-----
-----
As their car cruised along a road in the suburbs, another vehicle suddenly sped past them. Out of sheer habit, Hana Bumyo glanced over—and was instantly wide awake. Sitting in the passenger seat of that car was Conan!
It all happened in a flash—the car was already disappearing into the distance—but Hana had already managed to observe everyone inside.
Driving the car was none other than Kogoro Mouri, the so-called "famous detective" whose fame was mostly due to Conan's behind-the-scenes efforts. In the back were two girls chatting and laughing—presumably Sonoko and Ran, the ones Conan had mentioned before.
But Hana had never seen them before, so she had no idea who was who.
Inside Mouri's car, Sonoko had just performed a simple magic trick, which made Ran giggle.
"How'd you do that?" Ran asked eagerly.
Sonoko looked proud. "That's a secret! I'm planning to show it off to the others tonight and blow their minds!"
"You mean those magic fans you're meeting up with?"
"Yep! We all met online."
Kogoro Mouri, hands on the wheel, couldn't help commenting, "Can't believe a rich girl from the Suzuki family is making friends on the internet now."
Looking at Sonoko—wearing a plain sweater and a hairband—you'd never guess she was the daughter of the mighty Suzuki conglomerate.
Sonoko gave him a look like he was some clueless country bumpkin. "Come on, Uncle, it's the internet age now! If you're not online, you're totally out of the loop. You really should get a computer for your office."
"I'm just surprised, that's all," Ran said. "You suddenly got into chatting online—and now magic tricks too?"
Sonoko blushed, hiding her face behind her hands. "It's because I met someone amazing."
"Someone amazing?" Ran looked confused.
"Yeah! His name's Kakuki Doita. He's 21 and a regular on the 'Magic Lovers' Alliance' site I joined." Sonoko's face lit up like a fangirl. "He's super polite, funny, confident... He must be an incredible guy~"
Hearing how dreamy she made him sound, Ran asked, surprised, "Wait, so you've never actually met him?"
"Nope! Tonight's the first time. That's why I've gotta impress him with that trick I just showed you!" Sonoko giggled, already fantasizing about her handsome magician falling head over heels for her.
In the front passenger seat, Conan—wearing a face mask because of a cold—couldn't help twitching his lips at her words.
Seriously? That lame magic trick? Even I, a total amateur, couldn't stand watching it. And you think you're gonna wow a bunch of hardcore magic fans? Keep dreaming...
Sweet and gentle Ran, on the other hand, didn't seem bothered at all. Instead, she asked carefully, "But... I mean, it's your meetup. Is it really okay for me to tag along?"
"Of course it is!" Sonoko grinned and patted her shoulder. "I already told them I'd be bringing my girlfriend."
"...Girlfriend?"
Everyone in the car froze. Conan stared at Ran. Then at Sonoko.
Whoa, whoa, whoa... Don't tell me this girl's actually into girls?!
Sonoko was secretly thrilled at having shocked them speechless. She let the tension hang for a bit before finally explaining, "Everyone online just uses screen names, so I've been pretending to be a guy. My username's Disciple of the Magician. Kakuki's is Red Herring."
Ran looked even more lost, not really getting it. So Sonoko started excitedly explaining everything in detail.
While she was chattering away, the car pulled up in front of a suspension bridge. Below it yawned a deep, endless gorge.
"Well, from here on out we're walking," Kogoro Mouri said with a sigh. It was obvious he wasn't thrilled about this "lame get-together," but with the rich girl right there, he didn't say anything more.
Sonoko and Ran headed across the bridge first. Conan and Mouri followed slowly behind.
Right after crossing, Mouri suddenly stopped and sniffed the air suspiciously.
"Hmm... Conan, do you smell something weird?"
Conan twitched his nose, but then immediately sneezed. He grumbled, "Maybe you stepped in dog poop or something." Thanks to his cold, he couldn't smell a thing.
"Don't be stupid! What kind of dog takes a dump on a cliffside?"
After they arrived at the villa, Mouri—completely ignoring Conan's protests—dragged him back into the car and drove home.
"....."