A/N: Two cases in one! Yay! I hope you like this.
Hiro was not impressed. And judging by Yuuko's face, neither was she.
"I should've taken Asuka-chan's invitation to the movies…" Yuuko muttered.
"Why didn't you?" Hiro asked.
"She had invited half of the class and I didn't feel like spending the evening with everyone after six hours in school… If it had been just Asuka-chan and Shoko-chan, it would've been fine."
"I see…" He turned back to look at the scene before them. The English teacher of Teitan High, one Jodie Saintemillion, was playing a shooting game. One of those with controllers shaped like pistols. And there was a gaggle of arcade visitors ogling on her. Either her skills or her outfit… which was short and lacy and burgundy in color.
"The notification didn't go through?" Hiro guessed.
"Or then it hasn't been sent yet."
"She shoots moderately well though."
"Despite the flair and show put up, she does have a professional touch in her aiming." Yuuko agreed.
"So the question is now… Whether she is Ver's ally or enemy…"
"Since they both are American, there is no doubt that Saintemillion followed that woman to Japan."
"In either case, we need to be wary of her. Nao-nee's position is difficult after all."
"But that doesn't stop us from investigating her." Yuuko pointed at the trio approaching the woman. Hiro grinned. Edogawa, Mouri and Suzuki. Perfect cover.
Okay, outing Saintemillion as a teacher was probably not clever. Considering her dress and the fact that she was gaming at an arcade… she could easily be fired. And thanks to the uniform the girls wore, the school could be identified as well.
Hiro and Yuuko settled on playing some whack-a-mole while the trio-now-quartet migrated towards fighting games. Great Fighter Spirit was one of the newest and most popular ones because the gamer got to use their whole body for quite the authentic experience. Mouri did relatively well for a first timer until the champion of the block Beika Caesar challenged her and eventually drove the women away from the game station. The mahjong guy educating them about the real way of playing the game and the brief introduction of Haido Brutus aside, nothing important happened.
Saintemillion was really good at the driving game next to the fighting game though Hiro suspected that Naoto would be better than the woman. And Hiro personally was of the opinion that him and Yuuko could beat her in shooting skills. Yuuko agreed with him.
"Let's go trounce her high scores in the shooting games." She said. Hiro grinned.
"Sure."
With a glance at the two men by the fighting games and the Teitan native quartet by the driving game, the two shrunken adults headed elsewhere.
Only for one of the men to end up dead and in the course of the investigation all games shut down. Oh well… That was life in Beika.
Aside from the amusing pronunciation correction convo that Saintemillion had with Inspector Megure, the case solving was frustrating to watch. One part because as a former police officers, both Hiro and Yuuko had a keen eye for detail and wanted to participate or at least get closer to the scene. Other part was the… absolute lack of subtlety. First Conan who pronounced the victim dead by poison. Then Saintemillion who just… spouted random facts about tetrodotoxin i.e. the poison used in the murder. Moreover…
"Knowing that stuff is one thing… Explaining it calmly without butchering words is another thing." Yuuko looked up from where she'd been writing on her notebook. The two of them were standing behind the door of the surveillance room, eavesdropping on
"It appears so…" Hiro muttered under his breath. "Well, I guess we can conclude that she is most likely not on the league with Ver. Breaking the character like that would be unacceptable."
They couldn't continue listening in as everyone were about to file out of the room.
"Huh… So that's how he does that…" Hiro blinked when he witnessed Conan tranquilizing Suzuki and then using his bowtie to mimic the teen girl's voice.
"I guess we just solved the mystery behind Nemuri no Kogorou." Yuuko mused. And thus, the deduction show began. First with eliminating the other suspects from the pool and then with demonstration that highlighted how the timing of the poisoning had been concealed.
Then came evidence presenting. The needle in cigarette and chewing gum that were found beneath the arcade clerk's shoe. The coin in the game station…
"Well, he certainly has rote in deduction making."
"That much could've already been concluded from the newspapers and the school play."
