Hattori Heiji wore a strange expression, but he could understand how he felt.
To him, Fujino was someone stronger than himself, someone who was both a teacher and a friend.
It was like being praised by a teacher; naturally, as a student, he felt happy.
After all, he had earned the recognition of someone strong...
But... why did this feeling seem so gay?
Fujino glanced at Hattori Heiji's complicated expression and nodded to himself in satisfaction.
Yep, this was exactly the effect he wanted.
Scared now, kid?
Fujino withdrew his hand and turned around. "Since you've already found a clue, I won't interfere. Follow that lead, and you should find the murderer..."
"You keep busy. I'm going to slack off with the big sisters!"
Hattori Heiji: "..."
Was it polite to put it so bluntly?
Hattori Heiji felt speechless, but as he watched that departing figure, an unusual glint flashed through his eyes. "Following that clue will lead to the murderer?"
"Neither Kudo nor I had confirmed it yet... as expected of you!"
As he spoke, he addressed Conan through the microphone on his finger. "Hey, Kudo, you heard what Fujino just said, right?"
"Looks like the two of us lost again."
Hattori Heiji sighed, feeling rather helpless.
Although Fujino's outward personality was exceptionally devious, and he always seemed a little erratic.
In Hattori Heiji's eyes, though, all of that was merely a disguise.
A disguise to conceal how he planned every move, thought through nearly every step with meticulous care, and even saw through the case—and perhaps the rules of this world itself—from the very foundation.
Someone with absurdly powerful intuition, overwhelming combat ability, and deduction skills so outrageous they seemed like cheating.
To him, Fujino was a being who could be called a nearly perfect detective.
In a