School trips really were pretty fun. Aside from Liu A'dou having to walk at the very end when everyone packed up to check for trash, there weren't really any problems.
The appearance of Kaitou Kid gave the students who saw him with their own eyes endless things to talk about. Too bad phones in this era didn't have cameras, or else Kid would've been famous already.
And because there were no cameras, those who hadn't seen him refused to believe it. Understandable though—it was too unbelievable. Anyway, every time Kaitou Kid performed, there were always some who didn't believe it afterward.
Now, it was time for them to return.
"Congrats, you successfully took your first step." Ran saw Liu A'dou sitting beside her and couldn't help congratulating him.
"It's only the first step. Marriage is still a long way off." Liu A'dou spoke dead serious. "Starting a family is even farther away."
Still a weirdo. Speaking nonsense with such a straight face, seriously considering things that would never happen. Sonoko muttered, "Can't you be a little realistic?"
"Without long-term plans, you'll soon face short-term worries. I prefer thinking far ahead."
Hopeless. Totally hopeless. Sonoko really thought she must've been blind—back when she first met him, she even felt a little flutter. But it was fine now, she had clearly recognized what kind of person Liu A'dou was, so it didn't matter anymore.
Back in Tokyo, everything was the same as usual.
That day, Liu A'dou decided to visit Professor Agasa. After all, Agasa had once been both mentor and friend to him, and A'dou really admired the professor's character. At the same time, there was one thing he absolutely had to do—something he should've done right after his first time traveling across worlds.
Professor Agasa hadn't expected the high schooler he had only met once before to suddenly visit. He was quite surprised. "Please, come in."
Liu A'dou came carrying plenty of gifts. He knew Professor Agasa, while healthy, still had quite a few minor ailments, so he brought health supplements. These were super-advanced medicines from Earth No. 1, with very good effects.
"Professor, who is it?" came Haibara Ai's voice.
"Hi, little one. How are you? Still remember who I am?" Liu A'dou asked without the slightest restraint, as if they were already close. "That's right, I'm the high schooler from the bus."
…Liu A'dou's self-question-and-answer instantly froze the atmosphere.
"A small gift, just a token of respect." He handed over the gifts.
"Oh, you really shouldn't have…" Professor Agasa was honestly shocked. He had only met this young man once, yet the other not only took the initiative to visit but also brought so many presents. It was way too strange.
Haibara Ai also found this man strange. Definitely not normal.
"Please, have some tea." The professor really had no idea what to say. There was no topic—they weren't close at all, and there wasn't much to talk about.
Looked like Liu A'dou had to start the conversation, otherwise the atmosphere would be unbearably awkward. "Actually, I just wanted to check if this world-weary little one was still alive."
"…"
Haibara Ai reacted as if she had eaten something unclean. "I'm still alive, thanks for your concern. And sorry that I'm world-weary."
"Ai-chan!" The professor tried to hold her back, but Haibara Ai just couldn't stop herself from throwing sarcasm.
"It's fine," A'dou said. "That day there were too many suspicious people. It was normal for you to be scared. Speaking of that day on the bus, those two robbers weren't the scariest part, right?"
"…" His words carried another meaning, and Haibara Ai instantly grew wary. But right now, she didn't sense the aura of the Organization.
Liu A'dou actually admired Haibara Ai's radar-like sense, her detection of Organization members was steady and precise. That was her special talent, something no one else could imitate.
"You know something?" Haibara asked.
"There were at least 2 cops, 3 criminals, and 1 killer on that bus."
Haibara had only sensed the presence of a killer but had no idea there were cops too. "Who are you?" No normal person would know all that.
"I knew you'd ask that. Don't worry, I'm not a bad guy." Liu A'dou smiled. "I just came to give this world-weary little girl an opportunity. I think you'll like it."
"What kind of opportunity?"
"Of course, the chance to start over." Liu A'dou came here to help Haibara Ai before she got too tangled up with Kudō Shinichi and Mōri Ran, before she sank too deep and ended up suffering in silence. To be honest, the reason Haibara Ai liked Conan was because Conan treated her well, risked his life for her, and saved her more than once. But truthfully, Conan was like that to everyone—Haibara, Ayumi, Ran, even Sonoko. Whoever was in danger, Conan would throw himself in without hesitation.
So in a way, Haibara Ai was being a little self-indulgent. But it still made sense that she'd fall for the outstanding Conan. The problem was Conan already had a childhood sweetheart, and chances were slim he'd ever accept Haibara.
There's an old saying that heroes can't resist beauties, but also that women dress up for those they love, and that beautiful women have always admired heroes. So Haibara Ai, being a beautiful girl, liking Conan, the little hero, was perfectly normal.
Outstanding women naturally yearn for outstanding men. That was human nature, survival of the fittest, natural selection. Men, though, were usually more shallow—they didn't need a woman to be capable, just good-looking. This was the opposite of the animal kingdom, where beauty was usually male. Like the peacock, where the male spread its feathers, while the female did the real work of hunting and raising young, like lionesses.
But human society wasn't the animal world. Humans had morals and laws. Whatever race you were, you were still human under those rules.
Naturally, Haibara Ai couldn't break free from morality and law. Unless Conan lost his memory, there was no way she could shake the bond between Conan and Mōri Ran. And when Conan turned back into Kudō Shinichi, that would be the moment he left her behind.
Now Liu A'dou was offering Haibara Ai a new choice, a different path.
"Don't be afraid." Liu A'dou could tell Haibara Ai severely lacked a sense of security. Really, what she lacked most was courage. But as an ordinary girl facing the terrifying Black Organization, she had already done very well. The more you knew about the Organization, the scarier it became. "Actually, before the Twin Towers bombing, I had already pulled a lot of their files from Tokiwa Group's mainframe. So yes, I know their secrets, but I'm definitely not one of them. You can trust that."
"What exactly do you want?"
"I told you. A chance to start over. To gain a new family, new relatives." Liu A'dou had thought about this for a long time. The best way to keep Haibara Ai from repeating her tragic path was to take her away. "I want to be your father."
Pfft—
Professor Agasa sprayed a mouthful of tea, right at Liu A'dou.
Ripple energy surged. The Ripple spread through the flying droplets, turning into a chain of sparks that instantly evaporated all the tea mid-air. Since he had learned her secret, it was only fair to reveal some of his own in exchange—otherwise, she'd never trust him.
Haibara Ai turned to stone, completely frozen. A high schooler coming into her home and saying he wanted to be her father? If it was a joke, it had to be the most outrageous, most ridiculous joke of the 20th century.
Professor Agasa's reaction showed just how shaken he was. He even suspected the young man in front of them was crazy. But Liu A'dou's Ripple ability made them feel something different. Maybe this young man wasn't as simple as he looked on the surface.