When it came to eating, proper meals were always the main course. Hamburgers, street snacks, and the like were just fast food.
And for Ryuji, it was the same with women.
Girls like Shampoo were worth savoring slowly, cherishing like a full-course meal. While girls on the street those who were looking for excitement, making a living, or any number of reasons those were fast food.
And fast food didn't need to meet high standards.
After all, no one ate fast food all the time.
It might sound cruel to classify women that way, but for Ryuji, that was simply reality. He never remembered their names, and they never remembered his. They were nothing more than brief encounters. For most of those women, he was just quick cash.
That was fast food.
Ryuji walked into the cruise ship's built-in casino. Casually exchanging some money for chips, he picked a table at random and sat down to observe the rules of the game.
With his current ability, even without cheating, he could rely on his senses to maintain an eighty-percent win rate.
Of course, even he couldn't win if his cards were absolute trash. And there was always the matter of cheats players trying to scam the table, or in shadier joints, the casino itself running rigged games.
But in respectable casinos, the house wanted you to stay. They made money off commissions, chip exchanges, and rake, not by directly betting against you. The more you won, the more they liked it. The real opponents were the other players if you won, they lost, and vice versa.
That was how the rules were supposed to work, anyway. Whether the owners abided by them depended on their morals. And let's face it... if you were running a casino, morals weren't exactly your strong suit.
As for slot machines, fishing games, and other rigged electronic nonsense? Unless you had actual superpowers, were a master hacker, or stuck a gun to the boss's head, the result was always the same:
Loss.
"Nine out of Ten times you lose in gambling" wasn't just a saying.
If those machines really let you win, why would the casino install them in the first place?
With the mentality of having fun, Ryuji tossed a few chips onto the big-small dice game. But even before the dice were revealed, he already knew he had lost.
Not because he deliberately read the dice, but because when he loosened his senses, he could feel the vibrations of the dice tumbling in the cup. Different sides vibrated differently. Within a meter or two, it was easy for him to discern.
When the cup revealed numbers that didn't match his bet, Ryuji just smiled. He wasn't the least bit bothered by losing.
After all, he had stolen the money from a gangster bosses. More importantly, he already knew he would lose the moment the dice rattled. With no expectation, there was no thrill.
Still, the vibrations intrigued him.
"So this is what Master G.S.D. meant by 'Wave' training perceiving the vibrations of objects until every fluctuation becomes clear. Even the tiniest details, like the print marks on a playing card, could be sensed and analyzed. But practicing this requires insane spiritual focus. Only true geniuses would master it."
Ryuji sipped his orange juice as the next round began. Watching everyone crowd their chips onto "Small" while he alone wagered on "Big," he gave a soft chuckle and tapped the table.
In that instant, the dice that should have landed on "Big" shifted under his Wave, changing to "Small."
A simple demonstration of what he had just grasped.
He had no intention of digging deeper into Wave, though. It didn't suit his temperament.
When the dice were revealed, the table erupted with cheers. Everyone was delighted with their winnings.
Ryuji laughed along with them. It was amusing. The money meant nothing to him, but if it brought joy to others, then their happiness was worth sharing. And while they celebrated, he went back to scanning the bunny-girl servers wandering the casino floor.
He fixed his eyes on a short-haired girl with a sweet smile.
"Ugh. That smell too strong… too stinky. She must be sick."
Next, a pale-skinned blonde.
"Reeks. And she's obviously been smoking."
He shifted again to a long-haired brunette.
"Mm, her scent is cleaner. But… she's on her period."
Ryuji sighed. One after another, the girls failed his standards either all makeup and no substance, unhealthy, or carrying unpleasant odors.
His desire for "fast food" quickly faded.
Just as his smile was about to disappear and the dealer was handing out winnings, a waft of refined perfume drifted past him.
Ryuji froze.
And there she was.
Eri Kisaki.
