Chapter 36: No Loopholes to Exploit
After seeing off the guests, Kaguya and Hayasaka, Ren sat down and began his daily diary.
[Today was full of surprises. The diary holders I had been observing finally revealed themselves.]
[I originally thought they wouldn't take the same straightforward approach I did, but they used the most direct and revealing method possible.]
[Shinomiya Kaguya. Hayasaka Ai.]
[VIP students at Shuchiin Academy and part of the prestigious Shinomiya family.]
[I didn't expect them to expose themselves so soon.]
[But because they revealed themselves so early, I didn't take the initiative to reach out at school.]
[And yet, just as I arrived home, they came looking for me.]
[As I suspected, it was a test.]
[A test of me, and a test of the diary itself.]
[Not that I mind, it's actually good to test the diary's rules early on.]
[What caught my attention most, though, was that Shinomiya seems to have escaped her family's control.]
[During our conversation, I ruled out the possibility of her using force to gain her freedom from the Shinomiya family.]
[And then I got a surprising answer.]
[Sanzenin!]
[It turns out this isn't just a world where three stories overlap, there are far more narratives woven together here.]
[Sanzenin Nagi… Hearing this name reminded me of four familiar characters from the past.]
[Shana, Nagi, Louise, and Taiga.]
[They share the same traits: short stature, fiery temper, and, well, modest figures.]
[They're the quintessential "Kugimiya-type" characters. I didn't expect to encounter one so easily.]
[So, Sanzenin Nagi, I assume you're reading this diary too.]
Ren paused after writing this.
There's no limit to how much can be written in the daily diary, what matters is recording everything clearly.
But today's entry was a little different. At the bottom of the diary, black text appeared:
[Achievement Unlocked: Found the Diary]
[Congratulations! You've received a special reward: "Accumulation."]
[Accumulation: You can stockpile lottery draws. The more you save, the higher your chances of obtaining high-quality rewards.]
"A pretty useful feature," Ren remarked.
"If I want better rewards, I can save up draws, kind of like combining treasure chests to make higher-level ones."
He didn't dislike this new mechanic.
However, it wasn't particularly useful during the trial phase.
He decided to draw immediately.
From the moment he initiated the draw, a massive roulette wheel spun in his mind. The pointer gradually slowed, finally stopping.
[Lord of the Mysteries]
[Obtained Sequence 9 Potion: 'Apprentice.']
A bottle of potion appeared on the table, filled with a pinkish liquid.
"Another potion reward…"
He reached out and picked up the bottle, examining it closely.
Then, he pulled a 500-yen coin from his pocket.
"I shouldn't have any trouble drinking this Apprentice potion right now."
He flipped the coin. It spun in the air before landing back in his hand.
Heads.
"Looks like I'm good to go."
"It must be thanks to the effect of 'Wild Card.'"
After confirming it was safe, Ren uncorked the bottle, put it to his lips, and drank the potion.
The liquid was thick and had a disgusting texture. This one tasted even worse than the "Seer" potion he'd taken before.
"Ugh, drinking these potions is such a miserable experience. Can't they at least make them taste better?"
He grimaced at the lingering taste but knew his complaint was pointless.
The risks involved in consuming potions were far greater for most extraordinary individuals, especially for those without the "Wild Card" trait.
For someone without that safeguard, taking an "Apprentice" potion could lead to hearing the ominous whispers. That voice could shatter the mental stability of anyone already teetering on the edge while consuming potions.
Because of this, the Door Pathway was widely regarded as one of the most dangerous among the three paths tied to the Lord of Mysteries.
But for Ren, who possessed "Wild Card," none of those concerns applied.
In fact, the Door Pathway, Fool Pathway, and Error Path—all adjacent to each other—were key to becoming the "Lord of Mysteries."
Typically, an extraordinary individual would follow a single path to its end, only incorporating traits from adjacent paths after reaching the pinnacle.
Of course, there was also the option of pursuing all three paths from the start, but that was almost guaranteed to end in disaster.
For most extraordinary individuals, taking potions from other sequences early on would almost certainly lead to a loss of control.
Ren however, could bypass those risks entirely, thanks to his "Wild Card" trait. He could freely tread multiple paths without consequence.
