On a weekend morning, many students were engaged in various sports activities on the outdoor playground of Teitan High School in Beika Town.
Today was the day of the National High School Kendo Tournament, and Teitan High School's gymnasium was the venue for the competition. As a result, all the students from sports clubs who would normally come to school for sports activities on weekends could only exercise together on this outdoor playground.
The "High School Detective", Shinichi Kudo, was also among them.
The members of the soccer club, who were initially playing soccer with Shinichi Kudo, finally couldn't endure Shinichi Kudo's overwhelming skill and chose to quit the activity and go home.
After continuing to kick the ball by himself for a while, Shinichi Kudo felt a bit bored, so he prepared to leave while still kicking the soccer ball.
"Conan! Are you really going back?"
Seeing Shinichi Kudo's actions, Ran, who had just finished packing her backpack, walked over and asked.
"Didn't you say that because of this Kendo competition, a Detective like Conan is coming from Osaka? Don't you want to meet him?"
"Idiot! Sherlock Holmes would be a different story. He's just an ordinary Detective, isn't he? There's nothing to see."
Shinichi Kudo held the soccer ball in his hand and said with some indifference.
"What's wrong? Kudo, Ran, are you two leaving already?"
Suzuki Sonoko, a Female student wearing a headband, walked in from outside the school gate and saw the two, speaking to them. Takato, dressed in a blue trench coat, also entered with her.
"Sonoko! And Akechi, why are you two here?"
Seeing the two approaching, Ran stepped forward to greet them.
"I plan to watch this Kendo competition. I heard there are many handsome guys among the high school contestants from all over the country! Maybe I'll meet my Prince Charming!"
Suzuki Sonoko said with a bit of a lovesick expression.
"I came because a friend asked me to watch his competition. I happened to run into Suzuki at the entrance, so I just came along since it was on the way."
Takato looked at Suzuki Sonoko beside him with a hint of exasperation and explained on his own. As for the "friend" he mentioned, it was naturally Hattori Heiji, whom he had met in Osaka before. That day, while watching the "Psychic Murder Live Stream," Hattori Heiji had mentioned it in passing, and Takato didn't expect him to actually come today.
Meanwhile, on a street in Beika Town, a similar conversation was taking place between two high school students.
"Not interested."
Hattori Heiji, with a school bag slung over one shoulder and a bamboo sword bag in the other hand, said to Toyama Kazuha beside him.
"Saying that again!"
Toyama Kazuha, the Female student walking beside Hattori Heiji, retorted, "You clearly care about it!"
"No, I don't! I don't even want to know what that guy looks like!"
Hattori Heiji quickly walked away from Toyama Kazuha, talking to himself as he walked.
"By the way, where exactly is the bus to Teitan High School?"
"But recently, hasn't everyone been saying, 'Kudo of the East, Hattori of the West...'"
"Huh?"
Before Toyama Kazuha could finish her sentence, Hattori Heiji stopped as if he had been provoked, Ran back in front of Toyama Kazuha, and loudly exclaimed.
"If you're going to say it, it's Hattori of the West, Kudo of the East! Understand?! Hattori of the West, Kudo of the East! The order is wrong, the order!"
"See, you clearly care about it!"
Being loudly refuted by Hattori Heiji, Toyama Kazuha also retorted, unwilling to give in.
"No, I don't! Idiot!"
Hattori Heiji acted as if he didn't care at all and continued walking forward.
"By the way, why did you come with me?"
"I couldn't help it, your aunt asked me to keep an eye on you so you wouldn't do anything bad in Tokyo!"
Toyama Kazuha said with a seemingly reluctant tone, but was met with a glare from Hattori Heiji.
"Forget it. Who was it that got so excited when they heard we were going to Tokyo!"
"Ah, if we can't find the way, why don't we ask Akechi to pick us up... Oh, Heiji, do you have your good luck charm with you? Last time you forgot it..."
Just as she was speaking, Hattori Heiji suddenly saw a man on a bicycle across the street, wearing a white hoodie with the hood up and a mask, rushing towards an elderly woman carrying a bag who was walking ahead.
The moment the cyclist passed the elderly woman, the man reached out and snatched the bag from her hand, then sped away.
"Kazuha, hold this for me!"
Heiji watched this scene in surprise, not listening carefully to Kazuha's words. He threw his school bag and sword bag to Kazuha and Ran off in pursuit. Kazuha, calling out "Heiji's" name, reluctantly picked up the items Heiji had thrown and followed him.
Chasing the bicycle through several twists and turns, the man rode into a residential area. HeijiRan with all his might, shouting, "Stop! You damned robber!"
It was at this moment that Shinichi Kudo and Ran, who were on their way home, happened to pass by this street. They saw the bicycle ride past them and heard Heiji's words as he chased after it.
"At a time like this, as a good citizen..."
Shinichi Kudo didn't finish his sentence. Instead, he threw the soccer ball in his hand, kicking it towards the cyclist.
It was a direct hit. The man was struck by the soccer ball and fell off his bicycle, where he was promptly caught by Hattori Heiji, who was close behind.
"Excellent."
Shinichi Kudo was very satisfied with his accomplishment, but the kicked soccer ball clearly had an unexpected trajectory, flying towards a nearby house—a "crash" of breaking glass followed immediately.
"Oh no!"
Shinichi Kudo, realizing he had caused trouble, felt a hint of helplessness.
"Ah! So, what does a good citizen do at a time like this?"
Ran, witnessing this scene, said to Shinichi Kudo with a schadenfreude tone.
"Idiot! Of course, I know."
With that, Shinichi Kudo walked directly towards that house—and just then, another loud crash of breaking glass came from inside the house, followed by a woman's scream!
Meanwhile, back at Teitan High School's gymnasium, Takato and Suzuki Sonoko were sitting in the stands watching the match. However, Suzuki Sonoko appeared uninterested, her face drooping listlessly.
"What's this, there aren't any handsome guys."
Takato beside her was completely unfazed by Suzuki Sonoko's behavior, as she was just that kind of person—even though she was a rich young lady.
However, Takato found it strange that the match had been going on for so long, yet Hattori Heiji still hadn't arrived.
"Um, Sonoko, are you free right now? The art club needs some help, would you mind coming over to lend a hand?"
At this moment, a Female student with black-rimmed glasses and twin pigtails walked up to Suzuki Sonoko and quietly asked. Sonoko seemed to grasp at a lifeline and immediately agreed, choosing to leave the boring competition venue.
A long time passed. Takato didn't see Sonoko return, nor did Hattori Heiji appear. Instead, the Female student who had come to find Sonoko earlier Ran back in a panic, found a teacher who was maintaining order by the side of the field, and said something.
And because Takato was not far away, he clearly heard what the Female student said—"It's bad! Sonoko is missing!"