32 - Leave Ran’s Happiness to Me! Conan Panics!

Conan: "…"

Wait, am I that obvious?

Should I change my clothes or something?

Conan glanced down at himself and immediately facepalmed.

He was wearing the Teitan Elementary school uniform—a design that hadn't changed in who-knows-how-many years.

Change it?

Where was he supposed to get a new one?

Unless he transferred schools!

"But you're not completely hopeless," Azuma Shoyo said with a grin. "At least you had the sense to slap on some glasses for a disguise."

Conan: "…"

Me, a genius, and you say I'm "not completely hopeless"?

Slander!

You're just jealous I'm smarter than you!!

Conan glared at Azuma Shoyo, fuming, before letting out a helpless sigh. "Shoyo, I'm in a real mess this time. I hope you can keep this secret for me."

Another secret to keep?

That's the second one now.

Yoko Okino at least offered something in return for keeping her secret.

But you, Shinichi Kudo, just flap your lips and expect me to zip mine?

Azuma Shoyo shot him a look of pure disdain.

"What's with that face?" Conan snapped, indignant.

Ugh, how is this guy so infuriating?

How did I not notice this before?

Oh, right!

Probably because we barely hung out back then.

"Kudo, has anyone ever told you you've got some wild dreams?" Azuma Shoyo quipped.

Conan: "…"

What, you want hush money?

"How much do you want?" Conan asked, exasperated.

"Money? Do I look that shallow?" Azuma Shoyo shook his head. "I don't want cash. People might think I'm some punk extorting kids for their allowance."

"Then what do you want?"

Conan ignored the second half of Shoyo's jab—he'd already learned that listening to this guy fully was a recipe for rage. Better to tune out the annoying bits and pretend they didn't exist.

Azuma Shoyo sized Conan up with a smirk that sent chills down his spine.

Goosebumps prickled his skin!

"With you like this… there's no fixing it, huh?" Azuma Shoyo said.

"No way!" Conan nearly leapt out of his seat. "I'll figure out a way to turn back!"

"But what if you don't?" Azuma Shoyo pressed.

Conan: "…"

"Hmph! If I can't, I'll just wait it out and grow up naturally. It's not like I won't age!" Conan huffed, turning his head away.

It was a last resort, sure. If he had any other option, Conan would rather turn back ASAP.

Wait to grow up?

You might be waiting forever!

Azuma Shoyo thought to himself.

Sure, time in this world seemed normal enough for now—but was it really? Or was it just a façade hiding a chaotic mess?

After all, the timeline in the Conan-verse was already a total disaster.

And this world? It was a mashup of multiple similar realities.

So… expecting time to flow normally here?

Pure fantasy!

"Hey! What's with that look? Are you thinking something rude?" Conan caught the expression on Shoyo's face and immediately sensed trouble.

"Nothing," Azuma Shoyo brushed it off. "Kudo… nah, I'll stick with Conan. How old are you now?"

Conan's face darkened as he muttered, "Seven. But I might turn back!"

"So, ten years from now, you'll be seventeen again," Azuma Shoyo said. "But by then, Ran will be twenty-seven. You think she won't date anyone in all that time?"

"NO WAY!!!"

The second Ran's name came up, Conan exploded, practically leaping off the bench like a cat with its fur on end.

"Don't be so sure," Azuma Shoyo said, grinning. "How many people you know are twenty-seven and still single?"

Conan: "…"

The next second, he grabbed his hair and started tugging at it in a frenzy.

"No way! Ran would never date someone else!"

The image of his beloved Ran walking hand-in-hand with another guy flashed through his mind, and Conan felt like his heart was about to shatter.

Oh God!

That'd be hell, right?

"Looks like you get it—the odds aren't in your favor," Azuma Shoyo said, patting Conan's head. "So, instead of letting some random guy swoop in, why not leave it to me?"

Huh?

Conan froze, then slowly turned to face him.

"Conan, my boy! Ran's future happiness is safe with me!"

In Conan's eyes, Azuma Shoyo suddenly morphed into a devil, horns and tail sprouting right then and there. Well, well! Finally showing your true colors, huh?

"I'll claw your face off!"

Conan lunged at him in a fury.

But Azuma Shoyo effortlessly hoisted him up with one hand.

"Whoa, whoa! Look at you, getting all worked up again," Azuma Shoyo chuckled.

How could Conan not be worked up?

His moonlight goddess was about to be stolen! If he didn't freak out now, he wouldn't be the jealous mess he was known to be.

No matter how hard he flailed, though, he couldn't land a hit on Shoyo.

After a while, he wore himself out.

Defeated, he let Azuma Shoyo set him down, glaring as Shoyo grinned and said, "Conan, my boy! Just accept it. Loving someone means knowing when to let go—someone told me that once."

"I'm not letting go!" Conan knew his tiny arms and legs were no match for Shoyo, so he settled for shouting, "And I trust Ran—she'll wait for me!"

"Wow, selfish much? Making Ran wait ten years for you?" Azuma Shoyo gave him another disdainful look.

Conan: "…"

Critical hit!

He was done—completely broken. He didn't even want to talk anymore. Hopping off the bench, he trudged away.

His slouched, lonely figure caught the eyes of a few passing students.

"Look at that kid—he seems totally crushed."

"Probably lost his favorite toy or something. Kids, you know?"

Hearing their chatter, Conan nearly burst into tears. Covering his ears, he bolted out of Teitan High's front gate.

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