The next day.
Saitama Prefecture.
6:00 PM.
Kurosawa Hoshino and the others finally arrived, scanning the plaza near the night festival venue for a place to stay. Just as they feared, they hit the same wall.
"Dad, this is all your fault!"
Ran huffed, shifting her luggage strap on her shoulder. "I told you we should have left earlier, but no, you had to drag us out so late. Now look—every hotel is booked solid."
Mouri Kogoro scratched his head awkwardly. "Who knew so many people would come for the festival in person? The whole area's packed."
"Ran! Uncle! Over there!"
Kurosawa Hoshino called out, pointing across the street.
Ran's eyes lit up, and she hurried toward the building, the others following close behind.
"Uncle, what if this one's full too?"
"Then we'll just have to find somewhere farther out," Kogoro sighed.
Conan listened, unimpressed. He had little hope left.
Minutes later, the group stood in the hotel lobby, watching Ran inquire at the front desk. She returned soon after, frowning.
"Full again?" Kogoro assumed, turning to leave.
"No," Ran sighed. "They said there are only two single rooms left. On the second floor."
"Single rooms?" Kogoro stroked his chin.
Hoshino grinned. "Then we'll take them. Uncle, Conan, and I can share one—Conan can take the floor. Ran, you get your own room."
"..." Conan stared with dead-fish eyes, his lip twitching. He didn't protest. Letting Ran have her own space was worth a night on a hard floor.
"The kid's right. Let's move," Kogoro said, already heading to the desk to secure the rooms before someone else did.
"Won't it be too cramped with three?" Ran whispered to Hoshino.
He leaned in, teasing, "Then I'll sacrifice myself and squeeze into your room tonight."
"Wha—?! Nonsense! I'm ignoring you." Ran flushed and quickly walked away.
"Heh." Hoshino chuckled, then felt a sharp gaze. He turned to meet Conan's displeased glare.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Hmph. That wasn't very gentlemanly, Hoshino-nii," Conan grumbled, annoyed that he'd tease Ran like that.
Hoshino gave him a long, cryptic look before heading to the front desk.
That look… it gave me chills, Conan muttered inwardly, unsettled.
After checking in, they went up to the second floor. Hoshino's room was 201; Ran's was 202, right next door.
In 201, Hoshino scanned the spotless, odor-free room.
"Hey, kid, stop inspecting and drop your bag. Let's eat. The festival starts at 8—don't wanna miss it," Kogoro called.
"I only brought a change of clothes." Hoshino tossed his backpack aside and went to Ran's room.
Inside, she was unpacking, items already piling high on the bed.
"How did you fit so much in there?" Hoshino laughed.
"They're not that big. Just takes a little organizing," Ran said without turning.
"Why not unpack after dinner? We don't want to cut it too close to the festival."
"Alright."
"And take your phone and wallet," Hoshino reminded. "With those, even if everything else gets stolen, you're fine."
"Got them right here," Ran smiled, patting her pocket.
They met Kogoro and Conan downstairs and headed out. Luck was with them—a restaurant stood just a few dozen meters away.
The place was bustling, clearly a popular pre-festival spot.
"So many people," Ran murmured as they settled at a corner table.
Hoshino glanced around and noted softly, "Everyone's wearing yukata."
"Well, yeah, it's normal for a night festival," Kogoro said, giving him a strange look. "What's the big deal?"
"Look closer, Uncle." Hoshino smiled.
"Huh?" Kogoro's eyes widened as he scanned the crowd. "Hey… all these yukata have hotel names printed on them."
"Oh!" Ran's eyes sparkled with excitement. "The hotels must have prepared them for the festival! Free advertising when everyone goes out. They're probably free to borrow. Do you think our hotel has them?"
"Of course they would," Kogoro said, pleased. "It's right nearby. Ha! Free rental saves us a bundle."
Hoshino laughed. "These owners are clever."
"Someone started it. If everyone else has them and you don't, what would customers think?" Kogoro said knowingly.
"Uncle, did you ever think about going into business?" Hoshino asked.
Kogoro sighed wistfully. "I was a business genius in my day. Just lacked the startup capital. Could've built an empire."
Ran immediately cut in, "Mom said when you were at Teitan High, you tried selling 'special DVDs' during a school festival. The disciplinary committee chased you all over, and you almost got expelled."
"Ahem!" Kogoro's face reddened under Hoshino and Conan's sudden, intense stares. "D-Don't listen to your mother! She's confused! The committee chased me for price gouging, that's all. They were just magazines! Regular magazines!"