Detective Conan: Developing a younger version of Ran Eri, and the stunning Yukiko.

Shiraishi secretly breathed a sigh of relief, fearing that Ran Mouri would see through her act, but Yukiko Kudo seemed completely unconcerned, as if she was deliberately trying to create some trouble.

After being tormented by Yukiko Kudo, Shiraishihara had no choice but to patiently watch the movie.

In his opinion, the plot of this movie is extremely clichéd. The red thread of fate has been overused and has nothing new to offer. It can only fool naive and innocent young girls or provide couples with an excuse to go on a date.

Shiraishi Hara sized up the female lead in the movie. She was plain-looking, far less cute than Ran Mouri, and her acting was also rather mediocre.

He glanced at Yukiko Kudo, who was also yawning, and gently tugged at her sleeve, signaling her to go out together.

"Shiraishi-kun, what are you suddenly going to do?"

Wearing high heels, Kudo Yukiko was pulled to her feet by Shiraishihara. She didn't react in time and almost fell.

Shiraishi Hara led Kudo Yukiko out of the theater and into the rest area.

"Yukiko Kudo, do you think I won't 'retaliate' if you play a prank on me?"

"Go ahead and 'take revenge' however you want," Yukiko Kudo said nonchalantly. "Just call me Yukiko, no need to bring up Kudo."

The two chatted in the rest area for a while, both complaining about how boring the movie was.

"Huh? Why haven't Yukiko-neechan and Shiraishi-kun come back yet after being gone for so long?"

Ran Mouri looked puzzled. She had thought the two of them had just gone to the restroom, but it seemed like they had been gone for too long.

She looked around and noticed that most of the couples in the theater weren't really watching the movie.

Her face flushed slightly, and she felt a little uncomfortable being alone.

"That's strange, why isn't everyone paying attention to the movie? It's really good..."

"Sigh, I think I'll just focus on watching the movie."

Ran Mouri refocused her attention on the movie, which she had been watching since the beginning and was now at the climax of the plot, so she really didn't want to miss it.

She loved the movie's plot and found it captivating from beginning to end. The director would surely be gratified to know he had such a loyal viewer.

"Gurgle... gurgle..."

Yukiko Kudo swallowed with great difficulty. Her clumsy movements made it take a lot of effort for her to swallow the warm medicine, and she choked so much that tears welled up in her beautiful eyes.

Seeing that Yukiko Kudo obediently drank the medicine as he had instructed, Shiraishihara's face was full of relief.

This woman, who had always been willful, spoiled, and did things her own way, became more and more sensible under his tutelage.

If the Kudo father and son knew, they would surely be happy for their wife/mother's growth.

"Yukiko, you're so obedient!"

Shiraishi gently stroked Kudo Yukiko's beautiful face, just like a master's affectionate gesture towards a beloved object.

"Shiraishihara, I'll remember this debt."

Yukiko Kudo puffed out her cheeks angrily, bit her lip, and wiped away the tears on her face with the back of her hand.

She had never received such "treatment" before.

……

When Yukiko Kudo and Shiraishihara returned to the theater, the movie was nearing its end.

After leaving the movie theater, the three sat on a bench outside a 24-hour convenience store, drinking cold drinks and sharing their insights on the film, an indispensable part of Japanese movie-going customs.

Ran Mouri enthusiastically shared her insights, while Shiraishihara and Yukiko Kudo tried their best to agree, since neither of them had watched the show carefully and only knew the general plot.

The movie's plot is not complicated, and the direction is easy to predict, so Ran Mouri did not notice anything unusual about the two of them.

"I was worried that if Yukiko-neechan and Shiraishi-kun left for a while, I would miss a lot of the plot. I didn't expect you two to know all this."

Yukiko Kudo and Shiraishihara smiled awkwardly. The plot was so simple that anyone could guess the gist of it.

Yukiko Kudo glanced at the time on her watch: "It's so late, past midnight. Let's go to the hotel to rest."

Ran Mouri said apologetically, "I'm so sorry to have troubled Yukiko-neechan."

Yukiko Kudo smiled and replied, "I'm an adult, so it's only right that I take care of you two kids."

Shiraishihara was drinking cola through a straw, feeling frustrated that his plans to deepen his relationship with Ran Mouri had been ruined by Yukiko Kudo.

