On the second day after crossing over, Kazawa successfully got the contact info of Suzuki Sonoko, Mouri Ran, and even Edogawa Conan.
From Conan's string of hints like "Uncle Mouri is a private detective, you know," and "High schoolers are still minors," Kazawa understood what he meant. The boy was clearly offering help if Kazawa ever had something he couldn't talk about openly.
Well, it wasn't like he was the one with a bad reputation anyway.
Right now, Conan looked at Amuro Tooru like he was some scumbag, but Kazawa's conscience didn't flinch in the slightest.
Fake liquor was still liquor. It was better for Conan to keep his distance for now.
Kazawa remembered early-stage Conan had truly terrible acting skills—it felt like Ran could suspect him five times every three days.
Better not have Bourbon exposed at the speed of light.
After sending the Grim Reaper trio away, Kazawa quickly began rehearsing the next conversation in his head.
The foreshadowing was already in place. If Bourbon could resist coming to test him, then he wouldn't be Bourbon. A grand performance was inevitable.
And conveniently, Kazawa had something he needed Amuro Tooru's help to test.
"Your dinner."
Amuro Tooru placed the seafood pasta in front of a daydreaming Kazawa, and also set down a cup of hot cocoa next to his hand.
Kazawa, who hadn't heard any footsteps, was caught completely off guard and startled. He composed himself, thanked him, and couldn't help but admire the undercover agent's professional skills as he politely declined:
"Thanks, but I could've just—"
"The boss said your meals and lodging are all covered by the shop. Your parents should've already paid the fees, so don't worry."
The double-salaried undercover agent, who submitted reimbursement forms to multiple agencies, lied through his teeth as he prepared to bill the organization for as much as he could.
"Also, feel free to use the shop's kitchen. Don't keep eating cold rice balls. That's not good for your health."
Kazawa paused just as he was about to poke his chopsticks into the pasta.
So… you really did install surveillance in a minor's room? What happened to the moral bottom line of the Public Security Bureau?
"Ah, sorry," Kazawa slowly picked up some pasta and, remembering another possibility, lowered his voice, "Did Miss Enomoto tell you?"
In reality, Amuro hadn't installed any surveillance and his conscience was alive and kicking. He nodded.
"She said she made you sandwiches in the morning, but you just ate two rice balls and left for school. Don't feel too pressured, Kazawa-kun."
Kazawa shoved a roll of pasta into his mouth and only replied after swallowing,
"Got it."
"How is it? My cooking's not bad, right?"
Amuro Tooru smiled and poked Kazawa's head, which was about to dive into the plate, guessing he'd either choke on the noodles or freeze up like a startled rabbit.
Why was Kazawa so afraid of him? Amuro felt he had been a very kind big brother since they met, and began to speculate.
Was there violence during police questioning? Or maybe someone warned him before he even came to Tokyo?
Sure enough, once he realized the pasta was made by Amuro Tooru, Kazawa completely froze mid-chew and stared up at him in shock.
But what Kazawa was thinking inside was:
Why are you poking my head again? Does my head look that fun to touch?
Kazawa averted his gaze, slightly speechless:
"It's really good, thank you."
To be fair, Amuro Tooru's cooking really was excellent. The pasta was soft and springy, and with the roe on top, it was fragrant and chewy. The guy definitely earned every job he got as a part-time emperor.
Kazawa picked up another bite.
"As long as you like it. You don't have to be so formal with me, you know? Am I really that scary? You always seem so afraid of upsetting me. My temper isn't that bad—don't be scared. We're going to be living together for a long time."
Amuro subtly brought this up.
Of course, he noticed Conan's "I think you're a villain" kind of wary eyes.
Bourbon might indeed be a bad guy, but Furuya Rei certainly wasn't. His approach was completely harmless, so there was no reason Kazawa should be this guarded.
Amuro decided to first rule out the possibility that Kazawa had noticed the organization's surveillance. If Kazawa's stiffness was due to viewing him as a dangerous individual, then it was necessary to consider the theory that "Kazawa Akira clearly knows the organization is targeting him."
Kazawa picked up on the hidden probe smoothly and decided to pin the blame on the original body's history of betrayal and isolation. He wasn't entirely sure of the details, but Amuro definitely would be. So he let out a couple of bitter laughs:
"I don't mean to be rude to you. I'm sorry. I just… don't know how to…"
He put on a sorrowful look, like he was recalling something sad, stopping and starting like he couldn't get the words out. The meaning was all in the silence.
