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Chapter 75 - Chapter 75: Conan's Post-Disaster Daily Life (Part 2)

Chapter 75: Conan's Post-Disaster Daily Life (Part 2)

Mouri Detective Agency.

The office, once a bustling hub of clients and cases, was much quieter now. With the global population drastically reduced, the number of potential cases had naturally dwindled.

Kogoro Mouri's attitude seemed to have changed as well. In a rare moment of sobriety, he sat on the sofa, a newspaper in his hands that he hadn't turned for a long time, his gaze distant. A cup of hot coffee steamed on the small table beside him.

The agency door opened gently.

Eri Kisaki walked in. She had changed out of her lawyer's robes and into casual clothes, which softened her usual sharp demeanor. She saw Kogoro on the sofa, and the corner of her mouth curved into a barely perceptible smile.

"Not out today?"

Kogoro snapped back to reality and put down the paper. Uncharacteristically, he didn't make a fuss, just cleared his throat awkwardly. "Ah—no suitable cases."

After the disaster, his relationship with Eri had undergone a subtle shift. Having faced life and death together, witnessing the world's destruction and rebirth, many of their past arguments seemed trivial. Though they hadn't explicitly gotten back together, they were seeing each other more, and their time together was much more peaceful.

Eri sat down next to Kogoro and picked up the still-warm cup of coffee. "Did you… make this yourself?"

"Yeah, well, I had nothing better to do," Kogoro replied, looking slightly uncomfortable.

A series of CLANGS and BANGS echoed from a corner of the office, accompanied by Tom Cat's exasperated yowls. The two looked over.

Tom was trying to use a mop to get an empty beer can that was hooked on the curtain rod—evidently a "precision" toss by Kogoro the previous night. Tom tried several times, either knocking over a potted plant or poking the ceiling with the mop, but he couldn't reach the can. He was running in circles, his whiskers twitching in frustration.

A vein throbbed on Kogoro's forehead. "Hey! You stupid cat! Don't break my plant! I'll get the can myself!"

Hearing the shout, Tom, instead of stopping, seemed to take it as a challenge and his movements became even more exaggerated. He pulled a pair of spring-loaded stilts out of nowhere and BOINGED into the air, trying to grab the can directly. He lost his balance, and cat and stilts came crashing down, landing on the floor with a SPLAT and turning him into a cat-pancake.

"Pfft," Eri couldn't help but laugh.

Kogoro put a hand to his forehead, looking utterly helpless. "I knew it—"

But as he watched the cat-pancake pop back into shape, dust itself off, and continue its battle with the beer can, Kogoro couldn't stop the corners of his own mouth from turning up. This cat, while always causing trouble, certainly brought a lot of life to this dreary place.

Eri picked up the newspaper and fanned herself with it. "Looks like your 'new assistant' needs more training."

Kogoro just grunted, not refuting it.

Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the floor, the two of them smiling at each other on the sofa, and the blue and white cat that was still locked in a battle of wits with a beer can.

Metropolitan Police Department.

In the temporary office, files were piled up like small mountains. The world had changed, but the machine of order had to keep grinding on.

Inspector Megure stood by a newly erected temporary checkpoint, waving his thick arms as he directed traffic. The task of rebuilding was overwhelming, and they were severely understaffed. He had dark circles under his eyes, and his voice was hoarse.

"Takagi! Have that truck pull over to the side!" he barked. "Permit on the glass for inspection!"

"Yes, Inspector!" Takagi jogged over and saluted the driver, who was grumbling impatiently. "What a waste of time… we already got clearance from upstairs."

Sato sat behind a folding table, recording information. Her movements were swift and her expression was meticulous. The tip of her pen would occasionally pause as her eyes scanned the new incident reports on the log: "Dispute Resolution," "Assault Incident." The disaster was over, but conflict hadn't disappeared. Fights over supplies, old grudges, a single argument—any of it could ignite violence. Just yesterday, two neighbors had pulled knives on each other over a bag of rice.

