Joyous Air

In the touching reunion scene of a family, two out of the three people could not get back up.

Knowing the people across from him were the Kudo couple, Tang Ze had not hit too hard. Though, based on what he knew about Conan's world, even if he had, nothing would have gone wrong—

The Red Faction in Conan's world could be summed up as guns of kindness. Take Akai, the godly sniper who never missed a shot: the enemy's only possible cause of death was suicide. There was not the slightest chance of anyone getting killed on camera. No matter how the Red Faction characters attacked, they could not kill anyone. Look at that soccer ball that could kick a naval cannon ninety degrees off course—slamming into Yukiko Kudo had not killed her either.

Still, after taking such a hard tumble, it was hardly strange for the two of them to be down for half a day or even a full day.

"Tell me, you two, are you really that free...?" Conan sat across from the coffee table, glaring at the couple sprawled separately across the sofa, his anger rising. "Did Professor Agasa leak the secret?"

If his parents, who ran all over the world, had even one reliable bone in their bodies, they would not be completely unreliable.

What did they mean by "putting on a show together to warn careless Shinichi"? They probably just wanted to see him jump in fright so they could laugh at him!

Rubbing his back as he curled up amid a pile of cushions, Yusaku Kudo struggled to sit upright. "You went through something this serious. How could he possibly not inform us?"

"Exactly, Shinichi." Yukiko leaned against her husband and chimed in, "You encountered such danger, yet you still wanted to handle it all by yourself. Whose side did you inherit this inexplicable hot-bloodedness from...?"

Yusaku Kudo sighed. Watching Tang Ze walk past the back of the sofa, tirelessly cleaning up the various traps scattered through the living room, he pursed his lips in dissatisfaction. "The only reason you escaped disaster today was that you got lucky. You had an information advantage, and we failed to take Tang Ze into account as a source of support. If it had been only you, the situation would have been almost completely one-sided."

Their plan had linked together flawlessly, precisely accounting for their troublesome son's mentality. If not for the unexpected variable that was Tang Ze's high combat ability, they definitely would not have suffered such a crushing defeat.

"I knew there was a lot of risk, so wasn't I already keeping it hidden..."

"No! You don't understand at all!" Yukiko glared at him, somewhat angry. "Why do you think your father and I were so terrified when we saw you get captured? You still don't understand what you're facing."

Yusaku Kudo pushed up the large glasses identical to Conan's current pair, his tone low. "If your identity is truly exposed, your mother and I, the Mori Family, Professor Agasa, Tang Ze, everyone you have come into contact with will face danger like today. Shinichi, come abroad with us. As for the drug you took, I'll ask my friends at Interpol to help investigate the relevant information. Until you recover, staying in Japan is truly unsafe."

Conan lowered his head.

By now, the fear of being hunted and the thrill of setting up a counterattack had both faded. He knew his parents' words made sense. What he was likely facing was an organization with deep roots and immense influence. They were not even a simple violent gang. A violent gang could not possibly develop a bizarre drug capable of turning people into children.

In every sense, this was not something a high school student could deal with ordinarily. It was perfectly reasonable for his parents to want him to leave with them.

But... leaving Japan...

In Conan's mind appeared Ran Mouri, tossing and turning in worry over Shinichi Kudo. Then he turned to look at Tang Ze, who was crouched on the floor, painstakingly picking up the scattered thumbtacks one by one, his expression hidden from view.

"No, I can't leave." He shook his head firmly. "I have reasons I must stay."

He could not just leave like this. The fact that Shinichi Kudo's death had not made the news was the biggest flaw. If that organization truly investigated him as a missing person, Ran, who had been with him at the amusement park that day, would be the first target. And the troublesome case that had originally only been an excuse had become real. If he had not truly had no choice, Tang Ze would never have entrusted a life-changing case to him after he had turned into a child.

He could not abandon them. He could not abandon his responsibilities. He still had to protect Ran...

"Shinichi..." Yukiko Kudo easily saw the familiar stubbornness on that now-childish face and could not help sighing. Just who did he get that stubborn streak from? Neither Yusaku nor I are so inflexible!

The conversation fell into a stalemate.

"Here, black tea." Tang Ze, the only adult in the room still able to move freely, broke the silence.

Yusaku Kudo reflexively caught the teacup and thanked him. Then his entire body stiffened as he realized this was the culprit who had thrown him so hard he was still numb, and he could not bring himself to drink the tea in his hands.

"Thank you, Tang Ze." Yukiko Kudo had a favorable impression of Tang Ze, who looked young and handsome. Smiling as she thanked him, she temporarily ignored her still-stubborn son and took the initiative to ask about Tang Ze. "Is Tang Ze Shinichi's friend? I never expected he would have a friend he could share secrets with. This boy would not even take the initiative to contact us..." At that, she cast Conan a resentful look, sounding a little sour.

Her child had grown up. He had new friends and little secrets, and he would not tell his father and mother anymore.

Tang Ze smiled mysteriously, glanced at Conan, raised his brows, and filled his eyes with teasing: Should I tell them about your embarrassing past?

Conan pressed a hand to his forehead, once again recalling the stupid way he had exposed himself, and coughed.

"Him? He would never say it himself." How could Yusaku Kudo not know his son's capabilities? He snorted. "I'd say he did such a terrible job pretending to be a child that someone found him out."

"He really did not act like one." Tang Ze nodded.

Remembering how transparent her son was whenever he lied, Yukiko Kudo worriedly stroked her cheek. "When I was your age, Mommy had already been nominated for Best Actress at a film festival. How come you only inherited your father's obsession with deduction and none of my talent...?"

"That isn't it! I..." Conan gritted his teeth. He was too embarrassed to say outright that an operational mistake had made him accidentally jab Tang Ze with a needle, and that stabbing his arm might have weakened the effect, causing their act to fall apart halfway through. He could only protest dryly, "It was an accident! Tang Ze finding out was an accident!"

Yukiko Kudo clapped her hands to herself, having thought of a new idea. "I've got it! Since Shinichi insists on staying in Japan, then the genius, beautiful Best Actress Yukiko will give you special acting training! At the very least, you need to be able to fool the Mori Family!"

"Hey!"

"It's decided! Now then, for the first lesson, let's learn how children are supposed to act cute!" Looking at Shinichi's little face after his return to childhood, Yukiko Kudo nostalgically patted Yusaku Kudo. "When Shinichi was this age, he would throw himself into my arms and cry for me to take him out to buy a new soccer ball..."

"Ahhh!!!" Conan covered his ears in despair. When he saw Tang Ze sitting nearby trying so hard not to laugh that even the teacup in his hand was trembling, he became even more mortified. "Stop talking, please stop talking!"

For a time, the Kudo Residence was filled with joyous air.