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Mikacho Town, 2-chome, Building No. 22.
"Ugh, this sucks..."
Right now, Shinichi Kudo was lying on the couch on Dr. Agasa's balcony, staring up at the sky with a deep sigh.
He was on the verge of a complete breakdown.
All he wanted was to track down those two mysterious guys in black to uncover the truth, but instead, he got knocked out from behind.
And that wasn't even the worst part...
While he was unconscious, those two men forced some kind of disgusting poison down his throat.
The next thing he knew, his body had inexplicably shrunk to the size of his six-year-old self.
"Sigh..."
Now that he was stuck in a kid's body, he could do absolutely nothing.
But the most frustrating part?
Dr. Agasa suggested he stay at the Mouri Detective Agency to investigate those mysterious people and find a way to return to his real self.
It wasn't a bad idea at all.
Sure, the agency didn't get many clients, but Kogoro Mouri, as a detective, had access to more crime-related information than most people.
But...
Before they even had the chance to knock on the door, Ran shut them out.
That was like adding salt to his wounds.
"Shinichi, don't be too upset," Dr. Agasa tried to comfort him cheerfully. "If the detective agency doesn't work out, we can always find another way."
But to Shinichi, those words felt empty. They didn't stir even the slightest bit of hope in him.
"Doctor, is there really no way to turn me back into my real self? Think harder—do you know any highly skilled doctors who might be able to help?"
Dr. Agasa let out an awkward laugh. Shinichi had asked him this question at least a hundred times in the past three days.
He had racked his brain trying to think of a solution. If he really knew someone like that, he wouldn't have waited this long to remember.
"I don't have that kind of ability," Agasa admitted. "But I can make you some useful gadgets. Maybe they'll help you out."
Shinichi had zero interest in Agasa's so-called "help."
Gadgets?
He had seen plenty of Agasa's inventions growing up, and 90% of them were completely useless.
"Doctor... why did Ran shut me out like that?"
He had been thinking about it for a whole day but still couldn't figure it out.
"Isn't it obvious?" Agasa said. "You're not the Shinichi Kudo she knows. Of course, she wouldn't let a random kid stay at her house."
Shinichi shook his head grimly.
No.
If she knew he was really Shinichi Kudo, then rejecting him would make sense.
Ran was a kind-hearted person. Even if she didn't want to take him in, she wouldn't have been that cold.
Something must have been bothering her at that moment.
"Shinichi, don't overthink it. Get a good night's sleep. Maybe by tomorrow morning, your body will be back to normal."
Dr. Agasa believed anything was possible.
He figured that the poison the men in black gave Shinichi was just some kind of unknown drug.
Maybe, after a few days, the effects would wear off and his body would return to normal.
"Just go to bed."
Shinichi still felt frustrated.
It wasn't fair!
He was supposed to be the hunter, but he ended up as the prey.
He got poisoned and turned into a child.
He tried to stay at the Mouri Detective Agency but was rejected by Ran.
Everything that had happened over the past few days piled up in his mind, making him more and more restless.
This sucks!
Teitan High School
"Ran, I have some shocking news about you!"
Mouri Ran had just walked out of the exam room when she saw Suzuki Sonoko rushing toward her with a nervous expression.
Seeing Sonoko like this made Ran anxious too.
She knew Sonoko had a habit of exaggerating gossip.
But...
After being friends with her for more than ten years, Ran could tell this time was different.
"I'm serious! You need to be mentally prepared before I tell you," Sonoko said mysteriously.
Ran's nervousness grew. Her mind raced with possibilities—was it about her dad? Her mom? Or maybe about Akira?
Then, in the next second, she dismissed those thoughts.
"Just tell me already, Sonoko!"
She couldn't take the suspense any longer.
Sonoko grabbed Ran and pulled her into a quiet corner. Then, with a grave expression, she said,
"Fuyuki Shiori from Class A is in that kind of relationship with Akira."
Sonoko hadn't planned on stirring up trouble.
But...
Almost everyone at Teitan High already knew about it. Even if she didn't say anything, Ran would find out sooner or later.
"....."