"But… if you give me the gun, what about you?" Sonoko looked up at Ren Kuroda with genuine worry.
Ren was about to say I've got another one, but stopped himself mid-thought.
If he said that, it would just sound like he trusted her enough to share. But if he made it sound like this was his only gun—and he still handed it to her anyway—it would mean he valued her safety over his own.
Much more effective.
So instead, he smiled faintly and said, "You know what I can do, Sonoko. I don't need a gun to fight. Don't worry about me."
Sonoko immediately tried to hand it back. "No, you should keep it! I—I'm not confident I can even use this properly!"
Ren pushed it gently back toward her, his tone firm. "With this, at least you can protect yourself. You wouldn't even be in this situation if I hadn't dragged you into it. It's my responsibility to make sure you're safe."
"Ren…" Sonoko's chest tightened. His calm voice, the warmth in his eyes—she suddenly felt completely secure, as if no danger in the world could touch her while he was there.
Ren saw the moment land perfectly, the atmosphere charged and just right. Yeah, he thought. If I don't at least kiss her now, that'd be criminally wasteful.
But just as he leaned in—
"Eh? Sonoko-neechan, why do you have a gun?!"
Conan's voice cut through the moment like an ice pick.
Ren froze. Sonoko jerked upright, the tension shattered.
Conan stood a few meters away, wide-eyed and incredulous, his gaze snapping from the pistol in Sonoko's hands to Ren. It didn't take a detective to figure out what he was thinking.
Ren was already crafting a quick excuse when Sonoko smoothly stepped in.
"This? Oh, it's mine," she said with an easy smile. "My family gave it to me after that kidnapping incident a while back. They told me to keep it with me—just in case."
Ren couldn't help glancing at her, impressed. Her delivery was flawless.
She noticed his look and gave him a playful wink in return.
Conan thought about it for a second and nodded. It actually made sense. Considering what her family was like—and what she'd been through—it wasn't far-fetched at all.
Then Ren broke the moment with a calm question. "What are you doing here, kid? Weren't you supposed to be watching the others?"
Conan waved a hand. "Relax, I told them to stay put. They're safe where they are."
He had barely finished the sentence when the three kids came running toward them.
"Conan! We talked it over," Genta declared, puffing out his chest. "And we decided we can't let you go alone!"
"Yeah!" Mitsuhiko added earnestly. "We're the Detective Boys! We stick together!"
Ayumi nodded firmly. "And besides, it's my fault for insisting we come back here. If I hadn't, none of this would've happened."
"…"
Conan just stood there, expression frozen, feeling like he'd been slapped three times in a row.
"Are you all insane?!" he snapped. "This isn't some game! It's dangerous! Get back and hide!"
Ayumi frowned. "Conan, you're a kid too! You can't tell us what to do!"
That one hit him right in the logic. For once, he had no comeback.
Ren chuckled softly and reached down to ruffle Ayumi's hair. "They're good kids," he said to Conan. "Loyal, brave… maybe a little reckless, but they've got heart. You've found yourself some solid teammates."
He gave the three kids a faint grin. "When things get serious, they don't run—they stand with you. You should be proud of them."
Conan sighed heavily, defeated. "I just don't want them getting hurt…"
"They'll have to face danger someday," Ren said gently. "Better they learn now, with us watching their backs."
He straightened, a mischievous spark in his eyes. "Besides, this'll make a great story someday. 'Graduated two years ago, but with nine years of detective experience already.'"
That got a laugh out of the kids.
"And don't worry," Sonoko chimed in, striking a perfect shooting stance with her pistol. "I'll protect them too!"
Conan shot her a skeptical look. "Uh-huh. Sure you will." But he didn't bother arguing. What was the point?
Meanwhile, the three little detectives practically glowed with excitement.
Ren smiled. "Alright, here's the plan. You four run around where the cameras can see you—make some noise. Draw the robbers' attention."
"When they start chasing, Sonoko and I will ambush them from the main entrance. The moment they appear—we take them down. Got it?"
It was a simple, easy-to-understand plan. The kids nodded enthusiastically.
"Conan, you lead them," Ren said.
Seeing that they were only acting as bait and wouldn't be directly exposed to danger, Conan reluctantly agreed. "Fine. Let's move."
When they left, Ren turned back to Sonoko. "You take the emergency exit. I'll cover the elevator."
"O-okay." Sonoko gripped the pistol tightly, her hands trembling slightly.
"If you're too nervous, just hide," Ren said softly, taking her hand for a moment. "Safety first."
She shook her head firmly. "No. I want to help."
Ren smiled. "Good. Then stay right here. You'll be able to see both the exit and my position from here."
Sonoko nodded, taking her spot near the wall. She raised the pistol in both hands, aiming toward the escape door. Her heart pounded, but her eyes gleamed with determination.
Then—
The low hum of an elevator filled the hall.
Ren slipped into position beside the doors.
Ding.
The doors slid open.
The light from inside spilled out, casting the silhouettes of three armed men onto the floor.
Ren's eyes tracked their shadows. He could see their weapons clearly.
Before they even realized he was there, he lunged.
His fist slammed into the throat of the first man. The robber collapsed with a choking gasp.
Ren shoved him forward into the other two, knocking them off balance.
Then—two quick strikes. One brutal punch to the second man's temple, one precise kick to the third's ribs and kidney.
He didn't hold back—not tonight.
He had a System task to complete, and there were cameras in the elevator. He needed this clean and decisive.
Three moves. Three bodies down. No witnesses left breathing.
Meanwhile, at the emergency exit—
"Don't move!" Sonoko shouted, voice trembling but loud. "I'll shoot!"
The robber who'd just emerged squinted at her—and smirked. "A toy gun? That's cute, little lady."
He took two steps forward.
"I-I mean it!" Sonoko raised her weapon and fired a warning shot straight into the ceiling.
BANG!
The sharp crack echoed down the corridor.
The robber flinched—but then he lunged forward, closing the distance in a blink.
Sonoko gasped, swinging the gun back toward him, but his boot whipped up in a vicious kick—sending the pistol flying from her grip.
It clattered across the floor.
"Aha! Fell for it, huh? Too easy!" the robber laughed mockingly.
He didn't get to finish that laugh.
There was a blur of motion behind him, a sharp crack—
—and his body dropped lifelessly to the ground, neck twisted at an impossible angle.
Ren stood behind him, lowering his hands.
"Ren!" Sonoko gasped, rushing forward, guilt written all over her face. "I—I messed up. He tricked me."
Ren wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. "It's fine. You bought me the time I needed. You did great."
The warmth in his voice hit her harder than the adrenaline. She leaned against him, trembling, but smiling faintly.
A few meters away, Conan had just arrived—and when he saw Ren holding Sonoko like that, his jaw nearly dropped.
Seriously?!
They'd only known each other a short time, and he was already pulling that move?
First the sunscreen thing with Ran, and now this?
Conan could only grit his teeth in silent envy.
If I had even half that guy's luck with girls, he thought bitterly, I'd be married by now.