He glanced at the now-empty bottle in his hand and smiled.
"As expected, there aren't any exploitable loopholes."
"Meeting with Kaguya and forming our mutual-benefit arrangement… It seems the rewards reflect that."
Today's lottery results made everything clear.
The reward was on par with yesterday's, meaning the diary imposed certain restrictions.
"Mutual-benefit actions aren't so easily rewarded."
"It looks like the diary evaluates the impact I have on other holders before determining the reward quality."
"It's not as simple as finding loopholes in the rules."
"I wonder if Kaguya tried her luck with the lottery too."
Thinking this, Ren pulled out his phone.
[Amamiya Ren: How did it go?]
[Shinomiya Kaguya: …A bottle of strong liquor.]
[Amamiya Ren: Seems like exploiting loopholes won't work.]
[Amamiya Ren: Don't try to cheat the system again. The diary's rules are probably airtight.]
[Shinomiya Kaguya: What a pity.]
Kaguya put her phone down and eyed the bottle of liquor on her desk, sighing quietly.
"It seems the diary really doesn't leave any loopholes."
"If it's like this for me, it must be the same for Amamiya too."
"It's a shame, though. That draw was such a waste."
Still, Kaguya wasn't too disappointed.
This discovery was crucial, it proved the diary's rules were likely watertight.
With that knowledge, she resolved to save her lottery chances for later.
By accumulating them, she could aim for higher-quality rewards down the line.
The Ice-Ice Fruit ability she received as her initial reward was already exceptional.
Kaguya wasn't the type to let greed cloud her judgment.
Sometimes, it's best not to take unnecessary risks. Otherwise, you might lose even more.
Chapter 37: Grandpa's Curiosity
"Ugh…"
Nagi bit her lip tightly as she stared at the diary.
Short stature, fiery temper, and, well, her unimpressive figure—those words stung deeply.
Glancing down at her own body, which didn't even obscure the view of her toes, her anger only grew.
"There's still room for growth. Definitely. No question about it," she muttered to herself.
Unconsciously, she thought about her mother.
Her mother didn't seem to have any particular strengths, aside from her singing, her absurdly good luck, and her excellent figure.
Taking a deep breath, Nagi clung to the faint hope provided by her genes.
"Yes, there's no problem. The genes I got from my mom won't leave me stuck at this level."
It was a very blind kind of confidence.
So blind that Maria, who stood nearby, couldn't hold back a sigh.
"Not all genes are passed down perfectly," Maria pointed out calmly.
"Besides, Miss Yukariko gave up almost everything else in exchange for that 'perfect figure.'"
"Honestly, the nutrients in your body seem to have all gone to your brain. You've got an extraordinary mind, Nagi, but that means the rest of your body couldn't develop as much."
From a purely genetic standpoint, this was actually a reasonable theory.
The body allocates its resources selectively. If you gain something, you often lose something in return.
Miss Yukariko's luck and physique may have come at the expense of other attributes.
To Maria, this was simply an obvious case of equivalent exchange.
Once Nagi had calmed down a little, Maria walked over and stood by her side.
"Nagi, did you get your answer?"
"…Yeah, I got it," Nagi replied, closing the diary with a sour expression.
"As we suspected, the rules of the diary are airtight. There's no room to exploit any loopholes."
"I really thought I'd find a way around it. What a waste."
The test results were in, but they were nothing like what she'd hoped for. Instead of success, all she had was a headache.
"I didn't even participate in a draw, and all I got was a 'thank you for participating.'"
"Then there's Shinomiya…"
With a sigh, Nagi picked up her phone and made a call.
"My result? Just a 'thank you for participating.'"
"Same here," Kaguya replied on the other end of the line. "All I got was a bottle of strong liquor."
"Seriously? Not even offline arrangements are allowed? These diary rules are way too strict."
"Seems like we'll have to stick to playing along with it normally," Kaguya said, her tone resigned.
To properly interact with the diary, it was clear that direct involvement was necessary.
But that meant attending school.
And Nagi, to put it bluntly, wasn't exactly a fan of physical activity.
Although she was considered a genius and could easily transfer to a regular high school, her stamina and energy levels left much to be desired.
