Detective Conan: Becoming a Tycoon in Tokyo! [37]

“Aren’t you going to take us to see the bride?”

Shōichi and the others stood in the hallway, watching Toshihiko hesitate as if frozen before the door. No one could understand why a groom would be so reluctant to see his own bride.

Toshihiko glanced nervously toward the room. “Administrator Matsumoto just went in. Let’s wait a bit.”

Seeing that tall, imposing figure disappear inside, the group all nodded in agreement.

It made sense—after that unpleasant exchange between Shōichi and Matsumoto earlier, it would be awkward if they ran into each other again.

Matsumoto didn’t stay long. After a few brief words, he left the room, and the others immediately started prodding Toshihiko again.

“Wait—hold on,” Toshihiko said quickly. “One of Sayuri’s students just went in. Let’s wait a little longer.”

Shōichi crossed his arms and yawned, clearly bored.

This group’s eagerness… it’s like they’re pushing the killer right into committing the crime.

“Hey, Shōichi,” one of the guys said, grinning, “Toshihiko’s still the same as ever—shy and useless. Go talk some sense into him, he listens to you.”

Shōichi shook his head. “There’s no point. If he doesn’t make up his own mind, persuasion’s meaningless.”

The guy shot him a strange look.

They were just talking about meeting the bride. What kind of “resolve” did that even require?

Ever since Shōichi started his business, his words had gotten harder and harder to understand.

After Sayuri’s student left, the group seized their chance—shoving Toshihiko through the door and slamming it shut behind him. They left a narrow gap, peeking through it like mischievous kids.

“Shōichi, hurry up! I saved you a spot!”

“How childish,” Shōichi muttered—but he still leaned in to watch.

Inside, Toshihiko stumbled forward and landed hard on the floor. He scrambled up, brushed off his suit, and winced from the sting of an ingrown toenail. His lip twitched.

“Sayuri, you look beautiful today,” Toshihiko said softly.

“Y-you! Aren’t you the heir to the Takasugi family?” Sonoko blurted, pointing in surprise.

Toshihiko blinked. “You’re Suzuki Sonoko, from the Suzuki conglomerate?”

Ran leaned close and whispered, “You know him?”

“Yeah, we’ve met at gatherings,” Sonoko whispered back. “He’s such a wimp—timid, indecisive. He used to trail after Shōichi-nii all the time, even though he’s younger.”

“People used to say the Takasugi Group would collapse once he took over. But since he became Shōichi-nii’s little follower, no one dares say that anymore.”

Ran nodded thoughtfully.

Listening from the side, Haibara frowned.

Shōichi again. Even when she tried to stay away, somehow he still managed to appear in her orbit.

She tilted her head slightly and glanced toward the door.

Could it be that Shōichi’s here too?

Her eyes met a familiar gaze peeking through the crack. Haibara immediately looked away, feigning calm, and turned her attention to the bride.

So he really is here.

“Why are you drinking this stuff again?” Toshihiko asked gently, taking the drink from Sayuri’s hand.

Sayuri stared at him for a moment, then suddenly stepped forward, wrapped her arms around him, and kissed him deeply.

Sonoko and the others gasped and blushed, while Ran quickly covered Conan’s and Haibara’s eyes.

“Eh—who pushed me?”

With an awkward stumble, Shōichi tumbled into the room. The men outside froze for half a second—then slammed the door shut, pretending nothing had happened.

“Shōichi-nii?” Sonoko called, delighted.

“Hello, Sonoko,” Shōichi said casually.

Conan’s brows knit immediately.

This guy again. His appearance never boded well. With his kind of “luck,” someone always ended up getting murdered nearby.

He silently prayed this wouldn’t ruin Sayuri-sensei’s wedding.

“Sayuri, this is my friend, Sumitomo Shōichi,” Toshihiko introduced.

“Nice to meet you,” Shōichi greeted politely before stepping aside to give the couple space.

Sonoko turned to him curiously. “Shōichi-nii, didn’t Haibara say you weren’t free to come today?”

“Huh?”

Sonoko beckoned Haibara over. “I wanted to invite both of you together, but she said you were busy and couldn’t make it.”

Shōichi shot Haibara a pointed look. She met his eyes coolly and replied evenly, “You’d already invited me out first. I assumed you had other plans, so I didn’t bother you.”

Her explanation was perfectly reasonable.

But Shōichi didn’t look convinced. He suddenly hooked an arm around her waist and lifted her off the ground.

“You ungrateful brat! I’m always thinking of you, and this is how you treat me?”

After holding her up for a few moments, he finally set her down.

Haibara immediately ducked behind Ran for cover—but Sonoko scooped her up teasingly.

Pinching her cheeks, Sonoko whispered, “Haibara, aren’t you being a bit possessive? You won’t even let Shōichi-nii near me anymore?”

“I’m not,” Haibara muttered quietly.

“You're still denying it~?”

“Everyone.”

A waiter stood at the door, bowing politely. “The ceremony’s about to begin. Please head to the hall.”

“Got it,” Toshihiko replied quickly.

Sayuri gently took back the lemon tea from his hand and smiled. “It’s fine, you go on ahead.”

“But—”

“Don’t worry. I’ll join you soon,” she said softly, her eyes curving into a smile.

Toshihiko hesitated, then nodded. “Alright.”

Watching the exchange with mild amusement, Shōichi grabbed Haibara’s hand and walked out first.

Haibara followed awkwardly, clearly uncomfortable.

The group of young heirs waiting outside blinked in confusion at the sight of Shōichi emerging hand-in-hand with a little girl.

One of them muttered blankly, “He went in to see the bride and came out with a kid… That guy, seriously…”

“Let’s go,” Shōichi said.

Before anyone could ask, a metallic clatter rang out from the room behind them—an aluminum can hitting the floor.

“Did anyone else hear that?”

Moments later, a shout echoed down the hall.

“Something’s happened! The bride’s been poisoned!”

“What!?” Matsumoto Kiyonaga grabbed the messenger by the arm. “What did you just say!?”

“The bride’s been poisoned,” the man gasped. “Her condition’s critical—the groom’s already with her.”

“Call an ambulance! Hurry!” Matsumoto barked, shoving past him and sprinting toward Sayuri’s room.

All he could see in his mind was Sayuri in her white gown—and echoing through his thoughts, Shōichi’s cold warning:

You’ll regret this.

---

This is a fan translation of 柯南：我在东京当财阀 by 倒霉的菜狗. Rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!