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Chapter 221: The Deep Blue Swimsuit
"We won't, Conan."
Mori Ran bent down, reaching out to straighten Conan's slightly crooked bowtie, a gentle smile on her face. "How could I not think of that? After all, it is his family's secret technique. It would definitely be impolite to just barge in and ask to learn it."
She straightened up and lightly patted the delicate paper bag, her tone lighthearted. "So, last night, I specifically called Mr. Blake to confirm. He said this is just a basic 'Qi Regulation' method and doesn't involve any core secrets. And he also said..."
Ran paused, two faint blushes rising on her cheeks, her gaze drifting slightly. "He said my constitution is very good, and if it's me, he'd be very happy to make an exception and teach me."
Snap.
Conan felt the string of his sanity snap.
Last night? A phone call?
In that instant, the terrifying associations in Conan's mind regarding "human experimentation," "biological weapons," and "slicing research" were forcibly crowded out by a different image.
No! No!
Conan felt like the sky was falling.
"Hey... Conan? What's wrong?" Ran waved her hand in front of Conan, who suddenly looked as if his world had collapsed.
"N-Nothing..."
Inside the living room, having dealt with the "sulking" brat, Ran turned and went back into the bedroom.
Although she sounded relaxed, the thought of wearing a swimsuit in front of a member of the opposite sex she hadn't known for long made her feel a bit apprehensive. She opened the wardrobe, her gaze shifting between several swimsuits.
The one on the far left was forced on her by Sonoko during their last trip to Izu Beach. A fiery red bikini. The fabric was pitifully scant; the top and bottom combined probably didn't amount to the size of a handkerchief.
What had Sonoko said back then? "Ran! This is the victory underwear! Just wear this, and even that blockhead Kudo will bleed to death from a nosebleed!"
Ran's face turned completely red. How could I possibly wear something like that out?! Besides, she was going for treatment, not a beauty pageant. If she appeared in front of Mr. Blake dressed like that, she would surely be seen as a shameless girl.
Ran quickly shoved the red bikini to the very bottom of the wardrobe, afraid that looking at it for one more second would burn her eyes.
Her gaze moved to the right. A pale pink one-piece with lace trim on the skirt, bought for a school swimming class last year. It was cute, but... Ran frowned. Is it too childish? Mr. Blake seemed to have an extraordinary bearing; every gesture exuded maturity and stability. Wearing a swimsuit with lace trim felt like she was a child who hadn't grown up. It felt a bit disrespectful.
Finally, Ran's gaze landed on a deep blue swimsuit. It was her spare for the high school inter-high swimming competition. A competitive model with no fancy decorations. A one-piece design with a racerback, cut smoothly to fit the body. It showcased her body lines perfectly while being absolutely secure against any accidental exposure.
Most importantly, it looked professional and serious. It fit a solemn occasion like "martial arts training" or "Qi regulation."
"This one it is."
Ran took down the deep blue swimsuit and held it against herself. The girl in the mirror had long hair cascading over her shoulders and clear, bright eyes. Although the swimsuit was conservative, her long legs and slender waist still radiated an irrepressible youthful vitality.
"Ran! Are you ready yet? The taxi is waiting downstairs!" Mori Kogoro's loud voice penetrated the door, vibrating the windows.
"Coming!"
Ran hurriedly folded the swimsuit, placed it carefully into the delicate paper bag, and covered it with a large towel, afraid someone might see.
Walking out of the bedroom, she found Mori Kogoro doing a final check in the mirror. He straightened his deep blue tie again and again, even spraying some breath freshener.
"How is it? Does your dad look handsome today?" Kogoro raised an eyebrow at Ran, striking a pose he thought was dashing.
Ran smiled helplessly. "Handsome, handsome. Dad is the most handsome."
Ding—
A crisp notification sound from a mobile phone broke the noise in the office. Ran took her phone from the side pocket of her handbag. The screen lit up, illuminating her slightly nervous face.
A new text message. Sender: Mom.
Her finger slid across the screen, and the brief text came into view: I've already left. I'll arrive at the Beika Central Garden Apartment in about twenty minutes. Don't let your father be late.
The corners of Ran's mouth lifted unconsciously. It was just like Mom's style. Even during their separation, she habitually wanted to control Dad's schedule. And... for this "treatment," Mom clearly took it very seriously too.
"It's a message from Mom," Ran said, looking up at Kogoro, who was still battling his tie. "She said she's already on her way and told us to be on time."
Kogoro's hands paused, then he snorted disdainfully, blowing two rough streams of air from his nose. "That woman, always liking to boss people around."
He finally tugged the tie into a barely acceptable knot, turned, and grabbed the car keys from the table, jingling them in his hand. "Since she's left, let's go too. It's not appropriate to make her wait. Although I'm a famous detective, I still have to have gentlemanly manners."
Clearly, he was afraid of being scolded by Eri Kisaki for being late, but he insisted on gilding his face with excuses. Ran didn't expose him; she just smiled, shook her head, and bent down to pick up the paper bag containing the swimsuit.
"Conan, we're leaving."
.....
The streets of Beika Town were bleached white by the noon sun. Cicadas screamed themselves hoarse in the roadside trees, inducing irritability.
Downstairs, outside the Mori Detective Agency, Conan followed behind Ran, his steps heavy.
"Dad, your tie is crooked." Ran stopped by the roadside, reaching out helplessly to adjust it for him. "Also, when we see Mr. Blake later, please don't say anything rude."
Mori Kogoro impatiently waved his daughter's hand away. He checked his hairstyle one last time in a shop window. "Nag, nag, nag! You're becoming just like your mother. I can't stand that look."
While Kogoro prattled on, Conan's gaze moved past the father and daughter to the street corner. There, a man wearing a high-necked sweater and carrying a plastic convenience store bag was walking slowly toward them.
Squinted eyes. Black-rimmed glasses. He looked harmless to humans and animals alike, like a graduate student just returning from the library.
Okiya Subaru. Or rather, Akai Shuichi.
Their gazes met briefly in the air. No superfluous expressions, not even a nod. But Conan's taut nerves relaxed slightly in that moment.
The strongest reinforcement had arrived.
"Oh my, isn't this Mr. Mori?"
Okiya Subaru stopped, his tone gentle and carrying just the right amount of surprise. He pushed up the glasses on the bridge of his nose, his gaze sweeping over the dressed-up trio. "So formal. Are you going to some important banquet?"
Mori Kogoro was just worrying about having no one to show off to. Seeing the high-achieving student who lived next door at Kudo Shinichi's house, he immediately puffed out his chest.
"It's not exactly a banquet. We're just going to visit a Chinese Kung Fu master."
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