"I didn't expect you to be so observant. You actually guessed that thing might be the key to a hidden compartment."
Akemi smiled helplessly at Ritsu's praise.
"I wasn't being observant," she said with a bitter smile.
"I just thought it was strange that he'd have a figurine made to look exactly like himself, so I moved it a little. Who knew I'd accidentally trigger the mechanism?"
"Good luck is a kind of strength too."
Ritsu had always felt that luck had never really been on his side.
His memories from before the age of four had vanished without explanation. He'd suffered through school bullying during his childhood.
And now, he had become what he was today. He certainly hadn't lived a fortunate life.
Still...
The fact that he was alive at this very moment was, in its own way, a stroke of luck.
Crouching down, Ritsu removed everything from the hidden compartment.
Besides a thick stack of property deeds, there was plenty of information relating to the Organization.
What surprised him most, however, was a diary.
"I didn't expect Pisco to keep a diary. Not many people still write them these days."
He quickly skimmed through the pages.
The entries ranged from everyday trivialities to Organization missions. There were even passages complaining about Gin, accusing him of having no respect for his elders.
But when he reached the final pages, the contents left him stunned.
So... this was why Pisco had adopted Irish as his foster son.
The last portion of the diary detailed, without the slightest hint of remorse, how he had brutally murdered Irish's entire family.
Then, after eventually locating the young Irish, who had gone missing and ended up in an orphanage, Pisco had taken him in and raised him as his own son.
Not out of affection. He believed the boy could generate even greater profits for him within the Organization and eventually care for him in his old age.
Remembering the brief time he'd spent with Irish, especially the respect the man had shown toward Pisco, Ritsu couldn't help but sigh.
If Irish ever discovered that the foster father he admired was actually the one who had destroyed his family's happiness, what would he do?
There was no way to know.
But it was certainly something that could be used.
"What are you reading someone else's diary for so intently?" Akemi asked.
"Because it contains some very interesting things."
Supporting himself against the wall, Ritsu slowly stood up before smiling.
"Let's go, we've found the most important items. It's time to leave."
"According to the Organization's usual procedure, shouldn't you burn the place down?" Akemi remarked.
"I already started the fire upstairs in the bedroom. If we don't leave soon, the ceiling might collapse."
The two quickly erased every trace they might have left behind.
Only after confirming that the streets outside were empty did they quietly return to the parking lot.
Hearing movement outside the car, the drowsy Haibara forced herself awake. Looking at Ritsu, who had once again collapsed face-down across the back seat, she asked,
"So? Find anything useful?"
Ritsu was clearly in an excellent mood. Smiling into the seat cushion, he replied,
"I found some very valuable information. We can finally move forward with the plan we've been preparing."
"Really? Congratulations, then. You should finally be able to get a good night's sleep."
Haibara yawned lazily.
After everything that had happened today, she was exhausted. She had also stayed up late the previous night researching a temporary antidote for APTX4869.
Looking up at her, Ritsu suddenly asked,
"Have you ever researched any really effective sleeping pills?"
Haibara wiped away the tears caused by her yawn.
"Do I look like someone who needs sleeping pills?"
Seeing that he didn't answer, she frowned.
"Have you been having trouble sleeping lately?"
Ritsu wanted to tell her that it wasn't just lately. For the past two years, he had barely slept at all. But he didn't want anyone worrying about his health.
Besides, there was no way to explain it. After all, the very thing keeping him alive was also the culprit behind his insomnia.
The original version of APTX4869.
"It's normal for police officers to have too much on their minds. I just get insomnia once in a while."
"Then take some melatonin. It's harmless if you only use it occasionally."
"...Okay."
Twenty minutes later, they returned to the apartment building's underground parking garage in Minato City.
By the time the three of them reached the penthouse floor by elevator, it was already approaching one in the morning.
However, as soon as the elevator doors opened, they found a small figure squatting outside the apartment.
All three of them were puzzled. Why was Conan here?
Haibara walked over and lightly patted Conan's round head. When he sleepily looked up at her, she frowned.
"Hey, Edogawa. What are you doing here?"
