"Ah, it's Shiho Miyano."
Kurosawa Hoshino never expected to encounter his online friend in this café before they had even met in person.
At the same time, he realized why the earlier messages were so strange. Shiho Miyano must have texted him after arriving here, then heard his phone's notification sound. To confirm if it was his phone, she sent several more messages to verify.
"So, the woman beside her is Akemi Miyano."
Kurosawa Hoshino glanced at the woman with the gentle smile.
However, another concern arose.
"They're both here. Are there any Organization members nearby?"
Kurosawa Hoshino looked toward the entrance and, sure enough, spotted a car parked by the roadside. Several men in black were gathered outside smoking while surveying their surroundings.
At the same moment, Shiho Miyano thought of the same issue.
No, I can't speak to him. It would endanger him.
And so, after merely exchanging a glance, the two turned away as if they were complete strangers.
Kurosawa Hoshino sat down and finally began watching the video. Seeing the two flustered faces trying to dodge the camera, he teased,
"Ran, Sonoko, you two really did try to peek at my phone. Now that I have evidence, tell me—how should I punish you?"
"No way, didn't you see we were just passing by?" Sonoko stubbornly insisted.
Ran took out the chocolates she had prepared and said pitifully, "Hoshino, I made these chocolates for you. Can this be my apology?"
"Oh dear, Ran, you gave up too quickly," Sonoko complained, also pulling out the chocolates she had prepared and placing them on the table. "Here, for you," she said haughtily.
Kurosawa Hoshino put down his phone, accepted both chocolates, and sighed, "I'm actually a little touched."
Sonoko's eyes darted around. "Don't get the wrong idea—it's just a regular gift. Don't overthink it."
Kurosawa Hoshino smiled. "I know, but thank you anyway."
Beside them, Akemi Miyano asked softly, "Did you recognize him?"
"Who?" Shiho Miyano feigned ignorance.
Akemi Miyano rolled her eyes at her sister. "Don't pretend. I recognized him too. I saw him on the news before—I think his name is Kurosawa Hoshino."
Shiho Miyano paused briefly, then nodded. "Yeah, I saw him on the news too, so I glanced at him a couple of times."
"I—oh—" Akemi Miyano cut herself off as she turned to look at Kurosawa Hoshino's table again.
"Sister, what's wrong?"
"Hehe, he received two chocolates—from both girls across the table."
"It's Valentine's Day. It's normal for friends to exchange chocolates," Shiho Miyano replied calmly.
Akemi Miyano's face was full of gossipy curiosity. "Do you think he's two-timing, and they're both his girlfriends?"
Shiho Miyano said nothing more, simply rolling her eyes at her sister.
"Hehe~" Miyano Akemi giggled shyly like a little girl before changing the subject. "Want to go shopping later?"
"Sure. I heard Fusae released a new bag design—let's go check it out."
"The one with the logo that looks like a ginkgo leaf?"
"Yes."
"Alright, I'll go with you."
6:00 PM.
After a day out, the three finally parted ways and headed home.
Mouri Detective Agency.
As soon as Kurosawa Hoshino and Ran entered, they saw Kogoro Mouri sitting quietly on the sofa with his arms crossed, head bowed, eyes closed—as if asleep.
Opposite him, Conan was contentedly sipping a drink, looking quite pleased.
"Dad?" Ran called out uncertainly.
Hearing her voice, Kogoro Mouri opened his eyes, glanced at them, then resumed frowning in deep thought.
Kurosawa Hoshino asked, "Uncle, what's wrong?"
"I'm trying to recall a feeling," Kogoro Mouri replied.
"What feeling?"
"I suddenly fell asleep around 4:00 PM today. When I woke up, Inspector Megure told me I'd actually solved a case. So I'm wondering if it had something to do with me suddenly dozing off?"
"Really?"
Kurosawa Hoshino asked skeptically, but his eyes were fixed on Conan's delighted expression. He knew it must have been Conan who drugged Kogoro Mouri, and he understood why Conan was so happy—he'd solved a case.
"Dad, tell us about it," Ran urged.
"Well, it's like this…"
Kogoro Mouri began recounting the story, exaggerating his own role and portraying himself as a genius who cracked the case effortlessly.
After listening, Kurosawa Hoshino thought to himself, In the original storyline, there was indeed a case on Valentine's Day. I thought I'd avoid it, but Conan still managed to find one.
The story began that morning.
Conan's short legs couldn't catch the taxi, so he never found them. Instead, he stumbled upon Kogoro Mouri playing pachinko.
Conan, his mind racing, decided to tell Kogoro Mouri that Hoshino and Ran seemed to be on a date.
However, he learned from Kogoro that they weren't on a date—they were out with Sonoko—which finally put his mind at ease.
He then stayed by Kogoro's side, watching him play pachinko. Later that afternoon, on their way home, they encountered Inspector Megure driving by.
Kogoro, ever shameless, tried to hitch a ride. Upon learning Megure was heading to a crime scene, he stubbornly insisted on tagging along.
Thus, Conan and Kogoro arrived at the scene. After spending some time gathering clues, Conan used Kogoro to solve the case, successfully wrapping up the incident.
"That woman is so cruel! To help her husband's company through financial difficulties, she actually killed her own nephew—just for his inheritance,"
Ran sighed, referring to the motive she had just heard from her father.
"Yeah," Kogoro Mouri nodded.
"But Dad, do you really not remember how you solved the case?" Ran was genuinely curious about this.
Kogoro Mouri's expression stiffened, but he stubbornly replied, "Of course I remember! I asked Inspector Megure, and it all came back to me."
"Heh."
Hoshino Kurosawa couldn't help but chuckle, pulling out the two chocolates that had been in his pocket all day, ready to taste them.
Conan saw this and instinctively asked, "Hoshino-nii, who gave you those chocolates?"
"Ran."
"Ah?"
Conan felt a pang in his heart, but noticing there were two chocolates in Hoshino Kurosawa's hand, a smile returned to his face. He assumed Ran had prepared some for him too, but since he wasn't there, she had given both to Hoshino.
However, Hoshino Kurosawa's next words instantly shattered his briefly lifted spirits—Ran truly hadn't prepared any for him.
"Oh, right—there's another one from Sonoko."