Chapter 2: A Rendezvous with Destiny (1)

After last night event, my head hurt felt like on drug.

No kidding since I have been braistorming for the entire night. Thinking mosstly about the existence of ICA.

First, it MAY not seem as bad as I thought, why? From what I remembered from my previous world, ICA is more like an anti-hero organization than a fully criminal one, they have their standards and always tread on the moral grey area, basically they killed only the criminal professional who can't be judged normally by public justice system.

ICA by normal law is considered to be illegal organization but deep down they have strong connection to FBI, CIA, MI6, NSA, even the like like Interpol, UN knew about the existence of ICA. They usually hired ICA Hitman to deal with elusive criminal lords that even special service agent couldn't deal with it, that's where ICA step in.

Second, if my parents really worked for ICA then it's my best place to prepare me for the future as I'm only one know how the plot progress, but that's also the problem.

The presence of ICA alone could alter some events in the future so the plot isn't guaranteed. By training under ICA and becoming an Agent, I could improvise upon certain situations in the future without relying too much on the plot knowledge. 'Remember, no plot armor.'

Right now, I'm sitting at the table in kitchen room, the spitting headache from lack of sleep didn't do me any better as I'm devising a plan on how to convince my parents train me as an Agent, normal convention way won't work since they refused to reveal the information to me in the first place.

In front of me is father reading newspaper, he seem to engrossed in it to notice my stare. From there I formulated a plan, another very stupid plan that can persuade him.

'Let's hope my martial art skill from previous world still intact.'

"Airu, you okay? You've been staring into distance for awhile now." Just as I about to act, father raised his concern toward me, startled me a bit before regaining my composure.

"Nothing father, I think all I need is a glass of cold water to stimulate my brain abit, hehe" I scratched my head, trying to act naturally as much as possible.

"Well go ahead, don't make me stop you."

Right, moment of truth, getting ready for that asinine plan of mine that could potentially kill me in the progress.

"Father, about yesterday chess match, what do you think is the fatal aspect that lead me to throw my formation off?"

I held the kitchen knife tightly in reversed grip.

"Hmm, I think it's because you dropped your guard down at the moment of near glory, you almost got me there but a lapse of concentration just because you were near checkmate me got you."

Going to drive to the very end then.

"I see, so keeping your guard up even when you corner your target is one of the most important skill for an Agent huh?"

I ran at full speed toward father's back with the knife in my hand. Just as I'm about to drive it to father, he immediately twisted his back by facing me, he parried me with his hand blocking the strike at my hand's wirst.

I noticed something off, his expression, it wasn't a surprise but a smirk appeared on his face.

"Hoh? What brought this on? I thought I was a good father to you?" his smug smile still there, my blood suddenly surged within my heart, making me unconsciously smiled too.

"Yes, you were, you are and will always be, but you're awfully bad at hiding secret father, might as well as out with it."

"Cat out of the bag huh, so my sense was right last night, you read the file, did you? Please, by all means indulge me on how did you find it?"

"The pedestal fan, your room is equipped with an Air conditioner and a ceiling fan, not counting the fact that place is at the second floor, meaning you lack no source of wind, the pedestral fan sure seem overkill to me."

"Ahaha, and I wonder why Suzura was so adamant against training you into an Agent? You're sharp Airu, for a mind of a four year old you're very sharp, even abnormal at that, but−"

Father's grin grew wider, signifying something bad coming. 'My agent's sense is tingling!'

"−You're not invicible!" He deflected my strike with ease. Suddenly my mind went full alarm mode as I saw a blur coming at me with neck-breaking speed. I raised my both of my forearms to block but even then I can feel the truck hitting force run through my entire body.

'Gah! Dammit I forgot this body is only four years old."

I got sent back from just blocking father's hit but managed to quickly regain my positioning, my right hand still holding the knife in reverse grip pointing directly at him.

"You're right Airu, one of the first skill we were taught as an Agent, mainly because many has died at the doorstep of success. And you young man, has walked right into my trap."

My eyes widen 'His trap, what did he mean? Did he somehow anticipate my move?'

"How?"

"I knew It was you yesterday read the file, what I've been doing was waiting to see how you react."

"H-How did you?"

"Simple! The windows to my room are specialized one to prevent outside intrusion, it were opened mean someone come from inside since the glasses showed no sign of breaking in. Not only that, when I and Suzura were checking your room, I noticed the window to your room have dirt on it, line up perfectly with my deduction, but I must say you were very brave to climb down from second floor."

So, he knew it huh, damn I was too careless to cover up my trails, then again who am I kidding. Standing before me right now isn't father, it's ICA Agent with full intention to kill, and it's making my heart pumping!

I charged at father once again but for some reason this time, all the fatigue felt numb, perhaps because of the sudden surge of dopamine drove all my sense to maximum overdrive.

He raised his leg to high kick me but I managed to slide right under him at last possible moment 'Damn, this body still has it advantage on it own'.

I changed direction and leaped directly at him with full speed. What I didn't expect though that on my father's right hand it was a smaller knife pointing at me. He brought it down but for some reason, I sensed hesitation in that moment.

