Conan: I've been linked to the tech tree system.

"Professor Agasa?"

Tohru Tono hung his suit on a hanger to the side, changed his shoes in the entryway, and went inside.

The high-quality slippers creaked as they stepped on the smooth wooden floor.

"Ah, Tohru is back." Professor Agasa looked relaxed, clearly not a first-time visitor.

"Your sister and I were talking about your childhood. We never imagined that someone as outstanding as you had done so many embarrassing things." Professor Agasa laughed heartily, clearly delighted.

'? '

Tohru Toru glanced at Maya Tachibana, who gave him a look that said, "Don't worry, I'm a professional."

Without saying a word, he made himself a cup of tea, sat down, and watched how Tachibana Maya would write the story.

Seeing the person in question looking at her like that, Tachibana Maya didn't dare to say anything too outrageous, just something as silly as "climbing a tree to steal bird eggs, falling down and crying with her head in her hands," something nine out of ten kids would do.

Even so, Professor Agasa listened with great interest, and would occasionally reminisce about his own past, creating a very harmonious atmosphere.

As Tohno listened, he also found the childhood that Tachibana Maya had fabricated for him to be somewhat interesting.

It would be nice if that were the case.

However, as she spoke, Tachibana Maya's expression suddenly became strange. Her originally smiling face became somewhat stiff, and she began to stumble over her words.

Dr. Agasa didn't notice, assuming she was just carefully choosing her words, but Toru Tono did see something amiss.

Could it be that everything she said was done by her younger brother? Is she missing him now?

Tohru Tono believes this is the truth.

......

Although she had asked Tachibana Maya about her brother, she found herself confused first.

Porto—that's the code name for her brother's organization, according to Tachibana Maya.

Porto, also known as Port wine, is a fortified wine produced in the Douro Valley, a northern province of Portugal. Male members of organizations generally do not use this sweet wine as their code name.

However, considering her brother's age when he became a codename member, it's reasonable.

Of course, none of this matters to Tohno Toru—what matters is that Porto doesn't appear in the original work.

Not having appeared in the scene meant having no information about the other party; he knew nothing about their appearance, job duties, or even whether they operated within Japan.

Tohno Toru even asked Amuro Toru about this, but even Bourbon, who was doing very well in the intelligence group, had never heard of this person.

Like a ghost lingering in Tachibana Maya's heart.

......

"Tohru?" Professor Agasa's voice interrupted his thoughts.

"What's wrong?" Tohru Tono replied with a smile.

"There's something I need to tell you," Professor Agasa said, carefully choosing his words. "I have a friend who is also an inventor. His daughter saw your invention and admires you greatly. She wants to get to know you."

“I see.” Tohno Toru nodded. “Please tell her for me that I thank her for her admiration. There’s no need for us to meet.”

"...The time is 7:00 AM tomorrow, and the location is that Rice Flower Cafe."

"I will send you basic information about her height, weight, hobbies, etc. via email later."

Professor Agasa seemed not to hear him and continued speaking on his own.

"Professor Agasa..."

Tono looked at him with half-closed eyes.

"Hahaha..." Professor Agasa scratched his head and let out a hearty laugh. "That's all for today. I had a great time chatting with Hikaru."

......

After seeing Professor Agasa off, Toru Tohno sighed.

"It's quite popular," Maya Tachibana said with a smile, her expression changing.

"I've had enough of these boring social engagements." Toru Tono carried his half-finished tea upstairs. "I never thought that even now, as I strive to become a great inventor, I would still be tainted by this vulgar trend."

That would be extremely rude.

"Good night."

"Good night."

Chapter 56 Springtime Café

Shocking! A young man barely twenty years old was forced into blind dates—is this a sign of distorted humanity or moral decay...?

Tohru Tono lay sprawled on the coffee table, idly fiddling with the handle of his coffee cup, the morning sun casting a shimmering glow on the center-shaped latte art.

The door to the shop opened and closed, accompanied by the waiter's "Welcome!" voice reaching Tohru Tono's ears.

It was Sunday, and the coffee shop was surprisingly busy.

"Brother Tou?"

The familiar voice that he had heard so often came from the doorway, and Tohno Toru turned around and looked back.

A navy blue women's blazer paired with a sky-blue lining, and a matching short skirt, revealing slender, long legs that shimmer with the same luster as latte art, their sheen resembling milky splattered on the corner of a table while brewing coffee.

