Dr. Agasa's house, underground laboratory.
"It's over, it's over, Ran must have discovered the truth this time!"
Conan clutched his hair with both hands, pacing back and forth in the laboratory.
"Today, she not only invited my dad to the Mouri family for dinner, but also called me to go, and specifically emphasized that Conan must be there too!
She definitely suspects me! I think She's already guessed that I'm Kudo Shinichi!"
The biggest piece of evidence was that he couldn't make "Edogawa Conan" and "Kudo Shinichi" appear at the Mouri family at the same time.
"Hmph," Haibara Ai sat in the swivel chair, slowly flipping through a science magazine, pouring cold water without even raising her head,
"Isn't this obvious? Who told you to be so high-profile usually, not acting like a child at all. Ran has probably been suspicious for a long time."
"That's why I need your help, Haibara!"
Conan rushed in front of Haibara Ai, clasped his hands together, almost pleading,
"Only you can help me! Please, help me one more time! Just once is enough!"
Haibara Ai was noncommittal. "Oh? What do you want me to do this time? Let me state beforehand, the number of temporary antidotes is limited, and I gave them all to you last time."
"No, not the temporary antidote! I only used one antidote, I still have some."
Conan quickly interrupted her, a little embarrassed.
"This time, this time I need your help to impersonate Conan."
"..."
Haibara Ai rolled her eyes, as if she hadn't understood his words.
"Great Detective, have you been solving cases continuously and burned out your brain? How can I impersonate you? I'm not Kaito Kid, I don't have such good disguise skills."
"You don't need to disguise that well, I've already told Ran in advance, as Conan, that I have a cold."
Conan explained eagerly,
"You just need to wear a mask and a hat, try to speak as little as possible, and use a voice changer to imitate my voice to get by for a few sentences! For the main occasion, I, as Kudo Shinichi, will handle it! This way we can appear at the same time!"
"I refuse."
Haibara Ai turned her head, picking up the magazine again,
"This suggestion is utterly foolish and extremely risky. Once exposed, it's tantamount to directly telling Mouri Ran that there's an issue between Kudo Shinichi and Edogawa Conan, and that I'm also an accomplice. Do you think we're not being exposed fast enough?"
"But there's no other way!" Conan was practically frantic, "Please help me."
Haibara Ai was unmoved.
"Ai-kun..."
Dr. Agasa, who had been by their side, finally spoke, his face full of pleading,
"Please help Shinichi. I see Ran is serious this time. If Shinichi's identity is truly exposed, not only will he be in danger, but you, I, and everyone around us might also be implicated... Just for everyone's sake, okay?"
Dr. Agasa's plea played a crucial role.
Haibara Ai was silent for a moment, then finally sighed and closed the magazine.
"Just this once."
She stood up, her tone still cold, but she had agreed,
"But, don't expect me to perfectly imitate that boisterous kid, just barely getting by is my limit."
"That's great! Thank you, Haibara!" Conan was almost in tears of joy, holding Haibara Ai's hand and not letting go.
Haibara Ai pouted in disgust... Evening. Mouri Detective Agency.
The dining table was already laden with dishes carefully prepared by Ran, their aroma filling the air.
Mouri Kogoro and Kudo Yusaku were enjoying their conversation, clinking glasses and drinking a lot of beer.
The doorbell rang.
Ran quickly Ran to open the door, seeing Kudo Shinichi, who had returned to his high school student appearance, and Conan, wearing a baseball cap and mask, appear at the same time.
"Shinichi! Conan! You came together? Come in, come in!"
Ran's face broke into a brilliant smile, and she enthusiastically welcomed the two into the house.
Her gaze swept over Haibara Ai, who was wearing a baseball cap and mask, but she didn't pay it much mind.
Conan had said he had a cold, and wearing a mask and such was what the doctor had told him to do.
Kudo Shinichi looked at Ran, his heart practically leaping into his throat, and he forced himself to sit down, feigning composure.
Haibara Ai silently sat beside Shinichi, pulling down her mask to expose her mouth for eating, while trying to have Kudo Shinichi's body block her, reducing the risk of exposure.
And so, after several rounds of drinks and many dishes.
While Mouri Kogoro and Kudo Yusaku were clinking glasses, Kudo Shinichi nervously observed Ran's expression throughout, and Haibara Ai barely touched her chopsticks to pick at food, only pretending to eat, using her rice bowl to shield her face.
When everyone had more or less finished eating, Ran suddenly put down her chopsticks.
The smile on her face gradually faded, her expression became serious, and her gaze slowly swept over everyone at the table.
"Actually, the reason I invited everyone today, besides dinner,"
Ran took a deep breath, knowing in her heart that she might be going too far, and only spoke after making a great decision,
"More importantly, there is one thing, I already know the truth."
"Pfft—!" Kudo Shinichi almost sprayed out the soup in his mouth.
'It's over! As expected, I've been found out! Is it because Haibara's disguise had flaws? Or did I reveal something?'
He screamed frantically in his heart, instantly breaking out in a cold sweat.
Kudo Yusaku's hand, holding his wine glass, also paused slightly. He glanced thoughtfully at his pale-faced son, reaching the same conclusion.
But what they didn't expect was that it was Mouri Kogoro who first lost his composure.
He tremblingly put down his wine glass, his face flushed red.
"Alright, Ran, I admit it! It was my fault! I shouldn't have taken the case fees to bet on horse racing again, and lost it all! You, you can scold me!"
Ran gave her father a speechless look, and angrily punched him. "Dad! What nonsense are you talking about?! I'm not talking about that!"
Mouri Kogoro clutched his swelling head, and hunched over the dining table, playing the role of a shrinking turtle.
Seeing this, Kudo Shinichi became even more convinced that Ran was targeting him.
He hastily stood up, explaining incoherently.
"Ran, listen to me! It's not what you think! Actually... there's a reason for all of this!"
Ran was stunned by Kudo Shinichi's overreaction, and interrupted him in surprise. "Shinichi? What are you talking about? Could it be... you already knew about Uncle Yusaku's illegitimate child?"
"Illegitimate, illegitimate child?!"
Kudo Shinichi was completely bewildered, turning his head to look at his father in disbelief,
"Dad?! Is, is this true?! You... you actually..."
He had originally thought he was exposed, but he didn't expect his old man to give him a surprise.
He never thought, never thought.
Old man, you're hiding quite deep!
"Wait, wait! Shinichi! Ran! What exactly is going on?!"
Kudo Yusaku was completely bewildered, spilling the wine in his hand, completely unaware of the situation,
"What illegitimate child? I don't know anything about this!"