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"Doc..."
"Did you hear what Ran just said?"
Shinichi Kudo couldn't believe what was happening.
In just half a month, everything around him had changed beyond recognition.
"Uh... haha..."
Professor Agasa let out an awkward laugh.
What was he even supposed to say?
If he had to say anything, it would be that he really shouldn't have helped Shinichi make that bowtie voice changer. The poor kid had just set himself up for another heartbreak.
"Doc... this sucks!"
Deep down, Shinichi was starting to understand.
The last time Ran seemed distracted, it wasn't because of him. She must've been suffering from heartbreak at the time.
All this time, it was just him being delusional.
Ran never liked him to begin with.
"Baka—!"
Suddenly, Shinichi realized something was off.
If Ran didn't like him... then who did she like?
With his skills as a high school detective, he should've been able to figure out if there was someone else in Ran's life. But no one came to mind.
"I need to get to the bottom of this."
He couldn't accept it.
Even if Ran had already changed, he had to find out who had taken his place in her heart.
"Shinichi."
"Don't be reckless."
"Those two mysterious guys in black who shrank your body might still be around. If they find out you're alive, you'll be in serious danger."
Professor Agasa's warning made Shinichi momentarily hold back his impulses.
But the next second—
A fire ignited in his heart.
"No way!"
"I have to know who this guy is."
"Doc!"
"You have to help me with this."
Whether it was his detective's instinct to uncover the truth, or just his own desperate need for answers—Shinichi had to figure out exactly who Ran's boyfriend was.
"Alright, fine."
"But promise me, don't act impulsively."
"You know what'll happen if those guys find out you're still alive."
Mouri Detective Agency
Ran really wasn't lying when she told Shinichi she was busy.
She was busy when she picked up the phone.
"Dad."
"Seriously?"
"How did you get this drunk again?"
Ran let out a long sigh.
What was it like having an alcoholic father who was constantly hungover?
Helpless.
Just pure, absolute helplessness.
This wasn't the first time she'd gotten a call from the bar owner at CLOVER convenience store,
telling her to come pick up her wasted dad.
"Ahaha—"
"Ran, come on."
"I'm in a good mood today."
"I bet on horse number 6 this afternoon, and it came in first place!"
"We won't have to worry about living expenses for the next three months!"
"..."
As he spoke, Kogoro Mouri proudly pulled out his betting ticket, waving it in front of his daughter
like a trophy.
"That doesn't mean you can drink this much!"
"At this rate, we'll barely make it to next month. And what about your health?!"
Ran's anger cooled a little when she heard that her dad had actually won the jackpot.
But then—
She took a closer look at the betting ticket in his hand.
Her veins popped.
Voice trembling, she asked, "You said you bet on horse number what?"
"Obviously number 6."
"Just because I'm drunk doesn't mean I don't remember."
The moment he said that—
Ran snapped.
"How many times do I have to tell you to stop drinking so much?!"
"Can you double-check next time?!"
"You actually bet on horse number 9!"
She was done.
She knew her dad's luck wasn't as good as hers.
6 turned into 9...
That meant not only had they not won the jackpot, but because of his premature celebration, they
now owed the bar owner a round of drinks.
"OMG?!"
In an instant—
Kogoro's drunken haze lifted real quick.
He frantically examined his ticket, flipping it in every direction. The moment he realized the truth,
his whole body deflated like a balloon with a hole in it.
"How?!"
"No, no, no!"
"I bet on number 6! How did it turn into 9?!"
"..."
Kogoro collapsed onto the floor of his room, unable to process the fact that he had just lost his big win.
Ding-dong—
Ding-dong—
Right then, the doorbell rang.
"Sit here and reflect on your life choices."
Ran was too exhausted to even deal with her dad anymore.
She sighed and walked over to the door.
As she opened it—
A woman in a pink wool coat with long, golden curls stood at the entrance.
Although her hat covered most of her face, Ran recognized her instantly.
"....."