**Chapter 174: Fujino Goes to the Beach**

Izu, Empress Hotel.

Fujino stood on the beach, holding a glass of watermelon juice. Wearing glasses, he quietly gazed at the horizon where the sea met the sky.

The beach was sunny, with a calm sea breeze blowing and the shimmering ocean glistening in the light.

Beaches, the sea, beautiful women, bikinis—it was a scene straight out of Hawaii, a perfect atmosphere of relaxation and leisure.

It would be perfect if a murder case didn't pop up.

"Hey, Fujino,"

Mouri Kogoro, sitting on a lounge chair while ogling the women on the beach, turned his attention back to Fujino and asked curiously, "Why did you suddenly decide to come here for a vacation?"

"Akemi-san got a few complimentary tickets to this hotel a few days ago," Fujino said, sipping his watermelon juice. "We thought we'd take advantage of the weekend to relax here."

"Complimentary tickets, huh? Lucky you," Mouri Kogoro sighed. "Ran insisted on coming here for a trip this weekend… something about meeting up with a friend. It's going to cost a pretty penny again."

"Friend?" Fujino was puzzled. "Did she mention which friend?"

Logically, the only friend who would invite Ran here should be her close friend Sonoko. But Sonoko isn't here either...

"She didn't tell me. I thought it was you," Mouri Kogoro clenched his fist, saying, "She even booked two rooms. If her friend turns out to be a guy, I'll make sure to teach that punk a lesson!"

"Fujino, my brother!" Mouri Kogoro stood up and patted Fujino on the shoulder. "You'll help me, right?"

"Alright, alright…" Fujino chuckled helplessly.

Though his deduction skills weren't as sharp as a great detective's, based on his memory and what he knew about Ran's habits, Fujino had a pretty good idea of who her mysterious "friend" was.

"Fujino-kun,"

Miyano Akemi approached with two drinks in hand. Beside her was Ran, followed by Haibara Ai and Conan.

Miyano Akemi wore a white jacket over her black bikini, her curvaceous figure partially concealed by a long black skirt. There was an air of mature elegance about her.

Haibara Ai held a blue juice, likely blueberry-flavored, in one hand while sipping through a straw. She wore a light blue one-piece swimsuit, though it resembled more of a sundress with pleated edges that swayed gently—cute and conservative.

Ran wore a floral-patterned swimsuit, and though she was only sixteen or seventeen, her figure was already eye-catching, exuding a youthful, vibrant charm.

As for Conan…

He looked like a wet dog, shirtless and glancing dejectedly at Haibara. "So, why are you guys here for a vacation too?"

"And why wouldn't we be allowed to come on a trip if you can hang out with your 'big sister'?" Haibara Ai replied, taking a sip of her juice as she shot Conan a glance.

Conan gave her a deadpan look.

"Eri?!"

At that moment, a familiar voice interrupted Fujino's thoughts.

He turned his head to see Mouri Kogoro staring in astonishment at a graceful woman standing nearby.

She wore a sophisticated blue one-piece swimsuit, her brown wavy hair flowing as she adjusted her black-framed glasses.

She looked to be in her thirties, though, truth be told, Eri Kisaki had aged remarkably well. If you didn't know she was already married with a daughter, you might mistake her for someone in her twenties.

"You two are truly in sync!" Ran walked over, looking surprised as she addressed her parents. "Who would've thought you both had the same idea of spending the weekend at the beach. What a pair of lovebirds!"

"Ran…" Mouri Kogoro turned to her with a resigned expression. "This was your doing, wasn't it?"

"She invited me for a beach trip," Eri Kisaki crossed her arms and said with a knowing look. "I should've figured as much."

"W-what?" Ran's smile froze on her face.

Feigning ignorance, Conan glanced up and, upon seeing Eri, resigned himself to the inevitable. No need to think about it—the plan was clear as day.

"Of course, it's her," Fujino thought to himself as his suspicions were confirmed. Ran's "friend" was none other than her mother, Eri Kisaki. Ran had orchestrated this entire trip in an attempt to reunite her estranged parents.

