With the adoption finalized, Akashi would no longer be sent back to the orphanage—a thought that filled Ran with joy.
Smiling brightly, she turned her attention to another matter: Yoko Okino.
"Mom, can you help Miss Yoko?" Ran asked, explaining the situation.
After hearing her out, Eri nodded without hesitation.
"No problem. I'll take her case!" she replied confidently. "Just have her visit me at my office."
Then, Eri added, "Alright, Ran, if there's nothing else, we'll head out now."
Ran's cheerful mood dimmed slightly. She wasn't ready for them to leave—mainly because it meant parting ways with Akashi.
Noticing her disappointment, Akashi offered a reassuring smile.
"Sister Ran, if you miss me, you can come visit anytime!" he said warmly.
He then gestured for Ran to crouch down, as if to share a secret.
Eri observed this with mild exasperation.
"Really? You've only just met, and now you're sharing secrets I'm not allowed to hear?" she joked, though she didn't intervene.
---
Akashi leaned closer and whispered, "Sister Ran, that kid Conan… he stares at people all day long. He doesn't seem like a good person."
"If he stays here, remember to keep your distance from him!" he warned.
"Leave him to Uncle Mōri to deal with. He can bathe him if needed."
Akashi clearly wasn't above taking jabs at Conan, using every opportunity to cast him in a poor light.
After hearing this, Ran couldn't help but laugh. She gently patted Akashi on the head, stroking his hair.
"Tsk, tsk, Akashi! I didn't realize you were so possessive!" she teased.
"Don't worry. Your big sister only recognizes you as her little brother. The rest don't matter."
She added playfully, "Anyway, let Dad take care of that other kid. He's the one who wanted to adopt him, after all."
Ran didn't seem too fond of Conan herself, so she readily agreed.
Satisfied, Akashi gave her a few parting words.
"Make sure to listen to mom, even though her cooking isn't great. Don't forget to order takeout if needed!"
"And if anything happens, call me!"
Ran chuckled and began offering her own instructions, speaking gently and protectively.
It was clear she truly saw Akashi as her little brother.
Eri, however, quickly grew tired of their exchange.
"Alright, that's enough. I don't need your advice—I can take excellent care of Akashi!" she interjected.
"Now, let's get in the car!"
With that, Eri ushered Akashi into the car and drove off.
---
As the car disappeared from sight, Ran stood on the curb, feeling a twinge of sadness.
She made her way back upstairs to the detective agency, where she found Conan waiting.
Sighing, Ran couldn't help but compare him to Akashi.
"If only it were Akashi staying here instead. That would've been so much better!"
Her thoughts left Conan puzzled once again, as he unknowingly faced yet another rejection.
Meanwhile, thanks to Kogoro's impulsive declaration, Conan had successfully secured a place to stay at the detective agency.
Life returned to its routine, yet everything felt subtly different.
---
On the streets of Tokyo, Eri's blue mini cooper zipped along.
Glancing at the refined young boy in her passenger seat, Eri felt a deep sense of satisfaction.
Throughout the day, she had been uneasy, her thoughts often drifting to Akashi.
Now that he was with her, a sense of peace settled in her heart.
She reached for a brown envelope filled with documents and handed it to him.
"Akashi, I have great news for you," she said, her tone gentle but triumphant.
"You no longer have to worry about going back to the orphanage."
"I've finalized the adoption procedures. From today on, you can live with me, free of worries!"
Akashi was momentarily stunned.
"That was… fast!"
Curious, he opened the envelope and leafed through the documents: his orphan certificate, new identity and household registration papers, welfare agency forms, adoption application, and approval letters.
Each paper confirmed his new status.
For a boy who once walked in the shadows of uncertainty, Akashi was now officially part of a family.
He marveled silently at Eri's efficiency.
"Such capability... it's almost unbelievable!"
At the end of the documents, Akashi's eyes landed on an enrollment application form. His expression immediately darkened.
As a dignified time-traveler who had lived through two lifetimes and risen to a high-ranking codename executive within an organization, the thought of attending school seemed absurd.
Teitan Elementary School, of all places, was entirely unnecessary!
"Aunt Eri, I don't need to go to school," Akashi declared confidently. "I already know everything they teach there!"
However, Eri refused him outright.
"No!" she interjected, firm and resolute. "I can promise you many things, but on this matter, you must listen to me."
"As a child, it's essential for you to attend school!"
"Don't worry; Ran went to this school, and it's an excellent institution!"
The beautiful lawyer's tone left no room for argument.
A top graduate from Tokyo University, Eri understood the value of education better than most. Naturally, she would fully support Akashi's schooling, whether he liked it or not.
Left with no viable counterarguments, Akashi reluctantly dropped the subject.
Then, Eri's eyes brightened as an idea struck her.
"As compensation," she began cheerfully, "Auntie will take you shopping!"
With that, Eri adjusted the steering wheel, and the blue mini cooper made a swift turn toward a high-end shopping mall.
She intended to buy clothes, school supplies, and everything Akashi might need for his new life.
---
At the mall, the duo launched into a shopping spree of epic proportions.
Whenever Akashi's gaze lingered on an item for more than a few seconds, Eri would immediately grab it.
Clothes? Bought.
A schoolbag? Bought.
A smartphone? Bought.
A wristwatch? Bought.
Akashi watched this extravagance in stunned silence.
"So this is the charm of a rich woman… the joy of being adopted!"
For someone who had lived through two lifetimes, this was his first time experiencing such generosity from a woman.
It was strange, almost surreal, yet undeniably enjoyable.
Eri, meanwhile, felt a deep satisfaction as she watched Akashi's admiring gaze.
"This should make Akashi accept me," she thought to herself, feeling even more motivated.
She continued shopping with renewed enthusiasm, piling on more items.
By the end of the spree, they had purchased so much that their car couldn't hold it all. The mall arranged for a delivery truck to transport the remaining items to Eri's home.
---
That evening, the two returned to Eri's residence, both visibly worn out from the day.
At the door, Eri slipped off her high heels, revealing her slender legs wrapped in black stockings. Her calves were toned and flawless, a testament to her elegance.
Leaning against the wall for support, she cast a playful glance at Akashi.
"Oh, we walked so much today… If only someone could help me," she said, her tone carrying a hint of teasing.
Akashi sighed but stepped forward to assist her.
The once-imposing and aloof lawyer's face lit up with a smile as he guided her inside.
They soon settled onto the sofa. Eri removed her purple blazer, revealing a crisp white shirt beneath, and collapsed onto the cushions with exaggerated exhaustion.
"Oh, my legs are so sore from walking in heels all day!" she complained dramatically. "It would be wonderful if someone could massage them for me right now!"
Akashi hesitated, momentarily considering taking a well-earned rest himself.
But his gaze lingered on Eri's relaxed posture: her curvy figure, the graceful arch of her black-stockinged legs, and the way her suit skirt accentuated her form.
Something shifted in his thoughts.
With a resigned smile, he decided to indulge her request.