Evening.
Osaka Imperial Hotel.
Tsuneo glanced at the detective staring at the ceiling, lost in thought, and chuckled. "Thinking too much before bed? You'll get insomnia."
Kids need sleep, food, and exercise to grow.
"I'm decoding Kid's riddle," Conan said, removing his glasses and placing them on the bedside table.
When the clock without a second hand reaches the twelfth word.
Was it really Uncle Mouri's guess, the twelfth letter, L?
It didn't feel reliable…
Not that it was impossible, but coming from that guy, it warranted a second thought.
"You still don't get it," Tsuneo said, shaking his head with a smile.
"What do you mean?" Conan tilted his head.
What don't I get?
I learned everything in Hawaii!
"The heist date hasn't arrived, and the police have the Suzuki Art Museum locked down 24/7."
"Whether he comes at three or seven, the security won't change," Tsuneo said, slipping into bed, eyes closed.
The issue was never about solving riddles.
It's those hyped-up cops—combat skills a total mystery…
If it were Officer Megure and the First Division, they might stand a chance.
"Seven?" Conan perked up, sensing Tsuneo, who'd received the invitation, knew something.
Three o'clock came from Mouri's letter-L theory. Where'd seven come from?
"Did he tell you the exact time with that invitation?" Conan flicked on the bedside lamp, staring at Tsuneo.
"Oh, sure. He also gave me his home address, phone number, and favorite type of woman," Tsuneo said, opening his eyes, exasperated.
Why obsess over that guy this late?
We've faced him multiple times, and he always slips away.
You're rattled, huh?
"Stop spouting nonsense…" Conan shot him a look.
Even if this guy knew something, he wouldn't spill.
Like that time at the memorial, with the attacked American actress, Chris Wynyard.
It was in the papers.
Yet this guy claimed she was his ex, just settling a score…
If she hadn't vanished after retiring post-memorial, he'd still be spinning tales.
"Turn that light on again, and I'll toss you out," Tsuneo said, flipping the switch off, threatening, then rolling over to sleep.
Food and rest trump everything. Stop obsessing over nonsense.
Shrinking really messes with your head…
"I can't sleep!"
"I can knock you out."
…
Next morning, 4:30 a.m.
In a park near the hotel.
Tsuneo, Ran, and Hattori, at someone's suggestion, launched into a three-way brawl.
"Ran, that's it!" Sonoko, initially half-asleep, perked up as the fight began, cheering loudly from the sidelines.
Conan, in pajamas, glared at Tsuneo.
He'd barely slept, and this guy dragged him out early.
Hattori, get him!
Chop him hard!
The trio fought fiercely. Early on, Ran and Hattori, full of energy, had no fixed target. But later, they tacitly ganged up on Tsuneo.
"Good, good, that's it!" Tsuneo grinned, thrilled as they got serious.
Nothing beats a chaotic three-way fight.
"Tsuneo, watch out!"
Hattori and Ran exchanged a glance, attacking from both sides.
Tsuneo didn't retreat. He went all out, his moves sharper, holding nothing back.
Of course, he avoided lethal techniques meant for life-or-death fights.
Conan watched the battle heat up, sweating nervously.
Hey, isn't this too intense?
That elbow Tsuneo threw snapped a thigh-thick tree.
If that hit someone…
Hattori, behind the tree, must've been stunned.
"Ran, go for it!"
Sonoko kept cheering.
"Game over, Hattori," Tsuneo said, locking Hattori's arm in the chaos, smirking.
Hattori watched Tsuneo's fist close in, wind rushing, stopping just short of his face.
His expression was vivid, and he slumped to the ground.
"Lost again…" Hattori clutched his wooden sword, glancing at Ran, panting, out of steam.
He flopped back onto the grass.
This guy's body is unreal!
Early on, they had the upper hand, but as time dragged, their stamina faded, and the tide turned.
"Nice work!" Tsuneo wiped his sweat, grinning at them.
"You okay?" Sonoko checked Ran's sleeve, turning to Tsuneo. "Geez, ease up a bit."
Those last hits looked painful.
"I'm fine," Ran said, smiling, flexing her arm.
Neither she nor Hattori wanted Tsuneo holding back in this two-on-one.
That's real training!
"Martial artists get bumps and bruises," Tsuneo said, finding a sturdy tree and slamming it with his elbow.
Hattori nearly landed two sword strikes—dangerous.
Ran's been kicking at his head full force lately.
Perfect. That's the thrill of it.
Training with them was about honing real combat skills. Beating up weaklings nightly? No fun.
For physical conditioning, morning tree-smashing and extra meals did the trick—simple and steady.
Conan, in pajamas, stared at Tsuneo hammering the tree, then down at his own bare feet.
This guy didn't even let me grab slippers—just carried me out.
But he remembered to put my glasses on.
Definitely on purpose…
"Watching him hit trees is boring. Wanna head back?" Sonoko yawned, asking the group.
Hattori and Ran, resting nearby, glanced over.
As usual, there's a second round later…
(Chapter End)
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