Caught Red-Handed by Sonoko

"Dad--"

"Why are you drinking again?"

When Ran came home, she could not help furrowing her brows.

She had just hauled her father into the bedroom before she left, and only two hours later he had crawled back out and gotten himself dead drunk again.

She really had no idea what to do with him.

Dr. Agasa had even wanted to have a six-year-old kid stay at the house before.

Thank goodness Sinan Hanyu had helped her turn that down!

Otherwise she would have had two people to look after right now.

"R... Ran."

"I want water... water."

Kogoro Mouri was sprawled on the sofa, and the beer bottle in his hand had been carelessly dropped under the cushions.

"Sigh--"

"You really are impossible."

"Just sleep on the sofa tonight."

She had been worked so hard by Sinan Hanyu that she did not have a shred of strength left.

The only thing she could do was pour her drunken father a glass of water to sober him up.

"Ran!"

"Did you... did you get taken by your homeroom teacher?"

The moment those words came out...

Ran froze with the glass in her hand.

"Dad."

"You're drunk, and you're talking nonsense again."

"When did I ever--"

The more Ran spoke, the more guilty she felt.

Could Sinan Hanyu have said something he should not have said to her father?

Or maybe...

when her father was in the bedroom just now, had he seen Sinan Hanyu pin her against the wall and kiss her?

"Ahahaha--"

"That Hanyu is actually pretty good."

"If he really did take you, then I'd have another son-in-law to drink with."

Ran was speechless.

So it really was just drunken rambling from her father after all. She had thought he'd discovered something.

"Drink your water."

"I don't have the energy to take care of you tonight."

She was exhausted to the bone and only wanted to get some proper rest tonight.

Lying in bed...

her mind was filled entirely with everything that had happened between her and Sinan Hanyu earlier.

Even now, just thinking about it still made her feel nervous and thrilled at the same time.

...

The next day.

Teitan High School.

"Didn't you get any rest?"

When Ran heard Sonoko Suzuki's question, the corner of her mouth twitched.

She had thought she would finally get a good night's sleep.

But... no!

She had dreamed again!

And in her dream it had still been all about Sinan Hanyu...

"Sonoko."

"I..."

Familiarity breeds affection!

She felt like she had already fallen in love with Sinan Hanyu.

She wanted to share that with her best friend, but she did not know how to put her feelings into words.

"He's here!"

"He's here!"

"Mr. Hanyu is coming to class."

Ran felt her scalp tingle as Sonoko shook her.

She knew perfectly well what was on her good friend's mind.

She liked Sinan Hanyu to pieces!

She had even quietly told her in private yesterday that she wanted to go to bed with Sinan Hanyu.

Little did she know...

Sonoko Suzuki's daydreams had already been something Ran had experienced more than once herself.

"Ran."

"Do you think I have a big chance of successfully chasing Sinan Hanyu?"

Ran thought for a moment, then said, "Big!"

"That's good..."

"Oh, right."

"What were you trying to tell me just now?"

Ran shook her head.

She no longer had the slightest interest in sharing her feelings about Sinan Hanyu with Sonoko.

"Good afternoon!"

"For today's last class, I hope everyone can rein in the urge to let your minds run wild."

"Please turn your books to page three."

Three days in...

Sinan Hanyu was gradually getting used to life as a teacher at Teitan High School.

"Ring-ring--"

"Ring-ring--"

An obnoxious phone ringtone stood out sharply in the middle of this quiet English class.

He looked over...

"Mouri-san."

"Turn off your phone, and stay behind after school."

Ran Mouri looked extremely depressed.

Damn it--!

She had really lost her mind!

How had she forgotten to put her phone on silent after class started?

"Ran."

Sonoko Suzuki's eyes flashed with a knowing light.

"No, really."

Don't make her out to be someone who deliberately wanted to catch Sinan Hanyu's attention.

She did not need to do that anymore.

Still...

just thinking about what was going to happen after school once Sinan Hanyu stayed behind made her body start moving to the same rhythm as what had happened with Sinan Hanyu last night.

"Hmph--"

"You still won't tell the truth."

Sonoko Suzuki still had the same thought as before.

That night, when Ran was called into the office by Mr. Hanyu, he must have told her some secret.

Hmph--!

Today, Sonoko Suzuki was going to play detective for once.

After school, she would find out exactly what Mr. Hanyu had said to Ran when he kept her behind.

After school.

After walking out of the school gate, Sonoko Suzuki sneaked back in again.

Huh...?

Why was Ran still in the classroom?

Had she not gone to look for Mr. Hanyu yet?

Could it be that she did not know how to face Mr. Hanyu's reprimand?

After hearing the faint sounds coming from inside the classroom, Sonoko Suzuki was already certain that Ran was hiding in there.

"Open the door!"

Sonoko Suzuki slapped both hands down hard and shoved the classroom door open with all her might.