~Arc 2 ~
Chapter 9
Perverts and Beika Parks
"Fancy meeting you here," Haibara greeted him as he shrank back from her. Hiding the book he was reading. She smirked. Shinichi's eyes narrowed when he saw her carrying a rather heavy book on quantum particles.
"What are you doing here?"
"It's a bookshop; what do you think?"
Shinichi frowned when he heard the professor and children entering the shop. Eventually, relenting. The latest volume of Mystery Detective Girls had just arrived, and he had wanted to get his hands on it. It was a guilty pleasure of his, the plot of the books usually centered around hot girls doing hot things. The mystery was typically bland, but he was intrigued by the characters. Specifically, the girls. Heiji would have mocked him for this, and he never wanted anyone to know that he was a fan.
Haibara, though, appeared unsurprised by his revelation.
"How long have you known?" Shinichi was disgruntled by her mocking smirk.
'Ara, it's not a mystery," she did not mock him but smiled rather sweetly. "Your Osaka friend told me about it."
"Hattori!" he yelled before cowering under the scrutiny of the store's patrons. Shinichi held his head in shame. He could almost hear the taunts he would receive from his rival...and friend.
"Well, he wanted me to change my ringtone," Haibara teased, "no doubt because music is much more pleasant to hear than a detective confessing his love for his childhood friend."
"And you changed it for him in exchange for information," he sneers as she shrugs.
"Great deduction, per-vert."
"You're evil, Haibara."
"I am from the organization, after all," she joked as he folded his arms.
"Why don't you just buy it?" she looks at the title.
"Ha-ha, very funny, Haibara. Why are you guys here anyway?"
"Kojima-kun wanted to read," Haibara flips open her book, reverting back to her usual deadpan expression.
"Genta? Read?"
"Beats me. He said something about eels and rice, probably a recipe book, I guess."
"Still."
"People can change, especially kids; maybe he'll pick up a thing or two, turn into a genius or something," Haibara scoffed, and he sighed, placing the book he had been planning to buy back on the shelves. He wasn't about to expose his guilty pleasure to nine-year-olds.
'Conan-kun!' Ayumi called out, Shinichi noting the pink book she carried. The latest fantasy series is popular among girls her age. She had been talking with Maria about it earlier on. The girls— enthralled by the dashing prince and his romance with the fiery tomboy princess. "It is a whirlwind love story with no conclusion and may continue for twenty more volumes or until the money runs out," Haibara remarked when Sonoko mentioned it once. It angered the older girl who had been gushing over the series. For hours after that, she had nagged. Shinichi was not spared either. The unfathomable plot is explained in detail by a brown-haired heiress.
"Volume Five," Haibara glanced disdainfully at the title, "Fifteen more to go."
Shinichi chuckled, "It's written for children, Haibara. What were you expecting?"
"Something more entertaining."
"You read it, haven't you?"
She paused, and he smirked. "So, how was it? Did the prince make your girly heart race?"
Shinichi sniggered as she eyed him pointedly. It wasn't as if he hadn't noticed. The books were stuffed in her room. Haibara, with a soft spot for the Ayumi, had no choice.
"What are you doing here, Conan-kun?" Ayumi approached the shrunken teenagers.
"Yeah, what are you doing here, Edo-ga-wa- kun," Haibara mocked, and he slapped a hand over her lips. "I was browsing. Ran-nee-chan wanted me to get some recipe books for her," he told the little girl, who grinned. "Ran-nee-chan? Is she here? I wanted to tell her that the latest book of Fluffy pretty uniform princess is out!"
Shinichi laughed nervously as the girl showed him her pink rainbow-colored book with absolute delight. "Ai-chan, you will read it, won't you!"
The scientist tensed slightly before giving Ayumi a weak smile. "Sure, Yoshida-san," the girl replied, and Shinichi couldn't help but feel sorry for her.
"We could discuss the plot tomorrow in class!" the girl gushed excitedly as she spun around.
"Is there any way I could kill the author without touching her?" Haibara asked under her breath.
"Perhaps if you had superpowers."
"Or maybe you could just appear by her doorstep," she suggested, and he folded his arms in displeasure.
"I am not even going to ask."
"Ara, isn't that your superpower?"
"Very funny, Haibara."
"Ah," Genta appeared later with Mitsuhiko in tow. The two boys rush over, the professor following behind them, holding a stack of recipe books. "What are you doing here, Conan-kun!"
