A/N: Just making sure everyone knows that I still don't own Detective Conan or Magic Kaito. Also, expect more within the week.

He knew he should think like his physical age, but it was really hard not to when he's still figuring out how to regain his previous allies and be quick on taking down the Black Organization properly. He was only lucky the organization spared the Mouris, his friends, and his parents for so long.

Even then he wasn't sure if that was to play with his sanity or not.

They'll all be taken in by surprise and no one can stop him from doing it right this time. He wanted to get started now, but since it was still a couple weeks before he can go to school, or outside at all really, Shinichi thought it was a good idea to exercise his mind.

Exercise meaning having Conan engage on academic talks without the child noticing.

Conan told Shinichi so many times he was smarter than he looks. Shinichi just wasn't aware how smart until one conversation they had over a thesis.

They were lounging in the private library minding their own business until Shinichi asked his opinion about the thesis he was reading on from a book the teen apparently picked up randomly from one of their highest shelves.

Conan wasn't even paying too much attention to the conversation because he was concentrating on pretending to solve the card Shinichi gave him as he thought of possible ways to contact the FBI. Shinichi had gone quiet and Conan thought they were done talking until the teen asked a question that made him look up.

"What have they done to you?" It was asked in the most concerned and worried voice that made Conan wondered what he did wrong.

"Huh?" he asked, confused. Who have done what to him?

"No kid should have that level of intelligence." Shinichi stated and Conan raised an eyebrow. Shinichi explained, "Well, I'm not degrading kids or anything, but unless you're somehow sick and dying I don't think your mind should be lacking gray matter."

Did the doctor scan his brain and discussed it with Shinichi?

Conan was a bit unimpressed, "Shinichi-niichan, not everyone is the same. Maybe I'm just special." He looked back down on his piece of paper before adding, "But children are getting better than adults every generation or so, and I'm ten years younger than you."

Technically, his mind was older than Shinichi by four years but the teen didn't need to know that.

"Oi." Shinichi hit Conan's head lightly with the spine of the book he was reading.

Conan grinned, "I'm just saying." He went back to his card, pen, and paper.

Shinichi took his book away and relaxed back on the couch, "We should really get out more. It's not healthy for you to stay here inside."

Conan scoffed as he rotate his card upside down, "You're the one who said I shouldn't go parading around the neighborhood." When did Akai-san appeared in his timeline again?

Shinichi groaned, "I know. It's just until we get paper works done. But I also know what it feels like to stay inside this big house."

Rotating the card didn't give much other than '31$5¥¢~¶'. Maybe he can contact the guy?...but then again, he didn't know where anyone was at this time.

"Oh, I know! Let's go to Agasa-hakase next door!" Shinichi exclaimed and Conan stopped.

When the sentence registered in his mind, he paled, "Uh, how about no." Conan vetoed, "How about we stay here and let me finish my puzzle." he suggested.

Shinichi only rolled his eyes as he stood up and tried to pick Conan up. Conan wouldn't budge.

"Come, on, Conan, you haven't been officially introduced to each other." Shinichi grunted as he pulled Conan off the floor, "He's a great man."

Oh Conan knew Agasa-hakase was a great man. The best inventor he knew. He also knew his own version died and he didn't know if seeing the man would be good for his health or not.

"I don't wanna!" Conan exclaimed as he all but willed his body to sag on the floor to make himself a lot more slippery and heavy, "It's inside another house, it's the same thing!"

"Yes! But it's also different!" Shinichi successfully lifted him up and carried him like a sack of potatoes.

"Noooo!" Conan whined as Shinichi carried him out of the Library and to the front door.

"Mr. Cuddles, help me!" He all but screeched when Shinichi walked down the foyer to the front door.

Conan made an effort to cling to the gate when Shinichi exited the property, but Shinichi still managed to pull him. Conan tensed and stayed still as Shinichi walked his way to Agasa-hakase's property.

"Hakase!" The teen called.

"Ah! Shinichi!" the old man's voice triggered something in Conan and he had to stop himself from whimpering.

"Why do you have a child in your arms?"

"He's the one I was telling you about." Shinichi calmly said as he adjust Conan so that he was carrying the child in his arms instead of shoulders. Conan immediately clung like a koala, hiding his face in the crook of Shinichi's neck.

He heard Agasa-hakase chuckle, "Well come on inside."

"Sorry, he's a bit shy with new people." Shinichi said as he took Conan's shoes off.

Conan snapped up, "I'm not."

"I'll believe that when I see you say hi to Agasa-hakase, Conan." Shinichi said with an amused look on his face and Conan once again sagged in the teen's arms with a grumble.

"His name is Conan?" He heard Agasa-hakase ask from a distance and guessed the man was somewhere on his left.

"Yep." He felt Shinichi adjust him again as he felt them go down to sit on a sofa,"Conan, why don't you properly introduce yourself."

Conan shook his head, "Don't wanna."

He heard large footsteps coming over to them and Conan tensed, curling up even more in Shinichi's embrace. He didn't know why he was feeling intimidated. He shouldn't be. Why was he so afraid to face the old man? wouldn't seeing him alive better than knowing he should be dead?

...Maybe because if he turned around he might have been dreaming all this time.

That all of this was a dream waiting to be interrupted and he'll be back in his own world. That Ano Kata found him and took him in their turf without Conan knowing. That if he turned around, he'd see a barrel of a gun, waiting to be fired.

Conan didn't want that. He was a coward, he knew, but he didn't want to face reality anymore. He could live this lie if it meant the truth won't hurt him anymore.

A large hand landed on his right shoulder blade and he flinched violently.

"Whoa there Conan." Shinichi huffed, probably uncomfortable with the way Conan's small limbs were squeezing him, "It's okay." he said, "You're okay."

"Maybe it was a bad idea to bring him here, Shinichi-kun." He heard hakase's gentle voice really near him, though the hand hadn't lifted up.

"Yeah...maybe." He felt the gravity shifting when Shinichi stood up from the seat and started walking.

Conan felt guilty. He didn't mean to make hakase feel bad because of him, real or not. The man deserved better after all he did to help Conan get through with being de-aged into a child. The last thing Conan wanted the man to think before he die was that he didn't like him.

"Edogawa Conan." He blurted out.

"Hm?" Was the response of both adults in the vicinity.

This was it. He was going to end the dream and he'd be back to his own reality.

Conan lifted his head and slowly opened his eyes. The bright lighting made him squint a little, "Edogawa Conan." He forced out.

His vision cleared.

"Hello Conan-kun, My name's Hiroshi Agasa. You can call me Agasa-hakase though." The man greeted with a bright smile.

Conan was stunned. He didn't know if he should start crying or laughing.

This was real, right? the man was alive...right? he was standing there, introducing himself to Conan, right?

He had to know.

He had to make sure it was true. He had to-

He wriggled down from Shinichi's grip, ran towards the large man and hugged him.

"Whoa there." He heard hakase chuckle in surprise, though the man hugged him back.

"You're real." Was all he said.

"Of course I am, Conan-kun."Hakase replied and Conan lets out a sob.

"I'm glad."

Conan didn't let go of Agasa-hakase for the rest of the day. Shinichi teased him after but Conan didn't care.