The second best birthday gift he could have asked for.
He had decided today would be a good day. Nay, a great day!
After weeks of begging, bargaining, and outright blackmailing his parents for a trip to London to see 221B Baker Street—the legendary home of Sherlock Holmes—his persistence finally paid off. They had broken down at last, unable to resist his relentless pleas, and hinted that a surprise would be waiting for him the next morning.
The 5-year-old, turning 6, had barely slept the night before. Excitement had kept him tossing and turning, imagining all the wonders he might see in London. The thought of walking in his hero's footsteps, perhaps even solving a mystery or two of his own, filled him with a sense of adventure that made it impossible to remain still. Ah, morning couldn't arrive sooner!
Hopeful that the surprise was a plane ticket, he jumped out of the bed, his heart pounding with anticipation. He raced down the hall, his feet thumping against the wooden floor, and skidded to a stop in front of his parents' bedroom, expecting to find them with grins and packed suitcases.
Instead, he was met with a room strewn with notes, scribblings, articles…and no sign of his parents. "They really need to learn how to clean up after themselves," he muttered to himself, recognizing the familiar signs of his father deep into an investigation. His dad always got like this when something big was going on, too absorbed in his work to notice the mess left behind. Whether it was for a new story or a major case.
He scanned the room, hoping to find some clue, but the overwhelming clutter made it impossible to make sense of anything. The papers were filled with words he couldn't quite read or understand either, and the few he did manage to piece together—"fire," "death," "accident"—only added to his confusion.
But one name kept appearing amidst the chaos: Karasuma. Shinichi furrowed his brow. He knew the name—it was impossible not to, given that the Karasuma Group was the largest conglomerate in Japan. Being involved in just about everything. From popular toy and clothing brands that even he was familiar with, to pharmaceutical giants and financial institutions, the Karasuma Group's influence was everywhere.
Why was his father so fixated on them? What connection did they have to whatever he was investigating? He tried to piece it together, but the disjointed fragments of information were like puzzle pieces that didn't quite fit.
With a sigh, he decided he wasn't going to get anything else useful from this room. Not with this mess.
Dejected, but still determined, he went down the stairs to the living room
"Mom Dad?" he called out, his voice echoing through the large manor, to no response.
Just where in the world could they have disappeared to?
He wandered into the kitchen, hoping for at least a note. The table was set for breakfast, but something was off. There were only two sets of bowls and plates placed. One for him and two for his parents—that was the routine. Something really felt different today.
He glanced at the meal waiting for him. Savory pancakes filled with ham and cheese—the ultimate breakfast for the boy. Seems like they hadn't forgotten him entirely. The smell of the Okonomiyaki lingered in the air, making his stomach growl. All that twisting and turning had really built up his appetite.
Well then, perhaps his parents could wait until he sated his appetite.
Just as he was about to pick up his chopsticks, a faint noise coming from the front door caught his attention. He paused, listening as the door creaked open.
"Now, don't be shy," a familiar voice coaxed gently. He didn't need to guess—he knew that voice instantly. It was his mother!
"I know he can be a bit obnoxious, but he's not too mean." She winked at her little companion.
"Oi! What sort of lies are you spreading about me, mother? And who are you even talking to?" He yelled out in annoyance.
"It's not a lie if you can tell it's about you, Shin-chan!" She shouted back from the other room.
He grumbled as he made his way towards them, knowing she had him there.
"Anyway, what's that you're hiding back there?" he asked, trying to get a glimpse of what she had brought home this time.
"Shinichi, it's not 'what,' it's 'who,'" his mother corrected him, "Sorry about him—he can be a bit much sometimes."
Peeking around from the corner, was a tiny girl with watchful eyes. She was standing next to his mother, clutching Yukiko's legs as if trying to hide from the obnoxious brat.
"And where did you pick her up?! You know you can't just go grabbing kids like animals! It's a crime!" he blurted out, staring incredulously at his mother.
Yukiko had a habit of bringing in every lost animal she encountered, from kittens to injured birds. Shinichi had grown used to their home becoming a temporary shelter for her various rescues, and while his father was fine with it, Shinichi wasn't. He'd always end up having to take care of every animal she'd bring in. At least, according to him.
