A very special thank you to MTPockets for beta reading this chapter! And a belated thank you to chibianimefan26 for the FANART:

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"It's been years since my last house call," the doctor mused to himself. "And while tossing that ball around." He squinted at where I'd huddled away into the corner of my bed. "Years since a patient over the age of thirteen has fought treatment." He and his nurse leaned in. "But I've never been one to back down from a challenge."

"No wait!" I yelped. They plopped back into their seats. "I'm not resisting, it's that cat! Get it away, please!"

The devil's advocate mewed from the doctor's lap as if acknowledging my statement. From the hot springs to home, it kept close to me with a near leech-like attachment. The doctor handed it off to the nurse.

"I'm terribly sorry, are you allergic?"

"No..." Try as I might, the truth refused to pass my lips. "It's just..."

"Then by all means, pets are therapeutic!" He beamed like the sun, scooping the kitten into his arms.

"NO!" I screamed.

The doctor flinched, tucking the kitten protectively into the crook of his shoulder. "Yeesh." He turned to Mother. "Are you sure I'm not here for a medical check up?"

Mother, from where she'd been leaning against the doorframe, scowled at the doctor. "You're very rude."

He looked stricken. "Am I?" he asked the nurse.

She pursed her lips while considering him, then gave a curt nod.

He pointed to her. "There it is then, she never fibs." Then he peered at Mother over the rim of his glasses. "You're mean."

"Keiko," Mother addressed, struggling with the fakest smile she's ever worn. "Cooperate so I can kick him out."

Easier said than done. My hairs stood on end during the check-up, because at any given chance the kitten wiggled free from the nurse, sauntering down to me.

"You're reckless," the doctor told me. "It's a wonder you got by without a hospital visit. Running that tournament with a fever." He shook his head. "Next time try not to push your body to its highest limits. It could do lasting damage."

Eying the floorboards with a tinge of shame, I nodded. "Yes, sir."

When he passed Mother on the way out, he held the kitten up. "I'm assuming this isn't a lasting member of the household."

She shook her head.

His face sparked with childlike mirth. "Can I keep him?"

"Please."

The doctor gave me a clean bill of health and took the kitten. Needless to say, cloud nine does exist, and I am sprawled all over it.

While humming, picking absently at wisps of cloud, and spinning in my desk chair, I contemplated what activities to put on my plate that day in a list of need to's, have to's, and want to's.

I need to do my homework— even the thought curled and soured in my brain. When Ran graciously delivered my missing work to me, in piles. I shoved it aside, and put it down, not in, but very near, the trash.

Biting the inside of my cheek on the memory, I recalled that I have to apologize to Agasa for chewing him out the other day.

Lastly... I want to see Shinichi. He's turned MIA and it's nothing I appreciate. Yet it seems that status has carried over to Shinichi's presence at home. Only after breaking in did I discover he was gone.

So, I hit Agasa's.

"Yo, Professor!" My entrance interrupted a four party jamboree around the television. Said jamboree gazed upon me with surprise to match my own. I have my own reasons though, really, because, "Pr-Professor!" I called, "There's a mess of munchkins up front!"

"Rude!" The bald-spotted boy accused.

"Keiko." The girl sporting a headband grew a smile in greeting, but it quickly wilted. "Munchkins?"

Oh, wait! It struck me all too late. The kids from before. Who accompanied Ran and Sonoko at the Track Tournament. There's no escaping now though, with all their eyes judging my every action. "Heeey," I feigned familiarity. "How've you guys been?"

"Ah!" The freckled boy pointed. "Don't tell me!"

I successfully resisted a knee deep urge to run. They couldn't possibly be calling me out already. "Wh-what?"

"You forgot our names!"

I cringed. Still, I guess there's something to be said about keeping face... "Yeah, right. How could I forget a thing like that—" I politely smiled, grappling with memories for a fitting name to address him with. "—Genta."

The bald-spotted one gasped, whispering forlornly to his companion, "how could she..."

An eyebrow twitch and my mask chipped. "...hey..."

The strawberry blonde smirked, a small response that shouldn't have brimmed with as much condescension as it did, she's half my height and that's saying something.

