Conan: When Shinjiu and Maolilan swap bodies

Her angel wasn't stupid; her sudden appearance at the dock to protect Sherry demonstrated her keen insight.

It's impossible for her not to be wary when someone as dangerous as Vodka appears in her house with a gun.

She even kissed Koniak while vodka was in her mouth.

"initiative".

These two words are important.

Why did she take the initiative to kiss Koniak, indicating that the two were in a relationship? And why did they remain in a state of not being in a relationship outside of vodka?

—She was protecting herself in this way, protecting herself as Koniak's girlfriend.

She knew Koniak's identity, knew about vodka, and knew about the organization.

Koniak's feelings for her were probably based on the premise that she knew Koniak was an assassin.

All of Koniak's actions in front of him were a facade.

The only truthful thing he said was probably "I miss her so much".

At the Kyoto hotel, Ran's hidden tears were also unusual.

At that time, he thought that Koniak was using Gin's identity to scare Ran.

Looking back now, that's not the case.

Perhaps Koniak said something to her.

She actively participated in Koniak's plan, which led to the outcome where both Shinichi Kudo and she survived safely.

Koniak was truly a master strategist, completely deceiving all parties involved.

The only one who knows the truth is the girl who is considered the most "innocent" in the whole incident.

She looked at the girl in front of her with a complicated expression, but her eyes held a strange appreciation and calmness.

"You actually know who I am, don't you?"

Her angel was a complete surprise to her.

They fooled everyone.

She is neither a canary that needs to be locked in a cage, nor a delicate flower that will die if the sun is too strong.

She is capable, courageous, intelligent, and decisive.

Then she doesn't need to provide her with what she thinks is protection, but rather should give her the power to better protect herself.

Ran Mouri was surprised by Vermouth's openness. After hesitating for a moment, she nodded.

"I know everything about you, about him, about the organization..."

"As expected." Vermouth was even more impressed after receiving confirmation.

Just as she had guessed.

"Does Yukiko's son know about this?"

Ran Mouri shook her head. "Shinichi doesn't know about my affairs. If you happen to run into Shinichi, please keep it a secret for both of us."

"The 'he' you're referring to, are you referring to Koniak?"

Chapter 231 My heart tells me I like him

Ran Mouri nodded.

She didn't want Conan and the others to know that Aozawa was Koniak.

Vermouth's expression was unusually complex, like looking at someone who had gone astray without realizing it.

"You already know who he is, do you still like him?"

That's Koniak...

Isn't she afraid of such a dangerous, mentally unstable, or even sick person?

What exactly does she like about him?

Ran Mouri was a little unsure how to answer the question.

Normally, that would be easy to answer.

However, Qingze was on the other end of the earpiece at that moment.

In this situation, if she admits it, it would be tantamount to indirectly confessing her feelings.

Although she never hid her feelings from Qingze.

But whether they confess or not makes a difference; if they don't confess, there's still a veil between them.

She sat on the back of the motorcycle, hugging herself; there was a reason for all of that.

Once this thin veil is broken, Qingze will definitely widen the distance between them.

Compared to her, Qingze had far too many concerns and wouldn't easily accept his feelings.

Therefore, she wouldn't do such a thing rashly before breaking down Qingze's defenses.

"Teacher, I need to use the restroom."

"Go."

As Ran Mouri walked into the bathroom, Vermouth went to the window.

Through the window, she could see a car parked downstairs.

Xiaolan had just gotten out of this car.

She picked up her phone.

Ran Mouri went to the restroom, hung up the phone, and the communication in her earpiece was instantly cut off.

Take off the headphones and put them in your pocket.

She washed her face with water, gathered her thoughts, and sat back down in the living room.

Seeing the water stains on her face and her somewhat nervous expression, Vermouth placed her phone face down on the table, softened her tone, added a touch of gossip to her voice, and adopted a relaxed and casual demeanor, just like chatting with a friend.

"Relax, I don't mean to pry into what you want to give up, I'm just curious."

Ran Mouri relaxed a little in this posture, but only a little.

Vermouth was open and honest with her, so of course she reciprocated with sincerity.

She breathed a sigh of relief and solemnly answered Vermouth's question.

