Transport Into Detective Conan (OC Reader Insert)

Chapter 48: Familiar Strangers

Kaiya POV

(at the Kudo residence)

The front door clicked shut behind me as I stepped inside, kicking my shoes off and dropping my school bag beside the entryway "I'm home!"

"Welcome back, Kaiya-chan!" Jodie's voice called from the living room.

I walked toward the living room and stopped in the doorway. Jodie was sitting on the couch, talking with James Black, while Shuichi stood near the window with his arms folded. He had changed into his usual Subaru disguise.

And sitting beside Jodie was a woman I'd never seen before. She had medium-length blonde hair and a small suitcase beside her.

I blinked "Um... did I miss something?"

Jodie turned toward me with a smile "Kaiya-chan!"

"We thought it would be better to discuss things here" James explained.

"You're as vague as always" I pouted.

"Inquistive as ever huh?" Shuichi shook his head with a slight smile.

"Well what can I say I learned from the best" I grinned.

Jodie laughed again before gesturing toward the unfamiliar woman"Oh! Right. Kaiya-chan, there's someone I'd like you to meet. This is my friend, Nina Balmer."

The woman stood and offered me a warm smile.

I studied her for a moment before giving a polite nod "It's nice to meet you."

"Likewise," Nina replied. "I've heard quite a bit about you."

Something about her was surprisingly comfortable. She didn't stare at me or ask uncomfortable questions. Even though she seemed to notice that I was nervous, she didn't press. That alone made me relax a little.

"Well..." I shifted my school bag higher onto my shoulder. "If Jodie-sensei trusts you, then I guess I can trust you too."

Nina smiled "I appreciate that."

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"Oh! I almost forgot" I hurried back toward the entryway and returned a moment later with the tray of cupcakes I'd brought from school. I placed them on the coffee table.

"Cupcakes!" Jodie's eyes lit up. 

"Go ahead. We had home ed class... Saguru actually made them" I admitted.

"He made them?" her eyebrows rose "Of course he did" she grinned.

"Eh what's that look on your face, Jodie-sensei" I pouted playfully "You sound just like Yukiko-san right now"

Her smile widened "Nothing, nothing, Kaiya-chan. Although..." She picked up a cupcake "You did make sure to tell us who made them."

"You did seem rather eager to mention that" Subaru agreed.

My face immediately heated "N-nothing like that, I was just explaining!"

Jodie burst out laughing "See? I told you!"

"We were just partners" I spluttered.

"Uh-huh" Subaru said slowly.

"And he gave me the cupcakes because we had extras" I continued.

"Mhm" he replied flatly.

I crossed my arms "Not you too!"

Nina gave me an awkward reassuring pat "Are they always like this?"

"Seems so" I whispered back.

Subaru calmly reached for a cupcake "Hmm well your friend can bake."

I smiled triumphantly "Exactly."