~Arc 3~
Chapter 39
Cat in a Box
It was dark. Shadows swept across the marble floors of the professor's house. From murky gray skies, rain pelted relentlessly. The weather reminded Shinichi of an operation that occurred months ago, and he grimaced at the mere thought. Gently, he was pushed down. A hand rests against his forehead. "You have a slight fever," the auburn-haired scientist examined him with furrowed brows.
"It's not as bad as it seems," his voice taking on the husky, scratchy quality of a sore throat.
"Kudou, you were on the ground," she rebuked. He winced when she slapped the fever patch over his forehead.
"Could you pass me my phone? I just need to send a message to Inspector Sato—"
Draping the covers over him, she forced him back to bed. "One more word, and I'll tie you to the bed."
"Shiho…"
The shrunken scientist, having enough, shot him a glare that silenced him.
Brewing Shinichi a cup of hot honey lemon tea, she sets it beside him. When she handed him some pills, he couldn't help the faint smile. While her words were biting, she was still fussing over him.
"What did you need to pass to Satou-san?" Shiho asked later.
"Nothing important, just details about an upcoming case," he lied, and she snorted.
"What are you hiding?" she sees right through him.
"Nothing," he replied a little too quickly. Folding her arms, Shiho settled on the chair beside his bed.
"If you say so," Shiho muttered. "Idiot."
Silence descended, and he fidgeted restlessly in the lie he had told.
Shinichi, though, had his reason, and it was implicitly linked to the FBI.
A constant buzz festered in his chest, a relentless ache, and he closed his eyes.
There was no way he could put her through that again.
"Are you sure?" he had whispered into the phone a few days earlier. The news shattered the peace of carefree days. Akai Shuichi was quiet for a moment. It was unusual to see the stoic man this upset.
"Yes," the man confirmed. "Jodie is gathering information about the recent developments…but I'm afraid it's not over yet."
Shinichi slumped against the counter in the kitchen. Standing nearby, the professor noticed and placed a hand over his shoulder.
"But," Shinichi muttered, suddenly immobilized. The organization was done, wasn't it? This wasn't supposed to happen. They brought it down. The image of a battered auburn-haired woman filled his mind, and he gritted his teeth. He needs to clear his mind.
"What must I do?" Shinichi collects himself. The FBI agent provided him with the details. Gin's last conversation with Akai—a reminder of the nature of the Organization. Slowly, Shinichi absorbs the disturbing details.
"We will launch a new front," Akai assured him. "Don't worry, boy. They won't be making the first move this time."
Despite the man's words, the anxiety growing in his chest did not subside. The discussion continued, and when it was done, Shinichi shut his phone, feeling defeated.
"Is everything alright?" The professor offers him a cup of coffee. Grabbing the cup tightly, he struggles to cope with the news. "Hakase," he whispered, "We can't tell her."
The professor protested, and they argued.
"She wouldn't like this, Shinichi," he continued.
And the matter was dropped.
It got busy after that. FBI agents, PSB officers, and Japanese police were forced to work together again. The revelation of what Gin said prompted a manhunt for the man named Vodka. The new information had disturbed Shinichi to the core. With the passing of the days, he found himself tossing and turning in his sleep.
The upcoming intervention triggers nightmares about that fateful day. Of Vermouth screaming from a depthless crevice, the woman's dead eyes locked into his. Of Ran, his mother and father, shot and killed, their bodies scattered on the street, dumped and discarded. Of the children and the professor hunted one by one before being stabbed and burned to death. Of a shrunken scientist, smiling sadly, blood gushing from a bullet wound by her side.
"You couldn't save her. You lied to me," her figure morphed into the vestige of a raven-haired woman he failed to save.
Those nightmares tore through his psyche, and he often wakes drenched in sweat. Eventually, he succumbs to exhaustion and sleep deprivation. Shiho finds him collapsed on the ground, hosting a fever.
She was now resting on a chair while a magazine lay untidily on her lap. Observing her silently, Shinichi breathes a sigh of reassurance. She's safe. Closing his eyes, he slipped into another deep slumber.
