Gurgle—
In the living room, Ren's stomach voiced another protest. After an entire afternoon of experimentation, Ren was thoroughly disappointed with his "cheat" ability.
"I can't store items. Time inside flows almost exactly the same as outside, so it's useless as a Hyperbolic Time Chamber. It doesn't seem to be a spatial superpower either. It feels like my consciousness can just enter some unknown void," Ren muttered, his tone filled with helplessness. He had tried every use case he could think of, but none worked. This "cheat" was harder to use than he had imagined.
"Well, it is what it is. Might as well eat first."
Dragging his mentally exhausted self back to the kitchen, Ren resumed cooking the meal he had started at noon. Of course, it was now dinner.
The next morning, Ren woke up with a slight headache, feeling as though he had forgotten something.
Strange. Why do I feel like a whole lifetime has passed in a single night?
He shook his head, finished washing up, and headed to school. Along the way, a nagging sense of oddity persisted. He sorted through his memories and suddenly realized: Wait, wasn't yesterday Saturday? Today should be Sunday! Why am I going to school?!
But looking around at the sea of students in Teitan uniforms with their schoolbags, he started to doubt his own memory.
Near the school gate, Sonoko stepped out of her family's luxury car and habitually walked to Ren's side. Noticing his furrowed brow, she asked curiously, "What's wrong? You look like you've got the weight of the world on your shoulders this morning."
Ren snapped out of it and looked at her. "Sonoko, do you remember how long it's been since Shinichi disappeared?"
Sonoko gave him a weird look. "He disappeared last Saturday. I spent all of yesterday with Ran, cursing out that irresponsible jerk..."
She paused, then a playful glint appeared in her eyes. She nudged him with her elbow. "Wait... is someone jealous because I spent yesterday with Ran instead of you?"
"Yesterday?" Ren rubbed his chin and nodded. He thought to himself: It's here. The timeline that remained stable for ten years has finally entered total chaos!
Faced with the impending chronological nightmare, Ren felt no worry—only excitement!
Bring it on! A vacation every other day! Valentine's Day every three days! Christmas once a week! The glorious days are here!
However, Sonoko's next sentence was like a bucket of ice water dumped over his burning enthusiasm.
"I was thinking... after we turn eighteen and get married, should we go on a world tour?"
Eighteen...Getting married...
The words he once spoke so easily—the "eighteen" that seemed so close at hand—had now become a future he could see but never touch!
"NOOOO!!!"
Snowflakes flutter The North Wind blows~
Ren suddenly collapsed to his knees in tragic despair, looking as though all hope had vanished from his life.
"Hey! Ren! What's wrong? Don't scare me like that!" Sonoko crouched beside him, panicked. Looking at the man who had seemingly lost all color, she didn't know what to do.
After a moment, Ren's "self-repair" kicked in. He stood up slowly and said, "It's nothing. I just... suddenly thought of something truly hopeless."
Relieved to see him recovering, Sonoko patted her chest. "If you don't want to go on a tour, it's fine! We can just have a honeymoon in our own backyard."
She assumed Ren's breakdown was a reaction to the world tour. Though she was a bit miffed, seeing him that devastated made her decide to be the "bigger person" and accommodate his weird preferences.
"It's not that." Ren shook his head with a weak smile. "The world tour is no problem. I just... really thought of something else that hit me hard."
"Hit you hard?" Sonoko was amazed. Ever since she'd known him, Ren was always composed and confident. He didn't even flinch when facing her parents, let alone look "hit hard."
What kind of event could break Ren Kurogane that instantly?
Ren nodded, his smile returning to his face. "Don't worry, I've pulled myself together. You don't need to worry about me."
Sonoko suppressed her mountain of questions and smiled. "Alright. But if there's anything I can help with, you have to tell me! Don't carry it all alone!"
"Yes, yes, Ma'am!"
The two entered the classroom chatting, finding Ran already in her seat, staring blankly at the empty desk beside her. Sonoko went over to comfort her. "Ran, pull yourself together! You're the Karate Queen; you can't let a guy turn you into this!"
Startled, Ran turned around. Seeing it was Sonoko, she forced a smile. "Don't worry, I'm not some dummy who only thinks about romance! Shinichi has disappeared before... it was just so sudden this time."
Some people claim they aren't "romance-brained," but their actions prove they are top-tier. Sonoko sighed, knowing she couldn't talk her friend out of it, and went to her own seat.
Throughout the day, Ren kept experimenting with his "cheat" ability. His consciousness flickered between the two spaces, but he still couldn't find a use for it.
Is this really just a cosmic joke played on me by the universe? Ren wept internally.
The "cheat" he'd waited for seemed like a paperweight, and the promised "eighteen" had become a distant shore he would never reach. Anyone would be desperate in his shoes!
That evening, after school, Ren received a phone call from Conan.
"Ren... you have empty rooms at your place, right? Can I move in with you?"
Conan's voice was pleading, as if he were facing an impending apocalypse.
"No. That room is reserved specifically for Sonoko. Don't even think about it!" Ren refused flatly. Then, his tone shifted to a tease. "Let me guess... Ran is planning to give you a bath tonight, isn't she?"
On the other end, standing outside the Mouri Detective Agency, Conan's body went rigid. His face turned beet red as he hissed, "Of course you'd think of that!"
"Oh ho! I actually guessed right?" Ren burst into unshielded laughter. "I say, kid, stop acting like you've been wronged! Just enjoy it, won't you?"
"Enjoy my foot!" Conan had completely broken down. He whispered into the phone, "Stop talking nonsense! My body might be small, but my mind is still an adult! Ran wants to bathe me! She even suggested we bathe together! This is a death sentence! Brother! Father! Save me!!"
"I really can't help you there..." Ren said with feigned difficulty. "I'm a minor and an orphan myself. Legally, I don't have the standing to be your guardian."
Hearing this, Conan fell into true despair. He had calculated everything but forgot that legally, Ren had no capacity or responsibility to care for a child. Even if Conan wanted to move in, it was impossible.
Most importantly: this guy had no intention of adopting him!
Wait! What do I mean 'adopt'! I'm Kudo Shinichi! I don't need to be adopted!
That night, Conan lived through a state of both bliss and agonizing torment.
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