In an apartment in Beika Town.
"Miss Nishitani, still feeling like you're being followed?" Tsuneo asked, shutting off the water valve and unscrewing the kitchen faucet.
"No," Miss Nishitani said, hugging her arms tightly and shaking her head.
She'd moved from Yokohama to Beika to escape that stalker.
Though the eerie sensation of being watched had faded lately, who knew when he might come back?
"I'm sure you'll make an amazing pastry chef," Tsuneo said, finishing the faucet repair and grabbing a cookie from the table, taking a bite.
A repairman's mood always improved with food.
Plus, keeping clients happy meant mastering the art of compliments.
"Thanks," Miss Nishitani said, her spirits lifting.
She packed up some freshly baked cookies and handed them to Tsuneo.
Working at a Western restaurant to learn the ropes was all for her dream of opening a cake shop. Knowing someone enjoyed her baking felt amazing.
She waved at the red pickup truck as it pulled away.
Then, glancing at the quiet, peaceful alley, she murmured, "If only that guy never shows up again…"
Her expression heavy, Miss Nishitani headed back into her rented apartment.
…
During a red light, Tsuneo rummaged through the car's cassette box, pulling out a Beatles tape.
Tossing Yoko's tape back, he munched on cookies, classic music filling the air.
As Miss Nishitani hoped, the Wolf of Beika wouldn't bother her again.
When it came to tracking people down, professionals got the job done.
"Hello?" Tsuneo, ever the law-abiding driver, pulled over before answering the ringing phone.
"Hey, Tsuneo, my man!" Officer Megure's voice was brimming with excitement.
"Thanks to your deduction, we nabbed the culprit."
"Good news," Tsuneo said, nodding, racking his brain for recent deductions.
The case outside his apartment?
No, that was a week ago, and he'd already helped with the statement…
"Hard to believe Mr. Kosaka would do that to his wife," Megure said, still stunned by the case.
Mr. Kosaka?
His wife?
Tsuneo stared at the sky, clueless about these names.
When did I help solve that case?
Beika Town's a wild place…
"Tsuneo, swing by the station for a statement when you've got time," Megure said, thanking him and inviting him over.
Hanging up, Tsuneo dialed a certain dog-headed detective.
No question—it was this guy stirring things up.
Conan had gotten cautious, rarely using Shinichi Kudo's voice to call the police anymore.
But why was Tsuneo stuck doing statements?
"Who's Mr. Kosaka?" Tsuneo asked, his voice laced with a cold smirk.
"Uh-oh?" Conan tried to play dumb with a goofy noise.
"Megure called, saying this 'great detective' needs to do a statement," Tsuneo said, gritting his teeth on "great detective."
This kid was getting cheekier by the day—time for a good smack soon!
"Alright, alright, how about a trip to Izu Beach?" Conan offered, adding, "All expenses paid."
"Izu Beach?" Tsuneo's mind didn't jump to sun, sand, or swimsuits—but to a certain Super Saiyan.
"Yeah, Sonoko and Ran are heading there for vacation. If you go, I'll cover the costs," Conan said.
With this repairman, you had to throw in perks now and then.
Slack off, and you'd end up on the losing side.
"I'll handle Megure," Tsuneo said with a laugh, promising to take care of it.
Free trip? Only an idiot wouldn't jump on that.
A statement? No big deal!
"You…" Conan muttered, exasperated, before spilling the details of how he'd impersonated Tsuneo to help the police crack the case over the phone.
…
A few days later.
Izu Beach.
Tsuneo, in beach shorts and sunglasses, lounged under an umbrella, sipping juice through a straw, enjoying the swimsuit parade on the sand.
The ladies and heiresses were as bold as ever!
"Hey, can you put a shirt on?" Conan said, rolling his eyes and tossing Tsuneo's white shirt at him.
"Why?" Tsuneo asked, baffled.
You're policing my wardrobe now?
Paying for the trip doesn't make you the boss!
Just then, a plain-looking college girl strolled up, standing by the umbrella with a smile. "You here alone?"
Tsuneo yanked Conan over, posing as father and son to shoo her away.
"You better put a mask on, too!" Conan growled, glaring as Tsuneo leisurely buttoned up.
"A mask? How am I supposed to eat?" Tsuneo said, covering his toned physique and grabbing a watermelon slice.
"Tsuneo, I got an awesome photo!" Sonoko called, waving her camera as she returned from the shore.
"Sonoko!" Ran trailed behind, cheeks flushed, trying to stop her.
That photo…
No way!
"Don't worry, I won't show anyone else," Sonoko said, winking. "This one's for Shinichi to see."
"What's she showing you?" Tsuneo chuckled, glancing at Conan.
"How should I know?" Conan said, stumped.
Since arriving yesterday, Sonoko had been snapping candid shots of couples getting cozy…
As the girls chatted, Sonoko suddenly clenched her fist, her expression deadly serious. "Exactly! This time, I'm executing my meticulously rehearsed 'Not a Rich Heiress Operation!'"
Tsuneo: …
Conan: …
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ran asked, bewildered.
"Every time we travel, we stay at my family's villa or a fancy hotel," Sonoko said, striking a pose with clasped hands and a dreamy look, mimicking what she imagined men thought: "How could I ever reach for such an unattainable flower?"
Yup.
The "unattainable flower" was her.
(End of Chapter)
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