Shinichi woke, well rested. It was night…and late. Next to him, the professor snored loudly. He winced, the fever that had ravaged him earlier in the afternoon gone. Turning around, Shinichi was expecting to see the girl sleeping next to him but instead was greeted with an empty bed. An irrational fear takes over, and Shinichi sprang out of bed and ran towards the basement.
A shrunken scientist was working hard. On the experimental table, a small flask was bubbling away. The girl scrutinized it, typing down her observations on the laptop. She must be working on the antidote. Peering at Shiho through the crack, he slumped against the door, weak in the knees from relief.
"Shinichi."
Sheepishly, Shinichi opened the door. With her usual deadpan expression, she eyed him. "I'll have you know...stalking is a crime."
"It's late, and you're not in bed."
She scoffed.
"I work better at night. You know that."
"Workaholic."
"Did you find me on the floor?" Shiho retorted. Defeated, he raised his hands in mock surrender, and she smirked in triumph.
"Nevertheless, three consecutive all-nighters cannot be good for your skin," he nagged, "You're going to develop wrinkles."
"A man with a bald head and a woman with wrinkles— it evens out, doesn't it?"
"Just so you know, my hair is just as luscious as my mom's," he snapped, and she sniggered softly. Shinichi then sinks into the pink sofa. His fatigue was creeping up, and the nightmares had left him vulnerable. Observing her work, he fell into a state of contemplative quiet.
"How's the fever?" she poured a clear blue liquid into another flask.
"It's fine."
"You should rest," she told him, "the children will throw a fit if you can't make it to the amusement park tomorrow."
"Do we really have to go?" He groaned.
"And miss the Suzuki corporation grand opening?" Shiho joked, and he raised a brow.
"You can't be looking forward to it."
"Why not? There would be food," she smirked, "And the awkward small talk that happens when business associates meet."
"Figures."
A chuckle escaped Shiho's lips, and he marveled at her progress. The gentle smile on her face provides him with a sense of comfort.
It was something he cherished.
The professor had told Shinichi to share the information with her. However, he was unable to do so.
Certainly not when she was starting to heal. Shiho was forming relationships and becoming more open with the people around her. After years of struggling, she was finally taking steps forward. Her smile was brighter...gentle, and, for at least a moment—she was free...from them.
Throwing her back into the abyss would—be too cruel.
I can't do it.
"Shinichi?"
Again, she regarded him with a keen eye.
"Why are you here?" Her question—a loaded one.
Shiho, a woman who arrived like a storm, had become too important. The mere thought that she might vanish at any given time plagued him.
"Kudou?"
"Why? Why wouldn't a man want to be with someone he cares about?"
"Ara, I am flattered," Shiho mocked, and he scowled, about to protest, when a bitter smile appeared on her lips.
"Shiho?"
"You're a kettle," she whispered, "A kettle calling a pot black."
"How so?"
She faced him, green eyes boring into his own. The atmosphere was thick, and for a split second, Shinichi felt like she saw through him. That she would uncover the secrets he had kept hidden from her. He swallowed, unsure if he could handle her anger...her frustration. But then, she sighed. The tension dissolved. Pulling out an electric flask, she shuts her laptop and walks to the small sink. Minutes later, a cup of hot chocolate was placed before him.
"Drink, you idiot," she instructed, and he took the cup in his hands. "Before your fever returns."
His frigid digits were warmed by its heat, and Shinichi was suddenly captivated by her subtle tenderness. Before she could object, he had her wrapped around his arms.
"Shinichi, what—"
Having pulled her back, they collapsed in a heap, facing each other across the sofa. Flustered, she couldn't hide her surprise, and Shinichi chuckled. She struggled to free herself from his grip, but he tightened it. Her breath hitched as he buried his face in the crook of her neck, taking in her scent. There was nothing that could harm her here. Shinichi could still see the battered image of her— slipping away from him, vanishing into the void he could not save her from. It was enough to make him shudder. In his arms, he cradled her, encircling her petite form, feeling the rhythmic pounding of her heart, beating softly within. Assuring him that she was alive—present.
