Conan: When Shinjiu and Maolilan swap bodies

“First of all, you can’t touch anything she cares about. Once she finds out, she’ll only hate you,” Vermouth said pointedly.

"That's easy, just don't let her know."

"Can you guarantee she'll never find out?" Vermouth's face was terribly grim.

"How would she know if you don't tell her?"

“Who says I won’t talk?” Vermouth tried to threaten.

Qingze refused to accept the threat. "Then let her hate me. Hate lasts longer than love, and it's better than having someone else in her heart."

Vermouth grew anxious. "Your thinking is unhealthy, it's abnormal! You want love, but you can't think like this!"

"I don't know anything about health or not, all I know is that Shinichi Kudo's existence disgusts me, and he has to die!"

Vermouth sighed, knowing that this guy was determined to kill Shinichi Kudo and that there was no way to dissuade him.

Whether it was murder or Gin's doing, the effect was the same.

"Whether she hates me or loves me, I'm going to kill her. I'm warning you, Vermouth, don't do anything unnecessary. I wouldn't mind killing you too..."

Ran Mouri couldn't hear what was being said on the phone; she could only hear one side of the conversation.

Hearing Qingze's words, which sounded like forced love from a melodramatic idol drama, she couldn't help but clench the soles of her shoes tightly.

Help! This is so embarrassing!

"Xiao Lan, why is your face red?"

"It's too stuffy in the car."

Upon hearing Sonoko Suzuki's voice on the other end of the earpiece, Aozawa abruptly hung up Vermouth's call.

His ears turned an embarrassed red, but he casually put his phone in his pocket.

Given his character, it's normal for him to say lines like that, right?

Yes, that's normal, there's nothing to be embarrassed about.

There was silence on the other end of the headset for a while, and just when Ran thought there would be no more sound, a sentence suddenly came through.

"I'm just playing a role, don't overthink it."

Ran Mouri's lips curled up slightly.

She hadn't thought much about it in the first place.

The bus soon arrived at Kiyomizu-dera Temple, the oldest temple in Tokyo and one of Japan's national treasures.

The temple is built on a mountain and covers a large area with very beautiful scenery. From the Kiyomizu Stage in the temple, you can overlook the entire city of Kyoto.

It was autumn, and the mountains and fields were covered in beautiful red maple leaves.

Ran Mouri took several beautiful landscape photos, and selected the most beautiful one to send to Aozawa and Vermouth.

There was no reply from Qingze, but Vermouth replied immediately.

[It's so beautiful! But it's missing something even more beautiful.]

Ran Mouri was confused.

What's missing?

Vermouth smiled as she looked at her phone. "Of course, what's missing is my angel—you."

"Xiao Lan, stand there, I'll take a picture of you."

Sonoko took out her phone and couldn't wait to start her photography project.

With such beautiful scenery, we definitely need to take some nice photos.

Ran Mouri closed her phone and smiled at the camera.

She tilted her head slightly, her hair fluttering in the wind, sunlight falling on her face, making this already beautiful woman incredibly gentle.

"Wow!" Sonoko Suzuki was extremely satisfied with her masterpiece.

Shinichi Kudo leaned closer and had to admit that the photo was indeed exceptionally well taken.

Send me a copy!

Ran Mouri leaned over to look, "The garden took such a beautiful picture of me."

“You’re naturally beautiful, from now on please call me the photography master!” Sonoko proudly handed each of them a copy of the photo.

"Master Sonoko, please take a picture of me and Ran together."

Shinichi Kudo pulled Ran's arm to the red maple leaves. The red maple leaves were magnificent, but the person being pulled seemed to resist and could not be moved much.

Shinichi Kudo turned to look at Ran Mouri, his smile turning somewhat bitter.

"orchid?"

"Come take pictures here."

Ran Mouri led him toward the Shimizu Observation Deck, a large observation deck overlooking the entire city of Kyoto.

She found a secluded spot, stood with her back to Kyoto, turned to Sonoko's camera, and made a peace sign.

Shinichi Kudo, standing nearby, also stretched out a hand and made a "V" sign.

The young men and women, brimming with youthful energy, smiled broadly, their eyes seemingly free of any worries.

But this might be their last photo together.

The photo freezes the moment: Shinichi Kudo closes his eyes briefly, then opens them again, turning to look at the spot he has chosen for his confession.

Yesterday's anticipated confession has turned into a farewell today.

Those words hidden in my heart, those things I've always wanted to say to her, if I don't say them now, I'll never have the chance again.

"Lan, I have something I want to tell you."

