In what was supposed to be a touching family reunion, two out of the three people involved were still flat on the floor.
Karasawa hadn't gone all out—he knew the people across from him were the Kudo couple. Not that going all out would've made much difference, considering how things worked in the world of "Conanology."
In the logic of this world, the "Red Side"—the good guys—wielded their weapons with benevolent restraint. Just look at Sharpshooter Akai, a man with a perfect headshot record. Somehow, his enemies only ever managed to die by suicide, never by his hand. Killing someone directly on screen? Unthinkable. The Red Side could come at you with all they had and still, miraculously, no one would die.
Case in point: that time when a single soccer kick from Conan was powerful enough to knock a naval cannon ninety degrees off-target. And yet, even when it landed squarely on Yukiko Kudo, she walked away just fine.
So really, the fact that the Kudo couple were just lying around after being tossed a few times wasn't all that surprising.
"I swear, do you two just not have anything better to do?" Conan sat on the opposite side of the coffee table, glaring at the pair of toppled-over parents slumped on the couch. His tone was laced with frustration. "Was it Professor Agasa who ratted me out?"
He couldn't believe it. His parents, who flitted around the world with zero sense of stability, had actually shown up. If they had even a shred of reliability, he wouldn't be in this mess to begin with.
And what the hell was that about "staging a scene to teach Shinichi a lesson about caution"? More like they just wanted to scare the hell out of him and laugh about it afterward.
Nestled in a pile of throw pillows, Yusaku Kudo rubbed his aching back and struggled to sit up. "You were in that much danger—of course he told us. How could he not?"
"Exactly, Shinichi," Yukiko chimed in, leaning against her husband. "You were facing a serious threat, and you still thought you could handle it all on your own. Where does that reckless streak even come from…?"
Yusaku let out a long sigh and cast a sidelong glance at Karasawa, who was quietly cleaning up the array of gadgets scattered around the living room like it was just another Tuesday. Yusaku's expression soured.
"You got lucky this time," he said. "Your escape worked because you had an informational advantage. We didn't account for Karasawa-kun's involvement. Without him, it would've been a slaughter."
Their plan had been meticulous, crafted to manipulate their own son's psyche down to the smallest detail. If it hadn't been for the wild card that was Karasawa—a walking combat stat booster—they'd have pulled it off without a hitch.
"I knew the risk," Conan muttered. "That's why I kept it to myself…"
"No! You didn't know!" Yukiko's tone sharpened as she sat up straight, eyes wide with anger. "Do you even understand why your father and I panicked when we saw you get caught? Do you have any idea what you're up against?"
Yusaku adjusted his glasses—identical to the ones Conan now wore—and his voice dropped. "If your identity were truly exposed, then your mother and I, the Mouri family, Professor Agasa, Karasawa-kun—everyone you've been in contact with—would be in danger. Just like today."
"Shinichi, come with us. Leave Japan," he continued. "I'll reach out to some contacts at Interpol, get them to investigate the drug that shrank you. But until we find a way to reverse it, staying here is too dangerous."
Conan dropped his gaze.
By now, the adrenaline from the chase and the excitement of outmaneuvering his captors had faded. Everything his parents said made sense. He was dealing with a shadowy organization, one that had the brains and resources to create a drug that could shrink people. This wasn't just another gang of violent thugs.
Logically, emotionally, on every level—it made sense to leave. It was the smart choice. The safe choice.
But… to leave Japan now...
He pictured Ran, tossing and turning at night, worrying about Shinichi. He pictured Karasawa crouched on the floor, wordlessly picking up scattered thumbtacks, his expression unreadable.
"No. I can't go," Conan said, shaking his head with unwavering resolve. "I have reasons to stay."
Leaving now would mean abandoning everything. The fact that Shinichi Kudo's supposed death hadn't made the news was already a huge red flag. If that organization decided to dig deeper into his disappearance, Ran would be the first person they'd go after.
And the so-called "troublesome case" Karasawa had dumped on him had turned out to be real—too real. If Karasawa had any other choice, he wouldn't have asked a kid to take it on.
He couldn't walk away. He couldn't abandon the people who were counting on him. He still had to protect Ran…
"Shinichi…" Yukiko looked at his childish face and still saw the stubborn glint of the boy she'd raised. She sighed. Where had he gotten that mule-headed streak? Neither she nor Yusaku were this inflexible.
The room fell into silence.
"Here. Tea."
The voice broke the tension—Karasawa, the only adult still capable of moving freely.
Yusaku reflexively took the offered teacup and muttered thanks. Then, realizing this was the same man who'd slammed him into the floor not long ago, froze mid-sip. The cup hovered, undrunk.
"Thank you, Karasawa-kun," Yukiko said warmly. She found the young-looking, sharp-featured Karasawa quite likable. Smiling, she turned her attention away from her sulking son and asked, "Are you Shinichi's friend? I'm surprised—he never tells us anything. Not even about friends…"
She shot Conan a pointed look, equal parts teasing and wistful.
Her son had grown up. New friends, new secrets. And apparently, no space left for Mom and Dad.
Karasawa gave Conan a sly smile, raised his brows, and looked at him with a glint that screamed "Should I start revealing your embarrassing history now?"
Conan groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose, haunted once more by the memory of how stupidly he'd blown his own cover.
"He'd never tell you on his own," Yusaku muttered knowingly. "Let me guess—he got caught pretending to be a kid, didn't he?"
"Pretty much," Karasawa nodded.
Yukiko sighed and touched her cheek. "Back when I was your age, I'd already been nominated for Best Actress at the film festival. How did you inherit only your dad's obsession with mystery novels and none of my acting skills?"
"That's not true! I—" Conan bit down on the words, too embarrassed to admit that the whole disaster had started when he accidentally jabbed Karasawa with a sedative needle. Probably hit the wrong spot, too. The act had unraveled halfway through like a poorly staged play.
"It was an accident, okay?! Karasawa just… found out by accident!"
Yukiko clapped her hands together, struck by inspiration. "I've got it! Since Shinichi insists on staying in Japan, then the beautiful, talented Yukiko shall train him in the art of acting! At least enough to fool the Mouri household!"
"Hey!"
"It's decided, then! I—"
"AHHH!!" Conan clutched his head in despair. Seeing Karasawa silently shaking with laughter, his teacup rattling in his hand, only deepened Conan's shame. "Please stop talking! Just stop!"
And just like that, the Kudo residence was filled with the cheerful air of family chaos.