Before heading to sleep, Akashi remembered his last task of the day: punching in. Dutifully, he completed the check-in, though the system merely rewarded him with an upgrade to 『Updraft』 , raising it to Level 2.
The result felt lackluster, leaving Akashi disheartened. With a sigh, he buried himself in the warm embrace of sleep, seeking solace in the chilly world around him.
Nestled between Ran and Sonoko, Akashi's small head instinctively sought comfort, nuzzling against Ran.
"Akashi, you can't do that!" Ran chided softly, though a hint of amusement colored her voice. "Haha, what a naughty boy."
But suddenly, her tone shifted. "Hey, wait… whose hand is this? It's so big!"
From the other side, Sonoko let out a mischievous laugh. "Not bad, Ran! Looks like you've grown up again~"
Ran's cheeks reddened as she pinched Sonoko lightly in retaliation.
"Stop it, Sonoko! Akashi's right here—don't corrupt the child!"
Meanwhile, poor Akashi found himself the unintended victim of their playful antics.
As the two women continued to tease and jostle, Akashi endured the occasional pinch or accidental shove, caught in the crossfire with no means of escape. He felt powerless, sandwiched between their playful chaos.
*Akashi blinked up at Ran and Sonoko, feeling overwhelmed by their playful antics. He squirmed uncomfortably between them, trying to avoid the occasional pinch or shove that came his way.
*"Owww!" he cried out as Ran's elbow dug into his side. "That hurts!" Sonoko chuckled, her hand coming to rest on Akashi's shoulder. "Aw, poor baby. Looks like the big girls are too rough for you to handle."
*Ran's cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and she quickly pulled back. "I'm sorry, Akashi. I didn't mean to hurt you."
Finally, desperation forced him to act. Drawing upon his resolve, Akashi's "right hand of justice" delivered swift, decisive strikes.
The results were immediate. Both Ran and Sonoko fell quiet, their playful antics quelled by Akashi's unrelenting retaliation.
Peace at last.
Conan, blissfully unaware of the nocturnal drama unfolding nearby, continued to slumber peacefully, the anesthesia-induced sleep carrying him straight through the night.
When morning came, the villa stirred to life. Conan awoke groggily, his eyes fluttering open. A sense of unease nagged at him as the events of the previous night crept back into his mind.
"Ran!" he called instinctively, sitting up abruptly. His gaze darted to the big bed next to him.
Empty.
Not only was the bed vacant, but the sheets and blankets were gone as well.
Panic surged through Conan. His last memory was of Ran, Sonoko, and Akashi lying together. Had something happened after he passed out? Was Akashi's activation of the anesthesia needle an accident—or deliberate?
Unable to shake his unease, Conan leaped out of bed and rushed downstairs.
The sight that greeted him in the villa's living room was both reassuring and puzzling. Ran, Sonoko, and Ayako sat comfortably, sipping tea as police officers moved in and out of the house.
Before Conan could voice his questions, Ayako looked up and greeted him warmly.
"Conan-kun, you're finally awake! Why did you sleep so late? Hurry and have breakfast—we'll head back after you eat."
"Head back? But… the suspension bridge—"
"It's still under repair," Ayako interrupted. "But a helicopter has been arranged. We'll be flying back later."
Hearing this, Conan fell silent. While his questions about the previous night lingered, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of relief.
At least, for now, the ordeal was over.
The Suzuki Foundation's wealth and influence were on full display. Even in such a remote setting, they had arranged for travel by helicopter—a privilege far beyond the reach of most.
In the villa's living room, Inspector Megure snapped his folder shut and addressed the group.
"All right, the transcript for this case is complete. Please remain available; if needed, we may ask you to visit the Metropolitan Police Department for further questioning. For now, we'll take the suspect into custody."
With that, Officer Takagi stepped forward and began escorting the restrained Ryoichi out of the room.
Ryoichi's gaze burned with malice as he glared at Akashi, his eyes brimming with venom. If looks could kill, Akashi might not have left the villa alive.
But the little boy, unaffected and indifferent, didn't spare him a glance.
Meanwhile, standing by the sofa was a striking policewoman dressed in a crisp women's suit and pristine white gloves. Her short, tidy hair and elegant features bore a resemblance to Sumiko Kobayashi from Teitan Elementary School.
"Inspector Megure," she began, her tone uncertain, "are you sure about submitting the transcript like this?
"Will the higher-ups even approve it? A child solving a case—it defies logic!"
As she voiced her doubts, the policewoman couldn't resist stepping closer. Her gloved fingers reached out to lightly poke Akashi's porcelain-like cheeks.
Ran, visibly protective, immediately pulled the boy she was holding away.
"Officer Sato, Akashi really did solve the case!" Ran exclaimed. "He's incredibly smart!"
The policewoman, none other than the famed "flower of the Metropolitan Police Department," Miwako Sato, raised an eyebrow. Her disbelief was evident.
"Yes, yes, I can see he's clever," she said, crouching down to meet Akashi's eyes. "But no matter how intelligent a child is, there are limits, right?"
Inspector Megure quickly chimed in to defend Akashi. "Sato-kun, you're underestimating him. This isn't his first case—he's solved one before."
Miwako's violet eyes widened in surprise as she studied the boy more closely.
"Well then, it seems I misjudged you," she admitted. "But solving cases is still a job for the police. Kids should focus on school!"
With a pat on Akashi's head, she rose and joined the other officers as they prepared to leave.
The Metropolitan Police Department had arrived in style, via helicopter, and they left the same way. Cases involving high-profile families like the Suzuki clan clearly received special attention. Were it any other crime, the local county police would have handled it without much fuss.
Once the police departed, Ayako took charge, signaling for everyone to gather their belongings. The group exited the villa, where two sleek helicopters awaited them.
A butler accompanied the helicopters, having flown in earlier that morning. The Suzuki family, understandably anxious about the disappearance of both daughters, had acted swiftly. The butler not only assessed the situation but also alerted the authorities, prompting the Metropolitan Police Department's rapid response.
Under the butler's guidance, everyone boarded the helicopters in an orderly fashion, ready to leave the villa behind.
Conan, however, remained silent.
Despite his curiosity about what transpired the previous night, he chose not to ask the question burning in his mind:
Did Akashi really sleep with Ran and Sonoko?!