Chapter 9: Being a Husband Isn’t Impossible Either

"The person who took Shinichi away is a guy named Shoichi."

"I know him. He's a bit off mentally; it must have been an accident. He doesn't know about Shinichi."

"So what about us?"

"Just keep going. Shinichi hasn't been taught a lesson yet. We can't let this plan end so easily."

"Alright, I'll go bring him back."

When Conan stepped out of the police station, he saw that smiling, plump lady again.

To avoid involving Kogoro Mori and Ran, after saying goodbye once more, he got into the lady's car.

He tried to resist, but she quickly subdued him.

A knockout drug had rendered him unconscious until now.

Conan vaguely woke up and heard two people talking outside the room. He peered through a hole in the wall.

He saw the plump lady talking to a masked man.

"What do you plan to do with this kid?"

"Of course, kill him," the man said.

The lady protested, "I've already received orders from above to bring him back for experiments."

"Knowing the secrets of the organization, how can I let him live?"

"But—"

"Enough!" The man pulled out a gun and pointed it at her. "If you keep talking, there will be one more corpse here."

"Fine," the lady retreated.

The man holstered his gun and said, "Better get some sleep. There's a deal tomorrow. Once that's done, we'll blow up the guy we're trading with."

Conan heard every word clearly.

A deal tomorrow?

...

"Mr. Shoichi, Ai, get up for breakfast."

Early morning, Miss Yuuko knocked on Shoichi’s bedroom door after preparing dinner.

Ai sat up groggily, glanced at the man beside her, her mind blank.

What did I do last night?

"Get up, no more lazing around," Shoichi pulled Ai off the bed.

Exiting his room, Ai felt utterly embarrassed under Miss Yuuko’s gaze.

Does Miss Yuuko think I'm some weirdo?

Breakfast was dull and tasteless for Ai, but Shoichi seemed perfectly normal.

Thinking about how she had gone to avenge her sister last night but ended up foolishly delivering a knife in exchange for a hug, Ai felt a flush of shame.

For now, she endured. Sooner or later, she would avenge her sister.

"Let's go, I'll take you to school."

After breakfast, Shoichi drove Ai to school.

On the way, they met Yumi Miyamoto, and Shoichi even stopped to greet her.

His driver's license had come through; he was now legally allowed to drive.

At school, Shoichi took Ai to meet the principal, who stood beside a female teacher—probably Ai's homeroom teacher.

"Teacher, please take good care of Ai," Shoichi said.

"Don't worry, I will make sure your child won't suffer any grievances here," the teacher bowed.

Shoichi ruffled Ai’s hair. "Listen to your teachers at school. Now, follow the teacher to your classroom."

Teitan Middle School, Class 2-B.

Sonoko was gazing dreamily toward the office.

"Ran, I saw a handsome guy walk into the office, and Mr. Mihara went in too. Do you think that handsome guy is transferring to our class?" Sonoko tugged on Ran’s arm.

Ran was still upset about Conan’s departure but smiled and advised Sonoko to stop daydreaming.

None of the handsome guys you meet are good people.

Soon, Mr. Mihara entered the classroom alone.

"Quiet down, I have an announcement. A transfer student has joined our class. I hope you all get along well."

"Teacher! Can the new student sit next to me?" Sonoko shouted.

Mr. Mihara nodded. Of course.

"Ai, come in," the teacher called from outside.

Just hearing that name, Sonoko’s face lit up.

"Ai, such a melancholy name! She must be a cold, aloof type of handsome guy."

But when Ai entered the classroom, Sonoko’s expression froze.

Wait, where’s the handsome guy?

Who is this little child? She must be the handsome guy’s sister.

"Hello everyone, my name is Ai Haibara," Ai introduced herself briefly.

Ran was surprised by the new student's age and laughed at Sonoko. "Sonoko, you guessed right—she’s aloof, but unfortunately, not a handsome guy."

Sonoko’s heart broke.

After Ai took her seat, Sonoko approached and greeted her, then quickly shifted the conversation to the man who had brought Ai to school.

"Was it your brother who brought you here?" Sonoko asked casually.

"No," Ai said coldly, shaking her head.

Sonoko was puzzled. Could it be her father?

A stepfather wouldn't be impossible.

"Did he leave after dropping you off?"

Ai glanced at the infatuated girl.

Shoichi isn’t a good person. You’d better not jump into the fire.

You can’t handle a man like him.

"He left. He’s mentally ill and can’t stay out of the psychiatric hospital too long."

The agonizing half-day was finally over.

Ai felt the students at this school were too immature.

Besides Sonoko daydreaming about dating handsome guys, Ran obsessed with Shinichi Kudo, there were also some bad women who liked cute things and wanted to take advantage of her.

This school was terrible.

"Not used to the new school?"

Miss Yuuko got out of the car and waved at Ai.

"Miss Yuuko?"

Yuuko smiled. "Mr. Shoichi has something to do at noon and won’t be home for lunch, so I’m here to pick you up. How’s it going with your new classmates?"

"So-so," Ai said insincerely.

She just had nothing in common with those silly students.

She’d been in the organization too long and forgot how to interact normally.

...

"Manager Shoichi, I’m truly grateful for your help. Without you, my company couldn’t have gone public so quickly."

"Oh, it’s nothing, just a small favor. You’re one of our bank’s long-time clients; this is nothing."

"This is a token of my appreciation. Please accept it."

After accepting the heartfelt gift, Shoichi came out of Room 302.

Feeling the weight of the suitcase, he was satisfied—his help had not been in vain.

"Watch out!"

A sudden boy appeared, pounced on Shoichi, knocking him to the ground, grabbed the suitcase, and ran off.