Yukiko Kudo booked a hotel room with a double bed. Shiraishihara slept in one bed, while she and Ran Mouri slept in the other. And so, they spent a peaceful night.

Regardless, Yukiko Kudo has done everything in her power to protect her "daughter-in-law." Even if things are exposed someday, Conan Edogawa should probably understand her situation.

……

On the first day of the new year, Shiraishihara had just arrived home and hadn't even settled into his chair when he received a phone call from Hattori Heiji.

Heiji Hattori invites Shiraishihara to visit Osaka and, while they're at it, to capture the Phantom Thief Kid.

Shiraishi Hara initially refused, but when Hattori Heiji mentioned that Kaito Kid was targeting the Suzuki family's treasure, the "Egg of Memories," and that Suzuki Sonoko had strongly recommended him to the Osaka police, Shiraishi Hara decided to give Suzuki Sonoko face.

After Shiraishihara agreed, Hattori Heiji told him to go straight to Tokyo Airport, where the plane ticket had already been bought for him.

Shiraishihara took a plane and arrived in Osaka.

In the afternoon, with the thud of the plane landing, Shiraishihara arrived at Kansai International Airport. He walked leisurely to the airport exit, where he saw people waiting to greet him.

He immediately spotted one of the young men, who bore a resemblance to Shinichi Kudo and wore a baseball cap. The young man was handsome, but his skin was dark, as if he had African mixed-race genes, as black as coal.

"Shiraishihara! Over here, over here..."

"Hattori..."

As Shiraishihara approached, he discovered that the person who had come with Hattori Heiji was not his clingy childhood friend, Toyama Kazuha, but his partner, Otaki Goro.

Goro Otaki extended his hand to Shiraishihara: "Hello, Detective Shiraishihara. I am Goro Otaki, from the First Investigation Division of the Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters, where I serve as an Inspector."

Shiraishihara reached out and shook his hand: "I'm Shiraishihara, a high school detective from Tokyo."

Goro Otaki was very polite: "The Suzuki family specifically recommended you to the Osaka police. It would be great if you could come and help us capture Kaito Kid."

Heiji Hattori said with a smile, "The Tokyo police are always being outmaneuvered by Kaito Kid. If we can catch Kaito Kid in Osaka this time, the Osaka police will definitely become famous."

Goro Otaki deliberately acted as the driver for Shiraishihara and Heiji Hattori, driving a police car and taking the two of them to downtown Osaka.

Heiji Hattori, sitting in the back row, began to ramble on about his experiences solving cases as a high school detective, while Shiraishi, who was also sitting in the back row.

Shiraishihara, growing impatient, interrupted Hattori Heiji: "Hattori-kun, where are we going?"

"Oh, my dad told me to show you around Osaka today. Come to my house for dinner tonight, and tomorrow we'll go catch Phantom Thief Kid together."

"So... I'll have to bother Hattori again?"

"Don't be so formal, you can stay at my place. My place is spacious, it'll definitely be more comfortable than a hotel."

After driving for a while, a dusty gray iron tower quietly appeared before Shiraishihara.

Goro Otaki said, "Detective Shiraishihara, let's get off here first. Let Heiji show you around Tsutenkaku, which is quite famous in Osaka!"

Shiraishihara and Hattori Heiji got out of the car at a parking lot near Tsutenkaku Tower.

0 ······Requesting flowers 0 ·

"Detective Shiraishihara, how does it feel to have seen Osaka's Tsutenkaku Tower with your own eyes?"

"Okay……"

Shiraishi gave a perfunctory response. In his eyes, Osaka's Tsutenkaku Tower was like a giant potato placed on top of an iron tower, utterly devoid of aesthetic appeal.

"Shall I take you up to have a look?"

"No need, we can just stroll around the streets."

The two strolled casually around Tsutenkaku Tower, noting the stark contrast in architectural style compared to Tokyo. It must be said, Japan excels in urban planning, preserving the local character of each area.

As I passed an izakaya, I heard a clear and melodious girl's voice.

Heiji, I'm here!

A pretty girl appeared in front of the two of them.

Shiraishi Hara glanced at the girl; she was wearing a green short-sleeved shirt and light blue jeans. Her hair was tied in a ponytail with a ribbon, and her eyes were bright and lively.

