"At the time, the police believed that deciphering the letters 'KAN O' written in my father's notebook would have a massive impact on the case. So, after the incident, they frequently asked my mother and me if we had ever heard the meaning of this term from my father."
Officer Sato smiled and shook her head.
Unfortunately, neither she nor her mother had ever heard the term, let alone understood its meaning.
"When I was little, I used to stare at those letters constantly, so they left a very deep impression on me. I often thought to myself that if anyone could solve this riddle and catch 'Choushirou,' I would grant them whatever request they had, no matter what it was!"
Sato recalled her childhood fantasy.
"A-Any request... is okay?" Takagi and Shiratori's eyes changed, and almost simultaneously, they imagined Miwako in a pure white wedding dress.
These two really have active imaginations...
Hearing this, the Detective Boys immediately ran over.
"If I guess the answer, will you treat me to one hundred servings of eel rice?!" Genta pointed at himself, his eyes shining as he asked.
One hundred servings of eel rice—who knew how long that would take to eat.
"Hmm, of course," Officer Sato said with a smile.
"If it were me, I'd want to experience what it feels like to live in the castle at Tropical Land!" Ayumi also had a small wish.
"And me! Just a ticket to the International Space Exhibition would be fine!" Compared to the previous two, Mitsuhiko's gift was quite classy.
With the atmosphere set, Ai leaned against the car and said, "If it were me, just the latest Prada handbag would do."
"T-Then can I ask for tickets to this year's World Cup?" The famous detective revealed a genuine smile as he stated his wish.
These two shrunken individuals, at least on this matter, weren't lying.
"Uhh..." Officer Sato felt the requests were getting more and more outrageous.
Kids nowadays are actually shrewd to this extent? It's a bit terrifying...
"By the way, Tsuneo-niichan, what's your wish?"
The three children looked at the repairman who hadn't spoken the whole time.
"I don't really have any wish." Tsuneo thought for a moment. If he had to name something achievable, Genta's wish was a bit more practical.
However, eating eel rice every day wouldn't work for him.
"Eh?"
"How can you not have a wish?" Genta and the others found it a bit unbelievable.
"This shows that he is gradually becoming less like a human being." Ai opened the small notebook she carried with her, looked at the data recorded inside, and commented.
This month, his food intake had noticeably increased again.
Where exactly is the limit?
According to Kudo, the changes in the repairman's body started gradually after he began exercising in the mornings.
Is there some inevitable connection here?
It's incomprehensible.
"She doesn't really think of me that way, does she???" Tsuneo saw her seriously flipping through that little notebook and couldn't help but lower his head to ask himself.
Should I just buy her that... what was it... Pra-something bag and be done with it?
This evil scientist...
"I sometimes think that way too." Conan smiled speechlessly.
Your condition is just as she described.
"..." Tsuneo nodded, preparing to go buy a handbag of that brand tomorrow.
"What's wrong with those two?" Officer Sato looked at Takagi and Shiratori, who were pondering something nearby.
"Uh, more flowers." Ayumi pointed at the crosswalk. Three men and one woman were walking over.
Seeing this, Officer Sato took a few steps forward and greeted them: "Long time no see!"
Judging by their appearance, the four of them seemed to be in their fifties or sixties.
"Eh, aren't you Miwako?" The lady among them recognized Officer Sato.
She really looks just like she did when she was little.
"You've grown so big!"
The four people in front of her were friends from Officer Sato's father's high school baseball team.
Hidero Saruwatari, fifty years old, used to be the ace pitcher of the baseball team, though he was now balding. He was currently a high school teacher.
Shuji Kano, forty-nine years old, a batter famous for his strong arm and fast legs, ran a restaurant by himself.
Mitsuo Inomata, fifty years old, the absolute mainstay of the baseball team, was now the president of a financial company.
As for the lady who recognized Officer Sato, her name was Choko Kamitori, forty-nine years old, formerly the beautiful manager of the baseball team.
"By the way, how did everyone come together?" Officer Sato asked curiously.
"We haven't seen each other for a long time, so we thought we'd grab a drink together," Hidero Saruwatari explained with a smile.
"Before that, we felt we should come and pay our respects to Captain Sato." Shuji Kano placed the bouquet he was holding by the roadside.
"I bet that 'Choushirou' is among these four people."
Tsuneo looked at their backs and said.
If I recall correctly, that robber seemed to be an old man. Which one was it again?
"Why?" Conan tilted his head and asked.
What, have you finally evolved some strange ability?
"Intuition...?" Ai jotted something down in her notebook again.
"Heh, by the way, Officer Sato, can I leave these little guys to you for now?" Tsuneo glanced at his phone.
I have a client rushing me; they've sent several messages.
"No problem. I drove here too, so I'll take them home safely later." Officer Sato nodded.
Shiratori and Takagi were in one car, and she had driven her red Mazda alone.
Before leaving, the repairman glanced at Ayumi, then got into the car and drove off.
I hope this little one's hostage constitution doesn't awaken.
Once I'm done with work, I need to hurry and drag out that guy who's setting fires everywhere.
Not long after the repairman left.
Nearby, Officer Shiratori's phone rang as well.
"Inspector Megure, the three of us are currently in Haido." Shiratori reported their specific location.
Inspector Megure's next sentence shocked him directly.
"Someone spotted a suspect resembling the arsonist. He fled upon encountering a patrol officer and is currently wanted!"
Shoulder-length hair, wearing a hat, and dressed in a grey coat—most of the characteristics matched.
"Takagi, let's move out immediately!" After hanging up, Officer Shiratori got straight into the car.
"Will you two be okay?" Sato asked.
"Don't worry. But... I seem to have left my handcuffs in the office?" Takagi reached into his pockets and rummaged around.
Next, a sentence from Takagi plunged Officer Sato into a memory.
"The horoscope in the magazine said I'm having a stroke of luck today and my fortune is incredible! Even without handcuffs, I can catch the arsonist!"
Fortune is good...
It was almost exactly like her father, who had forgotten to bring his handcuffs on the day of the accident.
Officer Sato personally handed a pair of rusty handcuffs to Takagi.
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