"What's wrong?"
Despite her usual biting tone, there was concern in her gaze.
"Are you content, Shiho?"
A raised eyebrow greeted his question.
"Define content."
It was not an answer he wanted to hear.
"Are you happy?" he rephrased.
She pushed away lightly. A hand splayed over his chest with a frown.
"Why do you want to know?"
"I just…" he grimaced slightly. "Shiho, please."
Her forest green eyes wavered as she peered into his. He gave a tentative smile, and her lips parted. It began at the tip of her ears and spread slowly down to her cheeks. A pinkish hue that gradually turned into a deeper red. It was a new experience for him, and for some reason, he found her to be utterly—adorable.
"You're here," she averts her gaze.
"Shiho?"
"You're here, Shinichi. Is that enough…for you?"
The implication was not lost. Shinichi is engulfed by desire once again, and he remains still, holding back the urge to just—
"Shinichi, seriously, what's wrong?' she asked him gently, and he shook his head.
"It's nothing, Shiho. I just…needed this."
He heard her sigh as she held onto the lapel of his shirt. Leaning closer, she settled in his arms, and he chuckled, stroking her auburn hair and running his fingers through the strands. Her presence soothed the gut-wrenching fear that threatened to consume him.
It was addictive, a drug, and he did not wish to leave.
"Are you ready for bed, Owl-san?"
"I have no choice," her face now buried in his chest, "Some idiot won't let me go."
"You are," With the girl snuggled against him, he closed his eyes, falling into blissful slumber, "So not cute."
Shiho could not understand why Suzuki Corporations chose a giant orca as their theme park mascot. With beady black eyes, the costumed man approached the children. A menacing smile coupled with sharp teeth caused tears to flow down the children's cheeks. It was frightening to look at and reminded her of something her former handler had said.
"You have that look," Shinichi appeared beside her. He was sporting a drink in his hand, drinking it leisurely.
Serene skies, dotted with a few fluffy clouds, accompanied a sunny day. The gentle rays of the sun hit the bay next to the park. Light dances across the water ripples, creating golden shimmers. Reflecting of the giant structure, Sonoko-san had termed it the "Biggest Ferris Wheel on Earth."
"What look?"
"The look that you give Hakase when he overeats...or when you realize that Big Osaka's Higo-san will not release any new merchandise," Shinichi answered, and she scoffed.
"But seriously, what is it? You've been staring at the mascot for a while."
"Well," Shiho chose not to dwell on memories of her former handler, "isn't it interesting how a park that aims to be the happiest place in Japan has a mascot that makes children cry?"
As she finished, another three-year-old screamed, leaping into his mother's arms as Shinichi sniggers. Rather than being a child-friendly character, its face resembles the protagonist of a horror film.
"Probably an advertisement for the aquarium they were building," he motions to the large circular building next to the roller coasters and rides.
"A mall, an aquarium, and a concert hall. What next, the leaning tower of Pisa?"
"Hey, you have to give the Suzuki's some credit. They did promise to build the largest international theme park in the world," Shinichi quipped as she narrowed her gaze at the crowded mess before her. A mix of rides and buildings modeled after the world's seven wonders. The circular shape of the aquarium is reminiscent of the Colosseum in ancient Rome. The towering roller coaster, a twisted triangular mess, probably the Pyramids of Giza. Lastly, there was the abomination that was the Ferris Wheel. It had been attempted to resemble the Eiffel tower, but there was only so much they could do. After all, Ferris Wheels were round, and the Eiffel tower—not so much.
Glancing at the replica of a bridge crossing the ocean towards the island on the opposite end, she sighed. The island where they would be staying later. Sonoko's influence made it possible. "The bridge is at least accurate," Shiho muttered. It bears a striking similarity to the Golden State Bridge of San Francisco. Taking hold of her, Shinichi strings her along.
"Wipe that sour look off your face," he replied, and she glanced at him irritably.
