"From tonight through tomorrow, weather conditions across the Tokyo area will be mostly cloudy, with possible thunderstorms in some regions. Temperatures will reach a low of—"
The laboratory radio continued broadcasting the day's weather report.
In the blink of an eye, several more days had passed.
Unlike before, over the last two days Miyano Shiho still came to the lab to oversee operations—but in reality, she simply sat at her workstation in silence. She spoke to no one, barely moved, occasionally lifting a cup of hot water to warm herself.
The atmosphere in the lab had grown noticeably heavier.
After a few failed attempts at conversation, no one dared approach her again.
Everything appeared to be running as usual, orderly and uninterrupted—but most of the researchers felt that without the guidance of the genius Director Miyano, they were merely repeating mechanical tasks, devoid of purpose.
Shiho sat in her swivel chair. Today, she hadn't even turned on her computer.
The gray-green monitor reflected her image—a solitary, tea-haired girl, lonely even in her own reflection.
Bang—!
The laboratory's steel door slammed violently against the wall.
The already quiet room fell dead silent. Every researcher froze and turned toward the entrance.
Gin strode in first, a black scarf wrapped around his neck. His flowing blond hair seemed etched into everyone's memory. Behind him followed Vodka, silent as ever behind his sunglasses.
"Sherry—"
"Why?"
Before Gin could even begin, the girl stood up from her chair.
Miyano Shiho was calm—too calm. She stared straight at Gin from across the room, not yielding a single step.
She had already asked this question once yesterday when Vodka came. She'd received no answer—only cold mockery.
Gin met her ice-cold gaze. Though he'd prepared himself beforehand, he realized he'd still underestimated her.
This woman was as naïve as ever.
They stared at each other for a long moment. Gin's irritation slowly faded, replaced by a darker, heavier expression.
"Are you planning to oppose the organization?"
His voice was flat, emotionless.
Yet everyone present—including Vodka—felt a chill run down their spine.
Everyone knew the boss's favorite thing to kill was traitors—in every sense of the word.
Vodka's thoughts raced. He suddenly felt uneasy. What if his brother lost control?
Yesterday, he had been sent to deal with Sherry, but facing someone of Miyano Shiho's status and authority, he'd been completely shut down. She hadn't even said a word.
So today, Gin—already in a volatile mood—had come personally.
"Boss—" Vodka tried to interject cautiously.
But Shiho cut in again without hesitation.
"Why?"
Vodka's heart skipped a beat.
Fortunately, Gin was still Gin. He always had his limits. Any decision regarding Miyano Shiho would have to be approved from above.
Gin took one long, hard look at her, then turned away.
"Lock Sherry in the gas chamber."
With that, he left.
No one in the lab dared move.
Vodka, who had planned to leave as well, was forced to stay behind.
"I'll go on my own."
Before Vodka could speak, the girl had already walked past him without sparing him a glance.
Grinding his teeth, Vodka pointed at two female security guards at the door.
"You two. Come with me."
Only after personally seeing Miyano Shiho handcuffed to the piping inside the gas chamber did Vodka finally nod and order the door sealed.
He deliberately had her restrained at a mid-to-lower level of the pipes—a position where she could neither stand nor lie down, forcing her into an unbearably uncomfortable posture.
Partly out of spite.
Partly to make her submit and return to her research as soon as possible.
Gin hadn't said it outright—but Vodka understood perfectly.
This base existed solely for drug research.
Every day it stood idle was a day it lost its meaning.
Boom—!
A thunderclap rolled across the sky as lightning split the night apart.
Heavy raindrops followed instantly, pale and relentless, like white moths diving headlong toward the earth.
Soon, rain pattered against the eaves. Water gathered in the courtyard, flowing in small streams toward the drains at the gate.
Standing by the second-floor corridor window, Shimizu Koji gazed at the darkened sky. Rain distorted the world as it slid down the glass.
He felt restless.
The storm had lasted from last night into tonight, only pausing briefly. The gloomy weather weighed heavily on the heart.
By his count, it had been nearly twenty days.
Miyano Akemi was still unconscious.
And he was still living the same repetitive life as always.
Akemi's condition was dangerous, and his investigation into the two men in black had reached a dead end.
As the rain grew heavier, Koji suddenly thought of the drunken boy he'd encountered after work at the North Star Club that night.
Watching puddles ripple on the street below, he felt a strange sense of reflection.
No matter the world, the words of the mentally unstable always seemed to linger in one's mind.
He wondered if that kid had gone to see a doctor afterward.
Such a shame—so young.
Something stirred faintly in his chest.
Koji turned away, went downstairs, put on his coat, grabbed an umbrella, and stepped out of the villa.
Only then did he remember—
He hadn't bought dinner yet.
Although eating at Professor Agasa's place had become routine, tonight felt different. He decided not to intrude.
Rain tapped against the pavement.
Footsteps splashed through puddles.
Though mixed together, the sounds were distinct.
Haibara Ai—
No. It was still too early to call her that.
The shrunken Miyano Shiho stumbled forward through the rain.
Her destination was less than five meters away.
She finally slowed down, gasping for breath.
Since shrinking, her shoes no longer fit. Her bare, pale feet were smeared with mud. Oversized clothes clung heavily to her, soaked through by rain.
Every few steps, she tripped over pant legs that were far too long.
Cold rain, dizziness, exhaustion—
She had pushed herself this far on sheer will alone.
Finally—
She arrived.
Crossing the last low stone wall, one hand gripping the iron gate, Shiho lifted her head and looked toward the villa she had already visited twice before.
Lightning flashed.
In that brief burst of light, what she saw would haunt her forever.
It's him—?!
The black clothing.
The face she had seen not long ago in the laboratory.
In an instant, her pupils contracted. Her breath caught.
Cruel fate toyed with her once again.
Her small hand slipped weakly from the gate.
The little sanity she had left vanished.
Her will to survive disappeared.
The next moment, darkness swallowed her whole.
Just as the small girl was about to collapse face-first into a freezing puddle, a large hand shot out in time—catching her against the chest and holding her steady.
Koji barely had time to react—less than the blink of lightning.
Looking down at the unconscious girl in his arms, he guessed she was about Ayumi's age.
But… what just happened?
Why was a little girl wearing adult clothes, running alone through a stormy night to his house, only to look at him in sheer terror and faint on the spot?
Was he really that scary?
Koji tucked the umbrella under his arm, held the tiny Miyano Shiho securely, and briefly touched his own face.
Warm.
Alive.
He glanced out at the empty, rain-soaked street.
Feeling the warmth of the small body in his arms, he sighed and abandoned his plan to go out.
Turning around, he went back into the villa.