'He intended to intimidate me? Fool!'

Once again I did something very stupid, I used my left hand to block his knife carrying hand but instead of normal parry like holding his wrist, I let the knife cut right into my left hand. I could see the tip of knife throught the viscous blood at back of my left hand, father was even taken aback from my bold action.

'GAH! That's hurt, that's really hurt!'

Yet the numbing sensation soon kicked in, even if it hurt, for some reason my blood kept on surging nonstop making my face no longer has that grin but instead replaced by a full maniac smile.

"My turn!"

I roared loudly as I drove knife down to father, at this speed even if he managed to recover it would be too late to dodge the knife.

Just as the knife about made contact with father, something got hold of my wrist 'What!?', I expected it to be father but to my surprise it wasn't.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TWO DOING?!"

It was mother full intention to skewer both me and my father alive with those eye piercing stare.


"I can't believe one day I would see my child and my husband trying to kill one another with a knife early in the morning!"

Mother was wrapping my injured hand with bandage while giving both me and father an earful lecture, she almost killed my father when she realized the stunt I pulled when blocking father's knife.

'Well that gonna to leave a nasty scar.'

Father's sitting in seiza sheepishly under my mother's gaze, offering the most apologetic smile he could to me and my mother.

"So… Does anyone want to explain what's going on."

Just as my father about to answer, I beat him to it.

"It was me mother. But before I say anything, I too want answer from both of you, truthfully." I emphasized on the truth part to remind them know that I'm serious about it.

"A-chan, you knew?"

"Last night, yes."

"See Suzura, I told you it was him!"

Mother furrowed her brows, thinking should she let me, a toddler, know about underworld bussiness. 'Hope the stunt I did convinced them that I'm no ordinary child.'

"Right, hang tight, this is gonna to take awhile."

One lenghty explanation later

I furrowed my brow too, right after an hour worth of explaination, I did manage to grasp the situation now.

Let me give you a synopsis of what mother has explained

First, it seem like ICA operates similar to how I described earlier from my previous world knowledge, in short an anti-hero organization dealing with criminal who can't be judge by normal mean.

Second, an information I managed to dig out that played massively advantage on my side.

ICA is at cold war with the Black Organization.

'Hell yeah!'

Oh thanks whatever god above but this information is like finding a diamond in rough, finally something looks up for a moment.

All the more reason for me for to join the ICA and prepare for the future.

Though one thing I have to be sure, let's see if ICA exist, does that mean he here too? I decided to settle that one and for all.

"Father, Does ICA has any Agent name Agent 47?"

"Hmm? No to my knowledge, there's no Agent with codename 47…"

What is this?! Is this the power of plot convenience? Did god send me here to fulfill this legendary role of a Hitman?

Though outside I held an apathetic face, deep inside I was screaming ecstaticly at the top of my lungs.

"Why you ask A-chan?"

"Nothing mother, just remember something funny. Anyway, I want to join ICA!"

"No!" Mother was, of course, against it. Eh this was expected, though father instead of voicing his disagreement, opting to thinking about his answer, it's seem like my plan worked as intended.

"Eh? Why?" I put up my most innocent face as much as possible. 'Dammit! Mother you don't understand how chaos it is in the future so I need preparation!'

"The reason we hide our job from you was because we don't want you to involve the danger ICA Agent could posed, if you think being an Agent is run-of-the-mill job then you're wrong young man!"

'I know but it's a well worth risk to attain necessary skills for the future and extra tool against the black organization.'

"But mother−".

"No is no, listen here−"

"Wait Suzura, I think we should reconsider." Father join in at the best possible moment, he's definitely onboard with my idea of becoming an ICA Agent.

"WHAT? I thought we agree on this Hisashi! Look he even injured earlier because both you trying kill each other!"

Instead of paying attention to mother's outburst, Father looked at me then my injured hand with full expectation in his eyes.

'Oh! OH! He seem to have caught up with the reason behind my stunt already.'

"No, you're wrong mother, because it was intentional, I injured−" I raised my bandaged hand up to my parents see, a smirk appeared on my face "−my hand on purpose to catch father off guard."

"What!? Why?" Mother held both of shoulder, questioning why would me do something suicidal like that. 'She also must be perplexed by how a four year old could have such boldness to pull that kind of stunt.'

"Because conventional ways would be useless against father, I don't possess strenght to overpower him, nor fast enough to surprise him so logically, the only way was to catch him off guard. When father struck me with the knife, he didn't want to hurt me but instead forced me to back off, so I did the opposite of that. It successfully provided me with a crucial moment to attack him. Had you not interfered, father would have been injured too."

My explaination earned a jaw's drop from mother while father had a satisfied smile on his face. The reason he understood my implication was because of unusual my recklessness before driving that knife to him. He must have known that I sacrified the left hand for that brief moment needed to attack him.

"Clever boy." Father snickered at his new nickname he got for me, at the end of the day though, my plan succesfully persuaded him.

"Too bad mother it's seem your decision is vetoed, father's on my side."

My remark broke mother out of her stupor, she still wanted to try against me joining ICA 'Why are you so obstinated mother?!'

