Traveling back thirty years to Conan, intercepting Princess Eri

Eri Kisaki was so familiar with Yukiko's voice that she could hardly believe it. How could she not recognize the pained cry of surprise that came from her?

She immediately stopped complaining, her sharp gaze like a searchlight, instantly locking onto the direction from which the sound came—the long dining table covered with a heavy tablecloth.

"There……"

Eri Kisaki's face darkened, and she pointed to the dining table.

"what happened?"

Lin Xiuyi inwardly cried out, "I'm doomed," but outwardly she forced herself to remain calm, attempting a final struggle, and innocently asked in return,

"Did you hear that correctly?"

"Heh," Eri Kisaki chuckled, glaring at Lin Xiuyi, who was still trying to bluff her way out of the situation.
Did I say I heard anything? Are you admitting it without being asked?

Before she could finish speaking, she didn't give Lin Xiuyi a chance to continue arguing. She strode straight to the dining table and suddenly grabbed the edge of the heavy tablecloth!

Then, lift it upwards with force!

"Wow--"

The tablecloth was lifted, creating a slight gust of air.

Eri Kisaki immediately bent down and peered over.

Under the dining table, four girls, each curled up in a different pose, were like a frozen photograph, when they met Eri Kisaki, who was bending over and peeking out, in a sudden, unanimous stare-down.

Lingzi hugged her fluffy teddy bear, her little mouth slightly agape in surprise, her big eyes filled with the panic of "I've been found out!"

Yukiko remained in a half-squatting position, one hand still rubbing the top of her head where she had bumped it. Her charming face was now a mixture of pain and embarrassment at being hit.

Tomizawa Chikage crossed her arms, trying her best to maintain the composure of the eldest sister.

Midori Orikasa was so embarrassed that she wished she could shrink herself into a ball and even breathe very softly.

The atmosphere instantly shifted from the subtle undercurrents to a deathly silence and extreme awkwardness.

Although Eri Kisaki had already deduced from the number of blankets on Hayashi Shuichi's chair that more than one person had secretly come to offer warmth tonight.

But to her utter surprise, after delivering the items, Yukiko and the others did not leave quickly. Instead, as if they had made a pact, they all hid under the dining table!
Eri's lips twitched uncontrollably, and her gaze swept over the four people with a hint of gritted teeth.

The four girls under the table were so embarrassed they could have dug out a three-bedroom apartment.

Lingzi is Lin Xiuyi's younger sister. Even if she gets caught, she'll at most be told she's a brother-obsessed person with no principles, so she won't panic.

Yukiko and Eri Kisaki have always been open rivals, often going head-to-head. Although she felt a little guilty at this moment, she was unwilling to lose face.

The most embarrassed were Midori Orikasa and Chikage Tomizawa.

The former and Lin Xiuyi were merely master and apprentice in cooking; their ambiguous relationship was never openly acknowledged.

The latter concealed his feelings for Lin Xiuyi very deeply.

Caught in the act of secretly offering warmth in public, Tomizawa Chikage's cheeks burned so hot they could fry an egg on them, and she wished she could disappear into a crack in the ground.

The silence lasted for a full five seconds. Seeing Eri's brows furrowing more and more, and the curve of her lips hinting at an impending explosion, Yukiko was the first to react.

She crawled out from under the dining table, brushed off the wrinkles in her pajamas, and preemptively turned the tables on them.
"Hey, Glasses Girl! Didn't you say before that no one could bring Shuichi anything? How come you sneaked over here yourself!"

Reiko had used this tactic of turning the tables earlier, and the little girl immediately forgot her situation. Clutching her teddy bear, she crawled out from under the table and stood aside to watch the commotion, nodding occasionally as if agreeing with Yukiko's words. Seeing this, Tomizawa Chikage and Orikasa Midori took the opportunity to quietly slip out from under the dining table and slowly moved along the corner of the wall towards the door.

"Hmph, you still have the nerve to talk back to me?"

Eri Kisaki wasn't buying Yukiko's act at all, and with a cold laugh, she launched a direct counterattack.
"Weren't you here to deliver something? Instead of leaving right after you're done, you're hiding under the table eavesdropping on other people's conversations. Don't you feel ashamed?"

"So what if I... I'm here to deliver something!"

Yukiko was struck where it hurt, and was momentarily speechless, but then stubbornly retorted.

"You were the one who suggested 'punishing them by not allowing them to deliver things,' not me! I just couldn't bear to see Shuichi sleeping on a chair and catching a cold, so I came to deliver some things. It's better than some people who talk a good game but secretly come to fawn over you!"

The two immediately clashed, engaging in a heated argument.

Chikage Tomizawa and Midori Orikasa quickened their pace, almost touching the restaurant doorknob, when Eri Kisaki's icy voice abruptly stopped them: "Wait a minute!"

The two of them stopped in their tracks, as if they had been frozen in place.

Tomizawa Chikage turned around helplessly, forcing a somewhat natural smile as she tried to explain, "Eri, I did bring Shuichi a light blanket, but it was just because I was worried he'd catch a cold..."

"No need to explain." Eri interrupted her directly, her tone leaving no room for negotiation. "Take the blanket you brought away."

Tomizawa Chikage frowned, feeling somewhat resentful. Even though Eri had brought her own things, she was still nitpicking at them.

But seeing Eri's "I'll make you pay if you don't obey" look, she hesitated for a moment, then turned around and walked to the chair bed of Hayashi Xiuyi, and picked up the light gray blanket she had brought.

Orikasa Midori, standing beside her, quietly followed suit, picking up the dark blue thick blanket she had brought.

The two grabbed the blankets and practically fled the restaurant.

"And you!"

With a dark expression, Eri threw the remaining blankets and pillows to Yukiko and Reiko.
"Take away everything you brought."

"I didn't bring this!" Reiko pouted, hugging the teddy bear even tighter. "I brought this for Onii-chan to use as a pillow."

"Hey, you glasses girl, don't go too far!"

Yukiko stomped her foot in annoyance and pointed at Hayashi Hideichi's bare chair.

"Why can't Shuichi use the things we gave him? Why can he only use yours?"

"Did I tell him to use mine?" Eri Kisaki sneered, bending down to pick up the white blanket and orchid pillow she had brought. "I'll take my things with me too."

"Girl with glasses, you..."

Yukiko looked at her in surprise, not expecting that Eri Kisaki would even take away the things she brought. Was she going to make Hayashi Shuichi sleep on a hard chair forever?
"go out!"

Eri Kisaki didn't bother with any more words and urged her directly in a cold voice.

Seeing her determined expression, Yukiko knew that there was no use in objecting anymore. She could only reluctantly pick up her blanket and pillow, give Hayashi Shuichi a "helpless" look, and then storm out of the restaurant under Eri Kisaki's watchful gaze.

"And you!"

Eri Kisaki turned and glared at Reiko, her tone softening slightly, but still carrying a hint of sternness. (End of Chapter)