His mother sighed. "She's not a stray, Shin. She's a guest."
Shinichi scowled but didn't argue further. Instead, he scampered towards the girl. She was slightly shorter than him, he noted.
"What's your name?" he asked.
The girl looked at his mother, hoping she'd answer in her place.
"Do you remember how your father's been extra busy lately?" Yukiko prompted, though she wasn't sure how much she really wanted to reveal about what she and her husband had been up to. They had managed to keep him away from it, but things had suddenly moved rather quickly that they weren't prepared to tell him.
"You mean him investigating the Karasuma Group?" Shinichi asked, catching her off guard.
Yukiko blinked in surprise. That damn Yusaku, she thought, a flicker of annoyance bubbling up. Shinichi was picking up things way too quickly. At his age, he should be enjoying his childhood, not piecing together conspiracies.
Shinichi wasn't sure just what was going on, but the girl's presence here suggested she might have been caught up in it somehow as well.
He tried to observe her expressions and behavior, but she was being awfully quiet.
Then again, he was too young to fully grasp what she had been through. And she was far too young to have gone through it all in the first place.
He wasn't sure what to feel about her. Still, he couldn't shake his frustration. "Why is she here, though?"
"Will she be coming with us on the trip?" He added, trying to focus on his special day. After all, he was only six, and the imminent breakdown of the Karasuma group was not one of his immediate concerns.
He didn't mind her coming along; in fact, it might even make things less boring. But he couldn't help wondering if it would be awkward for her.
"Ahaha…about that..." came a hesitant laugh.
No.
His mother sounded guilty.
No. This couldn't be happening.
"You know, mom and dad still have a lot of work that needs to be done. Dealing with the fallout from this group isn't turning out easy, " she said, rubbing her forehead.
She glanced at the young girl, gently squeezing her hands. "Shiho-chan's grown attached to Yusaku and I, since we were the ones who rescued her from their grasp. The MPD finally allowed us to look after her! Not that I needed their permission!"
That's where they must have been this morning, he realized. His parents were likely handling the aftermath of the rescue. Somehow, figuring that out that didn't make him feel any better.
Shinichi felt a knot form in his stomach. He could only wait for the inevitable, but—
"But we can't exactly take her along with us to the various crime scenes, can we?" His mother spoke as if she was going to a picnic herself.
"She's already been through a lot! Not to mention, we need to find her sister as well." That was turning into another headache. It was almost as if someone was deliberately hiding her from the world. But she knew if anyone could find her, it'd be Yuu-kun!
"So we'd like you to look after her." Yukiko continued, trying to lighten the mood. "You can show her around the house, play with her—she could really use a friend. And knowing you, you don't have any either! It's a win-win!" He would have commented something about how he did have friends, if he wasn't utterly shocked.
Shinichi stared in disbelief, trying to process the sudden changes in his birthday plans. His mother's attempt at a cheerful tone did little to ease his disappointment. And then it all clicked.
"Whattttt?!"
His shocked scream was lost as his mother hurriedly exited the house, clearly eager to avoid further confrontation. Yusaku would certainly be held accountable for pushing this responsibility onto her as well. But she knew her kid was old enough to take care of himself. And she had asked their next door neighbor to keep a watch to make sure Shinichi didn't leave the house.
Today was shaping up to be a truly dismal day for little Shinichi.
The girl, who had been silent throughout the exchange, looked up at him with uncertain eyes. As if observing his disappointed face.
The mouth-watering aroma of the okonomiyaki didn't follow the two kids there, but a stomach growled nonetheless.
Hmmph.
"Come along now," he said begrudgingly, taking young Shiho's hand and leading her towards the table without waiting for a response.
There were two sets of bowls and plates placed on the table, neatly arranged as if nothing were amiss. Another set sat in the refrigerator, accompanied by a note that simply read, "Lunch ". Next to a birthday cake kept sealed by an airtight container. His eyes lingered on the note for a moment. Another mystery solved already: his parents had planned for this, at least a day in advance. They knew. They had known all along, and he hadn't seen it coming.
