Detective Conan: I'm a Boy, But They Treat Me Like a Big Sister — Chapter 99

Chapter 99: The Suzuki Family’s Collection Gallery Is Too Generous

The evening bell had barely finished echoing across the campus. Tōhō Getsukai was just sliding his textbooks into his bag when his phone buzzed with a message from Sonoko.

“Sister! The school gate! If you aren’t in the car within ten minutes, I’m storming into Sobu High School to snatch you away!”

Very well. The Second Miss Suzuki’s chauffeur service was essentially a form of legal kidnapping.

By the time Getsukai strolled up to the school gate, a sleek black luxury car was already idling by the curb. The tinted window rolled down, and Sonoko leaned half her body out, waving her arms enthusiastically.

“Sister Tōhō! Over here, over here!”

Ran sat in the back seat, a paper bag resting neatly on her lap. Seeing him approach, she immediately scooted to the side to make room.

“Sister Tōhō, you’ve worked hard today.”

The moment Getsukai slid into the plush leather seat, Sonoko twisted around, her eyes scanning him from head to toe.

“Sister, you look ridiculously beautiful again today! How does anyone at Sobu High School even handle it?”

“Maybe… they’re just used to it?” he offered mildly.

“You call that being used to it? That’s called having their aesthetic thresholds completely shattered by you!”

Ran nodded earnestly from the side. “It’s true. Every time I see Sister Tōhō, I always feel like you look even better than the last time.”

Getsukai leaned back against the headrest, letting his silver hair cascade smoothly over his shoulder.

Hmm… he had been practicing Hamon Breathing for quite a while now. It would actually be strange if his physical appearance hadn’t subtly refined itself.

“The two of you are singing the exact same tune,” Getsukai noted, a faint smile on his lips. “You sound just like a meeting of a fraud ring.”

“We are just speaking the truth!” Sonoko patted her chest proudly. “Don’t worry. We’re heading to my house today, and my uncle keeps his word—you can pick absolutely whatever you want.”

By the time the car pulled into the sprawling Suzuki estate, the sky had already darkened into a deep indigo.

Dinner was a sumptuous affair, a long table laden with exquisite dishes, but Sonoko kept sighing into her plate.

“Dad isn’t here again, and my sister isn’t here either.”

Ran paused with her chopsticks hovering over a dish. “Is Sister Ayako busy too?”

“Yeah, Dad went to some corporate social engagement, and my sister went to a friend’s party. It’s like this every time. We clearly agreed to have dinner together, but in the end, it’s just Mom and me.”

Getsukai quietly slid a small, steaming porcelain bowl of soup across the table, stopping it right next to Sonoko’s hand.

“Drink your soup first.”

Sonoko had opened her mouth to continue complaining, but after taking a sip of the rich broth, she immediately quieted down, her shoulders relaxing.

Ran watched the exchange from the side, pressing a hand over her mouth to hide a smile. Sonoko caught the gesture and gave her a pointed look.

“Sister Tōhō, you’re using those rule-breaking tactics again.”

“What tactics?”

“I was just about to lose my temper, and you gave me a bowl of soup. Suddenly, I felt like… the world is still worth saving.”

Shortly after dinner, Jirokichi Suzuki arrived exactly as expected.

The old man’s heavy cane tapped loudly against the marble floor, bringing his signature dramatic presence into the room before he even spoke.

“Hahahaha! Yuekui, let’s go! I’ll take you to see some real treasures!”

“Uncle, don’t scare my sister,” Sonoko scolded, immediately following behind him.

“Scare her? My collection gallery only makes people’s blood boil with excitement!”

The private collection gallery was hidden deep underground.

As the heavy steel elevator doors parted, motion sensors triggered. Rows of warm, brilliant lights flickered on layer by layer, illuminating a massive vault.

Famous oil paintings, antique swords, pristine porcelain, dazzling jewelry, complex pocket watches, and marble statues—every single item was displayed with careful care behind reinforced glass.

Sonoko grabbed Ran’s wrist, pulling her forward.

“Wow! Ran, look at this necklace!”

“It’s so beautiful.”

“This hair crown would also look perfect on Sister Tōhō!”

Before Getsukai could even step closer, Sonoko had already lifted a glittering, jewel-encrusted hair crown, holding it up near his silver hair.

“Sister, don’t move! Just for a second!”

“Suzuki, this thing looks very expensive.”

“My uncle said you can pick whatever you want!”

Jirokichi laughed heartily, his booming voice echoing off the vault walls. “Pick it! Pick the expensive ones! Pick the big ones! Don’t try to save money for me!”

Looking at the priceless artifacts filling the room, Getsukai felt a rare moment of conflict.

To him, the items here were undeniably valuable. But he wasn’t exactly short of money, so the monetary worth didn’t matter much. He just needed something practical.

The group continued strolling down the aisle.

Getsukai scanned a row of exquisite jewelry and finally stopped in front of a modest, velvet-lined display case.

Inside sat a simple, vintage brooch. It featured a delicate silver base with a small, warmly colored gemstone embedded in the center. It wasn’t flashy or ostentatious. It looked perfectly suited for Eri Kisaki.

When she attended formal courtroom occasions or legal banquets, overly flashy jewelry would overshadow her sharp, professional presence. This subtle piece was just right.

“I’ll choose this one.” Getsukai pointed at the glass.

Sonoko froze on the spot.

Jirokichi also paused, leaning on his cane. “Just this one?”

“Sister Tōhō!” Sonoko looked genuinely heartbroken. “You came into the Suzuki Family’s ultimate collection gallery, and you ended up picking a tiny little brooch?”

“It’s very beautiful.” Getsukai turned to Jirokichi. “This brooch suits Eri Kisaki perfectly, and I want to give it to her.”

