"Who were you talking to?" Conan demanded, bursting into the bathroom.
The great detective had just deployed his advanced skill—eavesdropping at the door crack.
He'd faintly caught the names Gin and Vodka.
"Aren't you desperate to pee?" Tsuneo leaned against the wall, amused, watching the flustered kid.
"Not anymore!" Conan trailed him into the bedroom.
Being kept in the dark was driving the detective up the wall.
"I asked a friend to look into those two codenames," Tsuneo said, laying out bedding, tossing out a half-baked lie.
"Then what's this about a million yen?"
"Commission fee. You're paying."
"No way!" Conan wasn't buying it.
"Believe what you want."
As they spoke, the ceiling creaked with the sound of wood groaning, drawing their eyes.
Fight on, young man!
…
At 4:30 a.m., Tsuneo woke on schedule, kicked off the grim-reaper kid clinging to his leg, threw on workout clothes, and jogged to the park to practice his punches.
He was pretty pleased with his progress.
After settling in Beika Town, he'd been training for just over a year. His skills now likely surpassed Ran's.
Bajiquan was a brutally effective combat style. In a life-or-death fight, even three or four unicorn-skirted girls kicking at him wouldn't stand a chance.
But here's the question.
How big was the gap between Ran and Super Saiyan Kyogoku Makoto?
No doubt—one's at the foot of the mountain, the other's at the peak.
Even top-tier fighters like Akai Shuichi or Tooru Amuro were just halfway up.
Tsuneo had a long road ahead, which was why he kept details from Kudo Shinichi.
He wanted to see if he could reach the summit—or higher.
Bang!
Another punch shook a tree. Tsuneo wiped his sweat and jogged back to the apartment.
It was just past seven. Conan was up, glasses missing, hair a mess, shirt half-unbuttoned.
"You're back?" Conan mumbled, rubbing sleepy eyes.
"Last night, you were hugging my leg, calling out for Ran," Tsuneo teased, wondering if the upstairs couple's antics had sparked the kid's dreams.
"No way." Conan shook his head, dismissing the idea.
His leg? Hard as concrete. Hug that and talk in his sleep?
"Wash your drool off when you clean your face," Tsuneo said, picking up pajama pants and tossing them over.
Conan stared at the pants, lost in thought.
"It's normal. Physically, you're a seven-year-old, but mentally, you're a seventeen-year-old perv," Tsuneo said, ruffling his head.
"Get lost!"
…
The two got ready and left, grabbing breakfast at a convenience store before heading to Dr. Agasa's.
The scientist was still asleep. Tsuneo left him a breakfast portion and drove Conan toward the detective agency in his red pickup.
They parked behind a sleek black luxury car.
A short-haired girl with a headband, in a Teitan High uniform, stepped out, calling Ran's name from the street.
Suzuki Sonoko, heiress of the Suzuki conglomerate, too stubborn to ride in her own car.
Conan, clutching his breakfast, hopped out, greeted Ran and Sonoko, and prepared to head to school.
"Conan, did you stay at Tsuneo's place last night?" Ran asked, waving at the departing pickup with a smile.
"Yeah, we played video games," Conan said, biting into his sandwich with a nod.
"No matter how many times I see him, he's so cool…" Sonoko sighed, eyes starry, picturing the one-handed-driving mechanic.
You lovesick fool! Conan shot the infatuated heiress a sidelong glance.
"Ran, how about inviting Tsuneo to the villa party this weekend?" Sonoko asked on the way to school, seeking Ran's help since she barely knew him.
"Isn't that Ayako's party? Is that okay?"
"No problem, no problem! Please handle it," Sonoko waved it off, then grabbed Ran's hand with a serious look, pleading.
Faced with Sonoko's rekindled crush, Ran gave an awkward smile, glancing at Conan for his take.
"As long as there's good food, Tsuneo will show," Conan hinted.
He knew that glutton too well.
"Good point," Ran chuckled, nodding.
Tsuneo seemed like the type who cared about little besides food…
"Good food?" Sonoko perked up. "Leave it to me!" she declared, hands on hips, letting out a weird laugh.
Conan's mouth twitched. Seeing Uncle Mouri's vibe in a seventeen-year-old girl was… something.
…
That evening.
"A party?"
"What party?"
"Do you know how busy I am?"
Tsuneo, mooching dinner at Dr. Agasa's, took Conan's call.
Seriously, he'd just been crowned Beika Town's most popular mechanic, his career soaring. Why did this detective keep dragging him into things?
Did he know how many housewives and girls invited him to parties daily?
"Sister Sonoko said there'll be lots of good food," Conan said in a childish tone, under Ran's watchful eye.
"Well, I guess one day off won't hurt."
"I love going to parties!" Tsuneo's tone brightened instantly.
His appetite? A good meal out could cost tens of thousands.
With the Suzuki heiress footing the bill, why pass it up?
"But I don't have to do anything for it, right?" he asked cautiously.
"Bye!" Conan hung up.
"What'd Tsuneo say?" Ran asked, curious.
"He's in," Conan nodded.
"I'll call Sonoko." Ran dialed, relaying the news.
Conan could hear Sonoko's ecstatic cackle from across the room.
Glancing at Mouri Kogoro, leering at the TV, Conan thought—they'd definitely hit it off in some ways…
(End of Chapter)
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