As expected of Americans—warm, open, and generous.
The moment they met, it was as if the granary had been thrown open, and anything he wanted was within reach!
But just as Akashi was getting used to the unexpected embrace, Ran suddenly frowned.
Without hesitation, she handed her iced coffee to Conan before stepping forward and swiftly pulling Akashi out of Judy's arms, cradling him protectively in her own.
For the young shota, the difference was negligible.
At most, he had simply transitioned from one soft embrace to another warm one.
But for Conan…
His face instantly darkened.
At first, he thought Ran was finally being considerate, handing him the iced coffee out of kindness.
Only to realize—
She had only done so to free her hands so she could snatch Akashi away!
His grip on the cup tightened in silent frustration.
Meanwhile, Ran smiled politely at Judy and explained,
"Judy-sensei, this is my younger brother, Akashi.
He's very shy, so please don't scare him!"
Judy, however, had already noticed something.
She turned her gaze toward the "shopping convoy"—six saleswomen standing attentively nearby, their arms laden with shopping bags.
Just moments ago, this so-called "shy" child had been sitting atop a shopping cart, parading around like a little emperor.
"...Shy?"
Was Ran confused about the meaning of that word?
Still, she played along.
"Akashi, you haven't told your sister yet—what are you doing here?"
Akashi responded smoothly,
"I'm buying clothes for Ai. She doesn't have anything to wear."
Hearing this, Ran glanced at the overflowing shopping cart and hesitated.
"You bought this much? Did you get anything for your sister?"
Her lavender eyes lit up with expectation.
Hiss—!
Crap!
Everything he bought was Haibara's size!
On the sidelines, Conan smirked.
Now you've done it, brat. Let's see how you get out of this one!
But the next moment, Akashi nestled his head against Ran's shoulder and nuzzled against her snowy neck, his voice soft and affectionate.
"I just finished shopping in the children's section," he said sweetly. "I was just about to ask these nice sisters to take me to the women's clothing section so I could buy something for Sister Ran!"
"But now that you're here, this is perfect! We can go try on clothes together!"
His tone was filled with innocent charm, laced with just the right amount of childish adoration.
Ran's heart melted instantly.
She beamed, completely convinced.
"Aww, you don't have to do that! Sister has plenty of clothes. Just focus on getting things for yourself and Ai!"
Do you believe this?
Do you seriously believe this, Ran?!
Conan, clutching his iced coffee, looked on in sheer disbelief.
This little devil is blatantly lying!
He just bought an entire haul of clothes—and not a single one was for you!
Wake up, Ran!
It was utterly ridiculous!
Fuming, Conan raised a trembling finger, pointing at Akashi, who was still comfortably nestled in Ran's arms.
But before he could say anything—
SMACK!
A hand came down on his head, and a sharp pain shot through his skull.
Sonoko had struck.
"Kid, what's with all the shaking? Are you going crazy again?"
A fresh red bump bloomed on Conan's forehead.
He immediately crouched down, clutching his head in pain.
It hurts!
At that moment, one of the saleswomen chimed in,
"This little brother is telling the truth. He asked us to take him to the women's clothing section. We were just passing through here."
Conan, still squatting, lifted his head in utter disbelief, his eyes brimming with silent outrage.
Lies!
Bold-faced lies!
He knew the layout of this mall!
After the arcade came the men's clothing section—not the women's!
Why!
Why were these complete strangers going out of their way to help this brat lie?!
Conan clenched his fists, his soul nearly leaving his body.
The whole world is against me!
Judy watched the unfolding scene with quiet amusement, her gaze sharp with interest.
Just moments ago, Conan had been his usual sharp and alert self—quick-witted, observant, always a step ahead.
But the moment this handsome boy appeared, his composure crumbled completely.
Could this kid be Conan's natural nemesis?
How interesting.
Truly interesting!
Just then, a familiar figure emerged from the crowd.
Miwako Sato, clad in her signature dark red suit and skirt, approached with her usual authoritative air.
"Enough shopping for today," she announced, her tone firm. "Come with us to the Metropolitan Police Department to give a statement."
At those words, everyone visibly deflated.
Even Sonoko, who had been brimming with excitement just moments ago, let out a dramatic sigh.
But there was no room for negotiation—Miwako had spoken, and that meant they had no choice but to comply.
Akashi, however, remained composed.
He quickly instructed the sales ladies to deliver all the purchased clothes to Eri's residence.
Whether it was because this mall was particularly high-end or because his 『Hypnosis』 had yet to wear off, the saleswomen obediently followed his command without question, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
With that settled, Akashi turned his attention back to the game arcade, sensing that the lingering Yin energy had yet to fully dissipate.
Now was the perfect time.
Without hesitation, he initiated a check-in.
The arcade screen flickered—then suddenly, a burst of purple light filled the space.
The light fractured and reformed, condensing into an exquisite treasure chest.
As the chest creaked open, a shimmering stream of energy shot forward, fusing into Akashi's body.
[Ding! Check-in successful. Congratulations, host, you have obtained: Desire Fighting Lv1!]
[Desire Fighting Lv1: The host gains mastery over various fighting techniques.]
[When using this skill, the host's strikes will carry an inexplicable force.]
[Landing a hit on a woman of the opposite sex can easily render her incapacitated.]
[With accumulated desire energy, a critical strike can lead to a total knockout!]
[Note: Shame the enemy? Strip them bare!]
Akashi's expression darkened.
What the hell kind of skill is this?!
Yet, before he could fully process it, an overwhelming flood of combat knowledge surged into his mind.
Techniques from countless martial arts disciplines—boxing, judo, taekwondo, krav maga, Muay Thai—seamlessly integrated into his consciousness.
His eyes sharpened.
He instinctively understood every move, every counter, every possible variation.
Despite his usual preference for 『Hypnosis』 and manipulation, his own combat prowess was already formidable.
But this inheritance?
This was next level!
The sheer wealth of knowledge was an undeniable boon.
A skill that seemed utterly ridiculous at first glance… turned out to be unexpectedly practical!
That said—
Akashi glanced down at his own small arms and legs.
A heavy sigh escaped him.
What's the use of being a martial arts master if I don't have the speed or strength to back it up?!
At his current physical state, it wouldn't matter how skilled he was—his attacks would lack power.
This "Desire Fighting" skill could only unleash its full potential if he expended Yin energy to restore his true strength.
Otherwise, I'm just a kid in fancy clothes!
The realization was downright depressing.
Still, Akashi didn't dwell on it for too long.
Before he knew it, Ran had picked him up and carried him into Miwako Sato's police car.
Judy, Sonoko, and Conan followed suit, piling in as the vehicle pulled away toward the Metropolitan Police Department.
As they drove, Akashi stared out the window, lost in thought.
The Metropolitan Police Department—one of the most iconic locations in Conan's world.
Now that I think about it… I haven't checked in there yet.
His lips curled into a smirk.
First time's the charm, right?
Eager anticipation flickered in his golden eyes.