"Inspector Megure, I'm free to go now, right?"
Tsuneo was, for once, truly an innocent bystander. He had been diligent enough to pick up a job just before dinner, only to stumble headfirst into yet another "incident."
"When you have a moment, stop by the Metropolitan Police Department," Inspector Megure replied, his voice heavy with a profound sense of weariness. "You're still a few statements short of a full record."
The Inspector was at a loss for words. It seemed that no matter where this particular group went, trouble followed like a faithful shadow. Just yesterday, they had attended a banquet together, and the entire building had ended up being blown to smithereens.
Several days passed.
Aside from fulfilling orders for a few loyal regulars, Tsuneo didn't take on any new work. Life in Beika District was becoming increasingly… unhinged.
"Every time you show up at my door, I find myself fearing for the other tenants in this building," Tsuneo said, pouring a glass of water and pulling up a chair.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You living here is already the greatest misfortune they could face," Conan replied through a surgical mask. His voice was raspy and muffled, as if he'd come down with yet another cold.
Conan shook his head, momentarily thinking back to the couple who used to live in this very unit. Shortly after their breakup, a gruesome case had broken out here. That was the only reason this second-floor room had become vacant in the first place.
"You'd better have a good reason for being here," Tsuneo said, reaching out to rest his palm on the "brat's" head with a smirk.
"..."
"Don't tell me you forgot? We're going to Sonoko's family villa in Karuizawa today," Conan said, letting out a sharp sneeze and shooting the handyman a side-eye.
Uncle Mouri had surprisingly volunteered for the task, claiming he'd be the chauffeur for the group. Conan had stopped by Dr. Agasa's place first before heading to Tsuneo's to wait for the pickup.
Beep! Beep!
As if on cue, the blare of a horn sounded from outside the window.
Tsuneo leaned out to look. Parked below was a flashy, imported red convertible. In the driver's seat sat Mouri Kogoro, looking entirely too pleased with himself behind a pair of dark sunglasses.
"Well... that's certainly a bit showy," Tsuneo remarked.
"Alright, everyone! Next stop: Karuizawa!" Sonoko cheered, her spirit radiating enough energy to power a small city.
"You kids better keep an eye on that brat. Don't let him spread his cold to the rest of us," Kogoro warned, glancing through the rearview mirror at the two girls and the pint-sized detective in the back.
"A-choo!" 'Director' Conan obliged with a timely sneeze.
"Honestly," Kogoro grumbled, "I went through the trouble of asking the owner of the Poirot café downstairs to look after you, and he agreed, but you just had to sneak out anyway."
"He's a bit of a clinger," Tsuneo commented dryly.
"I was just really curious about Sonoko-neechan's new villa!" Conan said with a forced, innocent grin.
In reality, it was Sonoko's tone on the phone that had him worried. She sounded like she was plotting something, and that was never a good sign for his peace of mind.
Up front, Sonoko leaned in close to Ran's ear, whispering a frantic string of gibberish.
"Eh?!" Ran gasped.
"Capturing a man's heart through tennis?" The plan was, to put it mildly, a bit outside Ran's expectations.
Tsuneo and Kogoro both glanced at her through the mirror simultaneously.
Is Kyogoku Makoto even still alive in her mind? Tsuneo wondered.
"At this time of year, the tennis courts near the villa are crawling with college guys," Sonoko explained, catching the skeptical looks from the rest of the car. "But today isn't about me. Today, Ran is going to be the one doing the capturing!"
"..."
"Just think about it! Ran in a tennis outfit, showing off that gorgeous figure... once a college guy bites the bait, we snap a photo and send it right to Kudo!"
The 'King of Jealousy' would surely have a reaction worth seeing.
"Master, what do you think?" Tsuneo turned to Kogoro. Feel like picking out a son-in-law at the courts later?
"Hehe, I even went out of my way to prepare a special outfit for you. You have to change into it once we arrive!" Sonoko reached for her travel bag and began rummaging through it. "It's a micro-mini style! Super cute, right?"
Sonoko pulled out a piece of fabric. No—calling it a 'piece' was generous. It looked like half a hand towel.
"Cough! Cough!" Even Tsuneo, who considered himself well-traveled and seen-it-all, nearly choked on his mineral water.
The skirt was barely larger than the palm of a hand.
Conan, sitting by the window, leaned over to get a look at what Sonoko was holding.
"!!!"
The little detective's eyes nearly popped out of his skull.
"There is no way I can wear that! Besides, I didn't even bring safety shorts!" Ran's face was turning a shade of red that rivaled the car's paint job. A skirt that short probably wasn't even something you could find in a normal store; it was completely over the line.
"Well, then just go out there in your underwear," Sonoko joked, still brandishing the tiny skirt like a trophy.
"..."
Ran and Conan shared identical expressions: mouths agape, faces crimson, and utterly speechless.
Tsuneo stared straight ahead, keeping his mouth shut. High schoolers these days... Sonoko really is something else. Wealthy socialites certainly have a different definition of 'scenery.'
"Hey, knock it off," Kogoro protested. "If this is all just to make my daughter look like a fool for that detective brat, I'm turning the car around!"
In the corner of the backseat, Conan was busy rubbing his own head, trying to clear his mind. The image of her playing tennis in that... it's unthinkable. But... I kind of want to see it...
"Hehehe, you know, Uncle... there are going to be plenty of college girls there with amazing bodies. The sight of them playing tennis..." Sonoko leaned forward, whispering into Kogoro's ear.
"Will they also be playing in just their underwear?" Tsuneo asked, unable to resist the jab.
"OHHHH!"
Kogoro slammed his foot onto the gas pedal.
Full speed ahead!
A long while later.
At a tennis court on the edge of the mountain forest.
The five of them stood huddled under umbrellas, staring blankly at the empty, desolate courts. The moment they had stepped out of the car, a torrential downpour had moved in. They had walked over anyway, clinging to a shred of hope, but the "lively" scene Sonoko promised was nowhere to be found.
"Are you disappointed?" Tsuneo looked down and asked a certain someone.
"Heh... luckily it started raining..." Conan shook his head vigorously, trying to eject the intrusive thoughts from his brain.
Though... if I had a tennis court at my own house...
Tsuneo looked at him. The kid's expression was undeniably lecherous.
"Oh?"
"Is that someone over there on the court?" Kogoro had been hoping for the legendary college girls, but seeing a man standing under an umbrella, his interest vanished instantly. He walked off to the side to light a cigarette.
"Excuse me, is something wrong?" Ran asked. She noticed the man had his back to them, staring up at the sky without moving.
"It's nothing. I was just reminiscing about the first time I met my wife here," the man replied, turning around to face them.
He appeared to be in his thirties, dressed in athletic gear with slightly long hair tied back with a headband. He certainly looked the part of a tennis player.
"Are you all here to practice?"
"Actually, I'm a tennis coach. I could give you some pointers if you like. My house is just nearby..." He introduced himself with a warm, helpful demeanor.
"Cough, cough, cough!" Kogoro barked out a series of fake coughs from the sidelines, interrupting the man. Instruction in this weather? Give me a break. He looked at the man like he was a predator with an agenda.
"You've certainly got guts," Tsuneo muttered as the man turned to lead the way.
Do you have any idea what happens when you invite this specific group of people into your home?
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