There was a dull thud, like a sandbag hitting the ground, as Akikawa Kyousuke collapsed.
When Toda Kyouji saw Akikawa Kyousuke fall, he was overwhelmed by a sense of unreality about the scene before him.
It was clear that just moments ago, Akikawa Kyousuke had shown no fear as the dagger pierced his own neck.
Now, he lay on his side, clutching his neck with trembling hands, his body shaking uncontrollably.
---
Bright red blood seeped through Akikawa Kyousuke's fingers, pooling on the ground.
Just seconds ago, his blue eyes had been filled with amusement.
Now, they were filled with terror, trembling in disbelief.
Tears streamed from his eyes, gliding down the high bridge of his nose and onto the ground.
---
The cheeks that had recently held a crazed smile were now frozen in shock and disbelief.
It was as though Akikawa Kyousuke had genuinely stabbed his throat, his life slipping away before their eyes.
---
Toda Kyouji stared at the dagger in his hand, noticing the blood covering its blade.
Slowly, he turned his head, his movements stiff and mechanical, to look at Sera Masumi, who had just broken down the metal door.
Her face and eyes were colder than ever.
---
Behind Sera Masumi stood Mouri Ran and Suzuki Sonoko.
Both girls looked pale, covering their mouths in shock as they stared at the horrifying scene.
Meanwhile, Conan's small face bore a frown so intense that it clashed starkly with his innocent appearance as a primary school student.
---
Toda Kyouji understood what his situation must look like to the others.
But they were wrong.
---
It had been Akikawa Kyousuke who had deliberately stabbed himself in the neck.
Toda had only tried to prevent him from committing suicide.
Yet, in the eyes of the witnesses, it appeared as though Toda had pulled the dagger from Kyousuke's neck, further incriminating him.
---
This was not his intent.
Never had Toda Kyouji wanted to kill Akikawa Kyousuke.
But the scene before him left no doubt in anyone's mind that he was the attacker.
---
Only then did Toda Kyouji realize the truth.
He, the one who claimed to know Akikawa Kyousuke so well, had fallen into Kyousuke's trap.
---
A sudden wave of panic surged through Toda's heart.
The dagger slipped from his hand as his fingers weakened their grip.
It hit the ground with a sharp clink.
---
"These things aren't what they look like—"
Before Toda could finish his sentence, Sera Masumi, her expression icy, rushed toward him without hesitation.
She lashed out with a powerful kick aimed directly at him.
---
Years of experience in the Organized Crime Countermeasures Bureau had honed Toda's instincts.
His reflexes kicked in as he raised his leg to block her attack.
The sound of their clash rang out loudly.
---
Pain shot up Toda's right leg like an electric current, traveling from his calf to his thigh and finally into his brain.
"I didn't mean to kill Akikawa Kyousuke! It was him—"
---
Toda gritted his teeth, trying to explain himself.
But before he could finish, Sera Masumi spun gracefully in a 360-degree turn.
---
A rush of air warned Toda of the incoming attack.
But before he could react, her left foot, cloaked in white mist, struck his right arm.
The sound of bone cracking filled the air.
---
Toda Kyouji was sent flying like a ragdoll, crashing into the auditorium seats before slamming against the wall.
Pain clouded his mind, and the taste of blood spread rapidly in his mouth.
He coughed up a mouthful of it, his body trembling.
---
Fear took root in Toda's heart.
'How can this high school girl be so much stronger than me?'
'Doesn't she know I'm a criminal investigator? How dare she attack me like this?'
---
The realization struck him that Sera Masumi had intentionally aimed for his arm instead of his face.
If her kick had landed on his head...
---
Toda shuddered and dared not finish that thought.
Despite the searing pain in his shattered arm, his fear of Sera Masumi was greater.
---
He heard approaching footsteps and looked up to see Sera rolling up her sleeves as she walked toward him.
---
"I'm a detective! How dare you attack me!"
"That's assault on an officer!"
Toda shouted angrily, trying to mask the fear in his voice.
But Sera Masumi ignored him.
She grabbed him by the collar and lifted him effortlessly with one hand.
---
"Detective Toda, would you mind explaining what you were doing just now?"
Her cold voice sliced through him like a blade, and her piercing green eyes bored into his.
---
Toda felt another shiver run down his spine.
---
Meanwhile, Suzuki Sonoko and Mouri Ran pulled out their phones to call the police and an ambulance.
Conan rushed to Akikawa Kyousuke's side, assessing his condition.
---
"Lie back and remove your hands! Stay calm; you'll be fine!"
Conan urged.
But Akikawa Kyousuke didn't respond, his trembling blue eyes full of fear and distrust.
---
"Mr. Akikawa, please trust Conan-kun!"
Mouri Ran's voice broke through the tension.
"Conan won't hurt you—he knows how to help!"
---
"Yes, Mr. Akikawa! Please trust us!"
Suzuki Sonoko added, her voice filled with guilt.
She had invited Akikawa Kyousuke to the Minato Film Festival, only for him to encounter such horrors.
---
Their words seemed to ease Kyousuke's guard slightly.
He struggled to lie back and slowly removed his hands from his neck.
---
Conan carefully examined the wound and felt a wave of relief wash over him.
'Akikawa is both unlucky and lucky at the same time.'
---
'The main injury to his neck is deep, but the dagger miraculously avoided the carotid artery and jugular vein.'
Akikawa Kyousuke's life could still be saved.
---
(End of Chapter)