"Hakase, I'm not cooking anything from those books for you," Haibara commented, and the old man pouted.
"It's not for me. It's for Genta-kun," he gave the excuse. The chubby boy gave them a thumbs up as Haibara gave them a skeptical look.
"Summers are coming soon. Kaa-chan said something about BBQs. I told the professor about it. We could have a party at his place. Ooo, I can't wait!" Genta exclaimed with excitement. The boy—is driven solely by food.
"People change?" he commented, and Haibara folded her arms.
"One can dream, Edogawa-kun," she said dryly. They watched as the professor and Genta opened the books, practically drooling as they stared at the recipes in the books.
"Mo, they've been doing this for an hour," Mitsuhiko whined, "Can we leave before they buy another recipe book."
"Seconded," Haibara stepped forward before pulling the professor's and Genta's ears. As they walked out of the bookstore, Ayumi and Mitsuhiko laughed at the sight. Shinichi turned his attention back to the book he wanted to buy. He was about to reach out for it, the cover of the hot female detective slightly tantalizing, when Ayumi appeared before him, grabbing his arm.
"Come on, Conan-kun; Hakase said he's bringing us to a dessert cafe!"
Her innocent expression made him feel guilty, so he relented. He would have to come back another day.
Dammit.
"Phew, that was good!" Genta said. With a contented expression, he rubbed his stomach.
The tray of cakes he had earlier in the family restaurant had satisfied the chubby boy, who was grinning from ear to ear. The professor was inspecting his wallet with a worried look, and Haibara shook her head.
"That's why I told you to keep your cards together," she nagged at him. They were making their way back down to the restaurant. The professor had left his credit card on the table.
"Hehe, sorry, guys."
"You have to be more careful, Hakase," Ayumi chimed in, Mitsuhiko nodding.
"If you lose any more of your stuff, you'll be bankrupt," the boy commented, and the professor pouted. Shinichi chuckled slightly. The old man was still as fickle-minded as ever.
"Well, we are heading back now. I'm sure Hakase is thinking about his mistakes," Shinichi tried to save the professor from the nagging children.
As they walked along a street, he spotted her. The short raven-haired woman with pink glasses stood close to the wall, peering suspiciously into a small children's playground. The newspaper she was holding up, supposedly to disguise herself as a passerby, flapped around her clumsily as she tried to appear casual. She was attracting attention in the worst way possible.
"A stalker," Haibara commented, the woman jumping, facing them with a hand over her chest.
"Ai-chan!" Kobayashi exclaimed. The woman in her late twenties was stunned to see them. The detective boys stared at her with narrowed eyes.
"Kobayashi-sensei, what are you doing?" Mitsuhiko asked, and the teacher chuckled nervously.
"Nothing, just hanging around," her voice unusually high-pitched.
"Really? You look really serious," Ayumi continued, the little girl looking at Kobayashi-sensei with suspicious eyes.
"Are you sure you're ok, sensei?" Genta asked.
"She's probably patrolling or stalking. Whichever the case, you're terrible at it, sensei," Haibara said sardonically, and the teacher tensed.
"Hey! Hey! That's not how you talk to your teacher," the professor chided Haibara, and he bowed to apologize to the woman who had shaken her head.
"No, no, she's right, actually. I'm—"
"Patrolling the area due to the serial pedophile making the news lately," Shinichi replied on her behalf.
Sighing, she placed her hands on her hips before looking at the auburn-haired girl and then at Shinichi, who smirked.
"I'm beginning to doubt that the two of you are children," Kobayashi-sensei quipped.
"So, have you seen anything yet?"
She shook her head.
"We had received reports some time ago, and the teachers have been doing their rounds, but so far, we weren't able to capture the culprit."
"Of course, anyone can spot you a mile away!" Mitsuhiko quipped.
"Yeah, yeah, sensei, if you want to stake a place out, you've got to blend in," Genta explained.
"Keeping a distance is also one of the methods," Ayumi continued. The children grinned, and Haibara could only give Shinichi a defeated glance.
"I don't like where this is going," she muttered.
"Me neither," Shinichi raised his hands in defeat as the children did their usual pose. The professor laughed nervously at the plight of the shrunken teenagers.
"And if you need help!" the detective boys exclaimed at the same time, puffing out their chests and raising their hands, "The detective boys are here to stay!"
"Of course, Haibara-san and Conan-kun will help us too!" Genta pushed them forward, and they sighed.
