Chapter 81: Lovers eventually become siblings.
Morofushi Sora'aki: "I already said it was my research."
Edogawa Conan: "You're lying, I don't believe you!"
Morofushi Sora'aki: "Believe it or not, it's up to you."
Edogawa Conan: "You should at least give me some evidence, right?!"
Unlike the original storyline where Miyano Shiho first revealed her insider status, demonstrating danger and incidentally tricking Edogawa Conan, Morofushi Sora'aki's initial attitude was friendly, and he even saved Edogawa Conan once, then suddenly he popped up claiming to be the drug researcher… who would believe that!
While it's certainly plausible that he'd appear next to Edogawa Conan under the pretext of observing experimental subjects, isn't this just too strange?!
The main reason is that everyone around Morofushi Sora'aki is too unruly, all of them are male high school students (emphasis), which leads him to act on a whim. As a result, the only normal person, Edogawa Conan, becomes the victim.
Speaking of which... "You're a male high school student too."
"Morofushi Sora'aki" suddenly exclaimed.
"Is there a problem with high school students?" Edogawa Conan's eyes sharpened. "What do high school students have to do with the current situation?!"
"I just wanted to say that the actual researcher of the drug was also a high school student... well, her age? She probably didn't have a normal school education."
"Ha! It wasn't you who did the research after all!" Edogawa Conan instinctively seized on a loophole before belatedly realizing the meaning behind Morofushi Sora'aki's words: "Wait?! You know the researcher?!"
A hint of anticipation flickered in Edogawa Conan's eyes.
Morofushi Sora'aki: "..."
"Didn't you just not believe me?"
Why did you immediately believe it when it was mentioned that the researcher wasn't him?
"I'm sorry." Edogawa Conan offered a sincere yet perfunctory apology, then continued to focus on the key point: "So who exactly developed this drug? What is their purpose?! Do I still have a chance to turn back?"
After Miyano Shiho roughly explained the information she was supposed to tell Edogawa Conan, Edogawa Conan had a better understanding of the situation.
"They are all very dangerous people. Don't delude yourself into thinking that one person can take on an entire organization."
"Thank you, Nozaki." Edogawa Conan's eyes were serious. "Although I don't know if Nozaki is your real name, nor do I know your true identity."
"I have no idea how you obtained this information—but I'm really grateful that you were willing to tell me all this."
"..." Morofushi Sora'aki: "So don't even think about dealing with them by yourself. I'll find you some teammates first."
Edogawa Conan: "..."
Edogawa Conan looked at Morofushi Sora'aki with his pure, big eyes, and Morofushi Sora'aki felt the pressure on his shoulders increase even more.
Then Edogawa Conan revealed the true nature of the naive and innocent elementary school student's appearance, saying, "Teammate?! Wait, what are you trying to do!"
Don't do anything dangerous!
"Don't worry, you have help from two worlds behind you." Morofushi Sora'aki placed his hand on Edogawa Conan's shoulder.
Edogawa Conan's expression immediately changed from horror to indifference: "Oh, okay, thank you for your help."
As a good kid who champions science, Edogawa Conan recalled the boy's true age: "Isn't it just chuunibyou (middle school syndrome)? At most, just a slightly troublesome chuunibyou with a bit more knowledge! He can handle it!"
However, I still need to ask him what he wants to do. With this in mind, Edogawa Conan asked, "What do you want to do?"
"Do you know about the suspension bridge effect?" Morofushi Sora'aki said in a serious tone: "I push people into extreme danger, and then you show up to save them. That way, you can gain a teammate who is completely devoted to you."
Edogawa Conan: "..."
"Please stop!!!"
Watching the two elementary school students excitedly playing around (only Edogawa Conan was excited), Mouri Ran smiled gently: "Conan-kun is still a child after all. He's become so lively since he made friends."
This morning, when Nozaki-kun contacted her to ask her to babysit a child, she was quite surprised. However, it was only for one day, so Mouri Rsn readily agreed.
Mouri Ran is very happy that this child is getting along so well with Conan-kun.
Completely unaware of Conan's current mental exhaustion, Mouri Ran happily went about her own business, while Conan finally managed to stop Morofushi Sora'aki, whose mind was filled with dangerous schemes: "Don't drag innocent people into this..."
In short, after shrinking down and meeting with Edogawa Conan, and telling Conan all the information he should have known, Morofushi Sora'aki planned to leave.
After all, he couldn't just live at Professor Agasa's house and mingle with elementary school students like the original Miyano Shiho... Although it wasn't impossible, he already had two high school sophomores to attend and didn't want to go to another school.
As long as he appears at crucial moments and reacts accordingly, it will help maintain the plot. His previous statement about "restoring 10%" was not a joke.
Because the plot of this world line has changed so much, it also means that he has more room to maneuver, and he can easily deceive people about things he can fool.
How can we reasonably add teammates to the little detective without taking any dangerous actions?
