"My name is Tsujimura Kimie, and I would like to commission you to investigate the character of my son's girlfriend."
"Here are her photos and resume."
"As for the specific details, we can discuss them thoroughly with my husband after we go to my house."
"..."
The middle-aged woman named Tsujimura Kimie explained her purpose and produced the prepared documents.
This commission seemed ordinary, but in reality, it heavily tested a Detective's observation and analysis skills.
Conan and Heiji, upon receiving the documents, eagerly began their analysis.
"Our agency accepts this commission." Baishi Hui agreed. Since Mouri Kogoro wasn't here, he was the one in charge.
He looked at Heiji and "Shinichi" and said, "Let these two go! Don't look down on them because they're young, they're quite capable."
"Is that so?" Tsujimura Kimie sized up the two young men and nodded in agreement.
She didn't actually need a professional Detective to help with the investigation. Since she was the witness, the less professional they were, the better!
"Without further ado, come back with me." Tsujimura Kimie said, then got up and went downstairs first.
Heiji turned to look at "Shinichi", eager to compete, "Kudo, the competition has begun! Don't disappoint me!"
As he spoke, he didn't forget to take out a bottle of Erguotou from his backpack as a gift for Ran, then followed her.
"You too, don't disappoint us... right? Shinichi!!" Conan followed, saying with full confidence.
Yukiko, disguised as Shinichi, sighed helplessly; she didn't want to go.
In her eyes, Ran, her future daughter-in-law, was much more important than the so-called competition!
But there was no other way... Conan insisted on going, so she could only follow to cover for him.
"Shinichi" had just taken two steps when she suddenly saw that Baishi Hui had no intention of leaving, so she asked, "Baishi, aren't you coming?"
"No." Baishi Hui shook his head and said, "It's enough for the two of you to go. Besides, you're competing, why would I join in the fun?"
"I can't be of much help anyway, so I won't go and disturb you... It's not too late to come back and catch up after the competition ends."
Ran put away the Erguotou. She had originally wanted to go too.
But upon hearing what Baishi Hui said, she felt that she wouldn't be of much help if she went, and might even distract Shinichi.
If he were to lose the competition because of her, wouldn't she become a sinner?
Ran said softly, "I'll prepare some afternoon tea here at the agency and wait for you to come back."
"Shinichi" was unwilling from the bottom of her heart to let the two of them be alone.
She quickly pulled Conan and reminded him in a low voice, "Shinichi! Didn't you see? If you go, these two will be alone... and they'll make afternoon tea together!!"
"It's okay, it's okay!" Conan waved his hand, not taking the matter to heart, and said, "It's not the first time they've been alone... One more time doesn't add much, one less time doesn't subtract much."
"It's not the first time they've made afternoon tea, they've even made dinner together. It's too late to stop them now."
"Besides, this case isn't difficult. With my rich experience in solving cases, I can solve it in just thirty minutes."
"By the time we get back, maybe they'll have just finished buying the ingredients from the supermarket!"
"What?!" "Shinichi" listened to Conan's words in astonishment, her heart sinking as she realized the situation was even more serious than she had imagined!
They've even made afternoon tea and dinner together?
They've already started integrating into each other's lives?
"You idiot." She said, feeling exasperated, "He has already entered Ran's life!"
"Soon, Ran will become his!"
"And you call yourself a Detective? You didn't even realize this?"
Seeing how serious Yukiko was, Conan also started to panic, saying, "It's... it's not that serious, is it?"
"Before... Ran often came to my house to make breakfast, and nothing happened!"
"Mother, aren't you overreacting?"
Yukiko wanted to say more, but at that moment, Heiji's voice came from outside the door, "Hey!! Kudo, what are you doing? We're all waiting for you, hurry up and come down!"
"Are you scared?"
"If you're scared, admit defeat now! Don't waste everyone's time!"
Heiji's words accurately struck Conan's competitive side. He immediately shouted, "Shinichi and I are coming down now!!"
Saying that, he said weakly to Yukiko, "How about we solve this case first?"
"Ah... let's go, let's go." Yukiko felt quite powerless. She knew her son wasn't good at romance, but she didn't expect him to be this bad.
She no longer insisted on staying.
Because the current situation was no longer something that could be solved by simply staying.
She also needed some time to think carefully about how to resolve this situation.
............
"Be careful on your way!"
After Ran waved goodbye to them from the second-floor agency, she turned back and asked, "Shirashi-kun, I'm going to start preparing afternoon tea. What would you like to eat?"
"Making afternoon tea is too much work, let's eat out instead." Baishi Hui didn't hide his concern.
This made Ran happy inside. She chuckled softly, "It's not hard work, I'll just make a few simple things!"
"Making afternoon tea isn't just about making desserts, you also have to clean the kitchen and wash the dishes. The whole process takes at least one or two hours." Baishi Hui shook his head and insisted, "Let's eat out!"
"Besides, they're just going to investigate that girl's character, they'll be back soon."
Ran was very happy that Baishi Hui understood her effort and knew that making afternoon tea wasn't as simple as it seemed, as it also involved a lot of housework.
His last sentence also made her abandon the idea of making afternoon tea herself: "You're right, it might be too late... Then I'll order some afternoon tea from the Poirot Cafe downstairs!"
"It's rare to see Shinichi, and Heiji also came from Osaka and brought a gift... Should we find a better cafe?" Baishi Hui once again made Ran an offer she couldn't refuse.
"That's true!" Ran nodded in agreement, deciding to find a good cafe to treat Heiji to a meal, which would be proper hospitality.
So, she immediately took out her phone and called a cafe she thought was good to make a reservation.
After successfully making the reservation, the two of them closed the agency door and took a car to the reserved cafe!
On the way, Ran also sent a text message to Shinichi, asking them to come directly to the cafe after solving the case.
As soon as the two of them arrived at the cafe and sat down, Ran received a reply from Shinichi.
"Huh?" She looked at the text message and let out a surprised sound.
"What's wrong?" Baishi Hui asked, pretending not to know.
Ran handed her phone to Baishi Hui to see, saying somewhat speechlessly, "They encountered a murder case, they probably won't be able to make it back anytime soon."
"Is that so... Then it's not good for us to just sit here. Let's eat while we wait!" As Baishi Hui spoke, a hint of a smile played on his lips.
In the face of Conan's power, even if Yukiko came, it was useless.
Ran also felt that just sitting wasn't good, so she ordered a cup of coffee and dessert.