As soon as he finished speaking, the surrounding crowd moved away, and the spacious observation deck seemed to have been cleared out, creating a space for them.

Sonoko Suzuki and her classmates were very perceptive and gave them plenty of space, keeping their distance.

Looking at the faces of his classmates, which seemed to offer encouragement and expectation, Shinichi Kudo felt a bitter smile rise in his heart.

Before today, he could still deceive himself into thinking that Xiaolan would always like him.

But now, he was actually somewhat relieved, relieved that Xiaolan didn't like him as much anymore.

Fate always loves to play tricks on people, catching them off guard.

Ran Mouri looked at him, her gaze as gentle and tolerant as ever.

"Shinichi, just say what you want to say. I'm listening."

Shinichi Kudo tried to put on a smile and pretend nothing was wrong, but the smile just looked awful no matter how you looked at it.

"I'm leaving after today."

"Where are we going?"

"Go to a very far place."

"Are you coming back then?"

Shinichi Kudo remained silent for a moment, then gazed into the distance.

"do not know……"

He didn't know if he could come back, or if he could reappear as Shinichi Kudo.

It's even quite possible that he might actually die this time.

The girl beside him also fell silent, and there were no more words like "I'll wait for you to come back." The air seemed to suddenly become still.

Overwhelmed by emotions, Shinichi Kudo realized with absolute clarity that his Ran would no longer wait for him.

He suddenly hugged her, buried his head in her shoulder, and tears welled up uncontrollably, wetting the girl's shoulder.

Ran Mouri froze as she tried to push him away.

Is Shinichi crying?

She had rarely seen him cry from childhood to adulthood.

A slightly choked voice came from beside me, "I'm so sorry for keeping this from you for so long. I was always by your side as Conan Edogawa, making you wait for me..."

Shinichi Kudo held her tightly, as if drawing warmth from her last moments.

He had a lot to say.

He wanted to say that he had liked her since he was very young.

He wanted to say that, as time went by, this love had grown into flesh and blood, penetrating deep into his very bones.

He wanted to say that he couldn't imagine life without her, nor could he accept life without her.

Becoming a primary school student was something he couldn't help, but he wanted to be closer to her.

Even though she was using the identity of an elementary school student, she called him "sister".

But as long as they can still see her, they are still together.

But he didn't say any of this.

Chapter 116 I Knocked You Out

The separation is inevitable; Shinichi Kudo must disappear after today.

He could no longer disturb Xiaolan's peace of mind with these words; if he didn't love her, at least he wouldn't be so heartbroken.

He loves Xiaolan and doesn't want to see her suffer unbearable pain because of this.

It's best to bury this feeling that will never be reciprocated.

If one day he could stand in the sunlight again as Shinichi Kudo, he hoped that he would still have the chance then.

He slowly recounted what had happened to him:

"That day at Dorobiga Paradise, I was knocked unconscious by two men in black, poisoned, and turned into a child."

"At first, I didn't know what kind of organization that was. I moved into your house because I wanted to be closer to you, and also to use my uncle's detective identity to investigate..."

“I thought I could regain my identity quickly, so I didn’t tell you the truth…”

Ran Mouri listened quietly as he recounted his story, revealing all the hidden secrets and things he had deliberately kept from her.

Shinichi Kudo didn't want to tell her any of this.

With parting imminent, telling her would only add to her sadness and could easily lead her to take risks.

However, his Xiaolan had already made contact with people from that organization.

He had to inform Xiaolan about the dangers of that organization.

"As my investigation deepened, I gradually came to understand how terrifying and horrific this organization was."

"I was increasingly unwilling to drag you into this dangerous vortex, so I didn't tell you the truth."

“I had allies; I was in the shadows while they were in the light. I thought I had everything under control, but I didn’t know that you had already faced a life-or-death crisis without my knowledge…”

"I was too arrogant and presumptuous. I can't forgive myself for putting you in danger..."

As he spoke, his tears grew increasingly intense.

Ran Mouri reached out and gently patted his back.

Hearing him say these things now, she felt somewhat relieved.

She could understand Shinichi's desire to protect her and his reluctance to involve her.

However, some feelings, once gone, are gone forever.

They've been out of sync for too long, and in that lost time they've encountered many things they never experienced before, and the distance between them is widening.

There's no going back to the beginning.

Not only was Ran Mouri listening to Shinichi Kudo's heartfelt words, but Aozawa was listening as well.

He stood on the rooftop of a tall building, gazing unfocusedly at Kiyomizu-dera Temple in the distance.