Chapter 8: The Exclusive Communication Through Their Eyes

Mouri Detective Agency.

"Ran-nee-chan!"

Dressed in his signature suit, the Reaper… a.k.a. little Conan, ran up to Ran when he saw her about to head out and asked in his soft, childlike voice, "It's already so late. Where are you going?"

"I'm going to check if Fujino-senpai has eaten dinner properly."

Ran replied casually.

Recalling the image of Fujino's room full of instant noodles, she suddenly felt a bit uncomfortable.

"Senpai?"

Conan thought for a moment but couldn't recall knowing anyone with the last name Fujino. He tilted his head in confusion. "Who's that?"

"He's my classmate. He lives right across the street."

Ran patiently explained, "I heard that his parents passed away last year, and now he lives alone, making a living as a detective… He's so malnourished it's heartbreaking."

"Just a few days ago during class, he suddenly fainted and was taken to the infirmary. It took him half a day to regain consciousness. And the school doctor even found a lot of bruises on his body."

"Teacher Hiratsuka specifically asked me to look after Fujino-senpai when I can. If something were to happen to him all alone in his apartment… that would just be too sad..."

As she spoke, Ran put on her shoes and rose slightly on tiptoe to adjust them.

"Fujino? How come I've never heard of a high school detective like that in our class?"

Conan frowned, still puzzled.

But he didn't think much of it.

It's just checking up on someone. No big deal.

…

"Senpai!"

Just as Fujino, Chouno Yoko, and the others were preparing to get in the car to head to her place for the investigation—

A familiar voice suddenly rang out from behind.

Fujino turned around.

It was Ran.

Right now, she was wearing casual clothes: a pale yellow sweater on top, a blue long skirt on the bottom, and a brown apron tied around her waist, giving her the gentle appearance of a perfect wife and mother.

"Ran?"

Fujino was a little puzzled to see her here.

"I was just about to make dinner and wondered if Fujino-senpai…"

Halfway through her sentence, Ran suddenly noticed the girl standing beside Fujino.

Cute! Could she be… Fujino-senpai's girlfriend?

She couldn't help but have that thought.

Originally, she'd wanted to invite Fujino over to her place for dinner, but now—with such a beautiful girl standing here…

Naturally, she didn't continue with the invitation. It just didn't feel appropriate.

But after carefully studying the girl for a moment, Ran couldn't shake the feeling that she looked familiar. After a few seconds, realization finally dawned on her, and her voice rose in surprise: "Huh!? Isn't that Chouno Yoko?!"

"Shh!"

Fujino quickly covered Ran's mouth. "Ran, keep your voice down! Miss Yoko is here on a secret case..."

"I see..."

Ran finally relaxed, and the hand that had subconsciously curled into a karate fist slowly lowered.

Seeing that hand come down, Fujino broke into a cold sweat.

That punch just now could've shattered a utility pole—and taken his life along with it!

This was a woman he couldn't afford to provoke!

"Detective Fujino, is this your girlfriend?"

At that moment, Chouno Yoko looked at the two of them with an amused, slightly teasing smile, the kind an older sister might wear. "She's really cute."

"Ahem!"

Fujino immediately coughed and hurried to clarify, "We're just classmates, Miss Yoko. Please don't misunderstand!"

"That's right!"

Ran quickly nodded. "Fujino-senpai and I are just classmates, and we just happen to live across from each other, that's all..."

"In that case… childhood friends, right?"

Chouno Yoko chuckled softly behind her hand, showing a clear "I get it—you don't need to explain" expression.

Then she sighed sentimentally, "Ah… to be young again."

"Huh?!"

Ran's cheeks instantly flushed pink, her expression suddenly shy like a little girl.

Faced with Chouno Yoko's god-tier imagination and Ran's mysterious blushing, Fujino was left speechless.

After sighing deeply, he turned to Ran and said seriously, "Ran… I appreciate your kindness, but I still have work to do right now. Let's have dinner together another time."

"Okay! Then I won't disturb you any longer, Fujino-senpai!"

With that, cheeks still slightly red, Ran quickly prepared to flee the scene.

However, just before leaving, she still glanced back at Yoko Okino, her eyes full of regret.

"Why don't Miss Ran come along with us too?"

At that moment, as if she had sensed something from Ran's glance, Yoko Okino suddenly extended an invitation to her.

"Eh?"

Ran turned around in surprise. "Wouldn't that be causing trouble for you, Miss Yoko?"

"It's no trouble at all!"

Yoko Okino waved her hand and then shot Fujino a meaningful glance. "I'm sure Detective Fujino won't mind either, right?"

"Ah… Since this is your commission, Miss Yoko, if you don't mind, then of course I don't either."

Fujino scratched the back of his head, smiling awkwardly.

He had no idea what had just happened.

Of course, Fujino wouldn't understand.

After all, that was a form of communication unique to women's glances.

As for whether the two women understood the same meaning in that glance—that was another matter entirely.

And so, with Yoko Okino's warm invitation, Ran also joined them in heading to Yoko Okino's home.

At the same time… she brought along a little tagalong—

"An idol's house! Wow, wow!"

Inside the car, Conan, dressed in a blue suit and wearing glasses, was waving his arms excitedly like a real elementary schooler.

Is this guy pretending? It doesn't seem like it…

Fujino turned his head to study Conan, who was sitting between him and Ran, curious and silently speculating in his heart.

"Conan!"

Just then, Ran suddenly reminded him, "You have to behave yourself, okay? Don't interfere with Detective Fujino's work!"

"Yes, Ran-nee-san!"

Conan responded in his childish voice, but as he spoke, he kept casting glances toward Fujino.

So this is the Fujino-senpai Ran was talking about?

Run sneaking out in the middle of the night just to see this guy? Damn it. A high school detective, and even a classmate, yet I'd never seen him before.

Could it be…

Suddenly, Conan felt a weight on his neck, like a green light flashing above his head.

The more he thought about it, the colder his gaze toward Fujino became.

"So, Ran, is this kid your younger brother?"

Fujino felt a little uncomfortable being stared at like that and gave a small laugh, asking Ran casually.

"No, no,"

Ran shook her head. "This child is staying with us temporarily. He's a relative's kid. His name is Edogawa Conan."

A sly smile curled up at the corner of Fujino's mouth as he asked curiously, "Edogawa Conan… what a strange name."

"Speaking of strange names, isn't Fujino-oniichan's name strange too? Fujino Tóngzhì or whatever."

Conan sneered, switching to Chinese to fire back.

"Conan! Don't be rude!"

Ran scolded him, frowning. "It's very impolite to call people by weird names!"

"I got it, Ran-nee-san…"

Conan responded weakly, but when he saw that smug grin on Fujino's lips, his whole body boiled with frustration.

Damn it! This guy… is mocking me…

"I'm sorry about that, Fujino-senpai."

Ran sighed and apologized sincerely, "This kid insisted on coming along as soon as he heard I was going to Miss Yoko's house. He's not usually like this."

"It's okay. After all, he's just a kid."

Fujino waved his hand and chuckled lightly. "It's normal for kids to be a little mischievous."

After that, he glanced meaningfully at Conan and asked, "Isn't that right, little Conan?"

"Yes, Fujino Tongzhi!"

"Conan!"

At that moment, Ran scolded him again before adding earnestly, "You need to speak politely to your elders!"

"Yes! Ran-nee-san, Fujino-oniichan!"

Conan's expression turned into a dead-fish stare, looking at Fujino like he had lost the will to live.

This guy… is doing this on purpose…

(End of this chapter