Chapter 31: Meeting Kisaki Eri?
The Shinkansen.
Makoto sat by the window, watching the scenery flash past.
Beside him, Ran was practically glowing with excitement.
They were on their way to a wedding for one of her father's friends, and her eyes were bright with anticipation, stealing the occasional shy glance at the boyfriend beside her.
Across from them sat Conan, eating a bento box, and Kogoro, shaving his stubble.
Behind them, the three little troublemakers were kicking up a racket—typical unruly kids.
"Makoto, what's wrong?"
"You look like something's bothering you."
Ran asked, concerned.
"It's nothing. Just a little short on sleep."
Makoto's eye kept twitching every time he glanced at Conan across from him, chowing down with total focus.
After all, with the Grim Reaper Elementary Schooler on board, when did a Shinkansen ride ever not end in an explosion?
The thought alone had kept him up all night, too scared to sleep.
If it weren't for having to get through the security check, he'd have worn a bulletproof vest just to be safe.
"Well..."
Ran lifted the armrest between their seats, turning the two seats into one long bench in an instant.
She brushed her hair back and gently guided Makoto's head down onto her lap, saying, a little bashfully, "Why don't you lie down and rest here for a bit? It's okay!"
"Thanks. Sorry for the trouble."
Naturally, Makoto wasn't about to be so rude as to refuse.
After all, Ran was wearing a blue pleated miniskirt today.
'This lap pillow...'
'Tsk, tsk!'
"Hic!"
Conan, digging into his bento, choked on the spot.
His face flushed red, even as a chill ran clean through him.
'What the hell...'
"Cough, cough, cough..."
"I—I need to go to the bathroom!"
He set down his unfinished bento and bolted for the restroom on his short little legs.
He couldn't bear to look anymore.
One more glance, and he was afraid even the great detective himself wouldn't be able to stop from turning to a life of crime.
"That little punk—barely finished eating and already needs to go."
"Kids are such a hassle!"
Kogoro grumbled irritably as he straightened his tie.
Ever since Conan moved in and started sharing his room, even his nightly alone time had gotten rusty. Such a pain.
"If it's such a hassle, Uncle, I could help you find a nanny to look after Conan."
"That would make things a lot easier for you."
"And Ran could focus on her studies too, with more time to catch up on schoolwork."
Lying on Ran's lap, Makoto quietly took a deep breath.
Not the scent of the sea—just a faint, clean trace of body wash.
"A nanny?"
"Can I pick her out myself?"
Kogoro swallowed hard.
In his mind, an image surfaced—a girl in a black-and-white maid outfit, calling him "Master" in the sweetest, most adorable voice.
"Of course you can!"
Makoto said with a grin.
"Oh, but wouldn't that be a bit much?"
"Heh, heh, heh..."
Kogoro made a show of looking bashful, though he was practically drooling at the corner of his mouth.
This future son-in-law of his really knew how to make a guy feel appreciated!
"Dad, then can I move out?"
"I'm already a second-year in high school. I'd like to try living on my own for a change."
Ran seized the moment to ask.
Ever since there'd been one more person in the house, something had felt off to her.
Especially the way Conan looked at her sometimes—there was something in it that struck her as inexplicably lecherous.
Once, coming home, she'd even caught the little brat red-faced, sneaking a look at her underwear drying on the balcony.
If he hadn't been just seven years old, still in elementary school, Ran would have called the police on him ages ago.
"Move out, huh?"
"That's not impossible, but you'd have to find your own place—somewhere close to both school and home."
"And no living together!"
"You two are still too young for that!"
Kogoro fixed his hair in the mirror.
His daughter's relationship with Makoto had long since been settled.
Something like living together was only a matter of time.
At least the man in question was Makoto—an outstanding young man even he could approve of. There was nothing wrong with that.
Besides, in another year, his daughter Ran would turn eighteen.
Under Japanese law, that was old enough to get married.
A few years back, you could even marry at sixteen.
Take his old superior, Inspector Megure, for example.
That man's wife had married him—Megure Juzo, a detective at the time—while she was still in high school.
Back then, every last officer in the First Investigative Division had been dying of envy!
"Thanks, Dad! You're the best!"
Ran beamed with delight.
Finally—she'd get to put some distance between herself and that lecherous little brat!
"Oh, right, Ran."
"Have you taken Higashino to meet Eri yet?"
Kogoro suddenly asked.
"Oh no!"
"I almost forgot completely."
"Um..."
"I'll go ask Mom when she's free!"
Ran stuck her tongue out, looking adorably sheepish.
To think she'd forgotten something this important.
"Honestly, that woman."
"All she ever does is work, work, work—she doesn't even know her own daughter has a boyfriend."
Kogoro thought of the wife he'd been separated from for ten years and scrunched his face in distaste.
Eri?
Kisaki Eri?
Resting on Ran's lap, Makoto couldn't help but feel a small flutter of interest.
In his mind, on looks alone, Kisaki Eri might not rank number one, but she was easily top three.
A gorgeous woman of the law!
An absolute, undeniable knockout!
And with that intelligent, icy allure and razor-sharp wit, she was a completely different type from Kudo Yukiko.
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Edogawa Conan — Shinichi's alternate identity. Series: Detective Conan.
Higashino Makoto — Protagonist. Transmigrated.
Mouri Kogoro — Ran's father. Series: Detective Conan.
Mouri Ran — Shinichi's childhood sweetheart. Series: Detective Conan.
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Translated by CheapBiscuit.
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Throw those power stones here, lemme catch them!
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