"Yes, but newspaper headlines could always be a propaganda campaign and we didn't actually see him making the deduction at Teitan High. Seeing this live, though through Suzuki-san, is pretty impressive."
"I wish I could've gotten all the evidence and clues myself…" Yuuko frowned at her book. "I got everything but the location of the murder weapon. Kan-chan would be so disappointed…"
"Luck… The kid must be ridiculously lucky." Hiro concluded.
"True… And we need to keep an eye on Saintemillion."
"There are way too many people in Beika to keep an eye on. We're running out of eyes."
"Well, in that case, we need to make use of ears as well then."
"Like… bugging people?"
"Why not?" Yuuko shrugged. "We can't do stakeouts like this so alternative surveillance methods must be used."
"I can definitely see why Kansuke-san and Taka'aki-niisan like you."
Naoto looked up from her art history books when Jodie loudly and in excited manner invited Araide to come with her to the Ueno Art Museum.
"And naturally, Matsuda-sensei is welcome to join us as well." The woman winked in Naoto direction. Naoto blinked back at her. Just… what?
"Are you sure? I had planned on spending the weekend with my kids." Naoto hedged because she had no idea why the invitation was extended to her. Was it because of the school rumor mill coupling Araide together with her (and sometimes with Jodie)? Was it because Jodie suspected Naoto being involved with Vermouth as the FBI already knew the woman was disguised as the good doctor?
And wait a sec… Ueno Art Museum? Wasn't that related to Busjacking case? Naoto did remember Yuuko mentioning health checks at Teitan Elementary and if she remembered correctly, Vermouth was planning to meet with Gin and Vodka someday soon.
"Oh, that's not a problem!" Jodie spoke up. "You can take your children with you. Make it a family outing even?"
"Are you playing the role of crazy aunt then?" Naoto smiled wryly.
"Sure, sure!" The American grinned. "And moreover, the exhibition at the museum seems like something you might be interested in, Matsuda-sensei."
"Truly?" Naoto closed her book when Jodie went to her own desk and dug out a pamphlet. Monet and Manet: Masters of Impressionism read on it. "They actually have Monet here in Japan?!"
"Hai! I remember you mentioned visiting Paris once and thought you might be interested."
"Thank you! I really am. Claude Monet is one of my favorite painters. When shall we go?"
"What about next weekend?"
"Sure! Shall we meet at Beika Station?"
And thus Naoto was persuaded to join.
"You are easily persuaded." Vermouth remarked on the day before the trip. She was preparing her waiter disguise at the backroom of the restaurant where Gin and Vodka were currently spending an evening.
"And you get your enjoyment from weird sources." Madeira fired back. "You do realize that they have an ice bucket with an ice pick in their table?"
"Oh, is that so?" The actress hummed.
"I scouted this place just minutes ago. That's why you want me around, right?"
"True. It's good to have another pair of eyes at my disposal…"
"Do you need anything else from me tonight?"
"No… Not tonight. See you tomorrow at Beika Station. Do take your kids with you, the FBI kitten might be disappointed otherwise."
"So Saintemillion is the FBI then?"
"Yes. Not much options really but they have been chasing me within the country as well. I shook her off easily enough but my appearance at Haido City Hotel wasn't exactly subtle or coverable." Vermouth sighed in feigned regret.
"That was obvious." Madeira huffed.
"Now, now… Madeira…" The blonde woman placed the mask back on the table and turned to face the younger one. A hand reached out and Madeira had to contain a flinch. But it just reached for the back of her neck and sunk into her hair for a moment before retreating. "A star like me can't remain in the shadows completely, no matter how much I'd want to. That's why I bait them to follow my crumbs and distract them while you remain in the shadows."
"You mean to say that it's imperative for the FBI not to find out about my allegiances." Meaning that even during Halloween showdown, it would be the best if Jodie didn't see her face. Of course, much depended also on Akai's silence before and after that. But if Madeira wished to remain in Teitan even after Halloween, remaining anonymous was of the utmost importance.
