Under the steady hum of the library's air-conditioning, Shinichi Kudo paused mid-step, bowing his head in surprise. He hadn't expected to run into Akihiko Tou in the East University stacks. Narrow paths or secret chess matches of intellect—either way, it felt oddly fated.
As their gazes met above rows of journals, neither student glared; no battle spark flickered. Yet Akihiko Tou sensed an undercurrent: encountering Shinichi Kudo here could spell anything but ease. After all, Shinichi's reputation as the "Son of Death" wasn't whispered lightly. He was the star detective of this anime realm; his presence at the library hinted at mysteries waiting to surface.
Shinichi cleared his throat, forcing casualness. "What a coincidence to see you here, Senior Tou."
Akihiko tipped an imaginary hat. "Quite. And what brings you, Junior Kudo, to Todai's library?"
Shinichi forced a smile that felt too tight. "Oh, you know—visiting friends and thought I'd browse a few books."
Truth was, he'd combed through extant research on Tou's published papers to outmaneuver him one day. Yet those dense biochemical and mathematical treatises in Japan's top journals still eluded full comprehension. Hence, he'd sought out his father's colleagues here at Todai, hoping their materials might yield clarity.
Akihiko tucked a stray lock behind his ear. "And you, Senior Tou, what brings you to this side of Tokyo?"
"I'm gearing up for my next paper," Akihiko admitted, eyes glinting. "Just missing a spark of inspiration, so I ventured here for reference."
Shinichi's lips twitched—another paper? He could barely decipher Tou's last publication. A few more complex treatises and he'd swear he needed a decoder ring.
Before Shinichi could muster a reply, a heated dispute erupted to their right. "Your approach to Mersenne prime distribution is flawed—utterly unverified!"
"Until you test my conjecture, you can't claim it's wrong!"
In Todai's lecture halls, academic divergence was expected. But here, in hushed aisles, it sounded like stray thunder. Shinichi frowned, glancing toward the quarrel. Two lanky undergraduates, their cheekbones sharp as their arguments, volleyed technical terms—number theory, conjectures, prime distributions.
Shinichi hesitated. He could calm the riot of formulas, but the thought made his head spin. Around them, students knit brows at the loud voices yet froze, unwilling to intervene.
Shiho Miyano, seated with Akihiko just a pace away, frowned too. The bickering felt like a fly in their peaceful brainstorming. But true to her cool demeanor, she stayed silent, watching Akihiko's reaction. Would Shinichi's presence quell the fracas?
"Stop arguing, big brother—please," chirped a gentle voice. A little girl rose from the chair beside Akihiko, her frame petite, hair tied in neat pigtails. Cantilevered on her tiptoes, she peered at the disputants. Her tone, clear and bell-like, carried an authority that belied her size.
Yet the two debaters remained lost in their labyrinth of equations. They neither heard nor cared about the child's plea. After a moment's pause, the girl strode forward, grasping one boy's arm. "Big brother, please stop now—everyone's watching…"
"What? Don't bother me!" snapped the boy. He jerked free; the girl stumbled backward, directly toward a sharp table corner.
Akihiko, watching the scene unfold, pushed up from his chair. His eyes flicked open with urgency. Before the girl hit the edge, he was there, steadying her with a firm yet gentle grip.
The girl's pale face flushed as she caught her breath. "Thank you, Oni-chan," she whispered, voice trembling.
The arguing students snapped to attention. A boy with sandy hair—Aoki Shu—rushed forward, panic in his eyes. "I'm so sorry! I didn't see you there—I got carried away!"
Akihiko's expression darkened. "You two were so wrapped up in your dispute you nearly injured an innocent child. Do you even notice where you're gesturing?"
Aoki bowed deeply. "It was my fault—my emotions got ahead of me." He turned to his friend, Yamashita. "We must apologize properly."
Yamashita joined him. "Yes. We had a disagreement over mathematics, and we failed to see the person beside us. We are truly sorry."
The little girl steadied herself and straightened her skirt. She gave them a gentle, forgiving smile. "It's okay. I know you care about your studies. One day I'll be at Tokyo University too, learning like you."
Her words, innocent yet sincere, spread shame across the two seniors' faces. They stammered, offering to replace her ruined notebook or compensate in any way. She shook her head softly.
"No need," she said. "Just… please be mindful next time."
They bowed in unison, murmurings of apology slipping out before gathering their books and retreating down the aisle.
Akihiko knelt to the girl's level, brushing a stray hair from her forehead. "Are you all right?"
She nodded, her dark eyes shining. "Yes, thank you for protecting me."
He offered a comforting smile. "Next time, watch your path. And don't hesitate to call out if you need help."
The girl's smile deepened. "I will. By the way, why are you here? Do you study at Eastern University?"
Akihiko gestured toward Shiho Miyano, who had risen to resume taking notes. "I'm here helping a friend with her research." He turned back. "And you?"
"I come here with my mother," the girl said, voice softening. "She works nearby and can't always stay with me, so I read here." A hint of sadness flickered across her features. "Sometimes I feel lonely."
Akihiko's chest tightened. "Your mother sounds very devoted. Keep working hard—your diligence will be rewarded when you reach your dream university." He offered a gentle pat on her head.
The girl beamed, then paused, as if remembering something. "My name is Yukiho Nishimoto."
Akihiko's hand froze midair. His eyes widened in surprise; the name rang a bell.
"Come again?" he asked, voice hushed.
"Yukiho Nishimoto," she repeated, placing a small, trembling hand in his. "I… I like reading here."
Shiho Miyano crossed the aisle, peering down at the child. "Yukiho? The administrator's daughter?"
The girl nodded. "Yes."
Shiho exchanged a quick glance with Akihiko. "It seems you're famous even at your age."
The child giggled, tucking a loose strand behind her ear. "Papa says I'm a bookworm."
Akihiko released her hand, standing upright. He turned to Shinichi Kudo, who had watched the exchange with a curious tilt of his head. "Shinichi, this is Yukiho Nishimoto, the librarian's daughter."
Shinichi stepped forward, offering a polite bow. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Yukiho-san. I'm Kudo Shinichi."
The girl's eyes flicked from one face to the next, then settled on Shiho Miyano. "You're Miyano-senpai, right?"
Shiho's lips curved in an affectionate smile. "Yes. And you're very brave to speak up."
Yukiho nodded shyly. "I want everyone to respect the library."
Akihiko clapped softly. "Well said." He turned back to Shinichi. "Shall we continue? I believe we were on the cusp of solving those conjectures—though perhaps not in this setting."
Shinichi chuckled. "Agreed. But I never took you for a librarian's protector."
He waved a hand over the now-quiet aisle. "Disputes can happen anywhere. I just hope they remember this lesson."
Shiho Miyano closed her notebook with a soft snap. "Sometimes wisdom comes from unexpected teachers."
Yukiho beamed, then slipped from the table to retrieve her own novel—Gone with the Wind, its spine worn soft by eager reading. She settled back into her chair, eyes alight with stories yet to be discovered.
As the three students gathered their notes and respect resumed its quiet reign, Shinichi Kudo wondered what case might next cross their paths. Akihiko Tou's smile hinted at shared secrets and equations waiting to be unraveled. And in the hush of Eastern University's library, a small girl named Yukiho Nishimoto turned another page—ready for her own story to unfold.
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