This is the famous Teitan High School in Beika-cho.
Currently, in Class 2-B, the bell signaling the end of the period had just rung. The classroom was filled with the vibrant energy of youth as teenage girls stretched their lithe bodies, unknowingly creating enticing silhouettes in the afternoon light.
"Shinichi! Do you have time tomorrow night?" Ran Mouri approached Shinichi Kudo's desk with a bright smile, her eyes full of hopeful expectation.
"Tomorrow? I don't think I have anything planned," Shinichi replied after a moment of thought.
"Great! Let's go to the shopping district tomorrow night!"
"The shopping district?" Shinichi's face immediately contorted in resistance. "What's the point of wandering around there? It's just crowds of people..."
As he spoke, he caught sight of Ran's expression darkening. Suddenly, every hair on his body stood on end, and a chill shot straight to his brain. He quickly pivoted: "Haha! Actually, I think that's a fantastic idea! Alright! I'll wait for you in front of my house tomorrow night!"
Ran's face instantly shifted from cloudy to sunny, radiating a warm smile once more. "It's a promise then! Don't you dare be late!"
While the two were talking, behind them, two figures were huddled together, watching them like a pair of conspirators.
"Ran is at it again, doing that brainless 'pursuit' thing," Ren Kurogane whispered, narrowing his eyes.
"Yeah, and that jerk Shinichi still looks reluctant. He doesn't know how lucky he is!" Sonoko squinted. Although she was frustrated by her best friend's "lovesick" behavior, she was even more annoyed by Shinichi's lack of reaction.
Ran's feelings were as obvious as a flashing neon sign; anyone with eyes could see she loved Shinichi. Yet, Shinichi remained indifferent, even acting a bit bothered. Sonoko felt a righteous indignation on her friend's behalf! Why keep chasing a guy who acts like he's not interested?!
Thinking of this, Sonoko stole a glance at Ren beside her. She suddenly remembered that Ren had essentially "chased" her from the very beginning. Wait, does that mean I was like that annoying jerk at first?!
"No, no, no! I just didn't have those thoughts back then! It's just that Ren was too precocious! To make a move on me when I was just a middle schooler... hehe, it's actually a bit... happy~"
As Sonoko giggled to herself, Ren watched Shinichi and Ran, shaking his head regretfully. "I strongly condemn guys like Shinichi who flirt without taking responsibility!"
"Flirt without responsibility?" Sonoko looked at Ren, confused.
Because the transmigrator Ren had entered her life, Sonoko spent every day busy with her own sweet romance. She didn't have the time or the inclination to constantly nag Ran and Shinichi about their feelings, so she hadn't pushed Ran to confess as she did in the original timeline.
"Did you forget? Shinichi used to flirt with Ran all the time when we were kids. Otherwise, why would she be so hung up on him now?" Ren said. "Remember that time playing hide-and-seek when Ran got trapped under the stage?"
Sonoko strained to remember. Instead of the stage, what popped into her mind was a memory of her and Ren hiding together in a gymnasium locker. Even though they were kids, the locker was tiny, and they were practically glued to each other.
She hadn't thought much of it then. But now? Thinking back made her face flush red.
"Sonoko? Girlfriend? Wife!" Ren waved his hand in front of Sonoko's eyes, snapping her out of her daze.
"Ah? What? Tell me, I'm listening!" Sonoko quickly composed herself. Feeling her heart racing and her cheeks heating up, she cursed silently, Now that I think about it, did Ren have his eye on me from the very start? What a bad guy~~
Ren didn't notice Sonoko's inner turmoil. He continued: "It was that hide-and-seek game. We spent the whole afternoon looking for Ran but couldn't find her, right? Then, while I went to buy drinks, you guys let Shinichi be the one to 'find' her."
Sonoko finally recalled the Ran-related portion of the memory. She nodded. "Now that you mention it, I remember. Ran was crying when he found her."
"Exactly. When Ran was at her most helpless, Shinichi showed up like a ray of light in her world. I could never pull off that kind of 'hero' move" Ren shook his head slightly. "And then, after pulling a move like that, he takes zero responsibility for the fallout, which is why Ran is the one stuck trying to 'capture' him now"
Suddenly, Sonoko's expression shifted, and she spoke in a teasing tone: "Oh? Is Ren-kun jealous? Do you want me to turn the tables and pursue you for a change? Or should I wait to be 'helpless' so you can play the hero and save the beauty? Make me fall for you all over again?"
Faced with Sonoko's sudden teasing, Ren's lips curled into a smirk. He reached out and tilted her chin up. "Don't talk nonsense. I swear on every muscle in my body—I will never let you be in danger in the first place!"
The sudden romantic tension made their classmates around them feel like awkward third wheels. As their lips drew closer, Ran, who had just turned around, let out a heavy, intentional cough, shattering the atmosphere.
"Excuse me, you two. Do you mind watching your surroundings? This is still a classroom!" Ran looked at them with a look of mock resentment. Ever since middle school, she had been forced to eat "dog food" (witness their PDA) every single day. That was part of the reason she kept wanting to confess to Shinichi—she wanted to escape her fate as a permanent third wheel!
Three years! Do you know how I've lived these past three years?!
Ren certainly didn't know, but he knew he had lived those years very happily and sweetly!
Thinking of tomorrow night, Ran's face flushed pink. She said to Sonoko, "Sonoko! Come to the cafe below my house tonight. We have a 'major matter' to discuss!"
She then turned to Ren. "Ren-san probably won't be coming, right? After all, this is 'girls' only' time!"
Ren waved a hand dismissively. "I'll be at the nearby gym tonight. Just give me a call when you're finished, and I'll come pick Sonoko up."
Stuffed with yet another "mouthful" of PDA, Ran rolled her eyes and muttered to Sonoko, "Must be nice, having such a dedicated guardian~"
Sonoko didn't feel embarrassed at all; instead, she beamed with happiness. "Okay! Ren, keep an eye on your phone messages tonight!"
As Ran and Sonoko left the classroom arm-in-arm, Ren turned toward Shinichi. He gave him a playful nudge and a wink. "Shinichi! When are you finally going to accept Ran's confession?"
"Wh-What confession? Don't talk nonsense!"
Shinichi, who had been privately celebrating that Ran had finally stopped bothering him so he could read his mystery novel, looked like a cat that had its tail stepped on. He was in total disarray!
"Come on, we've known each other for over a decade. You think I don't know the situation?" Ren said, his tone like a frustrated older brother. "Ran is definitely planning to confess tomorrow night. You better not get wrapped up in some random case. Even if that 'useless inspector' calls you, just turn him down. Don't let unimportant people ruin the most important moment of your life!"
Ren had always referred to Inspector Megure as the "useless inspector."
Ever since Ren met them at age seven, he had seen news of Shinichi's father, Yusaku Kudo, helping the police solve cases practically every other day. From murder mysteries to tracking down robbers, Yusaku's fame was sky-high. People in this world generally believed that detectives were far more reliable than the Japanese police.
As Shinichi grew up and Yusaku retired to become a novelist, the burden of "carrying the police" naturally fell on Shinichi's shoulders. Every few days, he was cordially invited to a crime scene.
Unlike the later plot where he just "happened" to be there, right now, Shinichi was often summoned by the police themselves.
Because the police were, quite frankly, useless and couldn't solve a thing without him!