"Exactly." Vermouth smiled, turning back to the mirror. "So let me do my thing, you do yours."
Permission, order and dismissal all in the same. A reminder where each of them stood.
Madeira left the room.
Seeing Hiro and Yuuko make faces at both Araide and Jodie was amusing. Meeting Professor Agasa and the kids was unsurprising but reminded Naoto that the reason why Vermouth had accepted Jodie's invitation was probably in order to get close to Ai.
Spotting Akai at the backseat of the bus was nerve-wracking. The man just stared back at her in silence before Naoto focused back on the kids and tried to herd then to seats.
"I'm sitting at the back!" Hiro declared then and slipped under Naoto's arm. He squirmed past the other passenger and promptly took a seat between the window and Akai, flashing a bright smile at the man. Naoto blinked after him and sighed. Then sat down with Yuuko on the seats in front of Genta and Mitsuhiko. She had no idea what Hiro was planning but she'd let him do it. Whether it was tormenting or observing the perpetually tired-looking man.
"At least you are responsible…" Naoto sighed at Yuuko.
"I try my best."
On the other side of the aisle, Jodie was chatting at the kids and professor. Thankfully she let Naoto out of the explanation.
Then the busjackers boarded the bus.
"Everybody shut up! I'll kill anyone who makes a fuss!" One of them declared. There were screams but then the guy shot once at the ceiling. "Didn't you hear what I just said?!"
"Put up the "No service" sign!" The other busjacker instructed the driver. "And drive for a while. When you get stopped by a red light, call your bus company."
"Good kids… Give us your cellphones! Don't hide them… If you do, we'll make sure you'll never be able to use a phone again. Got that?"
The passengers gave up their phones while Naoto considered the situation. Technically there was only two criminals. The woman didn't count as she only had the watch to bombs. The problem was the guns and the multiple hostages though. In a sense, Naoto could take them down on her own. Especially after Jodie pulled safety on one of the guns. But that would blow her cover for the FBI. On the other hand, if Naoto used the gun, she had license to as Nelli Mattila and permission under that name from PSB, the one strapped to her ankle… Then she should say bye-bye to her position in the organization.
So better just sit tight and wait for the situation to pan out. She absently gave up her civilian phone as knowing the busjacking to happen, she'd left her work phones home. Hiro and Yuuko didn't own new phones under their current aliases yet so they were safe on that side as well. And out of all children in the bus, only Conan owned a phone and even that was Agasa's invention.
Meanwhile the other robber was making his demand call.
And there went Jodie, tripping the phone collector and while apologizing, pulling the safety on the Tokarev.
Mere moments later, the guy was back and slamming Conan to the ground when the boy had tried to use the earring phone.
Naoto glanced at the back. The accomplice woman was removing the chewing gum from her face. The woman could only see properly the aisle seats. So if Yuuko or Hiro were to do something, they'd be safe. Because she wouldn't be able to signal anything about Hiro as removing chewing gum from your face with only one finger was near impossible. And Yuuko was hidden by the seats from all sides.
Hiroaki frowned at the two busjackers at the front. Then he turned to look at the two people sitting next to Rye when he saw Naoto glance at them. Accomplice then… And the only one having done something suspicious and obvious to notify the criminals was the woman. Because the old man hadn't spoken anything in the case the hearing aid was a handsfree device. And neither of the criminals wore anything in their ear so tapping a message was out of question as well.
The boy's attention snapped back to the front when one of the busjackers laid down their ski bags. His frown became more pronounced at that. There was no doubt what they contained given their positioning and later the reaction of the two men when Edogawa tried to investigate them.
"Stop it! The child was just curious!" Araide-Vermouth crouched in front of the little detective, shielding him from the gun aimed at the boy. "And your demands have been met! If you kill nay of us, isn't that going to ruin your plan?"
