Shimizu Koji watched as Haibara Ai, instead of backing away, actually took two steps toward him, her face utterly fearless. The feeling in his chest was… strange.
Had she given up resisting?
Or had she already seen through him?
"Please," she said calmly. "Shimizu Koji—no, classmate Shimizu Koji. You won't need me to show you the way, will you?"
Alright. Shimizu Koji got the message.
He deactivated the Sharingan. Haibara's eyes flickered—she noticed, but said nothing.
"Enough with the acting," he said lightly. "So tell me—how did you figure it out?"
Shimizu Koji smiled faintly, but Haibara Ai clearly wasn't buying it. She turned away coldly, her schoolbag on her back, and began walking forward at an unhurried pace.
"You're smart," she said without looking back. "But did you forget? That day—you were the one who found me."
She had no intention of dwelling on the subject.
With a single thought, Haibara recalled that day. If Shimizu Koji truly had ties to the Organization, then the moment he passed along what he knew, there was a high chance they'd deduce her identity—Miyano Shiho, the one who had escaped.
And besides, Shimizu Koji was a male high school student. The Organization might be full of all kinds of people, but Gin and the others hadn't fallen so low—or so tasteless—as to recruit high schoolers.
Still, remembering how she'd just frightened Conan, only to be startled herself by Shimizu Koji right after—
Hmph.
Now there was a bigger problem, one standing squarely in front of her… and Conan.
Shimizu Koji already knew the truth about them.
After observing him for the past few days, Haibara had to admit that while the situation was bad, it wasn't completely unacceptable.
But one thing was unavoidable: Shimizu Koji was going to be dragged into their vortex.
Off to the side, Shimizu Koji watched Haibara walking ahead alone, her expression cold and distant. Strangely, he didn't feel uncomfortable at all. If anything, he felt that this was probably her true self.
Today had really been eye-opening. He'd thought this was just an ordinary, scientific world.
Sure, there were some oddities—kendo that bordered on the supernatural, physical abilities that surpassed normal humans—but those were still within reason.
But a drug that could turn people into elementary school children?
In a world filled with supernatural powers, that might've seemed normal. But this was clearly a technology-based world.
"So… you're actually an adult," Shimizu Koji said, watching Haibara's unmistakably childlike figure and gait ahead of him, a hint of amazement in his voice.
"Do you have a problem with that?"
Her voice was icy. She turned her head and fixed him with a cold stare, her eyes locking onto his.
It lasted only a moment before she turned away again.
Haibara knew her mindset was off. Shimizu Koji's words had unintentionally reminded her of that day.
He probably hadn't meant anything by it, but to her ears, it felt loaded—like there was something unsaid. She couldn't stay as calm as she usually did.
Seeing Haibara suddenly bristle, Shimizu Koji felt conflicted.
Now that he knew she was an adult, he should've felt uncomfortable facing such a childlike appearance—but he didn't.
If anything… he found the contrast oddly charming.
I must be sick, he thought. What's cute about this kid?
Shimizu Koji rubbed his forehead. He was getting far too used to his current daily life.
The "elementary schooler" in front of him might very well be several times his age. He had no doubt that someone capable of developing a de-aging drug would have to be at least seventy or eighty years old.
His thoughts drifted—until Haibara suddenly stopped again.
"You should go back," she said. "Everything we talked about just now—pretend you never heard it."
Shimizu Koji glanced at the nearby house. Her meaning was clear, but the shift in attitude felt almost too drastic.
For the moment, he still couldn't fully shake the image of her as a sickly little girl putting on an act.
"And what about you?" he asked. "Right now, you're just two elementary school kids. What can you even do?"
"And besides… I have my own reasons."
Haibara raised an eyebrow. She hadn't expected that response. As for those "reasons," she didn't ask.
Because it was obvious—he had no intention of explaining them.
Thinking about Conan's inexplicable connection to Shimizu Koji, Haibara could guess part of it. Shimizu Koji had likely crossed paths with the Organization before, for some reason.
And that connection…
After a brief silence, Haibara started walking again. "Do whatever you want. But I'm not planning to fight the Organization."
"If that's what you and he are thinking," she added coolly, "I suggest you give up sooner rather than later."
"Oh?" Shimizu Koji said. "And what if they find you? Your status in the Organization couldn't have been low."
In just a few steps, they reached Dr. Agasa's yard. The villa door was open—Conan had probably forgotten to close it.
Light spilled out, dispelling the surrounding darkness.
"If they find me," Haibara said quietly, "then perhaps death would be a release."
"I'm home."
Shimizu Koji watched as Haibara seamlessly switched expressions. For a moment, he couldn't quite process it.
Standing at the entryway, changing into indoor slippers, she looked like nothing more than a slightly aloof elementary school student who'd just come home.
But what she'd said earlier—
It was bleak. Hopeless. A complete lack of attachment to life.
The kind of mindset where death, at any moment, would be met without regret.
Shimizu Koji was painfully familiar with that feeling—so familiar he could probably write a twenty-thousand-word paper on it.
Just like his past self: If I die, so be it. It's no big deal.
At least back then, he knew that even if he died, he'd soon be reincarnated into another world. Numb, yes—but there was always a tomorrow.
"Ai, welcome back."
Dr. Agasa came out from the lab area with a warm smile. When he noticed Shimizu Koji, he froze.
The same went for Conan, who had finally calmed down—his eyes full of confusion, his anger at being played held firmly in check.
"I ran into Ai at the street corner," Shimizu Koji said casually. "So I walked her home."
"Since you followed us anyway, stop pretending," Haibara said coolly. "Or do you prefer hiding in some dark corner, eavesdropping on other people's conversations?"
Shimizu Koji choked on his words.
He took back what he'd thought earlier.
This girl was absolutely—definitely—not cute.
Dr. Agasa paused for a long moment, then silently turned around to make tea for everyone.
Conan stammered, finally realizing what Haibara meant: Shimizu Koji had overheard everything they said on the way back.
So that's the kind of guy you are!
He didn't say it out loud, but the look he gave Shimizu Koji said it all.
Shimizu Koji ignored him. He sat down on the living room sofa, with Haibara taking a seat nearby.
"And what about you over there—Senior Kudo?" Shimizu Koji said, glancing back with a half-smile. "What are you still thinking about?"
The emphasis on Senior Kudo sent a chill down Conan's spine. He swallowed, then reluctantly walked over and sat on the opposite side.
I swear, I'm going to turn your lawn into a vegetable garden.