Chapter 371: Amuro Tooru: Two of Me?

BONUS CHAPTER FOR REVIEW 

Jiangxia had just led a group of kids into the film studio when he received an email from Ai Haibara.

The studio was set up like a miniature city—at first glance, towering skyscrapers, but in reality, the tallest barely reached Jiangxia's shoulder.

At the center of these tiny buildings rampaged a monster named "Gomera," roaring dramatically and knocking over scenery.

Jiangxia's gaze lingered on the so-called "monster," which was just slightly taller than an average adult man.

It looked like an upright stegosaurus—muddy, rough dark skin, triangular spines down its back... Kind of ugly, but tightly wrapped in a web of murderous aura.

And it wasn't the only one.

Somewhere in the studio, another figure radiated high-grade killing intent.

Jiangxia's gaze subtly shifted to a lighting assistant standing off to the side.

...A familiar silhouette drenched in delicious-looking killing aura.

A faint whiff of apples drifted in on the cold air from the AC.

Jiangxia: "…"

…"Amuro Tooru's" ghost really had no chill.

—

Director Mikami, a well-known child lover (in the wholesome sense), enthusiastically introduced the crew and equipment to Jiangxia and the gang of elementary schoolers.

While he was mid-speech, the Gomera shoot paused.

Some of the staff, curious about the visiting kids, wandered over to play with them.

Among them was a certain "Amuro Tooru," currently working as a lighting assistant for reasons that were clearly not "needing the paycheck."

Disguises could fool normal people.

But spiritual mediums had different standards.

To Jiangxia, Vermouth's murderous aura was as subtle as a flare gun in a dark alley.

Jiangxia: "…"

...Vermouth wasn't actually Amuro Tooru. She didn't have a hobby of part-time work, nor would she just randomly appear on a nearly-defunct film set unless she had a reason.

And seeing Conan here too, Jiangxia quickly guessed it—she'd probably learned somehow that Jiangxia was visiting the studio with kids today and decided to tag along for fun.

Everyone in the Black Organization (except Gin) was a high-level master of slacking off.

Jiangxia didn't really mind if Vermouth dropped by occasionally to donate some lovely murder vibes.

But her habit of "surprise appearances" was getting a bit dangerous.

If she ever bumped into Ai Haibara or one of Amuro Tooru's actual subordinates, it might cause a disruption in Jiangxia's well-managed ghost-harvesting operation.

So maybe... a little warning was in order. Just a suggestion to be more low-key.

And looking beside him at Conan, Jiangxia made his decision:

—This task of unmasking the cosplayer shall be entrusted to you. Go, my Vermouth-specific tool child.

—

"Amuro Tooru" had just started walking toward them when a colleague called him over to adjust some lighting.

Vermouth hesitated slightly but, playing the dutiful temp, returned to her equipment station with a smile.

Meanwhile, the kids had run up to the tiny city set and were now circling "Godzilla" like a miniature kaiju fan club.

Taking advantage of the lull, Jiangxia quietly leaned toward Conan and asked, "Did you tell anyone we were visiting the studio this weekend?"

Conan had also been puzzled by Amuro Tooru's sudden appearance.

Hearing Jiangxia's question, he tried to recall—

"Last Thursday, I ran into Ran after school. She asked why I wasn't going to the movies with you and the kids anymore, and I told her the movie was canceled and we were visiting the studio instead. After that, she went shopping, and I headed to the bookstore…"

Mid-sentence, Conan noticed Jiangxia's expression turning slightly more serious.

He instinctively paused—sensing that the train of thought didn't need more interruptions.

And as expected, Jiangxia murmured, "That day, there was a small test at school. When I came home, I saw her at the club… still training."

He didn't spell it out, but the message was clear.

—The "Mouri Ran" Conan had talked to and the "Mouri Ran" Jiangxia had seen couldn't have been the same person.

Ran couldn't be in two places at once.

The realization triggered déjà vu in Conan.

He suddenly remembered—when that unknown master of disguise first appeared, they'd used Ran's voice to call him from Jiangxia's phone.

And now, recalling the oddly off-kilter Amuro Tooru he'd met recently—subtle changes in tone, rhythm, posture—

...It was like there were two different versions of the man.

Conan: "…"

So... the "Amuro Tooru" here might actually be a fake?

Conan adjusted his glasses. A glint flickered off the lens.

He had the urge to play dumb and, when "Amuro" came over, casually tug on his face to see if a mask would peel off.

—

While Jiangxia subtly stoked the fire and Conan plotted a surprise unmasking...

Actress Sakaguchi Tomomi, currently playing "Aemera," was cheerfully entertaining the kids when her phone rang.

Her dessert delivery had arrived.

"You watch the kids for a bit," she told a colleague, then jogged downstairs to collect her treats.

—

In the lobby stood a man in a delivery uniform, holding a large paper bag.

The delicious smell of sweet drinks and pastries wafted from it.

"Thank you!" Sakaguchi Tomomi's eyes locked on the bag like a hawk.

She paid, ready to bounce back upstairs—

But as she turned, she suddenly stopped.

Spinning back around, she stared wide-eyed at the delivery guy.

The face. The skin tone. The hair color.

This was...

—The new lighting assistant?!

Just a few days ago, the previous assistant had been injured in a car accident and would be out for at least ten days.

The director had then urgently found a replacement—this one.

But now...

How had the lighting assistant become a food delivery guy?!

And hadn't she just passed that exact same mixed-race assistant on her way down?!

Sakaguchi Tomomi hugged the warm paper bag tightly, shivering violently in the hot air rolling in from the front door.

She watched, frozen, as the delivery driver turned to leave—

Then paused.

Sensing her gaze, he turned back and looked her over with a slight smile.

"Do you know me?" he asked politely.

Sakaguchi Tomomi: "…"

—Same voice, too. She was going to scream.

She clamped her mouth shut, convinced her soul would escape if she so much as exhaled too hard.

A few meters away, the receptionist noticed the weird tension and glanced over.

Amuro Tooru—if it was him—followed her gaze, then looked back at the speechless Sakaguchi Tomomi.

Then, ever so casually, he asked the receptionist, "Has anyone who looks like me been here lately?"

"Um?" The receptionist blinked, confused. "Do you mean the lighting assistant working upstairs in the studio?"

"Lighting assistant…" Amuro repeated softly.

Putting together Sakaguchi's horrified look and the receptionist's words, he began to form a theory.

—In the "top floor studio," someone looking like him was currently working.

Actually, judging by Sakaguchi's near-fainting level of fear...

It wasn't just someone who resembled him.

It might be someone who looked exactly like him.

*Goal #1: Top 200 fanfics published within the last 31 - 90 days by POWER STONES.

Progress:35/60(approx) for 10 BONUS CHAPTERS

Goal #2: One BONUS CHAPTER per review for the first 10 REVIEWS.

Progress:3/10*