After coming down the entire building, Ran saw Conan just crossing the street. Conan spotted her as well.
"Ran-neechan, the person who went upstairs just now was Ikesawa Yuko, right? Did you ask her what she was doing here?"
Hearing Conan's question, focused only on the investigation, Ran felt a faint displeasure in her heart. "Of course she's here to get a loan from Big Brother Takayanagi. Even idols have hard times, you know."
"Big Brother Takayanagi?" Conan instantly forgot about Yuko's purpose and zeroed in on Ran's change in how she addressed Takayanagi Ichiro.
That afternoon at the Mouri Detective Agency, Ichiro had called her simply "Ran." Now, after only a short time alone in his apartment, she was calling him "Big Brother Takayanagi."
Conan's surprise didn't faze Ran. Remembering what Ichiro had told her, she spoke directly: "Conan, I don't know your background, but I believe you wouldn't harm me or my dad. Still, Big Brother Takayanagi told me to tell you—if you keep deliberately directing the police's attention toward him, he'll reveal the truth he knows about you."
"What?" Ran's words made cold sweat run down Conan's back.
The message was far too alarming. He still hadn't fully come to terms with his shrunken body and was hoping Professor Agasa would create an antidote to restore him.
Now Ichiro was saying he knew his secret? That was enough to make Conan panic. Could Ichiro be with the Black Organization?
Still, while Conan found Ichiro annoying, he didn't sense any dark aura from him. If anyone was suspicious, it was the woman who had left Ichiro's apartment earlier that day.
Regardless, with Ran delivering Ichiro's warning, Conan knew he should avoid provoking Ichiro for now—unless the evidence clearly pointed to him.
"I'm just a kid—what kind of secret could I have? Big Brother Takayanagi must be mistaken," Conan said in an innocent tone.
"Let's hope so." Ran turned toward the detective agency, and Conan followed.
…
"Miss Ikesawa Yuko, what brings you here at this hour?" Ichiro had been about to cook dinner when another woman arrived—introducing herself as Ikesawa Yuko, a member of the same agency as Yoko Okino.
"Yamagishi Eiichi got the money to manage media relations from you, didn't he? I don't know what he offered as collateral, but I'd like to get an emergency loan from you as well." Yuko explained her purpose, then pulled out a cigarette and asked, "Do you have a lighter here?"
"No," Ichiro replied firmly. "If you want a loan, it's best to have something to use as collateral. What do you have, Miss Ikesawa?"
Looking disappointed, Yuko put away the cigarette and asked, "What did Yoko Okino put up as collateral?"
"If she can't get past this incident, Yamagishi will take her out of the agency and have her work for me to repay the debt," Ichiro said. For those in the industry, such terms weren't shocking, but he still added, "Of course, I'd prefer you keep this to yourself—it wouldn't do you any good to spread it around."
Yuko nodded in understanding. "So you're betting on Yoko Okino's future. I have nothing now. If I have to offer collateral, the only thing left is myself."
Using herself as collateral? Ichiro's brow furrowed slightly.
Noticing his reaction, Yuko stood up. "I may not have Yoko Okino's career prospects, but I'm clean. Unlike her, I've never even had a boyfriend."
Kogoro had mentioned earlier that the victim, Tojo Shoichi, was Yoko's ex-boyfriend, and their breakup had been due to Yamagishi's interference. Now Yuko was stressing that she was even "cleaner" than Yoko.
Ichiro stood, went into another room, and returned with a set of pajamas. Handing them to Yuko, he said, "Go wash up," pointing toward the bathroom.
Yuko didn't refuse. She took the clothes and headed to the bath.
When she came out, she found Ichiro had already prepared dinner. Seeing her, he said, "Eat first—you'll need the energy."
"Okay," Yuko replied, showing her first genuine smile since arriving.
(End of Chapter)
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