"Um..."
"Hm?" Kenji Hagiwara, who had been looking ahead, heard the hesitant call from behind him. He turned around and looked at the embarrassed Ran Mouri. "What is it? Is something wrong?"
"No, it's nothing. It's just, um, with such a long line, having you wait here in line for us feels a little..."
Ran Mouri handed him the drink in her hand, then glanced at the endless queue stretching ahead, looking slightly ashamed.
How should she put it? Conan had explained that this man who had suddenly appeared to help dismantle the bomb was likely a member of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, so they could leave the children in his care without worry. But this kind of supervision still seemed a little...
"Don't worry about it. It's just waiting in line." Taking the bottled water she offered, Kenji Hagiwara shrugged nonchalantly. "The danger has basically been dealt with anyway, and my task is to make sure you all get through today safely. Waiting in line for you is just something I can do on the side."
As he spoke, he looked at the amusement park behind Ran Mouri and pressed his lips together.
"...Besides, I'm already this old. I'm not really that interested in theme parks. As long as you have fun, that's enough."
Compared with Matsuda Jinpei, who had lingered in the world for years after his death, Kenji Hagiwara naturally had no particular aversion to amusement parks. There were reasons of age and personality for that. He was popular with girls, and while he was no playboy, group dates and accompanying girls to amusement parks for a few rides were common enough.
But after opening his eyes again, he had learned through records and other people's descriptions how Matsuda Jinpei had died. Through Furuya Rei's Palace,