"I know what kind of person he is, and my heart tells me that I like him."

Vermouth looked at Ran Mouri, seeing the seriousness and determination in the girl's eyes, clasped her hands together, and leaned forward unconsciously.

Do you really know what kind of person he is?

She glanced casually at the phone lying face down.

This child has definitely been scammed.

Ran Mouri nodded, a faint smile on her face.

"Teacher, don't worry about me being deceived. I know a lot about Koniak, about his past and present, and about his experience in the organization."

“I can’t judge him as a good person by worldly standards, but to me, he is a very important person.”

She paused, then looked at Vermouth.

"Just like you, teacher, you are not a good person as defined by the world, but you want to protect me and are very good to me."

"I am not an absolutely righteous detective, nor a judge. I am just an ordinary girl, and I also have my own selfish desires."

"The concepts of justice and evil are too abstract and abstract to me; I can only see what is in front of me."

“But in front of me, teacher, you were honest about your identity. Knowing that exposing my existence would make me your weakness, you still chose to protect me.”

"He's the same."

Remembering the topic of "protagonist" that they had chatted about that day, Ran Mouri gave a gentle smile.

"I'm not the protagonist of the story; I can't defeat the darkness or save the world. Catching criminals is what police officers and detectives do."

"I'm just an ordinary person in the vast sea of ​​people. I just need to live my life well, do what I want to do, do my best, and love those I love and those who love me..."

Vermouth listened quietly to her heartfelt words, as if she could see an angel spreading its wings to her, revealing its pure white wings.

Her words were not just, and even sounded somewhat selfish to outsiders, but they were like warm sunshine shining on her, making every cell in her body radiate joy and happiness.

How could she refuse?

How could Koniak refuse?

But this is not enough.

Ran Mouri continued, recounting things she had never said to anyone before:

“He had a very difficult past. Although it may sound a bit presumptuous, I hope to give him a normal life and a new beginning…”

Upon hearing this, Vermouth cursed Koniak's shamelessness in her heart.

By using tragic experiences to elicit sympathy and attract attention, the perpetrator gradually steals the girl's attention, making her fall deeply in love and unable to extricate herself.

Why can't he date?

He's so good at it!

She sighed, looking at the girl who had unknowingly strayed into the maze of love with a complicated expression.

"Do you know that feelings of sympathy and pity can make you unconsciously take on the fate and suffering of others?"

"It will unwittingly link your fate with his, dragging you into an endless quagmire..."

Ran Mouri listened to Vermouth's earnest advice and sighed inwardly.

Her fate was already intertwined with Qingze's.

"Xiao Lan, don't think about saving someone, and don't take on the responsibility of others with a self-sacrificing spirit."

"He may have a handsome appearance, but no one can know for sure what lies beneath that appearance—whether it's a human or a ghost. Holding onto that kind of thinking will only drag you into the abyss."

Many girls harbor an unrealistic desire to save others from their misery, constantly putting in hard work and effort, and romanticizing it as love.

Little did they know, this was not love, but an abyss.

Not everyone deserves to be saved, nor does everyone deserve to be saved.

She said earnestly, "Koniak is not an emotionally stable person. He is not mentally sound and is not a suitable romantic partner."

"Thank you for telling me so much, teacher."

Ran Mouri understood what she meant.

She knew that Vermouth genuinely cared about her and didn't want her to be dragged into the mess.

In front of this teacher who was devoted to her, she took the initiative to analyze her own feelings.

"I am indeed an emotionally sensitive person with an abundance of sympathy, but that doesn't mean my feelings for him are based on sympathy."

He doesn't need sympathy.

"The teacher said he was emotionally unstable, but in my opinion, the opposite is true."

"His core is quite stable. He knows what he's doing and understands what he wants to do."

"Most of the time, he was the one teaching me and protecting me."

"What I can give him is far less than one percent of what he gave me."

"But that's not the real reason I fell in love with him."

At this point, the girl paused, her eyes seemingly sparkling with brilliance.

"I admire his heart, which has endured much torment and suffering, yet has always remained true to himself."

"I admire his brilliant soul, which remains untarnished even in darkness."

------

P.S.: I'm taking the day off tomorrow.