"Ohayou Gozaimasu", whispered a familiar voice. Subaru moved his head in his sleep trying to discern where the voice is coming from. It sounds like the sweet gentle voice of... It can't be. She's dead. But what if... He felt a nibble on his ear and Subaru woke up with a start. He sat down on his bed. The rays of the sun have barely seeped in through the window. Was it a dream? It felt so real. He looked beside him and a woman was propped up on her elbow smiling slyly at him. She had long brown hair. She looked like... But no. It can't be her. He tried to compose himself and asked the stranger with the familiar face, "Who are you? What are you doing on my bed?"

"Oh please. You don't know me?" The woman sat on his lap and started unbuttoning his pajama top. "I'll help you remember.", she said with a suggestive smile. Subaru put his hand on her back and gently moved it upwards until he was touching the back of her neck. He pulled her closer. When they were but a breath apart, Subaru ripped off her mask.

"My, oh my. Always so difficult.", sighed Vermouth. "Why can't you just play along? I was starting to have fun."

"What are you doing here?"

"Shouldn't the first question be, who I am? So you do know me. Question is, who are you?"

Subaru and Vermouth looked at each other for a few seconds without saying a word in that awkward position. Subaru broke the silence. "Are you an actress? I think you were in that movie. Uh, what was it called? Am I still dreaming?" Vermouth sighed and said yes. She made him fall asleep again and she got up. "Seems like he's no one special." And with that, she left the room and left Subaru sound asleep.

In the break of dawn, the sun's ray lit up a side of Subaru's face and showed a glistening tear. I miss you Akemi.

It was raining heavily and Ai was slumped on the table in Shinichi's living room. On the table were two empty Bourbon bottles. She was weeping along with the rain, unleashing all the sadness and bitterness beneath her stoic facade - her lost family that she deeply misses, Shinichi whom she loves but is madly in love with another, the Black Organization tracking her down. So many thoughts were floating in her woozy mind and she just let her wet face bury in her arms. Suddenly she heard the door open and Subaru was standing in the living room's doorway. Her head was in a mess and she couldn't think of what to do. It's shameful to be seen like that but she didn't have energy left to care.

Subaru went to her and saw the empty bottles. "You drank all this? What's the problem?"

"Leave me alone. You're not even supposed to be here. Shouldn't you be in the woods camping?"

"The weather turned for the worse and I needed to go back. Let's get you to bed Princess."

Subaru lifted up Ai in his arms and proceeded to bring her to a spare room. As he was walking in the hallway, Ai began to shiver. She grabbed his sweater and shook uncontrollably. Subaru ran to the room and wrapped her in a blanket. Still, Ai's tremors continued. He hugged Ai tightly and told her it's going to be okay. He didn't know what the hell was going on. Perhaps the alcohol is taking its toll on the young girl's body. He didn't know what else to do save to keep her safely in his arms and wait for the fit to pass.

The sun has started illuminating the room with its fresh rays. Ai slowly opened her eyes and she felt a sharp pain in her head. That's right. She was reckless enough to drink too much whiskey the night before. She tried again to look around her. She was in a room. But she didn't drink there last night. Wait. Someone's arms are wrapped around her. She was shocked. Whose arms are these? Where is she? What actually happened? Even if it pained her head, she looked up to see the face who owned these arms. Subaru-san! Why was he there? Wasn't he on a camping trip? Oh God. Did he see her in a mess? Her head was aching with the slightest movement and she grasped her head with her hands. Her hair was thicker than usual. She looked at her hands. They were not a little girl's hands. Crap. She got bigger. Subaru saw her get bigger?! Worse, did he see her almost naked in Ai's clothes? When it rains, it indeed pours. Shit is pouring like a broken tap. She needed to get her head straight. What to do. What to do.

In the midst of her mini panic attack, Subaru stirred and started opening his eyes. Shiho didn't know what to do so she pretended to be asleep and lay in his arms motionlessly. "I thought you had awoken Princess.", Subaru said with a smile. He then imagined her sitting on top of him and removing his sweater. Damn you Vermouth. No. This is Princess. I must not think this way. I'm here to protect her. I promised her sister. Nothing more.

He carefully moved Shiho from his arms to the bed and gently walked out of the room to prepare breakfast in the kitchen. When Shiho was sure that he had gone, she opened her eyes and thought of an escape plan again. She got up despite her massive headache and tried hard to think. Shoot, she was barely clothed in Ai's clothes underneath the blanket. First, I need some clothes. She tiptoed around the room opening drawers and closet doors trying to look for clothes to wear. She was browsing for clothes in a closet and she heard her stomach grumble. "Sounds like you're hungry.", said a male voice. In her surprise, she dropped her blanket and turned around to see Subaru standing at the door. She realized her blanket was on the floor and quickly picked it up, her face all red. Shiho, what's wrong with you? Compose yourself! "I think breakfast will help perk you up.", Subaru said with a smile. Shiho remained quiet. "Well, I prepared breakfast in the kitchen. Get yourself dressed Princess. I'll be there." And with that, Subaru closed the door and walked away.

Shiho, put yourself together! People can't see you in a mess. Especially this Subaru guy. He gives you the creeps remember? Don't let down your guard! She took a deep breath and changed her clothes. It's okay. I can handle this. She took another deep breath and headed to the kitchen.

Subaru stood up as she entered and said, "You look wonderful in those clothes Princess." Wonderful? These are just oversized pajamas. "Come, eat your breakfast." He moved the chair for Shiho and tucked her in. He put a napkin on her lap and sat across her, his elbows propped up the table, smiling beneath his hands, observing her from beneath his spectacles. Shiho tasted his banana pancakes and they were good. She also sipped from her hot chocolate. "How is it?", Subaru inquired. "How was your sleep Princess?"

Why does he keep calling me Princess? He should just call me... I don't know. Does he know the truth now? Damn it. Princess it is. "It's delicious. Thank you for preparing this for me. I slept comfortably."

"Bananas help with hangovers I've heard. You drank quite a lot last night. The Professor was worried about you." Shit. The Professor. He would be very disappointed in me. What did this man tell him? As though reading her thoughts, Subaru replied with a smile, "I told him you're fine and you just had a sleepover here." Shiho just continued eating her pancakes in silence.

After finishing her breakfast, Shiho had a clearer mind. She was ready to find out what this Subaru guy actually knows about last night. Better to fix the damage now than later. "Thank you for the breakfast again. So. What do you..." Just then, the door opened and Conan came running towards the kitchen. He saw Shiho and Subaru on the table and he looked at Shiho alarmingly. "Conan, what brings you here?", asked Subaru. "Oh, uh, I was just looking for..." "She's right here.", Subaru answered promptly and smiled at Shiho. Shit. So he does know. Oh God. Conan and Shiho froze in silence as their secret is revealed to Subaru.