The realization hit him like a punch to the gut. Which hurt more, the deception or his own oversight? He wasn't sure. Either way, it stung. So much for being a detective!
Unforgivable. All of this...for her. This criminal!
That's all she was to him—a criminal. It didn't matter that she was the prettiest girl he had ever laid eyes on. That didn't absolve her from her crime. And so what if she had her own circumstances? What did that matter to him?
She had stolen away his precious gift—the special day that was supposed to be all about him. He clenched his fists, knowing exactly what criminals deserved: punishment.
The girl in question did not meet his eyes as they sat facing each other, both working through their meal.
Obviously a sign of guilt, he concluded. What other reason could there be for her behavior?
Certainly, it couldn't have anything to do with the fierce glare he was shooting her way. Of course not.
Seeing how uncomfortable she seemed to be of him, an idea sparked in his mind—a perfect plan to deliver justice. He would spend the entire day with her just like his mother wanted, never letting her out of his sight. If she thought she could get away with ruining his birthday, she was sorely mistaken. He would make her admit defeat, one way or another.
Once he saw she was done with her meal he pushed his chair back and stood up, a sly smile creeping onto his face. "Since mom has told us to enjoy the day, How about we start with a story?" he suggested, his voice cheerful but with an underlying edge. "I've got some really good ones."
She tilted her head with uncertainty, as if wondering, "story?"
"Yeah," Shinichi replied, already pulling her towards their library. "I have a whole collection! Maybe you'll find them... interesting."
He scanned the shelves before his fingers landed on a thick, weathered book with a cover adorned by the silhouette of a hound howling at the moon. It was one of his prized possessions—The Hound of the Baskervilles. The eerie tale of a cursed family and a phantom hound seemed like the perfect choice to unnerve her. A book he wouldn't admit, had terrified him on his first read.
He handed the book to Shiho, watching closely for any sign of fear.
The girl simply nodded in agreement. He took it as a sign of acceptance.
Let's see if you can keep that facade of calmness, he thought, as he began to read aloud, his voice low and ominous.
But as the story unfolded, Shiho's expression remained neutral. She listened attentively, her face calm, betraying no fear. Shinichi pushed harder, adding more dramatic tone to his voice, emphasizing the eerie parts. Still, she didn't waver, not even during the passages that had once sent a shiver down his own spine!
By the time they finished, it was clear that his plan to scare her into submission wasn't working. If anything, it was having the opposite effect—Shiho seemed more relaxed now than she had been at the start.
When the final words left his mouth, she simply said, "That was interesting."
He'd have been surprised at hearing the first words coming out of her mouth, if something more shocking didn't catch him off guard.
"Just interesting?" Shinichi echoed, his eyes widening in disbelief. "This is Sherlock Holmes we're talking about! He's the greatest detective ever! He catches criminals no one else can. Isn't that amazing?"
Shiho looked down at her lap, her fingers fiddling with the edge of her sleeve. "I guess," she said softly. "But…not everything can be solved."
There was something in the way she said it, a quiet resignation that made his heart squeeze in a way he didn't quite understand. But Shinichi wasn't one to back down, especially not when it came to his belief that there was always one truth that could be reached if one looked carefully.
He leaned forward slightly, his voice softer now, but firm. "But that's why we keep trying, right? Even if something seems impossible, we don't give up. We look for clues, we think harder, we keep going until we find the answer. Mr. Holmes never gave up, no matter how tough the case was."
Shiho looked up at him, her eyes searching his for something. "But what if…the answer isn't what you want it to be?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "What if finding the truth…doesn't make things better?"
Shinichi paused, taken aback by her question. He hadn't thought of it that way before. In all the stories he loved, the detective always found the truth, and that was supposed to bring justice, to make things right. And give people hope.
"But…even if it's not what we want," he said slowly, carefully choosing his words, "it's still the truth. And knowing the truth is better than living in the dark, isn't it? Even if it's hard, it's better to know, because then…maybe we can find a way to fix things. And if it's hard to do it alone, you can do it together!"
