"Ran, here—you can have this back."
After school that afternoon, Ren Kuroda returned to Ran's place with everyone in tow, handing over the money case. "Check it yourself," he said calmly.
Ran's lips curved into a delighted smile. Seeing a classmate genuinely turn over a new leaf brought her an indescribable sense of fulfillment.
Shinichi, standing beside them, wanted desperately to double-check the bills, worried someone might have swapped in counterfeit notes. But glancing at Ran's starry-eyed expression, he shrugged. Any warning he gave her would probably fall on deaf ears.
"Oh, there's no need to check! I trust you, Ren," Ran said, accepting the case with a cheerful grin. Clearly, she had no intention of verifying a thing.
Shinichi smirked inwardly. I wasn't wrong—he really is turning over a new leaf.
"Ran, this box is heavy. Let me carry it for you," Shinichi offered, taking the case from her hands under the guise of helping.
He opened it with a dramatic flourish. "Whoa… a hundred million yen! I've never seen this much money in my life!"
As he pretended to marvel, he randomly checked the bills. After a dozen or so inspections without spotting any fakes, he began to believe Ren really had reformed. But he couldn't shake the nagging possibility that this was just a long con—Ren could be laying a trap.
If Ran wanted to be deceived, there was nothing Shinichi could do. Love really did make people blind.
"Just call me Ran, okay? Friends all call me that!" Ran said casually. "Using 'Ran Mouri' all the time feels so formal."
"Alright, then call me Ren," Ren replied with a small smile. He wasn't about to refuse a chance to strengthen their bond.
"I know a nice dessert shop nearby," Ren suggested. "Want to go grab some afternoon tea?"
He wanted to get familiar with the main group quickly; it would make future cases easier to handle.
"Sure! Absolutely!" Ran didn't hesitate for a second.
"Ah… um… I'm afraid I don't have time," Sonoko said apologetically. "I promised Shinichi I'd go with him to the bookstore to pick up some mystery novels."
"Huh? Really?" Shinichi blinked, trying to recall when he had said that.
"Of course! We talked on the phone yesterday. Did you forget?" Sonoko gave him a subtle nudge with her eyes.
"Oh! Right, right! Almost forgot," Shinichi quickly agreed, realizing Sonoko was deliberately giving Ran a chance.
Seeing him catch the hint, Sonoko exhaled in relief, rolling her eyes at how clueless he could be outside of logic puzzles.
"Then I guess it'll just be the two of us, Ren," Ran said with a wink, silently conveying her thanks. She trusted that years of friendship meant Sonoko would understand.
Sonoko smiled knowingly in return.
Ren quietly observed their silent exchange, pretending to be blind to it all.
Once they left the apartment, the two of them walked along the road, planning to separate after leaving the residential area.
Suddenly, a black van screeched to a halt in front of them.
Bang!
The door swung open. A masked kidnapper jumped out, firing two shots into the sky. "Don't move! Kidnapping!" he shouted.
"What? Again?!" Ran's jaw dropped. Was she born to be kidnapped? Yesterday, and now today?
"What do you want?" Sonoko immediately stepped in front of Ran. "Leave now, and we'll act like nothing happened!"
The masked kidnapper blinked, puzzled. These people can't be serious. One line and we're supposed to back off?
"Get lost!" he barked, jumping down from the van. "My target isn't you—it's Ran Mouri!"
"I'm not leaving! You can take me too!" Sonoko refused to abandon her friend.
"Fine! Then you'll collect the ransom in my place!" The kidnapper grinned. "Get in the van, now!"
Shinichi's heart raced. He wanted to act, but the driver held a gun on him, forcing him to stay still.
Then Ren spoke up. "Wait… I think there's an easier way."
The masked man swung his gun toward him. "Who told you to talk?! Stay out of this!"
"I don't want trouble… but if it's money you want, there's no need for a kidnapping." Ren raised his hands and nodded toward the money case in Shinichi's hands. "That case contains a hundred million yen."
Shinichi caught on immediately. He clicked open the case to reveal the bills. "Yeah! Just take the money and leave! No kidnapping risk at all!"
The kidnapper's eyes widened. "This much money?"
"Crazy! Rich people are different. Carrying a hundred million yen around like it's nothing!"
He paused, greed flickering in his eyes. "But… if I kidnap Ran Mouri, I could get even more money…"
Shinichi quickly interjected, reasoning: "If you do that, you'll face the wrath of the Mouri Group! No matter how much money you get, you won't have a safe place to spend it!"
"This masked man, I suppose neither of you wants to spend the rest of your lives in fear of being hunted by the Mouri Group, right?" Ren continued calmly. "Take the hundred million yen and leave. Let's pretend this never happened."
"One hundred million yen is no small amount… careful spending and you'll live comfortably for the rest of your lives."
Even the driver seemed convinced. After all, being hunted by the Mouri Group would make life miserable, no matter how much ransom money they got.
"Boss… I think he's right. Let's just take the hundred million and go," the driver said, persuading the masked man.
"Fine…" the kidnapper replied, suppressing his greed and agreeing with Shinichi's plan.
"Do you want me to carry the money over, or will you come get it?" Shinichi asked, closing the case.
"No need! Who knows what tricks you might try?" The kidnapper snorted, clearly distrusting him.
"I'll go then," Sonoko volunteered bravely.
"Ran Mouri, trained in karate since age ten, now captain of Teitan High's karate club! I know you can fight!" The kidnapper sneered, clearly having done his research. "Of course I prepared for you before trying to kidnap Ran."
Sonoko had to admit defeat silently.
"You won't send Ran over, understood? You come and get it yourself!" Shinichi cut him off.
Ignoring Shinichi, the masked man turned to Ren, nodding with satisfaction. "You look soft and smooth, no muscles. Clearly a pretty boy who lives off his looks."
"You it is. Bring me that money case!"