Guns and Coffee in the World of Science

"So awesome! So awesome! Xiaolan is so awesome! The next step is the finals, Uncle Mori!" Suzuki Sonoko grabbed Kogoro Mori's shoulders and shook them continuously, very happy.

Although Kogoro Mouri was also very excited, he pretended to be calm, crossed his legs, folded his arms across his chest and nodded: "Don't worry! Xiaolan is the strongest in the competition! This is the true teaching of my father, hahahaha!" Kogoro Mouri laughed arrogantly, and Suzuki Sonoko nodded in cooperation.

"I hope she doesn't inherit your habit of letting your opponent turn the tables on you once you get carried away." A cold voice reached the ears of the happy two. Turning around, they saw Eri Kisaki also folding her arms and looking at Kogoro Maori with a sidelong glance. This made him very unhappy. Just as he was about to open his mouth to retort, Eri Kisaki continued, "But, after all, Xiaolan is my daughter. You don't have to worry about that."

"You guy..."

Suzuki Sonoko was very uncomfortable being sandwiched between the awkward Maori couple. Suddenly, her eyes lit up, and she stood up and waved to Maori Ran who was leaving the stage, shouting, "Hey! Ran! Play well in the finals too!"

Mao Lilan chuckled and nodded.

Chen Shuo sat quietly beside her, watching the spirited Xiaolan with a gentle smile. Suddenly, he felt a gaze sweep over him, and he turned back warily. It was from Beihu High School.

He immediately spotted a tall, muscular young man. His skin was slightly dark, and his appearance gave off the aura of a martial artist. Chen Shuo actually felt a sense of pressure from the young man's aura. He suspected that if he simply sparred with the young man, he might not be able to defeat him.

The dark-skinned young man was staring at Suzuki Sonoko with a dazed look in his eyes. Chen Shuo looked thoughtfully at Sonoko, who was dancing with joy, then looked at the young man with a curl of his lips.

The young man also felt the gazes on him at this moment, nodded shyly to Chen Shuo, and then lowered his head.

Chen Shuo turned away, not caring too much. After all, it was impossible for him to interfere with what others were watching, right? However...

Chen Shuo looked around suspiciously, as if something was missing...

---

"Now begins the women's varsity finals! Red team, Beido High School, Wada Haruna. Blue team, Teitan High School, Maori Ran."

Before Chen Shuo could think more, the sound of the game about to start came from the radio. He put away his thoughts and looked at the game on the field.

The atmosphere in the final was extremely tense.

At the referee's command, Mao Lilan and Wada Haruna stood in the center of the ring. They bowed to each other and then assumed their respective karate stances. The audience waited with bated breath, all eyes fixed on this highly anticipated final.

From the outset of the match, Wada Haruna showcased her immense strength. Her swift movements and fierce attacks instantly overwhelmed Ran Mori. The atmosphere on the field instantly became tense, as Wada Haruna's footwork was agile, and her punches and kicks were like a gust of wind, attacking Ran continuously.

Although Mao Lilan fought back desperately, she was clearly on the defensive. She tried to counterattack several times, but each was cleverly countered by her opponent. Wada Haruna's karate skills were superb, and her attacks were sharp, leaving Mao Lilan almost no chance to breathe.

Chen Shuo, Maori Kogoro, and Kisaki Eri, all seated in the audience, could see Maori Ran's disadvantage, and all three of them couldn't help but express nervousness. Maori Kogoro frowned, his eyes fixed on the ring, his fists unconsciously clenched. Kisaki Eri, on the other hand, had a solemn expression, as if silently praying for her daughter.

A hint of worry flashed in Chen Shuo's eyes. He rarely saw Mao Lilan so passive in the game. Although he knew that Mao Lilan was strong, Wada Haruna was undoubtedly a tough opponent.

"Ran, come on!" Suzuki Sonoko shouted anxiously from the side. She clenched her fists and waved them vigorously, almost wanting to rush to the ring to avenge Maoli Ran. Her voice echoed in the venue, but the situation on the field did not change because of her encouragement.

