Case NOT Closed

As Kensuke walked out of the police station with the relevant photocopies, it was almost evening.

Scanning the area, he spotted Haibara riding the rocking horse in front of the convenience store where they had arrived earlier.

“Dad’s dad is grandpa, dad’s mom is grandma.”

“Hey, didn’t you say you’re already eighteen? Aren’t you too old for this?” Kensuke scrutinized Haibara, who was holding a Japanese-style skewered dumpling, her mouth full of sugar foam.

“Looks like you’re having quite a blast,” he remarked.

“None of your business,” Haibara retorted, taking another bite of her dumpling.

“Where did you get that?” Kensuke asked. “And, I remember I only inserted one coin. You didn’t spend all your pocket money on this, did you?”

“I got this from the old lady at the convenience store, and she also let me ride the rocking horse,” Haibara replied, waving to the elderly lady inside.

The old lady smiled and nodded at her.

Glancing at the store and then at the dumpling in Haibara’s hand, Kensuke clicked his tongue.

“I mean, are you stupid? Why are you accepting a food from total strangers?, aren’t you afraid they might have put something in it? What if they drugged you and sold you off?”

“Why are you so dirty-minded? Always thinking the worst of people?” Haibara rolled her eyes.

“I know the old lady; we’ve met before at the police station. She kindly offered me food and let me play on the rocking horse. Why do you turn her into some malicious schemer? Seems like your heart’s been eaten by dogs.”

“I think you’re blinded by pig lard, living your life like a dog even at eighteen,” Kensuke retorted without holding back.

“Remember, don’t assume the best in people. Age, gender, appearance—they’re not always reliable indicators. There are no purely good people in this world; even the gentlest sheep have teeth. The prey you see might just be a hunter in disguise.”

“I don’t care,” Haibara rolled her eyes.

Kensuke always seemed to come up with these nonsensical theories that seemed irredeemable to others.

She glanced at the documents in Kensuke’s hand.

“Is everything sorted out?”

“Yeah, these things are pretty useful.”

Kensuke took out the photocopies of Tatsuya Nagai’s information and showed them to her.

It contained some personal information about Tatsuya Nagai, as well as some statements from the police about him being questioned regarding the stalking of Nishitani Miho.

“There’s his phone number and social media accounts in there. You can investigate and see if you can find any useful information.”

“Got it.”

Haibara nodded, taking the documents.

She stared at Kensuke’s face, a slight smirk forming on her lips.

“Considering your personality, did you just go into the police station and give those officers a piece of your mind?”

Kensuke raised an eyebrow. “You seem to know me pretty well.”

“You—” Haibara sighed. “You’ve managed to antagonize so many people, even the police. Aren’t you afraid that these people might try to sabotage you in the future, or come up with excuses or resort to dirty tactics to harm you?”

“No, no, no, they won’t.”

Kensuke smiled.

It was a smile that only appeared when he was deciphering people’s intentions.

“From Ran Mouri to Kogoro Mouri, from Inspector Megure to Conan, everyone I’ve encountered so far, they won’t.”

“Why?” Haibara asked.

“Because they’ve all shown anger towards me before, whether it’s shouting or wanting to hit me. That shows their blood is still hot, it’s boiling, and they themselves enjoy that boiling sensation,” Kensuke explained.

“As long as they keep treating me like this, they won’t do anything against what they expect, something that can make their blood boil. Understand?”

“Okay,” Haibara nodded.

Kensuke’s words were abstract, but she understood the gist of it.

That’s why he dared to be so reckless and confrontational with these people.

“You’re truly despicable, exploiting others’ sense of justice and goodwill,” she remarked.

“What justice? It’s just self-satisfaction. Can’t you see they’re using justice to commit their own acts? When it’s the other that breaks the laws, it’s bad, but when they break it, they justify it by saying it’s for good, right?”

The two continued their usual banter as they walked home.

It was already late, so they decided to rest and plan for the next few days.

Haibara also had to investigate Tatsuya Nagai’s information given to her by Kensuke, aiming to finish the work before going to bed.

However, the matter was put on hold that night.

Because she had a stomach ache and had to go to the bathroom five or six times in a row.

“I told you not to eat random stuff from others,” Kensuke sighed, knocking on the bathroom door. “Now you’ve got me unable to use the bathroom.”

“Quit nagging!”

From the bathroom came Haibara’s weak voice.

“How was I supposed to know the dumplings were about to expire?”

“Of course they’ll give them to you if they’re not expired? Do you think someone’s running a charity here?”

Haibara didn’t have the energy to argue with Kensuke anymore.

There was a sound of rustling from the bathroom.

When she came out, her face was pale. The slight blush that was on her face before was now gone, making her look like she had been sucked dry by a vampire.

“It’s said that pretty girls’ waste smells good, but yours smells worse than a donkey’s,” Kensuke couldn’t help teasing her.

Haibara glared at him fiercely, then ignored him and stumbled to the sofa. She flopped down and pulled the blanket over herself, falling asleep in a huff.

The night passed without incident.

The next afternoon, Kensuke instructed Haibara to do her part of the work.

Then, he dressed himself in a blue worker’s uniform, grabbed a toolbox, and took a tram to Green Platform Street No. 3.

It was near Beika Town. Following the information from the file, he arrived at Tatsuya Nagai’s apartment.

He knocked on the door. A man opened it shortly after.

The man had slightly dark skin, long hair tied back, and a somewhat gloomy demeanor.

Kensuke put on a friendly expression. “Hello, is this Nagai-san’s residence? I’m from the property management company here to fix the water pipes.”

Tatsuya Nagai sized up Kensuke and nodded, letting him in.

“I’m going to take a nap. Don’t mess with my stuff,” Tatsuya Nagai warned, his tone ominous. “Keep your movements quiet and don’t wake me up, or I’ll file a complaint against you.”

“Don’t worry, I’m always careful,” Kensuke smiled.

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

Soon enough, he started snoring.