"Everyone else only smiles when they win. Why are you smiling when you lose?"
Eri had the look of a dangerous woman. Ryuji glanced around casually and spotted Kogoro Mouri on the other side of the room, laughing loudly with two bunny girls clinging to him. Clearly, Eri had gotten jealous and come over to flirt with another man just to spite him.
As for Ryuji…
He didn't care about Kogoro Mouri. But he had no intention of making a move on Eri either not yet. She and Mouri were only separated, not divorced. That put her outside Ryuji's strike zone.
If she were divorced, though? He wouldn't hesitate to claim such a women.
But for her to come to him of all people? That was almost insulting.
Did he really look like some cheap playboy?
Well then. If she wanted to use him, she'd have to pay a price.
Ryuji subtly shifted his demeanor, letting a roguish, wandering charm seep into his bearing.
"Because if I win, only I'm happy. But if everyone at the table wins together, then we're all happy. That makes me happy too."
"Oh? So you're saying you helped them win?"
Eri smirked. Ryuji's smooth talk might work on inexperienced girls or desperate housewives, but on her? It was child's play.
Still, his looks and presence weren't bad. And his current rakish air was exactly the kind of man Kogoro despised. Perfect for showing everyone she wasn't unwanted she simply refused to settle for someone like Mouri.
"Something like that," Ryuji said lightly. "A one-man show is the most boring thing in the world."
He tossed some chips on the table, glanced at the dice cup, and smiled.
"My bet is Big."
"Oh? That confident?"
Eri chuckled, eager to see him fall on his face.
"Of course."
Ryuji gestured for her to place a bet. Eri casually pushed her chips no doubt taken from Kogoro onto "Big" as well. After the dealer confirmed the bets, they each ordered drinks while waiting for the dice.
The cup rattled, dice tumbling inside. Ryuji tapped the table again, his Wave nudging the dice into the outcome he wanted.
"Big."
"Well, well."
Eri raised an eyebrow as the dealer returned her winnings. Her eyes flicked back to Ryuji.
"And what about next time?"
Ryuji kept his easy smile as he raised his glass toward Eri.
Through the rim of the glass, he caught a teasing glimpse of Eri's generous curves appearing even fuller than before, which drew a quiet chuckle from him.
"Next round will still be 'Big,' beautiful lady."
Eri only smiled and shook her head. Her daughter was already of marrying age she was far past the point of being called a "beautiful lady."
"Ha, I'm just an old woman now."
The dealer shook the dice cup again. Ryuji, however, kept his gaze locked on Eri, his tone soft yet deliberate.
"I can't tell that at all. A woman as beautiful and elegant as you, Ms. Kisaki… you're exactly the kind of woman men long to cherish and protect. I wonder what kind of great hero or man of legend it must have taken to win your companionship."
His words delighted Eri, though the mention of a "hero" made her lips twitch in irony.
Kogoro Mouri? A hero? Perhaps back when he was still a police officer, but now…
Glancing at her husband who couldn't even wash his own clothes and never admitted his faults Eri sighed before returning her eyes to Ryuji.
"So, what exactly have you figured out?"
Even if she weren't the sharp "Queen of Lawyers," she could tell Ryuji had already guessed the truth: that she was using him to needle her husband. How he had seen through it, she didn't know, but it was obvious he had.
"We met once before in the restaurant, didn't we? You and your daughter were so radiant, Ms. Kisaki, that even just passing by, it was unforgettable."
Ryuji gave a soft laugh, tipping his glass in a subtle toast of invitation.
At that moment, the dealer revealed the dice. Once again, the numbers matched Ryuji's prediction. The table erupted in gasps, while Eri stared in astonishment at the stack of chips pushed toward her.
She hadn't expected him to be right twice in a row. And she felt a flicker of guilt this little game of hers had been rather underhanded. Yet Ryuji never called her out. Instead, he kept finding new ways to flatter her.
