"You look perfect, Shiho-chan!" Yukiko smiled as she helped tie the young woman's red scarf around her neck.

She wore a brown suit with a sensible pair of heels and stud earrings. Along with a touch of light makeup and nude nail polish, she looked like your everyday working woman on the go.

"Thanks for your help with everything, Yukiko-san." Shiho said before checking the time on her phone. "I better get going now."

"Are you sure you don't want a ride? It's not trouble at all!"

"I-I'm ok." Shiho chuckled. 'Yukiko-san can be quite a wild driver, after all…'

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Shiho had arrived at Beika Station. The building was filled with a sea of people on their way to work or school. She slipped into her train car and held onto the handle, carefully not to bump into any of the other passengers. Her fingers tapped nervously against the handle as the train came to each stop, moving closer and closer to her destination.

The young woman caught a glimpse of her reflection as the train went underground. She blended in along with the fellow passengers so well. It was nothing like when she first arrived in Japan. She would be driven around by the Organization, sitting silently in the back seat as a man dressed all in black would take her wherever she was assigned. They were probably worried she would run away or befriend outsiders if she used public transportation alone. As a 13 year old child, they needed to ensure they nipped rebellion in the bud. She remembered looking out the car window often, watching people happily explore the city with their loved ones. She felt a sense of disdain, and an even deeper sense of envy. They have no idea just how good they have it, do they?

After three years, she was given permission from the higher ups to start driving on her own. By then, they were confident they had her undying loyalty. With two escorts, they went to a dealer who had selected a few models to show her. Shiho had grown quite apathetic to everything at this point, but she must admit, seeing the array of bikes sparked her curiosity.

"Listen Sherry! The boss has not only given you a codename, but now allowed you more freedom by letting you own a bike. Don't take this lightly, it shows that you are a trusted member of our Organization. Take this as an appreciation for the progress with APTX-4869."

She couldn't help but scoff at the word 'freedom.' It was like she was in an aquarium, watching people pass by from behind the glass. She had a finite room to swim, but she knew she could never actually go as she pleased. Still, Shiho quite enjoyed the rush of the wind and the humming of the engine as she drove the Harley-Davidson. She often dreamt of Akemi and her riding off into the sunset together on that bike. But that's all it would ever be… an idealistic dream.

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The train came to a halt again, and this time it was her stop. She navigated through the crowd and went up a flight of stairs to leave the station. After getting used to climbing stairs in her small frame, going up stairs as an adult felt like she was flying.

Shiho pulled out her phone to open the map directions. She anxiously looked around the area, taking note of everything that was on the way. Restaurants, boutiques, convenience stores… she imagined what it would be like to work in this fast-paced area. Eventually, she made it to her destination. It was a large building adorned with countless windows and plating that read out the words:

Haido Central Hospital

However, Shiho's legs seemed insistent on standing still, petrified at the thought of taking another step. Many would say to just be yourself, but would that backfire for her?

Shiho's worries were interrupted by a sudden text message from Rei.

Good luck at your interview! They're going to love you.

She smiled at the message and took a deep breath before going in. 'Only one way to find out...'

The front desk nurse directed her to the third floor, where she waited patiently to be called in.

"Miyano-san?" A sweet voice called out.

"Yes!" Shiho quickly stood up. She hadn't introduced herself to someone with her real name in a long time. Hearing it from a stranger's mouth was oddly satisfying.

A short, older woman with gentle eyes smiled at her.

"Please, come in."

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"Let's see… Your education is impressive. And you worked at a pharmaceutical company before, is that right? Ah, this one was destroyed in a fire not long ago, if I recall. Normally I'd call them for a reference, but I guess that's not possible…"

"Yes, that was a terrible accident. I did some clerical work for a while, luckily none of my colleagues was injured."

'At the scene that is... and it was no accident, and I was really the head research developer, but of course I can't say that…'

"So, why do you want to work in a hospital now?"

"Well, most of my life I've been surrounded by the medical field, but…"

Shiho paused for a moment, relaxing her shoulders.

"I think I've come to find a great appreciation in helping others." She said as she thought about her adventures with Shinichi. "I'm used to working in a more…secluded environment, and to be honest, I've never been quite a people person, but I've started to really find meaning in it and I'd like to explore that here. I think this role would be a perfect opportunity for me."

"I think so too, Miyano-san." The woman smiled as she jotted down some notes.

The two chatted for a while longer, and Shiho began to feel more at ease the longer they spoke.

"Alright, I'll be in touch with you when we make a decision, Miyano-san. By the way, I love your scarf! It's a Fusae brand, right?"

"It is, thank you!" Shiho nodded. 'I'm glad I wore it today, it's my good luck charm after all.'

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'Well, I did my best!' Shiho sighed as she stretched out her arms.

Seeing as she was already in the area, she decided to explore Haido for a bit. She first stopped at Haido Shrine. It was pretty quiet, and very relaxing compared to the bustling town just a few minutes away.