Wada Haruna's offensive became increasingly fierce, pressing forward step by step, forcing Mao Lilan into a defensive deadlock. At this moment, Wada Haruna seized the opportunity, suddenly raised her leg, and launched a swift mid-section kick straight into Mao Lilan's abdomen. The movement was clean and powerful, and it hit the target almost instantly.

"Score!" the referee announced loudly.

Mao Lilan steadied herself, but at this moment, she had clearly lost the upper hand. Wada Haruna scored the first two points, and the match entered a brief pause. The stadium suddenly fell silent, and everyone's attention was focused on Mao Lilan.

"Oh no..." Maori Kogoro couldn't help but whispered, his brows furrowed, "Ran is now completely suppressed."

Kisaki Eri also looked worried: "The opponent's skills are too solid. I'm afraid Ran will have to find a way to change the rhythm."

Chen Shuo remained silent, his gaze fixed on Mao Lilan. He knew that Mao Lilan would not easily give up. This match was not only an honor for her, but also a testament to her strength. Even if she was suppressed, she would definitely look for an opportunity to fight back.

The climax of the game has just begun.

---

At the referee's signal, the match resumed. Wada Haruna took the lead, her steady steps and fierce punches sweeping down like a gust of wind. Forced into a defensive position, Mao Lilan tried her best to block every punch and kick, but it was clear that she was struggling. Each of Wada Haruna's attacks was filled with intense pressure, leaving Mao Lilan with little chance to breathe.

She occasionally tried to counterattack a few times, but Wada Haruna's reaction was extremely fast, and she easily avoided every attack of Mao Lilan. The two of them exchanged punches and kicks on the court, and the fight was fierce and exciting, and the audience in the audience even exclaimed in amazement.

But those who truly understood martial arts, such as Chen Shuo, Maori Kogoro, and Kisaki Eri, who were sitting in the audience, frowned. They soon realized that although Maori Ran was still trying to hold on, she was actually at a complete disadvantage.

"Ran was under too much pressure this time." Kogoro Mouri said in a low voice, his expression becoming more solemn.

"Her rhythm is completely controlled by Wada." Kisaki Eri's face was not looking good. "If this continues, I'm afraid Lan won't be able to hold on."

Chen Shuo remained silent, but a trace of worry flashed across his eyes. Although Mao Lilan was still trying to find opportunities, each of her counterattacks was cleverly resolved by Wada Haruna, and she hardly created any effective threat.

Suzuki Sonoko didn't know how to fight. She thought the two were evenly matched, so she kept waving her hands and shouting desperately: "Come on, Xiaolan! Come on! You will definitely win!"

But Sonoko's cheers didn't change the situation on the court. As the rounds wore on, Mao Li Ran's stamina began to wane, and her movements became sluggish. Wada Haruna, on the other hand, maintained her powerful offensive rhythm, constantly applying pressure.

Suddenly, while trying to fight back, Mao Lilan slipped, lost her balance, and fell to the ground.

"Oh no!" Chen Shuo's heart sank. The stands erupted in an uproar, and the audience exclaimed in surprise.

The referee immediately waved the match to a halt. Mao Lilan fell to the ground, her hands supporting her, her forehead covered in sweat, her breathing becoming rapid. She gritted her teeth, her face filled with resentment.

"Ran!" Kogoro Mouri stood up, his face full of anxiety, and Eri Kisaki also frowned tightly, obviously worried about her daughter.

Chen Shuo stared at Ran Maoli on the court, his heart filled with mixed emotions. At this moment, he really wanted to enter the court to teach Xiaolan a few moves that would help her defeat her opponent, but unfortunately, he couldn't. Looking at Xiaolan who was panting, Chen Shuo secretly worried about her.

---

During the pause in the match, the atmosphere in the arena was slightly tense. The referee and both players were adjusting their positions, and the audience gradually quieted down. However, at this moment, Chen Shuo's eyes accidentally swept across a corner of the audience and suddenly noticed a familiar figure - Kudo Shinichi.

I mean something is missing, it turns out it's this kid who's missing.

Kudo Shinichi stood off to one side, looking a bit restless. His gaze was fixed on Ran Mouri, and he began gesturing with his hands. Chen Shuo narrowed his eyes slightly, noticing the movement of Kudo's lips, and quickly understood what he meant—"There's a case."

