Chapter 103 Whoever finds it owns it.
Strange, where have I seen this before? He subconsciously racked his brains.
Nekono Ikumi caught the fleeting look of confusion in his eyes, blinked gently, and smiled knowingly, saying, "Little detective, you're awake?"
A little detective?!
That familiar name was like a key, instantly unlocking the floodgates of long-sealed memories! Shinichi Kudo suddenly remembered!
It was many years ago, at a hotel in Hawaii! He was just a kindergarten kid then, only a little smaller than he looks now. He was imitating his dad, trying to deduce things from the waiter, when he turned around and saw a handsome older boy looking at him curiously. Unfortunately, before he could even speak to him, the boy was called away by his friends, who, before leaving, also called him "little detective" with a smile.
Because he was the first person to call him that, and because the other person was so good-looking, he remembered him very well.
Then he looked up abruptly, his heart pounding in his chest.
Wait, could he have been recognized?! Recognized that this child's body houses an adult's soul?
Haha, that's impossible! What sensible adult would believe in something like turning back the clock, something that only happens in comics? Yeah, I must be overthinking it. He probably just called out casually, without any other meaning. Maybe he didn't actually recognize who he was.
After all, they had only met once at a hotel in Hawaii, and hadn't even spoken to each other; more than ten years had passed since then.
So it's impossible, absolutely impossible, he must be overthinking it!
Shinichi Kudo suddenly unleashed all his potential, widening his eyes to appear even more bewildered and ignorant. He tilted his head back and mumbled in a child's tone, "Eh? Little detective? Big brother, are you calling me? Is it a detective game? It looks so fun! Um... but who are you, big brother? Where is this place?"
After finishing his sentence, Shinichi, feeling he had overdone it and deeply despairing of his acting skills, thought: "..."
Oh no, isn't this a bit too exaggerated? What normal child would be so calm after waking up in an unfamiliar environment? He himself is suspicious!
Nekono Ikuya: "..." Nekono Ikuya couldn't bear to look.
What terrible acting! It's not cringe-worthy only because the little detective is cute. What's going on? Isn't the little detective's mother a very talented actress? How come her acting talent wasn't passed down to the little detective at all?
Nekono Yuuya looked at the boy in front of him, who was trying to appear calm and get away with his cuteness. His black hair and blue eyes were his favorite color combination.
He seemed a little frightened? The young detective's eyes held a hint of wariness, and his hair was practically standing on end.
For once, Nekono Ikuya was kind enough not to expose him, but instead went along with his words and continued, "Yes, it's a detective game."
"Don't be nervous, little detective. This is my home, my name is Nekono Yuuya. You fainted in front of my car and were injured, so I brought you back and gave you some basic first aid. Don't worry, I haven't touched any of your things." He opened the bedside cabinet.
Clothes that were too big for Shinichi Kudo these days were neatly folded and placed in a locker, with his cell phone on top. His keys seemed to have been left somewhere in Dorobiga Park and weren't here now.
Whether it had been touched or not is another matter, but the item was indeed displayed in perfect condition, so Shinichi Kudo could only believe it for the time being.
He quickly picked up his phone, which he had noticed was switched off last night and was still switched off.
Shinichi Kudo secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Nekono Ikuya saw it all, but he didn't care. He truly hadn't touched any of those things. Did he really need external objects to recognize Kudo Shinichi? Shouldn't he have recognized him at a glance? He had seen Kudo Shinichi when he was a child.
With a calm gaze falling on the young detective, Nekono Ikuya's smile carried a reassuring tone: "So, little friend, what's your name? How did you end up fainting in front of my car like this? Can you tell me?"
Name, name...
Shinichi Kudo's gaze swept erratically across the room, unconsciously landing on the bookshelf, when suddenly a brilliant idea struck him.
“I, I’m called Edogawa… Conan! Yes, Edogawa Conan!” he blurted out.
The smile on Nekono Ikuya's face paused almost imperceptibly.
"??? Edogawa Conan?!" He was silent for a few seconds, then couldn't help but repeat it as if to confirm.