"This is the happiest place in Japan, so we have to play our part."
The boy's carefree expression contrasts with the one he had the night before.
"Anything the matter?" he asked when he caught her staring.
Shiho considers for a moment, wanting to give the detective a piece of her mind. The information he hides from her, something she didn't appreciate—but when she thinks of his unease and the trembling in his body as he wraps his arms around her…she falls silent.
"Nothing, let's go. The children are waiting."
"Hmm…" Shinichi regards her.
"Let's go," she insisted. You idiot.
Several hours earlier, she awoke to the warmth of his embrace. Arms tightly encircled her upper body. It was slightly uncomfortable, and she found herself hosting a stiff neck.
She wasn't complaining, though. Still asleep, Shinichi breathed softly. Shiho watched him for a long time, the peace of that moment easing her concern for him. It wasn't as if she hadn't noticed. Meetings he held secretly with the professor. His nightmares, his haunted eyes, and the forced smiles he often displays. It was not the first time she had found him in the basement.
Idiot.
She leaned into him, pressing her cheeks against his chest. There was no need to hide it.
It was the professor who found them, teasing them as they ate breakfast. They drove to the amusement park a short time later and were greeted by three exhilarated children, a smiling Ran, and a very irate Suzuki Sonoko.
"You guys are late!" the heiress shrieked. They were forced into the entrance gates by the girl. And now, here they were.
As Shiho trailed behind Shinichi, she watched the children riding the carousel they had seen earlier.
"Heiji! Heiji! Look at this! It's a Gomera Horse!" a teenage girl shouted at a very put-upon-tanned detective. An embarrassed boy grimaced at the attention his childhood friend was garnering. They were unexpected guests of Suzuki Sonoko. Arriving a little earlier, the Osaka detective greeted Shiho with a firm handshake. The meeting was a rare face-to-face encounter. The majority of their correspondence takes place over the phone. Sometimes exchanging blackmail material to be used on a shrunken detective who was very aggrieved by their interactions.
"Stop screaming, woman!" Heiji attracted his own unwanted attention. Shiho was entertained by their actions.
"Are you recording this?" Shinichi studied the video she was taking between Heiji and Kazuha.
"The children asked me too."
There was a mischievous glint in the detective's eyes. "Do you think you could...accidentally send it to me?"
"My services are expensive, Kudou-kun," she answered, "Accidentally or not."
He folded his arms in displeasure, mumbling incoherently.
Later, they were dragged to the cafeteria. Shiho prevents the professor from heading to the buffet. Instead, she picked the sides for him as he whined. He was subsequently given some cakes by Ran. The kind-hearted girl was too lenient on the old man.
"You spoil him."
"It's a holiday," was Ran's reply. Her bright blue eyes silenced any retort Shiho was about to give, and she could only sigh in resignation.
It was Ran, however, who intervened and prevented Genta from eating more ice cream.
"It was a holiday?" Shiho raised an eyebrow at the hypocrisy displayed.
"That was his tenth bowl," Ran responded wearily.
"But Ran-nee-chan!"
"No, Genta-kun, your mother asked me to look after you. If you continue, you may get a stomach ache, or even worse...a sore throat."
"I promise I won't! And I'm still hungry," he whined. Despite Ran's convictions, she was on the verge of giving in.
"Kojima-kun," Shiho began sharply, as the boy winced, "Do you know what dyspepsia is?"
"Dyspe-what?"
"The condition occurs in the stomach due to a blockage in the digestive system caused by eating more than one's stomach can handle. When that occurs..." Shiho smirks. "Boom," she describes menacingly. The boy shudders, shrinking back. "You explode."
Silence falls across the table, Sonoko, Kazuha, and Ran seeming to push their food aside in horror. Mitsuhiko and Ayumi gasped in terror, grabbing the bowls of food Genta had collected minutes earlier.
"So, Kojima-kun?" Shiho continued sweetly, "Are you still hungry?"
Genta whimpered slightly at the information.
