Shuichi Akai: Is It Alcohol!?

"Edogawa seems to have some urgent business and has already gone back."

Ai Haibara explained, "He just told me to let you know that you don't need to wait for him."

Just after Fujino finished his deduction, Conan left in a hurry. She felt that the other party must be hiding something from her—even without a definite answer, she could guess that it was something about the organization.

She was somewhat concerned about the organization, but since Conan was unwilling to talk about it, she didn't bother to ask. After all, there were many things about the organization that she hadn't told him either.

"I see..."

Fujino pondered for a moment, then understood what was going on.

Recalling what Conan and Takagi seemed to have said before, he figured it was highly likely that Takagi, who couldn't keep a secret, had revealed to Conan about the stolen files.

Conan's return might be because he's deduced something...

But it's not a big problem; he, being a cheater, knows best whether it's dangerous or not.

Although the FBI agents were not popular, they posed no real threat to him.

On the other side.

Conan had just run back to the detective agency when he ran into Akemi, who was taking out the trash. He immediately went up to her anxiously and asked, "Sister Akemi, have you seen Ran- neechan?"

"No..."

Akemi, carrying a black garbage bag, pondered for a moment, "I've been in Snow King Ice City the whole time. What happened to Ran?"

"Nothing!"

"This child is so strange..."

Akemi tilted her head, looking at Conan's hurried figure with some confusion.

Meanwhile, in a small alley not far behind them, a pair of eyes were scrutinizing the two of them.

Shuichi Akai deep drag on his cigarette, looked away, glanced at the time, and a thoughtful look appeared in his eyes.

Just as he was pondering this, a black sedan suddenly passed by on the street in front of him and stopped in front of the Fujino Detective Agency.

"Um?"

Upon hearing the sound, Shuichi Akai looked up and saw a man in a black suit with long, curly black hair getting out of the car.

Shuichi Akai: "..."

He stared at the figure for a moment and fell silent.

He felt a sense of familiarity with the other person, yet also a vague sense of strangeness...

It's wine!

Because of the habits of his former employer, Shuichi Akai couldn't help but pay more attention to that man.

"Miss Akemi."

Iori Muga got out of the car, glanced around, and asked Akemi, "Have Miss Momiji and Fujino returned yet?"

"Hmm, not yet. Mr. Iori, are you here to pick up Momiji and take her home?"

"That's right, tomorrow is Monday, and I have to pick up the young lady tonight."

"But speaking of which, it's so late, why haven't they returned yet?"

Akemi glanced at her watch and hesitated, "Could it be that we've run into another case...?"

"With Fujino here, there shouldn't be any major problems."

As soon as he finished speaking, Iori Muga suddenly felt a pair of eyes scrutinizing him. He looked up and his gaze quickly locked onto the alleyway beside him.

Shuichi Akai frowned.

As a seasoned spy, he naturally discovered that he had been discovered.

And he also noticed the chill in the other person's eyes.

Iori Muga's expression darkened slightly. He cautiously lowered his steps and slowly approached the side of the alley.

After he was ready, he looked inside and saw only a figure wearing a knitted hat, a black trench coat, and smoking a cigarette.

After weighing the options, Iori Muga did not take any action, but simply watched the departing figure.

"Iori?"

Just then, a voice came from behind. "What are you doing here?"

"It's nothing, Miss Momiji."

Iori Muga turned around and noticed Ooka Momiji and Fujino returning behind him. He explained calmly, "I just found a stray cat."

"Fujino- kun, Ai, why are you so late?"

Akemi didn't care about any of that. Instead, she looked at the group of people who had just returned and asked them a question with concern.

"I just encountered a case, so I came back a little late."

Fujino smiled, glanced at the alleyway beside him, and explained what had happened.

"As expected, another case has been encountered..."

Akemi sighed, already used to the incidents that happened to the children and Kato whenever he went out.

Then, she chuckled and suggested, "In that case, let's all stay here for dinner tonight. Minaho and Honami just made curry."

"But it's already very late."

"If I don't go home, my mother will start nagging."

"I'll call them and tell them you can stay here for dinner tonight, and Fujino- kun will take you back later."

"Yay!"

After dinner, in the underground parking garage.

"See you next time! Remember to come visit me in Kyoto sometime!"

Ooka Momiji sat in the car, rolled down the window, and chuckled softly at Fujino.

"Yes, I have time."

Fujino nodded slightly, recalling his previous experience of being tricked by the Kyoto police in Kyoto.

"Fujino, please wait a moment."

Fujino was about to turn around and take the little ones home when Iori Muga.

"Mr. Iori, is there something you need?"

"On my way here, I spotted a suspicious person in the alley."

Iori Muga glanced around, then leaned close to Fujino and whispered, "That guy was smoking a cigarette, wearing a black coat and a knitted hat. He seems a bit unusual."

"You discovered it?"

Fujino glanced at Iori Muga in surprise, but then thought about it again and felt that it made some sense.

After all, he is one of the top public security officers in Japan.

Although he had retired to become the butler of the Ooka family, his basic training and skills from his earlier years were still there, so discovering an FBI agent secretly monitoring him was relatively easy.

"Yes, although it was just a vague view, that guy was definitely monitoring this area."

Iori Muga said in a deep voice, "Fujino, it seems you've noticed that person too, so..."

"Although I don't know what that guy's purpose is, Mr. Iori, you don't need to worry too much."

Fujino said calmly, "I noticed that guy a long time ago. Don't worry, he's no threat."

Iori Muga nodded, then hesitated and asked, "May I report this truthfully to Miss Momiji?"

"Let's not tell her yet."

Fujino glanced at the other person, thought for a moment, and said, "I know what I'm doing, so let's not bother her."

"I see."

Iori Muga nodded without saying anything more.

Although being a butler, the most important thing is to treat the young lady he serves honestly.

However, in his view, Fujino, who had gained his approval, was no different from the young lady herself.

Although they haven't officially married yet, he feels that if things continue this way, they shouldn't be too far off.