What Kind of Nonsense Is Hiding in a Pile of Trash?

"That's what I mean, let's talk about tomorrow's problems tomorrow."

Ran smiled slightly and agreed, "After all, no one can know what will happen tomorrow, so how could we possibly run into a case by chance?"

"Hmm..."

Sonoko hesitated for a moment, then nodded helplessly. "Maybe I'm just overthinking it."

She could already foresee encountering a case while shopping tomorrow.

Or perhaps Fujino simply stood them up because of the case before they even went shopping the next day.

But on second thought, it's possible that she's overthinking it.

Just like Ran said, there can't possibly be that many cases!

The next day, in front of the Mori Detective Agency.

Since it was the weekend, Sonoko arrived early and Ran out. Ran wanted to go shopping, so Conan naturally followed.

"Well?"

Ran, wearing a wool coat, a black mini-skirt, and sheer black stockings over her long legs, looked at Fujino with some surprise and said, "Fujino- Senior, are you saying that Inspector Megure invited you to investigate a case, and we can't go shopping today?"

"Yes."

Fujino nodded.

Just that morning, as he had expected Juzo Megure made a phone call.

I told him it was the weekend and invited him to join me in investigating a case we'd encountered fishing the day before yesterday.

After a quick consideration, he agreed.

After all, shopping with girls is just too boring.

However, although it is said that he stood her up, strictly speaking, he didn't really.

After all, he remembered that even when he went fishing with Juzo Megure and the others, he would run into Ran and Sonoko along the way.

"Just as I thought..."

Sonoko wore a light green coat over a blue turtleneck sweater, a dark blue skirt, and white stockings. She sighed softly, her tone somewhat resentful. "As expected, they're going to stand us up because of the case."

"Ha ha..."

Ran gave a slightly embarrassed chuckle.

Just as Sonoko said, this really happened...

However, she didn't think too much about it, simply believing it to be a coincidence, and explained, "There's nothing we can do about it. After Senior, he's Criminal Consultant now, Inspector Megure always have to help out when they encounter cases..."

"A case...?"

At that moment, Conan, who was following behind Ran, heard about the case and asked curiously, "What case are you investigating, Brother Fujino?"

"It was an attack."

Fujino glanced at Conan and replied briefly, "There's a criminal who keeps targeting young girls. Several people have fallen victim in the last few days, so they asked me to help them investigate the case."

"Such a thing is true?"

Sonoko twitched her chin upon hearing this. "But to target such a fashionable girl, what kind of person is that killer...? Could I be attacked too?"

"The suspect who attacked the girl..."

Conan pondered for a moment upon hearing this.

He wasn't particularly interested in cases other than murder.

But compared to shopping with two women, he felt the attack was better.

Then, in a childlike manner, she suddenly said, "Hey, Ran- neechan, how about we go and solve a case with Brother Fujino together!"

"No, you can't!"

Ran crossed her arms and sternly refused. "If you go with me, you'll definitely disturb Fujino- Senior's work again."

"How could that be...?"

Conan slightly pursed his lips, looking a little disappointed.

Then, as if he had just remembered something, he suddenly asked, "But if Brother Fujino can't go, who will drive? If we take the bus, won't it be inconvenient to buy a lot of things?"

"Then I'll have someone drive us there..."

Sonoko thought for a moment, "I should have known better than to let the driver go back."

"Actually, it doesn't have to be that complicated."

Fujino pulled his car keys out of his pocket. "If Mouri-niisan has time, he can just drive my car there."

Mori Kogoro drove Ran and her group to the department store where they were going to buy clothes.

Fujino, on the other hand, rode his motorcycle to the place he had arranged to meet with Juzo Megure.

Early in the morning, Sato Miwako dressed up as she had when she went fishing the day before.

"I wonder if we can catch that guy today..."

Sato Miwako sighed softly, tugging at her short skirt that framed her fair thighs. "That guy hasn't attacked me yet, could there be something wrong with my outfit?"

"I think Officer Sato's disguise is already very convincing."

Takagi Wataru glanced at Sato, his face slightly flushed. "Perhaps, that thug doesn't plan to commit any violence recently?"

Sato Miwako didn't quite agree with Takagi's opinion, and turned to ask, "Fujino, what do you think?"

"Could it be because of skin color?"

Fujino thought for a moment and hesitated, then said, "After all, the girls who were attacked all had dark skin. Officer Sato, you're as fair as can be. Maybe you're not his type?"

"I know!"

Sato Miwako hesitated, "But while I don't mind getting a tan, I just can't bring myself to do it..."

"That kind of outfit must be quite popular among girls now, so it's unlikely that criminals would only target that group, right?"

Takagi didn't really want Sato Miwako to turn dark-skinned, so he tried to comfort her.

"Actually, there's no need to get a tan."

Fujino thought for a moment, "If you just use a dark foundation to cover it up, the effect will be about the same, but you have to prepare that much foundation in advance."

"Foundation... that's true."

Sato Miwako nodded. "Then I'll try to ask the logistics department for some tomorrow."

"Are you ready, Sato?"

At that moment, the van door was opened, and Juzo Megure leaned in, saying, "The personnel here are all in position."

"Alright!"

Sato Miwako stepped out of the van, she put on her headphones and murmured, "Let's see if we can catch that guy today. If we can't, we'll have to try blacking him out. I'll have to trouble you then, Fujino."

"No problem."

Fujino nodded and followed him out.

The group separated from the other police officers in front of a department store.

Sato Miwako entered the phone booth.

Two police officers in suits who were also involved in the operation parked their car next to the phone booth.

Takagi hid in the alley next door.

The disguise was hidden inside the garbage dump.

Juzo Megure squatted down, found a few bags, and covered himself at the entrance of the alley.

Fujino: "..."

He glanced silently at the alley where Takagi was hiding.

He glanced again at Juzo Megure hiding in the garbage heap.

He figured he could just hide in an alley and that would be the end of it...

What's with hiding in the garbage dump?

"Inspector Megure, what are you doing...?"

Fujino glanced at Juzo Megure speechlessly, then frowned. "Isn't there a small alleyway nearby?"

"The view is not wide inside the alley."

Juzo Megure peeked out from the pile of garbage with his small eyes and said in a serious tone, "Look, isn't this a great view? You can also jump out at any time... Do you want to hide here too? I'll make room for you."