"You can't be serious!?"

"I am serious, sorry mother it's appear that the blood of hitman run deep inside my veins too."

Finally mother relented, she agreed to let me join the ICA as an Agent under both mother and father's tutelage. Though there's one problem.

"Now listen here young man, since you managed to convinced both me and your father to become an Agent, you should expect we won't hold back anything when it come to training. You are our one and only treasure son so we have to give you everything in best condition."

Yeah before every protagonist becomes that OP in the story, you gotta to pass through this gruesome training phase.

'Why can't I have that cheating power like every isekai MC has?'


You gotta give credit to the author of Conan Detective series

I mean he managed to create like over a hundred of different cases with every single of it unique on it's methods. There's a reason why this series got banned in some countries mate.

While the methods are cleverly made, not so much the motive behind the killer though because my god. Why does everyone in this universe can easily turn into a killer with IQ equivalent that of Einstein with just simple reason like, you know, love, insurance money, having affairs, etc… The police force feel seriously underpowered so much that they had to rely on a highschool detective to solve their case.

Like this little guy in front of me name Heiji Hattori here.

Why am I rambling about this again? For nothing really, mostly just ready myself for my involvement in the plot line, I know the joke why Conan is living walking corpse magnet funny back at old world but it's a real thing now so you have to get use to it, only by staying near Mouri detective Agency I can have some form of control over plotline.

"Airu you're staring at distance again"

Kazuha's voice startled me, I get the habit often zonning out recently, must be because of the insensity of training my parents put me on for over the past two years.

Oh yeah we're six year old right now, me, Kazuha and Heiji have just entered Elementary school this year. In reality though mostly only Kazuha and Heiji focused in the lessons while I used those precious time to compenstate the lack of sleep for intensive training program from my parents. And beside, I've learnt all this for the third time already.

If we're talking about my intellect right it should be around first year student of highschool, I know how to assemble and dissamble most handgun and submachinegun, mild physicial training including 1 lap around the city on 3 in the morning and middle level in various martial arts. Father taught me the basic of aiming, shooting and tracking target while mother taught me espionage skill like observation skill, deduction, spying and blending in, I won't be surprised much if I learn the art of disguise in the future from her though.

"It's one of the skills at being a great detective Kazuha, you gotta always think to increase your brain capacity to operate under constant stress level."

Eh, it's just my own make up excuse they're still kid so they should believe it.

"That's so, that's so!" I'm still really not used to these guys childish antic, knowing their adult counterpart.

"Woah, no wonder why my father is really fond of you. You're always calm and collected huh, ranking near top score board in our school even though you always sleep in class. And even occasionally assisted my father in solving case." Heiji stated while he pratice swinging his shinai.

During the two years period, I got closer two both Kazuha and Heiji in term of friendship, we're basically formed a trio friend group in school and everyone knows about it. Not only that I'm also acquainted with Heiji's father, Heizo Hattori. The man himself is rather intimidated, espcially when you look up from below of a six year old.

How did I know such a powerful man in the Osaka Police Department? Welllllll…. You gotta dated back a few weeks ago

Flashback

"You got anything left to say. Mr. Soichi?"

My voice reverberated throughout the room but mostly direct at the murderer of this tragic family. Heizo got a called from his subordinates that need to screening a crime has just happened downtown. The victim is a mother and her daughter, both of them were in the living room when crime happened.

The murderer? The father… yeah that sound absurd as hell in the first place so no one believed it. Well not until Heizo voiced his suspicion as well as Heiji and I started digging clues left and right while Kazuha followed us arround. Why the hell they let a bunch elementary school student running around in thecrime scene? I don't know, go and ask Heizo.

And it all leads to this moment where the man knelt in front of us and officers, broke down in anguish tear, though I don't care much since the moment he dropped his crocodile tear before, for someone went as far as killing the mother and his daughter, he earned no sympathy for me.

Though something knacking me deep inside, especially his voice is full of hatred directly at not the police but the trio of us.

My suspicion is further confirmed when he gazed at Kazuha. At that moment, my sense kicked up at maximum gear when I realized he's readied to charge at her.

'Bastard!'

"Kazuha!" Heiji shouted at his childhood friend when the madman leaped at Kazuha. She's too terrified to move as fear overtook her.

*BANG*

The madman stopped in his track when the bullet grazed right near his cheek as blood slowly dropped from it.

His face from hatred contorted into surprised and fear as he turned to look at me. No not just him but every officers's eyes landed on me and even Heiji with Heizo were completely taken aback by my own action.

On my hand is the Model 60, Japanese policemen standard issued revolver. From barrel it's smoking from the earlier shot.

"The next shot won't be a warning shot."

My icy voice pierced the murderer body as he slumped down in defeat. Heizo was the first to be out of his shock when he ordered his men to arrest the convict.

"What are you doing?! Restrain him!"

The policemen handcuffed the man and escorted him to the outside. I returned back the revolver to the officer I took from, At that moment Heizo walked up to me, defintely reprimanded me for my action.

