Chapter 117: Girls Should Be More Reserved
Conan, the boy living with Kogoro Mouri.
The day after Phantom Thief Kid's appearance, he suffered a brutal beating.
So severe that when Anya met him on the way to school the next morning, he was walking with a painfully stiff gait.
Kogoro Mouri had been the primary assailant, Inspector Nakamori Ginzo the secondary attacker, and Conan's rear end the unfortunate victim.
Poor shrunken high school detective.
It seemed that for quite a while, Conan wouldn't dare invoke Kogoro Mouri's name to smooth-talk his way through situations.
"Conan-kun, if you're not feeling well, you should rest at home. I'll be merciful and ask Kobayashi-sensei for a sick day on your behalf."
Anya's smile was decidedly mischievous.
"No need. There's an old saying: 'When Heaven is about to confer great responsibility on someone, it first tests them with suffering.'"
Conan launched into a lengthy philosophical speech that Anya couldn't understand at all. Feeling somewhat insulted by his condescending tone, she couldn't help but give his backside a firm slap.
"Ouch! Anya-chan! Don't go too far!"
Conan's hair practically stood on end as he jumped nearly half a meter into the air, pulling away from Anya while protectively clutching his rear.
His entire backside was covered in bruises—even the slightest movement was agonizing, let alone Anya's enthusiastic slap.
Ugh, you little demon!
"There was a mosquito on your butt! I swatted it for you, and this is the thanks I get? Hmph! So ungrateful!"
Anya placed her hands on her hips, looking completely indignant.
"You're lying! There was no mosquito!"
"How rude! Your eyes aren't on your behind—how would you even know?!"
"That's nonsense! Where would mosquitoes come from in the middle of winter?!"
"Maybe it mutated or something."
The two bickered continuously as they met up with the other three members of the Detective Boys.
Of course, Anya couldn't resist mentioning Conan's predicament several more times throughout the day.
And so, within twenty-four hours, everyone at Teitan Elementary School knew about it.
Conan Edogawa, a first-year student in Class B, had been disciplined by both the famous detective Kogoro Mouri and a police inspector for interfering with an official police investigation. Now he could barely walk and had to stand during classes, unable to sit down properly.
Anya's description was so vivid it was as if she'd witnessed the incident firsthand—though in reality, she'd simply overheard the details from her papa, Loid.
These successive embarrassments left Conan feeling utterly mortified at school. Even a casual stroll around the playground would draw attention and whispered commentary.
"Look at that kid in the suit jacket and shorts—I heard his uncle beat him up yesterday. He still can't sit down properly today."
"I heard he got beaten because he let Kaito Kid escape."
"That's old news. According to my sources, he might actually be Kid's informant, working as his inside man."
"But Kid-sama is so handsome and elegant! What's wrong with helping him?"
Then a swarm of passionate Kid fans appeared, nearly breaking down the door of Class 1-B. Conan experienced the terrifying power of Phantom Thief Kid's fanbase for the first time!
While Conan suffered through his school day, Natsukawa was lounging comfortably at home, enjoying Yor's meticulous care.
"Natsukawa-san, how are you feeling? Is it any better?"
Yor placed a cup of hot cocoa before Natsukawa, gazing worriedly at his injured calf.
His entire lower leg was completely wrapped in bandages—anyone unfamiliar with the situation would think he'd suffered severe burns.
"I'm alright. With your attentive care, Yor-san, I'm sure I'll recover within three to five days." Natsukawa's lips appeared pale, and beads of sweat dotted his forehead, making him look genuinely unwell.
In reality, his injury was quite minor—just a grazing wound that needed little more than disinfectant and a simple bandage.
His current pitiful appearance was entirely an act.
The normally composed Natsukawa had actually resorted to this method just to get the woman he liked to personally care for him!
But if he wasn't seriously injured, how else could he convince Miss Yor to take time off work to nurse him?
Yor remained oblivious to his internal scheming, sighing sympathetically. "That Phantom Thief Kid is absolutely terrible! If I ever see him, I'll make him pay for hurting you!"
