THE VALENTINES PARTY CASE.
Sweets, Are No Good Part 1..
After a while, the limousine finally arrived at the Mouri Detective Agency, coming to a smooth halt right in front of the building. The driver was about to step out, but a gentle voice stopped him.
"It's alright, mister. We can open it ourselves," Ran Mouri said calmly as she slid the car door open. She stepped out gracefully, followed by Conan Edogawa.
Conan raised his small hand, waving back toward the vehicle. "Thanks for the ride!" he called out.
Ran followed, closing the door with care before offering a polite nod. "Thank you for the ride, Sonoko."
"Oh, come on, no need for that," Sonoko Suzuki replied casually, waving her hand dismissively.
Ran then turned her attention to Leon, who had maintained the same quiet, unreadable expression the entire time. A soft smile curved her lips.
"Well then… goodbye, Leon-kun. It was nice meeting you."
Leon gave a small nod in return, his voice soft and even. "Goodbye…"
Ran and Conan smiled faintly before stepping away from the car, watching as the limousine slowly pulled off and disappeared down the street.
After a brief silence, Ran spoke again. "So that's the little brother Sonoko keeps talking about."
Conan, who had already heard bits and pieces about him back when he was still Shinichi Kudo, quietly processed the information. It hadn't taken much to deduce Leon's identity. Still… he hadn't expected Sonoko's exaggerated descriptions to be accurate.
A "snow fairy"… that was how she described him.
And somehow, it fit.
Ran glanced down at Conan. "Really an odd kid, right?"
"W-well… yeah, really an odd kid… hehe…" Conan replied awkwardly, dodging the topic as he hurried toward the staircase leading up to the second floor—their home.
Ran followed behind him in silence, but her thoughts lingered… circling back to the words Leon had spoken earlier.
Inside the limousine, Sonoko shifted her attention toward Leon, her usual playful tone replaced with something softer—gentler.
"Leon… what did father and mother tell you before letting you go outside?"
Leon calmly took a sip from his cup before answering. "Well… this is a new place. I wanted to see something new."
Sonoko's gaze softened.
She knew exactly what he had been through—years of isolation, all for the sake of his safety. This… this was new for him. Stepping outside, experiencing the world—it wasn't something she could deny him.
Letting out a quiet sigh, she shook her head, pressing her fingers lightly against her forehead in defeat.
Then she looked at him again.
Leon sat quietly, his gaze fixed on the darkened window, watching the outside world pass by.
Without hesitation, Sonoko leaned closer and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into a gentle embrace. Her hand moved to his head, softly patting it, her fingers idly playing with his white hair styled into neat buns.
"Leon… do you want some chocolate? I'll make you some later."
Leon turned slightly toward her, giving a small nod. "Chocolate? Nee-san… can I join making it?"
Sonoko blinked, then smiled warmly. "Of course. We'll make it together." She paused, then added teasingly, "So… who are you planning to give your chocolate to?"
Leon raised his fingers one by one, quietly counting. "Grandpa… Dad… Mom… Elder sister… and Nee-san…"
Sonoko froze for a split second—
Then—
"HOW CUTE—!!"
She tightened her hug around him, practically squeezing him as she nuzzled against him affectionately.
And just like that, the limousine continued its way toward the Beika Ward, where the Suzuki mansion stood.
Later that night, inside the grand Suzuki Mansion—
The kitchen resembled something straight out of a high-end culinary establishment. Stainless surfaces gleamed under bright lights, and every tool was arranged with meticulous precision.
Leon and Sonoko stood side by side, both wearing white aprons, carefully preparing chocolate. Four maids stood quietly in the corner, observing as the siblings added their own personal touches and flavors.
At the same time, inside the Mouri Detective Agency—
Ran stood in the kitchen, gently stirring melted chocolate, while Conan watched nearby.
"What are you doing, Ran-neechan?" Conan asked curiously.
"Hmm… nothing much," Ran replied casually.
Conan leaned closer, sniffing the air. "It smells like chocolate…"
Ran smiled faintly. "Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, after all."
Conan's eyes widened. "Huh?! You have someone to give chocolate to then?!"
