Ryuji had no idea. Once he cleared his mind and entered a meditative training state, he quickly calmed down and slept peacefully, waking the next morning refreshed and energized.
"Mm, another beautiful day."
Stretching, Ryuji left his room and began preparing breakfast. He hadn't enjoyed cooking before... his meals were mediocre, and he considered it a waste of time.
But now was different. Having visited the Shaolin Temple's kitchen and understanding his own abilities, Ryuji realized he could use any activity, including cooking, to train and refine his skills.
"Alright, the recipe says…"
After a quick glance at the recipe, he began kneading the dough.
Or more precisely, he was manipulating it with his water-manipulation power.
The clean water that had been prepared water shot out from the bowl into the flour bag, quickly coating it. The water, saturated with flour, became hard to control even for him. He understood this was due to the dispersal and concealment of water molecules, the same reason he couldn't fully control mist.
But he had his hands.
Swinging his arms, he moved like a water bender in Avatar, striking the dough while manipulating the water molecules to penetrate and integrate fully.
When he added the yeast, Ryuji pressed his hands together and infused the dough with his blood qi energy, accelerating fermentation. In seconds, it achieved the effect of hours of natural proofing.
"Hm, since there are more Japanese people…"
Ryuji considered Misato and the others' eating habits, then struck the cutting board with a sharp motion. A ripple of wave force burst forth instantly, the yolks and whites of two eggs, still inside their shells, were beaten into a smooth mixture. With a sweep of his palm, a blade of sword aura sliced the shells cleanly, releasing the liquid contents into the bowl.
Next came the butter, milk, sugar, and salt. Ryuji closed his eyes, sensing the moisture within the mixture. It was like finding a clear glass bead in murky water.
But he searched meticulously, continuously channeling his water-manipulation power, fusing the ingredients into the dough while practicing his martial stances and refine his water manipulation.
Martial arts sought transformation through power, and for Ryuji, the dough served as the perfect opponent. Controlling the flow of water required precision... guiding even the smallest molecules to bend to his will.
Soon, the dough was ready. With a sharp slap against the table, Ryuji infused it with a surge of wave force. The dough loosened in an instant...
"Fire!"
Flames wrapped around his hands, their temperature shifting with his intent. Threads of fire danced into the tiny air pockets formed by yeast fermentation, baking the bread from within at just the right temperature.
In no time, a soft, fragrant loaf sat before him. The residual fire energy he left inside would keep the bread warm for half an hour.
Next came the sausages. Pulling them from their packaging, Ryuji sniffed, took a bite, and instantly pinpointed flaws in the flavor. His eyes snapped open with clarity, and without hesitation, he adjusted the seasoning in the pan. The moment the sausages touched the heat, his sword aura slashed them open with precise cuts, allowing the flavors to bloom.
At the same time, he pulled out the beef he'd bought the night before. With a flick of his hand, ice cracked away under his water manipulation, thawing the meat instantly. He then drove a powerful punch into it... executing the Shiranui-ryū secret art. No flames erupted, only explosive force. The muscle fibers loosened, and a wave of sword aura pierced the beef, riddling it with tiny holes.
While the sausages cooked, Ryuji guided water into the marinade, compressing it over and over, forcing the flavors deep into the beef in just seconds... what normally took hours. Once the timing was perfect, he removed the sausages and pressed his palms together. Fire roared to life, enveloping the beef, searing it evenly to perfection in under twenty seconds.
Like the bread, the meat carried his flame's lingering energy, ensuring the flavor held at its peak.
He even fried four poached eggs... one for each of them and with a sweep of sword aura, sliced the bread and beef neatly, laying them onto plates.
Finally, he rinsed a few stalks of celery with his water manipulation, drizzled them with sauce, then untied his apron with satisfaction and nodded.
"Mm. Looks good."
Still, he knew it wasn't enough.
If it were the monks of Shaolin…
"It's a shame. If I actually enjoyed cooking, I could probably achieve something remarkable."
