Following Conan's directions from memory, Agasa successfully drove the two children to the luxury apartment building where Ritsu lived.
Having an adult accompany them would only make the visit seem more suspicious.
So Conan suggested that Agasa wait in a nearby parking lot while he and Haibara went upstairs alone. That way, the security guard would be much more likely to let two children through.
Walking up to the front desk, Conan put on an innocent, childlike smile.
"Mister, we're here to visit an older sister, but we forgot which apartment she lives in. Could you tell us?"
Beside him, Haibara quickly turned away, doing her best to hide her laughter from the security guard.
'Kudo has truly mastered pretending to be a little kid. No wonder he's Yukiko's son.'
The security guard leaned forward and asked with a smile,
"Do you remember what she looks like? I've got a great memory."
Conan nodded enthusiastically.
"She's really pretty and has long hair! Oh, right! Her boyfriend has white hair. Does that ring a bell?"
The guard immediately slapped his knee.
"Ah, now I know who you're talking about. The older sister you're looking for lives on the forty-seventh floor. The elevators are over there. Just make sure you don't press the wrong button."
"Okay! Thank you, Mister!"
As soon as Conan turned around, he instinctively wiped away sweat that wasn't actually there.
Noticing the look Haibara was giving him, he felt indescribably miserable.
'A great high school detective... reduced to acting cute like a little kid. Is this the collapse of morality... or the extinction of human nature?'
The two stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the top floor. As the elevator rapidly climbed upward, Haibara crossed her arms.
She was nervous.
But even more than that, she was excited.
It had been a very long time since she'd had the chance to sit down and truly talk with her sister.
.
Meanwhile,
Akemi was feeding Gingerbread lunch when the doorbell suddenly rang.
Looking puzzled, she gestured for Gingerbread to stay quiet before quietly walking toward the entrance.
After all, Ritsu had never once rung the doorbell when he came home. And ordinary visitors couldn't even reach this floor without authorization.
So who could it be?
Remembering yesterday's attack during the wedding, Akemi couldn't help becoming vigilant. She switched on the security monitor by the entrance.
A moment later, the screen showed Conan peeking curiously toward the door. Standing behind him was the younger sister she'd missed so dearly.
Akemi immediately cupped her cheeks, unable to suppress her smile.
'Shiho is so adorable after shrinking... She's like a little doll!'
She could already guess why they'd come. Most likely, they wanted to ask whether she had been forced by the Organization into marrying Ritsu.
And they also wanted to confirm the relationship between Organization member Augier and Onizawa.
So... the moment she opened the door, she crouched down and said directly,
"Shiho... are you here to congratulate me on my wedding?"
"...!"
Haibara hadn't expected her sister to call her by her real name.
Her eyes instantly reddened.
Perhaps shrinking into a child had also made her emotions more childlike.
She immediately ran forward and threw herself into her sister's embrace, wrapping her little arms tightly around Akemi's back.
Completely ignoring the oversized thirdwheel standing behind her.
Conan scratched his cheek awkwardly.
'I really shouldn't be here...'
He quietly turned to leave, intending to give the sisters some privacy. Unexpectedly, Akemi waved him back with one hand.
"Should I call you Conan or Kudo-kun?"
'As expected... Akemi-san knows everything.'
Conan dropped the act entirely.
"You should keep calling me Conan. That way you won't accidentally call me by the wrong name in front of other people."
"All right."
Akemi gently patted little Ai, who was still buried in her embrace.
"You've become much more spoiled after turning into a child, haven't you? What would you like to eat?
I'll make it for you."
Haibara looked up and answered without hesitation.
"A peanut butter and blueberry jam sandwich."
.
The two children sat on the sofa while Akemi prepared the sandwiches.
Conan quietly poked the super siscon, whose eyes had been automatically tracking her sister's every movement.
"Hey, Haibara. Don't tell me you've forgotten why we came here."
"Of course I haven't. Onizawa is busy at the MPD. He won't be coming home anytime soon."
"...Good. I'm glad you remembered."
After finishing the sandwiches, Akemi placed them on the coffee table.
Seeing the meaningful glances the two children were exchanging, she decided to get straight to the point again.
"You came to ask whether Takashi has any connection to the Organization, didn't you?"
Conan nearly dropped the sandwich he was holding.
'Can she read minds? And why is she so unbelievably direct? Now I don't even know whether I should ask anymore.'
Haibara looked straight at her sister.
"Onee-san... Are those two the same person?"
Knowing exactly which two she meant, Akemi smiled gently.
"No, they aren't. And I married Takashi because we genuinely love each other."
"The Organization didn't interfere because of... Takashi's identity."
The moment Haibara heard the words "genuinely love each other," her expression darkened.
'So my sister really was swept off her feet by that refined-looking police officer with the villainous aura?'
For some reason, the image of a certain long-haired FBI agent, who also looked refined in exactly the same suspicious way, floated into her mind.
'Nee-san's taste hasn't changed at all.'
Conan immediately pieced everything together.
"So... Akemi-sensei, does that mean the Organization wants to use you as a way to infiltrate the MPD? Is that why they didn't oppose your marriage?"
Akemi nodded with admiration.
"Mm. You're every bit as smart as Takashi said you were."
"Hehe... It's nothing, really."
After observing her sister's expression and confirming that she had finally relaxed, Akemi continued,
"I'll be going out later, so you two should head home soon."
She took out a piece of paper and handed it to them.
"This is my phone number. If you miss me... just give me a call."
The last sentence was obviously directed at her sister.
Haibara frowned worriedly.
"But... wouldn't the Organization be monitoring your phone?"
Akemi smiled reassuringly.
"Takashi is very skilled with computers. He's installed anti-surveillance software on my phone. The Organization can't track my location or monitor my calls in real time."
Haibara's eyes lit up.
"So I can really call you every day?"
Looking at the hopeful expression on her sister's face, Akemi gently rubbed her little head.
"Of course. I'm only worried that Shiho-chan might get tired of talking to me."
"I'd never! To me, Nee-san is—"
"All right. I already know what you're trying to say."
Akemi wrapped an arm around her little sister and affectionately rubbed her cheek against hers. Her voice was as gentle as ever.
"Shiho... You've suffered so much while living in the Organization. From now on, let me be the one to protect you."
"...Mm."
Conan sat there holding his sandwich, completely at a loss.
'I really don't belong in a scene like this... Forget it. I'll just eat my sandwich.'
He opened his mouth and took a huge bite.
The next second, he almost spat it right back out.
'Urgh! This flavor—! Good grief! Haibara actually likes something that tastes like this?!
One bite and I can already feel my blood sugar shooting through the roof!!'