Professor Agasa's House.
After a long explanation from Shinichi and Ren, Professor Agasa finally accepted the reality that Shinichi had shrunk.
"This is incredible! A drug that can actually induce rejuvenation really exists in this world!" In that moment, Ren saw a flash of pure excitement in Agasa. Whether as a scientist or just a curious mind, the Professor was fascinated by the implications of such a substance.
"Alright, Professor, the reason I came to you is to ask if you have a way to restore me," Shinichi said, stretching his small arms and legs with a look of deep distress.
"Well, I've never seen this poison before. In the short term, there's no way I can turn you back," Agasa said, spreading his hands helplessly. "Besides, we don't even have a sample of the drug. Even if I wanted to help, I have nowhere to start."
Hearing Agasa's answer, Shinichi's spirit plummeted. "Is there really no way at all?" he asked, refusing to give up.
"No way," Agasa replied regretfully.
"Dammit!" Shinichi punched the sofa, his teeth gritted. Thoughts raced through his mind, but none offered a solution to his current predicament. Am I stuck like this forever?
Just as the atmosphere turned grim, the Professor's phone rang.
"Hello, this is Agasa."
"Professor, have you seen Shinichi?!" Ran's anxious voice came through the receiver. "I haven't seen him since after lunch, and he's not picking up his phone. Professor, is he with you?"
"Uh, well..." Agasa glanced at the little Shinichi beside him. The boy was shaking his head frantically, whispering, "Don't tell her!"
On the way over, Shinichi had already thought things through. If the people behind this had such a terrifying drug, their organization was likely beyond dangerous. To avoid dragging Ran into this, his identity had to remain a secret. Ideally, only the three of them in this room should ever know.
"Professor? Are you listening?"
Ran's voice pulled Agasa back. He forced a laugh. "You mean Shinichi? I haven't seen much of him today, hahaha..."
Ren watched Agasa's painfully obvious lying and didn't know where to begin critiquing it. While he was pondering the situation, his own phone rang.
"Hey, honey, what's up?"
"Ren, have you run into that jerk Shinichi?" Sonoko asked. Currently, Ren and Shinichi were at Agasa's, while Sonoko and Ran were standing right outside Shinichi's house next door.
"Haven't seen him. I'm actually at Professor Agasa's house right now. I was right here when Ran called him," Ren said.
Upon hearing this, Sonoko cheered. "You're over there?! Great! Come open the gate for me and Ran!"
After Ren hung up, Shinichi looked at him in despair. "Why did you let them come over?! What if I'm exposed?!"
"Relax. Those two won't figure it out," Ren said with a casual wave, standing up to let them in.
"What do you mean 'won't figure it out'?! What if they do? How big is the 'heart' in your chest anyway?!" Shinichi grumbled. Seeing Sonoko and Ran entering the gate, he panicked. He snatched a pair of spare glasses from the Professor's drawer, messed up his hair, and prayed: Please don't recognize me!
When the girls entered, Sonoko was still complaining about Shinichi being an irresponsible scumbag for leaving Ran alone. Ran's gaze, however, immediately landed on the boy. The more she looked at him, the more familiar he seemed.
"You!"
Ran stepped toward Shinichi, a smile breaking across her face. "What a cute kid! What's your name?!"
"I..." Shinichi looked helplessly at Ren, but the latter was busy ignoring him. This guy who picks romance over his best friend!
In desperation, Shinichi looked around the room. His eyes landed on two books on the shelf—one by Edogawa Rampo and the other by Conan Doyle. "My name is Conan Edogawa! I'm a distant relative of Shinichi-niichan's!"
Seeing the awkward smile on "Conan's" face, Ran hesitated but eventually dropped her suspicion. As the saying goes: unless you see it happen, who would believe a high schooler could turn into a kid?
However, Agasa suddenly spoke up: "Yeah, Shinichi was supposed to watch over him, but since he's vanished, I was wondering... could you help look after him for a bit?"
Shinichi nearly coughed up blood. First Ren, now the Professor. Are you two in a conspiracy to ruin me?!
Ran looked at Conan's face—which was a dead ringer for Shinichi—and finally nodded. "Alright. Until Shinichi gets back, Conan can stay with me!"
Despite Conan's pleading eyes, both Ren and the Professor chose to look the other way. And so, Shinichi was taken home by Ran.
After leaving the Professor's, Ren and Sonoko split off from Ran and Conan. On the way, Sonoko was still fuming. "What is Shinichi even doing? Vanishing without a word... and Ran, helping him raise a kid when they aren't even officially together. What a huge dummy!"
She was radiating frustration on her friend's behalf. Ren spent the walk comforting her, promising that once they found Shinichi, he'd give the guy a thorough thrashing to vent her anger.
"Good! It's a deal!" "No problem! Leave it to me!"
(Shinichi: If you want to hit me, just say so. No need to be so indirect!)
Since the Tropical Land plans were ruined, Sonoko's family limo arrived to pick her up, leaving Ren standing alone in the breeze.
"Wait? I haven't even gotten in the car yet!"
Helpless, he had to walk home. Luckily his apartment was nearby; twenty minutes later, he was back in his own kitchen.
While preparing dinner, Ren suddenly felt a wave of dizziness. When he opened his eyes again, he saw only darkness.
"Where is this place?" Ren was filled with confusion. "I was just cooking. How did I end up here? Was I kidnapped?"
After an indeterminate amount of time, Ren started to feel hungry. "Hey! What is this place? Let me out!"
The next moment, his consciousness snapped back to his body. Looking at the half-chopped vegetables in front of him, Ren froze. "Wait? What just happened?"
He set the knife down, walked to the living room, and thought: Enter!
Instantly, he was back in the dark void.
Exit!
The scene shifted, and he was back in his living room.
"This... Is this my 'cheat' ability?!" Ren immediately thought of transmigrator perks. He pointed at a teacup on the table and thought: Store!
...Nothing happened.
"It doesn't work?" He frowned. It seemed his "cheat" was a bit different from what he had imagined.