Her eyes drifted from the chips on the table to the dwindling pile in front of Ryuji. She decided she would treat him to a proper meal later and hand over these winnings to him as well.
But more than that, she wanted to see if he could predict correctly yet again.
After all, money was nothing to her. If Ryuji ran out, she could easily exchange more for him.
"Thank you for the compliment. Let me buy you dinner later as thanks. But… what about the next round?"
Ryuji set down his glass, continuing his role as the gentleman rogue.
"That depends. Do you want to win… or lose?"
"Oh? And what difference would that make?"
Ryuji spread out his remaining chips for her to see, then tapped the pocket of his jacket.
"These are my last ones. If I let you win, then I'll be broke and too hungry to eat. But if you lose, well… then I'll have myself a feast."
Eri laughed. She could tell he was really asking whether she truly meant to invite him to dinner. The consideration touched her, making him all the more interesting.
With a smile, she playfully tapped her fist against his arm, then slipped naturally into the seat right beside him, close enough for Ryuji to catch the fragrance of her perfume.
"Of course you have to lose. If you had money, how could I treat you? And if I lost, how would I afford to invite you at all?"
Even the dealer rolled his eyes at their banter. From where he stood, Ryuji looked every bit the wealthy young man pretending to be broke, while Eri, in her evening gown and exquisite jewelry, was the very picture of a high-class socialite. Watching the two of them flirt so brazenly across the gaming table made him want to vomit.
And yet… he couldn't help a pang of envy.
"A rich women… damn."
Still, curiosity tugged at him. He wanted to see whether this man really could call the dice every time.
"My bet," Ryuji said easily, "is still Big."
He drained his orange juice while Eri signaled her wager with a smile, then lifted her glass of red wine.
"Then let's see am I treating you to a sandwich, or a grand feast?"
"Obviously, a feast."
Ryuji cast a casual glance at the dice cup, while Eri emptied her wine.
When the dealer revealed the dice, the result was indeed "Big." This time, Ryuji hadn't even used his Wave. The outcome was pure chance.
"Looks like you'll be feasting tonight," Eri said brightly.
The money meant little, but meeting someone this amusing had genuinely lifted her spirits.
"Let's just hope I survive the meal," Ryuji replied with a tilt of his head, feigning helplessness.
"He won't interfere you don't need to worry."
Eri knew he was thinking of Kogoro and reassured him immediately. Then, without hesitation, she hooked her arm around his, scooped up the chips, and led him out of the casino leaving the dealer behind to stew in envy.
"Damn it… spoiled rich woman throwing herself at him…"
The dealer shook his head and got back to work.
But at that very moment, seated beside Kogoro Mouri, Ran Mouri was fuming.
"Dad! Mom just left with a handsome young guy! Aren't you going to stop her?!"
She knew her mother was only trying to make her father jealous, but linking arms like that? This wasn't a game anymore this was dangerous!
And it had only been a few minutes!
"Stop yelling! She can do what she wants! I'm on a hot streak right now!"
With his green tie wrapped around his head like a bandana, Kogoro had two bunny girls clinging to him and a drunken grin on his face. He was winning, he was adored why should he care about that woman who couldn't even cook a good meal?
"Dad!"
Ran was nearly in tears. Snatching Conan off his chair, she plopped him into her father's lap, then stormed off in a huff.
"Take care of my little brother for a while! I'm going to find Mom!"
Her voice rang out so loudly that the bunny girls beside Kogoro froze, their smiles stiffening. Conan opened his mouth to protest that he was not Kogoro's son but one look at Ran's stormy expression silenced him. Instead, he sat quietly, feigning a child's wide-eyed innocence.
"Tch… bratty girl," Kogoro muttered, clinging tighter to the girl next to him. He had no intention of admitting defeat.
But Ran had had enough. Furious, she resolved to find Ryuji and her mother herself—
And if she had to, she would wedge herself right between them!
~~~~~~~~~~
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