Following the lingering trace of his presence, Shimizu Koji returned to the car. The moment his soul merged back into his body, a wave of weakness spread through him from the inside out.
It felt as though his entire body had been hollowed out.
He quickly understood—this wasn't physical exhaustion alone, but mental, even spiritual fatigue. Just like the body, the soul could grow tired as well.
Looks like I can't mess around like that anymore.
Shimizu Koji lifted his heavy-feeling hand and rubbed his brow, forcing himself to stay alert. By all accounts, he should've just had a nap—but instead, he felt even more drained than before.
Seeing that Shimizu Koji had slept for half an hour only to wake up looking even more exhausted, Conan and Haibara finally accepted his earlier explanation as genuine.
Still, both of them were puzzled. Before they set out, he hadn't looked tired at all.
"Shimizu, want me to open a window?" Conan asked, assuming he might be carsick.
Some people didn't get sick while driving, but felt it badly as passengers.
"No need," Shimizu Koji replied softly, shaking his head. "I'll be fine if I sleep a bit more."
He didn't dare expose himself to the night air in his current state. When you're weak, everything can make you sick—he knew that all too well.
Closing his eyes, he leaned back against the headrest and rested quietly, gradually sinking into genuine sleep.
An hour later, Conan felt something and glanced back again—then immediately turned forward, his mouth twitching.
In the back seat, Shimizu Koji and Haibara Ai sat on opposite sides, both breathing evenly, their rhythms steady and calm.
Dr. Agasa caught the scene in the rearview mirror and smiled broadly, slowing the car just a little—without saying a word.
"Hey—Shimizu. Wake up. Wake up."
"Hey!"
Conan nudged him repeatedly, but there was no response.
Outside the car, Conan, Dr. Agasa, and Haibara—who was yawning—stood there, all three looking rather speechless.
Dr. Agasa hesitated, his face conflicted.
"How about I stay here and keep an eye on Koji?"
It was already past eleven at night. The car was parked along the roadside. Even though this was a residential area, nighttime safety in Japan—
Conan understood the professor's concern, but this wouldn't work. Dr. Agasa was worrying too much.
"No, Professor. You're the one who made the appointment with the professor."
"Then I'll stay," Haibara said calmly, holding out her hand. "Give me your phone."
Conan froze for a moment, then took the gadget hanging around his neck—the Conan Phone—and placed it in her palm.
"Relax," Haibara said indifferently. "I'm not a child. As long as the doors are locked, I'll be fine. If someone comes by, I'll call you."
She spoke calmly. Conan and Dr. Agasa exchanged a glance, then nodded. This was clearly the most reasonable solution.
Dr. Agasa locked the car, and the two of them entered Professor Hirota's yard.
Haibara stayed behind in the car—this time choosing the passenger seat rather than the back.
She glanced at the nameplate by the gate. The characters Hirota stood out clearly in black against white, even in the darkness.
Her thoughts drifted, wandering into idle imaginings.
Soon, a ripple disturbed the calm in her eyes. She turned her head and looked at the still-sleeping Shimizu Koji.
If someone who knew her well had seen her expression just then, they would've been shocked by the unmistakable trace of jealousy in her gaze.
But the emotion came quickly—and faded just as fast. It was born entirely of unrealistic fantasies.
Still, one fact remained undeniable: Shimizu Koji had once lived next door to her sister for half a year. They'd seen each other daily—and he'd likely received plenty of her sister's gentle care.
In truth, after having close contact with the completely unguarded Shimizu Koji, Haibara felt that everyone had misunderstood him.
He didn't need anyone to take care of him.
He was just… a little unusual by nature.
Well—though being young was also a fact.
Inside Professor Hirota's house.
Conan suddenly leapt nearly two meters into the air, badly startling Mrs. Hirota. Dr. Agasa hurriedly grabbed him around the waist.
"W-What is it?" she asked in panic.
"Please call the police, Mrs. Hirota," Conan said.
As Dr. Agasa slowly set him down, Conan lowered his head slightly. A white glare flashed across his glasses, his voice eerily calm. Mrs. Hirota and Dr. Agasa were both stunned.
"Professor," Conan said, "please break the door open."
Dr. Agasa froze. He wasn't thrilled—after all, he wasn't exactly young anymore—but Shinichi had never been one to respect age or fragility.
Seeing Conan's grave expression, he seemed to understand something. He nodded.
Fortunately, it was just an ordinary lock. Under Mrs. Hirota's horrified gaze, Dr. Agasa slammed into it twice, and the door burst open.
The moment the door opened and Mrs. Hirota looked inside, she let out a terrified scream and collapsed to the floor.
Conan walked in steadily on short legs, scanning left and right. The shock inside him surged, finally overwhelming his small face.
What… what is going on here?!
Nani kore?!
"Sh—Conan… what… what happened?" Dr. Agasa asked, stunned.
Conan shook his head and said nothing. He walked over to Shirakura Yo's body, examining the neck again and again.
There was no mistake.
Death by strangulation.
But then—Conan turned toward the other body.
Hirota Masami lay there, blood matted into his gray hair. Though the wound was hidden, the amount of blood alone told the story.
Looking again at Hirota's thin, elderly arms, Conan simply couldn't imagine it.
How could such a frail old man—gravely injured—strangle a grown adult to death with his bare hands?
Is this… even scientifically possible?!
Could that ridiculous rumor be true—that in extreme rage, a person could kill a tiger barehanded?
Conan's mental processor was starting to overload. No matter how he looked at it, this was—
A mutual murder case.
A term utterly foreign to him.
At the doorway, Mrs. Hirota sobbed uncontrollably. Dr. Agasa, looking helpless and regretful, had just finished calling the police.
He glanced at Conan, who was still investigating inside, then turned to head back out.
After all that had happened, it would be rude to let Koji keep sleeping.
Three minutes later.
Dr. Agasa emerged from the house and returned to the car. After explaining the situation to Haibara, both of them looked toward the back seat.
Shimizu Koji was sleeping soundly.
Almost enviably so.
"Koji."
"Koji?"
Dr. Agasa called out several times—no response.
Haibara stood to the side with her arms folded, her gaze gradually growing deeper.
Under Dr. Agasa's surprised stare, she suddenly moved, climbed closer, and reached out to check Shimizu Koji's breathing.
Still alive.
Then, expressionless, she pinched his nose shut—
The same way she might pinch a lab mouse.
Or the way Shimizu Koji had pinched her little foot a few days ago.
What—are you saying she was taking revenge?
Impossible.
Everyone knows that Miyano Shiho is a remarkably magnanimous person.
Absolutely.
P.S Read in advance at my patreon.com/c/kaizenoriginal/collections