Soon, the group entered the gymnasium, and the crowd of swarming students finally dispersed.
The building was filled with students in brown kendo uniforms or contestants in black protective gear.
Since it was the finals, the number of contestants in black gear was small; Heiji Hattori quickly ran toward the competition floor.
The rest of the group, led by Shizuka Hattori, headed toward the spectator stands.
Shizuka walked to the innermost seats near the wall, while Yuu Hoshimiya pulled Ai Haibara to sit beside her, and the rest sat down in a row.
As Shizuka attempted to sit, her wooden clog stepped on the hem of her kimono, making her stumble and nearly embarrass herself.
At that moment, Yuu's hot, large hand supported Shizuka's soft waist, helping her onto the chair.
"Madam, moving in a kimono is quite inconvenient; you really must pay more 'attention'!"
Shizuka thanked him with a flushed face, but her heart became increasingly restless and distracted.
A faint smirk played on Yuu's face; at an angle where the other women couldn't see, his large hand couldn't help but give Shizuka's supple waist a playful squeeze.
Then he asked in a low voice, "The red maple leaf I gave you last time—were you satisfied with it, Madam?"
"You...!"
Shizuka's cheeks turned a deep shade of crimson; she was completely unable to maintain her cold, elegant aura in front of Yuu.
Suddenly, Ran Mouri let out a cry of surprise.
"Brother Yuu, look! That guy looks just like Shinichi!"
Ran leaned over Yuu's shoulder; Yuu had already withdrawn his hand and turned his gaze to the floor.
On the high school final arena, Heiji Hattori was facing off against a man who looked exactly like Shinichi Kudo.
The guy had Shinichi's face, but his hairstyle was identical to Heiji's.
In his past life, Yuu had seen Soshi Okita online, not just because of his name and face, but because Okita seemed connected to the supernatural forces of the Conan world.
His friends and classmates were the main cast of another world created by the same author.
Apparently, a few of those characters had even made cameos in the Conan movies.
But that was all hearsay, and since he had already proven this world was currently in a "Dharma-ending" state with no mana, he didn't pursue it further.
If he really wanted to dig, Conan had even collaborated with Lupin III.
However, Noah's detailed investigation of this timeline revealed only a gang of robbers impersonating Lupin III; the real Lupin and Fujiko didn't exist.
This confirmed Yuu's belief that he couldn't rely solely on his past memories and had to investigate everything personally.
Speaking of which, except for skin tone and hair, Yuu felt the three of them... no, including Kaito Kuroba, that made four.
All four of them looked almost identical.
If you looked closely at Heiji and Soshi Okita, you could find some differences.
But Shinichi Kudo and Kaito Kuroba were truly carved from the same mold!
He wondered if Shinichi was the result of Yusaku Kudo using technology to extend his lineage, and if Kaito was the same.
Otherwise, it was hard to explain how they could look exactly the same...
While Yuu was lost in thought, Shizuka Hattori took the initiative to introduce the fighter.
"That contestant is named Soshi Okita. Heiji lost to him last time because of an injury, but Heiji will win this time!"
Yuu raised an eyebrow and turned to her. "Madam, you have that much confidence in Heiji?"
"Of course. Heiji is my son; naturally, I have faith in him. Besides, I taught him kendo myself; he once defeated every single officer at the Osaka Police Headquarters!"
Shizuka spoke with a look of immense pride, while Yuu's face was filled with a mocking grin.
"With your mediocre kendo skills? Madam, it seems your memory is failing you. Did you already forget how Kyoko Shibata defeated you last time?"
Yuu had a knack for bringing up people's shortcomings; Shizuka's face turned icy cold at the remark.
She gave Yuu a seductive, sharp glare and then turned back to focus on the match.
Even though he hadn't formally studied kendo, Yuu's strength allowed him to easily see who was stronger.
Heiji's kendo was no match for Soshi Okita; there was a whole tier of difference in their skill levels.
Even if competitive kendo differed from actual combat, if one person was completely outclassed in strength, they would inevitably lose.
The claim about defeating Osaka's police officers was a joke; as the son of the Police Chief, the officers obviously went easy on him to let him win.
Thinking of this, Yuu felt even more speechless regarding the Osaka police.
Just like today, they ignored basic common sense like primary and secondary crime scenes and let the killer lead them by the nose.
The case today was actually very simple; just control the suspects, examine both scenes, and the trick would have been solved instantly.
But Inspector Otaki and Heiji both missed it.
Still, it worked out well for him; it was a free boost to his reputation and favorability with the women.
Yuu turned his attention back to the match.
The kendo team matches were a five-person format: Vanguard, Second, Middle, Vice-Captain, and Captain!
It was a best-of-five format; the first team to three wins would be the champion.
Heiji Hattori and Soshi Okita were the captains for Kaiho High and Senshin High, respectively, meaning they would be the last to fight.