The men retreated, more worried about accidentally shooting one of the bags than actually listening to the doctor. Hiro followed both Araide and Edogawa with his eyes as they settled on their seats. This interaction was interesting. While he'd heard from Naoto that Kudou Shinichi was one of Vermouth's weak points… to think she'd go this far to protect him… Very interesting indeed.
Hiroaki looked up at Naoto who'd watched the entire thing as well and met her eyes. She nodded slowly before looking away. No doubt about the sincerity of the actions even if it went as far as to possibly breaking the character.
But there was a more pressing concern… How to get out of this situation alive? There were bombs. There were guns. And there were identities to be kept secret. Otherwise the many brilliant or smart in other ways minds would've devised a plan already… Edogawa, Naoto, Rye, Vermouth… Even Hiro and Yuuko and most likely that FBI chick Saintemillion. And out of everyone mentioned… Edogawa was the one in best position in this situation least to lose in order to act.
The pressure was overwhelming. That woman was close, so close. On this bus! Were they chasing her? Or was this just a coincidence? But if they noticed who she was… Haibara glanced around in the bus from the safety of her hood. The professor and children were just across the aisle. If they noticed her, then they all would disappear along with her. And Kudou most definitely too.
So please… Please whatever gods there existed, don't let them find her.
That foreign woman was talking with Kudou. She was mysterious. The pressure was coming from her direction but Haibara wasn't sure if she was that woman…
"What's your name, little red riding hood?" The woman, Jodie, asked her. Haibara reached for Kudou's hand and squeezed it.
"Oh, her? She's just a girl we met on the bus! She's really scared, so could you leave her alone?" Kudou whispered to her.
"Sorry to burst your bubble, but you probably should settle down." Another voice joined in. A child. Sitting behind her.
"Watanuki-senpai?" Kudou questioned.
"Yo!" The other boy greeted. "Could I possibly trouble the gallant knight with our rescue? Everyone else have their hands tied."
Watanuki… Gallant Knight… So Madeira was here too… Possibly sitting with Watanuki Yuuko elsewhere in the bus. And unable to act because of all the witnesses. Or maybe there was something else on the background too.
Haibara forced her shoulders to relax but didn't let go of the death grip on the hand she was holding. She had to trust Kudou and other parties in the bus to get others to safety. Then she could worry about that woman.
"Hey! What are you guys doing?!" One of the busjackers shouted and forced both the Jodie woman and the other Watanuki to sit back down.
Yuuko watched in silence as the criminals barked at the passengers in turn. First the woman at the back, then Saintemillion, then Edogawa, Edogawa again, Saintemillion and Hiro and finally Agasa. Considering how the men just kept an eye on the rearview mirror, the only way they'd know about the indiscretions of the passengers would be through an accomplice. Yuuko couldn't see the people on the back since she had a window seat but given Naoto's deceptively loose frame but tenseness of her expression, she knew who it was. Hiro probably knew as well.
Yuuko turned back to scribbling the conversations and her own observations to her notebook. She was safely hidden from the accomplice. And even if the robbers were to blow the bus sky-high, there was a good chance that police officers would get some information from this book. It always paid to be prepared.
"Hey! You, the four-eyed smartass and man with cold in the back! Come to the front!" One of the busjackers commanded. Yuuko saw Naoto's shoulders tense at the command. the younger woman had good instincts and given the development of the situation – the criminal's demands having been met – it would be prudent to act soon. But how?
The chosen two were putting on the busjackers' ski gear. Next to Naoto, Yuuko was furiously sketching the faces of the two criminals, now that the ski goggles weren't blocking the sight. Good forward planning, as expected of Uehara Yui of Nagano Prefectural Police.
The accomplice was collected from the backseat and pretended to be a hostage. Naoto itched to go for her gun now that all criminals were in one place. Two shots and they'd go down. This close she wouldn't even need to use that much time in correcting the aim. And the woman was non-issue since all she had was the wristwatch which she wouldn't use while inside the bus.