While she may not be considered a stunning beauty, she is certainly a fresh and charming young lady.

“Oh. Kazuha, you’ve arrived,” Hattori Heiji replied.

The girl looked at Shiraishihara standing next to Hattori Heiji and was immediately attracted by his handsome appearance.

"Heiji, who is this friend next to you? I've never seen him before."

"He is the high school detective I mentioned to you before, the one who is as famous as me in the Kanto region, Shiraishihara."

“Wait a minute, Hattori-kun.” Shiraishihara interrupted Hattori Heiji.

"What's wrong? Shiraishi-kun, did I say something wrong?" Hattori Heiji looked at Shiraishi-hara with a puzzled expression.

"Shouldn't the high school detective who's on par with you in the Kanto region be Shinichi Kudo?"

... ... ...

"Shinichi Kudo? He's a thing of the past."

"That's what Hattori Heiji said without any mercy. If Edogawa Conan heard that, he'd probably cry from frustration."

"Uh uh uh--"

"This is my childhood friend, Toyama Kazuha."

Hattori Heiji then introduced the girl to Shiraishihara.

"Detective Shiraishihara, I am Kazuha Toyama, Heiji Hattori's childhood friend."

"Hmm. Hello, Ms. Toyama, there's no need to call me Detective."

"Ok."

The three of them strolled around Osaka together for a while, and after a while, Goro Otaki appeared in front of them in a police car.

"You three, have you finished shopping?"

The three of them got into Goro Otaki's police car. Goro's service was so attentive that anyone who didn't know better would think he was Heiji Hattori's henchman.

Not long after, the group boarded the patrol car, which slowly drove off and soon came to a steady stop in front of a large courtyard.

As soon as the car came to a stop, Hattori Heiji hurriedly jumped out of the car first, and then stepped aside to make way for Shiraishihara and Toyama Kazuha to get off the car.

“Detective Shiraishihara, this is the residence of Inspector Hattori,” said Otaki Goro.

Shiraishi Hara nodded slightly: "Thank you for making this trip."

Hattori Heiji grinned, his face full of pride: "Shiraishihara, look at my house, isn't it impressive?"

Shiraishi responded, "As expected of the Superintendent General's residence, it is indeed very grand."

Hattori Heiji was extremely proud: "Of course, this is no exaggeration."

Seeing Hattori Heiji's smug expression, Toyama Kazuha shook her head inwardly, thinking that it was just his family background, what was there to brag about?

The three got out of the car one after another, while Goro Otaki drove to the parking lot to park.

As they entered the courtyard, they saw an elegant woman in a kimono, walking slowly with light steps and wooden clogs. The woman's graceful demeanor and noble bearing were evident in every gesture; she was clearly a Japanese noblewoman who had received a good education from a young age.

The woman approached Shiraishihara, a gentle smile on her face, and asked softly, "Excuse me, are you Heiji's friend, Detective Shiraishihara?"

The woman looked much younger than her actual age, exuding the gentle charm of a traditional Japanese Yamato Nadeshiko, giving off a dignified and virtuous impression.

Shiraishi nodded, and asked in a questioning tone, "You are... Hattori-kun's mother?"

The woman smiled, nodded, and bowed: "That's right, I am Heiji's mother. You can call me Aunt Shizuka, just like Kazuha does."

"Okay, Aunt Jinghua..."

Shiraishihara carefully examined Hattori Shizuka, and couldn't help but marvel inwardly. Hattori Shizuka was exceptionally beautiful, with fair skin, and was truly stunning.

Looking at Hattori Heiji next to him, he couldn't help but wonder, "The difference is too big. How come Heiji is so dark-skinned?"

Even if Hattori Shizuka ate a lot of soy sauce during her pregnancy, it shouldn't have resulted in a son with such an exaggerated skin color difference.

"Shiraishi-kun, isn't my mom super pretty?" Hattori Heiji noticed Shiraishi Hara's gaze and couldn't help but show off.

“Uh…it really is beautiful…” Shiraishihara looked away with a slightly embarrassed expression.

First.

094 Eri Kisaki lunges forward, and after a few tentative exchanges, a fierce clash ensues.