Both stood outside the ring with their arms crossed, staring each other down like masters, while the other four members of each team took their turns!
Watching the "rookie" fights on the floor, Yuu began to feel quite bored.
He turned his gaze toward Shizuka; there was no barrier between their seats, though the backboards blocked the view from behind. Everyone in the stadium was focused on the finals and wasn't looking their way.
Yuu glanced at Ran and Kazuha; seeing them captivated by the match and not looking at him, a smirk touched his lips.
Quietly, his left hand reached out toward Shizuka's thigh.
With a burst of speed and his fingers moving with a magician's precision, his hand bypassed all seven layers of the kimono and instantly made contact with her soft skin.
Time seemed to stand still for Shizuka; her skin felt incredibly warm and supple, just like that of a woman in her twenties.
Surprised by the sudden assault, Shizuka's pupils contracted, and a drunken blush flooded her face once more.
In public, she didn't dare make a scene; she carefully turned her head toward Yuu, who was acting like he was focused on the match, and whispered.
"Mr. Hoshimiya... what are you doing?"
Yuu didn't move a muscle, putting on a look of surprise as if the hand fondling her smooth flesh weren't his at all.
"I'm not doing anything. I'm just watching the match. Oh, that down-swing from the Kaiho student was interesting, though it looks like he'll still lose."
As he spoke, Yuu's large hand continued its relentless assault, showing no sign of stopping.
Shizuka's lack of resistance made him even more daring; through this risky probe, he confirmed that taking this woman would be easier than he thought.
For a "ripe" and lonely human wife, an aggressive "fire meets dry wood" approach was far more effective than a slow, gentle pursuit.
Yuu turned to Shizuka with a brilliant, predatory smile and asked with fake innocence.
"Is something the matter, Mrs. Hattori?"
Shizuka parted her lips, her voice barely audible.
"Mr. Yuu... your hand... mmm!"
She had stopped calling him "Hoshimiya."
Yuu smiled slightly, his movements becoming even more provocative.
With her sensitive spots under attack, Shizuka let out soft whimpers, and her eyes filled with a watery mist. Her body trembled, but she didn't dare resist!
This was a crowded gymnasium filled with students.
If she struggled and was discovered, the news of the Osaka Police Chief's wife being molested by a handsome young man would be a national scandal.
Not only would she and Yuu be disgraced, but the Hattori family's reputation would be destroyed forever!
Shizuka would never allow that to happen!
Whether she truly believed it or was just giving herself an excuse, she made a decision and moved her body closer to Yuu.
She even pressed her thigh firmly against his.
She pulled her kimono tight, effectively helping Yuu hide his hand beneath the fabric.
She continued to whisper pleas for mercy.
But Yuu ignored them completely.
Shizuka's body shook with small tremors, her flushed face lowered, revealing the pale, beautiful line of her neck and upper back.
"The most beautiful thing is the gentleness of a bowed head."
That line perfectly described this scene.
Only a kimono could highlight the beauty of a white neck, and only Shizuka, who was accustomed to wearing them, could make it look so stunning.
Shizuka's wooden clogs were pressed together, her legs were clamped shut, and her hands gripped her kimono tightly like a frightened bird.
Her heart was racing; she was completely flustered and overwhelmed.
To be molested by Yuu Hoshimiya in broad daylight—such a deviant act was something she had never experienced in her life.
Waves of forbidden thrill mixed with physical stimulation flooded her parched heart, injecting it with a new spring of vitality!
To avoid being caught by Ran and Kazuha, Yuu's hand remained within the confines of her lap, but it was far more interesting than watching the match.
Half an hour flew by, and the teams from Kaiho and Senshin finally reached the final round—it was time for the battle of the captains.
The results of the other four matches were two-to-two; this final round was the tiebreaker and the second showdown between Heiji and Soshi Okita.
For Shizuka, those thirty minutes felt like an eternity. From her initial lack of resistance to the end, even if she wanted to fight back, she no longer could.
Shizuka didn't even dare lift her head for fear of being seen; she could only bite her lip hard to keep any sound from escaping.
However, because Yuu had quietly used a subtle mental magic spell and everyone was focused on the match, the two in the corner remained unnoticed.
The crowd in the stadium was reaching a fever pitch.
Students from both schools began to chant and shout.
"Hattori! Hattori! Hattori!"
"Okita! Okita! Okita!"
The atmosphere in the arena was electric as Heiji Hattori, dressed in his black gear and kendo uniform, stepped out.
Hearing her son's name made Shizuka even more terrified that she would be discovered; she hurriedly lifted her head to look at the floor.
The two captains faced off for a long time before the victory-hungry Heiji launched the first attack, and they immediately became a blur of motion.
Heiji used his wooden sword for a relentless assault, letting out fierce shouts as he moved as fast as the wind.
A one-hit, two-hit, three-hit... he unleashed a four-hit combo in one breath, but Soshi Okita blocked every single one!