"Wh-what's so funny?" It came out more timid than intimidating, but okay.

Her mouth parted in slight surprise before she turned away, speaking over her shoulder, "it's just nice to know you're human is all."

One foot into brooding, I thought, she shouldn't be allowed to be cryptic...

Agasa entered, rubbing his hands into a towel. "Keiko, nice of you to drop by."

"Professor!" I spun on my heel. "I broke into Shinichi's house and he wasn't there, what gives?"

He pulled back. "You broke in?"

"...well..." The young curious eyes below sent that phrase through a social filter. "Geez Professor, when you say it like that it sounds incriminating. I... bypassed the door to visit his home. Where is he?"

"Have you tried his cell?"

"Several times. He hasn't answered since I got home."

"Maybe he's avoiding you," the freckled boy piped up, his eyes narrow. While conversely the strawberry-blonde's eyes widened, her eyebrows raised.

"Professor, it's terrible," the headbanded one bemoaned, shoving past the others to stand at the forefront. "She forgot all our names!"

"Really?" He mock exclaimed for their benefit. Then whispered to me, exasperated, "really?"

I whispered frantically, "it's my brain, I swear! It's like... I put kids all into their own category. But now I can't put them into subcategories. I've never had to deal with kids before, Agasa, help!"

Agasa clapped to gather their attention. "Let's play a game!"

"This isn't a game," the freckled one decided.

Cats are hereby dethroned, kids are the best at smelling a rat. I leaned down and adjusted his nametag fondly. "It's just no game you've ever played." He glowered on my pause. "Mitsuhiko."

Ayumi crossed her arms, pouting. "This is an excuse so Keiko doesn't have to remember our names."

"That's not it," Agasa topped his marker as Ai fixed her nametag into place. "Keiko does want to remember your names, yet it's difficult. This is our way to help."

With a hand upon my heart, I decreed, "and I promise to learn by the end of our day together."

"Ooh," Ayumi perked. "Okay! You're off the hook."

"For now," Mitsuhiko added.

I lowly asked Agasa, "are kids always this vindictive?"

"We expected better of you," Ai remarked, glancing sidelong at me. "Unfortunately, someone's been singing your praises."

"Since the tournament, Conan's droned on and on about you," Genta explained with a wide swing of his arms.

Ayumi chimed, "You like putting together parties, right? We should all celebrate—! something.."

That reeled me in. "We could celebrate that I won."

"Sure!"

"Will there be cake?" Mitsuhiko practically drooled.

"What party doesn't have cake?" I snatched up a piece of paper and leaned over the counter. The children crowded around to aid in scribbling ideas. "Cake, streamers, balloons... What kind of food?"

"Unagi!" Genta cheered.

"Alright!" Pen poked to my chin, I peered at their nametags. "So who's Conan?"

They palmed their foreheads.

I blinked. "What?"

Party preparations accounted for, the kids short attention span sent them back to a demo game Agasa created. There the children sat, completely at home in an environment familiar to me. They're almost like replacements— I shook that thought away fast and instead squinted at the characters on screen. One of whom bared an eerie resemblance to me... and could outrun all other characters... and aided the main detective in his case...

I leaned across the counter. "Agasa, I'm flattered but... I'm taller than that."

His cheeks puffed suddenly, reeling in a laugh. "B-by how much?"

Smothering the words into my palm, I grumbled, "One- two centimeters..."

He turned away, yet the following giggle came from a strawberry blonde on the couch.

"Sorry, I'll see to the inaccuracies." He looked skyward. "Any other flaws you wish to point out?"

My gaze fell. Sorries that needed to be said. Right. "Listen, when I was in Osaka, and I rang you... I didn't mean to, um... yell. I'm sorry."

"You were worried, it's alright. I would have done the same thing."

"Really?"

"Never, but I want you to know I understand."

"Okay, I deserved that." I drank in a mollifying lungful of air. "That aside, how's Tongue Twister?"

"Honestly?" He huffed. "I've moved onto machines; gadgets. That voice changer prototype you tampered with? It made me quite rich."

