The Fish-Fearing Boy of Ekoda, 3k Launch Bonus Chapter

The next morning, in the Fujino family's bathroom.

Fujino stood before the bathtub, examining the blue seed within the pristine white tub, and muttered to himself, "It's already grown by five percent in just one night?"

At this moment, the system interface before him displayed a notification about the growth of the Soul Lotus as a light screen: [Current Soul Lotus Growth Progress: 5%]

Then, he turned his gaze to the Soul Lotus.

The Soul Lotus Seed, which was only the size of a thumb yesterday, was in the bathtub water.

After growing overnight, it has now grown into a soul lotus root the size of a palm.

Even the appearance of the Soul Lotus has undergone a subtle change.

The originally smooth seed embryo shell gradually evolved into limbs and a face. Although it was somewhat rough, it was indeed the shape of a little baby.

The scene before him reminded Fujino of a high-tech mobile phone from the 2060s in a certain Chinese fantasy time-travel blockbuster from his previous life.

However, the silly girl is transparent, while this soul lotus root doll is bluish-green.

Above the Soul Lotus, yesterday's tender sprout gradually thickened and became a small, emerald-green branch.

Gradually extending from the base of the twig, a flower bud that has not yet bloomed forms at the tip of the twig.

On either side of the small branches of the lotus bud, a few lotus leaves also extend out.

The lotus leaves had not yet grown, only tender green leaves were just beginning to sprout.

Looking at the lotus root in the bathtub, Fujino couldn't help but twitch his chin.

For a moment, he had the illusion that he was playing a pet raising game.

Gathering his thoughts, he peeled off the bandage on his right ring finger, revealing the scab that had just formed on his finger.

Reach your hand over the top of the bathtub, press hard with your middle and little fingers, and bright red blood will slowly drip from your ring finger into the bathtub.

The clear water in the bathtub was slightly stained crimson by that drop of blood.

Then, wisps of light condensed continuously in the crimson water and slowly seeped into the Dao Soul Lotus.

Having absorbed today's dose of blood, the Soul Lotus vaguely felt a little mischievous and excited.

He casually took out a band-aid from his Pocket Dimension.

After re-bandaging his ring finger, Fujino looked directly at the Soul Lotus that was absorbing his blood and frowned.

He extracted the Soul Lotus Seed, and he also squeezed out the blood that nourished it.

Goodness, it feels like I'm playing both the father and the mother role?

When Soulmate Akemi grows up, won't we have to call him...?

Before we knew it, it was afternoon.

It was drizzling in Shibuya, and pedestrians were holding umbrellas.

Fujino stood at the traffic light with two young girls.

Raindrops kept hitting the umbrella fabric, making a pattering sound.

At the same time, a strong, fishy smell permeated the air.

Actually, the fishy smell from the rain wasn't that strong.

Fujino simply became a bit more sensitive after his perception abilities were enhanced.

It seems that sometimes, having a strong sense of perception can also be a source of distress.

Beside her, Suzuki Sonoko kept chattering away, unable to stop.

Ran stood to the side, listening to the new topics that Suzuki Sonoko kept bringing up.

Fujino stared at the two people in front of him with dead fish eyes.

The reason he's here all started this morning...

But then again, how much time has it been?

Why hasn't Sonoko shifted her offensive to someone else yet?

Normally, she would have already found someone new, right?

"Hey, have you guys heard of that Kaito Kid?"

As Fujino was pondering, Suzuki Sonoko suddenly turned around with a lively gesture.

"Is that the Kaito Kid?"

Ran looked puzzled upon hearing this, expressing some confusion about the topic Sonoko had suddenly brought up.

"It must be Kaito Kid, right?"

At this moment, Fujino, having regained his senses, spoke to the two of them.

"Kaito Kid?"

"Kaito Kid is the international crime code of Kaito Kid."

Seeing the continued confusion on Ran's face, Fujino immediately explained, "As for Kaito Kid, it's a meme that a novelist casually wrote the number 1412 and it was mistaken for KID. Later, this meme spread, and Kaito Kid became known as Kaito Kid (KID)."

"So that's how it is."

Ran suddenly realized what he meant and asked, "Speaking of Fujino- Senior, do you know a lot about Kaito Kid?"

"I wouldn't say I know much about it; I just read the newspaper regularly."

Fujino shook his head and chuckled softly with his eyes slightly narrowed.

Besides, he only knew about it; he even knew the true identity of Kaito Kid.

If he wanted, he could always run to Ekoda High School and ambush a certain boy who was afraid of fish.

Then he'd say something like, "Young man, you don't want your crime of going out in a white cloak at night to be exposed, do you?"

At this moment, the green light at the pedestrian crossing turns on.

The group slowly crossed the zebra crossing and headed towards the pedestrian crossing on the other side.

"But speaking of which, how come you, Ran, Ran daughter of a detective, don't even know about Kaito Kid?"

Sonoko seemed a little puzzled. "Besides, that Kaito Kid is very popular with young girls these days."

