Call Me Uncle

Thanks to Fujino's intervention, The Idol Bloodstained Incident was successfully solved in less than an hour.

In the end, the police concluded that Akiyoshi Fujie had secretly loved Yoko Okino without success, and had ultimately killed himself in her home out of spite, intending to frame Yoko Okino for the crime.

And amid Juzo Megure repeatedly calling him "brother," Fujino officially became his Imperial Brother, Imperial Brother for short.

As for Yoko Okino's commission fee... although Fujino had not really investigated much, she still willingly paid the remaining balance.

She knew that if it had not been for Fujino today, she would likely have ended up carrying the blame for murder.

Besides, Fujino had indeed found the culprit behind the stalking.

Whether he really was the culprit, however, was another matter.

On the way home from the Metropolitan Police Department.

"What Senior said just now was so profound!"

Ran walked with her hands behind her back and a faint smile on her face. "But then again, if Sonoko had seen how dashing you looked just now, Senior, she probably would have gotten all starry-eyed again."

Although she had just gone through a terrifying suicide case, Ran still looked as bright and optimistic as ever...

It was hard to say whether she was truly that optimistic or merely hiding her feelings away.

"Sonoko..."

Fujino murmured before asking Ran, "You mean that girl with the short hair, right?"

"That's right."

Ran nodded. "She seems to be interested in you, Senior."

"It's just the stirrings of adolescence."

Fujino slipped his hands into his pockets and gave a self-deprecating laugh. "Still, while we're this age, we should enjoy the precious days of youth while we can."

My age probably won't change for a while... This Conan World really is terrifying.

Come to think of it, aren't you just a high school student too? What's with that look like you've been beaten down by society?!

Conan held Ran's hand and stared at Fujino's weathered expression, inwardly speechless as he complained to himself.

Unlike Ran's liveliness, Fujino's face was full of world-weariness.

He looked like an exhausted office worker who had just finished overtime and dragged himself home.

Even Ran had failed to notice that Fujino was only eighteen.

"Grrrr..."

At that moment, an uncooperative growl sounded.

Fujino stopped walking, and his face flushed with embarrassment.

"Senior, you haven't had dinner yet, have you?"

Hearing it, Ran turned around and covered her mouth as she smiled.

"Ahem..."

Fujino seemed to choke on his saliva. After coughing lightly, he scratched the back of his head and said, "Actually, I haven't eaten anything all day... I was planning to eat tonight, but then I got a commission..."

"Why don't you come eat at my house?"

Ran suggested, "I was just about to go home and make dinner."

"I'd better not..."

Fujino found Ran's invitation a little troublesome.

If he got too close to Ran, some Little Southeast Asian King of Jealousy probably would not let him off.

Of course, he himself did not really care.

But his house could not withstand that kind of trouble!

A seventy-five-million-yen house would immediately lose a third of its value the moment someone died in it.

If they came to film two or three episodes at his place, he would probably feel like dying!

Keeping a certain distance from Ran might mean he could not take advantage of anything, but at least it would spare him some unnecessary trouble.

Thinking that, Fujino awkwardly scratched his head.

Just as he was about to refuse, a system notification suddenly sounded beside his ear.

"Ding, Student Career Mission detected!"

Then, a system interface appeared before his eyes.

Student Career Mission: Improve Friendship Between Classmates

Mission objective: Go to a classmate's house for dinner.

Mission reward: 100,000 yen, 50 Student Proficiency

Mission location: Mori Detective Agency

Fujino stared at the system interface before him and could not help spacing out.

What the hell?

Students had missions too?!

Could it be that the Unicorn Sage had manifested?

Fujino had originally intended to refuse.

But that was 100,000 yen!

And fifty points of Student Proficiency—he would level up immediately after getting that!

After pondering it for a moment, Fujino made his decision. Scratching the back of his head, he reluctantly said, "Ran, we aren't that familiar with each other. Inviting a strange man home for dinner this late... I'm worried it might cause some misunderstanding..."

"I see."

Ran nodded when she heard that.

She finally understood why Fujino kept refusing her.

So he had just been embarrassed!

She really had been too presumptuous.

After all, she and Fujino had only met a few times.

It would have been strange if he had agreed.

With that thought, Ran let out a sigh of relief, then waved her hand and smiled at Fujino. "It's fine. Senior Fujino, you're my neighbor, so there's nothing wrong with inviting a neighbor over for dinner..."

As she spoke, Ran asked Conan, "Isn't that right, Conan?"

There was absolutely nothing right about it!

But given Conan's identity, he could not say that.

He could only grit his teeth, twitch the corner of his mouth, and force out an insincere smile. "Y-yes!"

"Grrrr..."

At that moment, the growl sounded again.

Fujino scratched the back of his head and sheepishly said, "In that case, I'll have to trouble the Mori family with dinner tonight..."

Uncle Mori was extremely wary of Fujino's arrival.

But such a minor problem was no problem for Fujino.

One signed Yoko Okino poster and a ten-thousand-yen bottle of premium foreign liquor were enough to win Uncle Mori over!

And just like that, Fujino successfully joined them for dinner as a guest.

Ran's cooking was excellent, reminding Fujino of the taste of his mother's cooking.

With good food and good alcohol, Fujino and Uncle Mori naturally ate and drank to their hearts' content.

After Uncle Mori finished a bottle of sake, the mood was just right, and in his excitement, he directly swore brotherhood with Fujino.

That night, in front of the Mori Detective Agency.

The thoroughly drunk Mori Kogoro waved at Fujino, who was walking back to his own home across the street. As he waved, he shouted reluctantly, "Brother Fujino!"

"Dad!"

Mori Ran supported Mori Kogoro and complained, "Honestly! I told you to drink less, but you just wouldn't listen!"

"You even let Senior Fujino see you acting this disgracefully!"

"What do you mean, drink less? Senior? He's my brother!"

With a flushed face, Uncle Mori lectured Ran, "You have to call him uncle!"

"Honestly! I'm done with you!"

Mori Ran gave a huffy snort, then tossed Mori Kogoro outside the door.

Even so, Mori Kogoro still enthusiastically shouted at Fujino, "Brother Fujino! Remember to come again next time!"

"Got it, Mouri-niisan."

Fujino waved behind him without turning around and walked toward the four-story building opposite the Mori Detective Agency.