"Wow, good for you."

"Still I have not yet given up on the previous subject." He reached to the back of his fridge. "Here." He produced a blue, fizzing liquid. "Sadly only one new test, yet, here's to hoping."

He crossed his fingers as I sipped the new concoction. My nose tingled. He leaned forward. I smiled reassuringly, but soon sneezed into a hiccup fit.

He slouched. "And that happens!"

"Sor- (hiccup) -ry." I shook my head and held a breath.

"No difference to the flavor?" he inquired.

I shook my head no.

"Good..." The children's laughter took his attention. A tilt of his head and tender gleam in his eye, came as a surprise. It's a familiar look, yet not on him. "Haibara." He nodded briefly to the strawberry blonde, speaking in hushed tones. "She's happier with each passing day."

I pursed my lips. "Still a tad tart for my tastes..."

"Don't say that."

The finality of his tone burned my ears, I'd never been seriously reprimanded by him before.

"She tries hard. Trust is something not easily earned with her. Just have patience."

"Yeah." I shrank into myself. "Sorry." In fear of stepping on anymore toes, I decided now would be a good time to part. So, pointing at each I asked. "Now, let me test this out... Mitsuhiko?"

Agasa hummed an agreement.

"Ayumi?"

"Yep."

"Genta?"

"And?"

"Ai."

"Correct!" He exclaimed.

"A-alright" I shakily exhaled. "Now, there's a, um... neighbor I've been meaning to check up on. Have a new sample for me tomorrow?"

He scratched the back of his head. "Maybe. Try the day after."

My mouth twitched into a smile. "Kids keep you busy?"

He was relieved in my understanding. "Permanently."

I laughed. "I hear stereotypes, guess I'll know which are more true now."

[Sometime later…]

The door slammed open, Conan dashed through shortly after. "Professor! I need you to fix the wheel back on!" He threw his skateboard at Agasa.

Agasa fumbled to catch it, then inspected the damage and got to work. "What happened?"

Conan took a notepad from his back pocket to the counter and, standing on the chair previously occupied by Keiko, marked through a list of locations. "Kogoro needed a screw, found the ones from my skateboard fit perfectly, and—" He ruffled his hair into a frenzy. "Agh! There's too many places he could be!"

"Who?"

"The suspect. He took the bait," Conan clicked his tracking glasses on. "But I lost him."

"Whaat?" Ayumi whined. "You're working a case without us!?"

He faltered. "You guys!?" His eyes traveled to all four. "Nametags?"

"Oh." They looked down, remembering, "Keiko was here."

Mitsuhiko waved sharply. "She forgot our names! And then, she kept forgetting!"

Genta leaned in snidely. "Keiko couldn't remember your name either, so it's fair."

Conan tipped his head to the side, bitterly mumbling. "She forgot my name?" He glanced around. "Where is she anyway?"

Ayumi shrugged, saying, "she mentioned a neighbor."

"She what!?"

Arm propped up on the counter, head in her hand, Ai asked, "weren't you in a hurry?"

"Damn it."

Ayumi hopped up as he scribbled furiously, noting it odd that in his rush he transformed various kanji into tiny maps. "What can we do to help?"

"Nothing, it's—"

They simultaneously leveled a glare.

"Actually..." His eyes roamed the room till he focused on their tags. "There's an important mission I have for you all."

They clapped gleefully.

One slip around the corner, and Watanabe left home five minutes into my wait. As per Shinichi's advice on how to stalk— tail, I shadowed him from a distance. My first time practicing this, I remember how Shinichi would tsk, following a little finger wag as he said I wasn't meant to be a literal shadow.

My powers of prediction are nowhere near his, knowing where the target will go, while simultaneously hanging a block away is impossible thank-you-very-much.

Shinichi says it's an art not meant for me, but I've yet to be caught. Sitting at a cafe... watching Watanabe sip tea... for fifteen minutes...

From my booth, iced coffee in hand - the beverage of sleuths - I sighed. This investigation is going nowhere. All I've gathered is that he's fond of magazine stands and tea. Can't tell if it's jasmine, or green, or chamomile.

"He made you."

