Conan: I'm a zaibatsu in Tokyo

Sunlight streams through the window and falls on the desks in a corner of the Teitan High School library.

Ai was sitting upright at the table, with a small mountain of books piled up in front of her.

How to Write a Touching Love Letter

The Psychology of Love: From Beginner to Expert

Men are from Mars, love letters come from wallets.

A Selection of Love Letters from the Past Century

She pushed up glasses that weren't actually there, her gaze sharp as a knife.

It was as if they weren't reading a book, but studying the molecular structure of APTX4869.

"Heh," Ai sneered, turning a page of "The Psychology of Love".

"A love letter? That's no challenge for me. Just wait, I'm going to take those tens of millions of yen in 'hardship fees'."

Ai Haibara doesn't think writing love letters is a problem for her at all.

But what she was worried about was whether Zheng Yi would simply renege on his debt.

As Zheng Yi was saying this, Curaçao was listening.

Moreover, Zheng Yi has been very generous this time, so he should be able to keep his promise this time, right?

Ai imagined Shoichi's narcissistic, sullen face and muttered a slight complaint.

Why is that guy so narcissistic?

He even wrote an autobiography, and you can fall in love with him as a person.

Ugh~
But when I touched the bank card in my pocket, the one million yen on it was undeniably real.

Full of energy!

During lunch break, the classroom was filled with youthful energy.

Ai, carrying a thick book titled "A Selection of Love Letters from the Past Century," casually walked over to Ran.

She has already read the book thoroughly.

I thought writing a love letter was nothing special, but when I put pen to paper, I still felt no emotion at all.

Zheng Yi said that every word should be filled with emotion.

So she went to ask her classmates for help.

"Um... Mori-kun," Ai's voice sounded as innocent as possible.

"Hmm? What's wrong, Ai?"

Xiao Lan raised her head, her mouth still full of rice, her cheeks bulging like a cute hamster.

Mori-kun?

Ai's nickname is really strange.

Ran sensed that Ai wanted something from her.

Xiaolan said directly, "Just say what's on your mind."

"I...I'm writing a social survey report on the emotional patterns of modern teenagers," Xiao Ai lied without batting an eye.

Xiaolan blinked.

A survey on adolescent emotional patterns?
Why did you write this?

In Xiaolan's opinion, this was neither like schoolwork nor like Xiao Ai's usual style.

Xiao Ai remained unfazed.

She had already come up with a reason.

She slowly turned around, her face displaying a complex expression that was a mixture of three parts sorrow, six parts grievance, and ninety-one parts helplessness.

"Okay, actually, this wasn't my idea."

"That is?"

“It’s Zhengyi-ge,” Ai said.

"Brother Zhengyi?" Xiaolan's eyes widened in surprise.

“That’s right.” Xiao Ai sighed, looking like a little adult.

"You know, I'm living under someone else's roof..."

Xiaolan blinked again.

Zheng Yi has been very good to you, and you've never shown any signs of feeling wronged by being dependent on others.

"Cough cough!"

Ai glanced around to make sure no one else was there before continuing in a voice only the two of them could hear:

"Zhengyi said that a poor child like me should understand the various emotions between people earlier, so he asked me to investigate this so that I wouldn't be deceived in the future."

Xiaolan didn't understand what he meant.

There must be a reason why Zheng Yi Ge did this.

"Then what do you want to ask me?" Xiaolan asked.

"I'd like to ask you, as the recognized model of childhood sweethearts in our school."

"How did you and Shinichi Kudo establish your romantic relationship?"

"Could you be more specific? Also, did you two exchange love letters? Could I see them?"

Ai looked at Ran.

After spending a long time with Zheng Yi, she was able to lie without blushing.

This is also a kind of growth.

Ai needs material; she needs to understand how normal people date.

Understand the feelings between the two people, and then combine that with the love letter.

Write the kind of love letter that Zheng Yi wants, one that is "fulfilled with love".

Xiaolan's face flushed red instantly, like a ripe apple.

"Huh?! Ai, what are you saying?!" Ran waved her hands in a panic, her eyes darting around.

"Shinichi and I are just... just childhood friends!"

"We were not a couple at all, and we never wrote each other love letters."

She lowered her head, her voice trailing off: "We...we're still just high school students...this kind of thing..."

