Conan: I'm a zaibatsu in Tokyo

The school bell had just rung at Teitan High School when the classroom of Class 2-B fell silent.

All eyes were on the new transfer student standing next to the podium.

"Hello everyone, my name is Hondo Eisuke."

The boy bowed slightly, his voice clear and bright, a slightly shy smile on his lips.

However, Sonoko Suzuki, who was sitting in the corner of the classroom, suddenly dropped her fork into her lunchbox with a loud crash.

"Whoa!" Sonoko exaggeratedly covered her mouth, her eyes wide like saucers, staring intently at the boy on the podium. "Ran! Ran! Look! That transfer student!"

Ran Mouri felt a little dizzy from being shaken by Sonoko. She looked in the direction Sonoko was looking, and her previously calm face was instantly filled with shock.

Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the boy's profile—his blue pupils, his soft yet slightly aloof features…

She looks exactly like that beautiful news anchor, Rena Mizunashi, from Nichiri TV!
"This girl is so cute!" Sonoko exclaimed.

"Miss Mizuki?" Ran murmured unconsciously.

"Rena Mizunashi?" Sonoko asked Ran, "Do you know this transfer student?"

Xiaolan shook her head awkwardly and said, "It's probably just that we look alike."

It really does look like it.

Could she be Rena Mizunashi's younger sister?
Ai yawned, showing no interest in the new transfer student.

She was already thinking about what excuse she would use to ask for leave next.

On the podium, Hondou Eisuke seemed to have heard the address. He looked in the direction of the voice, his gaze pausing slightly as it swept over Ran and Sonoko before he smiled politely.

Then, guided by the teacher, they walked to an empty seat.

Before Ran and Sonoko could recover from their shock, a vibrant figure darted out from the back row.

"Hey, new student!"

"Um... excuse me, are you Rena Mizunashi's sister?" Ran asked.

Yingyou was packing his schoolbag when he heard this. He looked up, and his blue eyes looked exceptionally clear and innocent in the setting sun.
"Huh? Sister? No, I'm a boy..."

"Wow! Even her voice is so gentle!" A girl next to me exclaimed excitedly in a low voice.

Yingyou: "..."

His lips twitched slightly. Looking around at the stares of those around him, he finally realized the seriousness of the problem.

“I’m a boy,” Eiyu said.

"No way! Such a handsome boy?"

"Yes, she's even prettier than a girl..."

Yingyou sighed helplessly. To prove his innocence, he could only pat his chest somewhat awkwardly and explain sincerely:
"Um... I'm really sorry for causing this misunderstanding. But I am indeed a boy, you can see for yourselves..."

He pointed to his well-fitting boys' uniform and then to his flat chest.

As he pointed to his chest, Ai couldn't help but glance at Sera Masumi's...

"Ai! Your gaze is quite impolite!"

Sera Masumi pinched Ai's face and said.

"Ah? Ah~"

"I didn't!" Ai shouted at Sera Masumi, struggling against Masumi with her hands.

Sera Masumi rubbed Ai's face hard again, still not satisfied.

Her gaze toward Yingyou held a hint of affection.

She was often mistaken for a boy, while Young-woo was mistaken for a girl.

"It's a boy, what a pity."

Hondo Eisuke glanced at the boy who had spoken and felt a chill run down his spine.

Ran asked curiously, "You look so much like Rena Mizunashi, are you related?"

“Rena Mizunashi? Who’s that?” Sonoko asked.

“She’s a female announcer at the TV station,” Xiaolan said.

Hondou Eisuke lowered his head to tidy his schoolbag. Upon hearing this, he looked up and blinked innocently.

"Rena Mizunashi? That beautiful anchorwoman? Ah, I also think she looks a lot like her."

He scratched his head, looking quite used to it: "I guess it's just that we look alike. After all, there are many similar people in the world."

"Really?" Xiaolan nodded and didn't ask any further questions.

But you guys aren't just similar, you're practically copy and paste.

Well, maybe it really doesn't matter.

There are many people who look a lot like Shinichi, and it's quite normal for someone to look like Rena Mizunashi.

At this moment, Ai, who had been sitting next to me engrossed in reading a thick book, suddenly closed the book.

She stood up, walked to Ran's table, took out several beautifully designed invitations from her pocket, and casually tossed them to Ran, Sonoko, and Sera Masumi as if handing out flyers.

After thinking about it, I also gave Hondo Eisuke one.

"Here, take it."

"What is this?" Sonoko asked curiously.

Ai said:

"The Zhengyi New Art Museum will open tomorrow morning. This is the invitation."

"Eh? Masakazu-san?" Sonoko picked up the invitation, her eyes lighting up.

It's been so long since I've seen Brother Zhengyi.

Ai shook her head when she saw Sonoko's infatuated expression whenever she heard the name Shoichi.

Can't you just swoon over a nice guy?
"Is it that super popular art museum lately?" Sera Masumi asked, looking at the invitation.

"I heard that the newly built building was originally intended to be an official museum of Tokyo, but for some reason, it was rented to someone and turned into an art museum."

Ai nodded.

It was rented to Masakazu for 100 yen per year, which is quite expensive.

Xiao Lan asked, somewhat puzzled, "Didn't Brother Zheng Yi's art museum open a long time ago?"

She still remembered the museum director wielding a heavy sword.

It was thanks to Brother Zhengyi that the art museum wasn't converted into a restaurant.