I choked.

Ai materialized in the seat on my right, stirring a celery stick into her glass of tomato juice. "It's a cardinal rule of tailing that you do not move in time with your target. It's obvious they're being followed when someone starts and stops like the two are acting in perfect sync."

"What are you doing here?"

"Tailing you," Ayumi chirped from over the back of my seat.

My skin jumped.

"Vice versa," Ai cooly continued. "To spot a tail; walking erratically, and stopping for extended periods of time is sure to root out someone keeping an eye on you."

"Wait," I gulped, "So he knows—"

"Keiko!"

My blood froze and splintered on the spot.

"What a pleasant surprise," Watanabe greeted me from my left.

"Oh yeah," I stuttered. "Surprise."

Mitsuhiko peered up at him. "Who're you?"

"Sachiko's neighbor." He bowed. "And what are your names?"

They dropped off the back of my seat and stepped around to reveal their nametags.

"Genta, Ayumi, Mitsuhiko, and Ai. Nice to meet you all. I'm Watanabe Tanaka. Now..." Whilst still reeling from being caught, he poked my nose. "What a coincidence! I saw you at the corner store, news stand, and now a cafe! Great minds think alike, eh?"

I couldn't catch my breath. "Y-yeah. Cool, huh."

"Instead of another coincidence, how about I invite you to my next destination instead?"

The guilt flooded my face. "S-sure." I gritted my teeth into something of a smile. "I'd love to."

Ai slipped off the seat, hastily informing us, "the Professor's expecting me home soon."

"Okay," Genta tilted his head.

"Ai?" Ayumi frowned at her retreating figure.

Watanabe furrowed his brow. "Is she alright?"

"She's like that sometimes..." Ayumi feigned a smile. "Where are we going?"

"We?" I eyed them.

"Yeah," Mitsuhiko tapped his foot. "You're still under scrutiny."

"You guys are a curse..." I sighed. "At least now there are less of you."

Watanabe chuckled. "About that..."

A block from Teitan Elementary stood a quaint building. Squared off and attached to the side was a fenced in playground. It contained the standard slide, monkey bars, sandbox, and teeter-totter set. All very small... All very suspiciously for...

Before the question reached my lips a boy shot from the door. "Teacher!"

Panic bubbling, my eyes flitted from the building to the kids at my side. Oh no. Accepting defeat, I drooped into a sigh. A daycare...

His bright blond locks flopped with each step. "I finished my first puzzle!" He stomped a triumphant foot forward. "Have I completed level one of childhood yet?!"

"Again, there are no levels in life." Watanabe turned to me. "I tried explaining life experiences to him the other day, he connected that to video games and well... you can see the result."

A small, soft-spoken girl trailing after the boy said, "considering how long we've been at this, I'd say what we're doing now is the bonus round."

The boy rounded excitedly on her. "Right!"

"Hanatsu," Watanabe broke in. "Don't encourage him..."

The girl, Hanatsu, smirked into the teddy in her arms.

"Taneo," Watanabe told the boy, "experience isn't something you earn, it's what you learn."

His eyebrow lowered. "What's experience look like? I play a game where it's little orbs, but there's another where it's all glittery, and..."

Ayumi, Genta, and Mitsuhiko laughed to themselves.

"It's definitely cookies," Hanatsu whispered, seemingly to herself.

"I love cookies!" Taneo shouted.

Watanabe ushered them inside. "Alright, enough." He sighed at me. "Don't be fooled by their height and appearance, Taneo is four and Hanatsu is six."

"You're almost my age," Genta pointed at himself.

Hanatsu held the teddy over her chin, muffling her already faint voice. "A fitting age gap to marry."

Genta choked, going apple red.

"Whoa whoa, she is promised to me," Taneo shoved himself between them, chest puffed. "I proposed with the teddy bear."

Ayumi shook her head. "You can't propose with a teddy bear, it's meant to be diamonds."

"Why not?" Hanatsu challenged. "Diamonds are a marketing gimmick created to take our money."

Genta quirked a brow. "Are you... related to Haibara by any chance?"

