Chapter 10: Progress

"No Conan-kun, you can't have that" Ran spoke sternly to the small boy who stood right before her, staring up with his big blue eyey.

"But Ran-neechan, you said we could make our smoothies with anything in the house!" Conan exclaimed, pleading with his best puppy eyes.

"Yes, but as your guardian, I have the duty to stop you from consuming any sort of coffee, be it as drink or bean, it will only stout your growth.", Ran argued back, playing her usual card against Conan's begging, an act they both were very familiar with by now and as usual Conan ceased his pledging and put on his best sulking face.

"There is no evidence for that!" he mumbled in a grumpy tone, but secretly knowing that this would not convince Ran of anything.

"I think you yourself are enough proof for that, Sonoko doesn't call you shrimp for nothing.", she proclaimed, much as Conan predicted, even though he didn't expect the hidden jab at his height, "Now stop sulking and drink your smoothie, I guarantee you will like it, even without coffee in it."

Still moping, Conan took the glass from her, taking a small sip, turning his annoyed stare in a wide-eyed look of genuine surprise, it seemed he liked the drink after all.

"I figured he would like my special "Shinichi's not-coffee" drink." Ran noted, smiling because of the pleasured look on Conan's face, reminding her of his photo, which showed him cleaning his glasses and looking surprised up at the camera. It was one of that rare moments I which he seemed like a normal child. Taking her own drink, she left the kitchen and walked out on the huge veranda of the huge timber house, "Why is he always acting so mature?" Ran asked herself, taking a sip of her banana, strawberry, apple smoothie, "Did his parents never let him play outside?"

She blinked, realising the true meaning of her theory, quickly taking out her phone and opening her notes, "Actually that would make a lot of sense, if his parents always trained and tutored him, it would explain why he behaves so mature." That would also explain why the small boy acted so tense in the first weeks of his stay, he just wasn't used to being treated like a kid and only with time he could accept his childish side. "Poor boy, what have your parents put you through?" Ran questioned silently, knowing fully well that her mind couldn't give her an answer. His mother didn't seem like a cruel person, so she guessed it was some kind of school, specialised on highly intelligent kids.

"That would also explain why he knows so much and even speaks fluent English along with some German." Ran further noted, writing her theories down, paying careful attention to differentiate theory from fact. But knowing that speculations wouldn't help her find the truth, she decided that she would question her small brother about this, in a discreet way of course.

But for now, she had to put her mind at ease, her mother always told her that too much worrying would make you age faster and even though Ran was pretty confident in her looks and figure, she wasn't keen on getting wrinkles with 20. Suddenly, like a wink of fate, the Detective Boys came running up to the veranda, "Ran-neechan, we want to go swimming, but Hakase said we only could if you come along.", they yelled, the pledging tone in the statement clearly hearable.

"Of course, I'll come along." She happily assured them, "Now go get your stuff and ask Conan and Ai too."

And so, only a quarter of an hour later, the group consisting of Genta, Ayumi, Mitsuhiko, Conan and Ran found themselves at a stony beach in front of a clearly blue mountain lake. To the great disappointment of the three real grade-schooler, especially Mitsuhiko's, Ai declined the offer, claiming that she wanted to finish reading a book she brought along.

"Brrr, cold" Genta complained after testing the temperature of the water with one of his toes.

"Oii, come on Genta," Conan said in a slightly mocking tone, "It can't be that cold"

Suddenly Conan felt his feet leaving the ground "Then why don't you test it yourself" a voice exclaimed in a cheeky tone and in the next moment, Conan was hurled through the air and splashed head first in the cold water. Gasping for air, he surfaced again and casted a withering look over at his childhood friend who looked back at him with her most innocent smile. "Honestly, who could be mad at that grin" he thought to himself, now also a smile on his face, "SEE?! NOT COLD AT ALL", he then yelled back to the rest of the group at the beach. And as if that would magically take the cold away the rest of the kids followed him laughing and yelling into the clear lake, starting a splashing war between themselves and Conan joyfully engaged in the battle as well.

With a loud yell, Genta sunk down after Conan dived under water and pulled his feet away under him, immediately receiving the repayment in form of a huge splash of water right in his face by Ayumi, who had aimed at Genta, but hit Conan instead.

The battle went on for some time, but ceased eventually when Ayumi started to shiver and, like the cavaliers they were, Genta and Mitsuhiko escorted her back to the beach, leaving Ran alone with Conan.

"Should we head back too" Ran asked, not missing the goose pimples on Conan's forearm, "Nah it's ok, but what would you say about a small race instead" Conan asked back, a bold grin on his face.

"Oh?" Ran questioned raising a brow, "Should I only use my feet to make it fair?"

"I think you would regret it after losing the race." The little detective shot back, his smile turning to a confident smirk.

"Then the challenge is on." Ran said, preparing herself for the start, "Ready?"

"Set", the boy besides her continued.

"GO" they screamed in union, launching themselves into the water.

This evening Ran had to note down that Conan was indeed a very good swimmer, much like Shinichi.


As always all right go to Gosho Aoyama, the original creator of the Detective Conan Universe.

Questions and review are highly requested and if you want to know how the story continues leave a follow.

I hope you liked it so far and are thrilled for more.

Farewell