Ran looked down at him, slightly annoyed. "How rude. Why else would I go through the trouble of making chocolate by hand if I didn't have someone to give it to?"
Conan smirked inwardly. "Oh… right. Who knows… maybe Shinichi-niichan might come back."
Ran suddenly paused.
"…Shinichi?" she repeated softly.
Then, almost absentmindedly—
"Now that I think about it… there was a guy by that name…"
Conan suddenly slipped on the floor and muttered, "Oy… oy…"
Night fell just like that, and the next day would be Valentine's Day.
The words Leon had told them somehow faded from their minds, yet by tomorrow, they would understand exactly what he meant.
Then the awaited day arrived.
Leon woke up from his bed and quietly gazed around his room. A window rested on the far left side, while his bed was positioned on the right, slightly distanced from the light. The entire interior carried a serene winter atmosphere. The walls were painted in the pure color of snow, adorned with intricate carvings that resembled falling snowflakes cascading gently from the sky.
The furniture in Leon's room was minimalistic—simple yet refined. A transparent crystal table stood near the center, paired with a matching crystal chair. Several pens were neatly arranged on the table alongside a sketchbook. Inside it lay an unfinished drawing—a faint outline of a woman, her form still unclear and incomplete.
At the corner of the room stood a massive closet, almost as large as the room itself. Along one snow-white wall, twenty-four paintings were displayed horizontally in a precise arrangement. Each piece was a masterpiece created by Leon. The styles varied greatly, as if each painting had been crafted by entirely different artists.
But that was not the case.
Every single piece had been painted patiently, vividly, and meticulously by Leon alone—brought to life through his imagination and his own hands.
The paintings were arranged in structured columns, presenting a breathtaking and intricate showcase of his artistry.
Leon stared at them silently for a while before slowly rising from his bed. Standing in front of it, he adjusted and straightened the blanket with calm precision. He was dressed in white pajamas, and his long white hair flowed freely down his back. With his hair loose like that, he resembled a delicate figure, almost like a woman, his snow-like strands cascading softly behind him.
His hands, uncovered by any gloves, revealed their pale and slender appearance.
After fixing his bed, Leon once again glanced at his paintings. Then he slowly walked toward the white door of his room. Raising his right hand, he grasped the doorknob and gently pulled it open before stepping out.
He walked barefoot along a path covered in a deep red carpet. As he moved forward, a maid approached him, holding a pair of white indoor slippers. She bowed slightly and greeted him, "Good morning, Leon-sama…" before carefully placing the slippers in front of him.
Leon gave a small nod and returned the greeting in a soft, hoarse voice, "Good morning."
He stepped into the slippers and then asked, "Did nee-san already leave…?"
All the staff—maids, butlers, caretakers, and even the chefs—were fluent in English. It was arranged that way so Leon would never feel out of place and communication would remain seamless.
The maid responded respectfully, "Lady Sonoko has already left for the Valentine party."
Leon nodded. "I understand."
The maid stood upright as Leon continued walking toward the kitchen. He had prepared chocolates the previous day, and now he intended to pack them and send them to his grandpa, mother, father, and older sister. Due to various personal matters and business obligations, they couldn't return home.
At present, only Leon and his sister Sonoko were living in the mansion.
As Leon reached the kitchen entrance, the maid hurried ahead and opened the double doors for him. He acknowledged her with a nod and stepped inside.
While Leon quietly began his day
The Valentine party had also begun.
The gathering was held at the residence of the host, a man named Minagawa. He was a handsome individual and the captain of a tennis club at Beika University. He had invited his club members along with two new acquaintances—Sonoko and Ran. They had met just recently at a high-end restaurant on a Sunday, and after getting acquainted, Minagawa extended an invitation to his upcoming party.
After some time, everyone had gathered in the living room, and the celebration officially started.
"CHEERS!!!"
They all shouted, raising their glasses and clinking them together.
Once the initial excitement settled, a man wearing a red shirt stood up and spoke, "Now then, let us introduce our Beika University tennis club to our two guests—Ran Mori-san and Sonoko Suzuki-san. Minagawa, you go first."
"Alright. I'm Katsuhiko Minagawa, the captain. I'm pleased to meet you both."
