Conan: I'm a zaibatsu in Tokyo

Shinichi Kudo finally crawled out from under the table again.

Ai was being held and ruffled in Masakazu's arms, her hair a complete mess.

I originally wanted to tease Zheng Yi, but now I'm the one being bullied by him.

Ai nestled in Masakazu's arms without saying a word.

Hmph, just you wait.

I'll tell Ran about your tryst with Shinichi Kudo, and let her know about your filthy affair.

You guys really know how to have fun, making Shinichi Kudo crawl under the table.

"There's a reason I was hiding under the table, don't overthink it," Shinichi Kudo said to Ai.

Ai squinted her eyes.

She wasn't interested in Shinichi Kudo's supposed reasons and only believed her own imagination.

Shinichi Kudo said, "Ran came to find Conan, and then..."

He told Ai the reason, and Ai nodded.

Oh, so there's also the matter of Xiaolan.

They stole it, and they did it discreetly.

You guys are really good at this.

"Ow~"

Zheng Yi tapped Ai's head twice, knocking out all the jumbled thoughts in her head.

"Don't worry, I won't tell Ran," Ai said.

Shoichi didn't care, but Shinichi Kudo hesitated to speak when he saw Ai's vengeful look.

Zheng Yi was the one who hit you on the head, so why are you glaring at me like that?
Is it a case of bullying the weak and fearing the strong?
He put Ai down, then took out a bill and handed it to Shinichi Kudo, saying:
"I won't charge you for the meal, but you slept in my bed, and I'm a bit annoyed with you. You need to get me a new one."

You're still wearing my clothes, so you have to give me money to buy new ones.

Shinichi Kudo glanced at the bill, then nodded, not paying any attention.

Ai asked Masakazu, "Did he sleep in your room last night?"

"correct."

"So where do you sleep?"

Zheng Yi said, "I'll sleep in your room, in your bed."

Ai nodded, then ran to Shinichi Kudo's side and said, "I also dislike Shoichi, so I want to change the bed too."

Shinichi Kudo's lips twitched slightly.

"You're taking advantage of my misfortune," Shinichi Kudo said.

When Zheng Yi hugged you just now, you didn't seem to mind much.

You're so close and nothing's wrong with that, yet you complain about Zheng Yi sleeping in your bed?
Ai frowned and said, "Anyway, I'm just disgusted. It was because you slept in Masakazu's bed that I let him go to my room, so it's still your fault. You have to pay me."

"Alright, alright." Shinichi Kudo waved his hand to dismiss Ai.

It's just the cost of a bed; he can afford it.

Masashi said to Shinichi Kudo, "Aren't you going to talk to Professor Agasa? Aren't you afraid Ran will call him to ask what's going on?"

"Oh oh oh."

Shinichi Kudo then remembered that he had been colluding with Professor Agasa. He said nonchalantly, "Professor Agasa is already very experienced in this. He knows how to cover for me without me having to say anything."

There's absolutely no need to worry about Professor Agasa.

"What about at night? What if you turn back at night? I have to go to school tomorrow, what reason can I give for taking the day off?" Masakazu asked, making Shinichi Kudo scratch his head in frustration.

Ai had already run to the kitchen, brought out breakfast, and started eating.

She ate while reminiscing.

Fortunately, I don't need to hide anything from anyone. I already know what I need to know, so there's no need to hide anything.

After having breakfast, Masakazu and Ai snuggled together to watch TV and play video games.

Ai spent the whole day playing yesterday and had no interest in going to the lab today. Anyway, it's the weekend, and there's no rush to research the antidote in a day or two.

……

Night falls.

Ran stood in front of Professor Agasa's house and pressed the doorbell.

A moment later, the door opened, and Professor Agasa's kindly smiling face appeared behind it: "Oh, it's Ran. What brings you here so late?"

"Good evening, Professor." Ran said with her hands folded in front of her and a polite smile on her face, "I'm here to pick up Conan and take him home. Masakazu said he's with you."

"Oh dear, what bad luck." Professor Agasa scratched his head and said apologetically:

“He did come this morning, but the kid just told me he had something to discuss with Zheng Yi. I was going to invite him to stay for dinner, but he disappeared in the blink of an eye.”

"I see, I'm sorry to have bothered you." Xiaolan's smile remained unchanged.

She bowed politely again, then turned and walked towards the Zheng family's direction.