"Really..." Ran reached into her handbag to retrieve a couple of charcoal pills for the boy. "Ai-chan, is that really going to happen?"
The teenage girls were now looking at her, fear written in their gaze.
"Who knows?"
"Ehhh!" Sonoko exclaimed.
"Indigestion," Shinichi gives Shiho a warning glare.
"Huh?" Kazuha asked. Ran folds her arms, narrowing her gaze at Shiho, who shrugs.
"Dyspepsia is another word for indigestion," Heiji chortles loudly, "so don't worry about it and eat. The worst that can happen is—"
"An upset stomach," Shiho picks through her vegetables, ignoring the accusatory looks she was getting from the table.
"Mo…Ai-chan!" Ran and Ayumi chided her.
"Seriously, you little brat!" Sonoko snapped.
The professor breaks out into laughter.
"So…" Genta was drooling again, a finger on his lips, "If I won't die…can I eat-"
"NO!" was the collective answer.
The boy slumped into the chair, dejected. "There's no need to scream…"
"Enjoying yourselves," Shiho asked later. With lunch out of the way, they were left to their own devices. Wanting to get on the fast rides ahead, the children dragged the teenage girls and professor along, leaving Shiho, Shinichi, and Heiji behind.
Now both detectives are engaged in a battle, their expressions fixed in concentration. The rivalry between the two, usually played out in a grand battle of wits, reduced to a petty carnival game of who can shoot the most targets with a water gun.
"Shush," Heiji told her, "I'm trying to win this, and you're distracting me!"
Shiho sits leaning against the banister, amused by the two teenage boys. Her gaze lingered on the shrunken detective.
And her thoughts drifted—to a scene from a few weeks ago.
It had been a coincidence; she had been working on the drug and had stayed up all night to complete it. The antidote was still far from completion, and she was getting increasingly discouraged. Then, morning came, and she proceeded up the stairs to wake the men and prepare breakfast for them. However, to her surprise, she finds them hunched over the kitchen table— already up. In a feverish whisper, Shinichi spoke into the phone. Shiho frowned. The only time he was like this was when...her eyes widened at the turn of events.
"Are you sure?" he asked softly but harshly. "But we took them down…yes…I understand, but—"
As his anxiety rises, she grimaces as he clenches his teeth in anger and hits the kitchen counter. "Of course," he replied, "we will get them...yes, Akai-san."
With the conversation over, the boy slaps his phone shut. Shiho was leaning against the wall, her mind still reeling from what had just happened. The organization was not done. Vodka was still alive, and something was being planned. Gin...she clutched her fist. No, she couldn't keep silent. They needed to act first. She was about to confront Shinichi about it but stopped. The expression on his face made her chest ache, and she found herself pressed against the wall, hiding once more.
"Shinichi…" the professor stated, "We have to tell her. Ai-kun would want that."
"I know," Shinichi was exhausted. She knew that look, the burden he carried when he was crushed by a responsibility that outweighed his capability.
He—Shiho realized, was still guilt-stricken by the people he couldn't help. The sadness in his eyes was hard to stomach.
You can't save everybody…Kudou-kun. He was not obligated to do so, much less risk his life.
This selfless fool...
"Shinichi," the professor pleaded.
"Hakase, she's finally healing," he clutches his phone tightly. "She's smiling, laughing, forming relationships...able...to live a normal life."
"Yes," the professor muttered, "but Ai-kun cares for you." The man squeezed his shoulder. "Hiding this from her would hurt her."
"I know that," Shinichi seethes, "But that idiot would not listen. And I can't," he swallows, his hands pressing firmly against his eyes. Shinichi pulls away, taking off his glasses, before addressing the professor, "I can't lose her, Hakase."
His admission rendered her helpless, and she could not make a move. And with that, the truth was hidden from her as he buried himself in work.
For weeks, Shiho pretended. She should wait, she told herself. He would tell her—she thought.
She was...lying to herself.
In truth, Shiho did not know how to approach the situation. Could not bear to see that expression of hurt on his face. The time would come. The organization would come for her. And as much as she wants to assure Shinichi that nothing would happen—
Shiho could not promise him anything.