Shiho didn't respond again, her gaze dropping back to the book in her lap, lost in thought.
And for but a single moment, he was mesmerized.
…No!
He shook off the uneasy feeling creeping up on him as he faced away from the girl. He couldn't let himself get distracted. He wasn't the bad guy here—she was the one who had intruded on his birthday. And now she was acting all quiet and lost, making him feel…what? Sorry for her? That wasn't fair!
The goal was to make her want to go back to her own home, not get cozy in his.
But as soon as the thought crossed his mind, something else nagged at him. Where was her home, anyway? His mother hadn't really explained anything too deeply. Guest implied she was going to stay with them for a while. It was a rather vague term though.
He peeked back at Shiho, debating whether to ask her directly. But just as he was about to open his mouth, a wave of embarrassment washed over him. This was the wrong way of going at it. He was a detective, wasn't he? He should be able to figure it out on his own!
"Let's go outside," he snapped as he pushed himself off the floor, his own book slipping from his lap. He needed a way to blow off some steam. His face felt like it was on fire. It must be the heat, he reasoned.
Shiho looked up, surprised by the sudden change in tone, but she nodded, setting the book aside and following him to where he'd lead her.
Undeterred—okay, maybe slightly deterred—he quickly moved on to his next tactic. Reading hadn't shaken her, but maybe something more physical would. And while he wasn't allowed to take her out of the house, the yard was fair game.
As they stepped out into the lawn, Shinichi felt the tension in his chest ease up, replaced by the familiar excitement of a challenge. He would show her that he was better—no more weird thoughts or awkward feelings.
He had been learning soccer, a physical activity to help with the tougher parts of a detective's work he was sure to face in the near future. It was a bit unfair, challenging her to something he considered himself an expert in. But it was too late now. Setting up the rules of the match by himself, he started the game, confident it would be a breeze.
But once again, she surprised him. She kept up with him, dodging and kicking with unexpected agility. Every time he thought he had her cornered, she found a way to counter, matching his moves with an unexpected ease that only fueled his frustration.
Throughout the day, Shinichi tried various tactics to outdo this unwanted guest. He challenged her to puzzles and games, hoping to outsmart her at every turn. With each challenge, he waited for her to stumble, to give him that sweet taste of victory. But alas. Each time he thought he had the upper hand, she countered with sharp observations and clever insights that left him both frustrated and intrigued.
It didn't make sense to him. She had seemed so wary of him, almost fragile. But now, she was keeping up with him, and he found himself secretly impressed.
As the hours passed, something shifted. Shinichi began to forget his initial plan of punishing her. Instead, he found himself enjoying the way she matched him, move for move. By the time the sun dipped low in the sky, Shinichi was ready to concede that Shiho wasn't so bad. He wouldn't admit whether she was smarter, but maybe, just maybe, she could be a respectable Watson to his Sherlock. The thought made him smile.
Evening fell, and still, his parents hadn't returned. The two children sat together, now in his room, both worn out from the day's activities having devoured the cake that his mother had made. He had to admit, the cake was delicious. Almost made him forgive his mother for the surprise she had sprung on him. Almost.
The awkward tension between them had melted away.
As they sat there, catching their breath, Shinichi noticed Shiho fidgeting with her small bag.
"I heard it was your birthday today from your mother before she brought me here," Shiho said, her voice soft. "I know this isn't much, but I prepared a present for you." She carefully pulled out a small, wrapped box and held it out to him.
Curious, Shinichi took the box and unwrapped it with the same excitement he had felt that morning. Inside, he found a beautifully crafted bookmark, shaped in the silhouette of Sherlock Holmes. The details made it clear it was handmade, unique, and just for him.
"This is… incredible," Shinichi said, genuinely touched by the gift. "Did you make this yourself?"
Shiho nodded, though he could hear a bit of worry in her voice. "I heard about how much you liked Sherlock Holmes. I also heard that they'd have to cancel your party because of me…I'm sorry."
In that instant, Shinichi admitted defeat. This girl, who had turned his day upside down, was just too nice.
