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CLOVER Convenience Store
"Xiao Lan."
"Can you grab a few bottles of Coke from the storage room for me?"
"The fridge is empty…"
"No problem."
"I'll bring them right over."
...
Suzuki Sonoko stood at the register, completely dumbfounded.
There was only one reason—
The relationship between Fuyutsuki Shiori and Mori Ran had gotten way too good lately.
Logically speaking…
These two should be at each other's throats as rivals in love, right?
At first, Sonoko thought they were just putting on a show under Akira's influence, playing nice on the surface. But after carefully observing them, she realized the situation wasn't as simple as she had imagined.
These two were genuinely getting along.
Their relationship was almost on par with the deep sisterly bond Sonoko had shared with Xiao Lan for over a decade.
This was insane!
Even without any special insight, Sonoko could tell that Xiao Lan and Shiori had been completely "trained" by Akira.
No fights, no drama—just peaceful coexistence!
And what about her?
Sonoko suddenly felt like a total clown.
Mori Ran and Fuyutsuki Shiori could openly be around Akira, while she… she had become some kind of secret, hidden away like a shameful little rat.
She really should've joined that group "game" last time…
Now, a strong impulse surged in her heart—
She wanted to confess everything to Xiao Lan.
She wanted to tell her the truth about what she and Akira had been doing in the storage room every night after work.
But… she didn't dare!
She was terrified that once Xiao Lan found out, forgiveness wouldn't be an option.
"Sonoko?"
"Sonoko!"
A pair of hands waving in front of her face snapped Sonoko out of her deep thoughts.
"Xiao… Xiao Lan."
"What's up?"
Nothing . She craved the thrill of stolen moments—the way Akira's hands found her in the shadows,
igniting fire beneath her skin. Their whispers were laced with hunger, their kisses urgent, forbidden.
In the secrecy of dimly lit corners, she surrendered to him, a secret she wore like silk against her
bare skin.
"Do you need my help with something?"
Sonoko quickly masked her inner panic, and under the pressure of the moment, her thoughts of confession instantly disappeared.
Forget it!
She'd just keep sneaking a few bites when no one was looking.
"Nothing…"
"It's just that you were standing here zoning out, and you didn't even respond when I called you."
"What were you thinking about?"
Mori Ran's sharp gaze tried to pierce through Sonoko's mind.
She had started to notice that something was off about her friend lately.
Somehow, Sonoko wasn't gossiping as much as before. She wasn't constantly buzzing about the latest juicy secrets she had picked up. More importantly, she wasn't feeding Ran those dramatic love stories anymore.
"What could I be thinking about?"
"I was just spacing out, that's all."
"Oh, right!"
"Didn't you say your dad got so upset about missing Yoko Okino's case that he went on a drinking spree and ended up sick?"
"How's he doing now?"
At the mention of this, Ran's brows knitted together in frustration.
Just like Sonoko said—
The day after Yoko Okino visited the Mouri Detective Agency, her dad found out the truth.
He went ballistic, shouting like an overgrown three-year-old.
Then, to cope with the "tragedy," he went to the local pub, got himself drunk, and ended up bedridden for a whole week because he got caught in the rain on the way home.
"He went to Osaka today for a class reunion."
Ran had originally planned to go with him.
But in the end…
She decided to spend this lovely Saturday working her part-time shift at CLOVER instead.
"He went to Osaka, huh…"
"Well, getting out a bit might be good for him."
Ran twitched the corner of her mouth.
Good for him? Seriously?
She was more worried that he'd get wasted and forget his way home!
Ding-dong—
"Welcome!"
Two middle-aged men entered the convenience store, chatting as they walked in.
"Hey, did you hear?"
"The Shinkansen exploded."
"When did this happen?"
"This morning, on the 9 AM train."
"I heard someone brought a bomb on board and blew up two entire carriages."
...
Their conversation immediately caught the attention of the four female part-timers in the store.
Especially Xiao Lan—
The moment she heard their words, her hands started trembling uncontrollably.
"You…"
"Are you serious?"
"The Shinkansen really exploded?"
As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes.
"Xiao Lan…"
"Don't panic."
"Uncle Mouri couldn't have been on that train."
Sonoko knew exactly what was going through Xiao Lan's mind.
Just moments ago, Xiao Lan had mentioned that her dad was heading to Osaka for a reunion. And judging from her reaction, it was obvious that he had taken the Shinkansen.
"He…"
"He took the 9 AM Shinkansen."
Ran was in full-blown panic mode.
She had personally bought that ticket for him.
If her dad had been in one of the carriages that exploded…
She didn't dare think any further.
"Xiao Lan."
"Don't rush to conclusions."
"I think you should call your dad first."
Fuyutsuki Shiori's words gave Xiao Lan a moment of clarity.
With shaking hands, she fumbled for her phone in her pocket.
But when she found her dad's number in the contacts… she hesitated.
"Xiao Lan… don't be afraid."
"Uncle Mouri is a lucky guy."
With Sonoko's encouragement, Xiao Lan finally pressed the call button.
At this moment—
Her emotions were in complete turmoil.
Part of her desperately wanted to hear her dad's voice.
The other part was terrified that she wouldn't like what she heard.
Ring—
"Xiao Lan?"
On the other end of the call, Mouri Kogoro's voice came through, thick with the slur of drunkenness.
Instantly—
Xiao Lan's heart, which had been hanging by a thread, dropped back into place.
"Dad."
"Where are you?"
Tears spilled from her eyes, but this time, they were tears of relief.
"Me?"
"I'm at the station."
"I missed the 9 AM train. I was going to take the next one, but then the staff said all Shinkansen trains were canceled."
"Then I ran into some old friends at the station…"
"Ahaha—"
For the first time in her life, Xiao Lan realized that sometimes, being unreliable could actually be a blessing.
"....."