As he introduced himself, he looked toward Sonoko and Ran. The two nodded politely and replied, "Nice to meet you too." Although they had already introduced themselves earlier, this served as a more formal introduction in front of everyone.
Ran glanced at Sonoko with a puzzled expression. "You're acting strange. Usually when a handsome guy greets you, you go crazy over him."
Sonoko turned to her with a slight frown. "What do you mean go crazy?" she said before shifting her gaze back to Minagawa. "Yeah, he's good-looking… but compared to my brother, it's on a completely different level."
Ran studied Minagawa's face again and slowly nodded. "Then why compare him to your little brother? Weren't you the most excited about this party?"
"I only came to see if there's anyone handsome enough to rival my brother," Sonoko replied, clasping her hands together. "That's my goal."
She scanned the room, observing everyone present, then shook her head in disappointment. "Looks like there's none."
Ran stared at her and shook her head at her reasoning.
The next person stood up to introduce herself. She was a slim woman wearing jeans. "I'm Kaori Sekiya. Nice to meet you both."
Ran and Sonoko paused their conversation and returned her greeting politely.
Then the man in the red shirt turned his attention toward the overweight guy who had been quietly drinking orange juice, his expression gloomy the entire time.
"Hey, Naomichi, it's your turn."
Naomichi didn't respond. He ignored him completely and continued sipping his drink without even sparing a glance.
The man in the red shirt let out a small sigh. "Come on… you're really gloomy, you know that?"
Naomichi slowly lifted his gaze and stared fiercely at him, his eyes sharp and unwelcoming.
Before the tension could linger, another woman wearing a white dress stepped forward and introduced herself.
"I'm Yoshimi Watanabe. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too," Ran and Sonoko replied in unison, returning her greeting politely.
Then it was finally the turn of the man in the red shirt.
"And then there's me—the strong, yet sensitive, Toshihide Wakamatsu!"
As he introduced himself, he boldly flexed his muscles in front of them.
Everyone burst into laughter at his exaggerated display, yet his antics helped lighten the mood, bringing the lively atmosphere that a party should have.
Outside the living room, Conan was secretly observing from a distance. He was hiding nearby, trying to find out who Ran would give the chocolate she had made the day before.
"Tch… she looks like she's having fun…" Conan muttered under his breath as he listened to their laughter.
The Valentine party continued, and as time passed, Ran eventually noticed Conan hiding behind a bush. Around the same time, Minagawa's mother warmly invited Conan to join them inside.
Soon after, at the dining table in the living room, a variety of dishes had already been carefully prepared and arranged. Minagawa's mother brought out the main dish and placed it on the table.
"Thank you for waiting. Here is the main dish," she said with a gentle smile.
"Ah… thank you very much, Mrs. Minagawa," Wakamatsu said, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.
"What? You're Minagawa-san's mother? You look so young!" Sonoko exclaimed in surprise as she stared at the elegant woman serving the food.
"My… you certainly know how to flatter a woman," Mrs. Minagawa replied, covering her mouth lightly with her right hand as she smiled.
At that moment, a small child approached Conan and Ran, who were sitting on the sofa.
"Neh… let's play together?" the child said.
Ran and Conan turned to look and saw a young boy with a flat-top haircut standing in front of them.
Minagawa noticed the child and spoke immediately, "Susumu, go back to your room. You're disturbing the party."
Susumu pouted after being scolded, clearly unhappy.
Ran smiled warmly. "Heh… you're Minagawa-san's younger brother? How cute…"
"But not cuter than my Leon," Sonoko added without hesitation.
Ran turned to her. "What a brocon…"
Sonoko scoffed lightly and crossed her arms over her chest, yet a small smile appeared on her lips, silently showing that she accepted Ran's remark.
Seeing her reaction, Ran chuckled softly.
Meanwhile, Conan carefully observed the gathered group. He was trying to figure out who Ran would give her chocolate to. As he studied everyone, he noticed the red-shirted, gorilla-like man—Wakamatsu—repeatedly glancing at Ran.
None of the people gathered there knew yet—
That one of them would die.
And that Ran, Sonoko, and Conan would finally understand the true meaning behind Leon's words.
AM N. NOT.
(っ－＿－)っ
♤DRAFT ♤