"Please, I don't like investigating cases."

Ran's face showed a resentful expression. "Just because my dad is a detective doesn't mean I'm a detective too. How would I know about such things?"

"Ran, you really don't look like a young girl at all."

Sonoko couldn't help but make a comment.

Fujino, who was standing to the side, nodded silently.

Great minds think alike. In his opinion, Ran really didn't seem like a naive high school girl; rather, she seemed like a young married woman who had been married for many years.

Thinking about it, it makes sense. Given Ran's situation, she really doesn't have the energy or time to be an ordinary high school girl.

She has a father who causes her a lot of worry, and a childhood sweetheart who is basically unable to take care of herself.

Who would have time to take care of those two bastards all day?

It's worth noting that before Kudo Shinichi became Conan, Ran usually did his breakfast.

As for Kudo Shinichi... he'll be all for nothing.

You can even cut a cucumber slice into a nine-linked chain.

But then again, most childhood friends in the Conan World seem to be like this, right?

One has an outstanding talent, and the other is an all-rounder in housework.

I really don't know what kind of thought process that Aoyama Gosho has.

"Thump!"

Just then, the sound of an umbrella hitting the ground rang out.

Then, two female voices shouted.

"Shinichi!"

"Ran, it's still a red light! Dangerous!"

Fujino pulled himself together and looked up, only to see Sonoko desperately pulling on Ran's arm.

Ran seemed to have seen something and hurriedly rushed towards the pedestrian crossing on the other side.

"What happened?"

Fujino asked, puzzled.

"Just now, I saw Shinichi with another girl..."

Ran stared intently at the pedestrian crossing across the zebra crossing, a forlorn expression on her face.

The umbrella in her hand fell to the ground, and the heavy rain poured down on her.

Fujino turned his gaze to the direction Ran was looking.

Although he didn't see it at first glance, with his enhanced observation skills, he quickly spotted a boy who resembled Kudo Shinichi.

The boy was wearing a white jacket and khaki casual shorts, looking quite arrogant.

Beside the boy was a girl who resembled Ran.

The girl was wearing a light blue casual jacket and a plaid skirt. Judging from her demeanor, she seemed to be a lively high school girl, completely different from Ran.

Kuroba Kaito?

Fujino recognized the person at a glance.

After handing his umbrella to Ran, he chased after her.

"That spiky-haired boy over there!"

Kuroba Kaito: "?"

When Kuroba Kaito heard someone shout "Hedgehog Boy," he immediately turned around to look.

Then he saw a man in a black suit who appeared to be over twenty years old standing behind him.

Kuroba Kaito was stunned for a moment. "Uncle, you are..."

Fujino: "..."

After a moment of silence, Fujino took a deep breath. "My name is Fujino Doji, and I'm a detective."

"Detective?"

"You must be that High School Detective, Fujino Doji?"

Before Kuroba Kaito could finish speaking, a girl who looked remarkably like Mori Ran interrupted him, speaking with a somewhat excited expression.

"High School Detective Fujino..."

Fujino touched his nose. "It must be me."

High School Detective have always been a favorite topic of discussion among girls, second only to Kaito Kid.

Aoko was naturally extremely excited to finally see the detective she had been discussing with in person.

After all, the next time she chats with her best friends, she'll have something to talk about about meeting the Great Detective.

Kuroba Kaito, on the other hand, wore a strange expression.

Is this a high school student?

I'd believe you if you told me you were a corporate slave!

After mentally criticizing the detective's appearance, he asked Aoko, "Aoko, do you know this guy?"

"Of course I know him!"

Aoko nodded, then looked at Kuroba Kaito: "Kaito, don't you know the High School Detective Fujino?"

"How would I know about such a thing..."

Kuroba Kaito scratched the back of his head and asked Fujino with a somewhat annoyed tone, "So, detective, what brings you here?"

His displeasure stemmed from the detective's suppression of the phantom thief's bloodline.

And then there's the look of admiration on his childhood sweetheart's face.

"Nothing."

Fujino simply chuckled, "I just mistook you for a long-lost classmate."

"Shinichi, where have you been all this time?!"

At that moment, Ran arrived.

Upon seeing Aoko next to Kaito, she frowned. "Who is this girl?"

"My name is Kuroba Kaito, not Shinichi!"

Kuroba Kaito corrected him with a stern face.

"Not Shinichi?"

Ran looked at Kuroba Kaito suspiciously.

A moment later, she realized that she had indeed mistaken the person for someone else.

Although they look alike.

But Kudo Shinichi would never have such a spiky hairstyle.

"Shinichi... you mean Kudo Shinichi?"

At that moment, Aoko suddenly mentioned it.

"You know him?"

Ran nodded. "He and I are childhood sweethearts."

"Of course I know him, he's known as the Heisei Era's Sherlock Holmes."

Aoko's admiration deepened, and then she asked Ran, "Does Kudo Shinichi really look like Kaito?"