"That was quick thinking Akihiko-kun but very unbecoming of you too." Heizo said as he subjected me under his stern gaze that sent chill down my spine, but I'm not coward for not standing up against this man!

"It was a swim or sink situation Hattori-san, if that man had touch Kazuha, I would've employed more drastic method." I answer unfalteredly, Heizo would've retorted there that I'm just a child but he didn't, perhaps he realized that I'm no ordinary child and more mature than my peers.

He turned around walk out of the room, both me and Heiji helped our shaken girl Kazuha on the way outside

End of Flashback

Thinking about it, from that day onward, Heizo would often take us the trio to crime scene, father of the year right there by the way, to solve the case. He would be the final judgement of the case why most of it's fell on me and Heiji responbility, Heiji helped the deduction part while I helped correcting his mistakes.

It's been a hectic time recently, training with my parents during night, running around solving case in free time and school at day.

I desperately need a vacation.

Fortunately, as if noticing my distress, mother actually proposed a beach trip for me, she even went so far as to extend the invitation to Heiji and Kazuha as a token of gratitude for being my friends, well… my only friends.

Though I'm skeptical again about this beach, why?

Because, according to my 'senile' brain, there's a chapter in past beach scene where Shinichi Kudo and his lovely crush slash childhood friend Ran Mouri meet the Akai family,… yeah that family where every member in it is terrifying on their own.

The most prominent being Akai Shuichi, the future FBI 'Silver Bullet', damn badass as hell, who will soon be the nemesis of the Black Organization.

And it's also my first time I directly interact with the plot. No, becoming friend with Heiji and Kazuha count toward indirect action since it wasn't mentioned in the manga.

Then again, it could just be another ordinary beach vacation, or maybe I'm just paranoid about it. There are tons of beach in Japan right? So the chance of coincidentally meeting them is small right?

I sighed, may as well get this over with, it can't be that bad right?

"Kazuha, Heiji can hear me out for a few minutes?"

Heiji stopped practicing kendo and walked toward while Kazuha sent me a questioning gaze.

"What's wrong Airu?"

"So do both of you fancy a beach trip?"

Both of them looked at each other, perplexed by my words before turning to look at me.

""Hah?""

I smirked, but little did I know that this beach trip will be our meeting at the crossroad of fate with my most important person later down the road.


It's official, coincidence can be freaky.

If you realized that reference, congratulation.

Anyway, when I say that this beach trip could be tempting fate, I didn't mean literally it.

The scenery? Checked, That cliff conveniently over there for the robbery case? Checked. The Akai family? Checked. Shinichi and Ran? CHECKED!?

When mother brought me and Heiji with Kazuha to the beachside, the moment I spot that cliff I wanted to facepalm myself but refrained myself to do so because it would be weird to the others.

Heiji and Kazuha helped my mother set up while I decided to sneak away, mostly because I just want to see other cast of the story now that I'm officially in the story now.

I went to the food stall to buy me a takoyaki skewer only to see a very familiar scene with our two of the most important characters in this series.

Shinichi Kudo and Ran Mouri with a bunch of hooligan, if I'm right, those hooligans wanted to eat without paying so they put a fly into their yakitori. Shinichi managed to catch both of them red-handded and put up his detective play, of course those guys can't do anything about the kids since it gathered quite a crowd.

I was tempted to break both of them out the situations but the plot need them to meet up with Akai family so instead I chose to ignore it. Right now, I'm looking for the Akai family while enjoying the takoyaki in my hand.

'Goddamm these thing tasted good.'

Oh! Would you look at that! Lo and behold gentlemen, Akai Shuichi in flesh resting on a lounge chair, enjoying the beach scenery, I must say he looked rather ripped. Obeserving him closer, I can see the scar on his left eyes, probably from his scuffle with his mother.

3rd person pov

Akai Shuichi is lying on the lounge chair, resting from the earlier fight between him and his mother about the fact that he joined the FBI without prior notice. Rebellious child phase gentlemen.

His resting was however interrupted by a peculiar boy who just got here with a takoyaki skewer on his hand. The boy has a jet black hair with crimson red eyes, he's wearing a black trunk with transparent plastic jacket, there is a rather big scar in middle of his left hand. There's nothing wrong with boy to say but he has been standing there eating his takoyaki while staring intensely at him like a predator studying it's prey.

Shuichi turned his head toward the boy to initiate the conversation at his abnormal behavior.

"Uh kid, aren't you supposed to be enjoying the beach with your friends now? Why are you staring at me like that?" he put up his friendliest smile he could to not scare the boy.

"Sorry, not sorry, I'm not a fan of beach activities like volleyball, building a sand castle nor playing football in this hot temprature."

"Eh, I say soccer with friends is rather fun for your ages right?" Shuichi inquired, he emphasized on the age part to see how this peculiar kid reacted to.

"And beside you don't usually have a chance to meet up a rare animal name 'foreigner' from America in this beach and you're the first one so it's naturally I want to see you, you can say the same to those girls over there want to ask for your number." Airu deflected back while pointing at the girls sneaking glance at Shuichi, he silently recognized the landmines in Shuichi's question so ignoring it was his choice.

