Disclaimer: Detective Conan is not mine. This fanfic is a translation.
Enjoy Reading!
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After finishing his sniper training, Ritsu returned to the research institute right at noon.
Arriving at the door of Laboratory No. 5, he raised his hand and knocked. When Shiho, who had been working inside, opened the door, he said straightaway, "It's about time. Let's go."
Shiho glanced down at her clothes. "Give me a moment to change… Also, don't dress like that when we go see my sister. There's too much black."
"Oh."
Ritsu had been too lazy to change at first, but after hearing that, he obediently went back to his room. He tossed his dirty clothes into the laundry basket and stared at his wardrobe, nearly 70% of it was black.
…Had he unconsciously started buying so much black clothing after joining the organization?
He picked out a light gray hoodie, paired it with washed denim jeans, and deliberately avoided black shoes, choosing his only pair of pure white sneakers instead. With this look, he didn't resemble someone from the organization at all, more like a college student.
His clean, casual outfit earned Shiho's approval. On the other hand, her usual style surprised Ritsu. She was only eleven, why did she dress so maturely?
A black dress layered with a dark purple jacket, black boots, light purple ankle socks… combined with her naturally cold, expressionless face, it raised a question in his mind.
Ritsu, whose social awareness occasionally "disconnected," asked bluntly, "Hey, Miyano."
"Hm?"
"You didn't lie about your age, did you? You're actually older than me, just… short?"
Shiho's good mood instantly dropped to rock bottom. She glared at him fiercely and let out a cold laugh. "Yeah. I'm actually twice your age. What, planning to call me 'big sister'?"
"Really?"
Nothing was more infuriating than having someone actually believe a ridiculous joke.
Shiho lifted her foot and stepped hard on his white sneaker, then strutted off like a proud cat.
The angle of her stomp was precise, right on his pinky toe. The sharp pain made Ritsu grit his teeth as he followed after her.
This little sister… wasn't cute at all.
Since the organization hadn't paid him yet, nor provided him with a car, Ritsu could only take Shiho on the subway. It was her first time riding one. Though she kept a straight face, the way her eyes darted around gave away her curiosity.
"How long are you planning to sit? This is our stop."
"Oh."
It had been a long time since she'd been able to walk freely outside. Though Shiho's expression remained mostly unchanged, her inner joy was immeasurable, she was finally going to see her sister after six years.
Ritsu kept his hands in his pockets, observing their surroundings. His responsibility was Shiho's safety. As for Gin's instructions about keeping her within sight… he had no intention of acting like a third wheel between reunited sisters.
"Shiho!"
Hearing the familiar voice, Shiho froze. Turning her head, she saw her sister stepping off a bus across the street. As if by coincidence, or perhaps sibling intuition, they were even wearing outfits with matching color schemes.
"Nee-san!"
At just over 150 cm, Shiho dashed forward with her short strides but after barely two steps, a hand grabbed her firmly by the back of her collar.
"What are you doing?!"
Ritsu withdrew his hand from his pocket and pointed at the red traffic light. "I know you haven't seen each other in a long time, but at least follow the rules, okay?"
"…Okay."
She stomped her foot impatiently, clearly anxious. After being separated from her only family for so long, it was only natural.
On the opposite side, Miyano Akemi felt the same. She had taken a sick leave from school just to meet her sister for lunch and catch up on the past six years.
Though the light lasted only twenty seconds, it felt unbearably long. Watching the sisters eager to reunite, Ritsu couldn't help but feel like he didn't belong here at all.
"And this is…?" Akemi had already been observing the tall young man across the street. He looked about her age. If he was with Shiho, he had to be part of the organization…
Had their hiring standards recently shifted toward recruiting models?
Her long dark-brown hair was neatly styled, parted slightly to the right. Her slightly drooping eyes and sapphire-blue gaze, darker than Shiho's, gave off a gentler impression, softening her otherwise sharp features. At first glance, she seemed like a kind, elegant woman.
Ritsu couldn't help but think, '...the type who'd forgive you even if you played a prank on her.'
"Hello, I'm…" Ritsu hesitated for a moment before introducing only one of his identities. "A researcher from the science division, Nanase Tōru. Nice to meet you."
'So he was Shiho's colleague. Then he must be quite intelligent.'
Akemi didn't dwell on his identity. With a warm smile, she took out her phone. "After hearing the news yesterday, I looked up a bunch of places. There's a café nearby that's supposed to be really good, the curry there is especially famous."
A café known for curry? Both Ritsu and Shiho gave her skeptical looks.
After walking about 800 meters into a narrow alley, Ritsu began to wonder if Akemi had a poor sense of direction. The place in front of them looked like a Japanese-style general store…
"Machida… Shop? Nee-san, are you sure you've got the right place?" Shiho voiced her doubts.
"Come on, don't judge by appearances," Akemi said with a smile, lifting the white curtain at the entrance and stepping inside.
They had no choice but to follow. Once inside, they realized the interior matched the exterior, complete with a Japanese-style courtyard, flowing water, and a heavy use of tatami elements. There was even a row of shoe racks by the entrance, indicating customers should change into indoor slippers.
"Nanase-kun, here are your slippers."
"I won't intrude on your time. I'll just wait outside."
Before Akemi could respond, Shiho spoke up, "You haven't eaten lunch either. Come in and eat with us. We won't talk about anything that makes you uncomfortable."
"…"
He was just trying to give them some private time.
With a sigh, Ritsu changed into the slippers and followed them to a tatami private room by the courtyard. Disliking the formal kneeling posture, he simply sat cross-legged, glancing at the small bridge and flowing water outside.
The owner had excellent taste and probably quite a bit of money.
"Nanase-kun, here's the menu. Take a look."
"Thanks."