Case NOT Closed

After learning about Kensuke’s tactics, which are basically nothing more than being a legal lawyer and not using any underhanded tactic, Haibara Ai lost interest in the proceedings of the trial. She slowly stood up, left the audience seat, and walked out of the courtroom’s main door.

Feeling a bit thirsty, she reached the end of the corridor and found a vending machine. Taking out a 500-yen coin from her pocket, she inserted it. Despite working for Kensuke without compensation, she felt he was a capitalist tainted super jerk. However, this “boss” at least had some humanity, giving her a small allowance every month for snacks.

Pressing the button, with a ding sound, a can of coffee rolled out from the machine. Coffee used to be Haibara Ai’s most frequently consumed beverage, as she often stayed up late for research work. It became her only companion at night, almost like nicotine, something she couldn’t do without.

Haibara Ai held the coffee in her hands, about to open it.

At that moment, she heard familiar footsteps, the ones she used to know well.

Without turning her head, Haibara Ai spoke lightly, “Conan, you can stop hiding.”

Conan’s figure emerged from around the corner.

With his hands in his pockets, he looked towards Haibara.

“Haibara, it’s been a while. How have you been?”

Haibara Ai looked back at him and fell silent for a while, she opened her mouth, then closed it, and with a gentle shake of her head, she said. “Kudo, state your purpose. You didn’t come here just to greet me.”

“You’re still as cold as before.”

Conan nodded in acknowledgment, not wasting any words.

“It’s about APTX 4869 antidote, do you still have the formula for it?”

“I see.” Haibara Ai raised an eyebrow, understanding in her eyes. “Let me guess, Ran is about to discover your identity, so you have to temporarily become an adult to deceive her, right?”

“Heh, you’re still as smart as ever.” Conan nodded in agreement.

“Kudo, do you know?”

Haibara Ai spoke lightly.

“People can’t go against the flow of time. If you try to forcibly change it, you’ll eventually face punishment.”

“Such as death?” Conan ventured to say.

Haibara Ai remained silent, but her expression said it all.

Conan stayed silent for a moment, then shook his head. “I can’t worry about that much. I just don’t want Ran to find out. I don’t want her to get involved in my troublesome affairs.”

“Oh, really?” Haibara Ai smiled faintly. “Then you should leave, instead of sticking to her like a piece of clothing.”

“…”

The familiar sarcastic remarks left Conan momentarily speechless.

After a moment, he raised his head.

“I’ll think about it later, Haibara, where did you place the formula and the information? I’ll contact my parents to find someone to help with the research.”

“Heh, you’re truly a selfish man.”

Haibara Ai spoke indifferently.

“It’s in Dr. Agasa’s basement, in drawer number three, there’s a USB drive containing some of the research data I’ve reconstructed.”

“Is that so? Thank you.”

Conan with his hands in his pockets was about to leave.

Seemingly hesitating for a moment, he stopped again.

“Haibara, can’t you really come back?” He looked into Ai’s eyes. “I apologize for my past words. I admit, I was impulsive, and I didn’t consider your feelings when I spoke.”

Ai looked at him for a moment in silence, seemed to be deep in thought, then, she let out a sigh, and smiled faintly.

“My name is Komemon, not Haibara.”

“….Is that so?”

Conan looked deeply into Ai’s eyes, seeing the silent message in her eyes, he closed his eyes and let out a resigned sigh.

“Then I won’t force you further, when the antidote is successfully developed, I’ll bring you a few doses.”

After saying this, he turned around and left, though not without once more turning his head back to see her.

Ai held the canned coffee, standing quietly in place.

“Come out, is it really all that fun eavesdropping on a kid talk?”

On the other side of the corridor, Kensuke’s figure emerged from the shadows.

“I heard some incredible information.”

Kensuke smiled and clapped his hands.

“Hey, as much as I dislike the kid, he is sincere with his words, why didn’t you go back with him?”

He tilted his head, seeming genuinely curious.

Ai didn’t answer and asked, “What about your trial? Is it already over so soon?”

“Of course not, because there was an issue with Kujou. The judge asked her questions, and she stuttered and spoke incoherently. We had to temporarily adjourn for thirty minutes. That woman is just like that, always so easy to deal with.”

Kensuke shrugged, smiling at Ai.

“Alright, let’s not stray from the topic. Answer my previous question.”

Ai still didn’t answer, her lips lightly curving.

“Care to guess?”

“Let me see~ Ummm~ Because that little brat’s resolute attitude in seeking the truth scares you deep down?” Kensuke looked into her eyes. “After all, in the realm of law, the truth isn’t the only thing that matters.”

Ai remained silent, silently locking eyes with him.

After a while, she sighed deeply. “If you were my opponent, you’d probably be the most challenging type to deal with.”

“Oh, so in reverse, if I were a teammate, I’d make you relax completely, is that the idea?” Kensuke laughed.

“You are quite a person…”

Ai shook her head gently.

He squatted down, gently patting her head.

“Stop kidding. Where else can I find such a useful worker who doesn’t need to be paid? You’re not allowed to leave; you have to stay and work for me for a lifetime without any payment. Your name is Komemon Ai, and you’ll carry the Komemon name for your entire life.”

Kensuke reached out, taking the canned coffee from Ai’s hand while simultaneously stuffing a can of pure milk into her arms.

“Also, kids are not allowed to drink coffee; milk is enough.”

After saying that, Kensuke smiled slightly, stood up, and left the corridor.

Ai stood still, looking at Kensuke’s back in a daze.

She lowered her head, gazing at the milk in her hands.

After a while, a faint smile appeared on her lips.

“Interesting…. I really want to see where a person filled with shades of gray like you would ends up in the end.”

…

Kensuke walked along the corridor, enjoying the coffee in his hand.

“One can of coffee costs 250 yen, while a can of milk is only 150 yen. It’s a big profit!”

He mumbled to himself, a sly smile on his face.

“The words I just said must have impressed her a lot. Now, I can assign any work to her, and she will willingly work overtime without asking for any overtime pay. I can even deduct a bit from her pocket money…”

Kensuke calculated in his mind, feeling satisfied.

Truly, he was quite clever.

After resting for a while in the corridor, checking the time on his phone, Kensuke returned to the courtroom, ready for the remaining legal battles.

He hummed a tune, appearing relaxed.

Because, for him, this trial had no difficulty at all.

After thoroughly investigating the entire incident, he had realized that there were various loopholes in this case.

Even without using any underhanded tactics, a straightforward confrontation would guarantee victory.