Winning is everything: Conan

By the time Keisuke left the police station with the copies of the documents, it was already almost night.

He looked around for a moment and saw Ai riding a rocking horse outside the convenience store, swaying back and forth.

"Daddy's dad is grandpa, and daddy's mom is grandma."

"Hey, didn't you say you were eighteen? Didn't you say you didn't want to ride?"

Keisuke Kumiko looked Ai up and down. She was holding a skewer of Japanese dumplings, and the corners of her mouth were covered in sugary foam from eating.

"Looks like you're having a great time."

"None of your business."

Ai rolled her eyes and took a bite of the dumpling in her mouth.

"Where did you get the food?" Keisuke asked. "And I remember I only put in one coin. You didn't spend all your pocket money on this, did you?"

"The food was given to me by the old lady from the convenience store. She also asked me to ride the rocking horse."

Ai waved at the old lady in the store.

The old lady smiled and nodded in response.

Keisuke glanced inside the store, then looked at the dumplings in Ai's hand and clicked his tongue.

"Seriously, are you stupid? You dare to accept food from a stranger? Who knows what their intentions are? Aren't you afraid it's drugged and they'll sell you off?"

"Why are you such a filthy-minded person? Always thinking the worst of others?"

Ai pursed her lips.

"I met the old lady earlier when I arrived at the police station. She was kind enough to invite me to eat and let me ride the rocking horse. How did she become a premeditated villain in your mind? I think your heart has been eaten by a dog."

"I think you're the one blinded by greed. You're living a dog's life at eighteen."

Keisuke shot back without hesitation.

"Remember, don't think too highly of others. Age, gender, and appearance aren't things you can use to judge someone. There's no such thing as an absolutely kind person in this world. Even the gentlest sheep have teeth. The prey you see might just be a hunter in disguise."

"I don't want to talk to you anymore."

Ai rolled her eyes again.

Keisuke was always spouting some inexplicable nonsense, as if he had no hope for humanity.

She glanced at the documents in his hand.

"Is everything ready?"

"Yeah, this stuff will be pretty useful."

Keisuke pulled out a copy of Nagai Tatsuya's information and showed it to her.

It contained his personal details, along with police reports about his stalking of Miho Nishitani.

"It has his phone number and social media. You can investigate later and see if you can dig up any useful information."

"Alright."

Ai nodded and took the file.

She stared at Keisuke Kumiko's face and smirked slightly.

"Knowing you, I bet you cursed at those cops back at the station, didn't you?"

Keisuke raised an eyebrow. "Looks like you know me pretty well."

"You..." Ai sighed. "You've offended so many people, and you even dare to curse at the police. Aren't you afraid they'll make things difficult for you in the future? Or use some excuse or underhanded method to torture you to death?"

"No, no, no, those people wouldn't do that."

Keisuke smiled.

That kind of smile only appeared when he could see through people's hearts.

"That includes Mouri Ran, Mouri Kogoro, Inspector Megure, Conan, and all the others I've met so far. None of them would do such a thing."

"Why?" Ai asked.

"They've all lashed out at me before, whether by yelling or wanting to hit me. That proves their blood is still hot and boiling, and they enjoy that feeling of excitement."

Keisuke continued,

"As long as they keep reacting to me like that, they won't do anything that goes against their expectations and makes their blood run cold. Understand?"

"Yeah."

Ai nodded.

What Keisuke said was pretty abstract, but she got the general idea.

That's why he dared to be so reckless, always challenging those so-called righteous people whenever he got the chance.

"You deserve to die, taking advantage of others' sense of justice and kindness."

"What justice? It's nothing but self-righteousness. Don't you see how they break the law in the name of justice?"

"Others break the law to do good, but you break it to do bad, right?"

"Sorry, but there's no good or evil in the law. Besides, what law did I break? Got any proof?"

"A cultured thug, an unscrupulous lawyer who can write legal threats."

"This unscrupulous lawyer is still providing you with food and shelter. Why don't you thank me?"

"Thanks for not paying me?"

The two of them continued bickering as they walked home.

It was getting late, so they should rest for a bit and plan for the coming days.

Ai also had to use the information from Kumimon to investigate Nagai Tatsuya and try to finish the work before bed.

However, that night, everything was put on hold.

Because she had diarrhea and went to the bathroom five or six times in a row.

"I told you not to eat food from strangers."

Keisuke sighed and knocked on the bathroom door.

"You're making it impossible for me to use the toilet."

"Shut up!"

Ai's weak voice came from inside.

"How was I supposed to know the dumpling was about to expire?!"

"Come on, would she have given it to you for free if it wasn't? Do you think she runs the store out of charity?"

"Ugh..."

Ai didn't even have the strength to argue anymore.

A loud flush echoed from the toilet.

When she came out, her face was pale, and her slightly rosy complexion was now drained, as if she had been sucked dry by a vampire.

"They say pretty girls' poop smells nice, but yours stinks worse than a donkey's,"

Keisuke couldn't help but tease.

Ai glared at him but ignored it. She staggered to the sofa, flopped down, and fell asleep hugging the blanket, fuming.

No more words were exchanged that night.

The next afternoon, Keisuke assigned Ai to do the work she was supposed to.

Then he changed into a blue worker's uniform, grabbed a toolbox, took a tram, and arrived at Green Terrace Street No. 3.

This place was near Beika City.

Following the information from the file, he reached the apartment where Nagai Tatsuya lived.

He knocked on the door.

After a while, a man answered.

He had dark skin, long hair, and a somewhat gloomy expression.

Keisuke put on a friendly face.

"Hello, is this Mr. Nagai's residence? The real estate company sent me to fix the water pipes."

Nagai Tatsuya looked him up and down, nodded, and let him in.

"I want to sleep for a bit. Don't touch my stuff," Nagai warned in a grim tone. "Stay quiet and don't wake me up, or I'll report you."

"Don't worry, I'm always very careful with my work," Keisuke smiled.

Nagai glanced at him, then lay down and closed his eyes.

A while later, soft snores filled the room.

Last chapter today, thanks for supporting

(End of this chapter)