"The detective boys will catch the pervert!"
"Yes!"
"You guys," Shinichi nagged, and they chuckled.
"Well, if that's the case," Kobayashi grins. "As the supervisor of the detective boys, sensei will help you too!"
The children and the teacher were discussing excitedly among themselves as they strolled their way into the playground that the teacher had been observing earlier.
"Babysitting a teacher, never thought that would happen," Haibara quipped, and Shinichi sniggered.
"Well, it ain't so bad," he remarked, "Haibara, could you-"
"Aye, aye, on it." She drawled, turning to the professor and instructing him.
"Your laptop, right?"
"Yeah, we'll meet back here," she confirmed, and the professor gave a thumbs up.
"Looks like you're raring to go," he teased her, and she gave him her usual bored stoic look.
"I've got no choice, do I, you corpse magnet."
"Oi."
The playground they were at was a small, popular community ground located in a neighborhood park. It was reasonably close to numerous apartments and was popular with the local children.
The park was pleasantly shaded with groves of Japanese maples lining the sides. A fountain was situated near the playground. A donation from a former businessman who had done various charitable work.
By the swings and sandpits, children were playing. Most of them were between the ages of seven and nine. There were also a few toddlers with their parents. Their laughter and cries echoed into the evening skies.
Haibara, who had gotten the laptop from the professor, was now busy typing on it as the detective boys sat by the benches. Researching the case.
"Did you find anything yet, Haibara?" Genta asked.
Earlier, along with the teacher, the children went about interviewing the various park-goers. Almost none reported anything unusual.
But—
"Two days ago," a young girl commented. Among the swings was a girl named Mayumi Onda, who was eight years old. "Haru-chan and Rei-kun were playing by the sandpits when a man approached them."
"A man?" Shinichi had asked.
"Yeah, he was talking to them, and they said he wanted Haru-chan to follow him. Rei-kun stopped her, and the man ran when the adults called out to them."
"What was he wearing?"
"Hmm...Rei-kun said that he wore a faded blue jacket, but they couldn't see his face. Rei-kun didn't like him much, and Haru-chan said he smelled bad."
"Smelt bad?"
"Yeah. Haru-chan said the man smelled like—like a car. She couldn't describe it, but she said he smelt like gas."
The girl spilled some more, and Shinichi frowned. The information was troubling. Wearing an odd jacket, a tall man walks around, asking children to follow him. If anything, that sounded like the suspect. He has not yet been caught, and the reports on the news warned parents of a perpetrator who enticed children into dark corners of secluded parks to show them his inappropriate parts.
It had been escalating lately, which would explain why Kobayashi and the elementary school teachers were patrolling the surrounding areas.
The incidents would also explain the announcement made in the morning. "Children, there is a dangerous criminal about, so I want you all to go home early! Don't stay out too late, and if you do, make sure that your parents are with you!" the principal warned. Shinichi could not imagine why the man would ever do such a thing. To be frank, he found it disgusting. What had come of the world?
"Three parks," Haibara gathered information from the news.
"Yes, Minabashi, Heishu, and Yamata parks were affected," Kobayashi-sensei remembers from the meetings.
"It's getting more frequent, though, it used to be once a month, but now…it's two times a week," Haibara continued. "As far as I can tell, the incidents occurred at a fairly busy time. However, when the victims were found, the suspect disappeared. When law enforcement arrived a short time later, they searched the general area but did not find the perpetrator."
"Which means?" Kobayashi-sensei asked.
"Which means we're looking for someone who could blend in easily," Shinichi confirmed.
"Should we go to any other parks, then? We might be able to gather some information from other witnesses?" Kobayashi asked. Shinichi shook his head.
"From the reports, it would appear that the perpetrator only attacks during the evening, and it's past the time. If anything, we should return to the park tomorrow."
"Ehhhhhh~" the children whined along with Kobayashi-sensei.
"It's getting late, sensei. You wouldn't want the principal to scold you for letting children stay out late, don't you?" Haibara nagged as the teacher pouted. "But it was getting so exciting!"
"Tomorrow," Shinichi snapped, and the children protested.
"Mah, mah, I'll get you guys home. Conan-kun's right; it's getting late, and you have school tomorrow," the professor said. While the teacher and children whined, the old man gathered them and pushed them toward the yellow beetle he had parked nearby.
"What about you two!" they cried out to Shinichi and Haibara, who were still seated by the benches.
