Traveling back thirty years to Conan, intercepting Princess Eri

"I absolutely must castrate him!"

Driven to desperation, Tomizawa Chikage suddenly swung her fist.
"I'll make sure he never dares to take advantage of girls again! I mean it!"

The girl's voice was urgent and harsh, causing Inspector Megure in the front row to unconsciously shrink back.

As soon as she finished speaking, a suppressed cough came from the front passenger seat. It was Lin Xiuyi!

He had been pretending to rest with his eyes closed, but he had actually heard the conversation in the back seat clearly. When he heard "castrate him," he was so shocked that he almost choked.

Yukiko peeked into the front row and saw Hayashi Hideichi's stiff back. Suppressing a laugh, she nudged Tomizawa Chikage with her elbow, deliberately teasing her.

"What did you just say? Your voice was too soft, I didn't hear you clearly. Could you say it louder?"

“Just say it! What’s there to be afraid of!”

Tomizawa Chikage stiffened her neck, about to repeat herself, when she caught a glimpse of the rearview mirror out of the corner of her eye.

In the mirror, Lin Xiuyi was looking at her with a helpless expression, his eyes full of "Are you serious?"
The girl's voice caught in her throat, and her cheeks flushed bright red.

She suddenly lowered her head, covered her face with her hands, and wished she could disappear into a crack in the ground.

Finished!

Lin Xiuyi heard everything that was just said!
This is so embarrassing!

Tomizawa Chikage's heart was screaming, her mind replaying the unexpected kiss and the awkward situation she was in.

This night's experience was more thrilling than any of her previous phantom thief adventures.

Yukiko couldn't hold back any longer and burst out laughing.

Enraged, Tomizawa Chikage reached out to tickle Yukiko, causing chaos in the back seat.

Inspector Megure glanced at the two girls playing around in the rearview mirror, then at Lin Xiuyi, who looked helpless in the front seat, and sighed with mixed feelings.

Why are there such big differences between people? Why wasn't my youth this exciting?
……

Half an hour later, the police car finally arrived at the Metropolitan Police Department.

Lin Xiuyi got out of the car first and fled towards the entrance of the Metropolitan Police Department, as if afraid of being alone with the two girls in the back seat any longer.

Yukiko and Chikage Tomizawa also stopped their playful antics and got out of the car one after the other. The latter kept her eyes fixed on the ground, as if there was something particularly attractive there.

He would occasionally glance up at Lin Xiuyi's back, then immediately lower his head again.

Inspector Megure led the three into the Metropolitan Police Department. At that time, there were still many police officers working overtime. When they saw Lin Xiuyi and the two pretty girls come in, they all looked over curiously.

Lin Xiuyi lowered his head awkwardly and quickly followed Inspector Megure into the interrogation room.

The two had barely finished writing down a few sentences when they heard Yukiko and Chikage Tomizawa's voices coming from outside the door.

The two girls started arguing again about "who started the fight."

Lin Xiuyi sighed and quickened her pace in recounting what had happened.

Inspector Megure also heard the arguing outside the door. He shook his head helplessly, pretending not to hear, and continued taking notes.

After finally finishing the statement, Lin Xiuyi stood up and saw Yukiko and Tomizawa Chikage crowding at the door.

Both girls wore expressions of displeasure, clearly indicating that the argument had not completely subsided.

“It’s my turn!” Yukiko said first.

"Why should you go first? I arrived at the Metropolitan Police Department before you!" Tomizawa Chikage immediately stopped her. "I should be taken into account first!"

“I’m the victim! Of course I should get it done first!” Yukiko retorted defiantly.

“I’m the hero! Without me, you wouldn’t have been able to catch the thief!” Tomizawa Chikage immediately retorted. The two girls started arguing again, and Inspector Megure and Hayashi Shu exchanged helpless glances.

In the end, it was Inspector Megure who intervened and mediated, having the two take turns giving statements, which finally calmed the dispute down.

By the time all three had finished giving their statements, it was almost midnight.

Inspector Megure finished tidying up the statement: "Thank you for your hard work. I'll handle the follow-up to the case. You should go home and get some rest. Do you need me to drive you?"

"No need, let's take a taxi back." Lin Xiuyi shook his head, turned around and walked towards the entrance of the Metropolitan Police Department. Yukiko and Tomizawa Chikage quickly followed.

Stepping out of the Metropolitan Police Department, the cool night breeze sobered all three of them up considerably.

Yukiko glanced at Hayashi Shuichi, then at Tomizawa Chikage, hesitated for a moment, and finally spoke.

"Um... thank you for tonight. If it weren't for you, I might have really been in danger."

Although this thank you is late, it is clearly from the heart.

Tomizawa Chikage paused for a moment, then turned her face away and whispered, "You're welcome. I was just helping out, not specifically to save you."

"It's good that you're alright," Lin Xiuyi said with a hint of admonition. "Don't be so impulsive in the future. If you lose something, you can look for it tomorrow. There's no need to risk sneaking into the mall."

Yukiko lowered her head, like a child who had done something wrong.
"I understand, I won't do it again. I was just too hasty then. That necklace was a keepsake gift from my mother..."

The three stood at the entrance of the Metropolitan Police Department, and for a moment they fell silent, the atmosphere becoming awkward again.

Finally, Lin Xiuyi broke the silence: "It's getting late, let me take you back."

"No need! I can take a taxi back myself!" Yukiko and Chikage Tomizawa said at the same time, then looked at each other and saw embarrassment in each other's eyes.

This tacit response made the situation even more delicate.

Lin Xiuyi smiled helplessly: "Let me take you. It's so late, it's not safe for a girl to take a taxi alone."

The two did not refuse again and followed Lin Xiu to the intersection where she usually hailed a taxi.

The three of them remained silent throughout the journey, their footsteps echoing in the quiet night.

After dropping Yukiko off at home, only Hayashi Shuichi and Tomizawa Chikage remained in the car, making the atmosphere inside even more somber.

Tomizawa Chikage sat in the back row, watching the night view rushing past the window, her cheeks still flushed.

Lin Xiuyi, sitting in the passenger seat, didn't say anything. He would occasionally glance at her in the rearview mirror, but it was only a fleeting look before he looked away.

As they approached the building where Tomizawa Chikage lived, she suddenly spoke up: "Um... I'll treat tonight's kiss as an accident, and let's not mention it again."

Lin Xiu was taken aback for a moment, then nodded: "I understand. I'm sorry, I made you suffer today."

Chikage Tomizawa's cheeks flushed even more: "It's okay, it's not your fault anyway."

This tolerant response was somewhat unexpected by Lin Xiuyi, making him unable to help but turn around and glance at the girl.

"What are you looking at!" Tomizawa Chikage glared at him, annoyed. "I don't think so. Do you really think I should be castrated...?"

At this point, she glanced at the taxi driver and was too embarrassed to continue.

A moment later, the taxi stopped in front of the girl's rented apartment building.

The two got out of the car together. Tomizawa Chikage walked quickly towards the apartment entrance, but after a few steps, she suddenly stopped, turned around somewhat awkwardly, and waved to Lin Xiuyi.

Be careful on your way back!

"Go home and get some rest," Lin Xiuyi smiled. "Don't forget to go to the izakaya tomorrow to discuss the trip to Osaka." (End of Chapter)