85: Chapter 85: The Part-Time Job Emperor, Amuro Tooru

Inside Cafe Poirot, across from Fujino's apartment building.

Fujino sat at a wooden table, staring strangely at the dark-skinned, blond-haired man in a cafe uniform working nearby.

The blond man was none other than Bourbon of the Black Organization, aka Amuro Tooru, aka the Part-Time Job Emperor (Furuya Rei).

Fujino couldn't fathom why Amuro Tooru was suddenly working here.

Is he here to monitor me?

That shouldn't be right.

Logically, if my identity was compromised, I should have been eliminated already.

Fujino frowned, unable to figure out the Part-Time Emperor's motives.

Eventually, he decided not to dwell on it.

Since it's Tooru... it's probably fine. Although technically part of the Organization, he was actually an undercover agent for the Japanese Public Security Bureau.

Fake liquor.

Meanwhile, Ran and Sonoko, sitting beside Fujino, looked back and forth between him and Amuro, blinking as if they'd discovered a new continent.

Amuro Tooru, while carrying a tray, subtly glanced towards Fujino.

His expression, hidden from everyone else, was unusually complex.

Honestly, he was a bit baffled too.

The situation had become decidedly weird.

"Excuse me, what can I get for you?"

Amuro Tooru was the first to break the silence, approaching Fujino's table and greeting him smoothly, hiding ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠his internal surprise.

"By the way," Fujino interjected casually,

"you look new. I haven't seen you here before. Did you just start?"

"That's right," Amuro replied with a pleasant smile, nodding.

"My name is Amuro Tooru. I just started working here part-time yesterday."

"I see..." Fujino nodded.

"Just a regular spaghetti bolognese for me."

Amuro then turned his attention to Ran and Sonoko.

"And for you ladies, what would you like?"

"A crepe, please."

"Same for me."

"Certainly."

Amuro expertly noted down their orders, nodded politely, and headed towards the kitchen.

After Amuro left, Ran and Sonoko turned to Fujino curiously.

"Fujino-senpai, do you really not know Mr. Amuro?"

"How could I possibly know him?" Fujino chuckled lightly.

"I think you two are overthinking it."

Honestly, he'd noticed it too.

His own appearance did bear a striking resemblance to Amuro Tooru.

No, more than resemblance, it was almost like they were palette swaps of each other...

Did a certain Mr. Aoyama get lazy with character design again?

"But you two really look so much alike!"

"Mr. Amuro resembling me is probably just a coincidence," Fujino demurred. "There are plenty of people in the world who look similar, after all."

He paused, then added playfully,

"Who knows, Ran, Sonoko, maybe you'll meet your own doppelgangers someday."

The two girls just nodded skeptically, not pressing the issue further.

But ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠internally, they thought, "Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

How could there be people who look exactly alike?

Meanwhile, outside the cafe window, a small figure was perched on the windowsill.

Conan stared intently at Amuro Tooru inside, his brow furrowed.

Just moments ago, he'd felt an unprecedented sense of danger, similar to when he encountered members of the Black Organization.

But the feeling wasn't coming from Fujino... it was coming from the dark-skinned guy!

He was confused.

Fujino was one thing, but why did this dark-skinned stranger ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠make his danger sense tingle?

Was it just because he looked so much like Fujino?

Was he just being paranoid?

After finishing breakfast at Cafe Poirot, Fujino and the others drove to Matsumoto Sayuri's wedding venue.

The place was already bustling with people, including many socialites often seen in the news.

Sonoko and Ran spent the time greeting former classmates and upperclassmen.

As for Fujino, he didn't really have anyone to greet.

He barely knew anyone there, and no one approached him either.

Which made sense, actually.

The original Fujino was a loner, quiet and reserved, so he hadn't made many friends in elementary or junior high.

Furthermore, his excellent grades, somewhat aloof demeanor, and wealthy background (parents owning a conglomerate) had made him a target of jealousy for many.

Random pranks and bullying were common occurrences.

Of course, unlike Kudo Shinichi's arrogant confidence, Fujino's aloofness was genuine detachment.

Thinking back, though...

His good looks and cool aura had attracted quite a few admirers back then.

Too bad the original Fujino hadn't seized those opportunities.

"Ms. Matsumoto!"

Sonoko pushed open the door to the bride's preparation room first.

Inside, they saw a woman in her late twenties. She wore a stunning white, off-the-shoulder, floor-length wedding gown. Her hair was styled elegantly upwards, adorned with white flowers, from which extended a long white veil cascading down her back. Long, sheer white gloves covered her arms, resembling ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠white silk.

Fujino recognized the beautiful woman immediately – obviously the bride, Matsumoto Sayuri.

Seeing her, Ran, Sonoko, and Conan all stared, momentarily speechless.

Fujino, however, frowned slightly, lost in thought.

He remembered quite a few boys back then had crushes on her.

With her looks, she appealed to all ages.

Pushing the thought aside, Fujino glanced at Conan, who was still standing there dumbstruck.

This kid Conan... back when he was Kudo Shinichi, he apparently had a crush on Matsumoto Sayuri too. Tried desperately to act dumb to get her attention.

The result? A stern lecture from Ms. Matsumoto.

"Ah, Ran-chan, Sonoko-chan."

Noticing them enter, Sayuri greeted them first, but then looked at Fujino with confusion.

"And this is...?"

Fujino: "..."

See? This is why he hated coming to weddings where he knew the couple, but they didn't necessarily know him. It was just awkward.

"Ms. Matsumoto, don't tell me you forgot?" Fujino deadpanned.

"Fujino Douji. You taught me."

"Oh! Fujino-kun!" Recognition dawned on Matsumoto Sayuri's face.

"How could I forget the quiet boy who was always singing off-key?"

Besides Kudo Shinichi, Fujino was probably the student who left the deepest impression on her.

Sang as badly off-key as Shinichi, but was even more aloof and proud.

Of course, unlike Shinichi who pretended to be silly, Fujino was genuinely... detached.

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