"Uh, Aren't you rather rude for, you know, comparing me to an animal? And how did you know I'm from America?" Shuichi sweetdropped at this Airu's straightforwardness but he's also impressive at his deduction. 'He avoid answering my second question by continute answering the first one…'

"First, I know you live in America because your choice of word, I said 'football' but you chose the word 'soccer', someone who lived in America usually use that word over football compare to British. Second, what's the problem with the rare animal metaphor? Aren't we, the human at it's core the same as those apes? The only thing different is the fact we're higher mammal being and have more advanced communicating, the rest bascially stem from animal's behavior, won't you agree, Nii-san?" Airu answered with the most straight 'that-is-the-fact' face at Shuichi answer.

After hearing Airu's answer, Shuichi chuckled a bit before lying back to his lounge chair, opting to leave the kid alone to his antic. Though he must admit, from the encounter with that kid, he can draw one conclusion about that boy.

'Smart, very smart but also very sassy.'

A while later, and somehow that kid still standing there observing him, Shuichi's younger siblings came to greet their eldest brother. Shukichi Haneda, alongside Sera Masumi hasn't met their brother for a long time, even Sera didn't know how her brother looked like as techinally she wasn't born until Akai has left for America.

"It's been a while, hasn't it Shuichi-niisan?" Shukichi greeted his brother with enthusiast, true it's been very long time since he met him, their appearance has greatly changed over time. Has it not for the fact Shukichi called his brother once a month, he would be mistake his brother for someone else.

"Yeah, seven or eight years, right? You've grown a lot Shukichi, you're in the third year of high school now?" Inquired Shuichi.

"Well yes, and beside I need to finish my education before continuning my shogi career too." Shukichi scratched his head in embrassment but suddenly remember another person was with him along.

"Oh, go on, say hello to our Nii-san, this is your first meeting between you two, right?"

A small girl with a toothy teeth standing shakingy behind Shukichi, holding tightly into him. This girl is Sera Masumi, youngest of the Akai siblings, she's rather overwhelmed by Shuichi presence as this is the first time she has met the eldest of the three.

"H-Hello, nice to meet you, m-my name's Masumi, Sera Masumi." She nevously introduced herself.

"Oh? Who's the kid?" Asked by Shuichi. Startled by his curious toward Masumi, she quickly hide back into her brother Shukichi.

"Come on Nii-san, it's hurtful of her to say so, I did remember sending picture of her everytime I called you right?" Shukichi could only smiled apologetically to his youngest sister while trying to remind his brother.

"Oh yeah, mother was pregnant when I left to studying abroad."

Then suddenly Shukichi remembers about the absence of their mother, he proceed to ask for whereabouts from Shuichi because he and their mother had a 'talking' earlier.

"Speaking about our mother, where is she? I thought you and her have done talking so you come here?"

"About that−" Shuichi then rise up as he takes off his sunglasses to show a bruise on his left eye. "−We had a heated argument back at the hotel, she managed to strike me in the eye with her knife move, but−" he put back his sunglasses before lying down again "−I also countered with a punch into her face so she must be resting now in the hotel with a pack of ice on the wound." Shuichi chuckled at his memory of his trading blow with his mother, as the result the room is in mess right now.

"It's your brain that need cooling, perhaps I should douse liquid nitrogen on your head to make you think straight for once." Come the voice of their mother, her sudden appearance bringforth a stern gaze upon her eldest son.

"I let you study abroad in America since you said that country has good education for you, and upon your comeback, what did I get in return? The fact you're trying unearth the truth behind your father's disappearence and your recruitment into FBI after graduation." Mary sneered at her son impulsive action to which Shuichi calmly replied.

"I've already acquired the green card status as well as American nationality, all I need now is three years of working experience then the written and physical exam should be easy. Well, maybe I need to get used to driving on the right to get the driver's license since we drive left in Japan."

Mary, even after hearing her son's calm answer, still strongly disapproved of his plan. "And what about your living expense? You think I'll send the money for you to chase that fruitless endeavor?"

Shuichi was about to retort but was cut off by the third voice chimed of someone he didn't expect to be still here, making everyone in his family turned to the source of that voice.

"Don't worry about that Obaa-san, I heard performing in a bar pay quite high nowaday, and beside America has tons of place for part-time job, your son won't go poverty anytime soon." Came the voice of Airu who still standing there nibbling on his takoyaki skewer with his bore gaze. Shuichi briefly wondered how persistent and brave this kid is for not only standing there to witness his family problem entire time but also calling his mother 'obaa-san'.

Shukichi and Masumi both have absentmindedly forgot about that boy before. They saw him conversated with their bother and thought he's just asked for direction. Masumi held curious thought as the boy who managed to draw out a smile from her oldest brother.

Mary was the first one to asked the rude boy after his unwanted remark. "Who are you? And did your parents teach you that's rude for calling a stranger 'obaa-san' in middle of day?" Mary admonished Airu, who still held an apathetic face toward the giant woman in front him.

