Not only were Akagi Ryoko and Conan outside the door stunned by that kick, but the child who had been happily playing video games inside also got scared by the noise. He peeked his head out the door and stared blankly outside.
"Ryoko-neesan?" Akagi Mamoru called out in confusion.
"Ah! Mamoru!" Akagi Ryoko came back to her senses. She stepped over the door panel pressing down on Kamimura Naoki—completely ignoring the painful cry he let out—and rushed into the house to scoop up the little boy in a hug. "You scared me to death! How could you run off to play on your own like that?!"
"I left a note! Today's a school holiday because of the school festival. Naoki-oniichan said he'd bring me here…" Akagi Mamoru said as he excitedly pointed at the TV in front of them. "Look! Naoki-oniichan helped me beat this level! No one in my class has cleared it yet!"
Completely unaware he'd been kidnapped for several hours, Akagi Mamoru was cheerful and full of energy. Conan sighed, walked over to the twitching Kamimura Naoki lying on the floor, and nudged him: "Looks like he's still alive…"
Kazawa casually moved the door panel aside. After confirming that Kamimura wouldn't be getting up anytime soon, he reminded Akagi Ryoko—who was holding Akagi Mamoru and was on the verge of tears—"You can call Mamoru's brother now. I don't think this guy ever meant to hurt him."
Very soon, Akagi Hideo—who had just been called to the sidelines by the coach—received the news that his little brother was safe.
The TV in the living room was also broadcasting the match live. It was clear that Kamimura Naoki had been keeping a close eye on the game.
Now unleashed, Akagi Hideo was like a tiger breaking out of its cage. In the thunderous cheers of the crowd, he scored two consecutive goals.
The commentator on-site was so excited that his voice nearly cracked, screaming hoarsely in the deafening roar: "3 to 1! God-Leg A-Hideo's divine might sweeps across the field! He's finally unleashed his sharpshooting power! And don't forget that genius assist pass in the first half! This is Tokyo Aoyama's 'God-Leg A-Hideo'! Akagi Hideo! The dazzling soccer genius!"
"Hmph, genius…" Kamimura Naoki, who had been dragged into the living room by Kazawa, gave a cold snort. "Yeah, he's always the genius. I'm just the fool who knows nothing but hard work with no talent…"
The others turned to look at Kamimura Naoki, who had been dumped on the floor and could only sit there, hugging his plaster-wrapped right leg. Facing their stares, he no longer hid the resentment in his heart and said with hatred in his voice:
"Back in high school, our performance on the school team was about the same, but his popularity and signing fee were way higher than mine. I wasn't satisfied. After joining Aoyama, I trained day and night, desperately trying to surpass him—to prove I was better! Finally, I was about to catch up to him…"
"But then he shattered my right calf in a practice match! I'll miss a whole season, and I don't even know if I'll ever recover to the same level!" Kamimura Naoki slammed his plastered knee in frustration. "He did it on purpose. He definitely did it on purpose! Ha… 'Golden Twin Stars'… That kid, you were right. I never planned to hurt Mamoru. I just wanted that genius kid to understand—he won't win forever! The world doesn't always go the way he wants!"
Conan's expression turned serious, showing his usual look when listening to a criminal's confession.
"Ryoko, call the police. Let them come and take me away." Having vented all his anger, Kamimura Naoki calmed down and looked at the screen, where Akagi Hideo was celebrating with his teammates. "If Hideo finds out it was me, I bet he'll be shocked…"
"'Hideo, who do you want to share this victory with the most?'" On the screen, the reporter handed the mic to the man who had led the team to victory.
"'Ah, I want to tell Ryoko-san and my little brother… and… my best partner and rival, Kamimura Naoki.'" Akagi Hideo scratched his sweaty face a little shyly. "'He missed this match because of an injury, but I kept thinking—if he'd been here, we probably would've scored even more, right?'"
Kazawa stood up from the couch. Without looking again at the shaken Kamimura Naoki, he pulled Conan to his side and said, "Let's go, Conan. This doesn't concern us anymore." Then he raised an eyebrow teasingly at "Akagi" Ryoko and said, "Ryoko-san, I'm guessing you're not actually an Akagi, right? Changing your last name is something you should only think about after marriage, you know?"
"Ah!" Akagi Ryoko jumped in surprise, and her face visibly turned red.
On the TV, Akagi Hideo laughed heartily and pumped his fist toward the camera: "Get well soon! I'll be waiting for you on the field, Naoki!"
Conan was being dragged away by Kazawa, looking back every few steps. He saw Kamimura Naoki collapse to the floor, crying and mumbling "idiot… dumbass…" and hesitantly asked, "Are you really not going to call the police?"
Kazawa shrugged. "No one was actually hurt. Whether or not to report it should be up to the victims. I'm not someone obsessed with legal procedure. Sorry, little detective."
Conan opened his mouth to argue, but when he remembered the false accusation Kazawa had endured, he didn't know where to start.
"Hurry up already," Kazawa said as he grabbed the dawdling Conan. "If we don't run now and they ask us to pay for the door, what do we do?"
That's what you're worried about?! Conan's forehead twitched as Kazawa carried him downstairs.
"Put me down!" Conan struggled free from Kazawa's grip and landed on the ground. "I only look like a kid! Don't treat me like an elementary schooler!"
"It's just more convenient this way…" Kazawa coughed twice to suppress his laughter, then smoothly changed the subject. "You seem surprised that I'm not calling the police."
"There aren't many detectives who would do that, right?" Conan said, folding his arms behind his head as he followed Kazawa onto the street.
"That depends on personal values." Kazawa stuffed both hands into his pockets. "The café I live in is called 'Poirot.' You know that's a famous detective, right?"
"Hercule Poirot?" As a fan of detective novels, Conan certainly knew that classic figure.
Kazawa nodded. "Right. You've definitely read Murder on the Orient Express, haven't you? What did you think of the ending?"
Murder on the Orient Express is one of Agatha Christie's classics. In it, Christie created a groundbreaking murder where all the suspects each played a role in the killing—everyone was a culprit. It was a collective act of revenge by those whom the law had failed to protect. After uncovering the truth, Poirot chose not to expose it and let the culprits go.
Conan opened his mouth, feeling the question was a bit dangerous. Kazawa seemed to be hinting that he was a detective like Poirot—someone who only cared about the truth and justice through results. And that was a detective. Conan thought for a moment and answered carefully, "I don't entirely oppose Poirot's choice. But defining justice by personal standards is also a kind of arrogant disregard for justice."
Kazawa wasn't randomly discussing views on life and values with Conan—he was laying the groundwork in advance.
From now on, all sorts of cases would keep appearing around Conan. Some Kazawa could stop with the help of his Phantom Thief powers, and others he could intercept using his knowledge of future events. But inevitably, there would be cases Kazawa either couldn't stop or chose not to stop. Giving Conan some mental preparation now could help prevent future arguments.
Kazawa thought for a moment. Not sure if this world had a movie version of Murder on the Orient Express, he slightly altered a line from the film and said, "I've realized the scales of justice can't always stay balanced. I'm learning to live with that imbalance."