"Speaking of cool, though, I think Jodie-sensei's shooting is even more refined."
Fujino looked at Jodie, a slight smile playing on his lips, and chuckled: "After all, that way of holding and positioning the gun... it's just too professional, like a real police detective."
Jodie was momentarily taken aback.
Clearly, she hadn't expected her unconscious use of shooting technique to be noticed.
These detectives in Japan... they're a little scary...
Thinking quickly, she immediately came up with a response, saying in a slightly strange cadence, "Oh~ you're too kind! Actually, I did learn how to shoot back in America, so when it comes to shooting games or whatever, I just can't help but use it."
Fujino's expression was normal: "Is that how it is? I'm actually quite envious; getting to touch a real gun."
"It's nothing much... By the way, do you guys want to play something exciting?"
Jodie changed the subject: "This arcade has the number one ranked fighting game right now!"
...
Afterward, the group went to an arcade cabinet called [Super Warrior Spirit].
Ran was the first to sit down. As the devices locked onto her hands and feet, she was immediately surprised.
Jodie leaned in beside Ran and gently pushed a button on the right.
Then, a muscular man appeared on the game machine's large screen and threw a punch towards the screen.
"Ah—"
Ran tilted her head. "My face is already numb..."
"The damage taken in the game gets feedback to the player?"
Fujino stared at the arcade machine in front of him, his eyes narrowing slightly.
He was getting less and less sure about the technology in this 'Conan World'.
In the future, there might even be things like contactless brain-computer games similar to the metaverse.
Things like this didn't even exist in the future he came from.
But then again, there's a soccer ball that can kick a satellite into pieces, and a belt that lets you fall from a hundred-meter-tall building without a scratch.
Thinking about it, you really can't apply common sense to the Conan World.
Whose normal world has people dying every day, anyway?
"Fujino-kun guessed correctly! The damage taken in this fighting game is indeed transmitted back to the player."
Jodie nodded in agreement: "Although it just feels numb, it is a bit tough for girls."
"Is that how it is?"
Ran's face darkened, and she stared straight at the muscular man on the screen, her eyes narrowed.
"..." Conan broke into a cold sweat, seeing that Ran was getting serious.
The combat power of an enraged Unicorn doubled, and soon, the muscular man on the screen was taken out in one combo.
Fortunately, the machine was quite sturdy and wasn't broken by the serious Unicorn Maiden.
"As expected of Ran!"
"That was amazing..."
Just as Ran had won, a character with a bare chest suddenly appeared on the screen, pointing and saying: "I'm gonna take you down!"
"What does this mean?"
Ran looked at the screen, a little confused.
"That means the opponent is challenging you."
Jodie looked back at the arcade cabinet behind them: "You need to be careful; that's a very strong player."
"Okay..."
Ran also looked back, then her eyes became determined.
However, as soon as the fight began, Ran took two solid punches to her abdomen and chest.
"Ah—"
"Damn it!"
The pain was transmitted simultaneously, causing Ran to let out a small cry.
Fujino's eyes narrowed slightly, and he turned his head to look at the man behind them.
At this moment, the corner of the man's mouth was slightly turned up.
Clearly, those two hits just now were deliberate...
Fujino turned his head back, focusing on the character on the screen, and said gravely: "A fighting game isn't a real fight; you don't need to be confined by normal karate techniques. Your competitive karate footwork is too inflexible, making it easy for your opponent to hit you."
"I understand!"
Ran nodded.
Although she handled things a bit easier after that, she still lost in the end.
"We lost..."
Sonoko looked at the screen display, appearing a bit surprised.
"That's a shame..."
Jodie folded her arms across her chest, looking a little regretful.
"You lost, now hurry up and move aside, little ladies!"
The man took off his headset, turned around, and said arrogantly: "That golden throne is my exclusive spot..."
Fujino turned his head and glanced over.
It was a square-faced man with a凶煞 (fierce) expression and golden hair, wearing a tank top and jeans.
Yep, a typical punk.
"How annoying!"
Sonoko was a bit displeased: "Ran, let's play one more round. This time, we'll definitely teach him a lesson..."
"Impossible!"
A curly-haired man in a suit vest walked over, opened the arcade machine's coin box, and interrupted: "Bitou is an old player of this game. He's mastered all the buttons on the joystick. There's no way beginners like you can win."
"Cute girls, can you move out of the seats now?"
Just then, Bitou walked over, his eyes appraising the group, and said flippantly: "If you don't want to move, you can play the game while sitting on my lap, you know!"
"Damn it..."
Hearing this, Conan was immediately annoyed and clenched his fists, wanting to give Bitou a kick to the head.
Meanwhile, Fujino's eyes narrowed slightly. He turned his head and chuckled softly towards the man: "Hey, you. You said this is your exclusive spot. Is your name written here?"
"Huh?"
The man looked at Fujino upon hearing his voice: "This has always been my exclusive spot. Ask anyone, who doesn't know that? I'm not making a big deal out of it today because you're new. If it were anyone else..."
"I see."
Fujino nodded: "In other words, you're the punk who hangs out in the arcade all day, treats this place like home, and even made a name for himself... an unemployed bum, right?"
"What did you say?!"
The man immediately came up to Fujino, looking agitated.
"Do you want to fight?"
Fujino glanced at the man, his eyes narrowed slightly. At the same time, a strange aura surged around him.
The man suddenly felt a chill down his spine. His steps halted, and he froze on the spot.
Just as Fujino said, he was indeed a punk, and he had even joined a yakuza group...
As someone from a yakuza group, he was all too familiar with this kind of aura. However, he had only ever seen this kind of presence from the boss of his gang.
Just who is this guy?
The man couldn't help but swallow.
"But fighting someone like you... feels beneath me..."
Fujino didn't pay attention to the man's reaction. He turned his head and continued: "How about this? Let's have a match, you and me?"
"Heh heh, you want to challenge me at the game?"
The man smiled coldly: "When you get beaten and start crying later, don't go running to your mommy!"
He had completely mastered this game.
He had mastered the technique of landing multiple hits without killing the opponent, while maximizing the pain feedback.
Although it wouldn't cause any physical harm, the continuous pain would still make people cry.
Fujino also curved his mouth slightly.
He had figured out this game too.
While the pain has a set amount, the sensitivity of pain receptors in different parts of the body isn't the same. Playing this game with someone who understands medical knowledge like him...
(End of Chapter)