"We'll go home on our own," Shinichi replied.
"No fair! You'd better not be doing the investigation yourself!" the kids protested.
"We won't!" he snapped. The children whined and protested as the professor shoved them into the car.
"Overworked and underpaid," Haibara sighed.
"Why don't you head home too?" he asked, irritated. She ignored him, still typing on the laptop.
Shinichi sinks into contemplative thought. While the information he received today was sparse, it was enough to help him form some ideas. He would need more supporting evidence, though and what he needed was—
"Keiko Takako lives nearby with her single mother. She's seven. If we head to her apartment, we might be able to interview her," Haibara interrupted him. The girl's uncanny ability to read his mind surprised him yet again.
"What?" he asked, and she gave him a knowing stare.
"You need more evidence, don't you?"
Shinichi had missed this. The subtle banter and her wit. Her partnership.
"Are you sure you're not enjoying it, too?" he teased as she scoffed.
"Are we going to do this or not?"
"Aye, partner."
"So what are we waiting for?" Haibara stands to lead the way.
"The neighbors say Keiko-san hasn't been to school since the incident," Shiho elaborated to a shrunken detective who glowered at the disclosure, "From the reports, her mother has turned away any visitors who weren't related to the police."
The information found was troubling, and Shiho couldn't help feeling sorry for the little girl.
The case unearthing long-buried memories that she would prefer to forget. Forcing them back, she focused instead on the growing irritation she had for the detective.
"If that's the case, we could contact Inspector Shiratori tomorrow to get access to her files," Shinichi added.
"Am I your personal assistant?" Shiho fumbled for her phone and notepad. On it was written the address of the first victim haphazardly. The apartment came into sight. The professor slowed the vehicle down as they neared it.
"Not an assistant, Haibara, but a partner," Shinichi grins as she folded her arms. He had that annoying smirk plastered on his lips again, and Shiho could practically see the answers forming in his head—drawing a conclusion that nobody else could ever fathom.
And she was once again forced to predict his actions by observation. Shinichi was looking at the ground now, his right hand propped on his chin— thinking deeply.
"The pedophile could be anyone," the professor pulled into the parking lot. The two-story apartments looked rather flimsy, made for families on social assistance.
Keiko was raised by her single mother. Her life situation was complicated enough, made worse by the horrific incident. Though Shiho could hardly picture the mother's pain if she had to guess—
"Shiho, you have pretty hair."
As his voice echoed out of the depths, she tensed, seething slightly. She closed her eyes to stop the recollections.
When she opened them later, found the professor giving her a concerned look.
'Ai-kun?' he asked as she cursed softly.
"I'm fine, Hakase, just a little cold," Shiho reassured the old man. But he did not believe her. Brows knitted in disbelief; he pulled off his coat and draped it over her. Touched by his gesture, she gave him a slight nod. She could never thank him, the words often stuck in her throat— but she was grateful for his presence.
"Hakase, I will do the questioning; you just need to act the part of a teacher from Keiko's elementary school," the boy instructed.
Exiting the car, they climbed the stairs to the apartments. The professor knocked tentatively on the door. It took a while, but when it finally opened, they were greeted by the faint smell of curry and steamed rice.
A woman in her late twenties greeted them. Spotting a pink apron and slightly brownish-black hair, the tall spiry woman with weary chestnut eyes studied them. Her lips pursed as she regarded the professor.
"How can I help you?" she asked uncertainly. Shiho could hear the exhaustion in her voice. The woman had bags under her eyes and appeared highly stressed. The professor's nervous expression not easing her anxiety.
"Good evening Takako-san. I'm Agase-sensei from Taiten Elementary school," he lied. His voice shook nervously. Shinichi nudged him, signaling for the old man to gain control over his speech.
"Agase-sensei? I've never heard of you."
"He's the new temporary teacher," Shinichi explained quickly. The woman finally noticed them. She was slightly surprised and faced the professor again, puzzled by the appearance of a temp teacher and two elementary students.
"Pardon me, but Keiko-chan was supposed to be part of my class. I heard about her circumstances, and I was worried about her well-being. I would like to help," the professor said. The woman fiddled nervously with her apron, giving the professor a skeptical glance.
"Sorry, but Keiko isn't in the right frame of mind right now. I appreciate the gesture, but I'd have to ask you to leave."
The situation was not going as planned. They needed an excuse.
