Ai Haibara: Do You Think I'd Believe That?

"It's normal that you don't notice, since criminal police officers always have to wear white gloves."

Fujino glanced at Takagi, who was constantly being teased, and couldn't help but chuckle dryly before saying, "White gloves are something that, if you wear them for a long time, you'll naturally forget that you're wearing white gloves."

"But it's mainly because Fujino has exceptional observational skills..."

Juzo Megure patted Fujino on the shoulder and said with emotion, "You've done a great job this time, little brother."

"Not at all, it's all thanks to my own hard work."

Fujino gave an embarrassed smile; he wasn't actually lying.

In fact, he had already made this conjecture while observing Hachimaki Ichiro; those clues weren't made up on the spot.

After all, his perception has unknowingly reached a terrifying level with various enhancements.

Although it doesn't usually show up, he has long since developed a keen eye that can notice things that ordinary people can't see.

With the added benefit of Hawkeye, even without Hawkeye marking the bombs, these bombs can be detected directly.

The labeling of the bombs simply allowed him to quickly identify the type of bomb, saving him the step of determining the bomb's type.

"Inspector Megure is right..."

Sato Miwako was standing next to her, echoed, then sighed and looked down, "If it weren't for Fujino- kun finding that guy Hachimaki Ichiro, there would probably have been many more innocent police officers who sacrificed their lives."

"Oh?"

Fujino chuckled softly, "So, Officer Sato, are you still worried?"

"Worry?"

Upon hearing this, Sato Miwako was slightly taken aback.

Fujino looked puzzled. "Speaking of which, who said during the day that I shouldn't continue investigating this case?"

"..."

Sato Miwako paused for a moment.

Only then did I realize that I was being teased again.

She suddenly regretted playing a trick on the detective in the first place...

Yeah, I'll definitely get my revenge next time.

Hachimaki Ichiro was arrested, and the case was successfully solved.

Fujino felt that Japan would sentence someone with this kind of mental illness to death without him even having to lift a finger.

Although the death penalty is not frequently seen in ordinary criminal cases, it would be unreasonable for the police not to sentence a terrorist who killed five people and carried out a bomb attack.

As for whether this guy will ultimately not be sentenced to death... we'll have to wait until after the trial to find out.

If he really isn't sentenced to death, Fujino thinks Beika Batman could take his place.

But let the police handle this mess before the verdict is announced.

By the time Fujino drove home, it was already midnight.

Ai, Akemi, and the Shimo-Kasa Sisters have already gone to sleep.

He quietly went back to the fourth floor, changed into his pajamas, and lay down on the bed.

[System Task detected as completed]

[Mission Rewards: 5 Detective Token, 10 Million Yen, 1000 Detective Reputation Points]

Current balance: 40 million yen

[Current Detective Reputation: High (3000-5000 Reputation)]

[Detective Coins Remaining: 10]

He had just lain down in bed when he took a moment to open the system interface and check the system rewards that had been distributed.

"My balance is back to 40 million... I have enough Detective Coins for the lottery... Oh well, I'll just save them."

Fujino casually closed the system interface and was just about to go to sleep when a text message ringtone suddenly came from beside the bed.

He picked up his phone, which he had casually placed beside the bed, and glanced at it.

Then, I saw the contact displayed on the screen: [Ooka Momiji]

"The game should be over by now, right?"

Fujino murmured to himself, unlocked his phone, went to the text message interface, and saw a new message had arrived.

Ooka Momiji: [It's good that you weren't injured... Is the case finished by now?]

Fujino replied by rapidly tapping the keyboard, "I just caught the culprit. I just got home and am now in bed."

Ooka Momiji: [You've really worked hard, my future husband ()]

Fujino pursed his lips, rolled over, and a smile appeared on his face, "At this hour... have you finished your karuta tournament yet?"

[Yeah, I just got home from the competition. You should see news about my victory in a few days~]

[As expected, it's about the same on my end; it'll probably be on the news tomorrow or the day after.]

[It's already summer vacation...]

There was a moment of silence on the other end, then another message came quickly. "Any plans for the next few days?"

Fujino pondered for a moment and replied, "No, there aren't any arrangements, unless there's a specific request."

Since that's the case, how about I ask you to come with me to the beach in Okinawa...?

Yes, of course. I'm entrusting you to protect me, the two of us together!

"Ryukyu?"

Fujino raised his eyes and pondered for a moment, then suddenly recalled the murder case he encountered on the plane during his last trip to Okinawa, as well as his memory of making an emergency landing. He murmured, "Surely I won't encounter another murder this time... I hope not..."

After thinking for a moment, Fujino replied, "When are we going?"

[Probably in a few days... I'll be attending the Gatsumai training these next few days, but Fujino- kun, you can come earlier too, so we can have a good time exploring Kyoto ≧≦]

Okay, I'll check the time and go, then I'll contact you. Get some sleep, goodnight.

The next day, early in the morning, in the room of the Miyano Sisters on the third floor.

"Great Detective Fujino is injured, but solves a series of murder and bombing cases..."

Ai Haibara stood by the coffee table, holding up a large profile photo from the front page of the newspaper, and muttered the headline, "Great Detective rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment... Is this what you said yesterday about not being involved in the bombing?"

"Ha ha..."

Fujino sat on the sofa, looking at the familiar profile picture above, and couldn't help but chuckle, "You even managed to take a picture of this?"

"..."

Ai Haibara rolled up the newspaper and looked at Fujino, her small face showing a hint of resentment amidst her calm expression.

"Um..."

Fujino hesitated for a moment, then said, "Would you believe me if I said I met him after I sent you the text message?"

Ai Haibara: "..."

Do you think I would believe that?

"Alright, Ai..."

Sitting next to her, Akemi Miyano smiled and said, "Fujino- kun didn't want us to worry, which is why he didn't tell us about it."

"Yes, Fujino must have said that because he was afraid we would worry."

The Shimo-Kasa Sisters nodded in agreement.

"Well..."

Ai Haibara, placed the newspaper on the coffee table, and slowly walked over. She raised her little head, looked directly at Fujino, stood on tiptoe, touched her face with her little hand, and shook her left hand twice. "Are you alright?"

"With my physique, how could I possibly get injured? Can we even believe what the media says?"

Fujino chuckled, showing off his biceps, then said with a pained expression, "The whole 'sent to the emergency room' thing is just a rumor spread by those unscrupulous media outlets. These unscrupulous media outlets are getting more and more outrageous, saying all sorts of things!"

"..."

Ai Haibara sat down on the sofa, turned her head and glared at Fujino, then pursed her lips with a hint of resentment.

Honestly, you always act so unserious when it comes to serious topics!

She was even a little worried when she saw a detective being rushed to the hospital...