After leaving the convenience store, Kudo and Haibara bid farewell to Ayanokoji and Horikita, parting ways as they walked toward the dormitory. The evening air was crisp, the setting sun casting long shadows across the well-maintained pathways of the school grounds.
"Come to my room," Shinichi said abruptly.
Haibara glanced at him with a knowing smirk. "My, my. Getting a girl alone in your room already? Aren't you bold?"
Shinichi rolled his eyes. "You know that's not what I meant."
"Of course, I do." She chuckled lightly. "Fine. We have a lot to talk about anyway."
They entered the dormitory building and approached the reception desk, where a staff member handed them their key cards. Shinichi looked down at his—Room 406. Haibara received hers as well but didn't comment, merely waiting for him to lead the way.
Upon entering Room 406, Shinichi took in his new living space.
The dormitory was surprisingly well-equipped, far better than the average high school dorm. The room was about eight tatami mats in size, featuring a neatly made single bed against the wall, a study desk with a chair, a wardrobe for storage, and a private bathroom. The walls were plain, with minimal decoration, and a large window allowed natural light to illuminate the space.
On the desk lay a handbook detailing the dormitory rules—basic guidelines about keeping noise levels down, maintaining cleanliness, and the strict prohibition of unauthorized visitors in opposite-gender rooms after a certain hour. Shinichi barely glanced at it before tossing the booklet aside.
The door clicked shut behind them. The moment they were alone, Shinichi's playful demeanor faded. His sharp blue eyes darkened as he turned to Haibara and asked a simple question.
"Why?"
Haibara blinked, caught off guard. "Why?" she echoed.
"Why did you disappear like that?" Shinichi's voice was tight with emotion. "We beat the Organization. It was over. You had no reason to just… vanish."
Haibara's teasing smile wavered, replaced by something more uncertain. She turned away, crossing her arms as if to shield herself. "I needed time," she admitted. "After everything ended, I felt… overwhelmed. The emotions I had been bottling up for so long—grief, guilt, relief, and guilt again—it all hit me at once. I had to sort out my feelings."
Shinichi stepped closer. "You could have told me."
"I didn't know how," she confessed.
Silence stretched between them before she suddenly laughed, but there was no humor in it. "You know, it's ironic. I ruined your life, and yet you still wanted to find me."
Shinichi frowned. "What?"
"The drug I created—it destroyed your perfect life," she whispered. "You lost everything because of me. Your future, your reputation, even your relationship with Ran. If it weren't for me, you would have never—"
"Stop," Shinichi interrupted firmly.
Haibara inhaled sharply, surprised by the intensity in his voice.
"You keep saying I lost everything," Shinichi continued, his expression serious. "But I didn't. I had you."
Haibara's breath hitched. She opened her mouth, then closed it again, momentarily at a loss for words.
"If I hadn't shrunk, I wouldn't have met you," Shinichi said. "I wouldn't have had the chance to understand you, to fight alongside you. And yeah, it was hard. But it wasn't all bad."
She turned to face him fully, searching his expression for any sign of false reassurance—but she found none. Shinichi Kudo wasn't the type to lie about things like this.
"…What about Ran?" Haibara finally asked, her voice quiet. "I ruined your relationship with her."
Shinichi sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "At first, I thought so too. But after things settled down, I went on a couple of dates with her… and I realized something."
Haibara tilted her head slightly, waiting.
"I never actually had romantic feelings for her," he admitted. "I cared about her deeply, but not in the way I thought. She was my childhood friend, my family in a sense… but love? Not really. I mistook it for something else."
Haibara stared at him, trying to process his words. "You're serious?"
Shinichi nodded. "I figured it out once I had the chance to step back and really think. What I felt for her wasn't what I thought love should be."
Haibara exhaled slowly, lowering her gaze. "…I see."
Shinichi studied her carefully before speaking again, his tone softer. "I don't regret what happened, Haibara."
She looked up at him, her usual guarded expression faltering.
"I don't regret meeting you," he clarified. "And if I had to go through it all again… I'd still want to save you."
For once, Haibara had no sharp remark, no sarcastic retort. She simply looked at him, emotions swirling behind her blue-gray eyes.
A long silence stretched between them, not uncomfortable, but heavy with unspoken words.
"…Idiot," she muttered at last, looking away.
Shinichi smirked slightly. "Took you long enough to say that."
She let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head. "You really are impossible."
The air between them was different now—still unspoken feelings, still unresolved emotions, but something had shifted.
And for now, that was enough.
--
The sound of an alarm buzzed faintly in the background before Kudo Shinichi finally stirred awake. He blinked a few times, adjusting to the morning light seeping through the window. A groggy sigh escaped his lips as he rolled over, burying his face into the pillow.
Then, like a cruel trick played by his half-awake brain, the words from last night echoed in his mind.
"I had you."
His entire body stiffened.
Slowly, he lifted his head, face already burning. "Ugh…" he groaned, burying his face in his hands. "What the hell was I thinking?!"
Sitting up, he shook his head aggressively as if trying to erase the embarrassing memory. That sounded like something straight out of a cheap romance drama…
Forcing himself out of bed, he walked to the bathroom, splashed cold water on his face, and stared at his reflection. His cheeks were still slightly flushed. "Tch. I need to get a grip," he muttered before grabbing a towel to dry off.
Once he finished freshening up and getting dressed, he grabbed his bag and exited the room, only to find himself face-to-face with Ayanokoji Kiyotaka near the elevator.
Shinichi blinked in mild surprise. Huh. What a coincidence.
Ayanokoji, always calm and unreadable, simply nodded in acknowledgment.
Shinichi, always one to fill the silence, smirked. "Morning. Looks like we're neighbors."
Ayanokoji tilted his head slightly. "Your room?"
"406," Kudo answered. "What about you?"
"401."
Shinichi chuckled. "Hah, we're right down the hall from each other. I guess that makes us neighbors."
Ayanokoji remained expressionless. "I suppose so."
Shinichi raised a brow at his dull response but shrugged it off. "Wanna walk to class together?"
Ayanokoji hesitated for a fraction of a second before nodding. "Sure."
As they made their way to the school building, Shinichi decided to test the waters a little. "So, what do you think about this school's rules?"
Ayanokoji was silent for a moment before replying, "They're unusual."
Shinichi's brow furrowed slightly. "Unusual how?"
Ayanokoji simply shrugged. "Just different from a normal school."
Shinichi glanced at him, waiting for more, but as expected, Ayanokoji didn't elaborate. Tch. What a slippery guy.
Most students would either praise the school's luxuries or complain about the restrictions. But Ayanokoji? His tone carried no excitement or frustration—just quiet detachment.
Shinichi sighed inwardly. Right… I can't expect him to share his thoughts so easily.
After all, Ayanokoji wasn't an ordinary student. Kudo already knew the truth—the White Room, the extreme training, the reason his father was still searching for him. Protecting him was Shinichi's mission, but the hardest part wasn't just keeping him safe—it was understanding him.
And right now, Ayanokoji remained unreadable.
Eventually, the two reached Class D, stepping inside to find their classmates scattered about, some chatting, some slouching in their seats, and others completely unconcerned about their surroundings.
Shinichi's eyes scanned the room. His gut feeling told him something was off about this whole school system. The excitement from yesterday—the carelessness—it was all like a setup.
If he didn't intervene soon, Class D would fall into a pit they wouldn't be able to escape from.
His fists clenched slightly. I have to warn them before it's too late.