Vineyard [Detective Conan fanfic, Vermouth x Gin]

Chapter 25

Author's note: New batch of updates from chapters 25-29 as of 12/8/2022. Updates: Artworks at the end of chapters 2 and 6. Updated warnings for spanking and bruises.

Chapter 25

Shiho Miyano had a secret. She had been in a relationship for nearly half a year. It started with a simple message sent to the abyss of social media. These past months hadn't been great. She was confronted with the trauma of her past and what it meant to her as a person. Adding that her only sister was pregnant and stressed with the upcoming birth of her first nephew, Shiho did the logical thing and adopted a brave face. In a moment of darkness and loneliness, she sent a message to the person she looked up to most. Considering she could have been a silly fan making up stories, she didn't expect a response even in her wildest imagination. But a notification later, and the rest was history.

Leaning against a secluded corner of the house, Shiho smiled vibrantly as her fingers deftly typed away.

"Who are you texting?" Akemi asked in a singsong voice.

"N-nobody." Shiho jumped out of her skin, stammering. Shielding the screen away from her sister, she added. "It's work."

"Ah, work." Akemi leaned in closer, eyeing her sister with mischief gleaming off her gaze.

"Have you done packing for Hikaru?"

"We'll be having dinner across the street." Akemi's eyes were shimmering; as if she had spotted a unicorn in the forest. "And it's tomorrow."

"R-r-right. I forgot." Shiho nervously looked around, thinking of an excuse to escape her sister's scrutiny. "I'd better get back to work."

"Uh-huh." Akemi watched her sister scurry away, knowingly. She snatched her husband's arm who had the misfortune of walking into the awkward encounter. "Shu!"

"I'm not spying on your sister," Akai said plainly; nothing escaped his keen observation, especially in his house. "It is not only ethically and legally wrong, but also that Shiho hates me and has biological weapons at her fingertips."

"What if he's a predator? We know nothing about this person."

"Your sister is smart enough to see through any facade."

"But—"

Akai sighed, putting his hands up in defeat. He knew she wouldn't give up easily. "I'll talk to her. That's it."

"Thank you, Shu!" Squeezing him tightly, Akemi rejoiced.

***

Akai sighed and knocked on his sister-in-law's door. He had picked a less confrontational time—a little while after dinner. At the first crack of the door, he said, "Please talk to your sister."

"It's none of your business."

"She worries, and she can't afford to lose any more sleep." Being woken up every hour at night was bad enough.

"It's not just me. He's—"

"A celebrity." When his sister-in-law narrowed her eyes dangerously at his knowledge, he put his hands up and formed an invisible wall between them. "I didn't snoop. I merely made an educated guess."

"How much do you know?"

"I know it has something to do with the rumor about his transfers. To the Premier League, perhaps."

"So you understand my position." Shiho had to think on his behalf. Reporters already circled the man like sharks, waiting to bite at the first shed of blood.

"Ask him. If this was a serious relationship, he would want to know your family."

"We haven't even had a proper date yet. I don't want to jinx it."