Chapter 12: Little Ai—Continue Lying Low

“A game where elementary school detectives battle a mysterious black-clad organization,” Yusaku Kudo said with utmost seriousness.

Yusaku Kudo’s appearance was naturally earnest.

When he spoke those words, his tone was unusually solemn.

If Shinichi were a fool, he would have truly believed such nonsense.

Shinichi wore an expression that said, “You don’t take me seriously,” but his ears subtly tilted toward Yusaku, signaling, “I’m willing to listen to your tall tales.”

As a listener, Shinichi refrained from interrupting Yusaku’s ramblings.

Even Conan struggled several times to interject but was quickly shut down by Yusaku.

Conan had no choice but to keep silent.

He convinced himself it was all just a story spun for Shinichi, a ploy to help conceal his true identity.

When Yusaku mentioned that the woman on the floor was Yukiko Kudo, Conan’s pupils trembled.

Shinichi nodded slightly.

“So you’re saying that you and Conan are actually playing a game—that you, Dr. Agasa, and this Yukiko on the floor are all acting?” he asked.

“Exactly,” Yusaku confirmed with a nod.

Whether Shinichi believed it or not didn’t matter; Conan was already shaking.

Shinichi tore the mask off Yukiko’s face, and Conan’s lingering worries finally died away.

In Yukiko’s eyes, Conan’s trembling figure was reflected.

Just then, a soccer ball rolled to Conan’s feet, making him tremble even more.

Shinichi kicked the ball away softly and said, “You take your games seriously—so rough on the moves.”

He glanced at Yukiko’s chest.

“Heh,” Conan forced a smile.

He truly didn’t know.

He was still dazed, only aware that the person who came to abduct him seemed to be his own mother.

Conan cast a glance at his loving mother.

“Ignorance is bliss,” he thought, “especially since you were the first to make a move.”

Yukiko’s eyes narrowed slightly, filled with affection.

“Even in games, one must give their all,” she said.

Conan stammered, “Y-Yeah, that’s right.”

“Good, very sporting,” Shinichi said with a smile.

Conan nodded.

He had competitive spirit and could only hope his mother had fair play in hers.

Shinichi was eventually dealt with by their evasions.

At least from Conan’s perspective, he was.

“Do you really think he’ll believe the story you made up?” Yukiko toyed with a pink string.

Yusaku shook his head. “Definitely not.”

When Shinichi interacts with him, he’ll surely realize it’s not a game. But Yusaku doubts he’ll reveal the truth or waste time here.

It’s up to whether Shinichi wants to dig deeper.

If he’s not interested, his identity remains concealed; if he is, he’ll uncover something.

“Then let’s not worry about him for now,” Yukiko said, picking up the soccer ball and dribbling it lightly.

...

No eavesdropping on the mother-and-son interaction between Yukiko and Conan.

Shinichi drove home.

Once home, Miss Yuko was beaming, sharing adorable photos of Ai with Shinichi.

In one photo, Ai was meticulously slicing fruit, her focused expression utterly charming. Yuko had even snapped a candid shot of Ai’s silly grin.

Shinichi smiled joyfully.

Given how fiercely Ai wielded the knife, she surely wasn’t mistaking the fruit for him, right?

And that silly grin—surely it wasn’t Ai imagining taking him down and then grinning foolishly afterward?

It probably wasn’t.

“Shinichi, this fruit was cut by Ai for you. She was too shy to give it herself, so she asked me to deliver it,” Miss Yuko said, passing Shinichi a fruit plate.

Ai, busy doing homework in the living room, looked up.

I was clearly giving it to Miss Yuko, not you. She’s reading too much into it.

“Good girl,” Shinichi praised Ai.

Ai remained silent.

Just let him eat it. Consider this the last fruit plate.

Eat well and be ready for the journey ahead—tonight, we all end together!

That night.

Shinichi lay in bed asleep. Ai, clutching the fruit knife hidden in her sleeve, cautiously slipped into his room, planning another surprise attack.

She reached Shinichi’s back and drew the knife.

Just then, Shinichi turned over.

Ai shivered but didn’t retreat.

She couldn’t hesitate now; last time’s failure was due to hesitation.

“What are you doing?” Shinichi’s eyes widened as he stared at Ai.

Ai looked terrified, intimidated by those large eyes. She stumbled forward again, colliding with Shinichi, and the knife slipped from her hand onto the carpet.

Shinichi, knocked over by the little girl, gently patted her head.

This was the second time the little one had come at night seeking a hug.

Kids these days were just too affectionate.

Or perhaps he was just so charming that the little girl couldn’t help wanting to be close to him?

“I...” Ai stammered, looking at Shinichi.

Her intense fear of the organization rendered her unable to form a complete sentence.

Fortunately, Shinichi was kind and didn’t mind her unclear speech.

He patted Ai’s head and said, “You’re playing a game with me, right?”

“A game?” Ai blinked, surprised.

“The game of Jing Ke’s assassination of the King of Qin—you’re playing that game with me, right?” Shinichi asked.

“That’s right,” Ai nodded.

She cautiously glanced at Shinichi.

This ridiculous excuse should have come from me, the guilty one. How did you come up with it?

Are you trying to cover for someone who wants to kill you?

She had yet to understand the realm of madness.

Shinichi said, “It’s late now; let’s stop the game and play again tomorrow. Go to sleep.”

Ai wanted to continue, but Shinichi gently pressed her down on the bed.

“I...” she began.

“By the way, do you know Shinichi Kudo?” Shinichi suddenly asked.

“No,” Ai answered nervously.

Why would he suddenly mention Shinichi Kudo?

Could it be he finally sensed my ill intent and suspected my identity?

“You don’t know him?” Shinichi mumbled softly. “Today, Shinichi Kudo’s parents were playing a game with a little boy.

They take games very seriously, just like you.

You played Jing Ke’s assassination with real knives, and that little boy really hit Yukiko hard.”

Ai trembled.

Although she didn’t know the full story,

Ai guessed that little boy must be the shrunken Shinichi Kudo.

As for the Kudo couple and their game, it was probably just a ruse to fool Shinichi.

“By the way, what did you say earlier?” Shinichi suddenly asked.

“Nothing, I’m sleepy. I’m going to sleep now,” Ai shook her head and curled up under the covers, motionless.

She had come in tonight to play with Shinichi and was now too tired to continue.

Sleep, sleep.

Keep enduring; sooner or later, there will be a time to eliminate Shinichi and avenge my sister.

This hibernation is only temporary.