Certainly not when it comes to the organization. Not when she, too, knows that she would go to any lengths...
"Shiho?" he interrupts her thoughts. The boy stood before her, soaked to the skin but smiling nonetheless. He presented her with a keychain depicting a white cat. "Hattori is awful at the game," he informs gleefully.
Shiho holds up the prize. "You're not much better. Isn't this a consolation gift?"
"I'll have you know it only took me three tries to get that!" Shinichi pouted. Heiji stared at them pointedly while stuffing away a free bar of chocolate. A sympathy gift for players who failed to destroy a single target. The Osaka detective pointed a finger at her in defiance as she sniggered at their plight.
"You'll do no better. It's pretty difficult!" Heiji argued.
"Oh," Shiho asked, "Is that a challenge?"
"Try it then," Heiji taunted, "If you're so good at it."
"What would I get in return?"
"Anything!" the boy sneered.
"Erm…Hattori…if you must know—"
"Shut up, Kudou," Heiji snapped, and the boy glanced at her and then at the tanned detective.
"Don't say I didn't warn you."
As Shiho approached the booth, she effortlessly picked up the water gun. The weight of a plastic toy was a far cry from a real gun. She gripped the handle tightly, pressed the trigger for a few seconds, and then turned to look at the owner. Innocently, she asked, "Mister, what is the first prize?"
The owner, a middle age man with curious brown eyes, regarded her for a moment. Pointing to the giant teddy bear hanging from the top, he smiled. "If you can shoot down twenty targets, you'll get it, little girl."
"Hmm…"
And she aimed the gun.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Heiji exclaimed.
Painstakingly, the owner took down the bear. The man was pleasantly surprised with her results. Apparently, this was the first time a first prize had ever been won.
"Now," Shiho shoves the giant prize in the Osaka detective's arms, "you told me...anything, didn't you?"
"Kudou!"
"I tried warning you," the shrunken detective was unsympathetic towards the tanned boy's plight. Heiji protested as the teenagers walked away from him. The Osaka detective pleads with Shiho to go easy on him.
They later joined the children as they were coerced into the roller coaster seats. Ayumi, Genta, and Mitsuhiko chatted excitedly in front. Known as Clam Surf, it was the first roller coaster to loop over the ocean.
"Heiji, don't forget to smile!" Kazuha called out from the sides, camera raised. Sitting behind Shiho and Shinichi, the tanned detective frowned. Due to circumstances, he was forced to accompany the children. Sitting this ride out, the teenage girls and professors were exhausted from their previous rides with children. Ostensibly, nothing could stand up to the energy of budding ten-year-olds high on sugar.
"Reminds me of a case," Shinichi commented as they were strapped in.
"A case?" Shiho asked, and he looked at the wheels.
"A murder that happened three years ago, the victim was decapitated from the force of a moving coaster…I solved it, but…it was pretty gruesome."
"Decapitated?"
"Yes," Shinichi ran a finger across his neck. "Ripped clean off."
"That is not something I want to hear when we're going for the ride, Kudou!" Heiji snapped.
"In theory, it would take a speed of 27.6 kilometers per hour to decapitate a grown man weighing about 80 kilograms," Shiho explained. "Considering that most roller coasters travel at 240 kilometers per hour on average, the victim would not have felt the impact. A clean and precise method of execution if you ask me."
"Thank you!" Heiji exclaimed, "I feel so much better!"
"If that happens to you," she assured Shinichi, who was regarding her with disdain, "I'll make sure your head is protected...at the very least."
"Oh, that'll be great," he deadpans, "but please remember to groom it every once in a while. I would like at least…to be flawless."
"You guys," the Osaka detective muttered, "Are unbelievable."
The shrunken teenagers chuckled at his disgust.