The dark red necklace worn around her neck was just right, adding a touch of mature charm to her youthful outfit.

Looking at his face again, it looks somewhat familiar.

It's Xiaolan. Why is she dressed so formally?

Tohru Tono took a sip of coffee and glanced at Conan, whom Ran was holding hands with. Conan had called out earlier and was now staring at him angrily for some reason.

Still wearing the same blue and white clothes and red bow tie as always. What kind of aesthetic sense is that?

Tohru Tohno ignored him and raised his hand to greet Ran, who had also noticed him after Conan called out.

"Good morning, you look beautiful today."

"Tohru-san? Good morning to you too." Ran greeted her a little shyly, then walked over to Tohru's side, but didn't sit down. Instead, she stood to the side and asked curiously, "A date?"

"Not really... I'm just waiting for someone."

"Ran's dressed so nicely, she must be here on a date, right?" Tohno glanced at Conan, whose expression had softened. "Not with Shinichi Kudo?"

"Oh, no~"

Ran waved her hand and looked at Conan apologetically. She had lied to him that morning, saying she was going on a date with Shinichi Kudo, but Conan had chased her out under the pretense of "I also want to meet Shinichi-nii-san."

It's so nerve-wracking.

Conan felt Ran's gaze directed at him and felt indignant.

He wanted to see today who could make Xiaolan lie and still come out to meet him!

Having ruled out the possibility that Tohru Tono was simply there by chance, Conan turned his gaze toward the doorway.

Be vigilant at all times!

......

After exchanging a few pleasantries with Toru Tohno, Ran said goodbye and pulled Conan to sit down at an empty seat recommended by the waiter.

"Hey, Ran-neechan, who are we waiting for?" Conan asked Ran with an innocent expression as soon as he sat down. "Why would you lie about waiting for him?"

"She's a very important person to me, you know?" Xiaolan said, blushing slightly.

"Huh?" Conan felt as if he'd been struck by lightning. "More important than Shinichi-nii?"

"Silly boy, how can you compare the two of them?" Xiaolan said to him with a smile. "Alright, alright, that's enough, isn't it? Why don't you go home?"

Xiaolan plans to meet with her mother alone.

"But I don't want to go home right now." Conan turned his head to one side, looking like a scoundrel.

"Oh, right, you like cake, right, Conan?" Ran suddenly had an idea. She stood up as she spoke, "I'll buy you a cake right now. After you get the cake, you have to go home obediently, okay?"

She pushed open the door of the coffee shop and went to the cake shop next door to buy a cake.

Conan remained seated, watching Ran leave.

"It's no use, Xiaolan," he thought to himself. "I will use my observation and insight to see what kind of extraordinary person you are meeting this time."

"there is only one truth!"

Conan, using his keen observation skills in unusual ways, began to carefully study everyone who entered the room.

......

Tohru Tono sipped his coffee while glancing at the clock hanging at the top of the wall directly in front of him.

It is shaped like a brick house, with eaves hanging down from both sides and a clean white dial in the middle.

Its somewhat rustic style perfectly matches the atmosphere of a coffee shop.

"Sorry I'm late."

The second and minute hands overlapped, and suddenly a girl's delicate fragrance wafted around me.

A burgundy knitted cardigan over a bright yellow shirt that shone brightly in the sunlight, with a slit at the neck revealing delicate collarbones.

Beneath the gray pleated skirt were long legs without an ounce of fat, which didn't quite conform to the standards of Japanese girls.

"It's alright, the timing is perfect." Tohru Tohno smiled and responded with a formulaic apology.

In Japan, even if there's still some time before the agreed-upon time, the person who arrives later will always apologize to the person who arrived earlier; it's a customary courtesy.

Unlike in other countries, where they would usually just say something like, "You're here so early?"

The girl sat down in front of me; she had a cute face and was dressed very fashionably.

He mentally estimated the approximate value of the clothes; it should be equivalent to the money he made from selling an invention.

Tohno Toru, recalling the "information" that Professor Agasa had given him, spoke first: "Ms. Ichijo, right?"

“Ah, yes, just call me Misaki.” The girl looked up at Tohno Toru with a poised and confident air. “You must be Mr. Tohno, right? My father often mentions you, saying that your inventions are simply miracles of ingenious inventions.”

"Mr. Ichijo, you flatter me. If you don't mind, you can just call me Toru."

"..."