Led by Sonoko, the group easily entered the museum and met the chairman of the Suzuki Group—Sonoko's father, Suzuki Shiro.
He was a bespectacled, slightly overweight, kind-looking middle-aged man.
"Haha, you must be Hoshino?" Suzuki Shiro patted Kurosawa Hoshino on the shoulder as soon as he arrived, his eyes scanning him up and down with a very satisfied expression. "Although this is our first meeting, I've read a lot of news and articles about you. I've heard your name so many times at home I'm practically sick of it."
Sonoko's face flushed slightly. "Dad, you can't say bad things about me!"
Suzuki Shiro teased, "Sonoko, I only said I've heard it so many times at home. I never said you were the one saying it."
Everyone burst into laughter, making Sonoko blush even more.
"Mr. Suzuki, it's a pleasure to meet you," Kurosawa said politely.
"No need to be so formal. If you don't mind, just call me Uncle."
"Uncle Suzuki." Kurosawa didn't hesitate.
Suzuki Shiro's expression grew even more satisfied.
Sonoko interjected, "Dad, Hoshino figured out where Kaito Kid will appear—it's at the Beika City Grand Hotel."
"Really? That's great! I'll notify the police right away and have them keep watch there." Suzuki Shiro didn't even ask how Kurosawa had cracked the code. He trusted him completely.
Next, Kogorō Mouri and Suzuki Shiro exchanged pleasantries. Ran had visited the Suzuki family quite often and was very familiar with them, but the parents rarely met, so this rare encounter naturally led to some compliments.
While they chatted, Sonoko led Kurosawa and the others on a tour of the museum's exhibits.
"Hey, this is our family's Black Star." Sonoko pointed to the black pearl under the glass case.
"This is the first time I've ever seen a black pearl—and such a big one at that!" Ran exclaimed excitedly.
"Actually, it's nothing special. But my grandfather believes it brings good luck, which is why it holds such a high place among our family's treasures."
"Isn't that special enough? The world's largest pearl." Kurosawa laughed.
Sonoko waved a hand. "I'm telling the truth."
Conan didn't join their conversation. From the moment they arrived, he'd been thinking about how the Beika City Grand Hotel had been deciphered from the code. But after thinking the whole way, he still had no clue.
"By the way, Sonoko, which way is the restroom?" Kurosawa asked.
"Just walk straight ahead, turn the corner, keep going straight. Turn in at the end—that's the restroom."
"Okay. You guys take your time." Kurosawa walked in the direction Sonoko had pointed.
After turning the corner, he found a long, straight corridor. There were no police officers here. They probably knew the restroom was at the end and felt it was unnecessary to guard this spot—they only needed to watch the corner outside.
As he walked forward, he turned his head to look out a glass window next to him. A figure was directing police officers in the square outside.
"Nakamori Ginzo," Kurosawa murmured. The name reminded him of Nakamori Aoko—the girl who resembled Ran. That indirectly reminded him of Kudō Shinichi and Kuroba Kaito. He muttered, "Those two are related. Could Ran and Nakamori Aoko also be related?"
Kurosawa thought it was highly likely. Before he'd transmigrated, Detective Conan still wasn't finished, but he'd already figured out that Kudō Shinichi and Kuroba Kaito were related. Maybe in the future, he'd also figure out that Ran and Nakamori Aoko were related.
A few minutes later, Kurosawa finished using the restroom. He heard water running from the public sink outside.
When he reached the men's restroom door, the water stopped abruptly, followed by footsteps.
As soon as he came out, he saw a familiar figure flash by.
"Ran?" he called out. Without stopping, Kurosawa turned on the tap, washed his hands quickly, and hurried after her.
By then, the figure had already gone some distance.
The back view does resemble Ran's. But why are her clothes different? Kurosawa raised an eyebrow and quickened his pace to catch up. He placed his hand on her shoulder and softly called out, "Ran?"
The girl was startled by the hand on her shoulder. She let out a small gasp and turned abruptly, her pale blue eyes fixed on Kurosawa.
"Eh~" Kurosawa was surprised. Looking at the girl in front of him—if not for her different hairstyle, different eye color, and slightly flatter chest—he would have really thought she was Ran.
Though the girl wasn't Ran, he recognized her now. This was Nakamori Aoko—the one he'd been thinking about on his way to the restroom, someone who might be related to Ran in the future.
"You're not a staff member. You're not a police officer, are you?" Aoko stared at Kurosawa, her tone full of wariness.
"No—"
"Definitely not. You look like a high school student, same as me." Aoko interrupted him, continuing on her own. "I didn't see you when I came in. And there are police officers all over today—there shouldn't be any outsiders. That means..."
The girl's eyes lit up as if she'd discovered something incredible. Her breathing quickened. Her hands clenched into fists.
Kurosawa's mind raced. He immediately understood what she was thinking. His lips twitched. "You wouldn't be thinking I'm—"
"Don't pretend! Phantom Thief Kid. Right now, you're the only outsider in this museum. And you can disguise yourself. If you're not Phantom Thief Kid, then am I Phantom Thief Kid?" Aoko finished confidently, gave Kurosawa a smug look, then took a deep breath, her mouth slightly open.
Kurosawa's eyes twitched. He rushed over and covered her mouth. "Don't shout. I'm not Kaito Kid. Look at me closely. Don't I look familiar? Have you seen me on the news?"
Aoko couldn't speak. She shook her head and kicked her legs, pounding his shoulders with all her might. Her eyes were filled with fear as she stared at Kurosawa—apparently not having listened to a word he'd said.
Seeing it wasn't working, Kurosawa thought for a moment and tried a different approach. "Nakamori Aoko—that's your name, right? You live in Ekoda-cho."
Hearing this, Aoko froze. Her struggles lessened.
Kurosawa breathed a sigh of relief and tried to soften his tone. "My name is Kurosawa Hoshino. It might sound a bit boastful, but I've been on the news a lot lately. I'm a high school detective. Do you remember me?"
Aoko mumbled something through his hand.
"Nod if you know. Shake your head if you don't."
Aoko nodded, then shook her head.
Kurosawa: "..."
"What do you mean? Wasn't I clear enough?"