Hoshimiya Yuu looked at the coquettish Zaibatsu heiress before him and saw right through her little games.
Did she really want to experience the massage?
She clearly desired him.
"Suzuki-san, my massage is useless for someone who doesn't want to sleep."
"Aww~ Mr. Hoshimiya is showing favoritism! You agreed right away when Ran asked, but not for me~"
Suzuki Sonoko had instantly understood Hoshimiya Yuu's meaning, losing her earlier pretense of innocence and brazenness, and seized the opportunity to act spoiled.
Hoshimiya Yuu was momentarily taken aback, looking at the lively and quick-witted Suzuki Sonoko.
This seems a bit different from the vague memory I have of Suzuki Sonoko…
While Hoshimiya Yuu was frozen in thought, Suzuki Sonoko turned and left.
"Mr. Hoshimiya, I was just joking. I'm heading home now."
Standing on the second floor of the agency, watching Suzuki Sonoko get into the black sedan that had been waiting downstairs, Hoshimiya Yuu slowly came to a realization.
The future heiress of the Suzuki Zaibatsu could not possibly be just a simple, boorish, boy-crazy girl.
Even if Suzuki Sonoko's personality was somewhat naive, the upbringing provided by the family would ensure she possessed the necessary qualities of an heir.
Her usual simple, brazen, and clumsy nature was likely her authentic personality, only revealed in front of her close friend, Mouri Ran.
Of course, it was also possible that his judgment was wrong, given how blurry his memories were.
He certainly wanted to cling to the Suzuki family's coattails. If the System hadn't awakened, he would have definitely settled into a comfortable life this way.
But things were different now.
Starting a relationship with Suzuki Sonoko would complicate many of his upcoming actions.
Although this was the world of Detective Conan, Hoshimiya Yuu wouldn't view anyone or anything with a condescending God's-eye perspective.
He knew more clearly than anyone that this was a brutally real world, far more dangerous than the one he came from.
The hardship and suffering of the past twenty years were not in vain.
After the System awakened and he realized the world he was in, Hoshimiya Yuu had thought a lot.
The ambition that had been ground down by reality was slowly reawakening.
To wield the power of the world and sleep with beautiful women.
This was the ultimate fantasy that no man could resist.
What if he could add eternal life to that?
While his memories of the plot were sparse, Hoshimiya Yuu was certain that, given enough strength, all of this could be achieved in the Conan World.
"Too much thinking is useless. I need to focus on increasing my strength first, and then… get rich!"
Watching the red taillights disappear into the dark night, Hoshimiya Yuu clenched his fists tightly.
After reinforcing his conviction, he closed the door of the detective agency and headed downstairs toward his rundown apartment.
Hoshimiya Yuu suddenly stopped in his tracks as he walked.
"Tsk… that Suzuki Sonoko girl, did she forget to pay me?"
"I must remember to ask her for it tomorrow!"
"Speaking of which, no one told me the time and location of the competition tomorrow…"
Looking up at the deep night sky dotted with stars, Hoshimiya Yuu really wanted a cigarette right now.
Unfortunately, years of financial constraint meant he never got the chance to pick up that expensive habit.
He sighed silently, tightened his collar, and quickened his pace home.
...
...
The next morning, Hoshimiya Yuu woke up promptly at six o'clock.
After a quick breakfast, he hurried once again toward the Mouri Detective Agency, located at 5-Chome, 39 Beika-cho, Beika City, Tokyo.
Without the time and location, his only option was to go to Ran's house early.
She couldn't possibly have left for the competition venue before seven.
Since he promised to cheer for Ran, he certainly couldn't break his word. And it was absolutely not just to quickly ask Suzuki Sonoko for his payment!
The old apartment Hoshimiya Yuu rented wasn't far from the Mouri Detective Agency.
He had specifically moved there to make the commute walkable.
Ran also usually walked to and from school.
Even if their directions were opposite, it wouldn't be a long distance, and their routes were actually quite similar.
After walking for about ten minutes, Hoshimiya Yuu could already see the Chinese characters posted on the agency's second-floor window.
He went up to the second floor and pressed the doorbell.
Ran's lively voice called out, "Hi, I'm coming, please wait."
A moment later, the agency door was opened from the inside.
The black-haired beauty, wearing an apron, looked at Hoshimiya Yuu with surprise. "Mr. Hoshimiya?!"
"Yes, good morning, Mouri-san."
Hoshimiya Yuu offered an apologetic smile. "I forgot to ask you the time and location of the competition yesterday, so I had to bother you early this morning."
"I see. Mr. Hoshimiya, please come in."
Ran stepped aside, letting her slender body pass, and quickly added, "I should be the one apologizing. I was having so much fun chatting that I forgot such an important thing, making you go to the trouble of coming all the way here."
Ran had been genuinely happy chatting with Suzuki Sonoko and Hoshimiya Yuu yesterday.
Hoshimiya Yuu's conversation was humorous but never excessive, and he was very thoughtful.
Although there was a six-year age gap and a teacher-student relationship, it didn't feel restrictive.
They had only known each other for two days, yet their time together was more enjoyable than with Kudou Shinichi, whom she had known since childhood.
At least, Hoshimiya Yuu didn't just talk about his own interests and completely disregard the feelings of the person next to him.
"I won't come inside and bother you."
After admiring Ran's domestic look for a moment, Hoshimiya Yuu smiled. "You're making breakfast, right? Don't let it burn. I'll walk around downstairs for a bit. I've been living here for a few days but haven't explored the area yet."
"It's fine. I already turned off the heat."
Ran seemed accustomed to hosting guests while cooking and said smoothly, "Have you eaten breakfast, Mr. Hoshimiya? Would you like to join me?"
"No, thank you. I ate before I came."
"Mr. Hoshimiya can cook?" Ran looked slightly surprised.
"I know a few simple things. It saves money to cook for yourself, after all."
"Mm, that's true." Ran nodded seriously.
Thinking of her father, who spent all his time drinking and betting on horse races, and then of Kudou Shinichi, who cared about nothing but deductions, Ran's favorable impression of Hoshimiya Yuu increased once again.
Hoshimiya Yuu noticed this but still received no System prompt.
How exactly does this interaction count? It can't be that I can only interact with one person once, right?
He had mentally complained countless times, but the rigid System remained unmoved.
"By the way, Mouri-san, please don't call me 'Teacher' when we're not at school."
Hoshimiya Yuu hesitated for a moment before saying, "I'm only a few years older than you. I just started working, and being called 'Teacher' outside of school feels a bit awkward."
"Hmm… what should I call you then?" Ran tilted her head and asked.
"I'm a few years older than you. If you don't mind, you can call me 'Big Brother' (Nii-san)."
"Hoshimiya Nii-san… Hoshimiya Nii-san…"
Ran murmured the name twice, seeming to find it quite fitting, and instantly changed her address. "Then, Hoshimiya Nii-san, please don't call me Mouri-san either. Just call me by my given name, like Sonoko does."
"Are you sure?"
Hoshimiya Yuu was a little surprised. Being Chinese at heart, he didn't care about being called by his given name, and Ran was only offering his surname.
But it was different for Ran; being willing to let him use her given name meant he was considered at least a trusted friend in her eyes.
Ran's lips curved into a small, playful smile. "Does Hoshimiya Nii-san not want to?"
Hoshimiya Yuu's heart skipped a beat.
Having lived two lives, he was being flirted with by a sixteen-year-old high school girl (JK). Truly Mouri Ran, the Phoenix.
"Of course, I do. But we still need to be careful at school…"
"Yes, Hoshimiya Nii-san."