Mouri Detective Agency.
"Ran-nee-chan!"
Dressed in his signature suit, the Reaper… a.k.a. little Conan, ran up to Ran when he saw her about to head out and asked in his soft, childlike voice, "It's already so late. Where are you going?"
"I'm going to check if Fujino-senpai has eaten dinner properly."
Ran replied casually.
Recalling the image of Fujino's room full of instant noodles, she suddenly felt a bit uncomfortable.
"Senpai?"
Conan thought for a moment but couldn't recall knowing anyone with the last name Fujino. He tilted his head in confusion. "Who's that?"
"He's my classmate. He lives right across the street."
Ran patiently explained, "I heard that his parents passed away last year, and now he lives alone, making a living as a detective… He's so malnourished it's heartbreaking."
"Just a few days ago during class, he suddenly fainted and was taken to the infirmary. It took him half a day to regain consciousness. And the school doctor even found a lot of bruises on his body."
"Teacher Hiratsuka specifically asked me to look after Fujino-senpai when I can. If something were to happen to him all alone in his apartment… that would just be too sad..."
As she spoke, Ran put on her shoes and rose slightly on tiptoe to adjust them.
"Fujino? How come I've never heard of a high school detective like that in our class?"
Conan frowned, still puzzled.
But he didn't think much of it.
It's just checking up on someone. No big deal.
…
"Senpai!"
Just as Fujino, Chouno Yoko, and the others were preparing to get in the car to head to her place for the investigation—
A familiar voice suddenly rang out from behind.
Fujino turned around.
It was Ran.
Right now, she was wearing casual clothes: a pale yellow sweater on top, a blue long skirt on the bottom, and a brown apron tied around her waist, giving her the gentle appearance of a perfect wife and mother.
"Ran?"
Fujino was a little puzzled to see her here.
"I was just about to make dinner and wondered if Fujino-senpai…"
Halfway through her sentence, Ran suddenly noticed the girl standing beside Fujino.
Cute! Could she be… Fujino-senpai's girlfriend?
She couldn't help but have that thought.
Originally, she'd wanted to invite Fujino over to her place for dinner, but now—with such a beautiful girl standing here…
Naturally, she didn't continue with the invitation. It just didn't feel appropriate.
But after carefully studying the girl for a moment, Ran couldn't shake the feeling that she looked familiar. After a few seconds, realization finally dawned on her, and her voice rose in surprise: "Huh!? Isn't that Chouno Yoko?!"
"Shh!"
Fujino quickly covered Ran's mouth. "Ran, keep your voice down! Miss Yoko is here on a secret case..."
"I see..."
Ran finally relaxed, and the hand that had subconsciously curled into a karate fist slowly lowered.
Seeing that hand come down, Fujino broke into a cold sweat.
That punch just now could've shattered a utility pole—and taken his life along with it!
This was a woman he couldn't afford to provoke!
"Detective Fujino, is this your girlfriend?"
At that moment, Chouno Yoko looked at the two of them with an amused, slightly teasing smile, the kind an older sister might wear. "She's really cute."
"Ahem!"
Fujino immediately coughed and hurried to clarify, "We're just classmates, Miss Yoko. Please don't misunderstand!"
"That's right!"
Ran quickly nodded. "Fujino-senpai and I are just classmates, and we just happen to live across from each other, that's all..."
"In that case… childhood friends, right?"
Chouno Yoko chuckled softly behind her hand, showing a clear "I get it—you don't need to explain" expression.
Then she sighed sentimentally, "Ah… to be young again."
"Huh?!"
Ran's cheeks instantly flushed pink, her expression suddenly shy like a little girl.
Faced with Chouno Yoko's god-tier imagination and Ran's mysterious blushing, Fujino was left speechless.
After sighing deeply, he turned to Ran and said seriously, "Ran… I appreciate your kindness, but I still have work to do right now. Let's have dinner together another time."
"Okay! Then I won't disturb you any longer, Fujino-senpai!"
With that, cheeks still slightly red, Ran quickly prepared to flee the scene.