Ai frowned as she looked at Ran, who was so shy that she was almost incoherent.

Childhood sweetheart?

After all these years, are they still just childhood sweethearts?
But the way you acted really doesn't seem like a typical childhood sweetheart.

"Oh...I see," Ai said, closing the book in disappointment. "Then I've bothered you."

Ai turned her head and glanced at it.

I happened to see a boy secretly slip a note into a girl's drawer, and then run away shyly.

Ai guessed that it was a love letter.

Ai crossed her arms and whispered, "Looking at it this way, Shinichi Kudo really is pretty awful."

"Hmm?" Ran's shyness lessened considerably as she looked at Ai with a puzzled expression.

Ai, speaking with the air of someone who's been there, said:
"Look at that male classmate just now, sneaking love letters into the female classmate's drawer."

"Look at you and Shinichi Kudo. Everyone knows about your relationship, yet you've been dragging it out in this ambiguous way."

"Forget love letters, there wasn't even a decent explanation. Honestly, it's so disappointing!"

As she spoke, Ai couldn't help but sigh.

Clearly, he was very dissatisfied with Shinichi Kudo.

Before Ran's expression could change, Ai decisively turned and left.

Xiaolan, being so innocent, is of no use to me.

She probably needs to know how to write love letters more than I do.

So, Ai turned her gaze elsewhere.

……

"Ah! Ahh!"

At Teitan Elementary School, Conan rubbed his nose.

"Conan, do you have a cold?" The three little ones looked at Conan with concern.

"No, it's just that my nose suddenly feels a little uncomfortable," Conan said, rubbing his head.

Maybe someone is talking badly about me.

But that feeling just now was really weird.

I suddenly felt a chill on my neck, as if something bad had happened.

Conan patted his neck.

Could it be someone from the organization that's behind this?

……

Didan High School.

Sonoko Suzuki was lying on the table, her eyes sparkling as she stared at the pictures of handsome men in the magazine, practically drooling.

"Shoichi~ My prince~~" Sonoko let out a fangirl moan.

Ai walked over and gently patted her shoulder.

"Sonoko, I'd like to ask you some questions about love."

Sonoko suddenly looked up, hurriedly put the magazine in the drawer, and then started rambling incoherently:

"Huh?! Ai, you have worries too? Is it about a boy? Tell me quickly!"

"No!" Sonoko suddenly paused.

He patted Ai's head and then looked at Ai's height.

You shouldn't have that kind of situation.

"You're not having an affair, are you? This is too early, it won't do."

Sonoko looked at Ai with a worried expression.

Zheng Yi Ge won't be able to stand it.

Ai rubbed her forehead, took a deep breath, and repeated to Sonoko what she had just told Ran.

"I see." Sonoko nodded.

Ai looked at Sonoko and said, "As someone who... well... has been with countless men, you must have a lot of experience writing love letters or pursuing guys, right?"

"Could you share how to write a love letter that a guy can't resist?"

As she spoke, Ai placed a torn bag of potato chips on the table.

In Ai's opinion, Sonoko, who can fall in love at any time, must be well-versed in this art.

However, Sonoko's expression froze instantly.

She didn't even have the appetite to eat the potato chips that Ai offered her.

She froze for three seconds, then suddenly felt like crying.

Sonoko sniffed and said stubbornly, "Ai, you underestimate me. I don't rely on old-fashioned things like writing love letters!"

"I rely on my passion! My sincerity! My...my..."

She thought for a long time but couldn't figure out what to follow the third "my".

Ai Haibara remained expressionless, as if she understood something.

"So, you've never successfully won someone over by writing love letters?"

"I always just rush up and confess," Sonoko said proudly, puffing out her chest. "Although...although I always fail..."

After saying that, Sonoko deflated.

She has absolutely no experience of success.

Some good boys would decisively reject her when she rushed towards them.

Some bad boys will be exposed as she rushes in.

Therefore, Sonoko's dating experience is the same as that of an elementary school student.

Their understanding of love letters, in particular, is even less than that of a child.

Ai thinks she's probably sick.

I must be crazy to expect Sonoko, that unreliable infatuated girl, to teach her how to write love letters.

Sonoko and Ran are of no help to her at all.

Ai looked at Sonoko and said, "Do you have some feelings for Shoichi?"