When she thought about having to go to school regularly in the future, her entire face twisted in resistance.
After hanging up the call, Nagi flopped onto her bed like a deflated balloon, resembling a lazy slug.
"Maria, what am I supposed to do? Does this mean I actually have to go to school?"
"And how is that a bad thing?" Maria said with a wide smile.
"Nagi, didn't you tell your grandfather that there was something you wanted to do?"
"So, what's your goal now? Do you have the motivation to work toward it?"
"I…"
"Nagi, think carefully about what you want."
Maria didn't push her too hard. Instead, she guided her gently, allowing her to reach her own conclusions.
Deep down, Nagi already knew the answer.
Maria's so-called "guidance" was more about helping her clarify her own goals.
If she was only driven by short-lived enthusiasm, then nothing would change.
But if she truly wanted to achieve something, she would push herself to make it happen.
"…"
Nagi remained silent for a while before reluctantly pulling out her phone.
Her face was filled with hesitation, but she finally dialed the number.
"Grandpa."
"Well, well! My adorable little granddaughter! What brings you to call your grandpa so late tonight?"
"…Grandpa, I want to transfer to Teitan High School."
"What???"
Nagi could hear the shock in the old man's voice loud and clear.
To be fair, even she was surprised that she'd made this decision.
"Why would you leave Hakuo Academy to go to Teitan, a poor man's high school?"
"Besides, you don't even attend Hakuo regularly, you spend all your time at home. What's brought on this sudden change?"
Mikado, her grandfather, wasn't entirely clueless.
Even without Maria's input, he could tell something was different about his granddaughter.
After all, the stubborn girl he knew wouldn't just call him "grandpa" so easily.
Still, hearing her address him like that did warm his heart.
But her decision to transfer schools was baffling. Why leave Hakuou, one of the top schools, for some random public high school?
Mikado had to wonder if this was part of some elaborate plan. Was she trying to reform her bad habits?
"And transferring to a regular high school…"
"If you stay at Hakuo, at least I can keep an eye on you. But if you go to a school like Teitan, especially in such a high-crime area, there are safety concerns to consider…"
"It seems I'll need to make a few adjustments to my plans."
If she stayed at Hakuo, he wouldn't need to worry so much about her safety. The environment there made it hard for her to encounter any serious trouble.
But if she transferred to Teitan, a school in such a dangerous area, he'd need to take extra precautions.
"Nagi, even if you transfer, are you actually going to attend classes?"
"I will."
That was… unexpectedly firm.
Mikado was taken aback.
Could this actually be a good thing?
Perhaps it was worth a shot. The cost of letting her try wasn't particularly high.
At the very least, he could observe her and see if she was serious or just playing some new game.
"Alright, if you've made up your mind, Grandpa will help arrange it."
For now, he'd adjust his plans and watch carefully to see what Nagi was up to.
"I must admit, I'm curious."
"Well, next week, then."
"Next week? Not now?"
"I… I just need a little time to mentally prepare myself."
…Yep, that sounded much more like the Nagi he knew.
It felt strange a moment ago, but this procrastination suited her usual character.
Still, even though she needed mental preparation, she was actually planning to attend school?
What exactly was driving his granddaughter to take this step?
Mikado's curiosity about her motives was growing stronger by the minute.
Chapter 38: Entrusting an Orphan
The next morning, just as Ran was preparing to leave for school, the Mouri family received three unexpected guests.
The Kudo couple, their faces lined with sorrow, stood at the door. With them was a young boy, no older than seven or eight, wearing glasses.
Coming downstairs from the third floor, Ran froze when she saw them.
"Aunt Yukiko, Uncle Yusaku?"
"Aren't you both overseas? Why did you come back so suddenly?"
"Ah…"
Kudo Yukiko let out a deep sigh, hesitation flickering in her eyes before she finally spoke.
"Ran, Yusaku and I returned because of Shin-chan."
"Shinichi?"
"Didn't he say he was investigating some cases?"
Seeing how Ran was still in the dark, Yukiko's worry deepened, though she didn't say much more.
At this moment, Kudo Yusaku, his expression heavy, lowered his voice.
"Ran, Shinichi… he's in trouble."
"!?"