"Ah!" Shiho exclaimed, and the woman jumped, attention on her. "I am hungry, sensei, and you said we'd eat dinner after meeting with Keiko."
She kicked the professor lightly, and his eyes widened in realization.
Shinichi smirked, joining the act as well. "I'm hungry too, and I smell curry!"
The woman was somewhat taken aback by their behavior; after all, having two children whining outside the apartment might not be well received by her neighbors.
"Hey, I'll take you all to dinner later, so behave yourselves," the professor chided before rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.
"I apologize for the children, but they were insistent on cheering Keiko up, so I couldn't leave them."
It was a lame excuse. If the woman had been thinking clearly, she would have brushed them off. Meiko Takako, however, was worried. Her child had missed school for a week. Keiko— traumatized after this incident. The woman was forced to take a break from work as a delivery driver. With her job threatened and her daughter suffering, Meiko must be at her wit's end.
"Are you friends with Keiko?" Meiko's gaze softened.
"Yeah, we want to help her," Shinichi smiled gently, and the woman sighed.
"Agase sensei was it," she relents. "I could give the children some dinner. It's getting late, and maybe it'll help my daughter."
"Really?" the professor asked, "I'm sorry for imposing then."
"It's fine," the woman smiled weakly as they entered the apartment.
It was a typical two-room apartment. The entrance is flanked by a small washroom and a modest kitchen. A pot of curry was simmering on the stove, with rice bowls placed haphazardly on a makeshift table. A little girl was lying on a bed next to the table. She looked just like her mother. Sporting brown hair that was tied in ponytails, she hugged a stuffed bunny toy from a cartoon that Ayumi had been ranting about just a few days earlier. Keiko did not respond. Instead, she lay on the futon, facing the wall. A blank look was plastered on her face. The girl's demur merged with her memories.
Shiho tensed involuntarily.
"Ai-kun?" the professor noticed her behavior.
She gave him a weak smile, trying to reassure him. Placing his hand over her shoulder, the professor frowned. The weight of it calmed her down.
They approached Keiko. The professor squatted next to the bed as he prodded her gently.
"Keiko-chan," the professor called to the girl, who didn't respond, "I am a teacher from your school, and I have brought some friends for you."
"Hello, Keiko-chan!" Shinichi greeted.
"Keiko, your friends are here," Meiko glanced sadly at the girl lying on the bed. "Please talk to me. Please tell me what happened."
Her daughter's suffering was making Meiko desperate. The torment and guilt in the woman's eyes were hard to bear, and she was reminded of Akemi. Her sister held the same emotions, the feeling lingering in sad blue eyes. Gritting her teeth, Shiho could no longer remain silent.
"I understand if you don't want to talk about it," she started tentatively. Keiko recoiled from their advancements. The girl's arms tightened over her stuffed bunny. "It's hard, I know. Sometimes you wish you could just forget everything."
"Haibara?" Shinichi asked, and she ignored the boy.
"It's scary, isn't it? Not knowing if he's still out there, not knowing if he'll catch you…but Keiko-chan," her voice softening, becoming gentle. "He can't touch you now. Nobody can."
Responding slightly, the girl turned toward her. A pair of wavering brown eyes met Shiho's. The fear in those eyes mirrored her own, and she reached out uncharacteristically, patting the girl on the head. "We'll get him," Shiho assured. "We'll find that man who did this to you, and we will lock him up. It's will be scary," she hesitated, remembering words that a seven-year-old girl had told her in the back of a car two years ago, "But if you run away now, you'll never win."
There was a short pause, and Shiho released the girl.
The dams broke, Keiko sobbing softly as tears rolled furiously down her cheeks. "Okaa-chan," she cried as Meiko embraces the girl.
Shiho retreats, giving them space. This scene stings— of a mother hugging her child imprinted in her mind. Once more, melancholy enveloped her, and she felt herself sinking into the depths. A hand slipped into hers, warming the chill that had appeared. Hands tightening, she found Shinichi beaming back at her.
"Good job, partner," he whispered. Shiho slapped his hands away.
"Don't you have work to do," she snapped as he chuckled. He lingered over her for a moment.
"Are you alright, Haibara?"
The concern in his eyes was unmistakable. Unable to look at him, she waved him away.
It was then that her stomach grumbled, making a soft growling sound. A pause ensued, and she could feel her face growing slightly red. Becoming increasingly irritated as Shinichi and the professor laughed. Eventually, Meiko joined in too.