She arrived at Zheng's house and knocked on the door.

After opening the door, Zheng Yi looked at Xiao Lan outside and asked, "Xiao Lan? Is there something you need? Or are you looking for Xiao Ai?"

"Good evening, Zheng Yi." Ran said with a smile, "I've come to pick up Conan. Dr. Agasa said he's here."

"Oh, you mean Conan?" Masakazu shook his head and said, "He did come by just now, but he said he remembered he hadn't finished getting something from Professor Agasa's place, so he ran back. Just two minutes before you arrived."

He paused, looked at Xiaolan, blinked, and said, "If you go quickly, you might run into him on the way."

Xiaolan's smile froze slightly.

“...Really?” she said softly. “Thank you, Brother Zhengyi. I’ll go check on the doctor’s house then.”

After saying that, she turned and left.

Zheng Yi stood at the door, watching Xiao Lan leave, gently shaking his head, muttering something under his breath.

Ran returned to Professor Agasa's house.

When Professor Agasa saw Ran at the door, he asked in surprise, "Ran? Why are you back again?"

"Professor," Ran asked, "Where's Conan?"

"Ah..." Professor Agasa's eyes darted away: "Um... Conan said he knew you went to Masakazu's house to look for him, so he went back."

Xiaolan's smile couldn't be maintained any longer.

Professor Agasa could even sense the murderous intent emanating from Ran; she was clenching her fists as if she wanted to smash something.

Just then, Xiaolan's cell phone rang.

She took out her phone, and the screen displayed the name "Conan Edogawa".

Xiaolan pressed the answer button, held the phone to her ear, and tried hard to control her anger.

Conan's familiar voice came from the other end of the phone: "Ran-neechan! I'm so sorry, I was running back and forth between Masakazu's house and Dr. Agasa's house and I completely missed you! What a coincidence!"

Xiaolan didn't say anything.

The voice on the other end of the phone continued, "But it's already very late, so you should just go home and rest, so you don't miss it again. I can go to Teitan Elementary School by myself tomorrow morning!"

silence.

Xiaolan had no expression, and even her blinking frequency decreased significantly.

Conan on the other end of the phone seemed to realize something, and his voice gradually lowered: "...Ran-neechan?"

"Okay, I understand." Xiaolan hung up the phone immediately.

She clenched her fist and waved it.

But then she remembered that this was Professor Agasa's house, and she managed to suppress her urge to smash something. "Excuse me, Professor," she said, nodding slightly to Professor Agasa. "I'll head back now."

"Uh, okay."

Professor Agasa stood there, watching Ran leave, and slowly closed the door, a cold sweat inexplicably seeping down his back.

Why do I suddenly feel that Xiaolan is scary?

They are a family.

In the living room, Conan was holding up his phone, talking to Ran on the phone.

In the corner of the sofa not far from him, Masakazu and Ai were sitting with their heads close together and their shoulders touching.

They deliberately positioned themselves in Conan's blind spot.

Zheng Yi whispered, "This kid's getting bolder and bolder. He actually dares to play Xiao Lan like this. Xiao Lan is a karate expert. Isn't he afraid of getting a few ribs broken by Xiao Lan?"

Ai cupped her hands around her mouth, laughing gleefully, and then replied in a very low voice, "He's dead meat. Ran won't let him get away with this."

Zheng Yi nodded in deep agreement and continued in a low voice, "When I opened the door to check on Xiao Lan just now, I could already sense that Xiao Lan's temper was starting to flare up."

Moreover, Conan's shoes were still there by the door, and Masakazu deliberately didn't touch them or remind Conan.

Xiaolan definitely saw it when she was at the door.

Conan thought he could fool Ran, but Ran had already noticed his unusual behavior, she just kept quiet about it.

But Conan just keeps courting death.

When Xiaolan can't take it anymore, that's when this kid will lose his life.

Ai poked Shoichi's arm, her tone certain: "I reckon when Ran teaches Conan a lesson, she won't use such a civilized method as dissection."

I would definitely beat Conan to death with violence.

The two of them sat with their heads close together, discussing things in hushed tones.

Unaware of what was happening, Shinichi Kudo was still putting on a show for the person on the other end of the phone: "...I'll just go to Teitan Elementary School by myself tomorrow morning!"

The moment he hung up the phone, Shinichi Kudo let out a long sigh of relief, but he also felt uneasy, as if something was pricking him from behind.