As the day progressed, Shiho found herself with Shinichi as they traveled through the mirror maze. It was the only attraction he was remotely interested in. Shinichi practically dragged her in. They were alone. The others, much to Heiji and Sonoko's chagrin, were at a Kamen Yaiba show that the children and Kazuha had insisted on watching. The shrunken teenager declined the invitation. They parted ways as soon as Sonoko arranged the meeting place for dinner.
"Now that's a first," Shinichi laughed when he saw Shiho's image along the wall. The trick mirror she stood in front of had twisted her body at an odd angle, making her stomach and chest three times bigger than usual. "You look like Hakase."
"So do you," she points at his reflection. He grinned, and they continued walking. Their bodies transforming into different shapes. The science behind it is an interesting lesson in refraction and reflection. Wavelengths of light are a more agreeable topic than the boy's amusement. He was taking photos now, sniggering as they passed by another mirror. The shape of their heads morphs into a strange balloon shape.
"You look absolutely dashing," he shows her the picture.
"It suits you," his face fell. "Ara? Am I wrong, big-headed detective?"
They spent the remainder of the time bantering, and when they finally reached the entrance of the mirror maze, Shiho found herself looking at a detective who could barely contain his excitement. This was a new side of him. Shinichi pulls her along as the maze widened and narrowed. The confusing passage is made more complicated by the phenomenon of infinity mirrors. Their reflection multiplied a hundred times over, casting their figures on the others. They were lost, and Shinichi was smirking.
"Now, this is a challenge."
At least he was having a good time. The sunny disposition he carried was a welcome change to the haunted demur he had over the past few weeks. Shiho pays close attention to him as they wandered through the maze. His eyes sparkled with glee, the gears in his brain positively spinning. Minutes later, they were faced with another dead end, and another possible route was ruled out.
"Might want to give Ran a call," Shiho teased as the detective frowned. "We might be stuck here for the foreseeable week."
"That's an exaggeration," Shinichi replied, and she sighed.
Shiho had to admit that the maze was well-designed. However, the experience of seeing herself magnified a hundred times over in the mirrors made her dizzy. Leaning against the cool surface of a mirror, she watched the boy mutter to himself before leading her onward.
"Tou-san used to take me to carnivals," Shinichi said later after Shiho teased him about his obsession with mirrors. "There were these massive mirror mazes," he grins, the memory a fond one. "There were no doors, no windows. It was like a Sherlock Holmes lock room mystery. My curiosity was piqued when I couldn't beat it."
"Ara, did you cry?" she asked as he narrowed his gaze.
"Considering the fact that I was only seven years old, that was not surprising."
"And you aren't now?"
"We're ten, Shiho, if you want to be accurate," he retorted, and she chuckled. A smile spreads across his face before he stops. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his vibrating phone. A grim line set on his lips.
Turning away from her, he hides the message he was reading, and for some reason, it hurts. Shiho felt an ache resonating in her chest. Secrets were the foundation of their relationship. Something she created to protect him. The boy withholding secrets of his own. They were too stubborn—to set in their ways.
Honesty was not something she practiced. However, this game they played had carried on for far too long. And—
It needed to stop.
Her mind made up, she readied herself, engaging in the one thing she was adept at.
"We are standing in a mirrored dimension," Shiho said, conveying the truth in riddles.
Slapping his phone shut, he paused, putting it away. Facing her, Shinichi was puzzled by her abrupt statement.
"Mirrored dimension?"
"Look," Shiho demonstrates, placing her hand on the cool surface of the mirror. Green eyes reflected back at hers. "Behind the glass resides another version of myself. It is a hypothetical theory, but some scientists believe that multiple universes might exist on the flip side."
"Quantum physics again?"
"Or pseudoscience, if you prefer," she shrugged as he frowned.
"Have you heard of Schrödinger's cat?"
He gives her a questioning stare, and she glances at the mirror in front, reflecting them in an endless loop. A phenomenon that can only be observed when mirrors are lined opposite to each other.
"I've heard about it. A thought experiment to show that the quantum world was not a fixed entity and the laws that we thought we knew…are anything but."