"Haibara, you're turning into a Genta," Shinichi laughs.
"Shut up!"
It was strange to see Haibara speak out. Usually, she chooses not to get involved. Therefore, it surprised him to see her taking a proactive step. It was, in a way—out of character.
Now seated at the small table, Meiko had arranged the food in front of her. Keiko sat next to her mother, slowly chewing on her curry rice. The girl, still weary, had tear stains dotting her cheeks. Nevertheless, she had taken the first step— for the first time after the incident. Keiko was giving Haibara fleeting glances, the girl's eyes glistening as she looked at the scientist with respect. The auburn-haired scientist hadn't noticed and was still fuming over the embarrassing incident earlier. Seeing this scene, Shinichi couldn't help but smile. Looks like the shrunken scientist has gained another girl fan.
"I'll pour you more curry, Agase-sensei," Meiko said, the woman's once gloomy demur changing into a more energetic one. Shinichi understood her relief. This woman had been battling against the odds. Caring for a child as a single parent must not be easy.
"No more for Agase-sensei," Haibara quipped, losing her childish innocence and stopping Meiko in her tracks. "Any more, and he wouldn't fit into the car."
"Ai-kun," the professor whined, and it was followed by laughter.
Keiko watching the scene, grinned slightly, which caused Meiko to embrace her daughter again.
"You don't need to wash the dishes, Haibara-san," Meiko said to the auburn-haired girl a while later.
"It's ok."
"But-"
"It's alright," the scientist stated sternly, and Meiko cringed.
Eventually, the woman relents before coming to sit beside her daughter. Keiko was looking at Shinichi and the professor with apprehension.
"My apologies, Takako-san and Keiko-chan, but I need to ask some questions now," the professor said. "If it gets too much and you want me to stop, please don't hesitate to tell me. I would not want to impose on you."
"Agase-sensei, I don't know what else I can tell you. The police questioned me extensively, but Keiko refused to speak of it. I—" she paused, looking at her daughter. "I know the school board would like to help my daughter, but I cannot force her to do something she's uncomfortable with."
"I understand," the professor said, "It won't take long."
Meiko nodded, and Shinichi bounded out of the chair, hiding behind the professor holding the bow tie.
"Keiko-chan," Shinichi began, his voice changing to that of the professor. "It's going to be difficult, but can you remember the man's face? Or anything about him?"
She was silent for some time, her expression holding an intense fear. Shinichi awaited an answer anxiously. It didn't look like she would speak.
But when Haibara appeared, wiping her wet hands and pulling the chair up to sit beside, a resolve forms. Keiko pulled her mother down and whispered inaudibly into the woman's ears.
"Keiko," Meiko quivered.
The woman looked like she was about to faint, but she held herself together. "She says—that she couldn't see the man's face. That he had lured her into the trees next to the park and touched her at the chest before ripping off his jacket to reveal his—" The woman gritted her teeth in fury.
Shinichi grimaced. Keiko's torment was evident, and Meiko grasped onto her daughter tighter.
"You're doing good, Keiko-chan," Haibara remarked, and the little girl gripped tightly to the pink bunny she was still hugging. Keiko whispered again into Meiko's ear, and this time the woman could barely hold back the tears.
"She said he forced his naked body onto her, and if an adult hadn't passed by, he would have ripped off her clothes."
The professor gave an audible gasp, and he could see Haibara turning a little pale.
That sick bastard! Shinichi felt his rage boiling over, but he kept it in check. He had to remain neutral. Letting his emotions run wild would do no one any good. Reminding himself to be objective, he continued with his questions.
"Do you remember anything else about the man? Any features?"
Keiko shook her head furiously, seemingly in pain. "It's ok. You don't have to hurry. Take your time," Haibara said gently. Shinichi noticed the slight tremble going through her hands. Though there was a smile plastered on her lips, there was no light in her green eyes. The auburn-haired scientist was hiding it well. Her behavior was troubling— but he will think about it later.
It took a while for Keiko to settle, but once she did, she carried a determination in her eyes. Keiko expressed her thoughts, words spilling from her lips for the first time. Meiko held a hand over her mouth in shock.
"He…he was wearing a light blue jacket. It was jagged at the sides," she whispered, "He was really tall, big. I couldn't run away." She paused, closing her eyes, the bunny in her arms crushed by her hug. Fighting with herself, the girl found the courage to continue. "He was wearing sunglasses, so I couldn't see his eyes, and a white helmet."
