The wedding had been completely ruined by the attackers.
Ambulances lined the entrance to the chapel, their sirens echoing through the evening. Officers from the MPD who had been on duty also rushed to the scene.
As for the pink gift box, it contained nothing more than a single note.
'The game begins.'
There was no bomb inside.
No matter how much Ritsu thought about it, he couldn't figure out what those words meant.
'The game begins.'
Could this really be a coordinated act of revenge by the families of criminals Ritsu had put behind bars?
But if they were after him, why not target him directly? Why hurt innocent police officers instead?
"Takashi? The light's been green for quite a while."
Pulled back to reality, Ritsu realized he'd spaced out behind the wheel. He quickly stepped on the accelerator.
"Sorry. I got lost in thought."
Akemi smiled gently.
"Don't blame yourself for what happened. I don't think the attackers were targeting you."
"They weren't?"
She analyzed the situation calmly.
"If you had really been their target, the explosive hidden inside the bouquet wouldn't have been so small.
I think they're seeking revenge against the police as a whole. So... don't shoulder all the blame yourself."
'Revenge against the entire police force...'
Who could possibly harbor that much hatred?
Ritsu let out a long sigh.
"Thank you... but I still bear some responsibility. If I'd had the venue inspected more thoroughly before the ceremony, someone never would've been able to hide explosives inside the bouquet."
Akemi tilted her head with a smile.
"So... are you still planning to bring flowers when we visit Officer Takagi? If you're visiting someone in the hospital, lilies would be a better choice."
"...I think I'll skip the flowers. I already bought fruit for him. It's in the trunk."
They arrived at Beika General Hospital.
The injured officers were all being treated there. Those with only minor wounds had already been discharged after receiving bandages.
The only truly unlucky one was Takagi.
Instead of his shoulder, the bullet had struck his abdomen.
Carrying a fruit basket, Ritsu knocked on the hospital room door.
The moment he heard Miwako's voice from inside, he suddenly felt like perhaps they'd come at the wrong time.
Takagi was sitting upright in bed with a blissful smile while Miwako personally fed him rice porridge.
If his face weren't still pale from blood loss, Ritsu would've suspected the guy was faking his injury.
"Ahem... Onizawa-san... Akemi-san... you're here."
Takagi instantly transformed into an embarrassed young man. Blinking rapidly, he swallowed the porridge in his mouth before speaking.
Ritsu placed the fruit basket beside the bed.
"I'm sorry, Takagi. You suffered because of this."
"N-Not at all! As long as Officer Sato is here with me... It doesn't hurt at all!"
The hopelessly straightforward Miwako placed her hands on her hips with a helpless expression.
"Takagi, are you a little kid? Stop shaking your head around. What if you pull open your stitches?"
"...Okay!"
Takagi immediately straightened up obediently.
He looked exactly like an honest, well-behaved Samoyed. A golden retriever boyfriend through and through.
Seeing the atmosphere in the room, Akemi couldn't help smiling. If they stayed any longer, they'd just become third wheels.
She linked her arm through Ritsu's.
"We won't interrupt your meal any longer. Miwako-san, don't forget to get some rest yourself."
"Will do. Take care, you two."
Ritsu had originally wanted to say something else.
But since Akemi was already pulling him toward the door, he silently gave up.
The two walked down the hallway together.
When they reached the elevator, Ritsu suddenly remembered something.
"Akemi, for the next few days... stay home. Don't go out."
She looked at him.
"You're worried the attackers might come after me?"
He nodded.
"Yes, I'll take care of your sister. Besides, I've got several days of marriage leave. I think that'll be enough time to catch them."
Akemi smiled without hesitation.
"Okay. I believe in you."
...
Meanwhile...
At Agasa's house.
Conan had arrived early that morning.
Looking at Haibara, who sat holding a coffee mug and clearly hadn't slept all night, he frowned.
"Are you seriously planning to keep treating me like an idiot? You called her 'Big Sister' yesterday."
Haibara silently held her coffee for a long while. Finally, she gave a self-deprecating smile. Some secrets really didn't need to stay hidden anymore.
"My real name is Miyano Shiho. I've never told you that before. Now that you've heard my surname... You understand, don't you?"
Conan's eyes widened.
"So... Akemi-san is your biological sister? Then doesn't that mean she's part of the Organization too? You should've told me sooner!
Onizawa-sensei's in serious danger because of this!"
Haibara took a sip of coffee. Her tone turned noticeably colder.
"The ones in danger are you, me... and my sister. He isn't."
Conan blinked.
"W-What do you mean?"
Haibara lowered her eyes.
"Within the Organization, there's a madman second only to Gin. His codename is Augier.
Before I escaped, he told me something. He said that... he would become my brother-in-law."
"...Brother-in-law?!"
Conan froze.
A chill crawled across his spine. He forced himself not to think in that direction and laughed awkwardly.
"You're joking, Haibara. There's no way Sensei could possibly—"
"Augier has the same silver hair. The same crimson eyes. How much longer are you going to keep fooling yourself, Kudo?"
"Impossible. Sensei is a police officer. He's not with the Organization. And besides..."
Haibara immediately noticed the change in Conan's expression.
Her eyes sharpened.
"Besides what?"
Conan hesitated before answering.
"Sensei... knows I'm Shinichi."
The color instantly drained from Haibara's face. Seeing her reaction, Conan hurried to explain.
"Think about it carefully. If Onizawa-sensei really were Augier, the Organization would've captured us a long time ago. There's no way we'd still be alive."
Haibara forced herself to calm down.
Yet the fear of the Organization rising inside her refused to disappear. If Onizawa knew Conan's true identity, there was no reason he wouldn't have noticed her existence as well.
'Then... He probably isn't Augier. Could Augier and Onizawa actually be two different people? Maybe they simply resemble each other because they're related by blood.'
That would explain everything.
It explained why she had never sensed the Organization's aura from Onizawa.
It also explained why, even after learning Conan's true identity, Onizawa had never deliberately approached her.
"...You're right. Maybe I was overthinking things. For now... I just need to find a way to meet my sister without him finding out. My sister wouldn't lie to me."
Conan thought for a moment.
"I remember your sister took several days of marriage leave. Why don't we visit her at home? Sensei will probably be busy investigating yesterday's attack.
He shouldn't be home during the daytime."
Haibara nodded.
"Okay."
"Then let's ask Professor to drive us there."
Agasa, who had been quietly listening from the side, scratched his cheek.
"Uh... Ai-kun... Do you actually know where your sister lives?"
Haibara blinked.
Only then did she realize, she had absolutely no idea where Akemi lived. Although they'd met several times at school, they'd never spoken alone.
She had always feared that Organization spies might be watching Akemi.
If she exposed herself, her sister would be implicated as well.
"I..."
"I know."
Conan raised a hand.
"She lives with Onizawa-sensei."
Haibara's expression instantly darkened. Her voice rose several octaves.
"They're living together? What do you mean by that? They've been living together this wholetime?!"
"W-Why are you asking me? It's not like I ever saw them—"
"What exactly were you planning to see?!!"
Conan immediately bolted toward the front door. Only now did he realize, someone this close to him was an extreme siscon.
As he ran, he silently clasped his hands together in prayer.
'Sensei... I'm genuinely worried about your future.'
----
In case anyone misses it, here's a quick explanation:
The current story arc incorporates some elements from Detective Conan: The Bride of Halloween (Movie 25) and The Fourteenth Target / the "12 Million Hostages" bombing case, though most of the plot is the Author's own original creation.
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bonus chapter every 20 PS
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