"The police found him over the weekend, late at night, in an empty alley…"
Ran froze completely, her body stiffening at those words.
"That… can't be true, can it?"
"It's true."
Mouri Kogoro, who had been standing nearby, couldn't bear to watch his daughter break down, but the truth was unavoidable.
When he had first heard the news, even he had been left speechless.
He had never been fond of that brat.
Not only was Shinichi constantly hanging around his daughter, but the boy was always butting into cases, encroaching on his turf. How could Kogoro possibly tolerate that? It was no wonder he would often curse the kid out.
But despite everything, Kogoro still had high hopes for Shinichi's abilities.
It was a shame, though.
For all his talent, the boy lacked the self-preservation to match it.
He was too righteous, too driven to chase after danger, and it had finally caught up to him.
The need to uncover the truth, no matter the cost, had ultimately been his downfall.
Thinking back on it, Mouri Kogoro sighed heavily.
"That brat charged ahead without a second thought."
"As someone who used to be a police officer, I can't help but admire his courage. But…"
He paused, his voice growing softer.
"…as a former officer, I have to say he was too reckless. So reckless that he forgot even the most basic precautions."
"Or maybe," Kogoro continued after a moment, "he didn't trust the police to handle things properly from the start."
"Still, I can't say he was entirely wrong."
Kogoro knew all too well the flaws within the police force. Many officers, especially those in the Metropolitan Police Department, lacked dedication to their duties. They simply coasted by, doing just enough to keep their positions without risking too much.
Given that reality, Shinichi's mistrust wasn't entirely unfounded.
Maybe that was why the boy chose to face danger head-on, rather than relying on the authorities.
Kogoro let out another deep sigh.
"It really is a shame…"
"If only that kid had been more worldly, more experienced with the darker sides of society, maybe he wouldn't have been so impulsive."
"Maybe then he would've known to stop himself from rushing forward like that."
"No matter how you look at it, that boy was still too young…"
"If he'd just waited a few more years, grown older and joined the police properly, he could've handled things so much better."
"What a waste…"
As Kogoro spoke, Ran covered her mouth with her hands, her shoulders trembling. She looked like she couldn't bear to hear any more.
Seeing this, Kogoro shook his head helplessly.
"What do you plan to do now?"
"Do you have any leads on the culprit?"
"I know a little," Yusaku replied, "but it's complicated."
"That's why Yukiko and I have decided to start from overseas."
"International criminals, huh…"
Kogoro nodded in understanding.
Considering the scale of the case, tackling it domestically might not be the best approach. With their connections abroad, they could navigate the investigation with fewer restrictions.
"If there's anything I can help with, just let me know," Kogoro offered. "I have a few contacts in Beika who might be able to assist."
"Thank you," Yusaku said sincerely, "but it's better if you stay out of this."
"Digging too deeply into Shinichi's death could be dangerous. As long as no one investigates too closely, the ones behind this won't act. But if you dig up the wrong information, things could get very messy."
"I see. Definitely sounds like trouble."
Kogoro could imagine the kind of danger Yusaku and Yukiko were facing.
Any attempt to investigate the people behind the scenes could expose them to risks, and one wrong move could drag them into a world of chaos.
Still, Kogoro knew they wouldn't back down.
As Shinichi's parents, Yusaku and Yukiko wouldn't simply let things go.
"But there is something we'd like your help with," Yusaku said, gesturing toward the boy standing beside them.
"This child."
Kogoro turned his attention to the bespectacled boy, who looked oddly familiar.
Then, it clicked.
"Wait, don't tell me this kid is…"
"Mr. Mouri," Yusaku cut in firmly, "this child has no connection to us anymore."
"…I see."
Kogoro studied the boy's sincere eyes, quickly piecing things together.
It seemed that traveling abroad with a child would be inconvenient, so the couple wanted to leave him in Kogoro's care.
"No problem. I'll look after him."
Kogoro agreed without hesitation.
Relieved, Yusaku nodded before motioning to Yukiko.
"Kogoro, here's some money for his living expenses."
Kogoro accepted the envelope instinctively, but when he opened it, he nearly dropped it in shock.
Inside was a bank statement with a balance of 500 million yen.
"Are you two planning to go to war or something?" he blurted out.