Though he found the craft unexpectedly fun, especially with his powers removing all the tedious parts, Ryuji lacked the fiery passion someone like Erina had. His dishes carried his willpower, but not the true devotion of a chef.
After doing all this, he stripped off his shirt, revealing his defined muscles, and stepped into the yard to train his body and martial arts.
Ordinary exercise no longer affected him... his body was too strong. But with the gravity bracelets weighing him down, he could still break a sweat and push his limits.
He used to think discipline was impossible for him. But as his journey continued, he realized he was capable of self-control.
"Maybe it's because if I don't get stronger, I'll die. And… because I don't have any cute girls hanging off me right now."
He chuckled to himself. He didn't even know why he still chose this path... saving worlds, traveling between them... when he could just enjoy eternal life, wealth, and endless women.
Yet he knew: even if the instant this mission ended and a new one appeared, he would still abandon Mai Shiranui's body and butt without hesitation and set out for the new mission again.
"Honestly, I don't even understand myself anymore."
Ryuji's fists cut through the morning air, each strike fueled by raw power and the vivid image of an invisible opponent. Though his strikes met only air, his blood energy surged through his body, nourishing his muscles and organs alike, driving him into the brink of exhaustion with every motion.
Sweat streamed freely across his sculpted frame, dripping onto the ground and sparkling like crystal under the morning sun.
At that very moment, Misato stirred from her restless dreams. A mouthwatering aroma drifted through her half-conscious haze. She sat up sluggishly, scratching her stomach, then her messy hair, and finally still half-asleep... her breasts, before stumbling out of her room.
The sight that greeted her in the living room was enough to wake anyone fully: steaming milk, freshly baked bread, roasted beef, and sausages. The fragrance hit her all at once, making her spirit flare awake. Her hand instinctively reached out for a piece of bread, but she paused, spun around to wash her hands, then finally picked one up properly.
The moment she took a bite, her vision shifted. She stood amid endless golden wheat fields swaying gently under the morning sun, kissed by a tender breeze. Warmth poured into her, filling her with energy... as if she could take on the entire day with ease.
Her eyes snapped open wide. She knew Ryuji had learned cooking at Shaolin Temple, but never imagined even his western-style breakfast would taste this incredible.
"Damn it… what the hell is wrong with this guy…" she muttered, swallowing hard.
Her gaze fell to the dark, steaming beef. Breakfast was supposed to be light, but her stomach clenched at the sight. She jabbed a piece with her fork, about to raise it to her mouth...
And that's when Ryuji stepped into view by the glass doors, finishing his training.
Sunlight spilled across his body, sweat dripping down his sharply defined muscles. His gaze was sharp, focused, his fists slicing through the air with practiced precision. Every bead of sweat along his body traced his physique, shimmering like crystal in the morning light.
The scene was… breathtaking. Almost dreamlike.
Misato's throat bobbed as she swallowed, though she couldn't tell whether it was because of the beef in her hand or the man outside.
"This bastard… he's up to no good!"
She stuffed the beef into her mouth, trying to steady her racing heartbeat with flavor. Yet somehow, though it smelled delicious, it tasted dull... until her eyes flicked back toward Ryuji again. Then suddenly, it burst alive in her mouth, juicy and rich, as if the meat itself responded to her gaze.
"Damn it… it's all that twisted world power's fault!"
She cursed under her breath. But she knew the truth. That power hadn't done much beyond stirring her desires last night.
The real problem was her own heart.
Even if she'd never admit it, even if it had long since gone sour, she still clung to it stubbornly as her "maiden's heart."
"Early in the morning, showing off muscles and cooking breakfast? Shameless! Damn Harem bastard! Harem bastard! Damn it! Damn harem bastard!!"
She growled under her breath. But she knew the truth. That power hadn't done much beyond stirring her desires last night.
The real problem was her own heart.
Even if she'd never admit it, even if it had long since gone sour, she still clung to it stubbornly as her "maiden's heart."
