"Wow! Look at all the celebrities!"
"There's Mai Kuraki, Miho Komatsu, and Two-Mix! But the most important one is—"
"Ms. Okino Yoko!!"
"…Wait, isn't that Shu standing next to her!?"
The venue was flooded with dazzling lights and a glamorous crowd of artists and celebrities. Among them stood a stunned Kogoro Mouri, halfway through fangirling before his tone shifted in shock.
Ran, wearing an elegant dress, was just about to scold her father for being loud—until she, too, caught sight of the unexpected figure.
Following Kogoro's gaze, her eyes widened.
There he was—Hayashi Yoshiki, smiling warmly beside none other than Yoko Okino, chatting easily as if they were old friends.
Sensing the attention, Yoshiki glanced in their direction and gave a friendly wave. Okino Yoko turned as well.
"Ah, it's Mr. Mouri and the others."
"Shall we go over and say hello?" Yoshiki offered.
"Yes, okay… hehe."
Yoko Okino giggled softly, her hand gently covering her mouth.
But before they could move, Kogoro Mouri dashed over.
Grabbing Yoshiki by the sleeve, he pulled him to the side—away from Okino—and whispered urgently:
"Hey! Ashu! Why are you with Miss Yoko!?"
Yoshiki answered, calm and composed:
"Well, we're currently… developing an underground relationship."
"WHAT!!??"
Kogoro recoiled like a cat splashed with cold water.
His entire body jolted as if electrocuted, his mouth frozen in a silent scream of disbelief. He pointed a trembling finger at Yoshiki, trying to find words.
You-you-you-you-you-you…!!
Heads began to turn. The dramatic scene had caught the attention of nearby guests.
Yoshiki blinked innocently and added with a chuckle:
"I was joking."
"…Don't joke like that!!" Kogoro snapped, face red with a mix of anger and relief.
Ran, who had frozen in place just like her father, let out a breath and giggled.
There it is— Yoshiki-nii's mischievous side. Always messing with people so calmly...
"Did Yoshiki say something?" Yoko Okino walked up curiously.
"He told Uncle Mouri that we're secretly dating," Yoshiki said, voice lowered mischievously.
"Yoshiki-kun!" Yoko gasped, her cheeks flushing.
She looked around anxiously.
"Please don't tease like that. If the media overhears, it'll be front-page gossip tomorrow…"
"Exactly," Kogoro coughed awkwardly, straightening his tie. "Ashu's got to be more careful, or you'll cause trouble for Miss Yoko."
So he's worried about Yoko's reputation... Yoko thought, casting a quick glance at Yoshiki.
And then she smiled, eyes soft.
Still, Yoshiki-kun said that in front of his family… even as a joke, he wanted to tell people close to him. That must mean something, right?
"So what brings you here, Yoshiki-nii?" Ran asked.
"I was invited to the event. I didn't know Miss Yoko would be here too."
"Yes, I approached Yoshiki-kun first," Yoko added with a smile.
Ran nodded in understanding.
Kogoro, meanwhile, stared at Yoshiki in disbelief, thinking:
How does this kid get all the luck? First Eri, now even Yoko Okino…
Yoshiki only smiled.
He was here for the grand opening of a new high-profile restaurant:
[3K World Restaurant]
A project co-founded by three international sports legends:
A world-renowned professional boxer,
An American baseball pitcher,
And a European football goalkeeper.
To generate buzz, they'd invited celebrities and influencers from across the entertainment industry.
Yoshiki had nothing urgent on his plate—no assignments from the Organization, and the task force had gone quiet since the "accidental murderer" vanished.
His investigation into Sindorah had also hit a temporary lull.
Plenty of time to enjoy the moment…
And this trip to Osaka? The perfect opportunity.
After all… the record in the Death Note I wrote just before leaving… should take effect soon.
"By the way, where's Conan?" he asked.
"Over there with Heiji," Ran replied, pointing across the room.
Sure enough, the dark-skinned Osaka native stood beside the boy, laughing as they talked.
Suddenly, the lights dimmed.
All eyes turned to the stage, where a spotlight illuminated a stylish host gripping a mic.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your patience! Now, let me formally introduce the owners of the 3K World Restaurant, the stars of tonight's cocktail party!"
Applause erupted.
"First, the undefeated legend of the boxing ring—Mr. Ricardo Barre!"
A short, powerfully built Brazilian man stepped onto the stage.
"Next, with a fastball clocked at 160 km/h—Western Award-winning pitcher Mr. Mike Nord!"
A tall Japanese-American man with a clean mustache followed.
"And last but not least, the impenetrable fortress of European football—Mr. Ray Curtis!"
When the blonde goalkeeper appeared, cheers exploded throughout the venue.
Yoshiki clapped along, smiling politely.
"Do you know them?" Yoko Okino asked in a low voice.
"Not really. I'm not much into sports," he said softly. "But judging by the crowd's reaction, they must be quite amazing."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because… it's like when I see you on stage, Yoko. Even if I didn't know anything about showbiz, I'd fall for you instantly."
Yoko's cheeks turned pink.
Yoshiki-kun… always saying things like that so naturally…
She clapped lightly to hide her blush.
Meanwhile, across the room—
Heiji Hattori nudged Conan, who was staring at the stage with sparkling eyes.
"So? Worth the trip?"
"Definitely!" Conan grinned wide, eyes fixed on Ray Curtis.
For someone who'd loved football since childhood, seeing his idol in person was a dream come true.