"Ah! So close!"
Sonoko gasped, clutching the edge of her seat as Ran's spinning kick nearly landed squarely on Haruna Wada.
"Yeah! If Ran had just stepped forward a little more, that would've hit for sure!" Shinichi slapped his thigh, frustration written all over his face.
"Exactly!" Eri Kisaki clenched a fist too, sharing their regret.
"You guys just don't get it." Kogoro Mouri shook his head with the solemn air of an expert commentator. "That spinning kick wasn't meant to hit—it was meant to defend. Didn't any of you see that Haruna was about to counterattack?"
"Huh? Was she?" Shinichi frowned, replaying the moment in his head but failing to spot it.
"Really? I didn't catch that at all," Sonoko admitted, surprised.
Kogoro folded his arms and smirked like a sage. "Come on! After being baited over and over with those right straights, who could resist striking back?"
He turned toward Ren Kuroda and gave him an approving nod. "Kid, I'll give it to you—you've taught her well. You've got real combat experience. If I were ten years younger, I'd love to spar with you myself!"
Ren smiled faintly. "Come on, boss, you'd really pick on your junior like that? Have some mercy."
Kogoro's grin froze. For once, he was the one left speechless.
Sonoko tried, and failed, to hold in her laughter.
Just then she pointed toward the arena. "Hey—Ran's at it again!"
Sure enough, Ran was back to using the same tactic, peppering Haruna with an endless stream of right straights, deliberately teasing her.
Ren couldn't help but chuckle. Of all the things she could've picked up from me, she went and learned my bad habits—getting under her opponent's skin.
And it worked perfectly. After being provoked again and again, Haruna's patience cracked. She lunged forward for a counterattack.
But Ran had already figured her rhythm out.
Every strike Haruna threw was met with calm, flawless defense.
She poured her strength into the exchange, but her attacks were smothered completely, and her stamina drained fast.
Ran waited until Haruna was gasping for breath—and then struck.
With her guard faltering, Haruna's form broke just enough for Ran's punch to slip through, landing solidly against her chest.
BEEP—BEEP—BEEP!
The referee blew his whistle and raised his hand—Ran scored again.
"Yes! That's my girl!" Sonoko jumped up from her seat, waving both hands. "Keep going, Ran! Finish it off in one sweep!"
"That's my daughter!" Kogoro bellowed, standing up too. "Don't let your old man down, Ran!"
The referee immediately turned and scolded the two of them for disrupting the match.
Even so, the loud cheers seemed to boost Ran's fighting spirit even further.
Just then, Shinichi's phone buzzed.
He stepped out to the side to answer. The voice of Inspector Megure came through the line, brisk and grave—there'd been another homicide.
"I'll be right there," Shinichi said without hesitation.
Returning to the group, he announced, "Sorry, everyone. Inspector Megure's asking for my help on a case."
Ren gave him a knowing look. "Then hurry and come back. Who knows—by the time you return, Ran might already be on the podium collecting her trophy."
Shinichi blinked, then nodded. "You're right."
He'd been about to say goodbye to Ran first—but after hearing that, he changed his mind. "Sonoko, if Ran wins before I'm back, tell her I had to go to a crime scene for Megure. But if I do make it back in time, don't say anything, got it?"
"Fine, but you better hurry!" Sonoko warned. "If she finishes and doesn't see you, she's gonna be upset."
"Got it!" Shinichi said, and dashed off without another word.
The rest of the match was practically one-sided.
Ran's natural talent, quick adaptability, and the tricks she'd learned from Ren came together perfectly. Combined with her refined control and her real-fight training, she completely dominated Haruna.
But Ran wasn't the type to humiliate someone.
When she realized Haruna was outmatched, she deliberately eased off—making a few "mistakes" near the end to let the score look closer than it really was.
It was pure class.
When Ran finally secured her victory and stepped onto the podium to receive her trophy, Sonoko was already on her phone.
"Shinichi! Are you done yet? Ran's getting her award right now!"
From the other end came an exasperated sigh. "Traffic jam… I only just reached the crime scene."
"Then you're doomed," Sonoko said, grinning wickedly. "Better start thinking about how you'll apologize later!"
Without waiting for a reply, she hung up cheerfully.
"Come on! To celebrate Ran's championship—cheers!"
In a stylish restaurant that evening, Sonoko raised her glass of fruit juice high. The rest joined in, clinking glasses and congratulating Ran from all sides.
"Thank you, everyone!" Ran's smile was bright and genuine. She turned toward Ren. "And especially you, Kuroda-kun. You've been training with me after school every day, sharing all your experience… I can't thank you enough."
Ren waved it off. "You're giving me too much credit. You picked things up fast—any progress you made came from your own effort."
It wasn't false modesty. He was speaking the truth. Most people wouldn't have advanced half as far in just a month.
"You're way too humble," Sonoko said, giving his shoulder a friendly pat. "Just take the thanks, okay?"
"Alright, alright," Ren chuckled. "I'll accept it, then. You've earned this win, Ran. Time to finally relax for a while."
"Yeah… I can finally breathe again." Ran laughed softly, relief flooding her voice. The past month's training had been intense, both physically and mentally.
"Okay everyone, dig in! Don't be shy," she said, gesturing toward the spread of dishes on the table.
She was genuinely happy—she hadn't disappointed anyone's expectations, and Ren's efforts hadn't been wasted.
Still… as she glanced toward the empty seat beside her, she couldn't help feeling a small pang of disappointment. Shinichi still hadn't shown up.
After a moment's hesitation, she quietly excused herself, claiming she needed the restroom, and stepped outside to call him.
The instant Ran left, Kogoro let out a low grumble. "That brat's gone too far! Not even showing up—doesn't he know Ran wanted him here?"
"Uncle, come on," Sonoko said quickly, rushing to Shinichi's defense. "It's not like he had a choice! There's a case—he's out solving a murder. Once he's done, I'm sure he'll rush right over."
"Busy, huh? You think he's busier than me?" Eri said coolly, taking a sip of her tea.
Sonoko froze. "Uh…"
She couldn't argue. Eri was one of the top lawyers in Japan—her schedule was always packed, yet she'd still made time to attend.
It wasn't like Shinichi could be that much busier…
Sonoko turned desperately to Ren for backup.
But Ren merely reached over, picked up the serving chopsticks, and placed a couple of dishes on Sonoko's plate. "Eat, Sonoko. The food's getting cold."
His tone was calm, almost amused—subtle shorthand for stay out of it.
Sonoko pouted, but picked up her chopsticks.
Maybe, just this once, he was right.