Chapter 15: Kaito Kid's Calling Card
Dr. Agasa's House. 3:00 PM.
Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, casting bright patches of light on the wooden floor.
Akemi Hirota—the new identity Akemi Miyano had adopted after her resurrection—was tinkering with the coffee machine in the kitchen.
"Need a hand?" Haibara asked from the doorway.
"No, I've got it," Akemi replied with a soft smile. "It's just... being able to do this, to live like this... it still feels so unreal." She gently touched the kitchen counter, her eyes filled with an appreciation for the simple, everyday moment.
"The Professor says you're adapting quickly," Haibara said, walking in and getting two mugs from the cupboard.
Akemi took a deep breath, inhaling the rich aroma of the coffee. "I still wake up in the middle of the night sometimes, wondering if I'm really alive."
"Like you're trying to breathe underwater," Haibara finished for her. The two sisters shared a knowing look, a sad but gentle smile passing between them. After a moment of silence, Akemi pulled Haibara into a warm hug. "Thank you, Shiho."
Haibara didn't pull away. She simply leaned into her sister's embrace. The moment was interrupted by the ringing of the doorbell.
"That's probably Mitsuhiko," Haibara said, going to get the door.
Mitsuhiko stood on the doorstep, looking energetic and cheerful. Despite the intensity of the Witch battle, Haibara's healing magic had worked wonders, allowing him to recover quickly without draining much of his own power.
"Come on in. My sister is making coffee."
"Hi, Akemi-san!" Mitsuhiko chirped as he entered.
"Would you prefer some hot chocolate?" Akemi asked, coming out of the kitchen with the coffee pot.
"Yes, please!" he said excitedly, then looked at Haibara. "But... aren't we supposed to train later?"
"We're taking today off," Haibara replied. "Yesterday was rough enough."
Perched on the roof of a nearby cafe, a Kyubey tasked with observation let out a small, telepathic yawn.
[Non-Human Beings Chat Group]
SpongeBob SquarePants: A day off for the magical girls! That's the best!
Tom Cat: [Cat_Stretching_Lazily.jpeg]
Mitsuhiko sat on the sofa, unconsciously touching the Soul Gem hidden under his shirt. The surface of the gem was still bright and clear, but deep within its core, a tiny, almost imperceptible smudge of darkness had formed. He didn't notice this minuscule change; to him, the gem looked as flawless as ever.
"Is there anything I can do to help?" Akemi asked, handing him a mug of hot chocolate. "How much do you all know about these gems?"
Haibara shook her head. "Kyubey only gives us the bare minimum. It avoids answering any detailed questions. We're having to figure out most of it on our own."
"Conan said he and Mr. Mouri have a case today, so they can't come," Mitsuhiko added.
"Then it'll just be the three of us," Akemi smiled.
"Where are we going?"
"Shopping," Akemi declared. "I need to get some daily necessities. Apparently, being resurrected from the dead doesn't include a complimentary new wardrobe."
The three of them walked down the sunny Beika shopping district. Dressed in a simple white blouse and jeans, with sunglasses hiding her eyes, Akemi looked like any other young woman enjoying her day off.
"How about this one?" Akemi asked, holding up a light blue sundress.
"The color suits you," Haibara commented, "but the neckline is a little too flashy."
Mitsuhiko watched them, fascinated. He had never seen this softer, more relaxed side of Haibara. Throughout the shopping trip, however, Haibara would occasionally stop and scan their surroundings.
"What's wrong?" Akemi asked.
"Nothing. Probably just my imagination." Ever since the Witch fight, she'd been sensing a faint, intermittent magical pulse, but she could never pinpoint its source.
While Akemi was in the fitting room, Mitsuhiko turned to Haibara. "Are you feeling okay, Haibara? Yesterday's battle was pretty intense."
Haibara took out her silver Soul Gem, inspecting it. "I'm fine. My healing ability works on my own body, too. The recovery is fast."
"That's good," Mitsuhiko said with a grin. "Now we can be just like the heroes in the anime, fighting monsters and protecting people." He paused. "By the way, that black thing Kyubey took... what was it called?"
"I don't know," Haibara admitted. "Kyubey didn't tell us."
"What are you two plotting over there?" Akemi asked, stepping out of the fitting room.
