Under Kurosawa Hoshino's watchful gaze, Kogoro Mouri opened the door.
He mumbled a few dismissive words, about to turn and shut it—then froze. He spun back, staring blankly at the figures outside before finally blurting out, "Yoko Okino!"
"A big star, huh?" Kurosawa Hoshino teased.
"Really?" Ran abandoned the dishes and hurried over.
Kogoro had already snapped out of his daze and was about to bolt into the inner room to make himself look more presentable.
Unfortunately, Kurosawa Hoshino stopped him.
"Uncle, the star seems to have a request. Don't run off."
"You brat…" Kogoro paused, shot Hoshino a glare, then forced a smile, beckoning the man and woman outside. "Miss Yoko, please come in."
"Sorry to disturb you," Yoko Okino said softly, entering with her manager in tow.
Hoshino vacated the sofa for them and stood beside Ran, listening to their story.
Soon, Okino Yoko outlined her ordeal, making everyone frown.
Mouri Kogoro's expression turned serious. "Followed by an unknown person, signs of a break-in at your home, strange photos, and an unanswered call… Miss Yoko, is there anything else?"
"That's all for now," Yoko Okino shook her head.
"How scary," Ran murmured, a hint of fear on her face.
"…" Kurosawa Hoshino nearly retorted that if this happened to Ran, she'd probably end up accidentally making the stalker beg for mercy.
"Ahem." Hoshino cleared his throat, taking the initiative. "Miss Yoko, why don't we take a look at your apartment?"
"Hey, kid, who's the detective here? Don't interfere," Mouri Kogoro waved him off. He turned back to Yoko Okino with a smile. "But the kid has a point, Miss Yoko. Shall we?"
Yoko Okino glanced around the room, hesitation clear on her face.
Her manager stepped forward. "It's fine to take a look, but please don't disclose Yoko's current address. Oh, I should introduce myself—I'm her manager, Eiichi Yamagishi."
"Don't worry. Discretion is a basic tenet of my profession," Kogoro Mouri declared solemnly.
And so, they headed downstairs.
With so many people, Eiichi Yamagishi's car wasn't enough. They hailed a taxi to follow.
…
…
Twenty minutes later, they arrived at an apartment building over thirty stories tall. Entering the elevator together, someone pressed the button for the 25th floor.
Just before the doors closed, three children rushed in—Ayumi and her friends.
"Huh?" Conan stared at them in surprise. He hadn't expected them here.
Kurosawa Hoshino glanced down at the three kids pretending to be casual passersby, his calm voice echoing in the elevator.
"Uncle Mouri, I saw these three from the office window. You said we came by car. When we got out, there were only our two vehicles. How did they get here?"
His words made everyone pause.
Mouri Kogoro processed it, then scowled at the children. "Kids… were you hiding in the trunk of the car parked downstairs?"
"Uncle, what are you talking about?" Yoshida Ayumi feigned innocence, trying to bluff.
Kurosawa Hoshino smiled. "If you don't tell the truth, and I find out your school and class, I might have to spread some interesting stories about you."
"Hiss—"
The three gasped in unison, looking at the seemingly gentle Hoshino with newfound fear. They hadn't expected this big brother to be so cunning, threatening them with social annihilation.
A long silence followed.
Finally cracking under pressure, they huddled, whispering. Ayumi Yoshida stepped forward as their representative, pitifully admitting,
"We're sorry… We just wanted to be friends with Conan. Then we saw the big star, so we hid in the trunk to see where she lives…"
"Make friends with Conan?" Ran glanced at Conan's pained expression.
Kogoro Mouri gritted his teeth. "Conan, you didn't even mention knowing them? If it weren't for Hoshino, we'd be clueless. Hiding in a trunk—aren't you afraid of being kidnapped?"
"Uncle, we're sorry~" Ayumi Yoshida blinked her big eyes, tears welling up.
"Uncle, we know we were wrong," Mitsuhiko Tsuburaya and Genta Kojima chimed in, putting on their best pitiful acts.
"Hmph!" Kogoro Mouri crossed his arms. "Once we're off this elevator, you're giving me your home numbers. I'm calling your parents to come get you."
The three kids, their earlier mischief gone, wilted like deflated balloons, too cowed to reply.
Conan shook his head. He didn't know what to say—they were truly reckless.
Yoko Okino and Eiichi Yamagishi exchanged a glance, sharing the same thought: Hiring the relatively unknown Mouri Kogoro might have been a mistake. This is utterly unprofessional.
A heavy silence filled the elevator as it continued its ascent.
Moments later, the doors opened on the 25th floor.
Stepping out, Ran walked to the corridor window, admiring the city's nightscape from above. "It's beautiful."
"It is," Hoshino agreed, joining her.
Conan and the three children, too short to see, hopped and jumped, trying to catch a glimpse.
"Everyone, the door is open, please—"
"Ah—!"
Yoko Okino's sentence ended in a scream.
"What's wrong?!"
Everyone rushed over. The sight in the entryway beyond the door made them all freeze.
The Detective Boys stumbled back, faces pale.
Ran involuntarily took a step back, bumping into Hoshino Kurosawa. He instinctively steadied her, pulling her close.
"Are you okay?"
"N-no." Ran shook her head, glanced once more at the scene in the living room, then quickly buried her face in Hoshino's shoulder.
Conan tried to move forward to examine the body, but Kogoro Mouri grabbed his collar, pulling him back.
Kogoro positioned himself in front of the group, his voice uncharacteristically grave.
"Don't go in. Don't disturb the scene. Hoshino—call the police."
Kurosawa Hoshino didn't hesitate. Pulling out his phone, he dialed Inspector Miwako Sato.