[ Old ] Crossroad 『Detective Conan』

Chapter 64 - Don't take the lead

   Jinpei locked his car, scratching the back of his head. It hadn't been the easiest day with Sato. The two of them had had to work together, and things were always tense on the woman's side. At least now the man was at peace. He'd finished working and could rest.

   He quickly arrived at the door of his flat and inserted the key, noticing at the same time that it was open. This was not normal. His flatmate was certainly not going to take the risk of leaving the door unlocked.
   Worried, he entered quickly, not taking the time to remove his shoes, and entered the living room.
   -Yoko! he shouted.
   What a relief it was to see the girl concerned simply raise her head in surprise. She was sitting quietly on the sofa, her knees close to her chest.

   -Good evening Matsuda-keiji... she greeted simply, looking a little deep in thought.
   -Oe... When did you not locking the door?
   The brunette tilted her head to one side, looking as if she didn't understand. This made her tutor look annoyed.
   -I must have forgotten, sorry...
   -You could be more careful... sighed the policeman.

   With another "sorry", Jinpei went into the hall to take off his shoes. Perhaps he was worrying too much. The organisation would have had time to take care of the little girl much sooner, after all.
   -I didn't want to worry you, sorry... added the little girl from the sofa.
   -Have you finished apologising? Just be more careful next time.
   With a yawn he returned to the living room, where he opened the window and settled down to have a smoke.
   Then, after lighting a cigarette, he turned his head towards the girl.

   -What are you thinking about? he asked.
   -Huh... I was just talking to Conan-kun and Haibara-san earlier...
   -What's up?
   Yoko sighed, letting it be known that the results weren't the most convincing.
   -I just found out that the one who tried to... to kill me is called Vermouth... And that according to Conan-kun we're in no danger for the moment... But I didn't get a concrete answer to my question to Conan-kun, if he could help me.... It looked more like a no given the way he left, but maybe there's a chance he'll accept...

   And another silence. This was apparently the day for it. The man just scratched his head and blew out cigarette smoke.
   Conan didn't seem to want to help stop these criminals. It was tiring. After all, he was the one with the most information.
   Well, they could always do without him. Jinpei was in the police after all, he could manage to dig up some information to trace the organisation.

   Faced with Yoko's disappointed expression, the policeman sighed.
   -Stop thinking and wait for his answer... Otherwise, you can always give up the idea of getting his help, we can do without it... he said.
   -But...
   -Don't tell me you don't trust the police? asked the man suspiciously.
   -I never said that!

   The policeman let out a mocking laugh. She certainly didn't want to involve the police, but it was already too late. Unless she really had a problem of trust, although that would be surprising.
   -In that case, let the police do their job! We're not here to decorate, you know?
   -Yes, we're not...
   -And just because some cheeky kid with glasses refuses to help us doesn't mean we won't succeed in catching criminals!
   -You're right... I'm sorry.
   -Stop apologising, it's useless.
   Yoko nodded. She wished she didn't worry so much sometimes.

   With nothing else to do, she got up and went into the kitchen while the policeman finished smoking.

    Jinpei stretched as he waited for Yoko in the hall to take her to school. She arrived quickly, finishing getting ready. Then the two of them left the flat and went to the car.
  
   -By the way, did things work out with Sato-keiji? asked the young girl as she fastened her belt.
   -Are you going to ask me that every day? sighed her annoyed tutor.
   The relationship between him and his colleagues was none of the girl's business. It wasn't her problem, and she already had enough to deal with.

   But the little girl paid no attention to the look on the man's face. She puffed up her cheeks, looking at him.
   -I'm going to ask yes! It's my fault after all! So...
   -So nothing, cut in the adult. You've got nothing to do with it, and you don't even know why we're arguing in the first place. These are grown-up problems.
   -Aren't you the one who usually says I'm grown up?
   -Eh?

   Jinpei looked at the brunette with a bored expression. It was true that that was what he was telling her. But it wasn't about the same things after all.
   -These are adult problems, and you're still a child, whether physically or mentally. You're not an adult yet, I'd remind you.
   Yoko opened and closed her mouth, thinking about what to say. The policeman smiled, looking victorious at having had the last word. Finally, he started the car and left the car park.

   The former schoolgirl stuck her head against the glass, looking sulky, still thinking about what to say. She couldn't think of anything to say to contradict him.
   -Does it bother you that much that I argued with her? he finally asked with a sigh.
   He didn't immediately have an answer, even though he knew what it was going to be.
   -It's just that you wouldn't have argued with Sato-keiji without me, so...

   She hadn't decided to listen to the man, even though he was trying to reassure her.
   -I've already told you... What the hell... You know you're stubborn? asked the policeman.
   -Eh? I'm not...
   -In that case, stop worrying like I told you to... I'll see what I can do on my side to fix the situation, if you finally decide to trust me.
   -But I do...
   -You don't trust me enough, otherwise you wouldn't worry so much and you'd leave it to me!

   At these words, Yoko lowered her head with a guilty expression. This made it clear that she did not want her guardian to take her words and actions in this way.

   Stopping in front of the school, Jinpei put his hand on the girl's head, who was surprised.
   -Don't worry, it'll get better... You just take care of what you have to do! Do you understand?
   -U... Understood... Yoko replied, her voice low, looking unconvinced.
   The man bent down to look the little girl in the eye, looking bored.
   -I can't hear you very well... Say it louder. he ordered.
   -Understood! repeated the girl in a higher tone than before.
   -Good, now get out of here.
  
   The policeman grabbed the schoolgirl's bag from the back seat and gave it to her before watching her exit with a sigh.
   Now all he had to do was make a real effort to reconcile with Sato. He had no choice.