Note: Don't Forget to join my Patreon.com/flokixy to get access to +40 Advance Chapters I have to stop if there is no support
On the seventh floor of Rokutei Restaurant in Yurakucho, Hibiya, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo.
"This restaurant has held three Michelin stars for ten consecutive years and is hailed as one of the 'World's 50 Best Restaurants.'"
"I hadn't invited you before, Mr. Fujiwara, because it's always so hard to get a reservation here. But today, we finally managed to secure a spot."
"Perfect timing, too—today, I just closed a major business deal, so I thought it would be nice to celebrate with you."
"Since you've lived in America for so long, you're probably tired of Western food, right? Trying some Japanese cuisine might be refreshing."
At Dragon's Roar Restaurant, Eri Kisaki casually introduced the place to Tōru Fujiwara as they made their way to their reserved seats.
The restaurant's decor was distinctly Japanese, with a serene atmosphere. The floors were covered in deep brown carpet, and the seats by the floor-to-ceiling windows offered a stunning view of the nighttime cityscape.
"Ms. Kisaki, you've truly gone out of your way," Tōru said with a smile after they had taken their seats.
A meal at this establishment averaged tens of thousands of yen per person, which would make any ordinary student tremble at the mere sight of the menu. However, for someone like Tōru Fujiwara or Eri Kisaki, money wasn't an issue.
Eri ran her own law firm and was one of Japan's top lawyers, earning tens of millions of yen annually. She was firmly part of the wealthy elite, far beyond the middle class.
Money wasn't the problem—it was Eri's consideration for his tastes that truly stood out. She had clearly put thought into this.
Eri removed her coat, revealing a form-fitting knit top that accentuated her curvaceous figure. Her mature beauty radiated confidence and femininity.
"Excuse me, are you Ms. Eri Kisaki?" A waiter approached them.
"Yes, that's me."
"Did you reserve for three people?"
"Yes, the other guest will arrive shortly."
"Very well. I'll inform the chef to begin preparations."
The waiter handed them warm towels and tea before bowing and retreating.
Downstairs, Mouri Ran, dressed in a casual yet elegant long dress, sighed as she glanced at the little boy trailing behind her.
"Conan, why do you insist on following me?"
Conan quickly plastered on an innocent smile, pretending to be the clueless elementary schooler he often portrayed. "Ran-neechan, Uncle Kogoro only knows how to drink and can't cook. I didn't know what to eat tonight, so I decided to tag along with you."
"You could go to Dr. Agasa's house," Ran suggested.
"But Dr. Agasa makes instant noodles every day—it's getting boring," Conan complained.
Hearing that a child was eating nothing but instant noodles, Ran's maternal instincts kicked in. She couldn't help but feel sorry for him.
"Fine, you can come along, but remember—this dinner is hosted by Mom, so don't say anything inappropriate."
Conan nodded eagerly. Though pretending to be a kid disgusted him, it worked wonders when he needed something.
'Damn it... What does Ms. Kisaki want with this guy? Is this some kind of matchmaking?' Conan clenched his teeth in frustration. But looking down at his childlike body, he lowered his head in despair.
There was absolutely nothing he could do!
Ran brought Conan up to the seventh floor and entered the restaurant. It didn't take long for them to spot Eri Kisaki and Tōru Fujiwara seated by the window, chatting animatedly.
If it weren't for the age difference between the two, Ran might have suspected her mother was dating someone new.
"Mom!" Ran called out happily, rushing over.
Despite putting on a brave face, Ran had always been deeply affected by her parents' divorce. With Eri's busy career, their meetings were rare, making each encounter precious to Ran.
"Ran, you're here! Let Mom take a look at you. You seem taller than last time... Oh wait, is it just your hairstyle?"
Eri stood up, her usual strong demeanor softening in front of her daughter. Though her marriage to Kogoro had long ended, and she had no intention of reconciling, she still felt guilty about not being there enough for Ran.
"Mom, who is this?" Ran asked curiously after exchanging pleasantries with Eri.
She turned her gaze toward Tōru, who appeared slightly older than her, tall and handsome, with a polite smile that exuded charm.
At the very least, as a high school girl, Ran had to admit—he was exactly the type of guy who could make hearts flutter at first glance.
Had she been more romantically inclined, she might have even felt her heart race.
Hmm, if Sonoko were here, she'd probably scream "hottie" at the top of her lungs.
"Ran, let me introduce you. This is one of Mom's clients, Tōru Fujiwara. He used to live in America and came to Japan last year. He enrolled at Tokyo University and was even chosen as the freshman representative."
"You should really learn from him, Ran..." Eri shook her head, echoing the concerns of most parents about their children's academics.
While such comments might provoke rebellion in other kids, Ran's gentle nature and deep affection for her mother meant she felt no resentment. Instead, she exclaimed:
"Tokyo University? Mr. Fujiwara must be incredibly talented!"
Then, turning back to Eri, she added sheepishly, "Mom, my grades aren't great. Expecting me to get into Tokyo University is asking too much."
Eri chuckled. "I'm not asking you to get into Tokyo University. Academics aren't your strong suit anyway. If you can get into a decent university, I'll be satisfied."
At that moment, Tōru extended his hand. "Nice to meet you, Miss Mouri Ran."
Ran was surprised by how formal he was but quickly shook his hand.
Conan glared intensely at their clasped hands, his heart bleeding internally.
Damn it! I haven't even held Ran's hand, and this guy is already stealing the spotlight! Let go already!
Only then did Eri notice Conan, hesitating slightly. "Rang, why did you bring this child along?"
Ran hurriedly explained, apologizing to Tōru. "Sorry, I didn't mention it beforehand."
Tōru waved it off, signaling that it was fine. He could easily guess that Conan must have insisted on tagging along.
Wait a minute… Was there going to be a murder here?
Tōru instinctively grew wary of his surroundings. He didn't want to play detective again!
"Ms. Kisaki, Mr. Fujiwara!" Conan forced himself to call out politely, mimicking Ding Zhen's wide-eyed innocence.
He knew better than to act rude, lest both Eri and Ran become upset.
Eri explained to Tōru, "This child belongs to a relative of one of my friends, Yukiko Kudo."
"Yukiko Kudo? The actress who disappeared from the screen at the height of her fame, leaving countless men heartbroken?" Tōru feigned surprise.
For some reason, hearing Tōru talk about his mother like that made Conan uneasy.
"Do you know Yukiko, Mr. Fujiwara? She's probably completely forgotten now, right?"
"I'm familiar with Chris Vineyard in America. Her mother, Sharon Vineyard, is supposedly Yukiko Kudo's senior apprentice."
Tōru smiled knowingly.
"Chris Vineyard? You know Chris Vineyard?" Ran interjected excitedly.
As a world-famous celebrity, Vermouth was idolized by many.
"Yes, we're fairly close. If she ever comes to Japan, I'll introduce her to you," Tōru promised.
Ran practically bubbled with excitement, launching into a lively conversation with Tōru.
Changing the topic, Tōru remarked, "Since he's related to Yukiko Kudo, he must also be connected to Shinichi Kudo, right?"
"I saw Shinichi Kudo on TV once. Now that I think about it, this child does resemble him quite a bit."
Conan, who had been silently suffering while watching Tōru and Ran chat cheerfully, suddenly snapped to attention. Meeting Tōru's knowing smirk and piercing gaze, he felt a chill run down his spine.