146: Chapter 146: Ai-chan's Multilayered Schemes

"Mhm."

Ai Haibara nodded calmly.

"Is... Is that really okay?"

Miyano Akemi looked stunned upon hearing this.

Honestly, she was quite fond of this child; she always felt like she was her own younger sister.

But her current situation...

She was, after all, living under someone else's roof. Matters like looking after a child still required the approval of the head of the household, Fujino.

Thinking this, she frowned, turning her gaze towards Fujino, seemingly seeking his opinion.

Fujino met Miyano Akemi's gaze and understood her feelings.

He glanced thoughtfully at Ai Haibara, noticing the faint smile on her cool face. He pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling utterly speechless.

Well, just as he suspected.

Behind all this acting were Ai-chan's multilayered schemes!

If he wasn't mistaken, the act she put on yesterday was likely a ruthless harvesting of his goodwill, while simultaneously demonstrating her own value.

And when she returned home last night and stayed in Miyano Akemi's room, she must have said something...

No wonder Miyano Akemi was so assertive today.

Taking in Ai Haibara wasn't really a problem for Fujino. One extra mouth wouldn't significantly increase expenses, and most importantly...

Thinking this, Fujino took a deep breath and said to Dr. Agasa, "As for looking after this child, I don't really have anything to say against it. After all, I usually have school. If she needs looking after, it will mainly trouble Akemi-nee."

"However, my current income is unstable... This whole household depends on me."

Pausing, Fujino continued, "If there's another child... It's okay if the adults suffer a bit, but we can't let the child suffer..."

"Well said, we can't let the child suffer."

Dr. Agasa forced a wry smile.

Right, he agreed too quickly, almost forgetting this part.

"Two million yen, should be no problem, right?"

Although he wasn't as wealthy as the Kudo couple, who casually threw around ten million, he could still afford two million.

Isn't that just the price of selling a few wondrous little inventions to his bartender friend?

"Two million?"

Fujino stroked his chin, then nodded. "It seems Dr. Agasa, you truly are willing but lack the means. In that case, let the child stay at my place. I see Akemi-nee is quite fond of her."

Two million yen might not seem like much. Fujino often spent money lavishly in the system, which might create the illusion that one million yen wasn't worth much, and a hundred thousand was like pocket change.

But in reality, the average monthly salary in Japan was only two to three hundred thousand yen, not to mention lower-income groups earning less than two hundred thousand.

Two million was not a small sum; it was comparable to an adult's entire annual savings.

Faced with the temptation of a one-to-two million yen child support payment, Fujino naturally agreed.

Besides, who wouldn't like a little loli who was usually aloof but could act cute and spoiled at crucial moments?

And just like that, Fujino's household population +1.

Fujino gained two million yen in child support.

Ai Haibara gained a warm place to stay.

Miyano Akemi gained a little sister...

Only Dr. Agasa was hurt in the making of this world.

As for Ai Haibara's schooling as an unregistered person, Fujino didn't need to worry. Although he didn't know how it worked, Dr. Agasa should be able to handle it.

After dropping Ai Haibara and Miyano Akemi home, Fujino drove to the mall for some shopping.

Although Ai Haibara hadn't asked, Fujino still bought several everyday outfits based on her previous size, then went to a nearby stationery store to buy some books and stationery.

Normally, Ai Haibara could start school tomorrow or the day after. If her books and stationery weren't ready, it might be awkward.

"Why do I feel like an old father?"

Leaving the stationery store after paying, Fujino looked at the large and small bags in his hands, his expression turning strange.

Shaking his head, dismissing the feeling, Fujino started thinking about what else was needed.

Most things were covered now. A schoolbag... he already had one, and it was bulletproof.

Just as Fujino confirmed he hadn't missed anything and was about to leave the mall, he saw a mobile phone shop nearby.

Suddenly, he remembered something and walked inside.

Mobile phones, in his previous life, were humanity's second organ.

Even though the internet wasn't as widespread in this era, and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠phones hadn't been completely replaced by full-screen models, they were still important communication tools.

Japan wasn't like China; in this era of Conan, even elementary school students needed mobile phones.

And Miyano Akemi hadn't had a phone all this time; she deserved one.

Afterward, Fujino bought two identical flip phones for Miyano Akemi and Ai Haibara – one Hatsune Blue, one Scarlet Red.

He had considered getting one for himself too.

But after browsing, he didn't find any phone he particularly liked.

