Chapter 39

PS: The next chapter update will be a bit later. ===== CHAPTER 77 =====

"Dad..."

Ran Mouri, who had been covering her mouth with her body trembling slightly, suddenly spoke.

"This child can stay, but I might not be able to stay."

"!"

The three parents present were all startled by these words.

Ran Mouri crouched down slightly and took off the child's glasses.

"Mm, he really looks like Shinichi when he was a child."

"...Dad, I don't want to see this child's face for now."

"I don't want to think about Shinichi for now."

"..."

The three parents were silent for a moment.

'Ah, forgot about this.'

Yukiko Kudo sighed, forgetting the possibility that Ran couldn't face reality all at once.

'This child just found out about Shinichi's death, even if it was just created by us, I'm afraid this child doesn't want to think about Shinichi's death in a short time.'

'A mistake.'

This point was indeed something they hadn't considered.

Shinichi's death was something they as parents could accept because they knew Shinichi wasn't dead.

But the problem is Ran doesn't know.

Ran really thinks Shinichi is dead.

She doesn't want to see Shinichi, who has turned into a child, in a short time because she doesn't know that is Shinichi himself.

"Ran, you... if you can't stand it, you can go stay with Eri for now."

Considering his daughter's unbearable emotions, Kogoro Mouri didn't force Ran to accept it.

Especially given Ran's relationship with that kid, perhaps letting Ran go to Eri's side to adjust would be good.

"Mm."

Ran Mouri put the glasses she had taken off back on the child.

With complex emotions, she couldn't hide it at all.

"Dad, I want to ask for leave today."

"Mm, take a rest today. You can contact Eri first and let her come pick you up."

"I'll contact Mom."

Ran Mouri tried hard to control her emotions, looking at Yukiko-san and Yusaku-san with a slightly apologetic look.

"Sorry, I... can't control my emotions."

"No need to apologize, Ran."

Yukiko Kudo walked up and hugged Ran in her arms.

"We know how you feel."

"If that day... sigh, it's all in the past; you don't have to always think about Shinichi, Ran."

"..."

Ran Mouri smiled very reluctantly.

"Yukiko-san, I'm going up first."

"Mm, go ahead."

Ran Mouri collected her mood and went to the third floor.

The second floor is Kogoro Mouri's detective agency, and the third floor is where the Mouri family actually lives.

Actually, there aren't many rooms on the third floor; there are only two rooms.

One is Kogoro Mouri's, and the other is Ran Mouri's.

Actually, it's already very crowded here with one more person, and the person who moved in is a boy, which squeezed the already limited living space.

After arriving on the second floor, the emotions Ran Mouri couldn't control just now were all under control.

She walked into her room.

Ran Mouri took out a diary.

"..."

Looking at the text recorded on it, a trace of bitterness appeared on her face.

"I really can't accept it."

She actually knew about Shinichi Kudo being hit with a club and fed poison.

Even the fact that the child beside Yusaku-san was Shinichi Kudo, Ran knew.

But so what if she knows?

When she and Shinichi were together, she was always a burden to Shinichi's case investigations.

Facing cases, facing danger, Shinichi always rushed the fastest, but her feelings were always ignored.

Plus this deception.

Ran Mouri really felt she couldn't take it.

She could accept Shinichi telling her the truth tactfully, even if there would be some danger after that, she would help Shinichi hide the truth, and even help hide the truth together.

But what about now?

Hasn't Shinichi already made a decision?

Hiding it from her, just because of so-called "protection"?

If it's really protection, shouldn't he keep his distance from her?

Ran Mouri isn't stupid; she knows why Shinichi was arranged to be by her side.

Completely killing off the identity of "Shinichi Kudo" and letting himself come to her side—isn't that for his own selfishness?

He doesn't tell her anything, yet he keeps his selfishness towards her.

What is he trying to do?

Trying to keep an eye on her and not let others get close?

"I still can't accept it, Shinichi."

Unable to accept being treated like this.

Ran Mouri also couldn't accept Shinichi Kudo's selfishness.

If Shinichi Kudo had told her the truth, she could accept it.

But in the current situation, no.

Ran Mouri collected her mood and picked up the phone, dialing her mother's number.

"Mom..."

"What's wrong, Ran, why are you in such a bad mood?"

"Something happened, Mom; can you come pick me up now?"

"...Wait at home, I'll be there right away."

Eri Kisaki heard the unusual tone in her daughter's voice over the phone, immediately put down all her work, grabbed her clothes and bag, and prepared to run home.

It was only thirty minutes later that Eri Kisaki arrived at the Mouri Detective Agency.

She didn't go to the third floor, but to the second floor.

Then she was surprised to find that Yukiko and Yusaku were both there.

But looking closely, the expressions of the three people were not very good.

"What's the situation with you guys?"

Seeing several people here suddenly, Eri Kisaki always felt some bad premonition.

"Kogoro, what's going on?"

"That kid had an accident."

"!?"

Eri Kisaki immediately understood why Ran's emotions were so low on the phone just now. ===== CHAPTER 78 =====

She rubbed her forehead with a slight headache.

"Yukiko..."

"I'm fine, just a little tired."

Can she not be tired? Even the usual calm smile on her face couldn't be seen; this couldn't be explained by just a little bit of tiredness.

It's just that Eri Kisaki was also worried about causing Yukiko greater stimulation, so she didn't continue.

"What about Ran?"

"...Cough!"

Kogoro Mouri coughed and glanced at the child standing beside Yusaku Kudo.

Eri Kisaki immediately looked over knowingly.

'Could it be?'

Kogoro Mouri nodded slightly in tacit agreement.

Eri Kisaki, who understood the meaning, was silent for a moment.

'Yukiko and Yusaku's child?'

'They are going to arrange for him to stay here... Yukiko and Yusaku actually came to entrust the child too.'

But this approach also shows the seriousness of the matter.

The cause of Shinichi Kudo's death behind the scenes is probably involved in something big.

"Eri, Ran's emotions are unstable during this time, so let her stay with you."

"Mm, that's fine too."

PS: New book, seeking data. ===== CHAPTER 79 =====