While Kazawa was patting Conan's head, the two girls who went to open the door had already brought in the guest.
"Ah, there are a lot of people here..." The woman who walked in didn't expect to see so many people in the study, so she paused.
Conan quickly slipped out from under Kazawa's hand, grabbed the edge of the desk, and stuck his head out. When he saw the woman walking beside Mouri Ran, he felt she looked very familiar.
"This is Uchida Asami, our senior. These are our neighbors who saw us cleaning and came over to help," Mouri Ran introduced both sides, clearly feeling awkward herself.
She just wanted to help Shinichi clean up a bit—how did it turn into dragging a whole group of people into cleaning?
Hearing the name, Kazawa, who was holding a mop, wasn't too surprised. He raised his hand and greeted her in a friendly tone, "Hello, are you here to see Kudo-kun too? He really is a popular detective."
He patted Conan on the back playfully.
"Senior Uchida used to be the student council president of Teitan High—a very famous and beautiful president. As if Shinichi would..." Suzuki Sonoko snorted.
As if it's impossible? Conan widened his eyes. Sonoko's slandering me again!
He tried to wriggle away from Kazawa's hand, but Kazawa firmly pressed down on his back and didn't let him move.
Conan looked up and glared at Kazawa's teasing expression but eventually swallowed his frustration and stayed silent.
Uchida Asami smiled and shook her head. Seeing everyone was curious, she replied generously, "It's not as dramatic as it sounds. When he was in the soccer club, a lot of junior girls would bring him water."
"Soccer club..." Mouri Ran was stunned. "That was back in junior high..."
"Yes, that's when I met him," Uchida Asami said, gathering her long hair as she walked over to Akemi Miyano, picked up a bucket, and took the initiative to scrub a cleaning rag. Her face softened, full of reminiscing. "I just remembered those days and wanted to see him again."
"After that, he got busy solving cases and quit the soccer club," Mouri Ran said, pulling the vacuum cleaner aside. Her tone sounded like a complaint, but it was full of affection. "I even asked him, since he loved soccer so much, why did he quit? If he had stuck with it, he might've made it big."
"Because he wanted to become a detective, right?" Uchida Asami took over naturally. "I asked him back then. He said he played soccer just to stay in shape. What he really wanted was to be a detective, and he didn't have time for club activities. He was the team's striker, and when he quit, it caused a stir."
Mouri Ran paused and didn't speak. Her expression was slightly unhappy.
"So… he even told all this to Uchida-senpai..." she said, forcing a smile.
It seemed like Uchida-senpai had been really close with Shinichi back then. They'd even talked about those things...
Uchida Asami laughed softly and tucked her hair behind her ear with grace, exuding the elegance and charm of an older sister.
They didn't say much, but the atmosphere in the room gradually grew tense.
Kazawa glanced at Mouri Ran, then at the smiling Uchida Asami, tilted his head slightly, leaned toward Conan, and whispered, "The atmosphere's getting weird..."
Conan's forehead broke into a cold sweat. Seeing Kazawa looking like he was enjoying the show, he gritted his teeth and whispered back, "Don't just watch—help me!"
Where are my teammates? Save me!
"So Ms. Uchida came today just to reconnect with Kudo-kun?" Kazawa pretended not to notice the tension and spoke as if clueless, "Ms. Mouri and the others just told me that Shinichi hasn't returned for a long time because of a new case. Ms. Uchida, don't you have his email or phone number?"
Suzuki Sonoko, who had been secretly worried about her best friend's gloomy face, immediately seized the opportunity and nodded quickly: "Yes! Uchida-senpai, what exactly are you here to see Shinichi for? He's been missing a while now—Xiaolan has only seen him twice."
Right, it had been less than a year since this senior graduated from Teitan. Weren't they still in touch?
Ran Mouri's expression brightened, and she began pushing the vacuum cleaner with more energy while glancing over at Uchida Asami.
"Oh? The newspaper said he's missing?" Uchida Asami wrung out the rag and looked surprised. "No wonder I kept getting the answering machine when I called his home... It's nothing serious. My birthday is coming up, and our university's mystery research club rented a villa for the weekend. I wanted to invite him."
Tsk. Why is this white-haired guy so nosy?
Uchida Asami secretly glanced at Kazawa. Because of his handsome and fashionable appearance, she temporarily forgave him for interrupting her plans.
Maybe he's just a bit naive. High school girls are pretty easy to fool anyway.
"Mystery research club at university?" Kazawa smiled innocently, still pretending not to notice anything. "Are you studying mystery novels or actual investigations?"
"Both," Uchida Asami replied, now back in full graceful-and-smart-senior mode. She smiled at Kazawa. "Everyone in the club is a mystery fan. They were excited when I said I could invite a real detective. I had already formally invited Shinichi. I thought for sure he'd come."
"A formal invitation... Shinichi?" Mouri Ran asked from behind the vacuum cleaner, confused.
"Well, it's been four years." Uchida Asami patted the wooden spiral staircase with a damp cloth and waved her hand lightly. "He might have forgotten that confession."
Ran Mouri's eyes widened. "Confession?"
The vacuum cleaner kept humming, but Uchida Asami didn't seem to hear the question. She kept wiping the railing and calmly stepped up two stairs.
"It's not his fault. After all, first love doesn't last."
"Ah..." Mouri Ran's mouth hung open.
"Eh..." Conan mirrored her expression.
As Uchida Asami said those words, a vivid image surfaced in Conan's mind. His gaze instinctively shifted to Mouri Ran...
But, that…
"So that's how it is." Suzuki Sonoko dusted off her shirt and struck a classic thinking pose, rubbing her chin. "Four years ago, when we were first years, there were rumors about a freshman confessing to Senior Asami. So that clueless boy was Shinichi!"
"To call it a confession is a bit too much..." Uchida Asami furrowed her brow in mock distress.
"Since Kudo can't go, why not invite someone else, Mami-senpai?" Suzuki Sonoko pulled Mouri Ran behind her, full of enthusiasm. "We've helped solve so many cases—we'd be perfect at a mystery lover's gathering!"
"Sonoko, wait a second..." Ran Mouri didn't understand where this strange burst of energy came from, but something felt off instinctively.
"Oh come on, I just want to see some cute college boys!" Sonoko looked at her like a doting old dad. Xiaolan, why are you always so slow when it comes to emotions?
"That's fine too. The more the merrier," Uchida Asami agreed with a smile as she wiped the banister. "If a few more lovely high school girls come along, the boys in the club will be happy."
"Heh, and even if Shinichi doesn't show, we can still invite another famous detective!" Suzuki Sonoko put her hands on her hips. "I know the perfect candidate!"
Kazawa, who had been about to raise his hand and volunteer himself, paused thoughtfully and slowly lowered it.
Yes, if we're talking about famous detectives, there might be someone even more appropriate...
Xingchuan Hui, who had been quietly dusting for a while, suddenly felt Kazawa's intense gaze. He turned around blankly and blinked.
What's Kazawa planning now...?