In short: If you know, you know. I'll leave it up to your imagination.
Amuro, blessed with an overactive imagination, quickly pieced it together.
After the incident, Kazawa Akira's withdrawal notice had been posted publicly. Then came all sorts of rumors—he'd beaten someone severely, accidentally killed someone drunk, even sexually harassed a middle schooler. The gossip was relentless.
Someone had clearly been working to destroy all of Kazawa's existing relationships—and they had succeeded.
His classmates and neighbors avoided him. Someone had sprayed vulgar slurs on his front door. His personal belongings in his school locker had been maliciously destroyed.
It was because Kazawa could no longer live normally in that environment that he had been relocated to Tokyo.
What a terribly unlucky and pitiful child, Amuro sighed, his tone even gentler now.
"Do you think I'd treat you badly because of your past record? Has someone been bullying you?"
Kazawa remained silent.
That sentence brought back more of the original's memories.
A kid curled up under the blanket, covering his ears tightly—but he couldn't stop the chime after chime of his phone.
He knew full well what they were.
They started as concern and questions, but later turned into suspicion and rejection. Now, his SNS and email were filled only with messages like "murderer" and "just die." Any former friendship or kindness had been completely forgotten.
His silence hadn't calmed anything. The situation only worsened. Someone had edited his photo in black and white, slapped "killer" over it, and posted it online. So now, even strangers who didn't know him were condemning him.
He became a frightened bird, avoiding everyone's gaze. Everyone on the street looked like they were stabbing him with eyes full of hate.
He was fed up.
Grabbing the noisy phone beside his pillow, Kazawa Akira threw it with all his might.
"Would you, Amuro-san?"
Kazawa took a deep breath and asked in a calm tone, but tears were falling quietly down his cheeks.
Damn it, all those people who cyberbullied him should go to hell.
Damn it, he was about to lose it. Crying suddenly like this was kinda embarrassing.
Thanks to his past life, Kazawa was someone especially good at controlling his emotions and acting naturally—but right now, it was like his tear ducts didn't belong to him anymore. The sorrow and despair of "Kazawa Akira" came crashing down like a tidal wave, and all Kazawa could do was keep himself from sobbing out loud.
This was the deep pain and helplessness of a teenager that couldn't be let go. The pure emotions slammed into Kazawa's heart, and he simply couldn't resist.
While Kazawa wrestled with his emotions, Amuro saw someone whose light had gone out, silently shedding tears, and it was all too convincing—small, pitiful, and helpless.
"Of course not. Wipe your face, or your tears will fall into the food."
Amuro Tooru couldn't bear to watch. He turned his head away, grabbed a towel, and gently pressed it to Kazawa's face.
"I'm your guardian now. I'll protect you."
Kazawa's tears kept flowing, but inside he had already calmed. Hearing Amuro's words made something stir in his heart.
"Really?"
Kazawa asked muffledly under the damp towel.
"I'm not the kind of guy who lies to kids. You can trust me a bit more."
Amuro patted his head.
"As your guardian, I'll do my duty. That's a promise from an adult."
Bourbon may have bad intentions—but what's that got to do with Furuya Rei?
With a clear conscience, the undercover agent made this promise without hesitation.
"…Okay."
Kazawa took the towel and wiped his face randomly, then mumbled under it,
"But stop touching my head already!"
As soon as he spoke, the voice he'd been waiting for arrived.
A magnetic voice whispered in his ear:
"I am thou… Thou art I…"
"Thou hast forged a new bond…"
"The bond shall bring thee freedom's wings…"
"I am the origin of the Magician Arcana, blessed by the wind…"
"To aid thee on thy journey to the end…"
A translucent interface appeared before Kazawa.
[cooperation: Amuro Tooru (?)]
[Arcana: The Magician – Rank 1]
[Truths and lies, illusions and reality—behind layer after layer of masks, someone smiles at you, just as you do behind your own.
To see through truth and intent requires wisdom, sincerity, and maybe… a flexible moral compass?
The Thousand-Layer Mask Cooking Contest is about to begin. Ready—go!]
[New Ability Unlocked: "Free Combat"]