Five peaceful days had passed.
For Hoshino Kurosawa, life was a simple routine: school, and the walk home from school.
Today, however, the walk home was interrupted.
"Excuse me… are you Kurosawa Hoshino?"
"Yes, that's me."
"Wow, it really is you! Can we take a picture?"
Five meters away, Ran and Sonoko watched as Hoshino was surrounded by a group of girls from another school. They exchanged a look and sighed in unison.
"This is the third time in five days," Sonoko said, swinging her schoolbag.
"It's a good thing," Ran smiled. "It means his reputation is growing."
"It's not good," Sonoko muttered. "I used to think his solving cases was a fluke. But five cases total? That's a pattern. I bet he'll end up like Shinichi—vanishing into some mystery."
Ran watched Hoshino, who wore a politely strained smile as he dealt with the fans. "No," she said softly. "Hoshino is different from Shinichi."
"Very different," Sonoko agreed, a grin spreading. "Hoshino doesn't forget about us the second a case appears. Shinichi could never compare."
"That's true."
Finally free, Hoshino rejoined them, heaving an exaggerated sigh. "Is this the price of fame?"
"Eh~" Both girls crossed their arms, feigning cool indifference.
"Hey, I'm just sighing!"
"I think you were enjoying it," Sonoko accused, pouting. "Especially when they were linking arms with you for the photo. You were practically glowing."
"Slander! Ran, look! Sonoko is slandering me! I'm calling my lawyer!"
He pulled out his phone, pretending to dial.
"Alright, alright," Ran chuckled, giving him a light push. "Stop fooling around. Weren't we going for dessert? We've been delayed forever."
"Right!" Sonoko moved behind him and gave a firm shove. "If you hadn't gotten recognized, we'd be eating by now."
"Fine, my fault. My treat later." Hoshino closed his eyes, enjoying the feeling of being propelled by two girls. This peaceful daily life wasn't bad at all—surrounded by beauty, pleasing to both heart and eye.
"Ran, stop pushing him. Look, he's loving it." Sonoko pulled her friend away.
"Don't be stingy," Hoshino complained. "It's my treat. Can't you serve me a little?"
"Then I'll treat, and you can give me a shoulder massage," Sonoko retorted, chin held high.
Ran just laughed, watching their familiar back-and-forth.
"I could, but I'm expensive."
"How expensive?"
"Never mind. I'd scare you." Hoshino decided to drop it before he embarrassed himself.
"Hehe." Sonoko laughed triumphantly, shooting Ran a look.
"So," Ran interjected, "can we go now?"
"Of course."
"Let's go."
After dessert, Hoshino and Ran said goodbye to Sonoko and headed back to the Mouri Detective Agency.
The office was empty, as usual. Kogoro had been gone all day, every day for the past week, tirelessly tailing Shimomaru's wife for that 3 million yen fee.
Ran set down her bag, looking at the vacant desk with concern. "It's been five days. I wonder how Dad's doing."
"He's probably fine," Hoshino said, lounging on the sofa. "He hasn't seemed stressed. Progress must be good."
Just then, the phone rang.
Ran answered. Before she could speak, Kogoro Mouri's roar burst from the receiver.
"RAN! Get over here and take this brat Conan home! Now!"
"Conan?"
"He got home from school, threw a tantrum to follow me, and now he won't leave! I'm waiting to meet Shimomaru, I can't go! Come get him! The address is…"
He rattled off a location and hung up.
"…" Ran's eye twitched. She looked at Hoshino.
Hoshino smiled, placed his hands on his knees, and stood up. "Let's go. You remember the address?"
"Sigh. Let's go."
"Taxi or bus?"
"Taxi. It's out of the way. Buses don't go all the way there."
"Okay."
They locked up and hailed a cab.
Twenty minutes later, they arrived at a traditional, spacious Japanese estate.
"This is it." Hoshino rang the bell.
Before anyone answered, a woman's scream tore through the air from inside the house.
"AHHH—!"
"What was that?!" Ran jumped, hiding behind Hoshino as she peered at the tightly shut gate.
"Someone probably died," Hoshino said calmly.
After all, Kogoro Mouri and Conan were inside. If a murder didn't happen when those two were around, the world would feel off.
He surveyed the courtyard. This was definitely an episode from the original storyline. Good, he thought. Once we solve this, more Source Points.
They heard frantic footsteps, then Kogoro's voice barking orders from inside.
"Call the police! No one goes near the meeting room! Don't disturb the scene!"
"Should we call out?" Ran whispered.
"No need. They'll open the door. We can go in with the police."
As if on cue, the gate swung open. It was Kogoro.
He blinked in surprise at the two teenagers on his doorstep, then waved them in impatiently.
"Don't just stand there. Get inside. And don't block the gate—the police will be here any second."
Without a word, Hoshino took Ran's hand and led her into the courtyard. The peaceful afternoon was officially over.