“Seiichi got a bigger and better one,” Ai said.

He has always been a person who is fickle and easily bored.

With a better art museum available, of course we should move. Besides, Zhengyi's collection is growing, so a larger venue is needed.

Sera Masumi nodded: "I see. There's news everywhere about this art museum opening, and tickets are hard to come by."

"Let's all go together then," Ai said.

Hondo Eisuke adjusted his glasses and said, "Ran, I'd like to visit Mr. Kogoro Mouri, is that alright?"

"Uh, of course." Xiaolan nodded, though she was puzzled.

Is he another fan of Dad?
It's not surprising that Kogoro Mouri has a large following these days.

Ai immediately pulled out two more invitations, handed them to Ran, and said:
"Why don't you just take Mr. Mori and Conan to visit the art museum together? Hondo can meet Mr. Mori at the art museum."

Originally, Shoichi did not plan to invite Conan.

It's a very auspicious day after all; it wouldn't be good if blood were to be spilled.

But Ai doesn't have those concerns.

Zhengyi always uses Conan to annoy others. What would happen if he were also annoyed by Conan?
"Hey~ Ai, do you have a lot of invitations?" Sera Masumi asked.

"of course."

Ai nodded, took her backpack to the table, and then unzipped it and poured it out.

A pile of invitations were scattered on the table.

Xiao Lan and the others stared wide-eyed.

so much?
Sonoko asked, puzzled, "Why did Masakazu give you so many invitations?"

Should Ai invite all the guests?
"Hmph!" Ai snorted coldly, sniffed, and said, "Because Shoichi owes me a lot of money."

"Does Brother Zhengyi owe you a lot of money?" Xiaolan looked at Xiaoai with a questioning look in her eyes.

How could Zheng Yi owe Xiao Ai money?
Xiao Ai looked indignant.

Zheng Yi, that bastard, should be hanged from a street lamp.

Yesterday was payday.

But that bastard Zheng Yi said the company was poorly managed and had insufficient cash flow, so they could only use equivalent goods as substitutes.

So they gave her so many invitations.

That bastard even boasted that the price of these invitations had been inflated to 500,000 yen each by scalpers.

That damn Zhengyi, he just pocketed her salary like that.

Ai took a deep breath.

I hope Zhengyi is in good health.

After fantasizing about it so many times, it was only last night that she finally made up her mind to add something to Zheng Yi's food.

Right now, Zheng Yi and Curaçao should both be in the toilet, right?
……

Last night, for reasons unknown, all seven bathrooms in Zheng's house were rendered unusable.

Some toilets are like fountains, and some sewers are like songs.

Now, only this one toilet in the entire villa can flush.

At this moment, at the entrance of this only "Fountain of Life," a duel concerning dignity and chrysanthemums is unfolding.

Zheng Yi's face was ashen.

He braced himself against the door frame with one hand and clutched his stomach with the other.

Across from him, Curaçao stared intently at him.

As a ruthless assassin, she appeared expressionless, but her slightly trembling fingertips and tightly pursed lips betrayed her unease.

"Curaçao" was gritting her teeth, forcing a smile through them.

"According to Article 108 of the 'Rules of Conduct for Zheng Yi Family', when the master goes to the toilet, the bodyguard must wait outside the door and... must not take the master's toilet stall."

Curaçao didn't speak, but her heterochromatic eyes stared intently at him.

What kind of bullshit rules are these? They're obviously just something Zheng Yi made up on the spot.

There is no such thing.

Zheng Yi felt another tidal wave crashing in his stomach.

"Don't go too far! You just came out of there! It's my turn now!" Zheng Yi said, pointing his finger at Curaçao's nose.

After pointing and speaking, he quickly put his hand back on his stomach.

Curaçao's lips twitched violently.

"Three seconds," Curaçao finally spoke. "Get out of the way, or I'll throw you into the pool to feed the fish."

Why are you so violent?

“You’re starting to lose sight of your place,” Zheng Yi said.

In this family, you're just a bodyguard.

Zheng Yi's stomach is hurting even more now.

“Curaçao, I advise you to get out of the way immediately. If you get injured because of fighting over the toilet, I won’t be able to explain it to Rum.”

Curaçao simply wouldn't let them pass.

Zheng Yi clutched his stomach, looking very uncomfortable.

It's all because I trusted Ai too much.

When Ai said she would cook for him herself, Masakazu thought she was trying to please him and was trying to get his wages by acting cute and charming.

Zheng Yi didn't pay any attention.

If Ai really acts cute and affectionate towards him, how could he not give her his salary?
However, Ai did not act cute towards him.

After finishing cooking, she said she was going to be late for school and anxiously asked Miyano Akemi to take her to school.

Zhengyi and Curaçao, who had eaten breakfast, were now feeling very uncomfortable in their stomachs.

Curaçao pressed the doorknob tightly.

If it weren't for Zheng Yi withholding Xiao Ai's wages, they wouldn't be here fighting over the toilets.

Curaçao gritted her teeth.

Originally, Ai was supposed to have Masakazu take her to school, but Masakazu suddenly had a kind offer.

Say, 'Curaçao hasn't had breakfast yet, let your sister take you.'

Then, there was one more person vying with Zheng Yi for the toilet.

Curaçao still remembers the complex look in Ai's eyes as she looked at him before leaving the villa. (End of Chapter)