Chapter 289: Kuroba-san, They’re Taking Advantage of You
"That's all, thank you."
Kuroba Kaito took the bag from Koizumi Akako's hand and turned to close the door.
However, just as the door was halfway closed, Koizumi Akako reached out and held it open.
"Wait a minute, I'm not finished talking yet."
"Then hurry up and go home immediately."
Although it was already afternoon and past the rush hour for most office workers, it was still a holiday.
There was always a chance that someone Kaito or Nakamori Aoko knew might pass by and see him chatting alone with Koizumi Akako in front of his house.
As for inviting Koizumi Akako inside? That was absolutely out of the question.
Even if neither Aoko nor anyone else they knew saw it, once Akako stepped inside, Kaito feared the mischievous witch would spread the news everywhere.
Would Nakamori Aoko misunderstand the situation and feel inferior because of it?
Koizumi Akako wouldn't care about any of that.
She only wanted to enjoy herself by embarrassing Kuroba Kaito.
Kaito just wanted Koizumi Akako to finish speaking quickly and leave.
---
"Such a bad attitude. Is this how you treat your savior?"
Koizumi Akako crossed her arms, speaking with slight dissatisfaction.
Hearing her words, Kaito felt a headache coming on.
He knew that after being "saved" by the uninvited Koizumi Akako, she would continue to pester him about it for a long time.
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"Akako, if you acted like a normal person, I would treat you normally, too."
"Kaito-kun, what do you mean by that?"
"What are you doing here?"
Kaito didn't want to argue with her.
Facing Akako, whose eyebrows twitched briefly, he asked impatiently.
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"Kaito-kun, don't you realize they're taking advantage of you?"
"Taking advantage?"
Kuroba Kaito raised an eyebrow, surprise flickering across his face.
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Koizumi Akako glanced around and, confirming no one was nearby, said, "Did Kaito-san interact with an artist this time?"
"Oh, you mean Akikawa Kyousuke."
Kaito immediately understood who she was referring to.
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"I thought it was something else. If you mean that brown-haired artist, at most, we're using each other."
"I'd even say I benefited more from him," Kaito said casually.
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"Akikawa's goal was to get rid of that sniper group.
But I not only obtained the jewels—I also ensured that Aoko's father wouldn't be targeted by them again.
Even if Akikawa wasn't here, I would've found a way to make them leave eventually.
After all, as long as they were around, they'd pose a risk to ordinary people.
When you calculate it all, I've come out ahead without owing Akikawa anything."
---
"You're so naïve, Kaito-san," Koizumi Akako said, waving her fingers.
"Do you really think that artist is just a kind soul trying to protect random tourists and Aoko's father?"
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"Then, Akako, what do you think Akikawa's real goal is?"
In truth, Kaito had also sensed something was off.
The idea that Akikawa Kyousuke would suddenly want to help him was hard to grasp.
---
Moreover, Akikawa Kyousuke's willingness to expose his skill in altering his voice, broadcasting messages to the public, all just to help a group of strangers, seemed suspicious.
While Kaito didn't believe altruism didn't exist, it was rare and almost always accompanied by something to gain.
The risks Akikawa took far outweighed the benefits, making his actions seem highly questionable.
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"Are you curious, Kaito-san?"
Koizumi Akako's lips curled into a sly smile.
"If you are, I could help you figure it out."
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"Akako, you don't know either, do you?"
Kaito immediately saw through Akako's trap.
This was her way of coaxing him into asking for her divination.
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"I haven't fully divined the details yet, but I know this much: not just you, but the police, Tsukino Takashi, and the detectives were all used by him.
With just one word from you, Kaito-kun, I could divine everything about what happened this time."
"I could even gather information about that artist for you!"
---
Kaito stared blankly at Akako, who was now acting coquettishly in front of him.
She didn't seem like a high school student at all—more like a salesperson trying to trick housewives into buying life insurance.
---
'Wasn't Snow White tricked into eating the poisoned apple by her stepmother?'
That absurd thought popped into Kaito's mind.
He immediately rejected Akako's proposal, despite her confident, victorious expression.
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"There's no need. This matter is already over."
"Whatever Akikawa's intentions were, they have nothing to do with me."
"Anyway, thanks for coming, Akako. I'm injured and need to rest, so I won't see you out."
---
With that, Kaito slammed the door shut.
"Huh?"
Akako's triumphant expression instantly vanished as she stared at the abruptly closed door.
Her eyes widened in disbelief, stunned that Kaito had shown no interest in her offer.
---
She had fully expected Kaito to ask for her divination this time.
But to her surprise, he had remained so indifferent.
---
Suddenly, Akako sensed a gaze coming from nearby.
She turned to see a young couple who appeared to be high school students.
The girl was holding onto the boy's arm, their closeness hinting at a romantic relationship.
However, the boy was openly staring at Akako.
His mouth hung slightly open, and his cheeks flushed a deep red under the sunlight.
---
The scene was straight out of a movie, where a man freezes and forgets how to breathe after seeing a dazzling beauty.
Akako was used to this.
Her witch's aura naturally attracted members of the opposite sex.
---
Because of this, boys at school admired her, often calling her "Akako-sama."
So far, her charm had only failed against two people: Kuroba Kaito and Kudo Shinichi.
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The girl holding her boyfriend's arm noticed his strange behavior.
When she saw his blatant expression, her own face turned pale with shock and then twisted with hostility toward Akako.
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Akako's presence didn't affect women.
But upon seeing her stunning appearance and mature figure—far surpassing her own—the girl's anger wavered and turned into insecurity.
She began expressing her frustration with the boy beside her.
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Akako silently observed this scene, her usual queenly expression reappearing as she passed by the couple.
To her, it was all so trivial.
Ordinary people rarely piqued her interest.
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Because of this, Kuroba Kaito—unaffected by her aura and always indifferent toward her—only fueled her curiosity.
(End of Chapter)