"How rude, expecting me to read your mind for your age is delusional. Also, totally not your son's illegitimate child, Nii-san is a man of responsible, thank you very much." Once again Airu answered in the most straight face fashion he could which earned a complete silence from everyone.

Shuichi is first one to break out of his surprise with a laugh "Hahaha, don't worry Kaa-san. He's just another child on this beach, though a funny one that is."

'He smiled!' Masumi thought as she looked at Airu in awe.

"Sassy brat." Mary snarled at Airu, thought he turned to face Mary with a smirk

"Why, thank you! Though I prefer 'Clever boy' from my father but 'Sassy brat will do the job too." Airu smiled innocently at Mary's newest nickname for him. He's proud of himself for achieving a lot of nickname from annoying everyone he meet on his way.

Mary grumbled as she turned back looking at Shuichi "I called you back here and maybe let this peaceful scenery remind you of what your father said before coming to Japan, "Think of me as someone who doesn't exist from now on. It's seem like I made enemies with some really bad crows.". That's what he said."

Mary walks away as Shuichi looks to his mother figure 'You're the one who forgot, father's body hasn't been found yet.'

He slumped back to his chair but not before realized there's another guess lying next to him in the free lounge chair. Shuichi seriously pondered whoever this boy is, he forgot that he hasn't got the boy name yet.

"If you're going to ask me anything, please go ahead, I'm just a kid, not an adult." The boy said as he twirled the skewer in his hand.

'For a child, you're acting like a highschool teenager already' little did Shuichi know, he was spot on with it.

"What's your name kid, I haven't caught it since we met."

"Airu, Airu Akihiko. And you?" Inquired Airu.

"Shuichi, Akai Shuichi." Satisfied with the Airu's answer, he slumped back to his chair.

Shukichi and Masumi both walked near the boy to introduce themselves.

"My name's Shukichi Haneda and this is our youngest sister Sera Masumi, go ahead Masumi, say hi to him."

"N-Nice to meet you!" Exclaimed Masumi.

"Well well, nice to meet you too, Airu Akihiko, but you can call me Airu if Akihiko is too much for you." Airu grin and extends his hand to shake with Masumi.

"Masumi, let's go see the sea and find something too eat, what about you Airu-kun, want to with us?" Shukichi smiled toward Airu, who brieftly want to question what's with this world men radiate such Bishounen vibe.

"I'll take the rain check, Nii-san, but thank you."

"Alright then, follow me Masumi!"

Masumi holds her brother hand and walks together with him to the beach but not before glancing back to her other brother.

'I don't know much about my second brother much, but… he doesn't smile often like Kichi-nii yet…'

She then looked to the peculiar boy who has been here for the whole time yet somehow he managed to make her brother smile with only just words.

'…Airu-san is straight forward, even almost rude but he make Shu-nii smile,… and he seem mature compare to my other friends too. If he can make Shu-nii smile, then I can too!' Masumi nodded determined with her thought.


1st person pov: Airu Akihiko

Damn! What an encounter! Never thought I would have a chance to talk with the entire Akai family, not only that but also managed to annoy the hell out of Mary Sera herself. Though comparing to the manga, it's quite weird to see her not in the shrunken form.

Then again who am I kidding, now I have myself a new nickname 'Sassy brat'! Although I have to admit I'm seriously sassy to Shuichi himself from the beginning.

Still, an achievement is an achievement and you can't say otherwise!

Right now, I and Shuichi resting under his family umbrella with me lying in his free lounge chair. I'm surprised he didn't chase me away considering I literally intruded his family personal problem.

'Now what the hell is next event?'

While I was wondering what will happen next something strange caught my eyes. A shadow, a shadow of a child crawling like a frog on our parasol.

'What's this? Raining child frog?'

"Peek-a-boo!" The shadow turned out to be Masumi herself trying… whatever the bloody hell that she intended to do.

'Oh wait, yeah this part when Masumi trying to make Shuichi smile. Hah, I beat you to it woman! Or child! Whatever suit it!'

"What are you doing Shukichi? It's dangerous letting her do this."

Shukichi could only smile apologetically, poor man himself "Sorry, she said she want a better view so I let her the on parasol."

On the other hand, Masumi himself seem not the faltered from the failed attempt to make her brother smile. 'This girl's persistent, both right now and in the future too if I remember correctly.'

Then, after about 3 minutes since Masumi's first trick, she countine doing…. Whatever that move is… 'What are you woman? A monkey?'. Which failed to impressed Shuichi too as he literally yawned.

I could only a small handclap to her, not because of the tricks she did but because of how tenacious she is. The handclap did somehow got titled head from Shuichi though.

"What? I'm just giving a consolation prize for her talent." I calmy stated which earned a small snicker smile. Hah! Take that Masumi! But for some reason she looked even more determined.

'Oh, oh I know what will happen next, this will be fun.'

Masumi runs off to somewhere for about another 2 minutes until she come back… with fries in both in both her nose and full in mouth.

"Don't play with food." Reprimanded Shuichi to Masumi. For me? I try my best to hold my indifferent face and stifled my laugh. 'And then she turned herself into a comedian, funniest sh*t I've ever seen'.

