"Doc…"
Tsune stared at Dr. Agasa, sprawled on the floor, happily patting his belly, and blinked in disbelief.
What happened to you?
And where's the meat I left on those plates?
"Oh!"
"You're back?" Dr. Agasa sat up, giving an awkward smile.
Genta was right.
This restaurant's food was just too good.
"Doc, Ai-chan was amazing out there—she nailed the culprit in one go!" Ayumi said, her eyes sparkling as she recounted the scene outside.
"No kidding, like Sherlock Holmes!" Mitsuhiko and Genta nodded, brimming with excitement.
The Detective Boys, total victory!
"Hardly. I've got a long way to go," Haibara said flatly.
"You're too modest," Conan said, thinking back to the stacks of magazines at Dr. Agasa's house, chuckling wryly.
You never know when some random knowledge will come in handy.
"Heh," Haibara let out a small laugh, staying quiet.
Two defeated rivals.
"Shouldn't we head back soon?" Miyano Akemi checked her watch, noting it was almost nine. "The kids have school tomorrow."
"Order up!" Tsune slid open the wooden door and shouted outside.
Everyone: …
…
A few days later, on a sunny afternoon.
Tsune pulled up to an apartment building.
"Mr. Tsune, are you really a fan of Yoko-chan too?" a pair of sisters asked the handyman curiously.
They were siblings—close ones.
The older sister, Aoshima Zendai, was twenty-six. The younger, Aoshima Mina, was twenty-four. They were inseparable, even chasing the same idol.
Tsune glanced at the walls plastered with Okino Yoko posters, nodded, and said, "Sort of."
Yoko was one of his big-spending clients, so calling himself a fan wasn't a stretch.
"Sis, I told you so!"
"When we were playing that cassette last time, Mr. Tsune was nodding along," Mina said, happily shaking her sister's arm.
"Alright, alright, you win," Zendai said, throwing up her hands in mock surrender.
Tsune, busy fixing the TV, turned and frowned at the giggling sisters.
Truth be told, the first time he came here a couple of months ago, he had a nagging feeling he'd seen them somewhere before.
Not a good feeling. Not good at all.
"Sis, Kenji's coming to pick me up. I'm heading out!" Mina checked the clock on the wall, touched up her makeup, and left.
Zendai saw her off with a beaming smile, her fist clenching and unclenching repeatedly.
That detail didn't escape Tsune's watchful eyes.
Once they were alone, he turned, flashing a warm, sunny smile. "Miss Aoshima, something on your mind?"
Zendai froze, then forced a smile, shaking her head slightly. Her voice carried a hint of melancholy. "What could be on my mind?"
As everyone said, Mr. Tsune was undeniably handsome, especially when he smiled…
Guess his reputation wasn't exaggerated.
"Maybe something to do with that Kenji guy?" Tsune asked casually, tinkering with the TV.
"How'd you know?" Zendai asked, then sighed, sinking onto the couch to share her story, her mood low.
Like any younger sibling trailing after their older brother or sister, Mina always followed Zendai's lead.
"Whatever idol I liked, she'd like too."
"Clothes, bags—she'd pick the same styles as me."
"Even in this apartment, the dishes and furniture are two identical sets." Zendai drifted into fond memories.
Tsune nodded. Shared interests, no matter the relationship, made things comfortable.
Like that Suzuki chairman—couldn't be more enthusiastic toward him.
"But one day, I started hating my sister," Zendai said, tilting her head to stare at the ceiling, her voice heavy.
"You're right. It's because of Kenji."
"Your sister fell for the same guy as you?" Tsune grimaced. This was just too wild.
Loving your sister's husband…?
"Yeah, she laughed and told me, 'Sorry, Sis, didn't mean to fall for the same guy again,' and then confessed to him," Zendai said with a hollow chuckle.
The kicker? Her sister's confession worked.
Talk about irony.
That was her boyfriend of five years!
Now they're engaged.
"That's… something else," Tsune said, at a loss for words.
Brother-in-law turned sister's fiancé…
This guy's strategy for winning over both sisters left him speechless.
"Since this apartment's big, I'm letting them have it after they get married," Zendai said, gazing at the Okino Yoko posters with a strained smile.
Yoko-chan, what should I do?
"If you ask me, it's a good thing," Tsune said suddenly, grinning.
Zendai turned, confused. How could this be good?
"Better than marrying him yourself and catching your sister sneaking around with your husband. Imagine holding your kid, staring at them in your bed, not knowing where to throw up," Tsune said, looking at it from a different angle.
"Huh?" Zendai pictured that scene and shuddered.
That would be horrifying…
"If I were you, I'd steer clear of those two weirdos and live your own life," Tsune said, standing up, plugging in the TV, and flipping it on.
It was the channel the sisters often watched together.
Okino Yoko was singing on-screen.
"You're right…" Zendai sat on the couch, tears streaming down, but her smile seemed brighter now.
Tsune held out his hand, grinning. "Four thousand yen, thanks for the patronage!"
"This TV's coming with me when I move," Zendai said, grabbing her purse to pay.
"Nice!"
Tsune glanced at the superstar on the screen, then left the apartment.
Why watch dramas?
What kind of plot doesn't Beika Town have?
The people here are all talents, cooking up conflicts and drama in ways you'd never guess!
(End of Chapter)
--+--
T/N: Although I'm an inexperienced Editor, I do have a Patreon account! Although it seems like I don't have many supporters right now, my webnovel will be released in full every day, and the advanced chapters will be uploaded to Patreon.
It may not be worth it now, but who knows, it might be different in the future. Who knows!
patreon.com/DaoistRoeoNQ
If you want to see it, then why not?