But, as always, her plan was quickly unraveling.

"You know, Ran, this trip really isn't worth it," Mouri Kogoro smirked, glancing at Eri provocatively. "We spent a lot of money to enjoy a beach holiday, only for it to be ruined by some gaudy, aging woman parading around in a flashy swimsuit."

"Well, I wouldn't have come if Ran hadn't invited me," Eri retorted coldly. "And who was the sleazeball ogling me with a lecherous grin earlier? Wonder where that low-life came from."

"What did you say?!"

Their reunion quickly descended into a heated argument.

Fujino, standing off to the side, could only chuckle awkwardly. These two really can't meet without bickering, can they?

"Sorry you had to witness that, Fujino-senpai," Ran laughed sheepishly, attempting to calm her parents and lead them back into the hotel.

…

"Who was that just now?" Miyano Akemi asked, watching the couple walk away.

"That was Ran's mother, Eri Kisaki," Fujino explained. "She's also Mouri-san's wife, though they're currently separated."

"Really? She's Ran's mom?" Akemi nodded, understanding now why she hadn't seen Mouri-san's wife before.

Meanwhile, Haibara Ai wandered over to a nearby beach chair, bending down to reach underneath it. She retrieved a small, hard object—a ring.

She handed it to Fujino, saying, "That lady seemed to have dropped something."

"A ring?" Fujino took the ring, puzzled. "Where did you find this, Haibara?"

"Under that beach chair," Haibara pointed to the spot where Mouri Kogoro had been sitting earlier. Smirking, she remarked, "Looks like it's a test of love, though that clueless old man didn't even notice."

"So, they still have feelings for each other, huh?" Miyano Akemi mused, smiling at the sight of the ring.

She turned to Haibara with curiosity, asking, "By the way, Haibara, where did you hear about these 'tests of love'?"

"From a classmate," Haibara replied after a moment of silence.

With the Mouri family out of sight, Fujino and his group resumed their beach holiday.

Miyano Akemi stood in the shallow water, her swimsuit getting wet as the waves splashed against her. She waved to Fujino, "Aren't you coming in?"

"I think I'll pass," Fujino waved her off, looking down at his white shirt. "I don't want to get my shirt all wet."

Truthfully, though, that wasn't the real reason. The real reason? He couldn't swim.

Born and raised inland in his previous life, Fujino had never been to the beach or a swimming pool, and he had no memories of learning how to swim in this life either.

"I'll bet you don't even know how to swim," Haibara remarked from the water, turning to glance at him.

"Of course I can swim!" Fujino coughed, embarrassed that his thoughts had been so easily seen through.

Resigned, he waded into the shallow water, determined to learn.

Fujino entered the water.

Fujino splashed around a bit.

And just like that, Fujino learned to swim.

…

"Swimming isn't so hard after all," Fujino muttered to himself as he walked back onto the beach.

Thanks to his body's enhanced coordination and his natural learning ability, it only took a few minutes for him to get the hang of swimming, and within ten minutes, he had completely mastered the basics.

"Hey there, handsome," a voice called out. "Care to join us for lunch?"

At that moment, a woman's voice interrupted Fujino's thoughts.

Fujino looked up and saw two elegant women standing in front of him.

This is...

Are they hitting on him?

Holy cow, can mature ladies really hit on high school boys like this?

What kind of manga setting is this?

Confused, Fujino followed the fiery gazes of the two mature ladies toward himself.

Instantly, he understood.

At this moment, the white shirt draped over him had been soaked by seawater. Through the now translucent fabric, the muscles of his abdomen were faintly visible.

So, it was his physique that was showing. No wonder they struck up a conversation.

Though his looks couldn't be described as breathtaking, he was definitely quite striking.

With his rugged, muscular body, a tough-looking face, and the system's additional five percent charm boost, it made sense that someone would approach him.

(End of Chapter)