"What are you doing Masumi!? You're a girl and you got chip under your nose." A new challenger has reappeared. Mary herself admonished Masumi while trying wipe off the salt on Masumi's face.

There is however this one joke I can't resist myself to do it.

"Damn Akai-niisan, the next thing I know, your entire family trying to cosplay huh?" I calmly say outside but inside I have to use everything to force myself not to laugh at my own joke.

That remark did attract, once again, the entire Akai family, especially a curious gaze from Shuichi and annoying one from Mary herself.

"What do you mean kid?" Asked by Shuichi

I could only allow myself a small grin and retort. "I mean what I mean Akai-niisan, your mother came from England while you lived in America and your two other siblings here in Japan, if that's not Worldwide then I don't know what is."

Mary mumbled something about me being Sassy brat again while Shuichi could only laugh at my answer. "Hahaha, how did you noticed our mother come from England?"

"Just like how I deduced you lived in America. She used the word 'chip', which compare to American, they usually say fries whilst British use chip."

"That's a very impressive deduction young boy." Chimed in another voice, this one from the woman but I've already anticipated who could it be.

"Oh sorry, I couldn't help myself but marveled at this boy's intelligent but enough of that. Can I ask any of you has seen my son? A boy with green short and a girl around his age might be there too."

"…No" Mary replied curtly, hey that's rude woman, she just asking for her son's whereabouts.

"If you asking about a boy playing detective then I recommend you start searching the food stalls Yukiko-san. I saw a boy earlier together with a girl picking a fight with a bunch of hooligans, something something about fly in yakisoba something something like that."

Yukiko's eyes widen a bit before she smiled "Thank you little boy, but can I ask how did you know my name?"

"Yukiko Kudo or formerly known as Yukiko Fujimune, the world renowed famous actress but retired after marrying famous novelist Yusaku Kudo. As for how I knew it was you, those disguise may fool bystanders but not me who pay attention to small details and have knowledge about you, I can easily recognize you everywhere."

"You are very smart young boy, thanks again for your information." Yukiko smile and then walk away. Masumi looks at me like she want to say some thing but I was about to relax myself again until the two of my Kansai friends shows up.

"Airu!" Exclaimed Kazuha

"What are ya doing here? Ya know how tiring it was to find ya?" complained Hattori as he panted and sit down on the sand.

"Nothing Kazuha, Hattori, just relaxing and enjoying the view here while being a sassy brat that is." I tiredly reply.

Both Kazuha and Hattori looked at each other before looking back at me in confusion. They were about to say something until Shuichi beat them to it.

"Hm, you see mother, even in the so-called 'safe' country, if you're careless, you can still be recognized, just like how this kid figured out your nationality−" Shuichi said as he point at me making a sudden surge of pride within myself. "−Then there is no truly safe for you mother. But you don't have to worry, before the ones who after father, find us. I'll send them all to the bottom of hell."

In normal circumstance that sound badass to kids of our age. But…, but to me that did not sit right with me. Why? Simple, he intended to take on the Black Organization alone and that's just suicidal, his action will soon bringforth a serious repercussion and the one who pay the price for that? Akemi Miyano. So just for this once, just once I'll have to do this.

"I could say the same to you, Akai Shuichi." Came my voice, but held no sarcastic in it but full seriousness. Shuichi, and even Mary herself surprised by my sudden change of attitude, but I pressed on. "That is not danger. It is inevitable destruction. You stand in the way not merely of an individual , but a mighty organization, the full extent of which you, with all your cleverness, have been unable to realize. You must stand clear, Akai Shuichi, or be trodden under foot."

That quote was from Holme's ultimate nemesis, professor James Moriarty. How ironic that quote was used to threaten Holme but right now I'm using it to warn Akai Shuichi. Let's just hope he soon understand my message, otherwise I will need to do a bit of VIP rescuing operation in the future.

Kazuha and Heiji were questioning what did my speech meaning about while Shuichi was completey taken aback from my warning. He was about to retort but I slumped back down, ignored him and said my piece.

"If men had wings and bore black feathers, few of them would be clever enough to be crows."

Well after my speech, the atmosphere grows… awkward. Heiji and Kazuha silently mull over what did my speech meaning while Mary and Shuichi gaze skeptically at me.

For me though, I was seriously questioning where the hell is that corpse magnet because right now he should be here and help me dispel this tense situation I inadvertently created.

"I know your true identity!" Ah finally! Speak of the devil, here he is, behold! The embodiment of living walking corpse magnet!

Shinichi said as he pointed at Shuichi, poor Ran trying her best to stop her friend but to no avail.

"This onii-san is pierrot!" No, you idiot.

"You traveled to all kind of countries like you said earlier. The only one I know who travels in many country are those who worked in the circus, and your left hand too has that mark which anyone playing the instrument called accordion has it. When they pressed those button while the air keep going in and out the instrument forcing the belt against their hand, only pierrot, who also happened to be only one in circus has that tear makeup, played in the show. Am I right?"

Goddam, gotta give this guy a medal for his deduction though, even after reading it in manga, it's still sound impressive hearing it from him.

