"Ouch, it's freezing."
Kurosawa Hoshino woke up shivering. He glanced out the window and spotted white flakes drifting down from the sky. Winter's here. And it's snowing again.
Still wrapped in his blanket, he shuffled to the wardrobe and dug out some warmer clothes.
After getting dressed, he headed to the bathroom to wash up. He checked his phone—8 a.m. Time to head across the street for breakfast.
"Conan. Wake up." Kurosawa Hoshino knocked on Conan's door.
"Okaaay~" Conan's groggy voice filtered through.
"Remember to lock up. I'm heading out."
With that, Kurosawa Hoshino left the apartment. Outside, a layer of snow had already blanketed the roadside. Each step crunched beneath his feet.
"Hoshino, good morning!" Azusa Enomoto swung open the door of the Poirot Cafe across the street and greeted him with a bright smile.
"Morning, Miss Azusa."
"Want a sandwich?"
"No thanks. Ran's probably got breakfast ready." Kurosawa Hoshino smiled and headed upstairs.
A few minutes later, he reached the third floor.
Without bothering to knock, he opened the door and was immediately hit with the rich aroma of food.
"Ran, I just remembered something." Kurosawa Hoshino slipped off his shoes in the entryway and strode inside. He stopped at the kitchen door and fixed his gaze on Ran, who was conspicuously avoiding eye contact while pretending to be busy.
"What is it?" Ran's voice came out weak.
"Those photos. You know which ones."
"Okay..." Ran sighed. Seeing that Kurosawa Hoshino had indeed remembered, there was no point in denying it.
She turned around, still wearing her apron, her big lavender eyes锁定 on him pitifully. "How about I cook you something really delicious?"
"Delicious?" Kurosawa Hoshino studied her exaggerated expression. He knew it was an act, but he couldn't resist playing along. He slowly walked up to her, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "I don't want anything delicious right now. I want something else."
"Don't push it."
"Don't worry. I won't."
"Then tell me."
"Hehe~"
"Hehe my foot." Kogorō Mouri's icy voice cut through from behind.
Kurosawa Hoshino felt a chill run down his spine—but his Danger Prediction didn't trigger, so no attack was coming.
"Uncle Mouri, I was just joking with Ran." Kurosawa Hoshino turned to face the expressionless detective, flashing a sheepish grin.
"Behave yourself." Kogorō warned before heading to the bathroom to wash up.
Kurosawa Hoshino glanced back at Ran and caught the mischievous smile she hadn't quite hidden in time. He paused, then realization dawned. "Oh, Ran. You knew Uncle Mouri was behind me, didn't you? You said that on purpose?"
"Hehehe~" Ran stuck out her tongue playfully. "You looked so suspicious just now. I just went along with it."
"Fine, fine. Just make me something delicious and I'll forgive you."
"Leave it to me! I'll have it ready by noon."
"Tch~" Kurosawa Hoshino waved a hand and settled onto the small table in the living room to wait for breakfast.
A few minutes later, Conan showed up before breakfast arrived.
Kogorō had just finished washing up and joined them at the table.
"Hey, kid." Kogorō grabbed the remote and flipped on the TV, watching the morning news as he casually asked, "It's been a while. Haven't your parents asked about you staying here?"
"I'm curious too." Ran brought out breakfast. "Conan, do you have your family's phone number?"
"Uh... well..." Conan groaned inwardly. He'd thought things would stay peaceful, but now they were asking the hard questions.
After a moment's panic, he scrambled for an excuse. "Uncle Mouri, Ran-neechan, I can't remember their numbers. I'll ask Professor Agasa this afternoon."
"Fine." Kogorō nodded. "I'll give you three days. Have your parents contact me. I refuse to believe a kid your age has been staying at someone else's house this long without them caring at all."
Conan shrank back, his mind racing for a solution.
Afternoon rolled around in the blink of an eye.
Before Conan could make it to Professor Agasa's house, an unexpected visitor showed up at the Mouri Detective Agency's second floor.
Everyone except Kurosawa Hoshino was stunned—Ran included.
"You're saying you're Conan's mother?" Ran stared at the woman in disbelief.
Conan's eyes went wide. He knew perfectly well that this woman was not his mother.
She wore a pinkish-purple uniform. Her hair was curly, her figure plump, her face plain—nothing like his beautiful, former-starlet mother.
"Yes." Yukiko, disguised as Edogawa Fumiyo, smiled warmly. She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around the still-shocked Conan, her voice soft. "I'm sorry, Conan. It took me so long to come get you."
"Wait—who are you?" Conan shoved her away and demanded loudly.
The question immediately put Ran and Kogorō back on alert.
Yukiko smiled slightly and produced a business card.
It read: Edogawa Fumiyo.
That basically confirmed it—Conan's mother. After all, his name was Edogawa Conan.
Yukiko sighed helplessly. "He's probably mad at me for taking so long to pick him up. Plus, he loves playing detective, so he's hamming it up. That's why you were all suspicious."
"Well, that makes sense." Kogorō caught himself before saying something else. "Conan is mischievous. I believe you. Alright, Conan—go with your mother."
"No! She's not!" Conan was terrified. There was no way he was going anywhere with this stranger.
He spotted Kurosawa Hoshino, who hadn't said a word. Conan ran over and tugged at his pants. "Hoshino-nii! Your deduction skills are amazing—you must know she's not my mother, right? Expose her! Use your detective powers!"
"Conan, stop fooling around." Kurosawa Hoshino's voice was calm. "Look at her eyes. They're full of love for you. That's not something you can fake. She is your mother."
"No way! Yesterday you were suspicious of a random bandaged weirdo, but today you're not suspicious of some woman who just showed up out of nowhere?" Conan was so furious he wanted to jump up and punch him. Does this guy just hate me? Is he trying to get me kidnapped?
"Conan, don't be ridiculous. You said you trust my detective skills, right? Then trust me. Acting won't work—I've never lost."
The last line was deliberate. Kurosawa Hoshino knew exactly how to push Conan's buttons.
It worked.
Conan's mind raced. Think. All my gear—the tranquilizer watch, everything—it's basically a stealth weapon. I've got nothing to fear from this strange woman.
He looked up at Kurosawa Hoshino. "Hoshino-nii. You're going to lose this time. And you'll regret it."
The thought of Kurosawa Hoshino finally losing to him filled Conan with glee.
He turned to Edogawa Fumiyo and said coldly, "Let's go."
"That's just how he is." Yukiko bowed apologetically. "Sorry for all the trouble."
Kurosawa Hoshino just smiled.
Ran and the others watched from the window as the two walked downstairs and got into a car parked by the roadside.
Conan stared intently at Kurosawa Hoshino until the car started moving. His eyes clearly said, You'll regret this. But the expression he couldn't quite hide? Pure victory.