33: Chapter 33: A Fleeting Glimpse

"Fujino-senpai, you know how to defuse bombs too?!"

Ran stared at Fujino, her expression a mixture of disbelief and awe.

"Ahem."

Fujino cleared his throat, pausing for effect before scratching the back of his head nonchalantly.

"Well, you know, I am a full-time professional detective. Isn't knowing how to handle explosives kind of part of the job description?"

He quickly changed the subject again.

"Anyway, Ran, what brings you guys to Kyoto?"

"Oh, it's for a wedding,"

she explained with a light laugh.

"One of Dad's friends is getting married here today... Plus, I've never really been to Kyoto before, so I thought I'd tag along and see the sights."

Ran didn't press the bomb defusal issue further.

In her experience, detectives often possessed strange and varied skillsets.

Don't ask how she knew; Shinichi was just like that.

Because of the whole bomb incident on the Shinkansen, Fujino ended up getting questioned by the Kyoto police.

However, once they confirmed his 'high school detective' status, they didn't give him too much trouble.

Their logic seemed to be: "High school students can't defuse bombs... wait, you're a high school detective? Oh, never mind then."

Normal high schooler? No. High school detective? Perfectly fine.

Makes sense. Very Conan-logical!

As for Conan and Ran... since they weren't directly involved, they were released shortly after arriving and immediately headed off with Kogoro Mouri to the wedding.

The woman carrying the bomb, however, hadn't regained consciousness since Fujino's shoulder throw.

The police had stretchered her off to the hospital and would question her once she woke up.

Sunset, outside the Kyoto Prefectural Police Headquarters.

Fujino stood on the sidewalk, taking in the traditional yet modern streetscape.

"So, this is Kyoto, huh?" he murmured.

A strange sense of familiarity washed over him, like he'd been here before, yet he had no memory of the original Fujino ever visiting Kyoto.

Déjà vu? he wondered.

"Vroom!"

The roar of a powerful engine snapped him out of his thoughts.

He looked up just as a pristine white Rolls-Royce swept past.

Fujino instantly recognized the classic model, complete with the silver Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament...

That car alone was worth more than his entire building, probably several times over.

"Is everyone in Kyoto this loaded?" Fujino muttered, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Meanwhile, inside the passing Rolls-Royce.

Amidst the luxurious interior, a girl sitting in the back seat leaned close to the window, gazing intently at the figure standing on the sidewalk, her expression lost in thought.

She was strikingly pretty, dressed in a grey and white school uniform, her shoulder-length brown hair falling in soft curls. Two small red studs adorned her earlobes.

Only after the familiar figure disappeared from view did she settle back into her seat.

"Young Miss," the chauffeur glanced in the rearview mirror,

"did you see someone you know back there?"

"No,"

the girl replied softly,

"he just... looked familiar."

"Perhaps an old acquaintance you haven't seen in years?"

"An old acquaintance?"

The girl pondered the suggestion, a hint of sadness touching her voice.

"No... I was probably mistaken."

She turned her gaze towards the setting sun outside the window, a wistful smile playing on her lips.

"The one I'm looking for... is in Tokyo..."

Nightfall. A wooded area on the outskirts of Kyoto.

Fujino, now wearing a simple black Batman-style mask and carrying the Okamoto Momoka 0.01, followed the system's directions deep into the deserted woods.

A red dot pulsed on his internal heads-up display, marking the location of his target: Numabuchi Kiichiro.

Following the marker, Fujino pushed through a dense thicket and emerged into a small clearing.

In the center stood a single yellow tent, a faint glow emanating from within.

If the system was correct, this was Numabuchi's current hideout.

"Who's there?!"

A sharp voice suddenly called out from inside the tent, alerted by the rustling leaves.

The figure inside stood up abruptly, slashed through the tent fabric with a blade, and burst ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠out.

"Impressive senses..."

Fujino stepped out from the bushes, deliberately deepening his voice.

"Are you Numabuchi Kiichiro?"

The man across the clearing, Numabuchi, remained silent, but his muscles tensed, coiling like a spring.

By the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠faint moonlight, Fujino could make out the details: a lean man, dressed simply, face gaunt, eyes darting nervously.

Definitely him.

Damn it, it must be them! They found me!

Panic flared in Numabuchi's eyes. He gripped the dagger in his hand tighter, his thin frame suddenly surging with desperate energy.

He launched himself forward, moving with startling speed like a cornered predator.

"You bastards! Go to hell!" he screamed, lunging at Fujino.

[Detective Enhancement Activated; Countdown: 0:01:59]

[Strength Boost Activated; Countdown: 0:00:59]

[Perception Boost Activated; Countdown: 0:00:59]

The system prompts flashed.

Facing Numabuchi's ferocious attack, Fujino remained outwardly calm, slowly raising his wooden sword...

When Numabuchi was less than two meters away, Fujino moved.

He shifted his weight slightly, angling the bokken towards his right hip, then lashed out with explosive force, intercepting the incoming dagger.

"CLANG!"

The sound of metal striking unnaturally hard wood rang through the clearing.

The impact vibrated up Numabuchi's arm, the intense pain nearly making him drop the dagger.

But he held on desperately.

Recoiling from the force, he rolled backward like a wild ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠animal, scrambling back to his feet several meters away, his eyes fixed warily on Fujino.

A normal person would have dropped the weapon after that blow, Fujino noted.

But Numabuchi didn't. He knew that losing his only weapon meant certain death.