"No," Yusaku said calmly. "We're just preparing for the worst."
"We'll officially leave under the pretense of being emotionally unstable, using it as an excuse to relax abroad."
"We're not stupid enough to charge in recklessly. We'll only assist local law enforcement with their investigations."
"As long as we don't dig too deeply, they won't target us."
"We're just buying time and creating excuses to interfere with their plans."
"Got it," Kogoro said, tucking the statement away.
"Just don't overdo it, okay? There's still a kid here to think about."
"Don't worry. We know how dangerous this is, and we're not taking it lightly."
Yusaku's voice was steady, his resolve clear.
He wasn't about to risk everything.
The goal was simple: stay away from the organization while quietly helping law enforcement.
Providing information was one thing, but direct involvement was out of the question.
Chapter 39: Unacceptable
"Dad…"
Ran who had been covering her mouth, her body trembling slightly, finally spoke.
"This child can stay, but… I can't."
"!"
The three adults in the room—Kogoro, Yukiko, and Yusaku were all caught off guard.
Ran crouched down slightly and removed the child's glasses.
"He really does look just like Shinichi when he was little."
Then, she looked up at her father, her voice trembling.
"Dad, I… I don't want to see this child right now."
"I don't want to think about Shinichi… not yet."
A heavy silence filled the room.
"…I forgot about this."
Yukiko let out a deep sigh, realizing too late that they had overlooked Ran's feelings entirely.
"This child only just learned about Shinichi's 'death.' Even though we know the truth… she doesn't. And for Ran, that loss is very real."
"What a mistake on our part."
As Shinichi's parents, Yukiko and Yusaku could accept the situation because they knew the truth.
But Ran didn't.
To her, Shinichi was really gone.
And now, seeing a child with his exact face right in front of her, it was too much to handle.
Kogoro considered this for a moment before speaking.
"Ran, if it's too much for you, you can stay with Eri for now."
Understanding his daughter's emotions, he didn't push her to accept the situation right away.
Given how close Ran and Shinichi were, perhaps some distance would help her process things.
"…Yeah."
Ran gently placed the glasses back on the boy's face.
Her expression was conflicted, and she couldn't hide it.
"Dad, I'd like to take the day off from school."
"Alright. Take the day to rest. Call your mother and ask her to pick you up."
"I'll contact Mom now."
Ran took a deep breath, forcing herself to regain control over her emotions.
She turned to Yukiko and Yusaku, bowing slightly in apology.
"I'm sorry. I… I just can't control how I feel right now."
"There's no need to apologize, Ran."
Yukiko walked over and pulled her into a warm embrace.
"We understand."
"If something like this had happened to me…"
She trailed off before shaking her head.
"It's okay, Ran. You don't have to keep thinking about Shinichi."
"…"
Ran forced a small, sad smile.
"Aunt Yukiko, I'm going upstairs now."
"Alright. Take your time."
Ran nodded, then turned and walked up to the third floor.
The second floor of the building was Kogoro's detective agency, while the third floor served as their living space.
But even that was cramped, there were only two rooms, one belonging to Kogoro and the other to Ran.
Now, with a new resident—a boy, no less—the limited space felt even more suffocating.
The moment Ran reached her room, she closed the door and let out a deep sigh.
She pulled out a diary from her desk.
"…"
Looking at the words she had written before, her expression turned bitter.
"I really can't accept this."
She already knew what had happened to Shinichi.
She knew that he had been struck from behind and poisoned.
She even knew that the child standing next to Uncle Yusaku was Shinichi himself.
But what difference did knowing make?
When she and Shinichi were together, she was always a burden to his investigations.
Whenever there was a case, whenever danger appeared, Shinichi always ran ahead.
And she?
She was always left behind, her feelings disregarded.
And now… this deception.
Ran clenched her fists.
If Shinichi had just been honest with her, she would have understood.
Even if it meant she would be in danger too, she would have protected his secret.
She would have helped him keep it.
But instead?
He made the choice to hide everything from her.
To 'protect' her, without even giving her a say in it.
And yet… he still made sure to stay by her side.
By erasing 'Kudo Shinichi' and living next to her as someone else, what was he trying to do?