"Early morning—showing off muscles and cooking breakfast? Shameless! Damn harem bastard! Harem bastard!!"
Gnashing her teeth, Misato bit the beef in her mouth fiercely, as if it was Ryuji's meat .
After finishing his training routine, Ryuji noticed she was awake. He gave her a casual nod as greeting, then went to shower. Dressed simply in a vest and jeans afterward, he carried two extra plates of breakfast downstairs.
He unlocked the welded basement door, placed the food inside, and opened the vents to let in fresh air.
"Wash your own dishes. If I come back at noon and see dirty plates, you don't get lunch."
With that, he left again, ignoring Fujiko's glare and Akemi's awkward glance, then welded the door shut once more.
He examined the door with a nod.
The Dragon fire's ... perfect for welding.
"That bastard…"
Fujiko muttered to herself as she glanced at the food Ryuji had delivered, sniffing the air.
"…It actually smells pretty good."
Like a cat following its nose, she pounced on the food and began eating with unrestrained delight. She wasn't at all worried that Ryuji might have poisoned the food.
After all poison would be completely unnecessary and if it was an aphrodisiac…
She'd make sure Ryuji learned exactly what it meant to become a "juice extractor."
Akemi lingered a while, staring at the plates. Even if she told herself she was already a dead woman, her body betrayed her. She stepped forward and joined Fujiko at the table, unable to resist.
There was no helping it... it smelled too good.
After delivering their meals, Ryuji sat down to eat his own breakfast. Misato, now feeling a bit embarrassed, took a seat at the same table, watching him.
Ryuji ate slowly on purpose. For him, eating wasn't just about food... it was practice. He used each bite to refine his control, to observe how the sword energy he released in the air tore through the world around him. Every flaw he detected meant improvement, every ripple of force a lesson.
It wasn't only about cooking skills; it was about sharpening his perception, about seeing threads of reality invisible to ordinary people.
So, he ate seriously.
"By the way," Ryuji said, glancing at the uneasy Misato, "what's your plan from here?"
Her awkwardness was obvious... she hadn't contributed much yet, and she knew it. Ryuji also knew, which was why he asked directly.
"I'm thinking of taking the police officer exam," Misato replied after a moment's thought.
"If I can crack a few big cases, I should be promoted quickly. Honestly, from what I've seen, this world is full of crimes just waiting to be solved. And the police here? Their investigative methods are ridiculously crude. How useless can they get?"
She picked up a newspaper and showed Ryuji various crime reports.
"They don't even know about DNA testing. Surveillance cameras exist, but no one bothers to check them. Anyone can wander into a crime scene. And don't get me started on these so-called 'locked-room mysteries'…"
Ryuji skimmed the article she pointed out. It described a case that had only been officially solved thanks to DNA testing but the detective in question had already figured out the truth long before that.
He held back a sigh. In Conan's world, things like this were completely normal. Misato could rant all she wanted, but he knew it would never change.
"So, with cases happening this often, if I grease the right palms and grab some credit here and there, I can be promoted to deputy Inspector in a few months…"
Her sharp criticism rolled on. Ryuji didn't interrupt. He knew this mission would be long and difficult, and he had already prepared himself for drawn-out battles.
"Then do it. Just… be careful."
Misato chuckled, pointing finger-guns at him.
"Relax. I'm a martial arts master now, remember?"
After breakfast, the two tidied up before heading to the police academy together.
Unlike in China, police work here didn't require a lifelong career path... you could join halfway, almost like applying for a regular company job. Misato enrolled smoothly, and afterward, she began visiting hospitals and public offices, gathering documents and preparing forged paperwork.
Back in Hong Kong, she'd had no time for such preparation. Ryuji had been forced to disguise himself constantly when traveling. But now that they intended to stay here long-term, proper groundwork was necessary.
Misato threw herself into the task with patience, while Ryuji... realizing he couldn't help, stepped outside to explore their surroundings.
