Conan: No, why aren't you following the script?

After returning from the Magic Villa by helicopter, Kitagawa Isao first went to the Metropolitan Police Department to give a statement, and then returned home with Haibara Ai just before evening.

That's the downside when participating in cases: some necessary written records and statements cannot be omitted, and you have to go to the Metropolitan Police Department in person to participate in the recording.

Even Kogoro Mouri is no exception to this. Although he and Inspector Megure are close friends, he would only delay such official business for a few days at most, and it is absolutely impossible for him to find someone else to write it for him.

Kitagawa Isao naturally had no objection to this.

He had barely stepped inside the house, and before he could even put away his clothes and shoes, when he heard a pleasant ringtone from his phone.

This ringtone was one of the free ringtones included in his phone plan when he got the SIM card. Kitagawa Isao didn't know much about these Japanese singers, only that it was sung by a female singer with the same surname as Kudo Shin. He thought it sounded nice, so he set it as his ringtone.

"Ai, could you get my phone for me?" Kitagawa Isao was in the bathroom at the moment, and had no choice but to ask Haibara Ai for help.

However, he hadn't given his phone number to too many people, so even though he hadn't seen his phone yet, Kitagawa Isao already had a rough idea of ​​what was going on.

After Ai Haibara handed the phone through the crack in the door, Isao Kitagawa pulled up his pants and glanced at it.

It really is Kogoro Mouri. I wonder what this guy wants from me?

Kitagawa Isao wiped his hands, answered the phone, and held it to his ear with his shoulder.

"Hey, this is Beichuan..."

"Kitagawa, it's me, Mori!"

Kogoro Mouri's hearty laughter followed the conversation. "I heard from Inspector Megure that you came back from the villa today. I'm really sorry about what happened. I was planning to invite you over to relax, but I didn't expect this to happen."

"It's alright, Mr. Mori. After all, these things aren't something anyone can predict..."

Kitagawa Isao smiled and chatted with Kogoro Mouri for a while. When the other party suggested treating him to dinner again, Kitagawa Isao decisively declined.

It's not that he really doesn't want to have anything to do with Kogoro Mouri; he just doesn't want to waste his time on such things.

Moreover, Kitagawa Isao prefers to keep the initiative in his own hands rather than being led by the nose.

After hanging up the phone, Kitagawa Isao flushed the toilet and left the bathroom.

Then he saw Ai Haibara standing at the bathroom door, silently watching him.

"Why did you refuse Detective Mouri's invitation?" Before Kitagawa Isao could speak, Haibara Ai asked first.

Kitagawa Isao was a little confused by this attitude. He scratched his head and said, "What's wrong? I just don't want to owe Detective Mouri any favors. Or does Ai want to eat out and treat herself? If that's the case, then tonight we'll..."

“No, I don’t want to go,” Ai Haibara shook her head; she wasn’t really concerned about the meal.

She was simply curious, curious about why Kitagawa Isao's attitude was so unpredictable.

Why does he always give up opportunities to learn from Kogoro Mouri, even though he's just a mediocre detective?

Could it be that he actually realized that Edogawa was secretly manipulating Kogoro Mouri all along?

Ai Haibara was unsure whether Kitagawa Isao was deliberately hiding something, or if he was simply like that.

She is currently a very insecure person, which is why she wanted to test the waters with this man.

but……

Hearing the deep concern in the other person's words, her probing thoughts gradually dissipated.

Even if Kitagawa-san is hiding something from me, he won't hurt me anyway, so why should I ask any further questions?

Having figured this out, Ai Haibara quickly smiled and went back to her room, leaving only Isao Kitagawa standing there, clearly not quite ready to react.

Have girls' feelings evolved to be so unpredictable now?

Kitagawa Isao silently complained to himself.

……

Time slips away bit by bit in the blink of an eye.

Soon it was the weekend again, and Kitagawa Isao came to Teitan Elementary School to pick up Haibara Ai as usual.

The little girl was wearing a yellow hat and carrying a schoolbag, standing at the school gate.

Seeing Kitagawa Isao drive up, she turned around and greeted the three members of the Junior Detective League, then walked to the passenger seat, opened the door, and sat down.

"Brother Kitagawa, you're a little late today."

"There was a bit of traffic, sorry to keep you waiting," Kitagawa Isao smiled gently, and after buckling Ai Haibara's seatbelt, he asked, "By the way, Ai, what would you like to eat today? Shall we go out for some barbecue to treat ourselves?"

Unsurprisingly, the little girl shook her head vigorously, like a rattle-drum.

“No need, let’s eat at home,” Ai Haibara thought for a moment and then added, “There’s still a lot of groceries left from last night, so we can just eat something simple today. If we keep eating out, Kitagawa-nii, you don’t have a proper income right now, so it’s better to save some money.”

In Ai Haibara's eyes, Kitagawa Isao is currently just an unemployed bum posing as a detective.

Although she didn't know how much money Kitagawa Isao had in his savings account, after paying her tuition and mobile phone bills, Ai Haibara didn't think he would have much money left.

At times like this, he really needs a girl to help him manage his finances. Otherwise, with Kitagawa's personality, he might end up homeless on the streets at any time.

Thinking of this, Ai Haibara shrugged helplessly, which left Kitagawa Isao quite puzzled.

However, this was obviously not the first time such a thing had happened, so he didn't say much and drove back to the apartment in no time.

As usual, the two of them went inside to change clothes. Ai Haibara, who had taken an apron out of the bedroom, naturally walked into the kitchen.

After spending this time together, the two of them have developed a tacit understanding regarding the allocation of tasks in their daily lives.

Kitagawa Isao was in charge of washing dishes and cleaning the room; Haibara Ai was in charge of cooking for the two of them, as well as doing things like laundry.

In the little girl's words, she also wanted to make a contribution to this family. Since Kitagawa Isao had accepted her as family, she had to do what she was supposed to do.

Kitagawa Isao was moved by this, and he was also very gratified that Ai Haibara was gradually beginning to accept her change of identity.

However, he didn't know that the reason why Ai Haibara took the initiative to cook was that she had gradually become tired of his cooking skills of making the same three dishes every day.