Edogawa Ranpo plus Conan Doyle? Is this name for real? Isn't it a bit... too perfunctory?
Moreover, he glanced discreetly at the bookshelf. Strange, there weren't any detective-related books on the shelves in this room. How did the little detective come up with this name? Is his love for detective novels so profound?
Shinichi Kudo, who impulsively made up a name on a whim: "..."
It does sound a bit like a make-up pseudonym.
He could only force a confirmation: "...Haha, that's right, it's Conan Edogawa! Because my parents are both detective fans!"
You can't just change your mind right after you've said it; that would be like admitting guilt without being asked.
“…A very good name,” Nekono Ikumi praised dryly.
Okay, okay, as long as Shinichi Kudo is happy.
Shinichi Kudo scratched the back of his head and gave an awkward laugh.
Damn it, so much has happened since yesterday afternoon until today. His mind is a mess, and his brain isn't working properly. He's not feeling well either; he's weak and uncomfortable all over. Could it be that the poison that didn't work on him is still problematic?
Why did he collapse like that in front of the car? Damn it, how is he going to explain this? Say he was kidnapped by bad guys? He'll definitely be taken to the police station for questioning!
His ill-fitting clothes were a major point of suspicion, and yesterday he solved a roller coaster case right in front of the police. Perhaps one of the officers remembered his clothes from yesterday, or saw them in the newspaper and realized they were identical, and then, upon discovering Shinichi Kudo's disappearance and seeing his face so similar to his grown-up self…
Even if he can't connect the dots that Shinichi Kudo has shrunk, he'll still be in trouble.
Moreover, if his situation is recorded by the police, and those men in black specifically investigate, the consequences could be disastrous.
what to do……
Shinichi Kudo was anxious, his face involuntarily scrunched up, and his complexion appeared somewhat pale and listless due to his physical discomfort.
Just as he was in a state of turmoil and almost swallowed by anxiety, a warm hand gently covered his forehead, carrying a strange soothing power.
Shinichi Kudo subconsciously looked up and met Ikuya Nekono's gaze. Nekono had already crouched down, his eyes level with Shinichi's.
"You don't look well, Conan-kun." Nekono Ikuya sighed softly, gently brushing aside Conan's slightly sweaty bangs with her fingertips. "Are you feeling unwell?"
This child's acting is really terrible. His whole body screams "I have a secret" and "I'm scared." If we keep pressing him, his little brain is probably going to explode.
Although Nekono Ikuya didn't actually feel like he was interrogating him, wasn't he just going along with Shinichi Kudo's wishes by not revealing the other person's identity?
He just stared at Shinichi Kudo quietly, his emerald green eyes like a tranquil lake deep in the forest, clearly reflecting his panicked yet forced composure.
Shinichi Kudo opened his mouth, but the excuse he had just made up got stuck in his throat, and he couldn't quite say it.
He always felt that Nekono Ikuya seemed to know everything; her emerald green eyes were so clear that they seemed to see through all his unease at a glance.
"Alright." Nekono Ikuya suddenly laughed, her voice softening like a gentle breeze rustling through the treetops on a moonlit night, dispelling all tension. "You don't have to say if you don't want to."
"Huh?" Shinichi Kudo froze, staring at him blankly with wide eyes. So... he's not going to ask anymore?
When Nekono Ikuya saw Shinichi Kudo's wide-eyed stare, like a frightened and confused kitten, looking completely bewildered, she was honestly charmed by his cuteness.
He nodded to himself. Yes, although Shinichi Kudo's acting skills were really terrible, he was really cute!
As his thoughts raced, his hand unconsciously moved up from Shinichi Kudo's forehead to the top of his head, then roughly ruffled the soft black hair, turning the otherwise neat hairstyle into a bird's nest.
"Ugh!" Caught off guard, Shinichi Kudo shook his head as his head was rubbed. He quickly raised his hand to cover the top of his head and looked at Ikuya Nekono with a hint of accusation.
Why did this person suddenly start hitting me? He even has a head injury! How awful!
And his hair...
Shinichi Kudo frantically started fixing his hair.