He'd noticed plenty of interesting places on the map earlier. Tomobiki High School, Minegahara High School, and countless other schools with names that looked oddly familiar: Hachimitsu Academy, Otonokizaka, Shohoku, Suzuran, Arakawa High School, Sakakino High School… the list went on.
There were even many mountains scattered around Tokyo in this world, which made no sense at all.
Many of these places, Ryuji knew for a fact, shouldn't even exist in Tokyo. And yet, here they were. The realization left him speechless.
Even the buildings in the area also looked familiar to him. Only the church nearby seemed out of place.
That was the reason he had chosen this spot as their temporary base.
Among all those schools, Sakakino High School was the closest to their home. Another nearby was Juban High School.
But after wandering around Sakakino High School for a while, Ryuji found no sign of Kotonoha Katsura or anyone like her. It was disappointing. No Kotonoha, no Makoto Itou to kick around as stress relief.
"What a shame. Maybe it's a matter of timeline. If Kotonoha even exists here, she's probably still in elementary school by now… Whatever. Guess I'll head back."
He scratched his chin, sighed, and decided to return home and wait for the Sailor Moons to come back to Japan.
As he strolled leisurely through the streets, picking up snacks he personally liked and a few treats for the two female criminals locked in the basement, he suddenly spotted a girl standing ahead of him.
He knew her instantly. Makoto Kino. One of the Sailor Moons. She was standing at the church entrance, lost in thought.
When Ryuji saw her, he was about to greet her...but Makoto suddenly lifted her head and their eyes met.
Makoto froze for a moment. She had dreamt of Ryuji the night before, a dream that seemed to last forever.
In that dream, Ryuji treated her harshly. She had stood firm, taking everything on herself to protect her friends, but he was merciless. He toyed with her... then abandoned her, leaving her to raise a daughter alone. Years later, she fought with her life on the line to protect that daughter, ultimately sacrificing herself. And in her final moments, she saw Ryuji's regretful gaze, eyes brimming with tears before she died.
And when she woke up in the morning, she discovered her bedsheets were wet.
Thinking of it now, Makoto drew in a sharp breath and looked at Ryuji. She had prepared herself for sacrifice, but this… this was too fast.
Even if it was only in a dream…
The memory of Ryuji laughing wildly, forcing her down despite her struggles, made her face pale. She strode quickly toward him, tilting her head up to meet his eyes, and questioned him:
"What are you doing here?"
She had only just returned last night. How could he possibly have come so quickly... let alone found her exact address?
"Uh… I rented a place nearby," Ryuji replied, pointing toward his house, confused at her anger.
Makoto followed his gesture and froze. His house was right beside her own house.
If he wanted to, he could climb up to her window in the middle of the night with no effort at all.
Her expression darkened. Memories of the dream, coupled with Ryuji's overwhelming strength, surged back into her mind. Fueled by lingering dread and that dream's influence, she spat out through gritted teeth:
"So you're that desperate for my payment?!"
The sudden outburst made her chest heave with every breath, drawing Ryuji's gaze before he realized it. He nodded reflexively.
"Uh… yeah, I guess."
Makoto's heart sank. She inhaled deeply, convinced now that her dream had been prophetic. With a heavy sense of sacrifice, she steeled herself and declared:
"Fine. Then take me with you. Tonight, I'll give you what you want. But starting tomorrow, you'll teach us how to fight and you absolutely cannot lay a hand on anyone else!"
She grabbed him by the collar, staring into his startled eyes. Her heart pounded, but she forced herself forward. If it came to it she would decide her own fate.
Even if it meant losing her first kiss, she would decide when and how.
Even if her future ended in tragedy, she was willing to sacrifice everything... for the sake of her friends.
Staring at Ryuji's face, Makoto suddenly yanked him closer by the collar. Their lips crashed together in an abrupt, heated kiss.
And at that exact moment...
A wild Ran Mouri happened to walk by!
~~~~~~~~~~
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