Four high school beauties huddled together, chatting happily. But as Sonoko Suzuki steered the conversation into more "adult" territory, their voices dropped to hushed whispers. Occasionally, a peal of silver-bell laughter would ring out, followed by soft gasps and blushing faces as they discussed more intimate topics.
Though curious, the others in the room were too polite to eavesdrop. Even Yuu Hoshimiya, with his enhanced hearing, could only catch fragments of their conversation. Knowing Sonoko was doing his wingman work for him, he let them be and turned his attention back to the group discussing the "Memories Egg."
Yuu had little interest in the egg as an art piece. What fascinated him was the intricate light-sensitive mechanism inside. Despite lacking any electronic components and being a creation from the last century, it could keenly detect light intensity. It was a true marvel of "Conan-logic" engineering.
Of course, the real prize wasn't the egg itself, but the light-sensitive mechanism in the castle that opened the secret underground chamber. Even if he couldn't replicate it for his own use, seeing it in action would be a unique experience.
After chatting for a while, it was time for lunch. Under Shiro Suzuki's hospitality, the group split into two tables to enjoy the meal.
After lunch, Sonoko led Yuu and Aoko to the Suzuki Museum of Modern Art, where the Memories Egg was to be exhibited. Ran naturally tagged along, while the others, having already visited yesterday, went their separate ways.
They had not only visited the museum but had also handled the egg personally, even dismantling it. At first, everyone was terrified when Sonoko started taking it apart, until she boredly explained that it was easy to disassemble and reassemble—she used to play with it as a toy when she was a child.
An antique worth 800 million yen, capable of provoking international murder and diplomatic incidents, was merely a childhood plaything for Sonoko. It was a glimpse into the staggering wealth and influence of the Suzuki family.
With Conan and Heiji Hattori present, the oddities of the egg had naturally been discovered. However, with limited intel and incomplete blueprints, no one had yet deduced the existence of a second, smaller egg nested inside. Only when combined would they form the complete Memories Egg.
Because of this, while everyone coveted the 800-million-yen antique, they could still restrain themselves. 800 million was a lot, but it was just money. However, if the egg became "complete," its significance and value would skyrocket tenfold—perhaps a hundredfold if the hidden photos were revealed.
Arriving at the museum, Yuu found the security excessive. It was just one thief, yet the place was locked down tighter than a counter-terrorism operation. Police stood guard everywhere, patrol cars crisscrossed the grounds, and helicopters formed a surveillance net in the sky.
"The security is intense..." even Ran, seeing it for the second time, couldn't help but marvel.
Sonoko grinned, hands behind her back. "Of course! We're dealing with the legendary Phantom Thief Kid, after all!"
Such a mobilization wasn't something the Osaka or Tokyo police could do for a mere thief. The key was the Suzuki family. Only with their backing could such a massive force be deployed.
Yuu was just going through the motions. The egg was currently sitting in Shiro Suzuki's hotel room anyway. He used the time to familiarize himself with the environment, even though he knew Kid wouldn't strike here.
Aoko had hoped to see her father but came up empty-handed. Only ordinary officers were on guard. As the inspector in charge of Kid, Ginzo Nakamori only showed up when Kid appeared, usually guarding the item personally as the last line of defense. His superior, Superintendent Chaki, was content to sit in an office and issue orders, hoping for a peaceful night rather than a glorious capture.
After a fruitless tour, Yuu and the three girls returned to the hotel. The Japanese-style garden they met at earlier was beautiful but impractical for housing so many people. Everyone involved in the case, including the police, was staying in the most luxurious hotel in Osaka—owned by the Suzuki Group, of course. For the duration of the event, the hotel had stopped accepting regular guests to cater exclusively to the task force and the "stakeholders." And it was all free of charge.
Back at the hotel, Sonoko simply grabbed the Memories Egg from her father's room and tossed it to Yuu to play with. The other "collectors," like Seiran Hoshi, were visibly annoyed but knew better than to speak up. The egg was Suzuki property; if Sonoko wanted to treat it like a toy, that was her right.
Only Natsumi Kosaka gently reminded them to be careful. Unlike the others who saw dollar signs, she viewed the egg as a family heirloom. She hoped to reclaim it, but if not, she at least wanted it preserved.
Yuu had no interest in the dark green egg, but Aoko played with it enthusiastically. The Nakamoris were well-off, but handling an 800-million-yen item like a fidget spinner was a new experience for her.
Yuu chatted with the girls in the room, planning their sightseeing itinerary for the next day. It was only the 21st; they weren't cops or greedy collectors, so there was no need to guard the egg 24/7. Since they were in Osaka, they might as well enjoy the city.
As they discussed their plans, the priceless egg was casually tossed onto the bed. If Seiran and the others saw this, their eyes would bleed.
Knock, knock, knock.
A knock interrupted their chat, followed by a cheerful, energetic voice. "Ran-chan, Sonoko-chan, are you in there?"
"It's Kazuha! I'll get it," Sonoko said, hopping up.
