Detective Conan: I'm a Succubus?!

At this moment, Masaru Ohta, dressed in a sharp suit, stepped forward with a confident smile. 

"This beautiful lady," he addressed Ran, "would you care to take a walk with me in the woods?" 

Ran politely declined, shaking her head. 

"Sorry, I have two children to look after. Besides, it looks like it's about to rain." 

Undeterred, Masaru pressed on. 

"The kids will be perfectly safe here in the villa. And honestly, walking in the rain can be quite refreshing!" 

Akashi's eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of disdain flickering across his face. 

 'This guy clearly has a death wish, ' he thought. 

Before Ran could respond again, Sonoko stepped in with a sly grin, coming to her rescue. 

"Don't waste your time. Ran's way too attached to her little brother. If you think you can separate them, you're dreaming." 

Then, with a playful shrug, she added, 

"At best, I'd be willing to take that walk with you instead!" 

Masaru raised his hands in mock surrender. 

"Well, I guess I'll have to settle for that," he said with a chuckle. 

Akashi observed the exchange and couldn't help but be impressed. 'Sonoko's emotional intelligence is off the charts. Definitely the mark of a true heir to a wealthy family, ' he thought. 

Sonoko threw Ran a quick wink before taking an umbrella and heading out with Masaru into the maple forest. 

As the two disappeared among the trees, Akashi turned to Ran and said, 

"Sister Ran, let's go to the maple forest too!" 

His tone carried a trace of urgency. He couldn't shake the feeling that Sonoko, already infamous for her accidental missteps, might encounter the bandage monster lurking nearby. 

Ran sighed, exasperated but amused. 

"There's really no arguing with you, is there?" 

She turned to Conan, who had been observing silently. 

"Conan, stay in the villa, okay? Don't go wandering outside." 

The little devil, unwilling to be left behind, immediately protested. 

"No, Sister Ran! I want to go too! I want to see the maple trees!" 

His attempt to sound endearing was met with a shiver of irritation from Ran, her face unmistakably showing her disapproval. 

Normally, Ran might not have noticed anything odd. But with Akashi—the epitome of a natural and sweet shota voice—standing right beside her, Conan's exaggerated tone came across as forced and awkward. 

Moreover, Ran had heard Conan's usual speaking voice many times. The affected pitch sounded so fake in comparison that it made her cringe. 

"Just talk normally, Conan," Ran snapped, visibly annoyed. "Stop trying so hard, and if you want to come, don't slow me down." 

Exposed for his overly theatrical attempt, Conan's face flushed crimson with embarrassment. He glanced around helplessly, his pride taking a hit. 

 'Who even want to be me here? ' he thought bitterly. 

 'If it weren't for protecting you, would I even have to disguise myself as a kid? ' 

Humiliated, Conan chose to flee rather than face Ran's irritation. He turned and scampered off deeper into the villa. 

In the end, Ran shrugged and headed out with Akashi, leaving the villa behind and walking toward the maple forest together. 

---

In the maple forest, two figures—one large and one small—walked together under the same umbrella. 

Raindrops gently fell on the maple leaves, creating a soft symphony of pattering sounds as water splashed to the ground. The misty drizzle enshrouded the forest, casting an ethereal, dreamlike beauty over the scene. 

Beneath the umbrella that shielded them from the elements, Ran held Akashi's small hand. She felt a profound sense of peace and contentment—something she had never experienced before. It was inexplicably comforting, as if she could keep walking along this forest path forever. 

As Ran noticed the little boy craning his neck to peer ahead, she couldn't help but pout playfully. 

"Akashi, what are you looking at? Why don't you look at your big sister instead?" 

Akashi, oblivious to any hidden meaning, replied earnestly, 

"I'm looking for Sister Sonoko and the others." 

Hearing this, Ran's brow furrowed. She crouched down and wrapped her arms around him. 

"Akashi, why are you so concerned about Sonoko? Could it be… you've fallen for her, just like she said?" 

Her voice carried a hint of jealousy, which almost spilled over. 