To distract herself, Naoto glanced at the back of the bus. Good, Conan was already putting his plan to work. Just in time as the tunnel came to an end. Naoto had something more prudent to think about anyways… Like the fact that it was Satou Miwako in the police car chasing after the bus.
"You're one to talk… You intend to kill us anyway…" Conan spoke up. "See, that's the reason you're showing us your face, right? If we don't do something we're going to be killed. By this bomb!"
And kami, that kid was reckless as much as he was smart. Lifting a bomb up like that. And was that Hiro on the seat with him, supporting the other end?
"I'll make this brat shut up!"
"Hey, you idiot, don't shoot!"
"Hn? What's that red writing?"
"NOW!" The boy shouted and the driver hit the brakes. Naoto had already braced herself against her seat and with other hand held Yuuko close as well. The criminals fell to the ground.
Hiro hold onto the bomb packet with Agasa after the emergency brake when Edogawa dashed towards the busjackers. The same watch that he'd seen used on Suzuki, was now used to neutralize one of the criminals. Hiro noted with amusement how Rye had been prepared to strike the man as well.
"Araide-sensei! Get a hold of that woman's arm! The watch on her wrist is the switch for the bombs!" Conan commanded the doctor. Ah, so that was the missing information from this case.
The other criminal prepared to shoot the boy but this time Saintemillion interfered.
"Gomennasai! I lost my balance… When the driver slammed on the brakes…" The woman went to explain.
Hiro smothered a snort and helped Agasa to place the bomb back to the ground. Now… let just this case close in some sensible manner…
"A-Ah! Gotta run, get away asap! I must've hit the watch when the driver stopped the bus. The bomb's been activated! We have less than 30 seconds before it blows!" The woman accomplice panicked from where Araide-Vermouth had restrained her.
Of course. What was life without some mortal danger and drama connected to it?
Seconds are surprisingly long measures of time. Naoto scooped Yuuko on her arms so the girl wouldn't get trampled and joined the masses to get out of the bus. Right outside she put the girl on the ground and did a quick headcount. Yuuko and Hiro were outside and running. But as expected, she could only see four of the Detective Boys.
She turned back. Mentally she debated for a moment whether or not she'd go with the manga solution or anime one…
Anime. Naoto didn't feel like have her gun inspected and gunshot heard. Besides, a fire extinguisher would make for a bigger hole in the window.
Naoto grabbed the fire extinguisher from the front of the bus and threw it with all her might. It was lighter than expected but at least it flew well and broke then window enough. She then approached Ai, skirting the edges of the bombs and scooped her up. Absently she also grabbed the backpack on the bench with her and dashed for the window.
They made it through just in time to get outside for the bus shield them from the worst of the blast.
Naoto hit the ground with a grunt, the girl safely in her arms, hood covering her face. They both needed to get away from this place though.
"I survived a bomb, Jinpei-nii… That's something not even you managed…" Naoto mused idly, slowly sitting up.
"Why… Why did you help me… Madeira?" Haibara was staring intently at Naoto's face. Her real face.
"…Running away is one thing. Sitting still and giving up is another. If you want to life fight for it. If you want to die then do it on your terms. If you got allies, trust them and cherish them because they got your back." Naoto stated seriously. "I got Hiroaki-kun and Yuuko-chan who remind me every day of actually living. And even though I don't actually trust Ver… for now she and I watch out for each other's weaknesses."
"She… She…" Haibara swallowed.
"I'm getting you out of here. You are her prey and for her to hunt. It doesn't mean I have to do more than I already am."
Takagi was approaching them as Naoto got on her feet. One hand supported Haibara from below while another pressed the shrunken scientist's head against her shoulder.
"Matsuda-san, are you alright?"
"Ah… not really, Takagi-san. Can I trouble you with a ride to hospital?"
"Of course! This way!"
The other kids were also swaddled into the car and with one last look through the window at Hiro and Yuuko who were standing with other passengers, Naoto let herself to pass out.
"Nao-nee is so reckless…" Hiro mused aloud.
"So true…" Yuuko sighed.
