i am just a student? in Conan world

"You guys didn't need to wait for me here all this time. Just giving me a call would have been enough."

Fujino took a sip of his lemon water.

The sour taste relieved the fatigue of trailing a young woman for the entire day.

"Sis Akemi said you were handling a client's request," Sonoko replied with an embarrassed smile, adding, "We just didn't want to disturb you."

*Since when did she become so considerate?*

Fujino was a bit surprised by Sonoko's words.

That's odd.

He remembered Sonoko as being rather careless. Normally, she wouldn't pay attention to such small details.

Could it be…

Fujino pondered for a moment, glancing at Ran.

Got it, it's definitely because of Ran.

Fujino shifted his gaze back and asked Sonoko, "So, Sonoko, what exactly did you wait all afternoon to tell me?"

"Actually, it's because the treasure from my family has caught the attention of Kaito Kid again."

Sonoko spoke with an unmistakable tone of excitement. "This morning, he visited our house and left a warning letter saying he plans to steal our 'Egg of Memories.'"

*Wait, what?*

*Your house is about to be robbed, and you're this excited?*

Fujino couldn't help but complain in his mind.

Sonoko pulled out a folded A4 paper from the front pocket of her blue hoodie and handed it to Fujino.

Fujino took the paper and examined the warning letter, squinting his eyes slightly:

*From the Lion at Dusk to the Maiden at Dawn, when the clock without a second hand strikes the twelfth word, I will descend from the shining sky castle and claim the Egg of Memories.*

*—The Magician of the Century, Kaito Kid*

"The Egg of Memories, huh?"

Fujino rubbed his chin slightly.

With prior hints from Kaito Kuroba, and now the mention of the Egg of Memories, it was easy for him to recall that this is part of the *Magician of the Century* story.

"I remember the Egg of Memories is an ugly, green, giant egg. I heard it's supposed to be some kind of treasure from the Russian emperor, and it's currently being displayed at the Suzuki Museum of Art in Osaka, scheduled for exhibition on August 23rd."

Sonoko's voice interrupted Fujino's thoughts, as if worried he wouldn't know what the Egg of Memories was, she explained.

"August 23rd?"

Fujino pulled out his phone and checked today's date: May 22nd.

"..."

After a pause, he looked up and asked Sonoko and Ran, "Wait, what's the date tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow is the 19th," the two girls replied in unison.

Fujino took a deep breath and asked again, "And what month is it tomorrow?"

"August," they responded in perfect sync once more.

Fujino: "..."

Alright, he was just about ready to accept this absurd timeline.

It's May today, but tomorrow it's August—classic Conan logic.

"Are you alright, senpai?"

Ran looked at Fujino, concerned by his strange behavior.

"I'm fine," Fujino chuckled, waving his hand dismissively, but he felt a chill down his spine.

He couldn't let Ran ask any more questions. If she did, he might end up spending a few months or weeks in a psychiatric ward like some of the time-displaced seniors before him.

Time perception disorder—a crazy condition.

Once you're admitted, you're guaranteed a long stay.

He definitely didn't want to end up receiving electroshock therapy from Dr. Fukuyama in the Aoyama Psychiatric Hospital.

Snapping back to reality, he quickly changed the topic: "By the way, do you know why Kaito Kid is after the Egg of Memories?"

"No, I'm not sure about that."

Sonoko leaned her chin on her hand, puzzled. "I really don't know what that guy is thinking, wanting to steal such a thing."

Ran turned to Sonoko, puzzled, "Is that thing not worth much?"

"I have no idea," Sonoko replied, shrugging indifferently. "I just remember playing with it as a toy when I was a kid, and then I lost track of it. It was only recently that it was found again and identified as the Egg of Memories."

Fujino: "..."

Playing with an eight-billion-yen treasure with historical significance as a toy?

How extravagant.

*As expected of you, Sonoko!*

Fujino put away the A4 copy of the warning letter, his thoughts racing.

This time, Sonoko must have come to him to ask for help dealing with Kaito Kid.

But something didn't feel right…

Normally, if Sonoko needed something, she'd call him. Why go out of her way to come here with Ran?

Could it be…

He boldly speculated, following the usual pattern: *Did Tomoko Suzuki send Sonoko over?*

With this thought, Fujino's eyes glinted as he looked at Sonoko, "Sonoko, did you come here to ask me to help deal with Kaito Kid?"

"It wasn't my idea. Actually, my mom wants to hire you for this."

Sonoko explained, "Of course, I also want to see what that guy really looks like."

"I see."

Fujino nodded, a meaningful smile crossing his face.

He could practically see the calculations forming in his mind:

Suzuki family = wealthy

Tomoko Suzuki = Suzuki family

Suzuki family's request = large reward

Suzuki family = Tomoko Suzuki = wealth

Tomoko Suzuki's request = big payday

Here comes the money!

---

Without much hesitation, Fujino and Sonoko drove over to the Suzuki family's mansion.

The Suzuki mansion.

Still the same elegantly decorated living room, and the same large sofa.

Fujino sat on the sofa, facing the still-graceful Tomoko Suzuki.

Even the person serving tea and snacks was the same—Ayako Suzuki.

This scene felt eerily familiar.

Fujino took a small sip of the tea, with his knowledge of beverages, he could now identify the tea blend—it was top-quality Darjeeling.

Just one sip probably cost thousands.

"Let's confirm the request... Mrs. Suzuki, you're asking me to protect the Egg of Memories from Kaito Kid, correct?"

"That's right."

Tomoko Suzuki nodded with a smile, saying, "As the Dark Detective, you have extensive experience facing Kaito Kid. I believe no one is more suited to be one of our family's knights in this battle against him."

"One of?"

Fujino's eyes narrowed as he looked at Tomoko, his calm gaze probing, "Has the Suzuki family hired other detectives as well?"

*One of*—this meant the Suzuki family hadn't just hired him; they'd also brought in others.

For a detective, having a client hire multiple detectives at the same time was somewhat unusual.

But Fujino didn't mind.

Handling two cases at once?

It's not like he hadn't done that before.

As long as the money was good.

---

(End of Chapter)