141: Chapter 141: Ai Haibara Squatting at the Door

On the Ford Taurus driving along the Beika highway.

"Achoo!"

Fujino, sitting in the driver's seat, sneezed.

"Am I catching a cold?"

Fujino murmured, looking puzzled. "With my system-enhanced physique, that shouldn't happen..."

"Probably someone talking behind my back."

Soon, Fujino drove back home.

"Did you send that child back?"

Miyano Akemi, having finished cleaning the dishes and now watching TV on the sofa, asked when Fujino returned.

"Sent her back."

Fujino casually took off his jacket and hung it on the coat rack by the door. "Guess whose relative she is?"

"How would I guess?"

Miyano Akemi rolled her eyes speechlessly, asking Fujino, "Is it someone we know?"

"A relative of one of my classmates..."

Fujino walked slowly into the room. "Speaking of which, she's somewhat related to that kid from the detective agency next door."

"No wonder those two kids always gave me the feeling of being little adults."

Miyano Akemi nodded.

Recalling the husky-like child from across the street, she suddenly understood.

Pausing, she added thoughtfully, "But that little girl is really cute."

"Indeed."

Fujino couldn't help but nod as well.

Compared to that Conan brat, Ai Haibara was not only much cuter, but her personality was also more likable.

At least, to Fujino.

"This is the Beika Evening News!"

Just then, the 11 PM Beika Evening News started broadcasting on time:

"According to information received by this station, one of the two Haido Elementary teachers who were hospitalized after being beaten by the Beika Batman sometime ago committed suicide by jumping from the hospital rooftop... The reason is currently unknown, but sources indicate the suicide was highly likely due to the disability caused by the Beika Batman's assault... The other teacher, due to extreme mental instability, has now been admitted to Aoyama Mental Hospital for treatment."

One committed suicide, the other went to a mental hospital?

Fujino stood aside, watching the news report on TV, pondering silently.

If sentenced, these two beasts probably wouldn't get the death penalty.

Unlike in China, where Fujino was from in his past life,

the death penalty in Japan was practically symbolic.

Meanwhile, late at night, after receiving a phone call, Conan sneaked out of the Mouri Detective Agency and rushed over to Dr. Agasa's house.

Arriving at Dr. Agasa's, Conan first looked warily at Ai Haibara, then asked Dr. Agasa, "Are you saying this person escaped from that organization?"

At this moment, Ai Haibara was sitting leisurely on the sofa, gently organizing the clothes Fujino had bought.

"That's right. Ai Haibara took the same drug as you, which is why she shrank."

Dr. Agasa glanced at Ai Haibara, then explained to Conan,

"As for the name Ai Haibara, it was decided after discussion between the two of us... I originally wanted to use Ai (愛, love), but she insisted on changing it to Ai (哀, sorrow)..."

"The name doesn't matter!"

Conan demanded loudly, looking anxious. "What matters is, why is she at your house?!"

"I was found by a kind person..."

Just then, Ai Haibara paused her folding and turned around. "After defecting from the organization, I fainted in the heavy rain... Later, I was found by someone and brought to Dr. Agasa's house."

"Speaking of which, you seem to know that person too. His name is Fujino."

"Fu... Fujino?!"

Then, under Conan's grave stare, Ai Haibara began recounting her story, including how she discovered Kudo Shinichi was still alive, how she escaped the organization, and how she was picked up...

Of course, her description of being picked up was somewhat vague.

"I have nowhere to go now. The only person I know is you."

Ai Haibara looked at Conan, continuing calmly,

"As someone in the same situation, I thought you would understand my current predicament."

"How could I possibly understand a murderer like you?!"

Conan retorted angrily.

"You accomplice of the Black Organization, we are not the same kind!"

In that instant, all the grievances Conan had endured recently poured out.

His frustrations transformed into anger towards the Black Organization.

And all this anger was directed at Ai Haibara.

"..."

Ai Haibara stared ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠blankly, stunned by Conan's words.

"Shinichi..."

Dr. Agasa started to intervene but was cut off by Conan's relentless tirade:

"Do you know how ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠many people the poison you developed has killed?! How many families have been displaced because of the drug you researched!"

Ai Haibara's mouth opened, but no words came out.

Finally, she silently lowered her head and walked slowly towards the door.

Yes, Kudo Shinichi was right. Being the 'same kind' was just her wishful thinking.

"Where are you going?!"

Conan noticed her leaving figure and demanded loudly.

"You're right."

Ai Haibara walked out the door without looking back.

"We are indeed not the same kind."

"Wait!"

Conan, fired up, started to chase after her but was held back by Dr. Agasa.

"Shinichi!"