The walls inside were painted half with blue skies and yellow song birds. The bottom half; a varnished wood. Past the genkan and shoe lockers was a telephone on a stand with a drawer, a humble opening. Staring down, the end of the hallway split into a T.

A crash further inside jarred our attention.

"Somebody. Anybody. Please! Help me!"

We rushed to the left of the end of the hall and came upon an older woman, black bob cut hair and dressed in caretaker garb, yanking a pigtailed girl off the doorframe.

"It's a nap, Yuji. Lie down, and—"

"Let in the monsters?!" She yelped. "Nu-uh I can't go without my dream catcher!"

Watanabe messaged his left temple, speaking to me in hushed tones. "Yuji loves to sleep, she sleeps during play time against the tree, under the table during lunch, even during school. But without her dream catcher she absolutely refuses to even lie down."

The caretaker slapped a hand to the wall. "Hanatsu, Taneo! There you are, it's nap time!"

"It's nap time when the lady says so," Taneo asserted. Hanatsu yawned. Taneo nodded. "It's nap time."

They strolled into the room as she continually struggled with the girl.

"Okay, but," I began telling Yuji, "did you know that if you wait too long to sleep after you're drowsy, you'll pass the limit and never be able to sleep again."

She slackened her grip, staring doe-eyed. "Never again?"

"Not even to nap."

"No!" She cried. "I love dreamland, I can't not sleep again!" Her bare feet padded away, and she catapulted into a sleeping bag.

"Quite the wit," Watanabe commented.

"How mean," Ayumi cringed.

"If it gets the job done, I've no complaints."

The caretaker shook her head. "I lose sleep over my own children, I'm not sure how I thought this job would be a fitting match."

Watanabe flinched. "Miss Ginko..."

"Nothing, nothing." She waved him off in parting. "Simply thinking aloud."

Another caretaker, closer to my age, approached. In appearance she had long thin auburn hair, two clips held her fringe to the left. She sheepishly admitted, "Miss Ginko's been after everyone all day, best not to rile her..."

"Nothing new," Watanabe scoffed. "But thank you, Mei." His eyes jumped to me. Opening a door across from the toddler room, he invited us in to sit at a wooden table. "You came at an odd time, sorry." He leaned onto a fridge. "Who wants a juice pack?"

"Me!" The children chorused.

After serving everyone, he sat at the end of the table with a mug, closed his eyes, and exhaled. "Enough of my work." He smiled. "Tell me about yourselves."

I scooched back, biting my teeth closed. Luckily these kids aren't my usual crowd, so he can't learn much of me from them.

"Keiko won a Track Tournament!" Genta boasted.

I facepalmed.

"Ooh, so you're interested in running, Keiko?"

Is that a double entendre? "Yeah, it's a healthy pastime so Mother approves."

He smirked over the rim of his mug. "Fitting."

"Speaking of," Mitsuhiko piped in. "Isn't Sports Day a month from now?"

"Yeah." Genta averted his eyes. "Maybe I should call in sick."

Ayumi pounded a fist to the table. "Don't talk like that! If we win, we get a trophy!"

"Not to mention free snacks in class for a week," Mitsuhiko pitched in.

Genta rounded on me. "Keiko, you have to train us!"

"Whoa!" I recoiled. "I am not a trainer! That's a completely different skillset!"

Ayumi pouted. "Come on..."

Rolling my eyes, I conceded. "The most I can do is invite you to my work-outs, and demonstrate my routine."

"Yeah!" They cheered.

Stereotype number two confirmed, I thought morosely, kids almost always get their way.

"Tanaka!" Miss Ginko called. "It's Zyun!"

"Ah," Watanabe itched his cheek. "I doubt I can do much more than you, Miss Ginko."

She loudly huffed. "Can you try?"

He went to the cupboards. "Zyun listens if we coax him into whatever we need him to do, but usually his thoughts are louder than our words. He keeps to himself so much, I worry."

"Sounds rough," I chuckled weakly. "One's acting out every second."

