Author's Notes: Had my grade six graduation today! So pumped, even though it's nearly eleven. (I usually sleep at like ten.) Anyway... before you start thinking I stayed down a grade or anything, I'm actually twelve. So yeah, I'm not stupid.

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"Beep! Beep!"

Shrill beeps interrupted the silent class, of which all of its members were working hard with their heads down, a rare occurence. On the sound of the beeps, however, all heads swiveled around curiously, trying to figure out the source of the noise. They needed a distractioin anyway. No one was that interested in chemistry, nor was anyone particularly skilled at it.

Shinichi started looking around, then, with a jolt, realised it was the mini-computer. Haibara's mini-computer, in fact. He was almost scared to check it. Partly because he might receive news of the Black Organisation doing something to Sherry, partly because of the over-inquisitive students craning their necks and the angry teacher at the front of the room.

"Kudo!" Uh-oh. He was discovered. "Bring whatever it is that is making that terrible noise right here immediately! We DO NOT need any more distractions, especially with your chemistry exams just around the corner! Bring it here! Now!"

He gulped, and slowly took out the mini-computer, and passed it along the row of students until it reached the front of the room to the wrath of the teacher. When she receives it, and started reading what was on the screen, however, to Shinichi's surprise, she started nodding approvingly.

"Who sent this to you, Kudo?" she asked. "This essay is very well written. Although I don't know which chemical the write was talking about, this is written in very easy to understand terms. I shall like to meet them."

Eh? "U-um... you didn't e-exactly give me a chance to read it, sensei."

"Oh! Very well, then. I'm sorry! But tell the person who wrote this that they are very smart!" The teacher beamed, and seemed to have forgotten her foul mood before.

When Shinichi received the mini-computer back, his eyes widened a little as he gazed at the sunject line in the message.

APTX-4869

"Shinichi, what is it?" Ran asked in a whisper. She was a bit worried, because when Shinichi looked at the message, his face had been turned to one of shock. Just like the shocked faces of the people who Shinichi had deduced as the murderers of all the cases he had ever come across. It had been only a short while since he'd come back, and all since he had been a bit different. But Ran told herself that it was only because he was away for so long, that she just couldn't believe it... But...

"Shinichi!"

Shinichi jolted up. "Hm?"

"That message. What is it about?" Ran asked, almost afraid to know.

"Oh, that... err..." Shinichi struggled to come up with words. He couldn't exactly tell Ran that it was from a biochemist from the Black Organisation, who gave him the drug that turned his body small, could he?

"Um, you know the case that was the cause of my absense?" he said, shadows across his eyes. "I-it hasn't exactly been resolved yet. I might need to go back."

"G-go back?" Ran whispered. No, was he going to disappear from her life again? No, that couldn't happen!

"I-it's really important," he said quietly. "I'll try to come back earlier. If I can."

Ran blinked a few times, trying to hold back her tears. "Don't worry," she said, with a small smile. "I'm sure that you'll crack the case. J-just promise, okay? Promise that you... that you'll came back as early as you can." After all, Shinichi's dealing with criminals and murderers, right? That's much more important than me. Right?

Shinichi looked straight into her eyes. "Yes. I promise."

----

Sometimes, it isn't fair. Shiho reflected as she stared at the newspaper article. She had read it so many times already, but she still couldn't make any sense of it. So she had a sister, named Miyano Akemi. And her parents were biochemists, too, and was probably also in the organisation. They died years ago due to an accident. Miyano Akemi, her supposed sister, just died a few months ago [A/N: Couldn't make sense of the DC timeline, so I don't know how long it is...]. The Black Organisation probably killed her.

But these were just facts. Facts she was trying to process through her mind, and still haven't been successful. There was no personal feeling to it, no emotions. She felt like that she didn't know her sister, who she'd suspected she was the closest to. But... how? How was she able to forget?

If I... If I... I wish I could lose my memory if possible... I wouldn't remember my sister's death, or being forced to make poison for the organisation... If I could forget everything and just become a regular elementary school student Haibara Ai... I wonder how good it'll be... And... I could be with you forever... forever, just like this...

"Sherry-san?"

Shiho blinked a few times, and realised it was that little Sayuri. Again. Why?

"Are you okay? You seem to have little times during the day when you just blank out." Sayuri stared at Shiho, wide-eyed.

"Do you know someone called Kudo Shinichi?"

Shiho didn't know where this question came from. It was as if her body did things of her own accord, and even more, knew why it was doing her. Yet her mind was blank.

Sayuri stared at Shiho, shocked. Should I tell her? Should I tell her everything? She's starting to figure things out, I guess... but should I tell her? Or should I let her figure everything out herself? NO! She CAN'T figure everything out! NO! I can't let her! Kudo Shinichi... Edogawa Conan... no! No way!

"Of course," Sayuri replied evenly. "He's the famous high school detective, isn't he? Who hasn't heard of him?"

"Ohh...." Shiho looked down. "I meant... more...if you knew him personally... or why he's one of the organisation's targets..."

Should I tell her? That... that he...

"Of course not!" Sayuri cried. "Personally? I wish! I really want to meet him!" She gave a big (fake) smile.

"Okay... then... what about a little smart glasses-wearing grade schoolboy named Edogawa Conan?" Shiho asked.

Oh no, is she really beginning to figure things out?

"No," Sayuri replied evenly, again. "Is he meant to be of any importance?"

"Um... no... but..."

"But what?"

"Don't worry. It's nothing."

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Author's Notes: Actually three days after my graduation, I got kicked off the computer way too many times... Dunno the reasons....