Chapter 12: Ai Haibara: Continuing to Lie Low

"It's a game called 'Elementary School Detective vs. The Black Organization,'" Kudo Yusaku said with a deadpan expression.

Kudo Yusaku naturally possessed a very serious countenance.

When he spoke these words, his tone was exceptionally earnest.

If Shoichi were a fool, he would have actually believed this nonsense.

Shoichi put on an expression that suggested, *You are disrespecting my intelligence,* but his ears tilted slightly toward Kudo Yusaku, signaling, *But I am willing to listen to your bullshit.*

As a listener, Shoichi did not interrupt at all while Kudo Yusaku was talking nonsense.

Even Conan couldn't help but interject several times, but Kudo Yusaku brushed him off every time.

Conan could only purse his lips.

He just assumed Yusaku was making up a story for Shoichi, all to help hide his identity.

When Kudo Yusaku reached the part where he claimed the woman on the floor was Kudo Yukiko, Conan's pupils shook with shock.

Shoichi nodded.

"So, what you're saying is, it's actually a game between you and Conan? You, Professor Agasa, and this Yukiko on the floor are all acting?"

"Exactly," Kudo Yusaku nodded.

Regardless of whether Shoichi believed him or not, Conan was already trembling.

When Shoichi tore the mask off Yukiko's face, Conan's heart finally sank.

In Yukiko's pupils, the image of a shivering Conan was reflected.

Coincidentally, the soccer ball had just rolled to Conan's feet, making him tremble even harder.

Shoichi kicked the soccer ball away from Conan's feet and said softly, "You guys take your games very seriously; you're quite heavy-handed."

He glanced toward Yukiko's chest.

"Hehe," Conan gave an awkward laugh.

He truly had no idea.

He was still in a daze, only knowing that the people who came to kidnap him seemed to be his own mother.

Conan shot a look at his "loving" mother.

*Can't ignorance be a defense? Besides, you guys were the ones who made the first move.*

Yukiko's eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze filled with maternal affection.

"Even when playing a game, one must give it their all," Conan said somewhat haltingly.

"Very good, a great competitive spirit," Shoichi said with a smile.

Conan nodded.

He had a great competitive spirit; he could only hope his mother had great competitive ethics.

Shoichi was brushed off by them.

At least, from Conan's perspective, he had been brushed off.

"Will he really believe the excuse you made up?" Yukiko asked, playing with a pink string.

Kudo Yusaku shook his head. "Definitely not."

When Shinichi comes into contact with him, he will surely realize this isn't a game; it's just that he feels I won't tell him the truth and doesn't want to waste time here.

It all depends on whether he wants to dig to the bottom of it.

If he isn't interested, Shinichi's identity won't be exposed; if he is interested, he will certainly find something out.

"Then let's just leave him be for now." Yukiko picked up the soccer ball and began juggling it.

...

Without eavesdropping on the "parent-child interaction" between Yukiko and Conan, Shoichi drove his sedan home.

After arriving home, Miss Yuko was all smiles, sharing cute photos of Ai with Shoichi.

In the photos, Ai was meticulously slicing fruit; her serious expression was incredibly cute. Yuko had even snapped a candid photo of Ai "grinning foolishly."

Shoichi smiled happily.

*Ai is so ruthless with that knife; she definitely won't mistake the fruit for me, right?*

*And that grinning photo... it won't be a grin of joy from Ai imagining her finishing me off, will it?*

*Probably not.*

"Mr. Shoichi, this is the fruit Ai sliced for you. She was too embarrassed to give it to you herself, so she asked me to do it on her behalf," Miss Yuko said, handing Ai's fruit platter to Shoichi.

Ai, who was doing homework in the living room, looked up.

*I was clearly giving it to Miss Yuko. She's overthinking things.*

"Good girl," Shoichi praised Ai.

Ai remained silent.

*If Shoichi wants to eat it, let him eat it. Consider it my final fruit platter.*

*Eat your fill so you're ready for the journey; tonight, we go down together!*

When night fell.

Shoichi lay in bed sleeping. Ai, having once again hidden a fruit knife in her sleeve, cautiously crept into Shoichi's bedroom, attempting another night raid.

She walked up behind Shoichi and pulled out the knife.

At that exact moment, Shoichi happened to roll over.

Ai shuddered but did not retreat.

*I absolutely cannot be hesitant. I failed last time because I was too hesitant.*

"What are you doing?" Shoichi's eyes widened as he stared at Ai.

Ai looked at Shoichi in terror. Frightened by those large eyes, she stumbled forward toward him again, and the knife slipped from her hand, landing on the carpet.

Having been collided with by the little girl, Shoichi reached out and patted Ai's head.

This was the second time this little one had come to seek a hug at night.

*Children these days are truly such social creatures.*

*Or perhaps I am just so charismatic that the little one can't help but want to be close to me?*

"I..." Ai stammered, looking at Shoichi.

The intense fear of the Organization made it impossible for her to form a complete sentence.

Fortunately, Shoichi was kind and didn't mind a child who couldn't speak clearly.

He patted her head and said, "You're playing a game with me, aren't you?"

"A game?" Ai froze.

"The 'Jing Ke Assassinating the King of Qin' game. You must be playing that with me, right?" Shoichi said.

"Yes," Ai nodded.

She stole a cautious glance at Shoichi.

*This ridiculous excuse should have been made up by someone with a guilty conscience like me. How did you come up with it?*

*Are you actively making excuses for someone who wants to kill you?*

She had not yet explored the realm of psychopathy.

Shoichi said, "It's already so late; let's not play games. We can play tomorrow. Go to sleep first."

Ai wanted to get up, but Shoichi had already pressed her down onto the bed.

"I..."

"By the way, do you know Kudo Shinichi?" Shoichi suddenly asked.

"I don't," Ai answered uneasily.

*Why did he suddenly mention Kudo Shinichi?*

*Could it be that he finally sensed my malice and suspects my identity?*

"You don't?" Shoichi muttered softly. "Today, Kudo Shinichi's parents were playing a game with a little boy. They were just like you—very serious about their games. You used a real knife to play 'Jing Ke Assassinating the King of Qin' with me, and that little boy also used real strength when hitting Yukiko."

Ai trembled.

Though she didn't know the whole story, Ai guessed that the little boy was definitely a shrunken Kudo Shinichi.

As for the "game" between the Kudos and him, they certainly weren't actually playing; they were just fooling Shoichi.

"By the way, what were you saying just now?" Shoichi asked suddenly.

"Nothing. I'm sleepy. I'm going to sleep now."

Ai shook her head and curled up under the covers, motionless.

She had indeed come in to play a game with Shoichi, but now she was tired from playing.

*Sleep, sleep.*

*I will continue to endure. Sooner or later, I will deal with Shoichi and avenge my sister.*

*Hibernation is only temporary.*