Although Yukiko had strongly objected, Makoto insisted that the Bureau make the incident public.
He claimed Tokyo had a perverted Devil, and public safety awareness needed to be raised.
But the Kudo Family suspected Makoto was deliberately trying to humiliate Shinichi.
They just couldn't find a reason to stop him.
Besides, within the Bureau, Makoto's importance far exceeded that of Yusaku and his family. The authorities naturally leaned toward adopting his suggestions.
Thus, the news that Shinichi, a twenty-five-year-old unemployed man who had lost both legs, had been assaulted by a mysterious Devil appeared on Tokyo TV's news channel.
Perhaps because 'assaulted by a Devil' was such a rare occurrence, even television stations in many other countries reported on it.
The Mouri Family, far away in France, was stunned when they saw the news.
"That guy has really bad luck, huh?" Kogoro couldn't help but remark.
"Sigh..." Ran let out a long, sympathetic sigh.
"Ran, don't even think about it."
Eri shot her daughter a cold glance and said in a tone that brooked no argument, "You are to have nothing to do with him in this lifetime, even after we return to the real world."
Rebuffed harshly by her mother, Ran, whose face was growing increasingly similar to her mother's, lowered her head and dared not say another word.
Kogoro opened his mouth to say something but was silenced by a sharp look from Eri. "Eat your food and then leave."
Even in this other world, they remained separated.
Kogoro didn't dare argue, as his living expenses came entirely from Eri.
The main problem was his skills were useless in this world. He couldn't even make a living.
Yusaku, whose reasoning abilities far surpassed his, could only manage basic position at the Bureau. Kogoro had even less to offer.
But Kogoro was too proud to take odd jobs, so he relied on his estranged wife to get by.
Besides exposing Shinichi's scandal to the public, Makoto also issued an order on behalf of the Bureau: all citizens were prohibited from going out after dark to avoid encountering the Devil.
And so, time passed quietly. One month went by in a flash.
But the Devil never appeared again.
Inside Makima's office.
Makima rested her elbows on the desk, her fingers interlaced under her chin, looking at Makoto across from her. "What's wrong? Makoto-kun, are you out of ideas?"
Yu still stood between them.
"I have ideas," Makoto leaned back in his chair. "I just don't want to use them."
To anyone else, this would sound like an excuse.
But it was true.
If he would just transform into a Devil and sniff the samples taken from Shinichi, he could immediately locate the target.
But Makoto would rather die than do that.
"That's fine."
Makima nodded slightly. "Someone has already volunteered to take over this case."
Makoto raised an eyebrow at this.
Just then, the office door opened, and a figure in a wheelchair slowly rolled in. It was Shinichi, whom he hadn't seen in a month.
Under Makoto's somewhat surprised gaze, Makima introduced, "Kudo-kun will be joining the Bureau today as a trainee reasoning consultant. He's also very willing to take over your case, Makoto-kun."
"Wow—"
Makoto put on an exaggerated expression and looked at the gloomy-faced Shinichi. "So, how does this trainee consultant plan to investigate?"
It was the nineties.
There were no witnesses, and Japan didn't have surveillance cameras everywhere like the countries in another world.
Besides, the perpetrator was a Devil.
Without special abilities, this case would likely go cold.
Shinichi gritted his teeth and said, "I'll be the bait."
Shinichi had once heard his father, Yusaku, mention a case from when Megure Juzo was young, where someone deliberately ran over high school girls with a car.
At that time, a young woman had disguised herself as a high school student to lure the criminal out. That woman later became Megure Juzo's wife.
Remembering this, Shinichi thought the same method could work for his own case.
Under Makoto's order, all citizens of Tokyo were forbidden from going out after dark. That Devil must be feeling pretty pent up.
If he offered himself as bait, he might be able to lure it out.
After hearing Shinichi's plan, Makoto said, "That's assuming you can catch it."
Makima interjected at this point, her tone gentle. "I've arranged for one of our division's Devil Hunters to assist Kudo-kun. If you'd like to go too, Makoto-kun, that's fine as well."
"No, thanks."
He had lost interest in this case.
Changing the subject, Makoto suddenly seemed to remember something and looked at Makima with a smile. "Speaking of which, we've been dating for a month now, but we haven't had a chance to go on a date. Are you free tomorrow?"
Over the past month, he had been busy exchanging 'nighttime testimony' with Yukiko and had forgotten he had a new girlfriend he was supposedly dating.
Shinichi looked at Makoto in shock upon hearing this.
'Wow! He already had so many women hiding abroad, and now he's found a new one?'
Shinichi was aware that Ran, whom he admired, hadn't yet fallen into Makoto's clutches, but this guy kept acquiring new women, and all of them were exceptionally outstanding.
As a normal heterosexual male, Shinichi naturally felt aggrieved.
Who wanted to see their enemy living so well?
"Hmm~"
Makima extended her index finger, tapped it lightly against her lower lip, and furrowed her brows in thought for a moment. Then she said, "Alright. I haven't used my vacation days this month."
"Great."
Makoto nodded, then suddenly changed his tone. "But if you want to go home after the date tomorrow, you can go now."
"Hmm?"
Makima clearly didn't understand the implication of Makoto's words.
The world she lived in was in the nineties, and she had learned much about human knowledge, but she couldn't grasp this reference from a man from another world, thirty years in the future.
"He wants to do that kind of thing with you," Shinichi couldn't help but mutter quietly.
Makima frowned and thought for a long moment before finally understanding. "Oh~ mating? Let's give it a try. I've never done that kind of thing before."
Shinichi was flabbergasted.
'No, wait! Sister, why did you agree so readily?'
In Shinichi's imagination, this formidable woman, whom even his own father treated with caution, should have slapped Makoto and immediately announced a breakup!
Makoto gave Makima an 'OK' sign, then stood up to leave.
As he reached the door, he seemed to remember something and turned back to ask, "Do you like cheese flavor?"
"Hmm?" Makima again looked confused.
"Forget it. I'll just buy what I like."
With that, Makoto turned, waved at Makima, and strode out of the office.
Makima tilted her head, standing there, still pondering, completely unable to figure out what 'cheese flavor' meant.
Thud!
With a dull thud, Yu suddenly kicked out, slamming his foot into Shinichi's shoulder and knocking him from his wheelchair, sending him sprawling onto his back.
Makima watched the scene calmly.
"Next time you run your mouth, it won't be this simple." Yu spat out a threat and turned to leave. But as he stepped out of the office, the more he thought about it, the angrier he got.
'No. I can't let him off so easily.'
With that thought, Yu turned back and said respectfully to Makima, "Makima-san, I think two Devil Hunters might not be enough. I'd also like to join in and assist Kudo-kun."
"Hmm?" Makima nodded slightly. "Since Ishigami-kun has the time, I'll submit the application."
Shinichi, who had just picked himself up, looked incredulous.
He felt like this guy was a weasel bringing New Year's greetings to a chicken… filled with ill intentions.