"Kurosawa-kun."
Mamiya Kijin and Mamiya Mitsuru came up to Kurosawa Hoshino.
"Thank you for helping me uncover the truth about my mother's death. Please accept this check."
Mamiya Kijin said, holding out a check he had prepared in advance.
Kogoro Mouri craned his neck to look, and his eyes immediately lit up. He felt a pang of envy and muttered inwardly, Ten million yen. That brat makes money so easily.
"Then I'll accept it." Kurosawa Hoshino wasn't about to be polite. He added, "I know an inspector from the Metropolitan Police Department. He happens to be handling a case nearby and will be here in ten minutes. You don't need to call the police yourselves."
"Thank you." Mamiya Kijin nodded, then left the main hall to wait outside for the police to arrive.
Ayumi said quietly, "Brother Hoshino is so amazing. We didn't feel involved at all."
"Yeah." Genta nodded and patted Conan's shoulder. "Conan's lucky. When we run into trouble, we can at least help him."
"Exactly, exactly," Mitsuhiko agreed, nodding along.
"Pfft~" Ai couldn't hold back a laugh at the three kids' words. Even her cold expression cracked.
Conan's entire face darkened. He glared at Ayumi and the others with dead-fish eyes and said flatly, "Sorry I'm not as amazing as Brother Hoshino and couldn't let you experience the fun of being detectives."
The three kids seemed to realize they'd said the wrong thing. Their expressions turned awkward, and they looked at him ingratiatingly.
That afternoon.
Mouri Detective Agency.
Kurosawa Hoshino and the others had returned, but Conan hadn't come with them. Ayumi and the others had latched onto him and dragged him to Dr. Agasa's house.
"Ran, are you really going to accompany those kids to give their statements tomorrow?"
Sonoko sat on the sofa, watching her best friend busily tidying up the moment she got home. She asked, speechless.
Ran answered while cleaning, "Dr. Agasa doesn't have time. I'd be a little worried if Ayumi and the others went alone, so I'll just go with them."
"You brat, your connections really are something." Kogoro Mouri, sitting in his office chair and smoking, pouted. "Seems like you've only given statements a few times. The rest of the time, Inspector Megure has been handling it for you, hasn't he?"
"I forgot. Was it two or three times?" Kurosawa Hoshino really couldn't remember.
Anyway, after case after case, Inspector Megure had started clinging to his coattails—calling him and coming right over, not even bothering with meetings. He hadn't had to do statements in a long time. It was quite relaxing.
Kogoro Mouri shook his head. He understood Inspector Megure's thinking, but didn't say anything. After all, if he were in the same position, he'd probably make the same choice.
"Mm~" After finishing his cigarette, Kogoro Mouri stretched and yawned. "Brat, watch the office for me. I'm tired from driving. I'm going upstairs to take a nap."
"Sure." Kurosawa Hoshino didn't refuse.
As soon as he left, Sonoko immediately said cheerfully, "Hey, hey, how about we go shopping later? Hoshino, don't bother watching the office for Uncle Mouri. He's taking a nap—he probably won't wake up for four or five hours. Ran, you too. Stop cleaning. After we go shopping, I'll help you finish up."
Ran: "..."
Kurosawa Hoshino: "..."
Kurosawa Hoshino didn't sit obediently on the sofa—he just lay down on it, completely uninterested. "Sonoko, if you're bored, why don't you help Ran clean? We rode in the car for so long yesterday, and again today. Right now I just want to lie down and rest. I don't want to move."
"Hmph~" Sonoko wrinkled her nose, got up, went over to Ran, and clung to her arm, whining, "Ran, let's go shopping, okay? Please? If you agree, we'll be two against one, and Hoshino will have to come whether he likes it or not."
"So what if it's two against one? Even if Ran agrees, I'm not going."
Kurosawa Hoshino felt there probably wouldn't be a case if they went out this afternoon. Yesterday and today had already been two cases in a row, earning him 2 Source Points. If the three of them went shopping this afternoon, nothing would likely happen. So there was even less reason to go out. Better to lie on the sofa and conserve energy.
"You sure?" Sonoko's tone suddenly softened, taking on a threatening edge.
"I'm sure." Kurosawa Hoshino answered without even lifting his eyelids.
"Then you're doomed. I'm going to delete your kissing scene with Ran."
Hearing that, Ran's cheeks instantly flushed.
"Delete it if you want. It was just a fake kiss with camera angles anyway. Did you really think we'd actually kiss?" Kurosawa Hoshino had thought about it before, but he knew it was impossible.
"Why not?" Sonoko said anxiously. "When the performance reaches the most critical moment, with so many people watching from the audience, of course you'd have to do it for real!"
"Sonoko!" Ran finally couldn't take it anymore and glared at her with her beautiful light purple eyes.
"Ah hehe~" Sonoko shrank her neck and stuck out her tongue sheepishly.
"You—" Ran was about to continue when the phone in her pocket rang.
She gave Sonoko a warning look, took out her phone, glanced at it, and smiled. She answered, "Kazuha, why are you calling me out of the blue?"
"Hehe, Ran, how have you been lately?"
Sonoko's eyes darted around. She leaned in to listen carefully to their conversation. Kurosawa Hoshino also sat up from the sofa.
"Ran, I'm planning to come to Tokyo to play tomorrow! You have to come pick me up."
"Really? That's great. Don't worry, I'll definitely be there. Are you getting off at Tokyo Station or Shinagawa Station?"
"Shinagawa Station, I think. I heard it's closer to Shibuya, and I want you to show me around Shibuya properly. Oh, and it's the morning train tomorrow."
"Mm, mm, got it."
The two girls chatted for a while. When they hung up, Ran still seemed reluctant to end the call.
"Is she the Toyama Kazuha you mentioned?" Sonoko asked curiously once Ran finished the call.
"Yeah. Do you want to come to Shinagawa Station tomorrow? You two can meet each other. I guarantee you'll become good friends."
"Pfft~" Sonoko couldn't hold back a laugh.
"What are you laughing at?" Ran asked, confused.
Sonoko glanced at Kurosawa Hoshino and teased, "It's what you told me about Hoshino tricking Kazuha. Just thinking about possibly meeting her tomorrow makes me want to laugh."
Kurosawa Hoshino asked, "You think she's stupid?"
Sonoko waved her hand and smiled. "From what Ran described, I know she's not stupid. Just a bit naive and cute. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been so easily fooled by you into somewhat believing you're really her future husband."
"What do you know? That kind of girl is the most likable. They're the most fun to tease."
Sonoko was a little taken aback. She hadn't expected Kurosawa Hoshino to answer like that. She wondered curiously if girls like that really were so likable.