"We were just deciding where to go next!" Mitsuhiko said quickly.
"And? Have you decided?"
"Not yet..."
"Then how about we go get some ice cream?"
[Non-Human Beings Chat Group]
Tom Cat: [Cat_Arching_an_Eyebrow.jpeg]
SpongeBob SquarePants: Aww! They're so cute! Haibara is usually so serious, but now she's being so gentle!
Later, at an ice cream parlor, Akemi went to the counter to order, leaving Haibara and Mitsuhiko at a table by the window.
"Did you finish the chemistry homework, Haibara?"
"Ages ago. Why?"
"I was just wondering," Mitsuhiko said, "if we used our magical girl powers to do experiments, would the teacher be able to tell?"
Haibara gave him a sideways glance. "You're not planning on using teleportation to cheat on a test, are you?"
"Of course not!" he said defensively. "I was just thinking about the relationship between science and magic. The Professor said that any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
"He has a point," Haibara conceded. "Speaking of which, are you still catching up on that magical girl anime?"
"Yep! Star Prism Sorceress!" he said enthusiastically. "I've been so focused on my magical girl studies that I haven't even watched the latest episode of Kamen Hero! The new episode of Star Prism Sorceress was amazing, though. The main character got a new power—she can control time!"
"Sounds a lot more overpowered than us."
"But we're real magical girls," Mitsuhiko said, his eyes shining. "That's way cooler than any anime character! Especially your powers, Haibara. Healing and analysis are so useful."
Haibara couldn't help but smile. "I'm surprised you've embraced this whole magical girl thing so eagerly."
"That's because it's a real power we can use to protect everyone!"
Just as Haibara was about to reply, Akemi returned with the ice cream. "What are you two so happy about?"
Mitsuhiko blushed as he took his cone. "Thanks, Akemi-san! We were just talking about... uh... school stuff."
Haibara pretended to focus intently on her ice cream, a small smile playing on her lips.
After their ice cream, they took a walk in a nearby park. Akemi sat on a bench, watching the children play. "This brings back memories."
"Looking at you two," she said softly, "I sometimes wonder... if the Organization never existed, maybe Shiho could have had a normal life, with friends just like you, Mitsuhiko."
"Haibara isn't normal," Mitsuhiko said with complete sincerity. "She's special."
Haibara looked at him, surprised by the earnestness in his voice.
"This is good, too," he continued. "It's dangerous, but we're facing it together. Isn't that what's important?"
"You're a good kid, Mitsuhiko-kun," Akemi said, smiling warmly.
As the sun began to set, they walked home. At the gate to Dr. Agasa's house, Mitsuhiko asked hopefully, "Can we hang out again tomorrow?"
Haibara looked at Akemi, who nodded. "You're always welcome here."
Mitsuhiko waved goodbye and bounced away happily.
"He really likes you," Akemi said quietly.
"He's just a kid," Haibara replied, looking away.
"You're a kid in his eyes, too."
That evening, the two sisters sat on the balcony, watching the stars come out. "Shiho," Akemi asked suddenly, "do you regret it? Becoming a magical girl to bring me back?"
"Not for a second."
"But now you have to face those horrible Witches..."
"It was my choice," Haibara said, her voice firm. "And I'm not fighting alone. I have Mitsuhiko, Mr. Mouri, and the support of Conan and the Professor."
Akemi pulled her sister into a hug. "You've been through so much."
Haibara closed her eyes, relaxing in her sister's embrace. For a moment, the Witches, the contracts, and Kyubey's lies all seemed very far away.
Meanwhile, at the Mouri Detective Agency.
Kogoro Mouri returned home, exhausted. Today's case had been a real headache, even with the help of his "Eye of Truth." He still hadn't gotten used to making brilliant deductions while wearing a frilly skirt.
"What's this?" He noticed an envelope in his mailbox.
He tore it open. Inside was a single, elegant white card.
On the night the moon shines brightest, I shall come to claim the jewel that pulses with magic.
—Kaito Kid
"That guy again?" Kogoro muttered. "A jewel with magic?"
He unconsciously touched the Soul Gem hidden under his shirt. A deep sense of unease settled over him. He looked out the window at the full moon hanging in the sky, a feeling of an approaching storm washing over him.