"And you!" Said Shinichi as he pointed at me. Oi! Didn't your parent teach you it's rude to point at someone? And what did I have to do with all of this?! "You are professor James Moriarty's student, aren't you? I heard you gave a chapter and verse of Moriarty's quote to this pierrot niisan earlier right? And you even managed to deduced my mother's idenity too!" This guy's been here all the time? Why the hell didn't you show up sooner?!

Both me and Shuichi looked at each other briefly before both of us broke into a laugh with me smiling devilishly.

"Dummy" Sorry I had to do it, since he dubbed me as James Moriarty's student, might as well roll with it.

"What?" Shinichi exclaimed with irritated tone.

"Kuku, you impressed me meitantei-kun. But not enough, well actually you impressed me because you managed to be on the same level as this Osaka idiot, you two are the same." Said me as I pointed to Heiji, who gave me an annoyed gaze.

"Oi, what are ya saying?! I'm obviously better than that guy! And which side are ya on?!"

"What are you saying? I'm Holme's apprentice so I'm supeior than him!"

"Silence both of you!" God I hate when child start bickering, why don't they just solve the problem like a true man by using fist?

"You're right about that accordion mark, Holme's apprentice. But going as far as saying this nii-san here's a pierrot in your judgement is wrong, that tear makeup on his face? Look closer meitantei, It's a bruise he got from a fight. As for the accordion mark, it's not necessary pierrot plays play that instrument, what about bar performer, street perfomer? You forgot to consider other available option on the table dear meitantei, oh and just because he traveling a lot doesn't mean he's a part of a circus." I finished my correction with a full smirk, that speech make Shuichi smile again, Heiji grumbled something about showing off while Masumi, Ran and Kazuha have an "O" face.

"Airu's right, I'm not a pierrot, just a bar performer. Now since all of you are the same age, why don't make friend with my sister here, she's in need of a playmate." Said Shuichi as he pushed Masumi to us.

"Well well, As our mentors are one another's rival, why don't we introduce each other, the name's Airu Akihiko, James Moriarty's student."

Shinichi stand front and he proudly said "Shinichi Kudo, Holme's apprentice!"

"Ran Mouri"

"Heiji Hattori, soon to be great detective!"

"Kazuha Toyama."

"Sera Masumi."

Each of us gradually stated our name, during that time, a ingenous idea popped inside my head, I smiled.

"Woah so we have 2 soon to be detective huh, I wonder who's better than who." I said, both Shinichi and Heiji suddenly glare at one another.

"It obviously me! Kansai great detective!"

"No! it's me."

I snickered 'Children, so easy to deceive.' I was about to go back to my lounge chair and let them bicker to themselves until I caught sigh of those hooligans appeared again.

'Oh this…' thought me tiredly, I forgot about this part.

"I finally found you brats!" said the first irrelevant to plot character who I'm not gonna to even bother remembering his name by just refering them as hooligan.

"It's because of you brats that we got into a lot of trouble." Irritatedly stated the second hooligan.

"It's because you want to eat free and get away by putting a fly into the yakisoba disk. You brought it upon yourselves!" Shinichi stand fearlessly in front of them. 'You either very brave or very stupid, Shinichi'

"You have no idea what you've got yourself into brat!" Barked the hooligan as he held Shinichi's head. Ah hell no, that guy maybe an arrogant corpse magnet but he's still my friend you dunce!

Quick as lighting, Shuichi appeared with a finger jab near the hooligan's right eye. On the other hand, I used my empty skewer to point directly to the guy's left eye with roughly one centimeter between his eyeball and the tip of the skewer.

"This kid is with me so if you have trouble with him, you'll deal with me too" stated Shuichi.

"Touch my friend and I'll skewer both of your eyeballs alive." Said me with a threatening voice after Shuichi.

The guy said sorry and together with his friends quickly disappear from the scene.

"What is that!?" Both Ran and Masumi said with full admiration. "Jeet Kune Do, a finger jab move to blind opponent." Replied calmly from Shuichi to Ran.

"What about your?" Masumi looked at me with full expectation, I sighed. "Well, assassination technique." I answered her as I walked back to the lounge chair. I could practially felt all the questioning from my friends as there is no Martial Art name like that but a suspicious gaze from Shuichi was drilling a hole in my back, but I trust him gonna to shrug it off since it's one of childish antic of naming something edgy.

I lied back at the lounge chair for a few second, ignoring Heiji and Shinichi competition who's better, only to be interrupted by none other than Masumi herself who's standing dangerously close next to me as she gives nothing but a scrutinizing stare.

"How did you do it?"

"Hmm? What are you talking about? The assassination technique?" Oi, oi woman, I ain't teaching you to become an Agent, Shuichi will chop my head off.

"No, not just that, how did you make Shu-nii smile so much." Oh about that, well, all you need is to be sassy as I am.

"Well Sera-san, it's very−" When I was about to explain it to Masumi. A screeching sound reverberated throughout the beach as a car crash through the railguard on the cliff and nose dive itself into the ocean.

'Ah sh*t, here we go again.'

The End.