Chapter Five: What Time Is It? Still Playing Football?

After bidding farewell to the other members of the Junior Detective League, the client, and the kidnapped artist, the elementary school Grim Reaper walked home alone with his hands clasped behind his head—

No, it wasn’t exactly the way home; it was more accurate to say he was on his way to Dr. Agasa’s laboratory.

Since it was so late, going home wasn’t an option. If he returned to the Mori Detective Agency, he’d definitely get hit by Uncle Mori’s “Mori God Fist,” and then Ran would nag him for an hour or two. It was better to spend the night at Dr. Agasa’s place.

Besides, Ran had probably already called Dr. Agasa, and the doctor must have taken care of things by now.

“Seriously, how did Genta and the others even get involved with such dangerous people…” Conan muttered to himself.

He had left the Junior Detective League to make a phone call less than five minutes ago.

When he looked back, the League members were gone, and on the third floor, he saw the other Silver Fox accomplices lying on the ground; even Silver Fox himself was so scared by the black-clad man that he was shaking like a sieve…

If the police in Mihama Town were as efficient as that black-clad figure, most detectives would be out of a job.

“This time, I’d better ask Dr. Agasa to help investigate this urban legend.”

“I have a feeling that this guy in black, so skilled with a gun and radiating an aura of fear, might be a member of the Black Organization… but somehow, it doesn’t seem like the kind of thing they would do…”

As he walked forward, Conan suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Because not far from his line of sight, he seemed to see a figure leaning against the wall.

The posture didn’t look like resting, but rather just waiting for someone. But who would be waiting for someone in Mihama Town at night?

“How strange…”

The elementary school Grim Reaper pushed up his clear-lensed glasses.

A flash of white light gleamed off the lenses, making this shrunken famous detective look especially dangerous.

His hand pressed against his belt, and a deflated soccer ball popped out from the gap, falling to the ground and rapidly inflating into a fully blown soccer ball.

Conan leaned forward, stepping on the ball’s surface, causing it to sink slightly.

His fingers hovered over the button on his shoe. With a slight twist, the self-defense sneakers Dr. Agasa had given him would release an electric current, stimulating his muscles to deliver an exaggeratedly powerful kick—

Transforming him into the superhero Soccer Kick Man, capable of kicking satellites into orbit.

In reality, he couldn’t do that, but it didn’t change the fact that the shoes could potentially reach that level after half a year of continuous upgrades.

“Please explain properly why you’re not going home but appear on the path I take to Dr. Agasa’s place, Ai Haibara,” the elementary school Grim Reaper asked.

He had found Ai Haibara strange from the start; her behavior and demeanor didn’t fit that of a child.

***

Inside the Owatari Newspaper Office, after being held hostage by Silver Fox and the black-clad man firing his gun, the other Junior Detective League members were understandably panicked, but Ai Haibara remained completely calm.

This mysterious transfer student seemed to have maintained a composed attitude from the beginning.

She observed the situation coolly, as if ready to turn the tables at any moment, only relaxing when the black-clad man fired his gun and left.

“Well deserved for the famous detective Shinichi Kudo. Even shrunken, he retains such sharp observation skills.”

The figure leaning against the wall stepped out of the darkness.

Revealing the small frame of a young girl, confirming Conan’s suspicions.

…It seems my true identity has been exposed?

Conan furrowed his brow.

“Although I know the Black Organization is vast, I never imagined they’d have members so young.”

“The black-clad man who appeared at the Owatari Newspaper Office is also a member of the Black Organization, right? He only intervened to protect you by taking down Silver Fox’s criminal gang…”

“The Black Organization certainly doesn’t have members around ten years old, Shinichi Kudo. I’m just like you.”

Ai Haibara noticed the soccer ball under Conan’s foot.

Quickly changing the subject to avoid getting hospitalized from a sudden powerful kick, she said,

“The drug you took is called APTX4869, a poison. Everyone who takes it besides you is dead or missing, so you’ve long been under the Organization’s surveillance.”

“So, I, code-named ‘Sherry,’ also took the drug, shrank, and approached you to investigate.”

“Now your true identity has been exposed, so the Organization has made a move. The black-clad man sent to protect you has already entered Dr. Agasa’s lab, and that chubby old man has been… eliminated.”

What? They’ve already made a move on Dr. Agasa?!

A flash of shock crossed the heart of the great detective Shinichi Kudo, quickly replaced by rage.

He instinctively wanted to press the button on his shoe to unleash a powerful soccer strike.

This kick would be strong enough to demolish both the person and the wall behind her.

But in the end, Conan gave up on the idea and quickened his pace toward Dr. Agasa’s laboratory.

The shoes couldn’t be used to stimulate the body too frequently in a short time.

If he wasted a charge on this shrunken Organization member, he might not win against that black-clad man!

Tap, tap, tap.

The footsteps gradually faded away.

Ai Haibara calmly followed behind.

***

Of course, everything she said was a lie. The Organization had no idea about Shinichi Kudo’s condition because she had altered ‘missing’ to ‘dead.’ And that black-clad man?

He was completely opposed to the Organization and would never protect a former member like her.

This was merely a prank to make Shinichi Kudo realize the dangers of his childish detective games, forcing him to give up illusions and face reality.

However, just a few steps later, she suddenly froze.

Because the lights in Dr. Agasa’s laboratory were on at this time!

That made no sense; Dr. Agasa should have been asleep by now. There shouldn’t be any lights on unless someone else was inside…

Creak—

The door to Dr. Agasa’s laboratory was unlocked.

Conan pushed it open fiercely.

His eyes swept the cluttered room, but there was no sign of Dr. Agasa, and his anxiety deepened.

Then, the elementary school Grim Reaper’s heart tightened sharply as he saw a terrifying silhouette.

Without hesitation, he released a soccer ball, cranked the shoe’s power to maximum, and launched a fierce shot!

Whoosh—

The ball raced through the air with the sound of slicing wind.

But to Conan’s surprise, the figure turned their head, caught the speeding ball with the back of their hand, tossed it down, and stomped hard, crushing the ball instantly!

“Isn’t it a bit late to be playing soccer?”

Even Kō Mitsu, standing there, looked puzzled.

Has this elementary school Grim Reaper lost his mind? Charging in with a kick like that? Was he trying to kill?

His gaze landed on Ai Haibara, who appeared right behind Conan, a little out of breath from running so fast.

Then Kō Mitsu said,

“Shinichi Kudo, you’re too emotional and not very calm. You’re not used to thinking things through.”

“You should understand one thing… if I wanted to kill you, you wouldn’t even have the chance to kick a soccer ball!”