Unable to reach Kogoro Mouri, Heiji Hattori had to switch tactics.
Going straight to Conan? No way—that would just look weird. A high schooler inviting an elementary schooler out? He wasn't about to lose that much face.
Heiji mulled it over for a moment, eyes drifting to Kazuha Toyama, who happened to be visiting. After watching her for a bit, a lightbulb went off.
He casually strolled over and, with the smoothness of a true schemer, said, "Hey Kazuha, didn't you say you wanted to go to Tokyo with me sometime? How about asking Ran Mouri to come along? She's lived there forever—probably knows all the fun spots."
From Heiji's point of view, getting Ran to agree was basically getting Conan to agree too, considering how clingy that kid was. Once they were all in Tokyo, he'd let Ran drag Kazuha and his mom Shizuka around shopping, while he quietly slipped off with Conan. Straight to Ogasawara. Straight to solving cases. Straight to glory.
It was the perfect plan.
Unfortunately, Kazuha didn't nod along as eagerly as he'd hoped. Instead, she blinked in surprise and then asked, with a smile colder than a Buddhist snowman, "Ask Ran Mouri? What do you mean by that?"
Heiji froze. Warning lights went off in his brain. He raised both hands in defense. "N-no, I just meant... the kid at her house, you know, we kinda get along…"
His voice trailed off.
Kazuha was staring at him like he'd just declared he wanted to marry a rice cooker.
And that's when Heiji panicked. Did she figure it out? That I want to ask Conan out? That there's something weird about that kid? He suddenly felt like someone had handed him a pot and asked him to explain its feelings.
He coughed awkwardly. "Forget it. I'll do it myself."
…Might as well just call Conan directly.
Thankfully, Conan was a clever little tool. He could just spin it as helping cultivate the next generation of detectives. Nothing suspicious about that.
As for asking Jiangxia directly? Not happening.
He didn't exactly hate Jiangxia anymore—things had thawed since the last time they met—but that didn't mean he enjoyed solving cases next to him. It was like reading a mystery novel where someone had already circled the killer in red. Except in this case, the guy sitting next to him was the one circling the killer while they read it together. And he was always right.
Just thinking about it deflated Heiji like a sad pufferfish. Muttering under his breath, he slunk off to one side and dialed Conan's number.
Meanwhile, Kazuha narrowed her eyes as she watched him go. Then, without missing a beat, she whipped out her phone.
She found Ran Mouri's number—she'd politely exchanged contacts the last time Ran visited Osaka—and dialed.
The line wasn't busy.
Which meant: Heiji had not called Ran. He'd snuck off to call someone else.
Kazuha was both relieved and suspicious. Who was he calling in secret? Was this the emergence of a new vixen?
Just as she was about to tail him like a bear child in a spy movie, the call connected.
Ran's voice came through, surprised. "Kazuha?"
Welp. There went the stealth mission.
But Kazuha wasn't giving up that easily.
She sweetly chirped, "Hi Ran! I was just wondering if you're free the day after tomorrow? Heiji and I are heading to Tokyo soon, but we don't really know any fun places."
Ran perked up. She was free—and she'd love to show them around!
And Kazuha, with a smile so fake it could've been 3D printed, added, "Oh, and if Jiangxia's available, be sure to invite him too! Heiji said he really wants to talk shop and share detective techniques."
Ran was thrilled. Not only had Kazuha called her, but it sounded like Heiji Hattori wanted to bond with Jiangxia too. Her Tokyo detective really was making friends. Growth!
They picked a time and place and hung up, both pleased.
Kazuha sat back smugly. With Jiangxia there, most of the other girls' attention would shift to him. No matter what vixen Heiji was secretly planning to meet, she'd throw a wrench right into it.
Meanwhile, Ran was busy being touched: Heiji Hattori might seem prickly, but deep down, he was a good person. Jiangxia was becoming more social without even realizing it! She couldn't wait to see him again.
…
And over in Osaka, Heiji, blissfully unaware of the betrayal currently marinating, had just finished his call with Conan.
He wanted to talk about the Ogasawara case. But something told him it was too risky—Conan might let something slip.
So all he said was that he'd be in Tokyo the day after tomorrow.
Oh, and also—"Don't tell Jiangxia."
He just knew if Jiangxia showed up, some corpse would fall from the sky, and he wouldn't even get to solve it himself.
Across town, Conan blinked at the phone.
Then glanced up.
At Jiangxia.
Sitting right across the table.
At Professor Agasa's house.
Which is where Conan had been freeloading a meal.
So was Jiangxia, coincidentally.
As Conan hung up, Jiangxia gave him a slow, suspicious look. He'd definitely heard him say "Hattori."
Ai Haibara, spoon in hand, glanced between the two. She had no clue what was happening, but she could tell Jiangxia had entered full shikigami mode.
So she innocently asked, "What happened?"
Conan froze, chopsticks midair.
A few seconds later, he sighed and looked at Jiangxia. "Hattori asked me to hang out the day after tomorrow. Um… do you want to come too?"
...He felt bad for stabbing Heiji in the back, but honestly, there was no way to avoid it now. Jiangxia already knew it was Heiji, and could probably guess the whole plot.
Better to just invite him now than pretend to be surprised when he "accidentally" showed up later.
*Goal #1: Top 200 fanfics published within the last 31 - 90 days by POWER STONES.
Progress: 20/60(approx) for 10 BONUS CHAPTERS
Goal #2: One BONUS CHAPTER per review for the first 10 REVIEWS.
Progress:2/10*