Teitan Elementary School!
"Goodbye, Ms. Mei."
It was afternoon, and school had just finished. Groups of elementary students were walking out.
"Ms. Mei, we're leaving now."
Ayumi waved her small hand at Mei Haibara.
Mei Haibara gave a slight smile and waved her slender hand back. "Goodbye, Ayumi."
"Hey, Haibara, aren't you leaving?"
Conan looked at Ai, who was standing right next to Mei.
Ai was reading a book. Hearing Conan's voice, she lifted her head and looked at him. Her eyes were calm. "I'm going back with Mei."
"That's right, I'm driving Ai home. Conan, you should head back first," Mei said with a gentle smile.
Conan nodded. He put both hands in his pockets and walked out of the school gates.
"Dammit, Conan is trying to ditch us again."
"Based on his usual behavior, he definitely wants to go play soccer."
The three kids quickly ran out, chasing after Conan.
Around the corner by the school entrance, a dark figure leaned quietly against the wall.
"School ends at four in the afternoon. He is always followed by those three kids."
"Conan Edogawa. His grades are at the top of the school. He is skilled at soccer. He often stays by Kogoro Mouri's side. He can discover clues that normal people miss. His observation skills are first-class."
"Parents unknown. Home address unknown. Currently staying at the Mouri Detective Agency."
"Ran seems to take very good care of him."
The dark figure quietly closed the notebook. A sharp light flashed in their eyes as they turned and walked away.
This lasted for three days in a row!
The dark figure waited there every single day.
On the fourth day!
Teitan Elementary, Year 1 Class B.
"Ayumi, let's go play soccer after school," Mitsuhiko invited.
Ayumi leaned against the windowsill, looking unhappy. "I really want to go, but I have cleaning duty after school."
"No problem! We'll help Ayumi clean. That way, it'll be much faster," Genta said, patting his chest.
"Conan, will you help me?" Ayumi looked at Conan expectantly.
"I have to go to Professor Agasa's house this afternoon. I'm really sorry."
Conan curled his lip secretly. Today is the release day for the latest Sherlock Holmes book. I don't have time to deal with this.
"What? Conan must be planning to sneak off somewhere for a big meal. He's afraid we'll follow him, so he's refusing to help Ayumi clean," Genta said, glaring at Conan.
"Edogawa is probably going to buy the newly released Sherlock Holmes book."
Ai, who was reading nearby, suddenly spoke up.
"Hey, Haibara, you…"
Suddenly, Conan felt a chill creep up his back. Three pairs of eyes behind him turned cold.
"Conan, do you not like us?" Ayumi asked, sounding hurt.
"Conan, you can't be like this. We're the Detective Boys. We're a team," Mitsuhiko said, trying to sound mature.
"If you dare to leave without helping Ayumi, I'll beat you up," Genta threatened, glaring hard.
Conan blanked for a moment, then helplessly raised both hands. "But if I'm late, I won't be able to get it. Ayumi, how about I buy you an ice cream tomorrow as an apology?"
"Really?" Ayumi wiped at the corner of her eye.
"Really," Conan nodded seriously.
"What about me? Conan, I want ice cream too!" Genta shouted.
"As a member of the Detective Boys, I want one too," Mitsuhiko added seriously.
"Yeah, yeah, you'll all get one," Conan said weakly.
"And you're satisfied that easily? Edogawa is just trying to calm you down," Ai added, not holding back.
A dark look crossed Conan's face. He glared at Ai. "Haibara, stop talking."
Ai pressed her lips together and went back to reading.
"Conan, next time I have cleaning duty, you absolutely have to help me," Ayumi said, still sounding a bit down.
Conan answered casually.
The small incident ended just like that.
After school!
Conan waved to Ai and the others, then took off running as fast as he could.
"Dammit, Conan is running so fast. He's clearly afraid we'll follow him," Genta complained.
"It's fine. Conan's always like that. Let's hurry up and help Ayumi clean," Mitsuhiko said. Then he trotted over to Ai. "Ai, I'll help too."
"Ai, thank you," Ayumi said sincerely.
Ai replied calmly, "We're classmates. Isn't it normal for classmates to help each other? That's what you told me."
Ayumi smiled sweetly.
Conan ran out of the school gates and headed straight for the bookstore.
At the corner by the school entrance, the dark figure moved slightly. A charming smile appeared on their lips. "Looks like today is a good opportunity."
Without needing to guess, this person was Vermouth.
Her reason for coming to Tokyo was simple: to investigate Conan's true background.
As for how she would do it, she would use her own methods.
Conan disappeared around the corner, but Vermouth did not follow him. Her target was not Conan.
At that moment, a car stopped at the gates of Teitan Elementary.
"A Bentley Bentayga? What is Heiji Hattori doing here?"
Seeing the burnt-orange Bentley, Vermouth's brows furrowed. She quickly pulled back deeper into the corner and suppressed her presence, not daring to reveal the slightest hint of herself. She was extremely wary of this high school detective.
Ai was cleaning when the phone in her pocket suddenly rang. She took it out, and her eyes widened. She immediately tossed the broom aside and answered the call.
"Ai, is school over?"
Heiji's voice came through.
"Not yet." Ai sat down on a stool, her eyes shimmering slightly.
"Not over yet?"
Inside the car, Heiji frowned. He looked out the window at the students leaving one after another, then understood. "Cleaning duty?"
Ai rested her chin on one hand. The red glow of the setting sun lit her face, and her expression was bright with happiness.
"Then I'll wait for you."
Ai suddenly sat up straight. Shock filled her eyes. "Where are you?"
"I'm at the school gate."
Heiji paused. Then she hung up.
A moment later, Ai appeared at the main gate. She ran over on short steps.
"You… why did you come?"
Surprise mixed with excitement.
"Get in the car first," Heiji said with a small smile.
Ai quickly climbed into the passenger seat. Heiji helped fasten her seatbelt.
"Where do you want to go?"
"I want to eat something."
Ai looked at Heiji. Her calm gaze hid a quiet happiness.
"I'm hungry too. Let's have steak."
The engine started, and the car drove away.
Only after the sound had completely faded did Vermouth finally dare to peek out. The tension in her chest eased little by little.
"What was Heiji Hattori doing here?"
"He drove all the way here just to pick up a student?"
Just now, she had been afraid of being noticed, so she had not dared to look at all. Because of that, she only heard Ai's voice and never saw who it was.
Otherwise, there was no telling what she might have discovered.
After waiting another half hour, Ayumi and the other two finally walked out, heading home happily. But a dark hand was already reaching toward them from the shadows, and they had no idea.