"Mmm-hmm!" Sonoko nodded decisively.

Sonoko has a crush on all good-looking men.

Moreover, Masakazu is the man she can't have. Any man Sonoko can't have is of good character.

“Then write a love letter for me, and I’ll deliver it to Masakazu,” Ai said.

Sonoko's eyes lit up: "You're willing to help me?"

“That’s right,” Ai said.

After school, the sunset in Beika Town painted the sky red.

Ai walked home alone, her backpack stuffed full of those heavy dating guides.

"Hmph, you can't rely on others."

Before school ended, Ai had already received a love letter from Sonoko.

Ai has seen it.

It's a complete mess, utterly incomprehensible, and contains a lot of copied text from who-knows-where.

It offers absolutely no lessons for us.

She remembered Zheng Yi's narcissistic face and his words about "pouring out love".

"Love, isn't it..."

A helpless smile appeared on Ai's lips.

This is still a bit difficult for her.

Xiao Ai quickened her pace and headed home.

When she got home, she saw Zheng Yi sitting on the sofa, holding a wine glass and sipping red wine.

But Ai knew that the glass contained juice.

Zheng Yi's taste is still like a child's.

But in order to appear sophisticated, they often use wine glasses to serve juice.

"Give."

"You finished writing it so quickly?" Masakazu was taken aback when he took the love letter from Ai.

You've already written the love letter in just one day.

Zheng Yi felt uncomfortable.

I feel like Ai doesn't value me.

"You must write me those love letters full of romance and passion with all your heart and love."

"What I want is praise for my unparalleled charm through your immature writing..."

As Zheng Yi spoke, he opened the love letter.

I was stunned when I saw the lip print on it.

Zheng Yi held the love letter and compared it to Ai's lips; the size didn't seem to match.

Ai pouted and said to Shoichi expressionlessly:

"This was written for you by Sonoko."

I would never leave behind something like that.

"The garden."

Zheng Yi's interest quickly waned after hearing this.

"Why did she suddenly write this to me? Is she also interested in that billion-dollar prize?" Zheng Yi asked.

"No." Ai shook her head.

Ai watched Masakazu's reaction.

Although Sonoko's love letter was rather immature, one could deduce Shoichi's preferences from his reaction.

However, Shoichi didn't give Ai the chance at all.

He remained expressionless throughout the entire viewing, making it impossible for Ai to analyze anything.

“This love letter won’t do.” Zheng Yi handed the love letter back to Xiao Ai.

Zheng Yi squatted down and patted Ai's head.

"I'm really looking forward to what you write; make sure it reflects your praise for me."

Shoichi pointed at the love letter in Ai's hand and said, "There's no praise for me in the whole letter. I'm the main character."

Ai: "Ha, men. Get ready to receive my full praise for your intelligence and personality."

Ai removed the hand from her head and walked upstairs to her room.

Her steps were light and quick, as if she had already stepped onto the golden road leading to designer handbags and a Hawaiian vacation.

Sitting in a chair in the room, Ai held a pen and pondered.

"First of all, the title of the first love letter was 'On how to prove with logic that you are my only truth'."

After writing down the name, Ai shook her head and crossed it out.

No, this doesn't look like the format of a love letter.

Late at night, Ai finally finished writing the first draft of her love letter.

She pulled Zhengyi out of the bedroom and forced him to look at what she had written.

"It's so late, can't we watch it tomorrow?" Zheng Yi said, rubbing his eyes.

Just now, when he opened his eyes, he vaguely saw Ai.

I thought Ai was scared sleeping alone at night, so she came to his room asking for a hug.

Ai stared at Masakazu: "When I went to wake you, I didn't know you were asleep so early."

"Since we're already here, I might as well wake you up."

Since we're already here, I might as well invite you to sleep together.

Zheng Yi rubbed his face to try and look more awake.

He picked up Ai's love letter and started reading it.

Ai kept staring at Shoichi's face, perhaps because it involved a business deal worth hundreds of millions.

She seemed very excited.

Ai's face grew increasingly red.

Masakazu looked at what Ai had written.

Unconsciously, he crossed his legs, and his toes swayed imperceptibly, following the pleasant tune in his heart.

The smile on his lips could no longer be hidden. (End of Chapter)