"You're in first grade and still can't cook breakfast?" Tsuneo turned, glaring at the great detective with a sharp look.
You little dog-brained detective, watch your words and actions.
Speaking of which, didn't Hattori mention you were badmouthing me behind my back?
Conan pressed his lips shut, not daring to respond.
No choice—the guy held too many of his secrets.
Seeing Ran hesitate over breakfast, Tsuneo added, "Miss this training, and you'll regret it."
Hmph, just mention "training," and Hattori gets pumped like he's on steroids. Works every time!
These seventeen- and eighteen-year-olds are so easy to sway!
"I get it!"
As expected, Ran clenched her fists, brimming with determination.
Training was a must!
Breakfast? Dad can handle it!
Conan glanced wearily at Uncle Mouri, who was zoning out.
Sure enough, you're thinking about something you shouldn't, aren't you?
Dr. Shinde called everyone inside for tea before heading out for a house call.
The Mouri family of three, plus Tsuneo, sat around the table, sipping tea, staring at each other.
Nearby, Mrs. Shinde and the maid, Miss Koko, busied themselves preparing dinner.
"I'll help!" Ran, unable to sit still, dashed to the kitchen.
"I'm stepping out for a smoke," Uncle Mouri yawned, heading outside.
Conan watched Ran's back, lost in thought.
"What, got X-ray vision? Seeing something I can't?" Tsuneo waved a hand in front of the detective.
Even if you had X-ray vision, what haven't you seen already?
"What nonsense."
Conan's face flushed, and he muttered, "Ran's been acting off lately."
During their disguised phone calls, she'd been distant. Lately, she'd leave every evening and return late.
She claimed it was for intensive karate training, but neither he nor Uncle Mouri bought it.
Something's weird.
"So, you think she's cheating?" Tsuneo chuckled. "Want to investigate? Hire the Sleeping Detective."
That bumbling uncle's pretty good at catching cheaters.
Easy pickings.
"…"
Conan turned away, exasperated.
What's this guy thinking all day?
Hiring Dad to investigate his daughter? Only you'd come up with that.
Cheating? No way…
Time passed quickly, and dinner was nearly ready.
A young man in glasses, wearing a green sweater under a brown suit jacket, returned home and joined the group.
His name was Shinde Tomoaki, twenty-five, Dr. Shinde's son and also a doctor, splitting shifts with his father at the family hospital.
He'd been at Teitan High that afternoon, guest-coaching the basketball team, and only got home near seven.
"Top graduate from Toto Medical University!" Uncle Mouri exclaimed, impressed.
"Amazing!" Ran and Conan nodded in agreement.
Toto Medical's a top school. Graduating first? That's incredible!
Tsuneo sat quietly, eyeing the guy's green sweater.
That color combo's… odd.
"Why don't you just marry my daughter!" Uncle Mouri pointed at Ran, grinning.
"Dad, stop it!" Ran protested immediately.
Tsuneo and Conan exchanged a glance.
Great Detective, what do you think of this match?
I object!
"They do seem like a good pair," Mrs. Shinde teased, tying her apron.
"Heh, if that day comes, someone might drown their sorrows in booze daily," Tsuneo said, glancing at a certain someone.
Conan looked away, ignoring him.
Either way, thanks for cutting that topic short.
Suddenly, Miss Koko yelped by the stove, apparently burned.
"You okay?"
"Be careful, the chawanmushi's hot right out of the steamer," Mrs. Shinde warned.
"Sorry," Koko apologized, resuming her work.
"Speaking of, Aunt, aren't you discussing your class reunion tonight?" Tomoaki asked his stepmother.
"Right, I need to call Masae," Mrs. Shinde nodded, leaving the room.
…
"If we teamed up, we'd be like Holmes and Watson, solving any case with ease," Uncle Mouri said, clearly fond of the young man, spouting nonsense about forming a detective duo.
"Don't tease me. Honestly, I've never thought detectives and doctors make good partners," Tomoaki said, waving a hand with a smile.
"Our true mission as doctors isn't to examine corpses or catch killers, but to save victims' lives, right?"
Tsuneo nodded in agreement. "With this guy, you'll see plenty of victims you can't save."
"Hey, hey, hey!" Uncle Mouri shot the repairman a look.
I've been wondering who's spreading rumors calling me a jinx.
It's you, isn't it?
"Speaking of, Mr. Tsuneo, ever considered going full-time detective?" Dr. Shinde asked curiously.
He'd seen the name in papers a few times.
Besides helping police solve cases, he'd even faced off against Kid the Phantom Thief.
With that fame, opening a detective agency should be easy.
Yet his business card listed a completely unrelated job.
"My deduction skills aren't as good as my hands-on skills," Tsuneo said, shaking his head and sipping his hot tea.
If a certain someone hadn't used my voice to cause chaos, I wouldn't have so many police statements to give.
"You're too modest," Dr. Shinde said, assuming he meant repair skills.
Conan gave a wry smile.
No, not a hint of modesty.
Compared to deduction, his hands-on skills are way stronger…
Meanwhile, the great detective noticed Ran staring at the young Dr. Shinde.
What's going on…
(End of Chapter)
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