"Yes. Cats are placed in boxes that contain gas canisters, either set to release poison or not. At this point, we can assume that the cat in this suspended state is either dead or alive. A superposition— the cat existing in two states. It is only after opening the box that we are able to discern the fate of the cat. By initiating the process of changing its life, we are the catalyst. An experiment of endless possibilities—yes, just like this maze of infinity mirrors."
"Shiho, what are you trying to say?"
"Although the mirror can show a reflection, it cannot show you the truth," she whispered. Shinichi recognized it. This was a phrase she had confided in him once in an old cinema's bathroom. The case is a long-forgotten incident filled with a hint of melancholy. Back then, she would have never dreamt of standing here with him like this.
"We stand here within the maze…existing, like the cat in the box. A superposition of states. What we want the other to see is only revealed when we open the box. And hidden behind the endless veil, behind the mask, is a parallel universe of infinite possibilities. Of events that have or have yet to occur. Of lives lived or lost. Of dead or alive cats or," she smirks bitterly, "Two individuals that might have lived very different lives."
Shinichi draws closer. Azure eyes piercing her own.
"We exist in many versions, buried deep in an ocean of eternity, among the infinite possibilities of what ifs and not," she continued. "Is it possible, then, for our alternate selves to adopt different personas, form different relationships, and make different decisions?"
A strange tension develops in their corner of the maze. The lighthearted atmosphere that existed before has disappeared. Noticing the detective's darkening expression, Shiho averts her gaze.
"Would yo—" she hesitates, "we have suffered less if our paths had not crossed?"
As she walks ahead, the boy follows her, falling silent in contemplation.
"What are you implying?" he questioned. Staring at the mirrors, the maze, a fitting metaphor for their lives, Shiho lingers before giving him a fleeting smile. Standing again at the crossroads of fate, a shrunken scientist and detective are forced to make a decision. Gritting his teeth, he pins her against the glass, suddenly furious that she had even suggested such a possibility.
"Parallel universes be damned," he whispered harshly. "Why are you sprouting hypotheticals? We exist right here, right now."
The mirrors reflected a never-ending sea of limitless possibilities—a state of superposition. His words were catalysts—leading to a single moment.
"That's all that matters."
"Really?" she finds the courage.
"Shiho, what is it?"
"We're partners, aren't we?" Her whisper echoed through the maze, and his anger dissipated as soon as she faced him. "The rest shouldn't matter, should it?"
"You—" he falters.
Wavering azure eyes hesitated for a moment, and a decision was made. Shinichi grabs onto her, his hold tight, warm, and safe. Once again, she was reminded of the cold winter afternoon when he had pulled her to stand beside him. Before them is a soccer match at play. His charming smile—a bright spark in the dull world she lived in. Inviting her into his world—moving something in her frozen heart.
Within minutes, the boy led them out.
It was evening, and the rays of a setting sun shone onto them, bathing him in an impermanent orange glow. The intensity in his eyes took her breath away.
"You're right," Shinichi whispered softly, "We're partners."
A wry smile appears on his lips as he slumps against her, resting his forehead on hers.
"I'll tell you everything, Shiho."
"Kudou, why are we here at this time... it's late, and I am exhausted!" Heiji quipped. Shinichi looked at the four of them. Shiho leans against the wall as Ran sits on the bed opposite.
He shares a glance with the shrunken scientist. And a tacit agreement forms between them. The words she spoke earlier resonated in his mind.
"Shinichi?" Ran asked, and he took a deep breath.
"I didn't want it to be true...but Jodie-sensei just messaged me," he looked at them.
"Rum has escaped."
Episode used:
Episode 139 (one of the main reasons why I fell in love with Haibara in the first place :D)
The thought experiment used is the famous Schrödinger's cat theory. After reading through some books on Quantum Physics, I suddenly had the urge to weave it into the story XD. Though, I still do not have the faintest clue about how it all works (and I might have made a big boo boo in the theory, but hey, I thought it fits Shiho somehow :D). Anyway, I thank you all for the support and reviews. I hope you enjoy this chapter and have a good week ahead.