Five seconds later.
"Argh!"
At the counter, the tall and burly Masahiko Dowake clutched his eye, yelping in pain, his head spinning.
What just happened?
This wasn't how it was supposed to go! He was supposed to stride in, teach that rude waiter a lesson, and shatter his glasses with a single punch. But this guy's fist moved so fast it was a blur.
Is he a ghost?
"Self-defense," Kyogoku Makoto said coldly, his fist still clenched.
Tsuneo sat cross-legged beside Conan, nodding at the spectacle while slurping yakisoba with gusto.
Rude waiter? Bad attitude? File a complaint, man! Why go picking a fight?
That said, this tiny beachside diner, with its handful of perpetually packed tables, served some damn good yakisoba. Add a couple of cute waitresses peeling garlic, and it'd be perfect. Without a doubt, Tsuneo was the only one enjoying this meal.
Outside the diner, two local middle-aged men were chatting.
"They found another one today!"
"What?"
"A body! A girl with brown hair, murdered!"
Conan's ears perked up. He slipped on his sandals and bolted toward the crime scene.
"Big bro Tsuneo, let's go!" Ran called to the yakisoba-devouring Tsuneo before chasing after Conan with Sonoko and Masahiko in tow.
"Got it!" Tsuneo mumbled through a mouthful, glancing up to see the ill-tempered waiter standing in front of him.
"They paid, right?" Tsuneo asked.
"Yeah," Kyogoku replied, his tone surprisingly civil for a guy who'd just floored someone. He eyed Tsuneo, the same guy who'd once insisted on sparring with him. They'd exchanged a few words yesterday at the inn, so they weren't total strangers.
As for that other guy? Masahiko had been hitting on girls nonstop for days—a real creep. "Probably that guy who's been targeting brown-haired girls," Tsuneo said, grabbing another heaping plate of yakisoba.
"Why didn't you step in?" Kyogoku asked, puzzled.
Sure, he'd only used a single kick, pulling his punch to end it quickly. But this guy in front of him had blocked well enough before—handling a punk like Masahiko should've been a breeze. Plus, wasn't he supposed to be those girls' brother?
"I convinced him to go after you, didn't I?" Tsuneo said with a sly wink.
With Sonoko head-over-heels like that, stepping in himself would've been like stealing her crush. Didn't you see the way she looked at you after your 'self-defense'?
Kyogoku paused, then untied his apron and hurried after the group.
"Hey, let's spar again sometime!" Tsuneo shouted, still clutching his yakisoba.
Right after Kyogoku left, a chubby man in a beret hustled out of the diner in a rush.
In a grove near the railway tracks, Officer Yokomizo Sango crouched beside the body of a young woman with short brown hair, a knife wound in her stomach.
One of his officers reported, "The victim was stabbed in the abdomen, just like the case from a year ago. Estimated time of death is between 8 and 9 p.m. last night, right after the fireworks festival."
Sonoko, standing outside the police tape, turned to Ran. "Weren't we passing through here around that time last night?"
"Yeah," Ran nodded, a chill running through her.
"That's creepy…" Sonoko's face paled. Her own short brown hair matched the victim's, and the thought sent her stomach twisting. She lowered her head, fear creeping in.
"Don't be silly. That killer's not coming for you," Ran said, trying to comfort her.
"But my hair's brown too! Who's to say I'm not next?" Sonoko's voice trembled, tears welling in her eyes. "I don't want to die in a place like this. There's still so much I haven't done!"
"Don't worry," Masahiko said, sporting a black eye but standing tall. "As long as you're in Izu, I'll protect you."
"Okay!" Sonoko nodded vigorously, unfazed by his bruised appearance. If anything, it made her admire him more.
Nearby, a certain waiter watched the scene unfold.
Conan: …Beaten to a pulp and still talking big.
The detective had noticed Tsuneo's subtle hostility toward Masahiko, stirring the pot on purpose. But what was up with that waiter?
"Hey, it's Ran and Sonoko!" Officer Yokomizo's curly-haired brother pushed through the crowd, greeting the girls before scanning for a certain "sleeping detective." If Mouri was here, this case would be cracked in no time. Too bad the guy was probably back home, sipping beer and watching idol shows.
After warning the group to stay safe, Yokomizo returned to the crime scene.
By evening, Ran, Sonoko, and Conan were back at the inn. About half an hour later, Tsuneo staggered in from who-knows-where, his clothes tattered and his body covered in scrapes and bruises.
"What the—? What did you do?" Conan's eyes widened. The last time Tsuneo took down an entire yakuza crew overnight, he didn't look this roughed up. And aren't you supposed to be able to dodge bullets? What the hell happened?
"Training!" Tsuneo leaned against the wall, chugging a glass of water Ran handed him. He let out a satisfied sigh, a grin spreading across his face. "Man, that was awesome! Super awesome! That guy's a total Super Saiyan."
They'd gone at it in the woods for over half an hour, snapping who-knows-how-many trees. Whether Kyogoku held back, Tsuneo didn't know. But he'd given it everything he had.
Knock knock.
Kyogoku ignored Sonoko's gaze, set a first-aid kit from the inn on the table, and left without a word.
Conan chased after him, frowning as he studied the inn's young owner. The guy had clearly changed clothes recently, and though less severe, his arms bore faint scratches too.
The detective glanced back at Tsuneo. No way… If that guy beat Tsuneo this bad… is he even human?
"Big bro Tsuneo, who did you fight?" Ran asked, handing him an alcohol-soaked cotton ball, her voice laced with concern. She knew a bit about Tsuneo's strength—he was no pushover. Who could've left him this battered?
"A grizzly bear?" Sonoko guessed wildly.
"Or maybe a lion?"
(Chapter End)
-----------------------------------
Can't stand the cliffhanger?
Skip the wait – read the newest chapters right now!
👉 pat*eon*com/DaoistRoeoNQ
Be ahead of everyone else. The story doesn't wait – why should you?