"It seems public news really can't be trusted, huh."
After a hearty meal, Shizuka Hiratsuka lounged lazily in Yukiko's car. With the windows down to let in the cool evening breeze, she leaned back, smiling as she glanced at Yukiko.
"News reports are usually unreliable anyway, aren't they~" Yukiko chuckled, winking playfully as she kept her eyes on the road.
"But I have to say, Chris's attitude toward you was definitely different. It was her first time meeting you, yet she was far too friendly." Lowering the volume of the car's stereo, Yukiko's tone turned slightly vague.
"Eh? Really?" Raising the window a bit, Shizuka arched an eyebrow at her.
"I thought she was the type who was cold on the outside but warm on the inside."
"Anyone who knows Chris would never describe her as 'cold on the outside, warm on the inside,' you know~" Yukiko laughed, lifting her hand as if to poke Shizuka's cheek, only for Shizuka to catch it and push it away.
"Eyes on the road, Yukiko." Even though she knew Yukiko's driving skills were excellent she herself had been partly influenced by Yukiko when she first learned to drive Shizuka still couldn't stand watching her multitask so recklessly.
"Alright, alright. But that makes it even stranger. I'm certain today was the first time I ever met Chris. We've never crossed paths before." Resting her chin in her palm, Shizuka's eyes flickered with thought.
"Yes, that's what puzzles me too." Yukiko shrugged lightly, her gaze casually sweeping the illuminated road ahead.
"My guess is that Sharon might have met Chris before she passed away. Maybe the two of them talked, and Chris heard about you from Sharon. After all, you know just how highly Sharon thought of you."
"Ah… that's true." Shizuka nodded softly. Sometimes she felt it really was fate. Though she hadn't known Sharon long, they'd gotten along remarkably well, almost like friends across generations.
"Exactly. So it's very possible Chris took an interest in you because of Sharon."
"Maybe." Shizuka's tone was ambiguous. Yukiko's reasoning sounded plausible, but somehow, Shizuka doubted things were that simple.
"Well, I do have another theory~"
"Spit it out already. Don't keep me guessing." Shizuka gave her an exasperated look, tapping her chin with her finger.
"The second theory is… Chris has been utterly captivated by the world's most handsome, most adorable Shizuka Hiratsuka! Love at first sight~!"
"Hey!" Shizuka's eyes widened in shock as Yukiko burst into laughter, her smile so wide it nearly split her face. Flustered and annoyed, Shizuka clenched her fists.
If Yukiko weren't driving, Shizuka would have absolutely taught this woman a proper lesson for running her mouth!
"What's wrong~? We're in America now, you don't have to be so serious. And Chris has never had any scandals since her debut. Her social circle doesn't really include men either. Who knows, maybe she's just not interested in them~"
"You're still talking!" Unable to hold back anymore, Shizuka reached out and pinched Yukiko in protest. But beyond that, she couldn't risk more while they were still on the road.
Fixing her with a glare, Shizuka threatened, "Careful, or when I get back home, I'll tell Kogoro to introduce Ran to some respectable young men. Then Shinichi can spend his life married to his cases instead!"
"Oh no! Shizuka, how cruel of you! Shinichi grew up under your watch, you know!"
"Hmph!" Turning her head away, Shizuka's irritation melted into amusement at Yukiko's flustered reaction.
As expected, the only way to deal with a woman who lost all sense of restraint once she got excited was to hit her where it hurt.
"Anyway, don't joke about things like that. If someone overheard, it'd be embarrassing."
"Yes, ma'am~" Yukiko's smile lingered, but her eyes shimmered with something deeper, unseen by Shizuka.
What I said… might not be a joke, Shizuka.
…
"Shizuka, what do you want to do tomorrow?" Back at Yukiko's villa, after a shower, Yukiko sat on the guestroom bed, swinging her pale legs playfully.
"I… don't really have any plans. Honestly, if you and your family weren't here, I probably wouldn't have come at all." Shizuka, now dressed in pajamas, sipped from a glass of red wine she'd found in Yusaku Kudo's wine cabinet, sitting lazily in a chair.
"I'll probably stay here with you for a couple of days, then maybe go sightseeing. But I'm not too keen on crowded places, and I don't really like shopping either." After finishing her glass, she glanced at the bottle on the table.
"I mean, I'll drink anything, but cold beer still suits me best."
"There you go again, sounding like an old man." Yukiko chuckled as she watched Shizuka refill her own glass despite her complaints.
"Well, then, let me plan your schedule for the next couple of days. Otherwise, knowing you, I'd worry you'd wander into a bar on your own."
"I'm not that desperate for a drink."
"Then maybe put the bottle down, and I'll believe you. Yusaku practically winced when he saw you grab that wine earlier~" Yukiko laughed, waving goodbye as she stepped off the bed.
"Rest well tonight. I'll call you for breakfast tomorrow."
"And since when do you wake up before me?"
"Fair point. But if you want to work out, the yard's open. Sleep well, Shizuka~"
"Good night." Shizuka nodded, watching Yukiko leave the room. She blinked, then suddenly pulled out her phone.
"…Dead battery, huh." Plugging it in, the screen lit up with a flood of notifications and missed calls. Scratching her head, Shizuka muttered,
"Yukino's been up this early? If it was an hour ago, that means it was only seven in Japan…"
Scrolling through her messages, she sighed at the increasingly dramatic complaints from Yukino, who scolded her for going abroad and forgetting about her friends, leaving her worried and upset. If Shizuka didn't call back soon, Yukino threatened she'd burst into tears over the phone.
"Unbelievable. Yukino really is as dramatic as ever." Though she grumbled, Shizuka still prepared to call her back. Otherwise, once she returned home, Yukino would never let her hear the end of it.
"…Hm?" Just as she was about to hit the dial button, Shizuka froze.
She was certain she hadn't opened the window earlier.
"Who's there!"
Her relaxed demeanor vanished instantly, replaced with sharp alertness. She felt the presence behind her and spun around like lightning, grabbing the intruder by the throat and slamming them against the wall before even seeing their face.
"Well, well~ It's been a while, my darling. You're still as straightforward as ever~"
"…What?!"