Seeing Professor Agasa nod, the woman, perhaps a man, smiled and said:

"It's been so long!"

"It's been decades already!"

“...”

She was there saying that Professor Agasa still didn't recognize her.

At this moment, Professor Agasa was still thinking:

Do I know her?

He then politely asked the woman:

"May I ask who you are?"

It was only then that the woman realized that Professor Agasa hadn't recognized her.

She wasn't actually surprised.

Over the decades, she and her life have undergone tremendous changes.

But after hearing Professor Agasa's words, she still frowned, swayed slightly, gave a perfunctory pat, and said in a "delicate" voice:

"Ugh!"

"Doctor, have you forgotten me?"

"Didn't you used to come to my house often to see the golden hamster?"

As soon as you mention the golden rat, Professor Agasa knows about it.

But looking at the woman in front of him, he opened and closed his mouth for a long time before saying in an incredulous tone:

"Could it be that you are Haruo from the Chono family?"

Seeing that Professor Agasa recognized him, Haruo Chono placed his hands on his left cheeks and said happily:

"Very good!"

"You still remember me!"

"I thought you'd forgotten about me!"

There was a hint of resentment in his words.

Knowing that this wasn't Professor Agasa's fault, he asked:

"I look very different, don't I!"

"Yes." Professor Agasa nodded, answering truthfully.

It's not just different, it's like a completely different person!

The woman in front of me, dressed in women's clothing, wearing women's makeup, and moving like a little girl, is actually Haruo Chono?!

To be honest, Professor Agasa doesn't have any prejudice against people like Haruo Chono.

The reason for his lament was the magnitude of the changes, especially since they involved people he knew well.

Back then, it was by taking Kinoshita to Chono's house to see the golden rat that he was able to overcome his inner demons and emerge from his shadow.

Thinking back to what Haruo Chono looked like back then, Professor Agasa said:

“You’re six years younger than me. Back then, you were just a little boy with a snotty nose.”

Haruo Chono had a watermelon-shaped haircut back then.

Due to health reasons, Haruo Chono often has a runny nose.

The local children disliked Haruo Chono because of this.

He was the only one who not only didn't mind, but also took the initiative to ask to be friends with Haruo.

Therefore, he and Haruo Chono had a very good relationship.

Later, his family moved to the countryside, and they lost contact.

I never imagined that after so many years, this would be how we would meet again.

Hearing his old friend reveal his past, Haruo Chono playfully slapped Professor Agasa and said in a "coquettish" tone:

"Ugh!"

"Seriously!"

"Hehehe..." Professor Agasa was still a little unsettled, so he could only manage a few forced laughs.

He still had the image of Haruo Chono in his mind.

Regarding Haruo Chono's situation, the others also had sound values ​​and no prejudice against him.

After the initial shock, everyone's attitude returned to normal.

"Looks like I made a mistake this time," Conan said with a sigh.

He was somewhat puzzled.

What exactly is the connection between that code and the hint?

How can this be cracked?

At this moment, Professor Agasa was not thinking about the code.

Since we've met an old acquaintance, it would be a shame not to chat for a bit.

After all, we might not keep in touch much in the future.

He then asked Chōno Haruo:

"By the way, Qingnan, what brings you here today?"

"Doctor, you're so slow!"

After making a retort, Haruo Chono explained:

"Of course I came to the zoo on a date with my boyfriend!"

"Because he also likes small rodents like squirrels, that's why we arranged to meet at Flying Squirrel's place!"

"Oh, I see." Professor Agasa was still a little taken aback.

I didn't expect Haruo Chono to have a boyfriend!

After a brief chat, Haruo Chono said goodbye to Professor Agasa:

"Doctor, if you have time, you can come over for a meal or something."

"Okay, I'll definitely go when I have time," Professor Agasa nodded in agreement.

Ayumi and the other two still don't have a clear idea about Haruo's situation.

They were somewhat disappointed at this moment.

"We've got the wrong person again!"

“But if she’s waiting in this zoo, we’ll eventually run into her,” Ayumi encouraged the others. “Let’s keep looking!”

But at this moment, Mitsuhiko, glancing at the time, said:

"We may not have that much time left."

"There should only be a little over an hour left until sunset."

Time is of the essence, and they currently have no leads.

Therefore, Genta suggested seeking outside help:

"I think we should ask 'Sleeping Kogoro' or 'Talkative Sonoko' to help decipher the code!"

"Can we get in touch?" Ayumi asked Conan.

"Didn't I already tell you?" Conan said helplessly, "Uncle went to a concert, so we probably can't contact him."

He then added:

"As for Sonoko-neechan, she's with Ran, so we should be able to get in touch with her."

"Then let's contact her quickly!" Mitsuhiko said anxiously. "If we miss today, we'll have to wait another ten years!"

"Alright then," Conan agreed outwardly.

But what he was really thinking was:

"Even if you contact them, it's pointless."

While the group tried to contact Sonoko, Ai took out her phone to check the time and then to see if there were any unread messages.

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