Suddenly, her eyes closed, and she began shaking violently.
"Keiko!" Meiko exclaimed.
As her daughter relived the trauma, Shinichi cursed. He emerged from behind the professor and quickly walked over to the girl, hiding his bowtie. The girl was panting and quivering badly as tears cascaded from her eyes.
"Keiko? Keiko, what's wrong?" Meiko was screaming hysterically.
"Calm down," Haibara ordered, pushing the woman away to kneel beside the girl.
"Give her space," Haibara instructed them. "Hakase wet some towels."
Taking the girl's hands, Haibara holds them still. "It's ok, just let it come," she reassured the girl. The auburn-haired scientist spoke in a calm, almost resigned tone. She was used to it. Shinichi realized. It looked like—she had done this many times before.
He observed the situation. Haibara eventually calmed Keiko down as Meiko sat by the corner, crying softly.
The professor handed her a tissue to wipe her tears later on. A wet towel was placed over Keiko's forehead as she lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
"A motorcycle helmet," the girl continued her statements from before, "He was wearing a white motorcycle helmet."
It was vital information, one that fits into a puzzle, and he grinned, about to question more but was stopped by Haibara, who was shaking her head. She was right. It was not the time and place. Any more questions would bring about more trauma for the little girl. Though it was time to stop, the information gathered had been helpful, and he stood beside the girl, smiling gently. "Thank you, Keiko-chan," he replied. Keiko glanced at him, eyes wavering.
"W…will I get better?" her voice cracked, and Shinichi winced. He had wanted to protect the girl, to turn back time. He wanted to prevent the man from ever hurting her. But that was impossible. The innocence of the girl had been taken. The only thing he could do for her was to tell her the truth.
"It would be difficult," Shinichi said, "It might take some time." He looked to Meiko, trying hard to compose herself, "But I believe you will pull through this. You're strong, Keiko-chan. You've endured. Nobody can take that away from you."
Keiko was silent for a moment before giving them a weak smile. It was small and tear-soaked. There was still pain lingering in her brown eyes, but it was a start. Meiko pulls Keiko into a hug. "Thank you," she whispered, looking at them, "Thank you."
They left a while later. The professor handed them a card from his counseling friend before telling Meiko that the fee had been paid in full. The support was sufficient, and the woman held on to the professor for a while.
It was late, the skies above them a deep purplish black— looking like it was about to rain, dark purple clouds forming large masses. The air hums with static electricity. As the yellow beetle moved through the roads, the shadows around them grew darker. Shinichi turned to the auburn-haired scientist seated behind him, who appeared to be asleep.
"You've noticed it too, Shinichi," the professor asked.
"Yes."
"What are we going to do?"
"She will never tell us anything," Shinichi said as the professor tightened his grip on the wheel.
"Ai-kun was—"
"Yes."
There was nothing he could do for her right now—and it was frustrating. He knew nothing of her past, and she would not tell them anything. It was vaguely disturbing, and he couldn't help but think about it.
"The nightmares are getting worse," the professor confessed. "We need to talk to her."
"That's the hard part," Shinichi lamented.
"We have to try."
"Yes, we'll help her, but—"
He was interrupted.
"I don't need your help," the girl drawled. He went still, the professor and him glancing wearily at her. She was pointedly staring out of the window, and a yawn ensued.
"Haibara," he started, and she glared at him.
"I'm fine, so the two of you can stop meddling," Haibara sneered.
"But—"
"Mind your own business, Kudou-kun."
He leaned back against the leather seats, once again vexed by the situation. It hurt that she still couldn't trust him. The secrets she carried were buried deep, and he was once again reminded that he knew nothing of the woman seated behind him.
"How will we take down the organization if you won't tell me anything?"
"What has my personal life got anything to do with this?"
Knowing that the girl was lying once again, he held back a sigh.
"Stop lyi-"
"Kudou, drop it."
"Ai-kun," it was the professor who spoke next. Haibara turned away from them, her gaze fixated on the passing scenery. The darkness masked her expression. "We care about you."
She did not answer for a long time, and when she did, it left them with more questions.
"It's nothing for you to be concerned about, Hakase," Haibara whispered softly.
The girl locking away her secrets once more.
The mystery deepened as they continued their ride back.
Episode used:
Episode 809 (Haibara using Heiji's confession to Kazuha as a ringtone, is pretty hilarious if you ask me :D)