Options system in my brain: Detective Conan

Ten minutes ago.

After Kuroba Kaito heard the announcement at the venue that the gem was fake, he completely lost his composure.

This was information he had wanted to reveal to Conan and others before the attack occurred.

Kuroba Kaito believed that even if someone had guessed the gem was fake, the first to notice the clue would have been either Detective Conan or Sera Masumi.

And given the nature of those detectives, even if they knew, they would handle the matter privately.

There was absolutely no way they would expose it to the public via radio.

---

'Even the two detectives seemed quite surprised by this broadcast. It seems unrelated to them.'

'It's impossible for Takashi Tsukino to expose it alone.'

'Then, who has been in the control room all this time?'

Kuroba Kaito thought for a moment and suddenly realized something.

If others didn't know the identity of the person who just made the broadcast, they would surely think Kaito had been the one to expose the gem.

Kuroba Kaito had no idea what the person in the broadcasting room was planning, but he would undoubtedly be blamed for any consequences caused by that person.

---

After understanding this, Kuroba Kaito ignored the tourists and walked straight toward the control room.

He had already discovered the surveillance footage inside the venue and had previously been in the monitoring room while installing the speaker in the broadcasting room.

Kuroba Kaito soon arrived at the monitoring room.

The door to the monitoring room was closed.

Kuroba Kaito quickly weighed his options between secretly opening the door or knocking and chose the latter.

He knocked on the door of the monitoring room and immediately heard a slightly familiar male voice from inside:

"Come in."

---

Kuroba Kaito was momentarily taken aback.

The other party hadn't even asked who he was but had simply let him in.

Moreover, since they said "come in," it meant the door was unlocked.

Kuroba Kaito couldn't help but marvel at the audacity of the person inside.

He turned the door handle and immediately opened the monitoring room door.

---

'Why him?!'

Kuroba Kaito was stunned to see an unexpected person inside the monitoring room.

It was the artist Akikawa Kyousuke, who had attended the Tokyo International Showcase just a few days ago.

After interacting with him for a few days, Kuroba Kaito had thought Akikawa Kyousuke was just a handsome artist with no significant experience or knowledge.

So seeing Akikawa Kyousuke sitting in the monitoring room at this moment left him extremely surprised.

Kuroba Kaito closed the door to the monitoring room, his mind now brimming with countless questions.

However, he noticed that Akikawa Kyousuke, who was seated in front of the computer, was still looking at the screen and hadn't turned to look at him.

---

"As expected, the Heart of Scarlet Shadow is now with Tsukino Takashi. You can find it in his private lounge," said Akikawa Kyousuke.

Kuroba Kaito, who had just suppressed the surprise in his heart, was startled again by Akikawa Kyousuke's words.

Did Akikawa Kyousuke know he was Kaitou Kid without even looking at him?

'How did he figure out who I was? I'm still in disguise.'

Kuroba Kaito was momentarily thrown off by Akikawa Kyousuke's blunt statement.

It felt as though the other party had anticipated his arrival and was well aware of Tsukino Takashi's situation.

---

"Mr. Akikawa, what are you talking about?

And why are you here? You're not staff, are you?"

Kuroba Kaito feigned ignorance and asked.

---

"When I heard you say on the radio, 'The kid is trying to steal the Heart of Scarlet Shadow,' I knew no one was in the broadcasting room.

So, I came."

Akikawa Kyousuke continued to look at the surveillance footage, never shifting his gaze toward Kuroba Kaito.

---

"When did you find out?"

Kuroba Kaito, realizing that Akikawa Kyousuke already knew his identity, dropped the act and asked directly.

"Perhaps during lunch.

There are many tourists here today. Even Mr. Amuro and I, who usually choose to eat outside, opted for the venue's lounge.

But you, who usually eat in the lounge, decided to leave for lunch."

"At first, it wasn't an issue. But as soon as lunch ended, staff discovered the Yuehua necklace had been stolen.

So, what exactly were you doing during lunch?"

---

"Do you think that, Mr. Matsumoto?"

Akikawa Kyousuke finally turned his head toward Kuroba Kaito.

Standing before him was Professor Matsumoto Kenichi, an invited guest and one of the main figures of the showcase.

This was the identity Kuroba Kaito had assumed to infiltrate the Tokyo International Showcase.

---

"Your usual words and actions reveal your dislike and rejection of Kaitou Kid. Most people would never suspect you, Mr. Matsumoto, of being Kaitou Kid."

Akikawa Kyousuke smiled.

---

"Are you basing my identity solely on that coincidence?"

Kuroba Kaito asked.

---

"Not at all.

The issue lies with your notice letter. Only someone with insider knowledge could have sent Tsukino that invitation letter.

Although you didn't explicitly state it in the notice, it was evident you already knew the gem showcased was the Heart of Scarlet Shadow.

The identities of the gems at this event were not initially disclosed.

Only a select few staff members and invited guests, who received the collection manuals, could have known."

---

"All things considered, Mr. Matsumoto perfectly fits Kaitou Kid's profile.

Of course, I assume this identity and appearance are just part of your disguise."

Akikawa Kyousuke stated.

---

"Are you a detective too?"

Kuroba Kaito's eyebrows shifted slightly as he asked.

The artist before him bore a striking resemblance to Conan and Hakuba when they reasoned things out.

But after voicing that thought, Kuroba Kaito dismissed the idea.

Detectives wouldn't assist him in stealing something unless their interests aligned, and even Conan wouldn't help under these circumstances.

---

"No."

Akikawa Kyousuke's response didn't surprise Kuroba Kaito.

---

"Then why should I trust you're not setting me up and luring me into Tsukino Takashi's lounge to arrest me?"

"If I wanted to arrest you, I would've informed someone the moment the Yuehua necklace was stolen.

Why would I go through all this trouble?"

Akikawa Kyousuke smiled.

---

"Whether they could actually catch you is another matter, but the chances would have been far higher than they are now, wouldn't they?"

---

(End of Chapter)