Ran Maoli had clearly caught Kudo Shinichi's hint. Her gaze trembled slightly, and then her entire aura seemed to suddenly become subdued. Her expression, which had been resolute just a moment ago, now revealed a hint of loss. She stared silently at Kudo Shinichi, and he turned without hesitation, and without a backward glance, he ran out of the venue, disappearing through the exit.

Chen Shuo saw this scene, and a sudden sense of absurdity welled up in his heart. What on earth was Kudo Shinichi thinking? For a so-called "case," he could so easily abandon his childhood sweetheart? He wasn't a police officer. Chen Shuo frowned. Although he had never had a good impression of Kudo Shinichi, this action struck him as completely unreasonable.

On the court, Ran Maoli's eyes grew increasingly dim. Already a little panicked by the unfavorable match, she felt even more depressed. She looked down at the ground, a bit dazed. Clearly, Kudo Shinichi's departure had dealt a heavy blow to her.

Chen Shuo sighed inwardly. Seeing her fall into such a depressed state, he felt a little distressed.

An impulse surged in his heart. Chen Shuo made a decision he would never make under normal circumstances - he stood up and shouted at Mao Lilan on the field: "Xiaolan! If you win, I will give you a surprise!"

This sentence was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly causing ripples.

Mao Lilan suddenly looked up at Chen Shuo, the disappointment in her eyes replaced by surprise. Then, it was as if something was rekindled deep inside her. She no longer looked in the direction where Kudo Shinichi had disappeared, but instead stared directly at Chen Shuo, the man who had always silently supported her and given her warmth.

"A surprise?" These words flashed through Mao Lilan's mind, and her heart warmed. All her frustration and anxiety seemed to disappear in an instant. She took a deep breath, clenched her fists, and regained her footing, her eyes determined.

The timeout ends and the game resumes.

This time, Mao Lilan's aura was completely different. She was no longer the passive, defeated competitor. Her gaze was sharp as a knife, like an awakened beast, and her entire body erupted with astonishing energy.

Wada Haruna obviously noticed the change in Mao Lilan, and her brows were furrowed, but she remained calm and attacked quickly, with a high sweep kick aimed directly at Mao Lilan's head. However, Mao Lilan did not dodge this time, but decisively turned sideways, avoiding the attack cleanly and neatly.

Then, she instantly counterattacked, delivering a powerful mid-section punch to Wada's abdomen. Wada Yona was caught off guard and took several steps back, finally showing shock on her face.

"Beautiful!" Chen Shuo slightly curled his lips in the audience. Looking at Mao Lilan's progress, an indescribable pride suddenly surged in his heart.

In the following rounds, Mao Lilan took complete control. Her footwork was swift and her attacks were fierce, like an enraged tiger, completely suppressing Wada Haruna. Every punch and kick she landed was precise and decisive, putting immense pressure on her opponent.

Finally, at an excellent moment, Mao Lilan seized the fleeting flaw of Wada Haruna and quickly kicked out with a powerful high kick that hit Wada Haruna's head. Wada Haruna was completely unprepared for this blow and was kicked back several steps, staggering and almost losing her balance.

The referee raised his arm and announced that Mao Lilan scored.

The whole audience erupted in thunderous applause and cheers. Suzuki Sonoko jumped up excitedly, waving her hands excitedly and shouting, "Xiaolan! You're amazing!"

Maori Kogoro and Kisaki Eri also showed proud expressions. Chen Shuo sat quietly in his seat and clapped softly.

Ran Mao Li stood on the field, breathing heavily, sweat streaming down her cheeks, but her eyes were extremely firm, as if she had finally found herself at that moment.

She took off her helmet, revealing her slightly red face, a smile in the corners of her eyes, and her gaze went straight to Chen Shuo in the audience.

Chen Shuo looked at her and nodded slightly, a gratified smile on his face. Mao Lilan's victory wasn't just a victory in the competition; it was a spiritual growth. And that "surprise" might not just be a promise, but an unspoken emotion.

Mao Lilan won the championship of this karate competition.