Hayashi Yoshiki had arranged to meet Tokiwa Mio at 7:00 PM that evening.
But first, he made a visit that afternoon to the Mouri Detective Agency.
"Yoshiki? What brings you here all of a sudden?" asked Mouri Kogoro, sitting in his office chair, flipping through a beauty magazine while lazily smoking a cigarette. As soon as he saw Yoshiki, he straightened up reflexively.
"Aunt Eri asked me to bring some things to Ran," Yoshiki replied with a smile, lifting the bag in his hand.
"What is it?" Kogoro asked, peering curiously.
"Looks like cake or something."
The second he heard the word cake, Kogoro immediately lost interest.
But Ran, who had just stepped out of her room, lit up with joy.
"Cake? Thanks for going out of your way, Yoshiki."
"Aunt Eri kept saying Ran would be happy if I brought it over... but where's Conan?"
"Oh, he just went to play with his friends. I think they're at Dr. Agasa's house playing video games."
It seemed like a peaceful Sunday for everyone in Beika City.
Hayashi Yoshiki settled onto the sofa.
Ran happily prepared tea, then took the cake into the kitchen to cut and plate it.
"By the way, Yoshiki," asked Kogoro, "why've you been pushing all your commissions onto me lately?"
"I gave myself a little vacation, so I've been handing clients your business card."
"...You're living easy."
Kogoro initially wanted to give him the classic "youth should hustle" lecture—but then he remembered that Yoshiki probably made enough from his novels to live comfortably for life.
"Got any tough cases lately?" Yoshiki asked casually.
"Heh. With Mouri Kogoro around, no case is too tough!"
"Dad always brags when Yoshiki's around," Ran teased as she returned with the tea kettle.
Kogoro slammed down the magazine and puffed up his chest.
"What do you mean 'brags'? I'm just letting the younger generation shine for once! Right, Yoshiki?"
"Uncle's absolutely right," Yoshiki replied with a grin.
"Brother Yoshiki..." Ran looked at him helplessly.
Yoshiki was perfect in so many ways—but maybe too perfect. Always polite, considerate, thoughtful to a fault... even at his own expense.
Still, sometimes he could be a little cheeky.
She recalled when he tricked her about whether he had acrophobia... or when he let her dad and Conan eat her mother's cooking while keeping quiet.
The landline on the desk suddenly rang.
Mouri Kogoro snatched it up.
"Mouri Detective Agency, how can I help you?"
"Huh? You want me to be in a commercial?"
Both Ran and Yoshiki perked up.
Kogoro's face lit up, eyebrows dancing with pride. He straightened his collar and spoke loudly:
"What kind of commercial? ...What? Sleeping pills?!"
"You just want me to act as I normally do? So it's easy to shoot…?"
"You've got to be kidding me!"
He stood up and shouted into the receiver.
"Who do you think I am!? No matter how much money you offer—"
...and then, mid-rant, he froze.
"Wait, how much? You can really pay that?"
"Well then, you've found the right man! Haha—leave it to me!"
"I'll be here waiting at 3 PM sharp tomorrow!"
He hung up, practically glowing.
"How about that, Yoshiki? Big job, huh? Let me treat you tonight—let's go out for dinner!"
"Not tonight, Uncle. I've already got plans."
"Huh? Is he going on a date with some little girl?" Kogoro asked, startled.
Yoshiki's smile didn't falter.
"I'll keep you in suspense, but it's someone you know, Uncle."
"Someone I know? That narrows it down to half of Tokyo..." Kogoro muttered and returned to his magazine.
Yoshiki chuckled, then leaned in toward Ran, whispering:
"It's Miss Tokiwa Mio."
"She invited me to dinner to thank me for last time. I assume it'll be just one meal."
"That makes sense," Ran nodded, then smiled. "You did save her, after all."
"Still, it's a bit of a hassle. I'll probably have to go all the way out to Nishitama City—kind of time-consuming."
"You can't say that," Ran said earnestly. "You saved someone's life. That matters. You saved me, too, Yoshiki. I'll never forget that."
She paused, thinking.
"But now that I think about it... I still don't know how to repay you."
"So you're going to buy me cake?" he teased.
Realizing he was referring to the cake she had just served—brought by her mother, no less—Ran flushed slightly.
"That doesn't count. It was made by Mom and delivered by you. That's not right."
She pushed the plate toward him with a shy smile.
"Next time, let me treat you to cake."
"Deal." Yoshiki smiled warmly.
Across the room, Kogoro glanced at the two of them, smirked, and went back to reading.
Yoshiki stayed a while longer—just half an hour—before saying goodbye.
Ran cleaned up the dishes and looked at the remaining cake.
Only one-third of it had been eaten.
Brother Yoshiki… doesn't like sweets, does he?
She remembered—he didn't order anything at the cake shop with her and her mom. And during that Valentine's Day banquet, he barely touched dessert...
"So you're going to buy me cake?"
Thinking back on his words, Ran suddenly felt... uneasy.
Why does he always go along with me—even if it's not what he wants?