"Omoshiroi..." he whispered under his breath, a sharp, cold glint surfacing in his eyes. "Let's see if tomorrow is truly nothing more than a series of unfortunate coincidences."
Meanwhile, Ran remained adrift in a sea of bewilderment, her mind grappling with the staggering spectacles she had witnessed throughout the day. She cast a sidelong glance at Conan, whose behavior struck her as increasingly anomalous. He was far from a typical child; she had meticulously noted his analytical conduct, the surgical way he assisted her father with investigations, and his uncanny ability to perceive minutiae that eluded the average adult. His intellect was, without question, preternatural.
For a long while, suspicions had festered in her mind—how Conan had materialized out of thin air the very moment Shinichi vanished, and how he mirrored Shinichi's distinct mannerisms during the heat of a case. Yet, witnessing the events at the Suzuki estate had shifted her perspective. Seeing Leon, another child burdened with such terrifying, divine-like gifts, she concluded that Conan was simply part of this new, frightening breed of prodigy. She shook her head, dismissing the darker theories.
"Children these days are truly formidable," she muttered under her breath.
"Hmm? Ran-neechan, did you say something?" Conan inquired, his ears catching the faint vibration of her voice.
"N-nothing! Haha..." Ran chirped, her laughter a transparent facade. "I was just debating what I should prepare for our evening meal."
"Oh, okay," Conan replied, nodding, though his eyes remained sharp.
"Tadaima!" the duo announced in unison as they breached the threshold of the detective agency's reception room.
"Eh? Father hasn't returned yet?" Ran noted, her eyes scanning the vacant office.
"It appears so," Conan replied, hoisting himself onto the sofa. "Ne... Ran-neechan, what became of the chocolate you prepared? I didn't see you present it to anyone."
"Oh, that? It's still here." Ran reached into her shoulder bag and extracted a chocolate bar swathed in vibrant crimson foil. Conan's gaze immediately locked onto the gift tag. Inscribed in Ran's elegant script were the words: "To Shinichi."
Conan's pupils dilated, and a fierce, involuntary flush saturated his cheeks.
"You can have this, Conan-kun," Ran said, extending the confection toward him.
"Eh? But... isn't this intended for Shinichi-niichan?" Conan stammered, though his fingers had already instinctively closed around the bar.
"Forget him. That mystery geek isn't even here," Ran countered, shrugging with an air of feigned indifference as she drifted toward the kitchen.
"G-geek? Tch." Conan scoffed at the epithet, yet his hands were already busy trembling as he began to unwrap the crimson foil.
Simultaneously, at the Suzuki citadel, Sonoko was engaged in a spirited telephonic exchange with her mother.
"That's correct. Apparently, Little Leon desires to utilize his funds to acquire a museum," Sonoko explained into the receiver.
"Absolutely not! Do not permit Leon to squander his capital on a mere gallery!" her mother's voice crackled back with authoritative sharpess.
"Eh? Why not? It is Little Leon's money, after all, and this is the inaugural time he has expressed a desire for a material possession!" Sonoko protested, her voice rising in defense of her brother.
"No. Do not touch Leon's money. I shall personally finance the acquisition. Do you understand?" her mother commanded.
"Oh... so that's your angle," Sonoko murmured in realization.
"Anata! I shall be the one to settle the bill!" a masculine voice bellowed in the background, vibrating through the line.
"Otosan!" Sonoko exclaimed, recognizing her father's boisterous tone.
"Oh, Sonoko-chan! Inform Leo that Papa shall provide the funds! Do you grasp me?"
"Dame! I shall be the primary benefactor for Leon!" the woman's voice retorted, sparking a domestic skirmish over the phone.
"Never! I shall pay for it!" the man shot back, his tone pivoting instantly to a warm vibrato as he addressed the phone. "Sonoko-chan, tell Leo we have received his handmade chocolates!"
"He's right—they were utterly divine and exquisite," her mother chimed in, her voice temporarily winning the struggle. "Tell Leon that Mommy will purchase the museum as a token of gratitude for such a delicious treat!"
Behind her mother's voice, Sonoko could hear the muffled, indignant protests of her father, whose mouth had evidently been unceremoniously covered to prevent further counter-arguments.
"Also, ensure Leon dons his new wardrobe. Those garments are engineered to provide him with superior protection," her mother added.
"I have already briefed him on that," Sonoko replied.
"Excellent. Is Leon presently in your company?"
"No, he has retreated to his sanctuary. He likely intends to resume his illustrations," Sonoko answered.
"Illustrations... and what of his first day at the academy? Did any incidents occur?" Her mother's voice was suddenly laced with maternal anxiety.
"Well, nothing catastrophic. In fact, Little Leon has secured new companions," Sonoko revealed.
"Whaaat?! F-friends?!" Her parents' voices merged in a stunned crescendo, as if they were hearing a report of a literal miracle.
"That is marvelous... truly marvelous!" her father's voice rang out, now unsealed.
"And just as before... Little Leon's prophecy from yesterday manifested today with chilling accuracy," Sonoko added.
"Leon's prophecy?!" the two voices repeated in synchronized dread.
"Yes. This time, he predicted a fatality by poisoning at the gala, and it unfolded precisely as he foresaw." Sonoko proceeded to provide a meticulous breakdown of the grim event.
The line fell into a heavy, contemplative silence once she finished. Finally, her mother spoke, her voice softened by concern. "Sonoko, are you unharmed? What was the physician's verdict?"
"I am fine. I only ingested a negligible amount of the tainted brew, and the doctor confirmed I am in optimal condition," Sonoko reassured them.
"As long as you are secure," both parents sighed in unison. The conversation lingered for a few more moments until a distant female voice interrupted, announcing the imminent start of a high-level meeting. The call was severed abruptly, but not before her parents demanded an exhaustive update following tomorrow's excursion.
Sonoko replaced the receiver, then retreated to her chambers in the western wing, mentally preparing for the following day's venture into the world of medieval art.
At the Mouri Detective Agency, Ran was aggressively detailing their itinerary to her father, Kogoro. The Great Detective was initially dismissive and disinterested—until Ran's fist collided with the metal office desk, leaving a substantial, jagged dent in the surface.
"I suppose we can visit a museum..." Kogoro muttered, cowering slightly. "I truly should never have permitted you to master Karate..."
In the corner, Conan gulped, his eyes fixed on the mangled metal of the desk. She will literally end my life if she ever discovers I am Shinichi, he mused inwardly, a cold sweat breaking across his brow.
As night blanketed the city, Leon remained hunched over his sketchbook, his charcoal dancing across the parchment. His pale hand reached out, seeking the familiar warmth of his obsidian mug. He took a slow, deliberate sip of the dark, chocolate-scented coffee.
He shuttered his eyes once more, drifting into that strange, liminal space.
"Hmm... a knight tainted by the devil's blood..." he murmured into the silence.
Setting the empty mug aside, he rose from the floor with ghost-like fluidity. He slipped beneath the heavy quilts of his bed, the darkness swallowing his small frame. He descended into sleep instantly, the prophecy already etched into the coming dawn.
Tomorrow was the appointed day for their pilgrimage to the Medieval Art Exhibition.
AM N. NOT.(っ－＿－)っ♤♤DRAFT♤♤