"Hmm? Shiraishi-kun, why aren't you sitting in the stands?" Shinichi asked curiously, seeing Shiraishi E coming down the aisle.
"I just got a lecture from Ran's mom about drinking and all that," Shiraishi E shrugged.
"Auntie Eri is like that, she can't stand even a speck of dust in her eye," Shinichi said. He didn't think drinking was a big deal; he had secretly tried it at home too. But he didn't like the taste of alcohol, and the dizzy feeling disrupted his thoughts. Plus, alcohol affects the brain, which is bad for deduction. So, he gave it up after one try.
Shiraishi E didn't mention that he had been getting Kogoro Mouri drunk every day. Instead, he said, "They're here. Aren't you going to go up and say hello?"
"Forget it... I'd just get scolded if I went up," Shinichi shook his head helplessly. "Uncle Mouri would definitely say I'm stealing his business. As for Auntie Eri, sigh... she used to scold me all the time when I was little. Now I'm scared to even breathe too loudly in front of her." The high school detective looked melancholic as he recalled his childhood trauma.
Hearing this, Shiraishi E asked, "Avoiding it like this isn't a solution. You can't just not see them forever, right?"
"I know that too. This kind of thing... let's talk about it later," Shinichi scratched his head, not knowing how to handle the situation.
Shiraishi E said no more.
Just then, Sonoko walked over carrying a convenience store plastic bag. "Why are you all here? Uncle and Auntie Mouri are sitting in the stands."
"Weren't we waiting for you?" Shiraishi E smiled. "Wouldn't it be awkward for us to go up there without you?"
"Yeah, yeah," Shinichi nodded repeatedly.
"Hehe, are you two scared?" Sonoko teased, then said, "If that's the case, then let's go!" She gestured for the two of them to follow.
Shiraishi E followed naturally. After all, he wasn't the one feeling guilty.
Shinichi scratched his head, hesitated for a long time, but finally steeled himself and followed.
Back in the stands, Sonoko greeted the two of them warmly. "Uncle Mouri! Auntie Eri, long time no see! How have you been lately?" As she spoke, she handed each of them a bottle of oolong tea. Both Kogoro Mouri and Eri Kisaki were very fond of Sonoko. She was sensible, polite, and spoke sweetly—who wouldn't like her?
Shinichi also took the opportunity to say hello. There were a lot of people around, so no matter how much Kogoro Mouri disliked Shinichi, he couldn't say it out loud and just grunted noncommittally.
Eri Kisaki replied politely, then looked at Shiraishi E. She wanted to apologize to him, but with so many people around... she was too embarrassed. If she apologized, Kogoro Mouri would surely pick on it and start an argument with her. Thinking this, Eri decided to find a private opportunity to apologize to him later.
After about ten minutes of matches, it was finally time for the finals.
Sonoko jumped up from her chair excitedly. "The match is starting! Everyone look, Ran's on!"
"I see her, I see her! That's my daughter, alright! So amazing!" Kogoro Mouri said proudly, as if Ran's success today was all due to his hard work.
"So what if she's your daughter? It's not your credit," Eri Kisaki said coolly, bluntly deflating his ego.
This made Kogoro Mouri look at Eri with a disgruntled expression, as if to say, "There are so many kids here, and you're calling me out like this?" Since you won't give me face, I won't give you any either! He huffed and said, "Unlike some people! Who even forgot when their daughter's competition started. If it weren't for Sonoko's reminder, she'd probably still be sitting in her office!"
Eri Kisaki's eyebrow twitched. Just as she was about to say something, Sonoko grabbed the two of them, who were about to start arguing again, and tried to persuade them with a bitter smile. "Alright, alright, you two each say one less thing and focus on Ran's match!!"
"Hmph!" They both grumbled and stopped arguing.
Shinichi was secretly relieved that they had started arguing and hadn't focused on him. Otherwise, he would have been the one being interrogated.
This left Shiraishi E at a loss for words. With these two immature parents, Ran really had it tough. He pulled his attention back to the ring.
The official match began. After bowing to each other, both Ran and Hina Wada remained restrained, not making the first move. They circled each other, neither willing to attack first, and this standoff lasted for several minutes. Ran remained patient, waiting for her opponent to make a move... She had once had a standoff with Shiraishi E for half an hour without making a move, so she could endure this now.
Hina Wada, on the other hand, was starting to get restless. She had learned how to attack from Kyogoku Makoto but hadn't learned patience. Seeing that Ran wasn't moving, Hina Wada charged forward and began to probe. After a few combinations of punches, she found that Ran's defense was very solid, with almost no openings. Unable to break through, Hina Wada's brow furrowed slightly as she began to think about how to break her opponent's defense.
The moment her brow furrowed, Ran caught it! She's thinking!
Ran threw a punch at her opponent's face unexpectedly. Hina Wada instinctively ducked her head back, only to find that Ran had pulled her punch back partway. It was a feint; the real attack was a leg sweep!
Oh no! By the time she realized something was wrong, it was too late. Hina Wada could only watch as Ran swept her off her feet and then rushed in to land a punch.
Tweet, tweet, tweet—
The referee blew the whistle and raised his hand, signaling that Ran had scored a point!
After getting up from the ground, Hina Wada's expression was grim. Something's wrong, very wrong. How did Ran's fighting style change? She used to be so good at attacking, why did she suddenly start defending?
Puzzled, the match began again. Hina Wada advanced, once again launching a probing attack. Just then, Ran suddenly exploded without warning, going on an all-out offensive. This caught Hina Wada off guard, and she quickly went on the defensive.
A right straight... another right straight... why is it still a right straight? Does she only know how to throw a right straight? Hina Wada watched as Ran kept using her right straight, and the urge to counterattack grew stronger. However, just as she was about to counter, her opponent spun around for a back kick without warning!
Watching Ran's heel flash past her eyes, Hina Wada was so scared that she abandoned the thought of counterattacking. She had almost attacked... if she had, she would have taken that kick for sure. The thought terrified her, and she became more cautious, not daring to counterattack rashly.
Hina Wada couldn't understand why Ran was so unorthodox. Who throws a series of right straights and then suddenly follows up with a spinning back kick?
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