Shizuka watched her son's back with hazy eyes, a look of pure pleasure spreading across her face...
I'm sorry, Heiji... Mom... Mom can't cheer for you right now!
At that thought, Shizuka's pupils contracted and then went wide as her focus shattered; her eyes became vacant, and a long, drawn-out breath escaped her parted lips.
A triumphant smirk appeared on Yuu Hoshimiya's face.
Beneath his black mask, Soshi Okita was defending with total ease, his wooden sword always appearing exactly where Heiji attacked.
Heiji was panting for breath, sweat dripping beneath his mask. The fool even found time to taunt his opponent, having no idea what his mother was experiencing in the stands.
"Okita! Is that all you've got? Last year your five-hit combo only hit me behind the ear by luck! I've trained hard and surpassed that level long ago. Now, taste my full power!"
Heiji's blood was up, and his strength peaked in an instant. He lunged forward, his wooden sword spinning and striking!
His sudden explosive surge unleashed his strongest move: a seven-hit rapid strike!
He aimed for Okita's armpit, ribs, waist, calf, foot, right shoulder, and neck.
The previously calm Okita was stunned by Heiji's sudden burst and was caught off guard. He managed to block five strikes, but the last two were too fast!
After the wooden sword struck Okita's right shoulder, his neck was exposed. The sword bounced up and slammed into the area behind Okita's ear, knocking him to the floor instantly!
In a mirror of Heiji's fate from the previous year, Okita's ear began to bleed heavily, and the match doctor immediately called a stop.
The referee declared Heiji Hattori the winner!
The frustrated Okita pulled off his mask and cursed Heiji for being underhanded!
But Heiji only gave a triumphant laugh.
"I call this 'returning the favor in kind,' Okita-kun! Go back and train some more before you challenge me again! Hahaha!"
A strange look flashed in Yuu's eyes; he hadn't expected Heiji to actually have an epiphany mid-match.
Although the win was a bit of a cheap trick and not entirely honorable, it proved that Heiji's talent for kendo was exceptional if he could think of a way to beat a stronger opponent.
The victorious Heiji was met with a roar of applause from the entire stadium.
However, when he turned to the stands, he didn't see the scene he was hoping for.
Of the two most important women in his life, Kazuha Toyama was deep in conversation with Ran and wasn't looking at him at all.
Heiji could understand that; after all, they were practically strangers now.
Some things only become clear once they are over.
Now that Kazuha was just an "ordinary friend," he finally realized that he had actually been in love with his childhood sweetheart.
And he realized just how much of a dumbass he had been in the past.
Unfortunately, there is no medicine for regret.
It was too late!
After a silent sigh of grief, Heiji pulled himself together and looked toward his mother.
At least Mom will give me...
The wide grin on Heiji's face slowly faded; winning the championship didn't feel as good anymore.
In the stands, Shizuka Hattori had her head down and wasn't looking at him; instead, she seemed to be laughing and chatting with Yuu Hoshimiya.
Under the influence of magic and the distance, Heiji didn't notice anything wrong with Shizuka.
He assumed she was just caught up in her talk with Yuu and had forgotten all about her son.
Heiji quickly removed his protective gear, packed it into his bag, and left the floor.
The university-level matches began immediately after, drawing the audience's attention away.
A short while later, Heiji returned to the stands with his gear bag, a smile back on his face.
He was a high schooler now, after all; he couldn't act like a child and let every bit of dissatisfaction show on his face or throw a tantrum at his parents.
"Teacher Hoshimiya, Mom, the rest of the matches aren't worth watching. Let's head back. My dad is waiting at home to meet with Teacher Hoshimiya."
Coming to Osaka to see Shizuka meant he would have to go to the Hattori house and meet with Heizo Hattori.
Yuu had already made all the arrangements for this.
Shizuka didn't seem to hear him; only when Heiji spoke a second time did she react.
"Oh! Yuu... Mr. Hoshimiya, let's go home together. You must taste my cooking tonight!"
Ran looked confused. "Auntie Hattori, didn't you say you couldn't cook?"
Shizuka smiled and said humbly, "I can manage some simple dishes!"
Kazuha spoke up: "In that case, Auntie and Teacher Hoshimiya, you all go ahead. I'm going to head home."
Kazuha naturally didn't want to go to Heiji's house as a guest; it would be incredibly awkward.
But Shizuka hurriedly spoke up.
"Kazuha, your father is coming over for dinner tonight too. Why don't you eat with us and go home with him afterward?"
Hearing this, Kazuha frowned slightly. She looked at Yuu and, wanting to spend more time with him, finally agreed.
The group stood up one by one and headed for the exit.
Shizuka was the last to leave. She sat in her seat for a moment to carefully adjust her kimono and re-tie her belt, hiding the wet stain beneath the fabric, before following Yuu out.
Left behind on the seat was a damp, glistening mark!