Conan: Science Cartoonist Kudo Yuji

"In this kendo tournament, Heiji, you must work hard and win the championship."

Walking on the road in Hakodate, Toyama Kazuha was urging her childhood sweetheart.

Although the competition was almost reaching the semi-finals, Hattori Heiji was still the same. He practiced too little and even proposed to observe the situation in Hakodate.

The group who had just arrived in Hokkaido were not aware of this, but Hattori Heiji, who had arrived in Hakodate a few days earlier, had already received the message from the police that Kid had warned him about. Thinking that Kudo could still be discussed after he arrived, he did not tell him on the phone.

"Really? Compared to the championship, Kidd's announcement is nothing."

Toyama Kazuha hugged her chest, and her words hurt an ordinary-looking person who was waiting for crepes on the roadside not far away. Although the girl had no ill intentions, she simply hoped that Hattori Heiji could achieve greater success.

"You're such a nagging person. You're such a gossip." Hattori Heiji rolled his eyes, looking a little impatient.

[Really, if I don't deal with that thief in advance, what if he interrupts my confession? And why does He Ye have to follow me all the time? I can't find a suitable place to confess by myself. ]

"Humph, it's obviously all for your own good, what's the matter? If you can win the national championship, uncle won't despise you so much anymore, and in the future..."

"National champion... National champion, you've been talking about it for three days. It's not that easy." Hattori Heiji bent over and approached Toyama Kazuha: "It's easy to say, try to win a similar award yourself..."

Detective Osaka couldn't continue speaking because Toyama Kazuha didn't confront him as usual. Instead, she stared blankly, obviously feeling lost because of Hattori Heiji's words.

"I...I know, I'm not as good as Heiji..."

[Hey, He Ye, why are you suddenly denying yourself and mocking me like before! ]

Hattori Heiji was a little flustered. His childhood sweetheart's attitude was obviously wrong. He realized that he had just said the wrong thing.

[Make amends quickly and tell her that I don’t care about the national championship at all.]

Hattori Heiji clenched his fists.

[What I care about is... something more straightforward...]

"That won't do, little brother."

The roar of the motorcycle stopped beside the two of them, and a mature and steady man's voice sounded after the motorcycle stopped.

"How can you bully such a cute girl? You should take good care of your girlfriend."

The man wearing motorcycle gloves took off his helmet, revealing a man who looked like the one who spoke to him. He had short black hair, a clean face, and wore a pair of glasses. He seemed to be in his twenties.

"Who are you? Why are you meddling in our business?"

"Oh, I'm so tired. People in Kansai are really aggressive when they talk loudly." The man adjusted his glasses and introduced himself: "Hakodate Hachimanzaka School of Medicine, Sawada Tsunayoshi."

"That's not what I meant..."

Hattori Heiji almost laughed out loud, feeling that this person didn't understand what others meant. "If I'm not here, it will be troublesome. This lovely girlfriend will be hurt by your words."

"you……"

The man picked up a helmet from the back of the car and held it out to He Ye: "Before you two can communicate properly, you should separate first."

Toyama Kazuha narrowed her eyes. Her thoughts were shaken by Hattori Heiji's words just now, but now she has regained her composure. However, when she carefully observed the man's hand, she realized something.

[This person seems to be Yuuji, right? ]

Although his face had changed, Toyama Kazuha remembered Yuji's hand. The boy had a brown mole two knuckles down from his index finger, and Yuji's hand was actually very easy to recognize because he was drawing comics.

"Even if we have to separate, He Ye will..."

"Heiji." Toyama Kazuha interrupted Hattori Heiji in a low voice: "Ran just sent a message saying that they have arrived."

The girl raised her head, slowly held the helmet in her arms, and looked at the man anxiously: "Can you please take me to the airport?"

"Hey, I'm really upset. I just came from there." The man patted the motorcycle: "Hurry up and get on."

"Hey, Kazuha..." Hattori Heiji saw his childhood sweetheart about to get into the other's car.

[Damn it, the motorcycle was not checked in! ]

"You can rest assured, little brother. I don't have any thoughts about your girlfriend."

The man put on his helmet and gave Hattori Heiji a thumbs up: "I will get your girlfriend to her destination safely, just go find the best combat spot."

"Ok?"

"Well, maybe the lady will fall in love with me while riding the motorcycle."

"Ha! He Ye, get out of this guy's car, he has bad intentions..."

Detective Osaka's outstretched hand stopped in the air. He stared at the man in confusion and saw the man make a three gesture, then flip his hand to reveal five.

"That rascal……"

Remembering how he bribed the senior helper in Hokkaido with three boxes of high-end coffee, Hattori Heiji finally understood who this guy was.

[Still have such bad taste, this brat! ]

(End of this chapter)