Ran approached the pair and asked, "Sonoko? What is the matter?"
Sonoko did not reply. She was already clenching her mobile device, swiftly orchestrating a call.
Ran noted the abrupt metamorphosis in her friend—her expression had hardened into gravity.
Her scrutiny then drifted to the boy.
He stood in stasis, his visage entirely eclipsed by a black cap and a dark surgical mask, his entire form insulated by dark fabrics. Ran tilted her head, analyzing him with profound curiosity.
Then she perceived a cluster of children approaching.
It was the same troupe from earlier—Genta, Mitsuhiko, Ayumi—and Conan, who spearheaded the group.
"Ran-neechan is also here!" Ayumi chirped, waving her hand.
Genta and Mitsuhiko emulated the greeting.
Ran reciprocated with a benevolent smile.
Conan then spoke up, "Ran-neechan, what brings you to this location?"
"Oh, Conan. We were poised to return home, but a companion invited us to a Valentine festivities tomorrow, so we paused momentarily."
Conan merely nodded in recognition.
"Wow, a Valentine party!" Ayumi exclaimed, her eyes shimmering.
She then pivoted to fixate upon Conan.
Simultaneously, Mitsuhiko and Genta directed their gazes toward Ayumi.
Genta was the first to speak, "I speculate on what manner of delicacies they shall serve at such a gathering."
Mitsuhiko immediately countered, "Hey, Genta-kun! You haven't been invited!"
Genta clicked his tongue in frustration and crossed his arms, his gastronomic fantasies abruptly terminated.
Ran then knelt to match their stature and regarded the unfamiliar boy.
"So… who is this newfound companion of yours?"
Genta perked up and answered with pride, "Oh, this is our new associate—Suzuki-san… he was inducted into our class today."
"Suzuki?" Ran repeated.
She then glanced toward Sonoko, who remained occupied with her phone call.
Her attention reverted to the boy.
"So you are the younger brother Sonoko has been describing."
The boy nodded in silence.
Ran smiled tenderly. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name is Ran Mouri. You may simply address me as Ran."
Ran Mouri was a teenage girl of lithe, athletic constitution. She possessed cascading dark brown tresses and striking indigo-violet eyes. A distinctive triangular tuft—often likened to a "horn"—projected from her hair. Presently, she was garbed in her Teitan High School attire: a cerulean blazer, a crisp white shirt, and a verdant necktie.
Then Ran heard the boy's voice again—hoarse yet intelligible.
"A pleasure to encounter you. The name Sherlock Leonardo Napoleon Suzuki… has been bestowed upon me. You may also refer to me as Leon, as my sister does."
Ran was momentarily paralyzed by the revelation.
The name was labyrinthine—singular—and the fact that he articulated it in English only reinforced the accounts she had heard from Sonoko: that he had been reared in foreign lands.
She regarded him with fascination.
"My… you possess a truly magnificent name… It is like a synthesis of legendary figures," Ran remarked.
"Famous people?" Ayumi, Genta, and Mitsuhiko echoed in a confused chorus.
Conan then elucidated with academic poise, "Indeed. Suzuki-san's nomenclature is derived from individuals who achieved eminence in their respective disciplines."
"Sherlock… from Sherlock Holmes, the world's most iconic and enduring fictional detective," Conan elaborated.
"Leonardo… from Leonardo da Vinci, the quintessential 'Renaissance Man,' celebrated as a supreme painter and a visionary polymath in engineering, anatomy, and science. He is most famed for masterpieces such as the *Mona Lisa*, *The Last Supper*, and the *Vitruvian Man*."
And finally, "Napoleon" is undoubtedly sourced from Napoleon Bonaparte—the French military strategist and statesman who ascended during the French Revolution, eventually crowning himself Emperor. He is regarded as one of history's most formidable military commanders, having subjugated vast swaths of Europe.
The group arched their eyebrows at Conan's solemn expression as he delivered the detailed exposition.
Conan perceived their collective stare and, in a heartbeat, reverted to his puerile facade. He scratched the nape of his neck and chuckled awkwardly.
"Well… that's simply what I observed on a television program! Hehe…"
Genta interjected immediately, his eyes expansive. "Wow, so all of those are your names?!" he exclaimed, though it was evident he hadn't fully grasped the historical context—he simply found it prestigious.
Mitsuhiko and Ayumi, conversely, possessed a deeper understanding. Their eyes sparkled with intrigue at the notion of such historical gravitas being concentrated in a single peer.
Ran nodded in agreement. "Indeed… those are all illustrious names. But I find myself wondering who orchestrated such a title."
At that juncture, Sonoko concluded her telephonic exchange. She rejoined the circle and chimed in, "Sherlock was the designation chosen by our grandfather. Leonardo was selected by our father. And Napoleon was the name preferred by our mother."
She paused, then added, "They were unable to reach a consensus, so instead they amalgamated them all. Correct, Leon?"
The boy offered a tacit nod.
"Oh… so that is the genesis of it," murmured the onlookers.
"But perhaps… due to the weight of his name, he behaves in a manner reminiscent of those figures," Sonoko continued, resting a finger beneath her chin and closing her eyes in contemplation.
"Hm? To what do you refer?" Ran asked, looking up.
"Well, you see," Sonoko began, "Leon is exceptionally talented in painting, much like Leonardo. He is not precisely a strategist in the mold of Napoleon, but he possesses significant prowess and strength in combative disciplines. And naturally—he is unnervedly intelligent, likely an inheritance from the 'Sherlock' portion of his moniker."
"Talented at painting?!" Ayumi repeated, her voice surging with excitement.
"Combat?!" Ran echoed, startled.
"And… unnervedly intelligent?" Conan echoed, his tone carrying a razor-thin edge of skepticism.
Everyone converged their attention upon Leon, who remained a silent monolith, uttering nothing throughout the discourse.
Then Genta abruptly bellowed, "Yossh… then it is decided! As the commander of the Detective Boys, I hereby decree that Suzuki-san shall be a member of the Detective Boys from this moment forward!"
"That is a splendid proposition," Mitsuhiko said, nodding as he assumed a pensive stance.
Ayumi also nodded with fervor, already eager to solicit his artistic expertise.
But then, Sonoko's voice sliced through the enthusiasm.
"That would be an ill-advised venture."
"Hm… why?" Ran inquired.
The others lapsed into silence. Those who grasped the underlying cause chose to remain mute out of discretion. They were cognizant of Suzuki-san's condition; navigating beneath the glare of high noon was a grave concern—not a matter to be trifled with.
Sonoko looked down at Leon, who remained as stoic as ever.
"You see, Leon is afflicted with albinism," she explained. "Exposure to direct sunlight is a hazardous prospect. Furthermore, his ocular sensitivity to bright light is extreme."
The children redirected their gazes toward Leon, sinking into a contemplative hush.
"I see… so that is why he is perpetually draped in dark hues," Ran said softly.
But suddenly—
Her reflections were fractured by the sharp, authoritative blare of an automotive horn.
Everyone pivoted.
A long, lustrous black vehicle stood before them—an artifact that appeared as though it had been plucked from a cinematic set.
AM N. NOT.(っ－＿－)っ♤♤DRAFT♤♤