8: Chapter 8: A Silent Understanding

Mouri Detective Agency.

"Ran-neechan!"

Conan, clad in his signature blue suit, trotted over as Ran headed for the door.

"Where are you going so late?" he asked in his most convincing little-kid ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠voice.

"I'm just going to check if Fujino-senpai had a proper dinner," Ran replied.

The image of Fujino's apartment, littered with instant ramen cups, tugged at her heartstrings.

"Senpai?" Conan wracked his brain.

He didn't recall knowing anyone named Fujino. "Who's that?"

"He's in my class, Ran," she explained patiently.

"He lives right across the street. I heard his parents passed away last year, so he lives alone now, working as a detective... He looks so malnourished."

"He even fainted in class the other day! Had to go to the nurse's office, and he was out for ages. The nurse found a lot of bruises on him too."

"Hiratsuka-sensei specifically asked me to keep an eye on him. It would be terrible if something happened while he was all alone..."

Ran trailed off, slipping on her shoes.

"Fujino? How come I've never heard of another high school detective in our class?" Conan frowned, puzzled.

But he quickly dismissed the thought. She's just going across the street to check on someone. No big deal.

"Senpai!"

Just as Fujino, Yoko Okino, and her manager were about to get into the car to head to Yoko's apartment, a familiar voice called out.

Fujino turned.

It was Ran.

She was dressed casually now – a soft yellow sweater, a long blue skirt, and a brown apron tied around her waist, giving her a distinct 'doting housewife' vibe.

"Ran?" Fujino blinked, surprised to see her again.

"I was just about to start making dinner, and I wondered if Fujino-senpai..." Ran began, but her words trailed off as she noticed the woman standing beside Fujino.

Wow, she's pretty! Is that Fujino-senpai's girlfriend? Ran thought, instantly revising her dinner ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠invitation plan. It wouldn't be appropriate now.

But as she looked closer, the woman seemed familiar... Recognition dawned. "Wait! Aren't you Yoko Okino?!" she gasped, her voice rising in excitement.

"Shh!" Fujino quickly clamped a hand over Ran's mouth.

"Ran, keep it down! Okino-san is here on a top-secret case..."

"Oh, I see..." Ran breathed a sigh of relief, slowly lowering the hand she'd instinctively raised for a karate chop.

Fujino watched that hand descend, a cold sweat breaking out on his back. If That fist could demolish a telephone pole, It could definitely demolish me.

Note to self: Never piss off Ran Mouri.

"Detective Fujino, is this your girlfriend?" Yoko Okino asked, observing them with a warm, knowing smile. "She's very cute."

"Ahem!" Fujino coughed awkwardly.

"We're just classmates, Okino-san! Please don't misunderstand!"

"That's right!" Ran nodded vigorously.

"Fujino-senpai and I are just classmates! And we happen to live across the street from each other..."

"Ah, so childhood friends, then?" Yoko teased, covering her mouth with her hand, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

'I totally get it, no need to explain,' her expression seemed to say.

She sighed dramatically. "Ah, youth."

"Eh?!" A blush crept up Ran's neck, making her look endearingly flustered.

Fujino was rendered speechless by Yoko's imaginative leap and Ran's inexplicable blushing. He sighed.

"Ran, I appreciate the thought, really. But I have work right now. Maybe another time?"

"Okay! In that case, I won't disturb you, Fujino-senpai!" Still blushing, Ran prepared for a hasty retreat.

But just as she turned to leave, she cast one last, slightly wistful glance back at Yoko Okino.

"Why don't you come with us, Ran-san?" Yoko suddenly suggested, seemingly having interpreted something in that fleeting glance.

"Huh?" Ran turned back, surprised.

"Would I be intruding, Okino-san?"

"Not at all!" Yoko waved her hand dismissively, then shot a meaningful look at Fujino.

"I'm sure Detective Fujino wouldn't mind, right?"

"Ah... well, it is your case, Okino-san. If you're okay with it, then of course, it's no problem," Fujino stammered, scratching the back of his head awkwardly, completely oblivious to the silent communication that had just transpired.

He wouldn't understand, of course.

It was a uniquely female exchange of glances.

(Whether they both interpreted it the same way, however, remained to be seen.)

And so, thanks to Yoko Okino's enthusiastic invitation, Ran ended up joining them on their trip to Yoko's apartment.

Along with an unexpected ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠tagalong...

"An idol's house! Wowee!"

Inside the car, Conan, wedged between Fujino and Ran, bounced excitedly, playing the part of an awestruck elementary schooler to perfection.

'Is this kid really just acting? He's almost too good...' Fujino slanted a curious glance at the boy beside him.

"Conan-kun!" Ran admonished gently.

"You need to be on your best behavior, okay? Don't get in Fujino-senpai's way."

"Okay, Ran-neechan!" Conan chirped obediently, though his eyes kept flicking towards Fujino.

So this is the 'Fujino-senpai' Ran was talking about?

The guy she came out late at night to see?

Another high school detective? In our class? How have I never seen him before?

Unless...

A sudden, unpleasant feeling washed over Conan. He ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠felt an imaginary weight settle on his head, accompanied by a faint green glow.

His gaze towards Fujino sharpened, turning distinctly unfriendly.

"So, Ran," Fujino asked, feeling slightly unnerved by Conan's intense stare,

"is this little guy your brother?"

"Oh, no," Ran shook her head.

"He's a relative's child staying with us temporarily. His name is Edogawa Conan."

A mischievous smirk played on Fujino's lips. "Edogawa Conan. That's an unusual name."

"Well, Fujino Douji isn't exactly common either, is it, big brother?"

Conan retorted sharply, using the formal 'big brother' with biting sarcasm.

(Note: 'Douji' can sound like 'comrade' in Chinese, hence the original text's 'tongzhi'. Conan's retort implies Fujino's name is just as weird.)

"Conan-kun! That's rude!" Ran scolded immediately.

"It's impolite to make fun of people's names!"

"Sorry, Ran-neechan," Conan mumbled meekly, but glared daggers at Fujino's triumphant smirk. Blood rushed to his face.

Damn it!

This guy is definitely messing with me...

"I'm really sorry, Fujino-senpai," Ran sighed apologetically.

"As soon as this kid heard we were going to Okino-san's house, he insisted on coming. Honestly, he's usually not like this."

"It's alright. Kids will be kids," Fujino waved it off with a chuckle.

"A little mischief is normal." He then leaned slightly towards Conan, his voice laced with playful intent.

"Isn't that right, Conan-kun?"

"It's Fujino DOUJI!" Conan snapped back instinctively, dropping the honorific.

"Conan!" Ran reprimanded again. "Use polite language with your seniors!"

"Yes, Ran-neechan. Fujino-oniisan," Conan ground out through clenched teeth, fixing Fujino with a dead-eyed stare.

This guy. He's doing this on purpose, isn't he?