Dr. Agasa frowned. "What you just said was too harsh!"

"But she's an accomplice of that Black Organization!"

Conan turned around, his voice tinged with defiance.

"She helped that organization develop the poison that killed so many people, and she's the reason I ended up like this!"

"But she has already left that organization!"

"Even if she left, it doesn't mean she can just forget about what she's done!"

Dr. Agasa looked at the still-fuming Conan.

Then he turned towards the departing Ai Haibara, sighing,

"It's not just you. Isn't she also... Even she, the developer of the drug, ended up like this after taking it."

Deep in the night, stars glittered in the sky like grains of light.

A cold breeze brushed against Ai Haibara's body, making her small figure tremble invisibly.

She hadn't expected things to turn out this way.

She thought Kudo Shinichi, whom she considered her own kind, would understand her...

But in the end, it was just her wishful thinking.

That's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠right. Ever since her sister died,

there was no longer a place for her in this world.

"Sister..."

Ai Haibara clenched the corner of her clothes slightly, a tear rolling down her cool cheek.

On the quiet path late at night, the little girl's shadow was cast by the cold moonlight.

Like a lonely gray butterfly, unwelcome, unaccepted even by her own kind.

Lost in thought, she walked for an unknown amount of time.

She found herself back at the detective agency she had just left.

Early morning, Fujino slowly woke from his dream.

He sat up in bed and stretched.

Turning towards the balcony, the sky was still dim, not yet dawn.

Taking advantage of the early hour, Fujino changed into a black tracksuit, planning to go for a morning run.

He had just opened the door, preparing to go downstairs.

Then, he discovered a small figure in the hallway – Ai Haibara.

"Why is she here?"

Staring at Ai Haibara squatting by his bedroom door, Fujino frowned in surprise.

He remembered dropping her off at Dr. Agasa's house yesterday...

Why was she at his doorstep?

Thinking this, Fujino noticed Ai Haibara's flushed face.

He leaned down and touched her forehead.

Very hot.

"Did the fever relapse?"

Fujino's brow furrowed slightly, and he immediately picked her up.

From the looks of it, she must have spent the entire night squatting in the hallway.

Even the recently cured fever had returned...

But why was she in the hallway?

It shouldn't be...

Given Dr. Agasa's personality, even if he didn't take her in, he wouldn't have kicked her out overnight.

What exactly happened?

"Why is this child back again?"

Just then, Miyano Akemi, intending to come tidy the room, noticed Ai Haibara in Fujino's arms and asked, puzzled.

"She seems to have a fever again."

Fujino carried Ai Haibara through the door, then instructed Miyano Akemi, "Akemi-nee, go borrow some cold medicine from Ran's house across the street."

"Okay."

Miyano Akemi acknowledged and quickly turned to hurry over to Ran's house.

After Miyano Akemi left, Fujino returned to the bedroom.

Gently placing Ai Haibara on the large bed, he glanced around.

Confirming no one else was present, he took out the fever reducer syringe from his pocket dimension.

Only two-sixths of the dose remained, not enough for rapid fever reduction.

The reason he asked Miyano Akemi to borrow fever medicine was to combine its effect with the shot for a two-pronged approach, and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠conveniently send her away...

After all, for some unknown reason, whenever he gave Ai Haibara the fever reducer shot, she would revert to Miyano Shiho.

If Miyano Akemi witnessed Ai Haibara growing bigger and smaller, it would be troublesome.

He administered the remaining dose.

The girl's form changed size again.

"Got the fever medicine!"

Just as Fujino covered Ai Haibara with the duvet, Miyano Akemi returned with a box of cold medicine.

Fujino took the medicine, gently opened Ai Haibara's mouth, and poured it in.

Miyano Akemi, having just returned, didn't stand idle. She fetched a damp towel from the bathroom and placed it on Ai Haibara's still-hot forehead.

"Why did this child come back?"

Once Ai Haibara's condition stabilized, Miyano Akemi belatedly asked Fujino.

Concern was evident on her face.

Besides worry, there was also a hint of confusion.

Clearly, she also couldn't understand why Ai Haibara had returned.

"I don't know either."

Fujino shook his head. "I was just about to go for a morning run when I found her at the door."

"Could she have slept in the hallway all night?!"

Miyano Akemi's brow furrowed slightly.

"From the current situation, that seems likely."

Fujino nodded. "It was quite cold last night. I guess her cold had just gotten better, and the chill caused a relapse."

"That child, honestly. Why didn't she knock when she came back?"

"Maybe she didn't want to trouble us."

Fujino looked deeply at Ai Haibara.

Recalling her personality... that seemed likely.

But personality put into action is still influenced by many things.