Time flows slowly in the leisurely moments.
April 28, Wednesday, sunny.
An ordinary day, at least that's how it appears on the calendar.
Early in the morning, when Yuzuru Nan left home, he sensed that the girls were hiding something from him, and a subtle atmosphere of "we have a little secret" filled the air.
Akemi's eyes flickered slightly, Ai remained expressionless, but her packing of her schoolbag seemed a little faster than usual, and even Kimie's lips curled into a smile.
However, as an understanding boyfriend...
Yuzuru thoughtfully refrained from pointing it out, pretending to be completely unaware, and happily went to school.
This subtle atmosphere continued at the school.
During class.
Even Ran, who is usually a model student, would occasionally lower her head and, like Sonoko Suzuki next to her, quickly send messages on her phone under her desk, with an undisguised smile on her lips.
Yuzuru pinched his chin, tilted his head back, and looked past the back of the chair at Ooka Momiji in the back row.
The young lady, who was typing rapidly with her head down, seemed to sense something. She silently put away her phone, looked up, met the young man's probing gaze, and gave him a dignified, elegant, and flawless smile: "Husband, what's wrong?"
"nothing."
Yuzuru withdrew his gaze, and he was basically certain in his heart that something was definitely going on, and it was something related to him.
I'm just guessing, it'll either be a pleasant surprise or a shock.
Afternoon, school is over.
As usual, Yuzuru, along with Momiji and Sonoko, accompanied Ran to the karate club for a short training session. After the training, the four of them were preparing to return to the villa together when Yuzuru's phone rang at just the right moment.
The caller ID showed "Sato Miwako".
"Moshi moshi? Yuzuru-kun? Well, the Junior Detective League has encountered another case and is currently giving statements at the Metropolitan Police Department. Haibara-kun is there too. We might need you to come and pick her up."
"Okay, Officer Sato, I'll be right there."
After hanging up the phone, Yuu Nan said to the three girls with a slight apology, "Sorry, Ai has something to do, I have to go to the Metropolitan Police Department to pick her up, you guys go back first."
"It's alright, it's alright! Nan, you go ahead!" Sonoko immediately waved her hand, her tone even carrying a hint of urging.
"Ai is the one who matters, we're alright."
Xiaolan also gently expressed her understanding.
Ooka Momiji nodded gracefully: "Please go ahead, my husband."
Seeing the three people's unusually "understanding" attitude, and even their subtle desire for him to leave quickly, Yuzuru's guess became even more certain.
Girls, your acting skills need improvement.
As soon as Yuzuru Hanyu disappeared around the street corner, Xiaolan immediately took out her phone and quickly sent a message to a group chat where Yuzuru Hanyu wasn't present:
[Target has been diverted as planned! Repeat, target has been diverted! All units, please take your positions immediately and begin preparations! Over!]
Almost instantly, a series of synchronized replies popped up in the group chat:
【receive! 】
【clear! 】
[Let's get started!]
...
Inside the Metropolitan Police Department, Yuzuru Hanyu was already very familiar with the place.
This case was just an ordinary attempted street robbery. It was a close call, and the Junior Detective League once again "assisted" the police in solving the case.
When Yuzuru arrived, the statement taking was already underway.
Conan and the three real elementary school students were mainly describing what happened to Officer Takagi Wataru, while Ai Haibara sat quietly to the side, playing the role of a calm and precocious mother.
As for Yuzuru Hanyu?
He was then "held hostage" by two lively policewomen, Yumi Miyamoto and Naeko Miike, who rushed to the scene after hearing the news, and taken to the nearby rest area. They claimed it was to "not disturb the children taking statements," but in reality, they chatted with him about all sorts of things, while he would occasionally sneak a peek at the time, as if he was waiting for something.
By the time the statement was taken, it was already dark.
Genta and Mitsuhiko's families came to pick them up one after another, leaving only Ayumi temporarily without anyone to pick her up—Mrs. Yoshida is usually still busy at the Yuzuru family's gyoza shop at this time.
Yuzuru naturally took on the responsibility, holding the adorable Ayumi in one hand and his cool-faced little girl Ai in the other, preparing to take them back to the villa first.
As soon as they stepped out of the Metropolitan Police Department, a familiar red Mazda stopped precisely in front of them. The window rolled down, revealing Sato Miwako's dashing face: "Hanyu-san, Haibara-san, Ayumi, get in, I'll give you a ride."
After thanking him, Yuzuru got into the car with the two little girls. As soon as he opened the car door, he found two other people sitting in the back seat—it was Miyamoto Yumi and Miike Naeko, who had been having an awkward conversation with him just moments before.
"Oh? Yumi-nee, Officer Naoko, you're here too?"
Yumi Miyamoto explained with a grin, "We're going to a party together later, and since we're going the same way, we're just hitching a ride with Miwako!"
Miike Naeko chimed in quietly, "Yes, yes, it's on the way."
Yuzuru nodded thoughtfully, asked no further questions, and got into the car with the two little girls.
...
The car sped along, and Miwako Sato even drove with a bit of a race car driver's flair without exceeding the speed limit.
We finally arrived at the villa before 7 p.m.
"Officer Sato, Yumi-nee, Officer Naoko, thank you. Would you like to come in and have some dinner together?"
After getting out of the car, Yuzuru Nanasu politely invited him.
"No need, no need! We still have a party!" Miyamoto Yumi quickly waved her hand.
“Yes, yes, the party is the priority!” Miike Naeko nodded in agreement.
Miwako Sato smiled and said, "Maybe next time, Yuzuru-kun, we have other things to do."
However, when Yuzuru stopped insisting and led Ayumi and Ai into the yard, the police car did not drive away immediately. Instead, it remained quietly in place, as if waiting for something. The three people in the car even peeked out and looked towards the villa.
As soon as I entered the courtyard.
Yuzuru sensed something unusual.
The villa was quiet, unusually quiet. There was no sound of anime or variety shows playing on TV as usual, nor the symphony of pots and pans clattering in the kitchen as Akemi prepared dinner.
However, his keen senses clearly told him that there were many people in the villa!
Many scents that he was very familiar with!
Considering all the unusual things that have happened these past few days—the girls' mysterious expressions, their fidgeting in class, the overly "coincidental" trip to the Metropolitan Police Department, and the three policewomen's rather clumsy acting...
Yuzuru suddenly understood something.
He looked down at the two little girls he was holding one in each hand.
Ayumi blinked her innocent big eyes, her face showing a pure expression that said, "I don't know anything."
Ai Haibara maintained her calm, aloof expression, but deep within her icy blue eyes gleamed a subtle, almost imperceptible light, a light that seemed to indicate she was a master strategist. A faint, almost invisible smile, hinting at the success of her plan, played on her lips.
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