"Sonoko..." Kazuha Toyama began to greet her, then paused upon seeing Yuu and Aoko inside. "Ah, Aoko-chan and Hoshimiya... Sensei are here too."
After the whispers at lunch, Kazuha knew a bit about Yuu. Though they hadn't interacted much, she hesitated before following the others' lead and calling him "Sensei" to avoid seeming rude or out of place.
"The more the merrier!" Sonoko grinned. "Why aren't you with Heiji?"
Kazuha's cute face instantly clouded with resentment. "Heiji and Conan disappeared somewhere. Whenever I try to find him..."
Watching Kazuha complain, Sonoko felt a sense of déjà vu. It reminded her of how Ran used to complain about Shinichi, the mystery maniac. No matter how much Sonoko advised her, Ran couldn't let him go—until Yuu appeared and showed her what a normal, loving relationship looked like.
Ran, caught in the moment, felt pity and tried to comfort Kazuha. But Sonoko, ever the clear-headed realist, looked at Kazuha with pity and a scheming glint in her eye. She needs saving, Sonoko thought. Marrying a mystery addict like Heiji or Shinichi might guarantee financial stability, but it guaranteed misery. They would end up just like Kogoro and Eri—separated and unhappy.
"Okay, okay, come in first," Sonoko said, pulling Kazuha into the room.
Kazuha didn't resist. She had come to find them because she was bored. As natives of Osaka, she and Heiji knew the area well, but since he had ditched her for Conan, she hoped to hang out with the girls. She hadn't expected Yuu to be there, and remembering the "private" topics from lunch, she had hesitated at the door.
To facilitate their "night activities," their rooms were all on the same floor. Sonoko and Ran shared a room (the presidential suite they were currently in), and Yuu had the room next door. Kazuha was just down the hall.
Even in the spacious suite, having five people made it feel cozy. Kazuha's arrival shifted the dynamic; Ran and Aoko stopped clinging to Yuu out of shyness. Only Sonoko, with her thick skin and ulterior motives, stayed close to him, occasionally rubbing against him.
Kazuha quickly blended in. The topic of JK conversation inevitably turned to idols, gossip, and boys. Under Sonoko's guidance, Kazuha's complaints about Heiji intensified. Listening to her, Ran and Aoko exchanged looks. Ran felt relieved she had escaped that cycle, while Aoko, fresh from her break with Kaito, felt deep empathy.
Seeing Kazuha acting like a resentful housewife made Aoko realize how pathetic her own situation had been. She felt grateful she met Yuu, allowing her to step out of the childhood friend trap and start a new life.
Kazuha's grievances grew as she realized her three new friends had all found happiness. Sonoko, Ran, and Aoko all claimed to have boyfriends they loved, but they hadn't told her who it was.
Whether out of pity or calculation, Sonoko decided to spill the beans. She exchanged glances with Ran and Aoko. After a moment's hesitation, they nodded, deciding to trust Kazuha.
"Kazuha, don't be sad. Actually, Ran used to be just like you..." Sonoko began her persuasion.
As the story unfolded, Kazuha's expression shifted from sadness to shock, then disbelief. When Aoko joined in, sharing her recent heartbreak (omitting Kaito's identity as Kid, honoring her promise), Kazuha was completely bewildered.
Do childhood friends really have no future? Is my feeling for Heiji not actually love?
Her mind was full of questions, but no one could give her the answer. However, one thing shocked her more than her own confusion: Yuu Hoshimiya was dating all three of them.
"Ran, Sonoko, Aoko..." Kazuha whispered, avoiding looking at Yuu. "Are you guys... really not being coerced?"
The three girls laughed. "Of course not. We really love Sensei," Sonoko said proudly. "Once you spend more time with him, I'm sure you'll fall for him too. Especially after sex, you'll definitely..."
"Sonoko!" Ran interrupted, blushing furiously. There were two virgins in the room (Aoko and Kazuha); such talk was too direct!
Kazuha's face burned, but she couldn't help stealing glances at Yuu. So they're all dating him...
He was handsome, giving off a warm, refreshing aura that made people want to be close to him. He looked like perfect boyfriend material... assuming he was loyal to one person. Kazuha, still innocent, found it hard to accept his polyamory.
She didn't know his harem was far larger than just these three. If she knew, she might have fainted.
"What? Do you want to join us, Kazuha?" Sonoko teased, catching her stare. "I don't mind. In fact, you're very welcome."
"No! I..." Kazuha wanted to say she liked Heiji, but remembering the girls' stories, the words stuck in her throat. Besides growing up together, she and Heiji had never confessed or made any promises. Did they really like each other? She even suspected Heiji cared more about "Kudo" (Conan) than her.
Yes, she knew Conan was Shinichi Kudo. Heiji was an idiot who constantly called Conan "Kudo" in public, treating everyone like they were deaf. Kazuha had been confused, but now it all made sense.
She didn't know how to respond to Sonoko. Her face turned red as she fidgeted in her chair. If Sensei misunderstands, should I resist? Or just give in?
Wait, those seemed to lead to the same outcome! Realizing her subconscious thought, Kazuha felt steam practically erupting from her head.