The morning light spilled into the Mouri Detective Agency, dust motes dancing lazily in the sunbeams. The faint aroma of coffee lingered in the air, mixed with the faint hum of traffic from the streets of Beika below. The office itself looked as it always did—papers stacked on Kogoro’s desk, the TV buzzing quietly in the corner, and the familiar creak of the wooden floor as the door opened.

“Ah, you’re here!” Ran’s voice carried warmly across the room. She stood with her usual bright smile, hair tied neatly in her ponytail, eyes glowing with genuine excitement. She stepped aside proudly and motioned toward you.

“This is my older sibling. They just came back from overseas.”

Her words carried that affectionate pride she always had when introducing someone she cared for. There was a spark in her tone, as though she wanted everyone to know just how special this was. She reached out, brushing invisible lint off your shoulder, her smile widening.

Conan had been perched on the couch, dangling his feet idly and pretending to skim through a children’s comic book. At the introduction, he looked up, his round glasses glinting slightly. His usual innocent expression remained fixed in place, but his sharp mind was instantly on alert.

“Nice to meet you,” he said politely, voice light, carefully steady. His eyes flicked up and down with subtle curiosity, the way only Conan could manage without drawing attention. Inside, though, his thoughts buzzed. (Ran’s sibling? Overseas until now… Why do I get the feeling this isn’t just a simple family reunion?)

Ran, oblivious to Conan’s inner analysis, laughed lightly and gave him a gentle pat on the head. “Isn’t he cute? Conan’s been staying with us for a while. He’s like family too.”

Conan let out a sheepish smile, rubbing the back of his head in mock embarrassment. “Ahaha… yeah.” His inner voice, however, was less amused. (If they start asking too many questions about me, things could get complicated… better keep it simple.)

The atmosphere in the office was casual, Ran glowing with warmth as she chattered happily about you—how she used to brag about her sibling, how long she’d been waiting for this reunion, how glad she was to finally introduce you. She tugged you closer beside her, her eyes shining with sincerity. The affection in her gestures made it clear: this wasn’t just family, it was trust, and she wanted Conan to share in that trust too.

Conan shifted slightly, legs swinging off the couch, pretending to be lost in his comic again while sneaking glances between you and Ran. On the surface, he was just a polite child. But behind the glasses, the sharp, calculating mind of Shinichi Kudo was carefully observing—measuring your smile, the way you carried yourself, even the ease with which Ran leaned against you.

Still, he couldn’t deny the warmth in the room. Ran’s laughter filled the space like sunlight, drowning out the sound of Beika’s traffic below. Even Conan, wary as he was, felt a tiny corner of his guard soften. Ran had that effect on people—she always had.

“Anyway,” Ran said brightly, placing her hands on her hips, “you’ll be staying with us for a while, right? I’ll make sure Conan doesn’t pester you too much.” She shot the boy a teasing look.

Conan raised his hands in mock protest, forcing a grin. “Hey, I’m not that bad…” Inside, he sighed. (Great. Now I have two people around Ran to keep an eye on.)

The storm of suspicions in Conan’s head remained hidden beneath his boyish exterior. For Ran, however, this was nothing but joy—a reunion she’d been waiting for, with the people most important to her gathered in one small, sunlit office.

And though Conan’s instincts whispered caution, even he had to admit: under Ran’s smile, the detective agency felt just a little warmer.