"But so it Edogawa-kun."
"Yes, he seemed ready to run back to the bus as well if I hadn't stopped him."
The two looked at the said boy who was talking with Saintemillion and Araide-Vermouth. Then Hiro looked to other direction, at Rye.
"Excuse me, I need to see to something…"
"Okay. I go to distract Satou-keiji." Yuuko held up her notebook. Naoto had vaguely mentioned the people her cousin had known and the projected strife that she'd had with him and thus soured people's opinion against her. She rather not talked about things like that but Yuuko and Hiro had asked after they'd been led out of murder scene back when Teitan High had held the Cultural Festival.
"February 23rd… Due unforeseen situation, I'm unable to continue tracking… The target didn't appear… I will resume the investigation on another day… Over…" Akai talked to a voice recorder.
"You know… I'd really appreciate it… If you wouldn't mention Nao-nee to your colleagues." A voice spoke from behind him. Akai turned around to face the boy who'd sat next to him on the bus. Who deliberately had sat with him. A pre-teen with dark hair and blue eyes, dressed in a blue hooded jacket. Madeira's ward apparently.
Akai had always had conflicted view of the younger woman. Joined the organization when she was just twenty-two years old, having attracted the attention of the snipers with her skills. By nature, she was quite straight forward yet managed to twist her words omit things. She was bright to follow or be followed by but when you stood on equal ground with her, she became burning and purposefully cruel. Akai had seen it in the aftermath of Scotch's death. He had suspected that she'd employed some sort of trick to deceive him and Bourbon but… whenever he tried to approach the matter, she said something to imply he was next on her list. Like a slash across palm that warned not to approach. When she interacted with Bourbon, she always stabbed deep with her words. Aiming for vitals.
Akai had seen the phone exchange she'd employed right after the announcement of her new codename. She had gone straight for the heart with the easy way she'd just smiled at the blonde and joked about breaking rules. And Akai had had to interfere more than once during the next year to keep Bourbon from killing the girl. It didn't endear the man to him but needs must.
And now this child. He had Scotch's face and the way he held himself. Akai had heard of "Matsuda-sensei" from Jodie in passing and of her two wards but… He hadn't expected this. Had expected the woman in the bus as Jodie had invited her. But hadn't expected this boy… Or the way Madeira would save that little girl from the bus.
"And why is that?" Who was this child really? Scotch's son? Or other relative? Did the boy know what his "Nao-nee" really did aside from being a school teacher?
"Because she needs to remain in secret. Because she is just like you." The boy said seriously.
Like him…?
"What do you mean?"
The boy looked around and after seeing Vermouth still a good distance away, seemed to come to a decision. Then his voice deepened a smidge and wording became more straightforward and familiar.
"Naoto can be cruel with her words but that's only to protect others. She has been alone and surviving for a long time and shall forgive me for telling you this." Akai could see even more echoes of his dead colleague on the boy. "Her name is Matsuda Naoto and she works for Finnish Security Intelligence Service. Ask for Nelli Mattila and her handler will give you the confirmation."
She was a mole too?
"This is extremely secret information so I'd appreciate if you didn't tell this to anyone else within FBI. Not even Saintemillion-san." The boy gave a severe look at him. Akai nodded, he understood the value of confidential information and this wasn't the first time he'd kept things from his colleagues.
"I understand."
The local police inspector was ushering the passengers of the bus to a van to be taken for questioning. Akai saw the boy's… sister? there as well. But the little conversation between Akai and the boy was running out of time.
"Can I ask… Who are you? Do you know if…?" If Scotch was actually alive…
"My name is Watanuki Hiroaki. And that's all you need to know for now."
"Hiro-nii!" The girl called for the boy.
"I really need to go now."
Akai let the boy – Hiroaki – to leave. He had more than enough information for now. He could examine them all later. And afterwards primarily focus on Vermouth and her target, Sherry.
A/N: A bit less Naoto focused chapter but I am glad to have a chance to write Hiro and Yuuko as well.