughly and headed straight for his room, wanting only to bury himself under the covers and isolate himself from this suffocating world.
"Heiji?" A gentle voice called out to him.
Heiji Hattori paused. He didn't need to turn around to know it was his mother, Shizuka Hattori. He took a deep breath, barely suppressing his surging emotions, and turned around, forcing a smile that looked worse than crying. "Mom, I'm back."
Shizuka Hattori, wearing an elegant kimono and carrying a tea tray, looked at her son with concern. "What's wrong? You look terrible. Weren't you at the Toyama Family for the vigil today? How is Kazuha... is she okay?" She didn't know about the conflict that occurred at the Funeral Hall.
Hearing Kazuha's name, Heiji Hattori was like a powder keg being lit. The anger and grievance he had been suppressing instantly exploded.
"Kazuha? She's doing great!" He practically shouted, his voice full of sarcasm and pain. "She Ran off with another man long ago! Why would she need my concern!"
Shizuka Hattori was startled by her son's violent reaction and furrowed her elegant brows. "Heiji! What nonsense are you talking! I watched Kazuha grow up; everyone knows how she feels about you! She's not that kind of fickle girl. She's very devoted and affectionate."
"Affectionate?" Heiji Hattori scoffed, though his eyes uncontrollably reddened. "So what if she's affectionate? Isn't it just because that Kanjuro is handsome, rich, and knows how to make people happy! She only has eyes for her 'Brother Ye Xiao' now. How could she still care about a childhood friend like me who's always investigating cases and doesn't understand romance!"
He shouted out the name he hated to the bone almost out of spite.
"Brother... Kanjuro?" Shizuka Hattori's hand holding the tea tray shook violently. The exquisite porcelain teacups collided, making a crisp sound. Her face turned pale in an instant as if she had heard an extremely terrifying word. Her eyes were filled with unbelievable shock and... a trace of intense, time-buried agitation.
"Heiji... you... who did you just say?" Her voice carried an imperceptible tremble as she stared intently at her son. "Ye... Xiao? The 'Ye' as in leaf, and 'Xiao' as in bleak?"
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