Shiro looked into the eyes of the young girl and clearly understood her inner thoughts, but unfortunately, it was destined that he would disappoint her.
"I know what you're thinking, and I know what you're hoping for. I can only say that you will be disappointed in this matter."
"This is the truth."
"Do you believe it? If I were to appear close to you, he would immediately act like an innocent child, run over and ask: 'Aren't you and that so-called Shinichi-nii-san a couple?' or something like that."
"And putting that aside, what does a person want who knows they are in danger, but chooses not to go home, not to find their parents, and stays by your side? You should know that if someone really wanted to investigate, they could definitely discover your relationship."
"An ordinary high school student, even shrunk, yet still claims he can solve such things alone. Is he crazy? Others kill without even blinking, and who knows how many people they have killed. One bullet could kill him, and the only successful experimental subject is still wandering outside."
"I'll show you another video."
Shiro then, using the time, played the audio of his conversation with his father for her to hear. Honestly, he didn't expect reality to be this explosive.
"Shinichi, your current situation is very dangerous. Quickly leave Japan and return to the United States."
At this moment, a calm voice was speaking, but he refused.
"I won't!"
That voice was incredibly stubborn.
"Now is not the time to be stubborn. You have shrunk, which means your body is not where it should be. Someone will definitely investigate that. Staying here makes you very easy to discover, and you've also shrunk. What does that mean? Don't you know? If you continue to stay there, you will be in danger."
"I won't! Danger or whatever, now that I've shrunk, I just need to be careful."
"And I can live with Ran."
"But do you know? Once you are discovered, you will bring trouble to her family."
"Dad, wouldn't my situation bring even more trouble if I were by your side?"
He asked a question that strikes at the core.
"And if I'm not by Ran's side, what if someone else takes her?"
Ran could no longer listen, she looked completely shattered.
In the end, the meaning was already clear: he knew about the danger, but didn't want to return, bringing danger into her home, just because he was afraid she might fall in love with someone else.
Shiro, as an opportunist, saw her broken expression and immediately placed his arm around her shoulder, hugging her.
Ran instinctively wrapped her arms around him, as if seeking warmth and safety.
"I didn't lie to you, did I?"
"No, I didn't expect Shinichi to be that kind of person."
Ran's voice was full of disbelief and sadness.
"What's so strange about that? As his childhood friend for so long, didn't you understand him? Arrogant, attention-seeking, and even selfish."
Shiro used a bit of power to calm the young girl's heart. At this moment, she gradually began to feel much better. At first, she was full of negative emotions, but under Shiro's comfort, they gradually dissipated.
"Do you feel better?"
"Yes."
"What did you do? Why did I calm down so quickly?"
Ran looked at Shiro in confusion.
"Nothing special, just small tricks."
"You can think of it like what psychologists do, using various suggestions."
"Oh, I see."
"Today you should calm down and think about what to do next. After all, he already lives in your house, and your father has taken his money, so it's probably impossible to send him away anytime soon. And have you thought about one problem? Your father was once a top elite police officer, could he really not recognize that he is your childhood friend?"
Ran was stunned when she heard that, then said in disbelief.
"Impossible, how could dad know that?"
Shiro found it quite amusing to see her surprised and disbelieving expression.
"Nothing is impossible. Your father was once very impressive. In fact, according to my investigation, believe it or not, if you, as a karate champion, were to really fight your father, although it would appear evenly matched on the surface, with his experience, he could still win."
"After all, you know what your father's situation is like, right? He drinks every day, gambles, or goes out with hostesses."
"In such circumstances, he can still go 60-40 or 70-30 with you. How strong do you think he was at his peak?"
Shiro spoke with a smile at this moment.
After hearing that, Ran felt as if a beast was roaring in her heart. She was completely confused, unable to understand whether her father was really that incredible.
"Of course, that was in the past. Now, after some more time, his body will be exhausted by alcohol and women, and he will only continue to decline. However, he still has life experience and a sharp eye. He chose to accept that person, surely after considering the risks, but it was purely because of the relationship between the two families. Don't worry about such things; whatever you do, it will be accepted."
Ran didn't know what to say after hearing that.
"You knew about this situation, and even knew everything, yet you still chose to deceive me and bring me here, didn't you?"
After a while, she, who had been looking down, suddenly raised her head and said that…
"Emmm, indeed."
"As a man, I despise that useless guy. After all, he knew his actions might involve the person he loves, yet he still chose to drag her into it, just because he was afraid she would cheat on him. And you two aren't even boyfriend and girlfriend. Such a person is useless and an idiot."
"But as someone who benefited, I am quite grateful to that guy, because that useless person's self-destructive behavior allowed me to deceive you and completely take you for myself."
Shiro spoke two great truths, and the girl in front of him seemed to have entered a state before explosion. The main reason was having such an irresponsible childhood friend and encountering such a wicked person, which gave her a sense of despair in life.
She even felt a thought inside herself: "I'm tired, let everything be destroyed."
"It's already morning. I'll take you back to school first."
Ran, who was on the verge of collapse, reacted when she heard that, as if reinforcements had arrived. She immediately panicked and tried to stand up, but after two steps, she almost fell, and Shiro supported her.
"You can't even walk properly. You're really clumsy."
At those words, she glared sharply at Shiro.
"Isn't it your fault that I'm like this?"
"Emmm, maybe a little. I'll take you back. Oh, and here are two things for you."
Shiro took out a key and placed it in her hand.
"This is the key to the house, and the house is in Mihama district, third street, number 56."
Ran's eyes widened when she heard that.
Why did it sound so familiar?
"You mean that villa area?"
Ran recalled the area that wasn't too close to her home, but not far either, it would take a little more than 20 minutes to walk there.
Of course, if she went there from school, it would be much closer than going home.
"That's right, that's the place, and this is the key to that place."
Ran was stunned for a moment when she heard that.
"Why are you giving me the key to that place?"
Shiro smiled when he heard that.
"That place is for you."
However, when she heard that, her expression immediately changed, and she pushed it back into Shiro's hand.
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