"I haven't known Sonoko for very long, and we haven't spent enough time together, so I don't know her well enough." Baishi Hui subtly avoided Ran's question.
"That's true." Ran nodded understandingly, a hint of slyness in her eyes. She said, "So... you don't dislike Sonoko then?"
"Mm, of course I don't dislike her." Baishi Hui didn't notice Ran's expression when she said that.
After reaching the intersection, he didn't part ways with Ran but continued walking along the path towards her home.
"Huh? Aren't you going home?" Ran asked curiously.
"I am, but I need to go to the supermarket first," Baishi Hui replied.
He had been searching for a restaurant near his home that suited his taste to solve the dinner problem.
However, after trying several, he still couldn't find one that satisfied him.
There was nothing else for it, he had to cook himself.
Ran originally thought Baishi Hui was going to the supermarket to buy some bento boxes to heat up at home in the microwave.
But seeing him skillfully picking out various fruits, vegetables, and meats, she was slightly surprised. "Shirashi-kun, are you going back to cook dinner yourself?"
"Mm." Baishi Hui nodded casually, not thinking there was anything unusual about it.
"That's amazing!" Ran praised repeatedly. "Shinichi just can't cook. Every time he just buys bento boxes and heats them up at home! He even says he doesn't want to waste time on dinner."
Hearing Ran say that, Baishi Hui paused. Only then did he realize he had transmigrated, and some things he took for granted seemed out of the ordinary in this country.
Being praised for being able to cook dinner... This was something he hadn't expected.
At this moment, Ran suddenly thought of something and repeatedly invited Baishi Hui, "Shirashi-kun, would you like to come over for dinner tonight?"
"Huh?" Baishi Hui was quite surprised, not expecting Ran to proactively invite him to her home for dinner.
"You taught me Karate, so I wanted to treat you to a meal to show my gratitude," Ran said, feeling a little embarrassed.
The other person taught her Karate so seriously, yet she hadn't given anything in return.
This made her feel like she had taken advantage of him.
Baishi Hui originally wanted to say "Treat me to afternoon tea," but on second thought, Ran didn't have much pocket money, and there wasn't time for afternoon tea now. Besides, getting to know Mouri Kogoro in advance wouldn't be bad.
After all, most of the cases in Conan were related to him.
Thinking this, he nodded and agreed.
"Great!" Ran cheered happily, pleased that she could do something.
She asked thoughtfully, "Then, Shirashi-kun, is there any dish you particularly like?"
"Yes, Chinese cuisine." After saying this, Baishi Hui thought of the strange modifications made to Chinese dishes in local restaurants and added, "Can you make authentic Chinese food?"
"Yes! I learned online before." Ran nodded, saying confidently, "Then I'll pick a few of my best Chinese dishes!!"
To show off her cooking skills, she also started picking out ingredients.
After spending about ten minutes, Ran finally went to the cashier to pay for the ingredients, satisfied.
However, after leaving the supermarket, she had only taken two steps when Baishi Hui called out, "Ran, wait a moment."
"Huh? Is there anything else?" Ran stopped, holding the ingredients.
"I'm waiting for a friend," Baishi Hui said, turning back to look at the supermarket.
Just then, an office worker walked out, carrying a bag in his hand.
Baishi Hui walked up, handed the person some money, took the bag, and thanked him.
He returned to Ran and said, "Alright, let's go."
"What's this?" Ran asked, looking curiously at the bag as they walked.
"I bought a little gift for Mr. Mouri." Baishi Hui certainly wouldn't go empty-handed like a fool.
"This shape... Could it be... alcohol?" Ran had a vague guess.
"Mm." Baishi Hui admitted it openly.
Ran now understood what he had just done. She said in surprise, "You... you had someone help you buy alcohol?"
"Yes." Seeing Ran's hesitant expression, Baishi Hui immediately said, "This is for Mr. Mouri to drink, I won't be drinking it."
Only after getting this assurance did she breathe a sigh of relief.
However, a strong sense of justice and morality compelled Ran to say, "But... Shirashi-kun, what you did is illegal, you know. If the police catch you..."
Before she could finish, Baishi Hui immediately interrupted, "Ran, you'll keep it a secret for me, right? You don't want to see me get arrested by the police just because I bought a gift for your Dad, do you?"
Faced with this moral blackmail, Ran was powerless to resist. She said helplessly, "I won't tell anyone... but only this once. You can't do this again next time!"
"Mm, I promise!" Baishi Hui gave the assurance without hesitation.
Covering up this kind of thing is like cheating; it's either zero times or countless times.
-
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Arriving at the Mouri Detective Agency.
Baishi Hui followed her up to the second floor and saw Mouri Kogoro with a face full of stubble.
He was lying on the sofa, drinking canned beer and watching TV. His clothes were loose, and his hair was messy.
A typical look for a dejected middle-aged man.
The office was also in utter chaos, with cigarette butts, beer cans, documents, and crumpled paper thrown everywhere.
The air was filled with a mixed smell of alcohol and cigarettes.
In short, one word: messy.
"Dad! Didn't I just clean up yesterday? How is it this messy again today?!" Ran was completely shocked.
She regretted bringing her classmate back!
"I was looking through some files and accidentally made a mess," Mouri Kogoro said carelessly after taking a sip of beer.
"Really, can't you clean it up yourself?" Ran's face was red with embarrassment, she was so mortified!
Seeing her home so messy by her classmate, she wished she could dig a hole and hide in it.
"There are no guests, why clean?" Mouri Kogoro said, then glanced at Baishi Hui standing at the door, raised an eyebrow, and said, "Hmm? Ran, is he... your boyfriend? How come you're dating so early? Didn't I tell you? You should study hard in high school and not date!!"
Just as he started getting angry, Ran casually picked up a shoe from the floor and threw it hard at Mouri Kogoro's face.
She said angrily, "Drink less alcohol and stop talking nonsense all day!"
"This is Baishi Hui, the classmate I mentioned before."
"He's the one who helped me train in Karate!!"