"So basically, you won't be back for a while, right?"
"Yeah, you know how it is. I still have to focus on investigating the case."
"Your case still hasn't made much progress?"
"No, it's precisely because there has been some progress that I need to be even more careful..."
Ran Mouri curled the telephone cord around her finger, leaning against the agency desk with a slight pout.
That meant things had not improved, and he still had to keep it hidden—perhaps be even more secretive than before.
That Shinichi...
"I see." Ran Mouri glanced at Mori Kogoro, who was sitting on the sofa, and made no effort to lower her voice. "The temperature's been pretty low lately, so take care of yourself."
Conan casually replied, "You too. Stop sleeping with your stomach exposed at night. You'll catch a cold."
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Ran Mouri's eyes widened. "I always keep myself covered when I sleep. You...!"
Hadn't they already been careful not to sleep in the same room? How had Shinichi found out—
Conan helplessly looked up at the sky.
They saw each other all day long. When someone slept badly enough to avoid even eating too many cold things the next day, was it really that hard to notice?
"You can't fool a detective. All right, take good care of yourself."
Ran Mouri gave a soft hum, did not answer, and hung up.
That call meant Conan would be coming back soon. It had been a contact made before heading home, to explain his upcoming plans and movements.
"Quit being so mushy." Mori Kogoro, holding a cup of tasteless tea as he drank in front of the television, remarked flatly. "Are you and that brat facing some life-or-death separation? 'Take care of yourself'..."
"Dad—! What's wrong with