"It gets better. The children learn, and grow accustomed to the rules. The most pressing issue is a recent adjustment. Three previous children moved onto after school activities. One including a parent who worked here only to watch over her child. Thus opening four spots for Hanatsu, Yuji, Taneo, and a yet to be hired caretaker. Zyun is having a hard time coping with the sudden change. The rule of thumb is two caretakers to each room. With only three of us, someone is always going back and forth from the toddler to the baby room. And, sadly, there's always one child not getting the attention they deserve."

"Basically, we're short handed," Miss Ginko said in passing.

Tanaka's lips compressed into a thin line as he entered the hall.

"Hey," Mitsuhiko yanked my hand, his eyebrows curled in concern. "Why don't you help?"

That had to be a joke. "Me?"

"Yeah," Ayumi squirmed in place. "We like you, Conan likes you, Haibara-" she wavered. "-seems to tolerate you."

"-thanks-"

"And you got Yuji to do what she should. It'd be easy!"

"Plus when you get paid we can go out for a feast to celebrate!" Genta cupped his cheek, staring dreamily into the distance.

I swallowed. From an inner perspective the position presented a great opportunity to observe Watanabe in his natural setting. Being so close for so long means he has to slip up somewhere. I ran a hand through my hair, and laid it to my skirt after finding my forehead damp. This would make me a mole, right? Of all the things Shinichi told me not to do, I'm going to get close to the person he warned me to avoid. He'd harp me to no end. It's not like it's something I'm not already doing, but here... now actively getting involved... it's all so real.

"He's your neighbor, right?" Ayumi eased, seemingly sensing my frazzled nerves.

"We'd love to have you."

"Watanabe!" I yelped. "Y-you... really?"

"Yes, of course." He eagerly slipped back into the room. "Good help is hard to find."

With everyone pushing me closer I almost want to pull out completely for fear of leaping off an edge—which is a lengthy no. But it's also too easy. Information I've been striving for should be hard to obtain by definition.

"Zyun!" Time sternly reasserted itself with a caretaker's frantic shout. "Zyun talk to me, tell me what's wrong."

We leapt to our feet and rushed to the toddler room, this time to discover a real cause for alarm. A boy sat hunched over himself, his sleeping bag strewn about the floor, holding his hands across his chest. Eyes wide, and skin glistening. The other children watched, faces riddled in confusion, as a caretaker huddled around the unresponsive child. Watanabe joined her, shaking him for an answer.

"P-panic attack," Mitsuhiko quivered. "M-my sister, she had one."

Panic attack? I thought, bubbling up a memory:

"And poisoning?"

"Easy," Shinichi twirled his index finger. "A neutralizer would help, like tannin, but first identify the snake. Then remove any clothing or accessories before swelling occurs, move to a safe place. Clean the bite, keep it below the heart level, and remain calm."

"Strip, clean, and... ah, I'd never remember all that..."

"Next!"

"Hmm..." While I scrolled an online list at his desk. Shinichi laid with his head off the bed's edge. "Ah-ha! This one's different! Panic attack!"

He smirked.

I crossed my arms, defeat already building a nest in my thoughts. "Not an asthma attack, don't mistake the two."

"If you want to get me, you're picking all the wrong ones. What kind of panic attack?"

"What?" I twisted back to the page. "Uhhm... Hyperventilation?"

"Controlled." He inhaled a long stream of air. "Breathing." He exhaled. "Positivity, open space, and—"

I snapped back to the present, and sternly ordered, "step back."

Miss Mei and Watanabe looked up.

"Move!" I wedged into the gap they created and rubbed the child's back. "Zyun, right?"

He didn't answer.

I checked with Tanaka, he nodded.

"Zyun," I repeated. "I need you to breathe with me," Cupping his chin lightly to meet my eyes, I inhaled. "Take a breath." And exhaled. "Then let it go."

He blinked rapidly, breaths quick and raspy, not comprehending.

"It's alright," my voice soft, I went on, "There's no danger. It's scary, but you're fine. I'm here to help. Breathe with me."

Finally, he inhaled, but released too fast.

"That's good, breathe in— hold it," we paused for two seconds. "Now, like me, slowly let it out."

He exhaled properly that time.

