What Does a Win-Win Look Like?

After leaving the service station.

Sato Miwako did not quite understand Fujino's approach and asked in confusion, "Why did we reveal that we were police officers?"

"We said a whole bunch of things just now."

Fujino looked at her and asked, "What do you think that waitress would make of us?"

"Maybe she'd immediately guess that we're police officers?" Takagi ventured.

"No, they'd think we were weirdos."

Conan suddenly spoke up. "Our intentions were way too obvious. Setting aside whether the drug courier would even show up, if he did, that waitress might mention our behavior in passing and make him suspicious."

As he spoke, he even glanced at Ai Haibara. "Besides, two adults and several kids, talking about heroin one moment and Halloween the next—we said so much that nobody could tell we were police officers on duty."

Ai Haibara: "..."

You're asking for it again, aren't you?

"Hyouka, correct, but no prize."

Fujino snapped his fingers. "What Sato said just now was said in the tone of a police officer, but the waitress herself didn't know we were police officers. That was the problem."

Sato Miwako thought it over more carefully, realized the issue had been hers, and sighed. "I was careless."

Takagi suddenly understood. He first sighed in admiration, then asked in confusion, "As expected of Consultant Fujino, you're so thorough... But if that's the case, what if the waitress is working with the drug dealer? Wouldn't that mean we've exposed ourselves?"

"That's a good question. Don't ask it again next time."

Fujino replied calmly, "Suspicion has to remain within reasonable limits. It's possible, but if you suspect everyone, then you've committed a major taboo."

Sato Miwako nodded in agreement. "Fujino once said, 'Genius on the Left, Madman on the Right.' Unrestrained suspicion can turn someone into