Chapter 20: A Rainy Night with an Umbrella but No Blade

Returning home in the company car, Masakazu saw Ai sneaking out of the bedroom the moment he stepped through the door.

“What are you doing?” Masakazu asked, puzzled.

It was already three in the morning—was this child still not going to sleep?

Ai confidently showed him the fruit knife in her hand.

“I’m hungry, so I’m cutting some fruit to eat.” She wiped the watermelon juice from the corner of her mouth, making it clear she was simply after a snack.

“Oh, I see. I thought you were practicing walking around at night,” Masakazu muttered quietly.

He had imagined Ai honing her night navigation skills, mastering the route, and then storming into his room with the knife to demand a hug.

Ai stiffened her neck and turned slightly.

Masakazu had guessed right.

“There’s a fruit plate in the kitchen. Do you want some?” Ai offered.

“Sure, a little.”

Masakazu went to the kitchen, took out the fruit plate, skewered a piece of cantaloupe with a toothpick, and held it out to Ai.

After hesitating for a moment, Ai opened her mouth and bit into the melon.

From then on, Masakazu kept feeding her little bites. Ai resembled a tiny hamster, her chubby cheeks puffing as she stuffed food in, just like a little creature hoarding supplies.

“Is it good?” Masakazu asked.

“Delicious.” Ai smiled broadly, though the corners of her mouth betrayed a slight reluctance.

Damn, being treated like a pet.

Masakazu patted Ai’s head and went to wash the fruit juice from his hands.

Ai touched her slightly damp hair, feeling less than pleased.

Don’t touch others when your hands are dirty!

After washing up, Masakazu returned to his room to sleep.

Being around death made restful sleep difficult.

Though he wasn’t bothered by the dead themselves, the noise afterward, the police questioning, and the fact that he was often mistaken for a suspect made rest elusive.

Exhausted, Masakazu collapsed onto his large bed and fell into a deep, unshakable sleep.

At five in the morning, a little hamster crept stealthily into Masakazu’s bedroom.

She tiptoed behind him; Masakazu seemed completely unaware.

But Ai remained cautious.

This was the second time now.

On both occasions, just before she acted, Masakazu woke suddenly without warning.

If he had awakened halfway through her attempt, she’d be doomed.

Carefully, Ai edged closer.

As she raised a dark object, Masakazu unexpectedly turned, their eyes locking. Ai didn’t even have time to hide what she held.

They sat in silence for a long moment.

“What are you doing?” Masakazu asked.

Ai quietly handed him an umbrella.

“It rained today. I was afraid you’d get wet on your way to work, so I prepared this for you,” she said softly.

Outside, the rain pattered steadily, the sound of water dripping on banana leaves audible inside.

Ai looked Masakazu in the eye without fear.

Today, she carried no knife.

“Thank you.”

“No need,” Ai replied calmly.

Her attempt had failed again; she couldn’t even bring an object close to him.

She was growing used to it.

Though Masakazu was somewhat oblivious, his vigilance was surprisingly sharp.

Every time she appeared near him, he woke just in time. Trying to harm him was proving difficult.

Masakazu glanced at the clock on the wall.

He placed the umbrella on the bed, grabbed Ai’s hand, and pulled her toward the covers.

“Sleep a little longer. It’s still early,” he said, slipping off her shoes and tucking her in.

Ai struggled.

She had come at five a.m.—was she really doomed to end up sleeping beside him?

“I don’t want to. I’m about to go to school. If I sleep more, I’ll be late.”

“It’s still early. Getting up too soon means you won’t have energy for school,” Masakazu said, stroking her head.

Ai began to squirm.

She refused to be treated like a child, to be held and coaxed to sleep.

Masakazu gently patted her back.

“Sleep. When it’s time, Miss Yuuko will come and wake you for breakfast. Don’t worry, you won’t be late.”

No way!

Ai flailed like a fish out of water, wriggling against him, rubbing herself against Masakazu as if to coax him.

Watching her act so endearingly, Masakazu smiled helplessly.

She was too cute; even her movements showed her delight.

“Do you know Kogoro Mouri?” Masakazu suddenly asked.

Ai froze, then whispered, “No.”

“Then Conan?”

Ai tensed even more, too afraid to move, afraid Masakazu might suddenly pull out a knife and stab her heart.

“No, I don’t know him either,” she said softly.

“I thought you did.”

Ai’s body tensed again.

Why would Masakazu suddenly ask about Conan and Kogoro Mouri?

Had the truth about Conan being Shinichi Kudo already come out?

Was he suspicious of her too?

She curled up silently in Masakazu’s arms.

The little cat in his embrace went still.

Masakazu leaned close to her ear and whispered,

“Today I saw Conan hiding behind Kogoro Mouri, solving cases with his voice. It must be some game they’re playing. When you hid behind me today, I thought you wanted to play that game too.”

Ai’s ear twitched with ticklishness, but she didn’t dare touch it.

That foolish detective.

He’d actually let Masakazu see through his strangeness.

If that idiot gets caught, so be it, but don’t drag me into it.

At least, don’t reveal anything before I avenge my sister.

“They’re probably playing hide and seek,” Ai whispered.

Masakazu shook his head.

“No, that’s not how I played hide and seek before.”

“They seem strange. It looks like all the cases Kogoro Mouri solved before were actually solved by Conan. Can a kid really be that capable? By the way, Ai, you’re a genius too—already in high school at such a young age, and you act so mature, not like a child at all.”

“Ai, Ai, say something,” Masakazu gently shook her shoulder.

With eyes closed, head resting on the pillow, and back turned to him, Ai didn’t move.

“Phew~”

“Phew~”

“Phew~”

“Asleep?” Masakazu whispered.

“Phew~ phew~”

She was asleep, asleep—don’t ask me anymore.

At bedtime, she didn’t want to discuss that detective.

But Masakazu seemed unwilling to let this little one fall asleep so peacefully.

He gently rocked her body.

Ai’s eyelids twitched.

With this strength, Masakazu didn’t seem to want her to sleep at all.

She closed her eyes and lightly moved her hand, accidentally wrapping it around Masakazu’s arm.

Only then did he settle down.

Together, they drifted quietly to sleep.