An unexpected encounter with Gin didn't disrupt Kurosawa Hoshino's daily life.
Currently, as long as you didn't provoke Gin and he didn't know you, he wouldn't target you.
And so, three peaceful days passed.
Kurosawa Hoshino didn't run into any cases during this time. These three days were rather pleasant, especially the evenings spent chatting online with the user "[I Don't Drink Sherry]"—quite enjoyable.
That evening, after finishing his online chat, Hoshino left with Conan.
As soon as they were gone, Ran quickly brought out the ingredients she had prepared and started making chocolate in the kitchen.
Soon, the room was filled with the rich aroma of chocolate.
Kogoro Mouri, who had been sprawled on the tatami, immediately sat up at the smell:
"Ran, who are you making chocolate for?"
Of course he knew tomorrow was Valentine's Day, and if a girl was making chocolate the day before, she'd definitely be giving it to someone the next day.
Without turning around, Ran replied, "It's just ordinary chocolate, for Hoshino."
"Why make it for him? Don't let him misunderstand and think you like him," Kogoro said unhappily.
"No, Sonoko will give him some too."
"Tch~"
Kogoro lay back down, thought of Shinichi Kudo again, and asked casually,
"How many are you making?"
"Just one."
"Huh?" This time Kogoro was surprised: "You're not making any for that brat Shinichi Kudo?"
"Shinichi~" Ran tilted her head, looking at the dark liquid in the pan, and answered, "He hasn't contacted me in so long, I don't even know if he's finished with his case. Since he hasn't reached out, I won't either—that's why I'm not making chocolate for him."
"That's more like it," Kogoro agreed wholeheartedly: "Ignore him. If he doesn't take the initiative to contact you, just let him be and solve his cases."
The next day.
Hoshino Kurosawa hadn't even gotten out of bed when he heard the doorbell ring.
"Hmm~"
He sat up in bed, yawned, then got up and went to open the bedroom door.
Before he could even see who was outside, he caught the scent of food, followed by a familiar voice.
"Hoshino, I brought you breakfast."
Kurosawa Hoshino blinked hard, his vision finally clearing, and saw Ran's lovely figure holding a tray with a small spread: three dishes, a soup, and two bowls of rice.
"Why did you bring this?" Kurosawa Hoshino asked, puzzled, stepping aside to let Ran in.
Ran went to the table, set down the tray, and began unpacking the food.
"I have plans today, and Dad left early, so no one's home."
"Did a client come asking for help?" Kurosawa Hoshino's eyes lit up as he asked.
"No, he went out to have fun." Ran sighed. "Yesterday I mentioned we were going out today, and Dad said he was going out too, then left half an hour ago."
"Oh, I see." Kurosawa Hoshino had just pulled out a chair to sit down when he caught himself. "Wait, when did we say we were going out together today?"
"Hehe, Sonoko said so, so hurry up and eat. Oh, right, I'll go call Conan."
Just as she finished speaking, the door to another closed bedroom opened, and Conan came out rubbing his eyes.
Ran smiled and said, "Conan, come have breakfast."
"Huh?" Conan was confused, wondering if he was dreaming. After pinching his leg to confirm he wasn't, he accepted that Ran had actually brought him breakfast and obediently sat down at the table to eat.
"Hoshino, take your time eating. I'll tidy up your room for you."
"No need."
Kurosawa Hoshino put down his chopsticks and said, "My room's a bit messy. I'll clean it myself tonight."
"It's fine." Ran strode into his bedroom.
"..."
Kurosawa Hoshino opened his mouth but found no words.
Conan's eyes darted around, and he teased, "Hoshino-nii, you won't let Ran-neechan into your room—are you hiding some shady magazines in there?"
Kurosawa Hoshino gave him a meaningful look and said,
"Conan, you've got it wrong. I just think that when a girl helps a guy tidy his room, it's like a wife helping her husband. Think about it—isn't that right?"
Hearing this, Conan's face turned green, as if he'd heard something crack in his heart, as though something had shattered.
He forced a smile and insisted stubbornly, "Ran-neechan is just kind—that's why she's helping you tidy your room, Hoshino-nii."
Kurosawa Hoshino nodded, "Yes, that's what I think too. That's why I'm embarrassed to let Ran help me tidy up. Understand?"
"..."
Conan was speechless, instantly losing his appetite, not even wanting to eat breakfast anymore.
He wanted to slap himself. He shouldn't have spoken out of turn. If he hadn't heard what Kurosawa Hoshino said, he wouldn't have thought of it that way. Now that he'd heard it, he felt so jealous and wished Ran would help him tidy his room too.
Half an hour later.
After finishing breakfast and changing clothes, Kurosawa Hoshino went downstairs with Ran, but Conan was still tagging along like a third wheel.
Just as Conan was about to head up to the Mouri Detective Agency, he saw the two hailing a taxi.
"Ran-neechan, Hoshino-nii, where are you going?" Conan asked blankly from the bottom of the stairs.
Kurosawa Hoshino let Ran get into the car first, then replied, "Conan, you stay home. We're going to buy something and will be back soon."
"Oh~"
Conan nodded blankly, watching him get into the taxi, which then drove away.
For some reason, he felt something was off.
Then…
At the nearby Poirot Café, the employee Enomoto Azusa came out and smiled as she watched the taxi leave.
"Ran and Hoshino—are they going on a date?"
"What?"
Conan's body trembled, and he ran over to ask, "Azusa-neechan, how did you know?"
Enomoto Azusa looked at him and explained, "Because today is Valentine's Day. If they went out so early, what else could it be but a date?"
"Hiss…"
Conan gasped, his eyes widening as he swayed slightly. Instinctively, he imagined the two shopping, eventually arriving at a love hotel, and then, with Hoshino's mischievous grin, pulling a shy Ran inside.
"No, I have to go find them."
Shaking his head, Conan dismissed these wild thoughts and, even though the taxi was long out of sight, resolutely started running forward.
"Why is Conan acting so strange?" Enomoto Azusa watched his retreating figure, somewhat puzzled.
She worked here and had known Ran and the others for a long time, but she rarely came out. Today, she'd stepped out to check things since there were no customers in the shop that morning.