"Good, you're doing great. In, out," we repeated the steps until Zyun came back to himself. Breathing normally. Visible pressure lifted off everyone's shoulders. Mei and Watanabe moved to console the other children.

Then suddenly Zyun sniffled.

Keened.

And I gulped.

Zyun lurched forward, his arms going around my stomach. My arms flew up, desperate for escape, yet no one spared me a second glance. Yeah, sure, I can bring him down from an attack. But that's clinical steps, consoling him is for... —someone else!

Zyun's keening transformed into suppressed sobs when my comfort dissipated. He began to release, despite his state, and my resolve cracked. I patted his back, a silent way of saying it's okay to stay, releasing an "oof" when he wound his arms tighter.

"You're going to be alright," I soothed. "Just a little panic attack. Nothing big." Unsure of where to go, an endless stream spilled from my mouth. "My friend taught me how to help. Guess you're lucky I had a chance to use the knowledge. Don't worry too much. Panic attacks happen to a lot of people."

"Really?" He asked, voice a pitch higher than I expected.

My heart tumbled forward, not expecting him to do more than cry. "Y-yeah, and my friend in the doorway said it happened to his sister."

"S'normal?"

I hummed an agreement.

"It scare me."

"It's always scary. All you need to remember is you're okay. And you have to breathe slowly when it's happening."

"Like we jus did?"

"Yep."

"Is he alright?" Watanabe asked.

Zyun buried his face into my stomach. "Yeah." I hesitated. "Maybe... let him see a doctor though. Repercussions are possible."

"Zyun," he beckoned. "Can Miss Ginko take you for a doctor's check-up?"

He gripped my shirt tighter.

"Ah," I tapped his head with my pinky. "Listen, I do have to go soon."

He pulled back to look at me face to face. Copper blond hair, bright brown eyes, and a touch of concern. "Bye?"

Palm forward, I swiftly curled my fingers in farewell. "Yeah, bye."

He settled onto the sleeping bag, obediently waving me and the other kids goodbye.

"Thank you for... everything. I knew you had to be..." Watanabe shook his head with a small laugh. "Nevermind." Extending one arm, he told me, "the door is open should you ever return."

Breathlessly, I agreed, "yeah."

"And," he added, "please consider returning."

I curtly nodded and led the kids out.

"We're back!" Genta announced upon entering Agasa's.

"Welcome back!" He returned from the lab.

Ayumi frowned at me. "You've been quiet this whole time."

I ghosted to the nearest couch.

"Hey..."

On that, a noisy groan rumbled from the back of my throat.

"Geez," Mitsuhiko put his fists to his hips. "And Keiko was so cool back there."

"What happened?" A new voice hastily questioned.

"She helped a kid out of a panic attack."

"I wonder where she learned how to do that," a slow grin carried over his tone.

The goal I set for myself, to spy on Watanabe, only to discover he knew I'd been there from the start. Not to mention the whole mess of a day at his work... I stared at my phone. Despite the consequences, I can't keep these events bottled in. They'll claw at the glass, and irritate my sense of security. Shinichi may not be nice at first, but talking through it becomes a balm at the end.

However, dialing up Shinichi put me straight to his voicemail. Jamming the end button, I shoved my phone between Agasa's couch cushions.

"We should wear team headbands for Sports Day," Ayumi proposed.

"We'll be star players, the Detective Boys, saviors of 1-B," Genta boasted.

"Let's see," Mitsuhiko said above the flutter of papers. "It could look something like this..."

"The 'o' in Boys, could be a star," I told them over the edge of the couch.

"Yeah, that's a great idea!" Mitsuhiko cheered.

I blinked. There, in blue, was another child. "Uh, guys..."

They turned to me.

"Did we... bring an extra kid with us?"

"No way," Genta snickered.

Oh no, I sulked.

"She forgot you!" Mitsuhiko laughed.

"Nice," Ai smirked as she entered, arms crossed.

"What's my name?"

"Mitsuhiko," I begrudgingly answered.

"Remember me?"

"Genta."

"Me?"

"Ayumi."

"And her."

"Ai."

Then they silently pointed to the kid wearing blue and glasses.