Yor's adorable angry expression made Natsukawa forget to clarify the situation.
Kaito was being unfairly blamed here.
But it didn't really matter—Yor and Kid would never actually encounter each other anyway.
Besides, this was Yor's concern for him. Defending Kid now would be incredibly ungrateful.
"Aren't you curious why I was at the Greenland Exhibition Center last night?" Natsukawa asked, steering the conversation deliberately.
"The reason?"
Yor pondered for a moment, then shook her head uncertainly.
"Then you must know what was being displayed at the Greenland Treasure Exhibition, right?"
"I do know about that. Inspector Nakamori mobilized over two hundred officers and dozens of vehicles to capture Phantom Thief Kid and protect Eternal Bloom.
Nearly everyone at the Metropolitan Police Department was talking about it. That kind of massive deployment is extremely rare.
Unless it's responding to a major organized crime incident, this scale of personnel mobilization is uncommon, so I remember it quite clearly."
Yor sat upright on the edge of the bed, asking curiously, "But what does this have to do with you? You're not a police officer, a detective, a reporter, or even a Kid fan. Why were you there? And how did you get injured?"
"Were you there just to see the exhibition?"
Yor's tone wavered slightly, and she asked somewhat awkwardly, "Who... who did you go with? I remember these kinds of treasure exhibitions are usually attended by families and couples."
A strange glint flashed in Yor's eyes, accompanied by an almost imperceptible hint of dangerous intent.
"N-no! It wasn't like that!" Cold sweat broke out on Natsukawa's forehead.
"Actually, this is related to Natsue-san from the Hatamoto family! After the luxury cruise incident, Natsue-san gave me something as a thank-you gift. That item happened to be the centerpiece treasure of the exhibition, which is why I was there."
"Oh, I see! Why didn't you say so earlier? You made me think..."
"Made you think what?" Natsukawa pressed forward with a teasing smile, gazing at Yor intently.
"You're such a tease!" Yor's face flushed bright red as she reflexively slapped the bed frame in embarrassment.
CRACK!
That was the sound of the wooden bed frame splintering.
Natsukawa leaped up instantly, showing absolutely no sign of his supposed leg injury.
"Sorry! I seem to have been a bit careless..."
Natsukawa shook his head, indicating it didn't matter at all. He, Natsukawa, certainly wouldn't be heartbroken over a mere bed.
It's fine—I'll just get a larger double bed later anyway, so breaking this one doesn't matter.
With that thought in mind, Natsukawa reached behind his back and rummaged around mysteriously.
A moment later, as if performing magic, an exquisite gift box appeared in his hand.
"N-Natsukawa-san... this... what is this? Who... who is it for?"
Yor's eyes darted around nervously, her lips pressed together. Even the most oblivious person would understand what this moment signified.
However, her feminine modesty told her she should ask anyway.
Yumi had previously advised that girls should maintain some reserve—otherwise men wouldn't cherish them properly. Yor might not believe everything Yumi said, but she believed this particular piece of wisdom.
"'Eternal bloom, dazzling magnificence.' You know Inspector Nakamori mobilized his forces to protect this gem, so you must be familiar with that slogan."
"Of course—Eternal Bloom. Yumi originally invited Miwako-san and me to visit the exhibition today specifically to see that gem. But Inspector Nakamori said that because of Kid's attempted theft, the gem was returned to its owner ahead of schedule."
Suddenly, Yor thought of something significant.
"Could it be...?!"
Yor's eyes widened, her dark red irises flashing with incredibly bright light.
Indeed, few women could resist the allure of a magnificent gem. If one could, it simply meant the gem wasn't large enough!
Yor clearly had a strong premonition building.
That enormous seven-colored gem had reportedly been provided to the exhibition by the Hatamoto family.
Combining this with what Natsukawa had just explained, could this gift box possibly contain...
End of Chapter 117
[Chapter Rewards]
500 Power Stones unlock 2 chapters
10 Reviews unlock 1 chapter
Hope you enjoyed the chapter.
30+ chapters ahead on P2treon Soulforger