Watch over her? Keep other people away from her?
"…I can't accept this, Shinichi."
She couldn't accept being treated this way.
She couldn't accept Shinichi's selfishness.
If he had just told her the truth, she would have supported him.
But this?
This wasn't something she could accept.
Ran took a deep breath, then picked up her phone and dialed her mother's number.
"…Mom."
"What's wrong, Ran? You don't sound okay."
"…Something happened. Can you come pick me up?"
"…Stay at home. I'll be there soon."
Hearing the distress in her daughter's voice, Kisaki Eri didn't hesitate for a second.
She immediately set aside her work, grabbed her coat and bag, and rushed out the door.
Within thirty minutes, Eri arrived at the Mouri Detective Agency.
Instead of heading straight to the third floor, she entered through the office on the second floor.
There, she was surprised to find Yukiko and Yusaku already present.
But what struck her even more was their expressions.
The tension in the room was unmistakable.
"What's going on here?"
Seeing their grim faces, Eri felt a sense of unease settle in her chest.
Turning to Kogoro, she asked, "Kogoro, what happened?"
"That kid is in trouble."
"!?"
Eri immediately understood.
So that's why Ran sounded so shaken on the phone.
She sighed, rubbing her forehead as if trying to ward off an impending headache.
"…Yukiko."
"I'm fine," Yukiko replied, though her exhaustion was evident.
The usual playful charm in her expression was nowhere to be found.
No matter what she said, 'fine' was far from the truth.
Still, Eri chose not to press her further.
She knew pushing Yukiko too much would only add to the stress.
Instead, she shifted her focus.
"What's going on with Ran?"
Kogoro cleared his throat awkwardly, then cast a glance at the child standing beside Yusaku.
Eri followed his gaze—and immediately understood.
"…Is that what I think it is?"
Kogoro gave her a silent nod.
Eri pursed her lips, her expression unreadable.
"…So this child… is Yusaku and Yukiko's?"
"They're asking us to take care of him while they handle things overseas."
That alone spoke volumes about the severity of the situation.
If they were leaving their child behind, it meant they were about to dive into something extremely dangerous.
And the implications of Shinichi's 'death' ran far deeper than it seemed.
Eri sighed.
"Kogoro, given Ran's current emotional state, she should stay with me for a while."
Kogoro nodded.
"That's probably for the best."
Chapter 40: Moving Out of the Mouri Household
Ran moved out smoothly.
This time, it wasn't just a temporary escape, she had no intention of returning.
She couldn't accept Shinichi's secrecy, nor could she accept his "selfishness" toward her.
Even though she wouldn't expose his secret, she couldn't bear to live under the same roof as him.
"Ran, feel free to pick any room you like."
"Okay… Thanks, Mom."
"There's no need to thank me, sweetheart."
As she spoke, Kisaki Eri pulled her daughter into a comforting embrace.
"Don't think too much about that boy. He has nothing to do with you anymore, and you don't need to take responsibility for him."
"…He's not dead."
Ran knew she couldn't say that out loud, though.
Shinichi's situation was dangerous.
She didn't object to him moving into her home, but she also didn't want his presence to put her father at risk.
If he had to hide, then he had to keep hiding.
Just because she knew the truth didn't mean they could stop being careful.
In fact, now that she knew, she had to help keep his secret.
Realizing this, Ran sighed inwardly.
Her life wasn't going to be easy from now on.
"I understand, Mom."
She still had to go to school, but she couldn't bring herself to care today.
Her childhood friend had deceived her, kept secrets from her, and held selfish thoughts toward her. Just thinking about it gave her a headache.
And then, there was the diary.
The diary she had received by chance…
Her mind drifted to Amamiya Ren.
Maybe she should talk to him.
Maybe she could find out if her life was only now starting to intertwine with something bigger, now that Shinichi had moved in.
After placing her belongings in her room, she listened to the sounds outside.
"Ran, I'm heading to work."
"Okay!"
Hearing the door close, she flopped onto the bed.
For a long moment, she just lay there, staring at the ceiling.
Then, finally, she sat up and quickly flipped through the diary in her hands.
The records in the diary stretched back to the day before their visit to Tropical Land.
There were even details about what had happened there.