He wanted to give her something in return as well. But he had no way to have prepared anything. She replied that he already had.
He had been an awful companion, he confessed.
He hadn't been too mean, she reassured him.
And soon a gentle silence fell over them. As the day's adventures caught up with them, they drifted off to sleep, hand in hand, their small bodies nestled comfortably together.
Only for the silence to be broken by his mother's voice yet again.
"We're back!" The front door of their manor creaked open, letting in the night air. The house was quiet, cloaked in darkness.
"I'm sure they must be asleep by now. It is rather late," Yusaku whispered, careful not to disturb the two children.
Finding the two kids huddled together, fast asleep in Shinichi's room, his parents exchanged a small grin. A photo was quickly snapped as insurance against the dispute they'd no doubt be facing in the future.
Soon, days turned into weeks. And the two went from being close to being inseparable. But as much as he wished the good times could last forever, life had other plans.
And finally, one day it happened. The person who had taken in young Akemi would come face to face with little Shinichi, now intent on taking the younger sister away as well. Well, not on his watch!
"Hand her over, boy." A stern voice demanded. Standing tall at the entrance of his manor. As if she had any right to her.
Undeterred, Shinichi stood firm, holding his arms out wide, as if shielding Shiho from the approaching figure.
"Never!" He yelled in defiance.
The figure, a woman who looked to be in her early 40s cracked her knuckles, her eyes narrowing as she assessed her opponent. "Very well, if it's a fight you want for the girl, I don't mind going all out," she said, her tone cold and unyielding.
Shinichi's mind raced. He wasn't sure if he could win in a fight, but he wasn't about to back down.
Before the tension could escalate further, another voice cut through the standoff, lighter and tinged with amusement. "Now, now, Mum. Don't scare the kid." Shinichi saw a boy, who looked like he was in his teenage years.
"Who are you calling a kid? I'll have you know, I'm the protege of Sherlock Holmes! Just because you are from the same nation as him, doesn't mean I will go easy on you!"
Shinichi's little bravado was ignored as the teenager scooped him up by the back of his shirt, lifting him effortlessly into the air, much like one might lift a cat by its scruff. Allowing the woman enough space to kneel down to Shiho's level, her eyes softening as she approached the frightened girl. "You look just like Elena," She said, causing Shiho's eyes to widen in surprise.
"It's our first meeting, but it's nice to meet you, my dear niece," Mary said, flashing a rare smile.
And just like that, Shiho had found a new home. In London.
From what he would later learn, Mary had received a distressing phone call from her sister, Elena. Through the muffled tears on the other end, she heard the words, "We've made a terrible mistake."
Sensing that something disastrous was about to unfold, Mary quickly booked a flight to Japan. But by the time she arrived, news of Elena and Atsushi's deaths in an accidental fire had already made her way. She knew it was all a ploy however and vowed to find her two nieces safe and sound. And bring them away from the danger in Japan.
Tracking down everyone that knew the couple, she soon managed to find a young, shivering Akemi, who had been separated from her darling sister. Disposing of the organization agents who had been keeping a watch on the girl was easy for the ex-MI6 agent. However, locating Shiho proved elusive. Almost as if someone was deliberately concealing her from the world.
In the end, Mary leveraged her connections with Japan's public safety bureau to unearth the crucial information she needed.
Only to receive a mail sent directly to her safe house, before she could make her way there, inviting her to the Kudo's manor, bringing her face to face with the boy who wasn't quite happy with this turnout.
He glanced over at Shiho, almost pleading with his eyes, not to leave. She could just move in with them! Go to school here instead! But he knew she'd feel much more comfortable with her own family. With her sister.
So they made a promise—a promise to meet again. And again. Until they were old. Much older.
He'd go on his trip to London, the next year when he turned 7. It was all he'd hoped for and more. It certainly was one of the best days of his life. Not to mention, Shiho was there too. But if one were to ask him whether it was the greatest day of his life, he wouldn't be able to answer.
And just as they'd promised, every year after that as well, they met up on his birthday. Eager to exchange presents as they'd done the first time.