Accomplice__ Kudo Shinichi x Kaitou Kid, Kaito Kid x Kudo Shinichi

Part 60: Mom/Son talk

It's time to find out what secret Meitantei is hiding from me.

"Officer Takagi, any updates?" Kuroba Kaito hadn't forgotten the reason he came to the police headquarters (MPD).

"Ah... you're asking about Ms. Kobayashi's statement?" Officer Takagi pointed upstairs. "She's still in the interrogation room. We've got a confession, but we haven't conducted further questioning yet. Would you like to take a look?"

Kuroba Kaito nodded. "Yes, please."

Inside the interrogation room, the atmosphere wasn't as tense as one might expect. Instead, there was a strange calmness to it. Inspector Megure sat on one side of the table, his expression both warm and stern, while Kuroba Kaito stood outside, observing everything.

Kobayashi Sugina had her hands placed on her lap, looking somewhat exhausted. But she didn't refuse to speak with Inspector Megure; it seemed she understood there was no turning back.

"Ms. Kobayashi, the reason I've called you here today is just to understand a few things," Inspector Megure began in a gentle tone, devoid of any threat.

"You previously admitted to handling an explosive device called the 'Hyakushi Box,' which you used as a weapon. You understand, of course, that this is a rare device. The police are doing everything they can to investigate this matter. Could you tell us how you came into contact with it? You and the designer?"

Ms. Kobayashi took a deep breath, her gaze lowering slightly as if recalling the past. Her voice was hoarse but without a trace of deceit.

"As I mentioned before, during the days when that scumbag Kuroda was blackmailing me, my life was unbearable. So I started posting anonymously on forums... sharing my private thoughts. Speaking of The designer, if that's what you called him. I met him on one of these forums. At the time... I wasn't looking for anything specific, just a place to vent my feelings. Unexpectedly, Keiko had already seen through my feelings for her. But she chose to act like nothing had happened, to pretend she was unaware. I can understand Keiko... after all, who would throw away their family for me?"

Her tone carried a hint of self-mockery.

"It was there that you met someone, correct?" Inspector Megure asked.

Ms. Kobayashi nodded and continued, "I didn't know him very well. You know how those forums are, everyone hiding behind keyboards. How much of what's on their profiles is even true? But because we were anonymous, we could open up and talk about things we'd never share with those close to us. Our conversations started casually, but eventually, we began talking about our pasts. He told me he had been hurt deeply, just like me."

Inspector Megure was silent for a moment, seemingly reflecting on her words, but he didn't interrupt.

"One day, he suddenly mentioned that he could help me... plan something," Miss Kobayashi's voice trembled slightly before regaining its calm.

"He said that if I wanted to deal with the people who had been troubling me, those who were emotional barriers in my life, he had a way to make them disappear... He mentioned explosives."

"The 'Hyakushi Box,' correct?" Inspector Megure asked.

"Yes." Ms. Kobayashi nodded, her brow furrowing slightly. "At first, I thought he was joking or just talking nonsense. But he quickly sent me some photos, though not the blueprints. He told me that if I was serious, he'd send it to me directly. He said the explosive would leave no trace, that it was intricately designed, and almost no one knew about its existence. Hardly anyone in the world could even defuse it."

Inspector Megure asked, "How did you stay in touch with him? Did you ever meet him in person during the transaction?"

"No, he remained anonymous throughout our conversations. I never saw him in person. As for the delivery... I had mentioned to him that our company was hosting an escape room event in Ginza. He boldly left the item in one of the employee lockers at the venue. Very cautious. All communication was through the forum. Later, he gave me a contact method and a cryptocurrency account. I imagine you'll want to track that account." Kobayashi slowly picked up a pen, took the slip of paper, and wrote down a string of account numbers.