With a drawn out sigh I dropped my head to my hand.

"Come on," the kid whined. "Following the tournament we never separated till Beika."

"Listen," one stern cold word from me, and they awaited a lecture. "I have no good excuse."

They fell over.

"Everyone had to wear a nametag for me to get this far, what's one day in Osaka gonna change for us, Kid? Oh wait." I snapped my fingers. "And the hot springs..."

He rolled his eyes. "Considering your condition at those times, I guess I can let it slip..."

"You could wear—"

"I'm not wearing a nametag."

"...someone throw me a bone..."

They turned amongst themselves. "Should we?"

"Perhaps we should consider prolonging her probation."

"Mitsuhiko, I can hear you..."

"We've decided!" came his declaration. "In emotional compensation, you owe us one day of fun!"

"Hey hey hey, back up, you don't seem that upset. This is unreasonable."

"You want Ayumi to cry?" the question came from Mitsuhiko as she sniffled on cue.

"Whoa! This is blackmail! Blackmail! Agasa! I need a witness!"

Ayumi bawled the moment Agasa entered the room. "Keiko, what did you do!?"

"What!? Nothing! I'm innocent! They're spiraling! AGH! Okay! OKAY! One day of fun, I got it!"

"Yeah!" They danced in a circle.

I ducked behind the couch.

"Guys," the kid warned. "You're stretching the boundaries a bit. She hasn't known you that long."

"Not to mention taking advantage of the situation," Ai reasoned.

"Alright," they monotonously answered. "We're sorry, Keiko."

Feeling braver with two assistants, I threw in, "and it's half a day of fun now, for my emotional compensation."

"Yes ma'am."

I giggled at the turnabout.

The kid smiled.

Upon noticing, I bid, "thanks."

"No biggie." The glasses kid turned away. Ai turned her attention to him in response, a question apparent in her features.

Agasa wandered up to my side. "Is it safe to assume you're building a good relationship with the children?"

"They're a handful, Agasa." Melting into the cushions helped me continue. "We're getting there."

"It gets better." He sat at the edge. "It's been quite an adventure since we last saw you."

"I knooow. I feel like the entire town has reset. All that remains the same is my home, and I'm told to be anywhere but there."

"Hm? Why is that?"

Blood rushed to my ears. "Ah, um, y-you see... My neighbor... he..."

"He works at a daycare," Ayumi told him.

A squeak half-caught at the back of my throat. "A-Ayumi!"

"He's gave us juice, and-" Mitsuhiko leered at me. "-he caught Keiko red handed."

"She was tailing him while we were tailing her." Genta shrugged nonchalantly. "He noticed her, yet she never noticed us."

Ayumi propped her hands at her hips, "we have experience though, so you can't blame her."

"Hey!" Waving my hands proved fruitless.

"Tailing?" Agasa cupped his chin. "What are you up to?"

"Nothing." Cringing, my hands and eyes clamped tight, I finally begged, "listen, don't tell Shinichi. It was a silly test to- to see if I could tail. He'd make fun of me."

Agasa tilted his head, cracking a small smile. "You two are always so odd, but I understand." The words faded as his gaze traveled to the kid in glasses. "A-and I use that phrase lightly..."

When I checked, the kid had already left, heavy steps thudding all the way to the next room.

Genta asked, "what can we expect tomorrow?"

"A bit hasty, aren't you?" I swept my hand to the side. "It'll be fun, besides, today isn't over. Impatience won't help you race—" And that movement brought my watch into view. "—time! Is it really so late?"

"What's the big deal?"

"Curfew!"

"Whaat?" Mitsuhiko fell back a step. "I don't have to be home for another three hours!"

"Are your parents strict?" Ayumi worried.

"Yep!" With a hop off the couch, and a wide wave, I shouted, "bye!"

Author's Note

*In the manga Agasa's voice changer is a pen, while in the episode The Secret of the Moon, the Star, and the Sun it is a Yaiba themed card. (I swear there's so many episodes, I mix up these details to no end. My heart cringes every time I have to google details of my favorite show.)

A Genkan is the area before a front door; where people remove their shoes.