Even Akashi, as preoccupied as he was, couldn't miss the undertone. He chuckled softly. 

 'So Ran is a little jealous, ' he thought amusedly. 

Without hesitation, the boy hugged her neck tightly, leaned forward, and planted a kiss on her cheek. 

"No way! I like Sister Ran the most," he declared with innocent conviction. "It's just that man Masaru Ohta doesn't seem like a good person, and I'm worried that sister Sonoko might be in danger with him." 

Ran's cheeks flushed a vivid red at the unexpected kiss, her embarrassment making her even more radiant than the fiery maple leaves around them. The overcast skies, the rain-soaked forest, and the romantic atmosphere heightened the impact of that innocent gesture. 

Her eyes softened, shimmering like autumn waters. 

Nearby, Conan, who had been stealthily following them, was seething with envy. His heart roared in silent outrage, metaphorically transforming into a vengeful sword. 

 'Ran's cheek… that's a place I've never kissed! ' 

Conan's mind was a whirlwind of disbelief. 

 'Akashi, you deserve to die! How dare you!' 

Although Ran had embarrassed him earlier by calling him out, Conan's instincts wouldn't let him leave her alone with Akashi. Thus, he had trailed them discreetly, only to witness this infuriating scene. 

He clenched his fists in impotent rage. 

 'That's still a child! How is this okay? No, it's not okay! I'll… I'll… ' 

Before he could finish his internal tirade, the sound of a branch snapping pulled him out of his thoughts. He then saw Ran turn around sharply. 

"Who's there?" 

But when she looked, there was nothing. 

Hidden among the bushes, Conan pressed himself against the ground, suppressing his anger. 

 'Akashi, just you wait. ' 

Meanwhile, Akashi chuckled softly, clearly amused. 

"Maybe it's a big blue mouse," he teased. 

"Blue mouse? Are there even mice like that?" Ran asked, puzzled. 

"Kids have such wild imaginations~" 

Ran laughed and adjusted her grip on the umbrella while holding Akashi. Together, they continued down the path. 

However, Ran couldn't shake the worry in her heart. If Akashi suspected Masaru Ohta's intentions, then perhaps Sonoko was truly in danger. Quickening her pace, she led them deeper into the forest. 

Suddenly, a piercing scream echoed through the woods. 

"That's Sonoko!" Ran exclaimed, her expression shifting immediately. 

Akashi wriggled out of her arms and began running toward the sound. However, his small legs couldn't keep up. Ran, with her long strides, overtook him within seconds. 

When Akashi emerged from the bushes moments later, he found Ran standing protectively in front of Sonoko, shielding her from a terrifying figure. 

The bandaged man wore a tattered blue cloak, a wide-brimmed hat, and layers of bandages covering his face. In his hands, he wielded a massive axe. 

Sonoko's face was pale, though she appeared unharmed. Ran's protective stance showed no hesitation, but fear flickered in her eyes. 

Seeing Akashi, the bandaged man hesitated for a moment. Realizing it was just a child, his expression turned feral. 

 'Two girls and a child—too easy, ' he thought with malevolent glee. 

The man raised his axe, aiming for Sonoko. 

But before he could strike, Akashi dashed forward and tackled the man's waist with surprising force. 

The scene jolted Ran out of her initial fear. Seeing Akashi in danger, adrenaline coursed through her veins, replacing her terror with determination. 

"You dare?!" she shouted, ready to rush in. 

However, before Ran could act, the bandages wrapped around the man's face began to writhe unnaturally, as if alive. 

This was Akashi's doing—his bandage manipulation ability at work. 

The moving bandages quickly covered the man's eyes, throwing him into a panicked frenzy. Akashi, still clinging to his waist, delivered a sharp kick to the man's leg, causing him to lose balance and collapse. 

Rustling sounds came from nearby, and Masaru Ohta and Conan arrived, alarmed. 

"What's going on?!" they called out. 

The bandaged man, now disoriented and panicked, shoved Akashi away, ripped at the bandages blocking his vision, and stumbled to his feet. Without hesitation, he fled deeper into the maple forest, vanishing into the mist.