Chapter 12: You Have to Call Me Uncle

With Fujino's intervention, the "Bloody Idol Incident" was successfully resolved in less than an hour.

In the end, the police concluded that Akira Fujie had harbored an unrequited love for Yoko Okino. After failing to win her affection, love turned to hatred, and he ultimately committed suicide in her home, trying to frame Yoko for his death.

And from then on, thanks to Inspector Megure calling him "my good lad" over and over, Fujino officially became his designated good lad, or in short, "御弟 (御用 little brother)".

As for Yoko Okino's commission fee… Although Fujino hadn't uncovered much during the investigation, she still willingly paid the full amount.

After all, she knew that if it hadn't been for Fujino today, she probably would've been branded a murderer for life.

Besides, Fujino had managed to find the "culprit" who had been stalking her.

Whether or not that was truly the culprit… well, that was another matter entirely.

—

On the way home from the Metropolitan Police Department—

"Senpai, what you said back there was so profound!"

Ran carried her hands behind her back with a gentle smile on her face. "But come to think of it, if Sonoko had seen how dashing you looked earlier, I'm sure she'd be swooning again."

Even though they had just been through the horror of a suicide case, Ran still carried her usual bright and optimistic demeanor…

It was hard to tell whether she was truly this cheerful or simply hiding her true emotions.

"Sonoko…"

Fujino murmured her name softly, then turned to Ran and asked, "You wouldn't happen to be talking about that short-haired girl, right?"

"That's right."

Ran nodded and then added, "It seems like she has a bit of a crush on you."

"It's just the fluttering of youthful infatuation, that's all."

Fujino shoved his hands into his pockets and gave a wry smile, almost as if mocking himself. "But hey, while we're still this young, enjoying these fleeting moments of youth might not be so bad."

Though honestly… I doubt my age is going to change anytime soon. This 'Conan world' really is terrifying…

'Seriously though, aren't you just a high schooler? Why the hell do you already look like someone who's been crushed by life?'

Conan held Ran's hand as he glanced at Fujino's weary expression, feeling utterly speechless and muttering inwardly to himself.

In contrast to Ran's cheerful liveliness, Fujino's face was marked by exhaustion and melancholy.

He looked exactly like some overworked salaryman dragging his tired body home after working late.

Even Ran didn't seem to realize that Fujino was only eighteen.

"Gurgle…"

Right at that moment, the sound of an empty stomach rumbled through the night.

Fujino came to an abrupt stop, his composed expression giving way to a faint blush of embarrassment.

"Senpai… you haven't had dinner yet, have you?"

Ran turned her head with a soft laugh, covering her mouth as she smiled.

"Cough, cough…"

Fujino coughed awkwardly, as if he'd just swallowed the wrong way, then scratched the back of his head and said, "Actually… I haven't eaten all day. I was going to have something for dinner, but then I got dragged into that commission…"

"Why don't you come over to my place to eat?"

Ran suggested warmly. "I was just about to go home and cook dinner anyway."

"Maybe I shouldn't…"

Faced with Ran's invitation, Fujino found himself conflicted.

If he got too close to Ran, that jealous brat from Southeast Asia probably wouldn't let him off the hook.

Not that he is personally minded…

But his apartment definitely couldn't handle that kind of trouble!

Seventy-five million yen for the place, and just one dead body on the premises would drop the value by a third.

If they started shooting cases at his house two or three times in a row, Fujino figured he might just want to die himself!

Keeping a healthy distance from Ran wouldn't give him any advantages, but at least it could help him avoid unnecessary trouble.

Thinking this, Fujino scratched his head awkwardly.

Just as he was about to refuse—

Suddenly, a mechanical system notification rang in his ears.

"Ding! Student career mission detected!"

Right after, a system interface appeared before his eyes.

[Student Occupation Task: Improve Classmate Friendships

Task Objective: Go to a classmate's home for dinner.

Task Reward: 100,000 yen, 50 Student Proficiency Points

Task Location: Mouri Detective Agency]

Staring at the system interface in front of him, Fujino couldn't help but feel a little dazed.

What the hell is this?

Do students have quests too?!

Did some kind of unicorn sage appear to bless me or something?

Originally, Fujino was planning to refuse.

But that was 100,000 yen!

And 50 Student Proficiency Points—that would level him up immediately!

After thinking it over for a moment, Fujino finally made his decision. Scratching the back of his head, he reluctantly said, "I'm not exactly that familiar with you, Ran… Inviting a strange man over for dinner so late at night—I'm worried it might cause some misunderstandings…"

"I see…"

Hearing that, Ran nodded her head in understanding.

So that's why Fujino kept refusing her—because he was embarrassed!

It was a bit abrupt, after all.

They had only met a few times before.

If he agreed so easily, that would be strange.

Thinking of this, Ran let out a breath of relief, then smiled gently and waved her hand. "It's fine! After all, you're my neighbor, Fujino-senpai. There's nothing weird about inviting a neighbor over for dinner…"

As she spoke, she even glanced at Conan and asked, "Don't you think so too, Conan?"

Nothing weird, huh? Yeah right!

But given Conan's current identity, he obviously couldn't say that.

He could only grit his teeth, forcing a twitching, awkward smile. "Y-Yeah, that's right!"

Gurgle…

At that moment, the sound of someone's stomach rumbling filled the air again.

Scratching the back of his head awkwardly, Fujino said, "Well… in that case, I guess I'll have to trouble the Mouri family for tonight's dinner…"

Detective Mouri didn't seem too pleased about Fujino's sudden visit.

But that was just a small problem—and for Fujino, small problems were easily solved.

A signed poster from Yoko Okino.

A bottle of top-shelf whiskey worth 10,000 yen.

That was enough to win Detective Mouri over instantly!

And just like that, Fujino successfully became a dinner guest.

Ran's cooking was excellent, reminding Fujino of his mother's home-cooked meals.

Good food, good drinks—both Fujino and Detective Mouri enjoyed themselves immensely.

By the time Mouri had finished an entire bottle of sake, the atmosphere had reached its peak, and the excited old man even proposed a brotherhood oath with Fujino on the spot.

That night, in front of the Mouri Detective Agency—

Completely drunk, Mouri Kogoro stood outside, waving at Fujino, who was making his way back across the street to his own home. He waved energetically, shouting with great reluctance to part, "Fujino, my brother!"

"Dad!"

Ran propped up Mouri Kogoro, complaining, "Honestly! I told you not to drink so much, and you didn't listen!"

"Now you've embarrassed yourself in front of Fujino-senpai!"

"What do you mean to drink so much? He's my younger brother now!"

With a flushed, drunken face, Mouri Kogoro corrected her sternly, "You should be calling him uncle!"

"Ugh! Forget it! I don't care anymore!"

Ran huffed and, annoyed, simply dumped Mouri Kogoro at the door.

Yet despite that, Mouri Kogoro still energetically waved at Fujino, shouting, "Fujino! Remember to come again next time!"

"I will, Mouri-nii!"

Fujino raised his hand and waved behind him, not even looking back as he walked toward the four-story building across from the detective agency.

(End of this chapter)