She vividly remembered the people in mascot costumes handing out balloons and flyers.
One of them had been that man.
The following entries even included a video, one that captured Shinichi, little by little, shrinking into a child.
Even seeing it a second time, the impact was overwhelming.
"A drug that can turn a high school student into a child…"
"I never imagined something like that could actually exist."
As an ordinary girl, her only notable skill being karate, Ran found it hard to comprehend the existence of such a bizarre poison.
And yet…
"…Shinichi, you're so selfish."
She let out a deep sigh.
"If only you could be this selfish in normal situations."
Now that she was alone, she couldn't help but voice her complaints.
The moment she learned Shinichi's life had been in danger, she had felt an overwhelming urge to punch the bespectacled boy who had tricked her.
To make him understand that she wasn't that easy to fool.
Of course, that was just a thought.
She knew doing something like that would be too reckless, it would expose Shinichi's identity immediately.
Still, now that she had time to reflect, she realized something.
"Maybe… Sonoko was right all along."
Love really does make people blind.
Had she always been blinded by her feelings?
Looking at the situation now, Shinichi had orchestrated his own disappearance, working together with Aunt Yukiko and Uncle Yusaku to erase his identity, just so he could remain by her side.
Would he ever be able to return to his normal life?
She had no expectations of that happening.
For Shinichi to go as far as to erase himself, it meant that whatever he had gotten involved in was far too big.
Something was lurking behind the scenes, and it was far from simple.
Even putting aside the organization targeting Shinichi, the mere existence of a drug capable of de-aging people was dangerous in itself.
Ran shuddered at the thought.
Even if no one were after Shinichi, just the fact that he had been turned into a child would be enough to turn him into a test subject.
No matter how she looked at it…
Shinichi wasn't coming back.
"…Honestly."
"Why do you always rush straight into danger?"
Ran sighed in frustration.
If Shinichi had just minded his own business, maybe he wouldn't have gotten hit that night.
Maybe he wouldn't have been poisoned.
Shaking her head, she turned her attention to something else.
"Oh, right… There's still the lottery."
A massive virtual roulette wheel appeared in front of her.
Ran, intrigued, reached out and placed her hand on it.
The wheel spun rapidly before slowing down.
Eventually, it stopped, and the indicator pointed to a section.
[How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift?]
[Title Obtained: Imperial Sakura Fang]
[Imperial Sakura Fang: By consuming a large amount of calories, you can increase muscle density, enhance nerve reflex speed, boost explosive strength, improve endurance, and extend the duration of peak performance.]
[Note: This title cannot be removed. Upon obtaining it, you will immediately gain the traits 'Big Eater' and 'Digestion Monster.']
"…Big Eater? Digestion Monster?"
Ran stared at the description, momentarily stunned.
"No way…"
Gurgle~~~
A loud rumble echoed from her stomach.
"…So hungry."
For the first time in her life, she experienced an overwhelming sense of hunger in the morning.
There was no doubt about it now.
The lottery was real.
And the traits—Big Eater and Digestion Monster—were definitely real.
"…I'm really turning into a big eater, aren't I?"
Even though she wanted to resist the idea, the gnawing hunger in her stomach was unbearable.
She hurried to the kitchen.
Opening the refrigerator, she was met with a strange sight.
"…Mom, even if you're bad at cooking, why do you need so many seasonings?"
Aside from a bit of lettuce, the fridge was almost entirely filled with condiments.
Ran shook her head.
No time to complain.
She had to eat first.
She started cooking rice and preparing the lettuce.
In the end, she made some simple rice rolls.
The entire process took about fifty minutes.
But she devoured everything in less than fifteen.
"Hm… About seventy percent full."
Her stomach wasn't completely satisfied, but it was at a comfortable level.
Seventy percent.
Not stuffed, but not empty.
She placed a hand on her abdomen.
"…I ate so much, but my stomach doesn't even feel bloated."
Then, she realized something.
"…Wait."
"What am I going to do about my food budget?"
If her appetite had really increased this much…
That meant her daily expenses were about to go way up.
As someone who had always been mindful of money, Ran suddenly felt an impending sense of financial doom.
Her pocket money might not be enough to keep up.
...
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