Sonoko immediately turned to look at Ran.

Ran clutched the fabric of her skirt. Her eyes were bright, clearly happy but also a bit shy.

“Mom will definitely love it.”

“Sister always thinks of others first when picking gifts.” Sonoko shook her head, letting out a long, helpless sigh.

“I’ll pick one for you next time,” Getsukai promised.

“Really?” Sonoko instantly recovered, her eyes sparkling.

Jirokichi stroked his thick mustache and laughed.

“Good eye! But this won’t do.” The old man tapped his cane against the floor, pointing to a grand display case on the far wall. “I said you could pick anything, and you chose such a small trinket. If word got out, people would think the Suzuki Family is stingy. Pack up that moon-white hair comb as well!”

The gallery staff immediately moved to unlock the case.

Sonoko’s eyes widened. “Uncle, that’s the one you bought at the international auction last month, right?”

“It’s a gift!”

Ran looked flustered. “Wouldn’t that be too expensive?”

“It’s only a gift if it’s valuable!” Jirokichi declared proudly.

Getsukai looked at the hair comb resting on the velvet tray. It was a pristine moon-white, carved with a delicate texture and elegant, flowing patterns. It was undeniably beautiful, and it would blend perfectly with his silver hair.

One had to admit, the old man really knew how to pick things.

“Thank you, Mr. Jirokichi.”

“Hahahaha! That’s more like it!”

By the time they left the Suzuki estate, the night air was crisp and cool.

Halfway through the drive back, Sonoko suddenly leaned forward and slapped the back of the front seat.

“Don’t go back yet! Driver, let’s go to Odaiba Seaside Park!”

Ran blinked in surprise. “Right now?”

“I ate way too much. Let’s go for a walk to digest! Besides, the sea breeze is very comfortable tonight.”

Getsukai checked his phone screen. It wasn’t too late.

“Alright then.”

Sonoko cheered. “Driver, please head to Odaiba!”

Despite the hour, there were quite a few people strolling through Odaiba Seaside Park. The massive Rainbow Bridge was fully illuminated, casting vibrant colors over the dark, rippling surface of the sea.

Ran stood by the metal railing, wearing a soft white bucket hat, posing for pictures.

Sonoko held up her phone, snapping photos of the glowing bridge, the dark water, and Ran. Finally, the camera lens automatically swiveled toward Getsukai.

“Sister, stand over there a bit!”

Just as the words left her mouth, a sudden, sharp gust of wind swept in off Tokyo Bay.

The brim of Ran’s hat caught the updraft. In a flash of white, the hat flew off her head, sailing straight over the outside of the railing toward the water.

Ran gasped. Acting on pure instinct, she lunged forward to grab it. Her foot slipped on the damp pavement, and her entire body tilted dangerously outward over the railing.

Getsukai moved.

His reflexes, sharpened by Hamon, triggered instantly. His right hand shot out, catching the edge of the white hat mid-air. Simultaneously, his left arm wrapped firmly around Ran’s waist. With a smooth, controlled pull, he brought her back from the edge, steadily drawing her into his arms.

Ran bumped softly against his chest. Before she could even process what had happened, Getsukai pressed the white hat back onto her head.

The sea breeze whipped around them, ruffling his silver hair. A few loose strands brushed gently against Ran’s warm cheek.

“Si, Sister Tōhō…”

“Stand still,” he murmured, his voice calm and steady over the sound of the waves. “Don’t go chasing the hat.”

“Okay…” Ran answered obediently, her heart hammering against her ribs.

A few feet away, Sonoko was practically exploding.

“Oh my god!” She gripped her phone with terrifying stability, her eyes wide. “This is totally like an idol drama, Sister Tōhō! That moment just now was so beautiful!”

Getsukai turned his head, genuinely surprised. “Sonoko, when did you start filming?”

“From the exact second the hat flew off!”

“You reacted so fast?” Ran finally snapped out of her daze, the tips of her ears turning a bright, burning red. “Sonoko, delete it!”

“Not deleting it! This is pure art! And… I can send you a copy!”

Ran froze. Her eyes lit up with a conflicted gleam.

“Then… only send it to me. Don’t send it to anyone else.”

Getsukai looked down at her. Ran immediately lowered her head, pretending to adjust the brim of her hat to hide her flushed face.

Very good.

When faced with the choice between shame and desire, humans usually chose desire.

Sonoko giggled mischievously as she tucked her phone into her pocket. Then, she suddenly grabbed onto the metal railing, swaying dramatically.

“Oh my! The wind is so strong, I can’t even stand still.”

She put on a massive show of struggling, trying very hard to lean against Getsukai’s free side. Her movements were so wildly exaggerated that passing tourists actually stopped to take a second look.

“Sonoko, your acting has regressed,” Getsukai noted dryly, reaching over to pinch her cheek.

“I’m not acting! I’m in serious danger of being blown away by the wind!”

Ran couldn’t help but laugh out loud, the tension finally breaking.

Seeing her cover blown, Sonoko simply gave up on the pretense entirely and threw herself against Getsukai’s arm, clinging to him like a koala.

“Sister, hold me too! Ran got to be held, I want to be held too.”

Fine. Fairness was the priority.

Getsukai supported Ran with his left arm and wrapped his right arm around Sonoko.

The cool sea breeze continued to blow across the bay, and the Rainbow Bridge burned bright against the night sky.

Sonoko let out a long, contented sigh, resting her head against his shoulder.

“Ran, don’t we look like absolute winners in life right now?”

Ran blushed, her voice soft. “Sonoko, don’t say it so strangely.”

Just then, a familiar mechanical chime echoed in Getsukai’s mind, pulling his focus slightly away from the two girls.

[Congratulations to the host for obtaining the reward: Portable Storage Space.]