When he turned his head, he was met with two heads standing very close together.

Shoichi and Ai jumped back instantly, then felt completely bewildered.

We were having an open and aboveboard discussion, so why should we hide it from Shinichi Kudo? So we huddled together again and continued to whisper about when Ran would kill Shinichi Kudo.

"You two..." Shinichi Kudo narrowed his eyes suspiciously, "What are you whispering about?"

"It's nothing," Masakazu and Ai replied in unison.

Ai tidied her hair and said casually, "We were just discussing how beautiful the moon is tonight."

Zheng nodded and said, "Yes, and I think the weather should be nice tomorrow, suitable for exercise."

Shinichi Kudo scratched his head and muttered, "How inexplicable."

You two, who like to stay at home together, are actually discussing the moonlight and sports. Do you think I'm a child?
Conan ignored what the two were discussing and said, "I'm leaving now."

He can't stay here anymore.

What if Xiaolan launches a surprise attack and catches him?
It's safer to go outside.

"Then bye-bye." Masahiro waved to Shinichi Kudo without even getting up to see him off.

……

Late at night, Conan finally returned to the front of the Mouri Detective Agency.

He turned back into Shinichi Kudo for three days.

On the first day, he escaped a disaster by playing tricks on Xiaolan.

The next day, he managed to get by by deceiving his teacher.

On the third day, he lied about being sick to get by, and today he finally turned back into Conan.

Ran was sitting on the sofa folding clothes when she heard the door open. She looked up and saw Conan, her face still bearing that gentle and considerate smile.

"Conan, you're back?"

"Yes! Ran-neechan, I'm back!" Conan answered loudly as he changed his shoes.

Xiao Lan's face showed no abnormality; he looked exactly the same as usual. She simply assumed he had stayed at a friend's house for two days.

As for taking two days off.

Conan has excellent grades, so taking two days off is no big deal.

Conan secretly breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed Ran hadn't suspected anything.

Ten minutes later, Conan walked to the coffee table with a cup of hot milk, ready to hand it to Ran.

Just as he approached, he tripped over something, and the cup in his hand tilted a few degrees.

Milk splashed out, landing squarely on a shirt that Xiaolan had just folded.

"Ah... I'm sorry, Sister Xiaolan."

But the next second, the cup in Conan's hand disappeared, and then his vision suddenly spun around.

Without any warning, Ran grabbed Conan by the collar and executed a perfectly executed over-the-shoulder throw.

"Bang--!!!"

With a dull thud, Conan crashed heavily onto the floor, his internal organs feeling as if they were about to shift.

"Cough cough cough..." Conan lay on the floor, seeing stars.

Ran simply dusted off her hands, glanced at Conan, and complained, "These are clothes I just washed, and you've gotten them dirty. How can you be so naughty?"

Conan said with a long face, "Ran-neechan, I didn't mean to. Something tripped me, and that's why I spilled the milk."

"I don't like children who lie!"

Ran playfully punched Conan on the head, then squinted and asked, "Is there anything here that could trip you up?"

Conan sat up. There was nothing around him; the only thing that seemed to trip him up was Ran's leg.

"Ow!"

Ran punched Conan again: "Be good, don't be naughty anymore, okay?"

Conan wanted to argue, but seeing Ran's fist about to come down, he muttered, "I know, I won't do it again."

"Humph!"

Ran glanced at Conan, then took the clothes to wash them again.

Conan sullenly took out his phone.

"Shoichi-nii, I think Ran's temper is getting worse and worse," Conan said to Shoichi over the phone, rubbing the bump on his head.

"You don't know..."

Shoichi leaned back on the sofa listening to Conan complain about Ran, while Ai leaned close to Shoichi to eavesdrop.

"Xiao Lan really went too far," Zheng Yi said. "How could she hit someone without even knowing what happened?"

"Yeah," Conan said with dissatisfaction, "Ran is just like Uncle Mori now, whenever she's unhappy, she punches me on the head."

Before, when they hit me, at least they came up with a decent reason. Now they can't even be bothered to come up with a reason, they just hit me directly.

Conan kept accusing Ran of domestic violence to Shoichi.

Shoichi expressed sympathy, and then joined Conan in accusing Ran.

"Conan!"

"Oh? Yes!"

Conan whispered, "Brother Zhengyi, Ran is looking for me. I'll hang up now and we'll talk later." (End of Chapter)