She walked up the steps, dropped in a 5 yen coin and prayed.

'Please bring us a safe and happy future…'

As she was about to leave, she noticed a unique omikuji* stand. They assigned different flowers and came in various colored mini envelopes.

Shiho decided to get one, placing money in the collection box and picking out a purple envelope. She peeked at the fortune, happy with the results, and carefully tucked it into her bag before leaving the shrine.

As she kept exploring, she began to pass by many familiar buildings, one of them being the cinema where she'd watch Gomera movies with the children as Ai.

'Maybe I could take them to a movie with Kudo-kun? Or maybe Rei and I could go togeth-' She blushed, quickly walking away. 'Don't get ahead of yourself now...'

She stopped in her tracks once she found herself in front of a high-rise building. She looked up in awe. It was so different from down below, now that she was in her real body again. It looked a little less intimidating, even.

A professional-looking woman greeted her as she walked through the door.

"Welcome to Haido City Hotel!"

Shiho nodded to the woman and continued walking past her. Luckily, she could do as she pleased, as she no longer caught the eyes of well-meaning strangers wondering if she was a lost child. She continued walking with a brisk pace. Something just came over her, and she had this sudden urge to go to that place again.

She maneuvered her way to the restricted staircase without getting caught by any employees. Needless to say, it was far easier than climbing up a chimney. Her hand carefully turned the knob, opening the door as silently as possible.

Shiho was on the rooftop of the hotel. She looked out into the landscape, glancing down at the people below. She found herself curiously trying to figure out where people were headed based on their demeanor, attire and who they were with. Shinichi and her often enjoyed little games like this when they were still shrunken. She smirked, thinking about those days. However, she didn't come all the way up here just to people-watch.

She took off her heels to feel the ground against her skin. The cold, delicate snow covered in blood was now a smooth, grey slab. It was like nothing had happened. The events of that evening might have been erased here, but she remembered it all too well. The scars throughout her body started to feel tense, as if her body knew this is where they formed. But it was also a firm reminder that she was still alive despite it all.

Shiho took in a breath, reminding herself that there's no reason to be afraid anymore. Gin was sent to a high security prison, and Vermouth passed away during the raid. Some swear they saw her jump in front of the bullet to save Shinichi, but most didn't believe that. Shiho was one of the few who knew the whole truth of what happened that day, and everything that led up to it.

Shiho and Vermouth had quite a tumultuous relationship to say the least. As 'Sherry' quickly rose through the ranks in the organization, Vermouth made sure she suffered for, or as she used to say, earned it each step of the way. There were countless menacing members, but Vermouth was by far more terrifying than anyone Shiho had encountered. Those decades as an actress must have helped her become well versed in reading people, because Vermouth knew just how to give you your own personal hell. Still, when Shiho saw her expression before she passed, she felt like she understood her for a split moment. It was a look of relief mixed with pain and sorrow. A woman cursed to submit to the organization, just like her.

Shiho walked up to the chimney, letting out a broken sigh as her fingers grazed against the brick. She remembered what Gin had said.

"I could have killed you inside that dirty chimney… But I thought I would at least let you bloom like a flower before dying…"

'I'm glad you didn't, Gin.' She thought to herself. She slipped her heels back on and went downstairs. 'Before I die, I'll make sure to bloom like a flower.'

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Shiho made it back to the train station to go home for the day. As she headed to her platform, she noticed a big screen playing a news channel.

'That's right, it was here…' She closed her eyes for a moment. She could hear the cheering from Higo's supporters, thinking back to the day she became a fan of his as well.

'He promised…' Shiho smiled, thinking about Shinichi. 'It's where he promised to protect me. And it's where I promised to never run away again…'

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The train car was much more empty than this morning. She was able to easily find a seat and relax. Shiho took out her fortune to read it more carefully as the train headed to Beika.

Excellent Luck! Your flower is a peony. Known as the King of Flowers, this plant is beloved dearly, as it symbolizes elegance and wealth.

Shiho gleamed as she continued to read her fortune.

Your luck is really fulfilling, and you will be very busy and energetic in your surroundings. In terms of work, your responsibilities will increase.

'That's a good sign, right?' She thought excitedly as she continued to the love section:

The affection between two people is at its peak. In order to maintain this relationship, it is necessary to be considerate and to cherish the atmosphere.

Shiho got a little shy, thinking about the next time she might see Rei. She put away her fortune and popped in her earbuds, playfully tapping her fingers against her leg to the beat of the music.

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Shiho eventually returned home, welcomed by Agasa's warm greeting. She smiled brightly, grateful to be able to utter the words:

"Hakase, I'm home!"

*Omikuji is a paper fortune often found at shrines.

Fun Fact! The omikuji in the story is a real one I got at a shrine in Harajuku! I thought it would be fun to include it :)

Thanks so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed it 3