On the other side, Miyano Shiho, who had obtained her parents' past research, was flipping through the experimental data, while Miyano Akemi sat on the other side with a worried look in her eyes.
She had listened to the cassette tape. The moment the familiar voice came on, Miyano Akemi almost burst into tears. However, worried that there might be a listening device or something on the tape, Miyano Akemi did not bring the tape with her for the time being. Instead, she recorded the voice on the tape and then met with her sister with the documents.
Because Miyano Shiho's research and actions have never deviated from the norm, and with Furuya Rei and Akai Shuuichi's intentional or unintentional protection, the two sisters are not under close protection (in reality, they are being supervised) when they go out.
As long as they stay within a certain area and don't leave, Miyano Shiho has a certain degree of freedom and won't have their conversations with her sister overheard.
That's why Miyano Akemi openly handed over her research materials to Miyano Shiho for her to review. The more open and aboveboard things are, the less likely they are to arouse suspicion.
Seeing Miyano Shiho's increasingly serious expression, Miyano Akemi asked, "Is there a problem, Shiho?"
"Hmm." Miyano Shiho nodded, lowered her eyes and said, "The research direction is fine. According to the materials I've compiled in the past, the notes, tone, and word choice in the documents confirm that the past research and this one are indeed from the same person."
Miyano Akemi asked, "Then the problem lies in..."
Miyano Shiho touched the yellowed paper and looked up at her older sister: "But... sister, you may not know, but there are many terms and studies in it that have been updated in the scientific community within the last ten years."
In other words, these technical terms and data should not have appeared in the 22-year-old document at all.
Miyano Akemi also realized the problem: "Could it be..."
"Whether it's true or false, if it's true, it's not inexplicable... They had connections in the scientific community in the past, and perhaps they knew these data and the wording in advance. If it's false... If the forgery can be done to this extent, then he himself, or rather, the person behind him, must have a very excellent research team."
"Sister, what kind of person do you think he is?" Miyano Shiho suddenly asked.
Miyano Akemi recalled for a moment: "...He doesn't seem like a bad person, he looks about your age."
Miyano Shiho said she understood, then nodded and said, "Then, I'd like to see him, sister."
Miyano Akemi's eyes widened: "That's too dangerous! Shiho!"
"Didn't my sister say that he doesn't seem like a bad person?" Miyano Shiho smiled faintly. "I'm also very curious about what kind of person could produce such research."
Miyano Shiho is always independent, and Miyano Akemi rarely contradicts her choices; her earlier objection was merely an unconscious reaction out of concern. Once Miyano Shiho has made up her mind, she won't object.
So, after having a conversation with Edogawa Conan, Sora'aki received an email.
Edogawa Conan looked over with a puzzled expression: "What's wrong?"
Looking at the text message on his phone, Morofushi Sora'aki said, "It seems I'm no longer needed to take over as the researcher?"
Edogawa Conan: "...That's why I told you, I don't understand what you're saying at all!"
Seeing that Morofushi Sora'aki was looking for Mouri RN with his phone, he said to Ran, "Umetarou is coming to pick me up, so I'll head back now."
Mouri Ran: "So early? Then let me take you home."
Morofushi Sora'aki shook his head: "No need, I know the way."
After saying that, Morofushi Sora'aki ran away on his own, not giving Mouri Ran a chance to chase after him.
As Edogawa Conan watched the other person's back, he felt that something was not quite right.
After leaving the sight of passersby, Morofushi Sora'aki rubbed his shoulders and used the power of the amulet to transform himself back into an adult (though he was not actually an adult).
However, just like Cinderella, his shrinking is time-limited due to insufficient energy.
Since it's inconvenient for Miyano Shiho to go out, it's better to meet now than to arrange to meet again later.
Following the address in the email, Morofushi Sora'aki arrived at a dessert shop, saw familiar faces, and walked over there.
Then, completely disregarding the Miyano sisters' rhythm, Morofushi Sora'aki interrupted the conversation and asked, "Akemi-san, do you have a boyfriend?"
Miyano Shiho's eyes sharpened.
After Miyano Akemi admitted it, Morofushi Sora'aki said, "If possible, I suggest you go to the hospital to get your DNA tested and see if you and your boyfriend are compatible."
The Miyano sisters: "..."
The Miyano sisters: "?!"
Miyano Shiho suddenly stood up: "What do you mean?!"
"The literal meaning." Morofushi Sora'aki said seriously, "I met your sister's boyfriend a few days ago, and he looked familiar. So I dug out an old photo album, and my mother said he was your brother. So I suspect you two are full siblings."
As he spoke, Morofushi Sora'aki pulled out a photo on his phone—the photo was actually another old photo.
The photo above shows the Miyano couple and a young Akai Shuuichi, before Miyano Akemi was even born. This photo was specifically requested by Morofushi Sora'aki from the Miyano family, and the Akai couple were deliberately hidden from view.
The claim of sharing the same father and mother is obviously false, but saying it this way is more likely to draw attention to it.
Miyano Akemi's smile froze.