"Inspector," an officer ran up to report, "there's another fight at the West District settlement, seems to be over building materials. Should we send someone?"

Megure's brow furrowed, his voice laced with exhaustion. "We're going crazy over here! Have the nearest patrol unit check it out first! Honestly, at a time like this…"

His gaze unintentionally drifted to a few luxury sedans with special credentials that were passing through the checkpoint with barely a glance from the guards. A flash of helplessness crossed his eyes before he quickly concealed it. "Next! Hurry up!"

In the shadows of a street corner, a black Mazda sat parked. Inside, Tooru Amuro watched the scene before him. Sunlight danced in his golden hair, but his blue eyes held no warmth. He saw the exhaustion and persistence of the officers on the ground, and he also saw the hidden privileges and backroom deals happening under the banner of reconstruction.

Order was being rebuilt, but the soil for evil had never gone away.

Beika Town, the street near Dr. Agasa's house.

In the afternoon, after school, Ai Haibara walked home with Mitsuhiko, Genta, and Ayumi, her small backpack on. She remained in her elementary school form; this was her choice. After experiencing so much darkness and despair, this peaceful, childlike daily life was now precious beyond measure. No more hiding from pursuers, no more carrying heavy secrets.

"Ai-chan, look! That new dessert shop looks so good!" Ayumi said, her eyes shining as she pointed at a cute-looking shop on the corner.

"Mmm, maybe we can ask the Doctor to take us next time," Haibara replied quietly.

"I want an eel-rice-flavored cake!" Genta drooled.

Mitsuhiko pushed up his glasses. "Genta, there's no such thing as eel-rice-flavored cake."

The children chattered amongst themselves. Haibara listened quietly, occasionally chiming in, savoring this long-lost sense of ease.

When they reached Dr. Agasa's house, Akemi Miyano was just about to go inside with a grocery bag. She smiled gently when she saw Haibara and the Junior Detectives.

"You're back, Shi— Ai-chan. I bought your favorite blueberries today."

"Sister!" Haibara ran over. Akemi patted her sister's head and then greeted Mitsuhiko and the others with a smile. Tom Cat appeared from nowhere and rubbed his head against Akemi's leg, then looked hopefully at her grocery bag, especially the one with a fish printed on it.

Akemi laughed and pulled a small dried fish from the bag, handing it to Tom. Tom immediately snatched it and ran off to a corner to munch on it contentedly.

"Where's the Doctor? Still experimenting?" Haibara asked.

"Yes, he said he's debugging a new invention and not to disturb him until dinner."

"I wish he'd take better care of himself."

"I'll remind him," Akemi said with a smile.

Haibara nodded. Watching her sister take care of the house for her and the Doctor, watching her friends play with Tom in the yard, a sense of peace settled over her. No Organization, no APTX4869, no cycle of despair. Just sunlight, friends, family, and a goofy but happy cat.

Meanwhile, in the world of Tom and Jerry.

Inside a typical American house, a stout woman in an apron stood with her hands on her hips, yelling at an empty cat bed. "THOMAS—!! Where has that good-for-nothing lazy cat run off to now?!!"

But Tom was already having the time of his life, and had even started a group livestream to show off his happy new home.

[Non-Human Chat Group]

[Member "Tom Cat" has started an interdimensional livestream: ~A Happy After-Dinner Nap (purrrrr zzz)~]

SpongeBob SquarePants: [Starry_eyes.jpg] WOW! Tom is sleeping so soundly! He must have eaten well in the Conan world! His friends are so nice!

Squidward: [Smashing_alarm_clock.jpg] He's livestreaming himself SLEEPING?! SO LOUD!!!

In the world of Attack on Titan.

Deep within a forest of towering trees, on the dark, damp ground, space rippled slightly, and a Kyubey appeared out of thin air. It curiously observed this new, oppressive world, heralding that a new "incubation" was about to begin, both inside and outside the walls.

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