Suzuki Sonoko: a girl of pure, unfiltered, face-first love.
She would hike into the mountains in a snowstorm just to catch a glimpse of a hot guy—and end up in a serial murder case at a remote mansion.She'd cross all of Japan for a meetup with an online crush—and end up, you guessed it, in another stormy murder-fest.
But come hell, high water, or homicide, her thirst for pretty faces never wavered.
So naturally, when little Conan came down from the detective agency upstairs, looking for Ran, what he found was Sonoko pulling her friend into a booth at Café Poirot, leaning forward with a soft, syrupy smile aimed at the boy across from her.
Ran already knew this routine. She sat beside Sonoko, enduring her cringey attempts at conversation. When she spotted Conan's big round eyes pressed to the window, she quickly waved him inside.
It was getting painful. Sonoko had talked her way from family backgrounds to regional cuisine to celebrity gossip, and if Ran didn't shut her up soon, she'd probably start on geopolitics or the global recession.
The boy, "Karasawa-kun," was being very patient—nodding, murmuring polite affirmations like "Mm" and "Ah" and "I see"—but Ran's toes were curling from secondhand embarrassment. Any moment now, she might accidentally scratch trenches in the floor tiles.
"This is the boy who's staying with us. His name is Edogawa Conan. Isn't he cute?" Ran said quickly, shoving Conan toward the table and using him to derail Sonoko's endless stream of awkward flirting.
"Ran-neechan! Who are these people?" Conan squeaked, his voice thick with fake-child sweetness, eyes narrowing the moment he took in Karasawa's sharp profile.
What the hell? He only shrunk two days ago. Since when did Teitan High have hot transfer students?
And why was Sonoko already trying to drag Ran into her thirst trap again? Can't she leave her out of this for once?
While the two girls remained fairly composed, Karasawa visibly flinched.
Conan noticed.
And Karasawa's thoughts? Screaming. He could already see the future—detectives, criminals, law enforcement alike, all surrounding this demon child while he whispered "ah-le-le~" in that sugar-glazed voice. Nightmare fuel.
"This is Sonoko Suzuki-oneechan, and this is Karasawa Akira-oniichan. They're my classmates. Say hello, Conan," Ran prompted.
"Mmhm!" Conan chirped, beaming. But his gaze stayed locked on Karasawa.
Same uniform. Same school. Never heard the name.
Something was off.
"Ah, this is the kid you mentioned? He's cute!" Sonoko leaned in, squinting. "But… I dunno, he looks kinda familiar?"
Shit. Conan's brain flashed warning lights.
Sonoko had seen him as a kid before. If she yanked his glasses off, it'd be way too easy to connect the dots.
He laughed awkwardly, fingers clutching his glasses like a shield. Please don't grab them. Please don't.
A voice cut through the tension like gospel.
"These your classmates, Karasawa?" Amuro Tooru asked, wearing an apron and a tray-holding smile as he approached the booth.
"Yes, Amuro-san. This is Mouri Ran and Suzuki Sonoko, from my class."
The way Karasawa lowered his voice as he answered caught Conan's attention. He turned just in time to see the boy duck his head, hands white-knuckled around the fabric of his pants.
He was tense. Really tense.Why?
Miniature detective instincts flared.
"Nice to meet you, ladies," Amuro said with that sunshine grin, placing one hand on Karasawa's head. "I'm Amuro Tooru. I'm looking after Karasawa-kun right now. He's a bit shy, so if anyone ever gives him trouble, I hope you'll let me know, okay?"
Karasawa's whole face tightened under Amuro's palm, like a cat seized by the scruff. He nearly broke character.
He was still mad about yesterday's headpat. But what was he supposed to do? Dodge it in front of everyone? He stared down at the table like it owed him rent.
Conan's eyes narrowed further.
That reaction… was weird.
Amuro had said nothing unusual. Just friendly stuff. But Karasawa had gone rigid—not like a shy teen, more like a prisoner trying not to provoke his guard.
Unless… unless those words meant something else to him.
"I'm looking after him." "Tell me if anyone gives him trouble."Spoken kindly… but could be read as a warning."I'm watching you. Don't step out of line."
Were they not student and guardian, but… watcher and watched?
If Karasawa had heard Conan's half-baked speculation-turned-accidental-truth, he'd probably cry tears of joy.
Finally. Someone gets it. Someone understands the performance. I'm not acting into a void.
"Wow, you live here, Karasawa-kun?" Sonoko gasped, predictably entranced by Amuro's foreigner-style good looks. "Ran, you lucky thing! Surrounded by handsome guys—and they're both mixed?! Ugh, life isn't fair…"
"Sonoko…" Ran hushed her before she could say anything more embarrassing.
But Conan was focused on something else.
"Karasawa-oniichan, what do you mean this is your home? You live in a café?"
His voice was innocent, childlike.
Karasawa's face dimmed, shadowed under his bangs. That single question cut deeper than expected.
"Yes, Conan-kun," he said softly. "This is my home now."
His voice was paper-thin.
And Amuro was still running his gloved fingers through Karasawa's hair like he was a therapy pet.
Enough already, Bourbon!Even if the gloves kept static down, keep it up and his whole head would look like a shocked Pikachu.
Finally, Amuro pulled his hand away, satisfied. "Karasawa-kun will be staying at Poirot for about a year. Mouri-san, you're Detective Mouri's daughter, right? Please look out for him at school."
Karasawa twitched like a spooked animal.
To Amuro, this was just playful teasing. To Conan, it was starting to feel like something else entirely.
That terrified stiffness. That helpless expression. Like a hostage smiling through glass.
This wasn't just awkward.
It was ominous.
Conan pressed his face closer to the table, eyes glinting.
Something wasn't right.
"Would you like anything to eat? A drink? It's on me," Amuro offered, remembering he was technically still on the clock. "Consider it a thank-you for helping Karasawa."
The girls hesitated for politeness, then eagerly flipped open the menus, chatting excitedly.
Meanwhile, Karasawa caught Amuro's eye. His own were misty and glassy, lashes damp, brows drawn together in barely hidden panic.
He mouthed one word.
"Onegai."
Amuro smiled and nodded.
He wouldn't say a thing.
He must be terrified of someone finding out about his past, Amuro thought. He's that desperate to keep it quiet… maybe I can use that.
Wait… why does this feel less like guardian and ward, and more like kidnapper and hostage?
Conan, head half under the table, scowled.
Karasawa watched the two girls now giggling over coffee options and relaxed.
Mission complete.
Everyone was here.
All the major characters, gathered.
Just the way he wanted it.