The SELACAO phone he got from the system when he first transmigrated was still good enough.

Actually, his phone didn't exist in this world; it seemed to have been summoned from another ancient anime, 'Eden of the East'.

Although it lacked the ability to casually swipe bank cards, control US warships to launch Tomahawk missiles at Tokyo, or forcibly dispatch fighter jets with air-to-air missiles to intercept said Tomahawks,

thanks to the system's fantastical enhancements, the phone's security reached military-grade levels, its memory capacity was currently unlimited, and even its battery life was the same...

It was quite ridiculous.

Payment, bags, car – the whole process was smooth.

Soon, Fujino drove back home.

Parking the Ford Taurus in the underground garage, Fujino walked straight up to his fourth-floor bedroom.

Fujino pushed open the door. What greeted him were the figures of two familiar girls.

Miyano Akemi was tidying the room, while Ai Haibara ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was helping out nearby.

The scene felt rather warm.

The sisters seemed to be getting along quite well... perhaps even overly familiar.

They had only known each other for a few days, yet they interacted without any awkwardness.

Almost like real sisters...

Wait, they actually were real sisters.

"Fujino-kun, you're back."

Miyano Akemi noticed Fujino had just returned and greeted him.

Nearby, Ai Haibara heard her and turned her head, nodding subtly.

"Mhm."

Fujino nodded silently, already accustomed to such formalities.

As for why Miyano Akemi kept calling him Fujino-kun...

Miyano Akemi seemed to have noticed his subtle reaction when called Douji, so she temporarily used Fujino instead.

He placed the large and small bags on the sofa, casually hung his jacket on the coat rack, then said to Ai Haibara nearby, "Ai-chan, I bought you a few more everyday outfits. Try them on and see if ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠they fit..."

"More clothes?"

"The clothes I have now are already enough..."

Ai Haibara's tone was flat, perhaps with a hidden hint of resentment?

She then walked over, opened the bags, took out a few new outfits, and went to the bathroom to change.

When Ai Haibara came out of the bathroom, she had changed into a red sleeveless high-neck sweater top and beige shorts.

Hmm, the classic outfit.

This was something Fujino happened to find.

"Very cute,"

Miyano Akemi said with a gentle smile nearby.

Fujino also nodded.

A faint blush appeared on Ai Haibara's calm face.

"By the way, Akemi-nee, I haven't given you your things yet."

Fujino took out two boxes from the sofa. "Ai-chan gets one too."

"Is it a phone?"

Miyano Akemi opened the box and examined the phone inside.

"Correct."

Fujino nodded. "Having a mobile phone will make contacting each other much more convenient. In case of emergencies, we can notify each other promptly... As for the SIM cards, I've already set them up."

Phones in this era were still simple to operate. After receiving the phones, the two quickly got used to them, inserted the SIM cards, and saved each other's numbers in their contacts.

"Speaking of which, where will Ai-chan sleep tonight?"

Miyano Akemi raised the question.

The currently used spaces in the four-story building were only Fujino's fourth-floor bedroom (which was practically an apartment) and Miyano Akemi's room on the third floor.

Having Ai Haibara sleep on the sofa wasn't really appropriate.

"I remember your room, Akemi-nee, has a secondary bedroom. I'll furnish it when I have time. For now, let Ai-chan stay with you..."

And just like that, the issue of Ai Haibara's accommodation was resolved...

As for preparations, there wasn't much needed.

Excluding the phones, Fujino hadn't even spent fifty thousand yen this time.

Nothing needed preparation. He scammed two million and a little loli for free. Excellent.

In the blink of an eye, two days passed.

During these two days, Fujino received one commission. After quickly completing it, he earned 500,000 yen and 50 detective points.

His current savings reached 5.2 million yen.

And after gaining 50 detective reputation points, he only ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠needed 50 more to level up his detective rank.

Probably just completing one more commission or task would be enough for an upgrade.

Ai Haibara's school enrollment also proceeded smoothly.

Thanks to Dr. Agasa's efforts, she enrolled as a transfer student.

For Dr. Agasa, who had experience with this once before, enrollment wasn't difficult.

One had to admit, Dr. Agasa really knew his stuff.

However, since the past two days were holidays, Ai Haibara hadn't yet gone to school to experience her first lesson after shrinking.

Then, early in the morning, Fujino received a phone call. It was about Megure Juzo, or Brother Megure, getting his kidney pierced by a steel arrow during his morning exercise.