Today, two corpses were taken from Mōri Detective Agency.
Although the police quickly removed them after completing their investigation, the traces they left behind remained.
A bullet hole in the ceiling.
Blood splattered on the desk, soaking into the floor—
A murder happened right in the ho where she had lived since childhood.
Even though Ran had seen many corpses before, this… was hard to accept.
After all, she was still just a 16-year-old high school girl.
Her gentle personality and nurturing nature often made people forget her age.
But today, Kogorō Mōri reacted very quickly:
"Ran, I think you should stay at your mom's place for now. Co back after we've cleaned up this place a bit."
"Okay, Dad."
There was no resistance in her tone.
After calling Eri Kisaki to explain the situation, she left with Hayashi Yoshiki for the Mikawa Second Apartnts.
Eri was quite pleased to have her daughter stay over.
She offered to prepare sothing to eat later, but Hayashi Yoshiki smiled politely and declined.
He went straight back to his own apartnt.
Ran, watching his back, looked worried.
"He's definitely still affected by what happened today..."
"It's your unreliable dad's fault. He even managed to bring a murder case right into his own office."
Eri was clearly annoyed.
"Ran, why don't you just move in here with permanently? I'd feel better knowing you're safe."
"You can't bla Dad for this!"
Ran pouted in frustration.
Though still annoyed, Eri didn't argue further.
"Let Yoshiki have so ti to himself... We'll check on him later."
"Mm."
The mother and daughter put the matter aside for now.
They spent the rest of the evening chatting about school and life.
Ran took a bath.
Since she hadn't brought any study materials, she found herself restless while her mother reviewed court docunts.
She couldn't focus on the TV either.
"If you're that worried, just go check on him," said Eri, noticing her daughter's distracted state.
Adjusting her glasses, she smiled gently:
"It's close by anyway. I need to prep materials for tomorrow's case. Go invite Yoshiki over for a late-night snack around ten."
"You have court tomorrow?"
"Yeah, but it's just a minor case. No need to worry."
Eri's confident smile put Ran at ease.
She stood up, went to the door, and walked to Hayashi Yoshiki's neighboring apartnt.
She rang the bell.
The door opened quickly.
"Ran?"
"Mom said she's preparing materials for court tomorrow, so she sent over to bother you for a while."
The girl clasped her hands behind her back, speaking cheerfully.
"...Is that so?"
Though he knew it was just an excuse, Hayashi Yoshiki smiled and stepped aside to let her in.
As she followed him inside, she noticed he was only wearing a thin T-shirt. Her cheeks flushed red.
Alone together at night…
Once in the living room, she realized how eerily quiet it was.
The TV was off. Only a dim lamp in the corner provided light.
There was an imprint on the fabric sofa as if soone had been sitting there. Beside it, a book lay open.
Hayashi Yoshiki quietly walked over to pour her a glass of water.
Ran watched him, worried.
He always watched Yōko Okino's new drama at this hour.
But tonight he wasn't.
He just sat alone, in the dark… was he still haunted by today's events?
"Your pajamas are cute," he said with a soft smile, pulling her from her thoughts.
"They're the ones I got from Mom's place last ti," Ran replied, face reddening again as she recalled that mont.
Looking at Hayashi Yoshiki's warm smile, she stepped closer.
"Yoshiki-nii… today wasn't your fault."
"Why bring that up now?"
"Because I can tell you're still holding onto it. But everyone knows… no matter what you did, sothing tragic was going to happen. But you—Yoshiki-nii—you did your best."
"No… you did more than your best. You protected everyone. That's sothing to be grateful for."
She wrapped her arms around him.
Delicate and warm, she gently rested her face on his shoulder…
He could feel her warmth through the light contact.
The scent of her evening primrose shampoo rose softly between them.
Hayashi Yoshiki didn't say a word.
But Ran felt his shoulders slowly begin to relax.
At this close distance…
From beneath the soft fabric of her pajamas…
She could almost hear his heartbeat steadying—
strong and near—
The pulse of a man standing right before her.
"I know."
Hayashi Yoshiki finally spoke, his deep voice tinged with hoarseness.
"I've always understood what you wanted to say, Ran… but still, those were two lives. They vanished right in front of after I finished my deduction."
"I beca a detective to help people… and yet this happened. Maybe if I'd been quicker—or if I'd thought of another solution—"
"But Yoshiki-nii, you don't have to carry everyone's burdens by yourself."
Ran interrupted, staring seriously into his eyes.
Those calm, dark eyes—always so steady—
Now showed a glimr of uncertainty.
Seeing that, her heart tightened painfully…
And at the sa ti, she felt strangely relieved.
He was finally letting go—finally releasing the weight he always carried alone.
Opening up would help. It had to.
So she gently reached out, cupped his face, and pulled him toward her chest.
Underneath her pajamas, she wore no bra.
"Please… stop thinking about it."
"You stood up for us. You protected everyone. The fact that we can stand here peacefully right now—just the two of us—is miraculous."
"So please… stop torturing yourself, okay?"
She felt his body stiffen—then slowly relax again.
Her fingers gently stroked the back of his head.
She had always been the one cared for…
But what she loved most was caring for others.
Her gaze shimred with gentle light.
"Please… Yoshiki-nii?"
"..."
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