Convenience Store Manager: Ran entered at the Start

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"Ran."

"You haven't really been... you know... taken advantage of, have you?"

This was already the third time Sonoko Suzuki had asked that question.

You couldn't blame her for being suspicious!

Who just randomly asks something like that out of nowhere?

Besides, knowing Ran, she would never go around asking such an awkward question on someone

else's behalf.

"Of course not!"

"It was just a casual question. Why are you always overthinking things?"

"If you keep this up, I'm going to ignore you!"

Ran's threat had an immediate effect.

Sonoko quickly dropped the subject.

But...

How could she possibly let this go so easily now that her curiosity had been piqued?

Fine, don't say anything?

She didn't believe for a second that the great "Detective Sonoko" couldn't figure out the truth

behind this!

"Oh, right..."

"Who was that kid who was planning to stay at your place last night?"

As soon as Sonoko asked, Ran's heart started racing.

Who was at her house?

Last night, after leaving the dark alley, Akira had dropped her off downstairs. That guy had

definitely been thinking about coming up with her, too.

But she had firmly refused!

Could it be...

Did Sonoko see her with Akira?

Did she even see what happened in that alley?!

Ran's mind raced in horror.

But soon, she dismissed her worst fears.

Sonoko was a loudmouth. If she had actually seen anything, she wouldn't have been able to keep

quiet about it until now.

"A kid staying at my place?"

Ran thought hard and suddenly recalled a forgotten memory.

Oh, right!

After she parted ways with Akira last night, she had run into Dr. Agasa and a bespectacled

little boy.

Dr. Agasa had said the kid was a distant relative temporarily staying at his place.

But then...

Dr. Agasa had claimed he wasn't good with kids and had tried to convince Ran to let the boy stay at

the Mouri Detective Agency instead. She vaguely remembered refusing outright.

Yeah… that's what happened!

Her legs were weak, her mind dazed—there was no way she had the energy to take care of some

kid.

"Huh...?"

"How do you even know about that?"

If Sonoko hadn't mentioned it, she might have completely erased the whole thing from her

memory.

"I have my ways."

Sonoko smirked mischievously, her eyes flashing with a mysterious glint.

"Spill it!"

"How did you find out?"

Ran was determined to get to the bottom of this. She even used a wrist lock to pin Sonoko against

the desk.

She had to know whether Sonoko had seen Akira standing outside the detective agency.

"Ow, ow, ow—okay! I heard it from Yamaki in Class A next door!"

Ran was satisfied with that explanation.

Yamaki lived next door to her building, so seeing little things like this was totally normal.

"You're losing it, girl."

Sonoko frowned, rubbing her wrist.

"Sonoko."

"I'm really sorry."

"Yesterday, you mentioned the CLOVER convenience store, right? As an apology, how about I go

with you after school today?"

Ran had thought she'd never set foot in CLOVER again, yet here she was, eating her words.

She had no choice.

She was terrified she might actually be pregnant.

"Huh...?"

Sonoko's eyebrows knit together in confusion.

Something was off.

Ran had been acting way too weird these past few days.

There had to be something going on...

Sonoko had planned to reject Ran's offer just to mess with her.

But then she changed her mind.

Detective Sonoko decided to play along and see exactly what Ran was up to.

Class A

"Shiori-chan."

"You haven't really fallen for Manager Akira, have you?"

Fuyutsuki Shiori, who had been lost in thought, suddenly sat up straight and turned to look at her friend.

"What???"

"I knew it!"

Yui Nakazumi was absolutely convinced.

Last night, when Akira had teased Shiori in that flirty tone, she hadn't even gotten mad.

Before, she would've snapped back at him instantly.

"What did Manager Akira whisper in your ear last night?"

As soon as Yui asked, Shiori instinctively glanced down at her chest.

That was the most beautiful compliment she'd ever received in her life!

"Huh...? What??"

Shiori's reaction made Yui realize the situation was even more serious than she thought.

She knew it!

Shiori-chan had really fallen for Manager Akira this time.

"Shh—"

"It's not what you think."

"Don't jump to conclusions."

"Or else I won't forgive you."

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