He wondered to himself, "Hey, why does my head feel a little comfortable now, even though it doesn't hurt anymore?"
Is it because Nekono-nii didn't keep asking questions, so he didn't have to rack his brains to make up lies and his brain relaxed?
Looking at the little detective's slightly puffed-out cheeks and accusing blue eyes, a smile spread across Nekono Yuuya's face, and she chuckled softly. A clear light shimmered in her emerald eyes, and the gentle smile instantly brought her features to life, like moonlight shimmering on a lake.
"Alright, little detective, stop overthinking. You slept in and didn't eat last night, so the most important thing now is to fill your stomach. The chef made some porridge, and it tastes pretty good; it should be just right for your stomach. Shall we go?"
Nekono Ikuya naturally stood up and extended her hand to Kudo Shinichi, or rather, Edogawa Conan.
His ten fingers were long and slender, with distinct knuckles, and he held them in the air in an inviting gesture. His eyes were also smiling as he looked at him.
This is a well-intentioned gesture, but it seems impossible to refuse?
Shinichi Kudo hesitated for a moment, but a clear feeling of hunger did come from his stomach, and the weakness in his body was urging him to replenish his energy.
He pursed his lips and placed his smaller hand on hers.
He couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "Brother Maoye, aren't you worried that I'm a bad person? Or that I might cause you trouble?"
Nekono Ikuya raised an eyebrow and sized up Edogawa Conan's figure: "Bad guy? How do you plan to do something bad?"
Does acting cute lower people's guard? That's adorable.
Shinichi Kudo, who had shrunk to the size of Conan Edogawa, was furious: "...Don't underestimate me just because I'm a kid. There are some kids you can't let your guard down with!"
Besides, he's not really a little kid!
Nekono Ikuya led Edogawa Conan downstairs without stopping. "Don't worry, your Nekono-nii brother isn't someone to be trifled with. The Nekono family can't possibly not even protect a little kid."
“Oh, right,” Nekono Ikuya said as if she had suddenly remembered something, turning her head to look at the top of the boy’s head next to her!
There's no way around it; the shrunken Conan Edogawa is just too short now, only a little over a meter tall. And Ikuya Nekono is very tall. Without the tiny Conan Edogawa looking up, he can only see the top of Nekono's head. (Shinichi Kudo: ...Damn it, I'm over 1.7 meters tall!)
"Conan, do you have somewhere to go now?" Nekono Ikuya asked.
"Huh?" Conan Edogawa didn't react for a moment, and subconsciously uttered a questioning syllable, raising his head as well.
Nekono Ikuya, however, seemed to have already found the answer. He bent down, his emerald cat eyes blinking, a cunning glint in them.
“What I mean is—since I found it, it’s naturally mine. If you have nowhere to go, how about…” He deliberately dragged out his words, watching the boy’s blue eyes widen slightly as he reflected his image, before smilingly announcing, “How about I be your guardian?”
"Wait, wait!" Conan Edogawa finally broke free from this overly jumpy train of thought and rapid pace, and tried to speak.
However, Nekono Ikuya didn't give him a chance to organize his thoughts at all, as if afraid he would change his mind, and quickly started the countdown:
“3—” Nekono Ikuya began to count down.
"No, Nekono-nii, this is too sudden..."
“2—” Nekono Ikuya extended her index finger, gently pressed it to her lips, made a 'shh' gesture, and her smile widened.
"We've only just met! Isn't this inappropriate?!"
"1—!" Ignoring Conan Edogawa's weak protest, Nekono Yuuya finished the countdown, clapped her hands together with a crisp sound, and a bright, slightly smug smile bloomed on her face, as if she had solved some century-old problem.
"Alright! Time's up, no one objects! (Edogawa Conan's half-moon eyes: Really?)" He nodded in satisfaction, leaned close to Conan, almost nose to nose, and Edogawa Conan could see the joyful color in Nekono Ikuya's emerald green cat eyes.
Nekono Ikuya's smile widened: "Then, it's decided! From today onwards, I, Nekono Ikuya, will temporarily take over the reins of Conan Edogawa!"
Conan Edogawa: "...Eh?!!"
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