Conan had waited outside for so long that he'd eventually fallen asleep. Being awakened by Haibara, he was still groggy.
The moment he recognized her, he hurriedly asked,
"Where's Onizawa-sensei? Is he okay?"
Although Ritsu had done his best to avoid leaving blood behind, the moment he landed on his back after the jump, it had been unavoidable.
Worried about him, Conan had told Agasa he wanted to stay over that night. In reality, he had secretly come here to wait for his teacher.
Seeing how concerned Conan was for his safety, Ritsu felt a warmth spread through his heart. He reached out and gently rubbed Conan's head.
"Looks like I didn't spoil you for nothing, kid."
"Sensei! ...Huh? Why are you here too, Haibara?"
"Oh, please. I'm the one who woke you up."
Haibara rolled her eyes. Apparently, the great detective still hadn't fully woken up.
Akemi unlocked the apartment door and smiled.
"All right, let's stop chatting in the hallway. It's already very late. Conan-kun, why don't you stay over at our place tonight?"
Instead, Conan suddenly became awkward. He remembered what Sensei had once told him.
—"Don't interrupt an adult couple's private time."
Scratching his head, he asked sheepishly,
"Wouldn't I just be bothering you two? That doesn't seem appropriate..."
Now that she knew their marriage was fake, Haibara immediately punched Conan lightly in the chest. With half-lidded eyes, she said,
"What exactly are you imagining? My sister and he are only pretending to be married."
"Huh?!"
Conan blinked in disbelief.
'So the marriage was fake too? How many fake identities does Sensei have?'
Ritsu noticed the resentful little look Conan was giving him. He smiled helplessly.
"What is it? Is there something on my face that's making you stare at me like that?"
"Onizawa-sensei... How many more things are you hiding from me? Don't tell me... even you are fake."
Conan sounded thoroughly dissatisfied.
He even found himself wishing he were taller so he could pinch Sensei's face and check whether it was fake too.
Ritsu felt there was no longer any reason to keep hiding his identity from Conan. Slowly crouching down until they were at eye level, he extended his hand. In a gentle voice, he said,
"Let's properly introduce ourselves. My name is Sasajima Ritsu. I'm an undercover operative infiltrating the Organization..."
He paused briefly.
Remembering that he had already been removed from the National Police Agency's roster, he corrected himself.
"...An undercover operative infiltrating the Organization. Nice to meet you."
Conan finally noticed that Onizawa's eyes had become a deep azure blue.
'So this was Sensei's real eye color.'
"Sensei, you won't lie to me anymore, ... right?"
Ritsu pressed his lips together before smiling.
"Yeah, I won't lie to you anymore."
Conan suddenly looked toward Haibara. "So you already knew Sensei's real identity too?"
Haibara nodded, looking slightly smug. "I found out before you did."
"But..." Conan scratched his head.
"Didn't his name sound familiar to you?"
"Huh?"
Not only was Haibara surprised, even Ritsu himself was taken aback.
Logically speaking, very few people should know his real name. Where had Shinichi heard it before?
"Ah! I remember now!"
Pointing excitedly at Haibara, Conan exclaimed,
"Do you remember the cassette tapes your parents left you? There was one section that wasn't meant for you!"
Haibara finally remembered.
Back when she'd received her parents' recordings, she'd listened to them in order. At one point, she came across a message that clearly wasn't addressed to her.
Since it was intended for someone else, she had stopped listening.
Could it be... that recording had been left by Ritsu's parents for him? If so, didn't that mean his parents had known hers? That they had both been researchers working for the Organization?
The realization struck Ritsu as well.
This was very likely connected to the truth about his own past. Anxiously, he asked,
"Shiho! Where are those tapes?!"
"They're at Professor's house. We—"
Akemi slipped the shoes she'd just taken off back onto her feet and smiled.
"You all stay here. I'll go get them."
"I'll come too—"
"The injured patient is staying home. Be good."
"...Okay."
----
AN's: The story will begin revealing the identities of Ritsu's parents. They were researchers who died alongside the Miyano couple.