Chapter 1 – A Mental Patient?
A gentle breeze stirred the leaves, scattering light and shadow in a soft dance.
A handsome young man sat on a bench beneath a tree. Just beyond the iron gate beside the trunk, a little girl stood watching him. Their eyes met.
The sun was bright, the grass swayed in the wind, and for a brief moment, time seemed to pause.
Then, in the very next second, that peaceful scene was shattered.
"The god will descend on the night of the full moon to punish you ignorant fools!" A man in slippers and a hospital gown came running past from behind.
A group of nurses and doctors followed close on his heels.
"Quick! Hurry!"
"Stop him!"
Not far away, a frail, listless boy sat on the ground, knees hugged to his chest, completely indifferent to the commotion around him.
A small ball rolled to the feet of Chi Feichi. He bent down, picked it up, and walked toward the iron gate.
The nurse who had been standing beside the bench quickly followed, her eyes carrying a hint of caution and wariness.
When he reached the gate, Chi Feichi crouched and pushed the ball through the bars. "Here."
Outside the gate, the little girl—perhaps startled by the earlier chaos, or perhaps uneasy because of Chi Feichi's emotionless face—accepted the ball in a daze.
He straightened up and was about to leave.
"W-wait a minute!" the girl called out. "Thank you, big brother! My name is Ayumi Yoshida. What's your name?"
Chi Feichi stopped and looked at her.
Six or seven years old, neat short hair, a yellow headband, a pink sweater, and a pair of big eyes fixed on him with expectation.
In this anime-like world, she was certainly a cute little girl.
But the key was… Ayumi Yoshida?
That name, along with the jumbled timeline, made him want to laugh and sigh at the same time.
Had he… crossed into the world of Detective Conan?
A month ago, he had been shocked to discover that, instead of dying as expected, he had somehow transmigrated into the body of a Japanese university student—also named Chi Feichi.
If not for the unfamiliar face and the strange new family, he might have thought he had come back to life.
He had only ever heard that the surname "Chi" (池) was fairly common—spread across China, Japan, Korea, Italy, Malaysia—but in this life, it seemed he had met his own "cross-border counterpart."
Not that he really wanted to meet him.
When he arrived in this world, the original consciousness of this body was still there. Every three or four hours, they would take turns controlling the body while the other fell into a deep sleep.
On the second day after arriving, he was sent to the psychiatric ward.
The basic diagnosis: dissociative identity disorder.
And in his view, there was something wrong with time here. Yesterday had been Saturday. Today… was still Saturday.
But to the doctors and everyone else, the problem was him—specifically, a complication of dissociative identity disorder called time perception disorder.
For a while, even he had started wondering if maybe they were right and he really was sick.
Only now did he realize this was the Conan world, where the flow of time was notoriously messy. He had to bite his tongue to stop himself from saying something sarcastic.
To make things worse, ever since arriving, he had occasionally been able to hear animals and plants speaking. And since he hadn't inherited any memories from this body and felt little attachment to this world or its people, his test results must have been grim—judging from the doctor's serious face at the time.
And the original owner of this body? Clinically depressed, with two prior suicide attempts.
In short—mandatory hospitalization, under level-one care.
Level-one care meant:
A special ward just for him, always under the nurse's watchful eyes…
For the first week, no leaving the ward without staff escort, all belongings kept by staff…
Daily condition assessments, with written notes every 3–7 days…
Any change in condition to be reported immediately to a doctor…
Strict schedules for waking, sleeping, eating, and taking medicine… under constant monitoring.
Even a healthy person could go crazy under that.
"Big brother?" Ayumi asked hesitantly, a faint blush on her face. He really was a handsome big brother.
The nurse crouched down beside her, choosing her words carefully. "Little one, he…"
Chi Feichi snapped back to the present and looked at Ayumi. "Chi Feichi. That's my name."
Ayumi nodded and smiled sweetly. "I'll remember it. Then… can I come play with you sometime?"
"Ah, no, you can't—" the nurse quickly cut in. Although Chi Feichi hadn't shown any aggression toward others, children were easily influenced. She couldn't guarantee he wouldn't say something strange to the girl, so she wasn't about to agree to any visits.
"Why not?" Ayumi's puzzled voice trailed after him.
Chi Feichi had already turned away, his expression flat as he walked back toward the ward.
On the way, a man suddenly leaned in close, eyes darting nervously left and right, and whispered, "Listen… your existence is only a product of your perception. And perception can be deceived. This whole world was created by some… entity. If it wants to, it can erase us anytime. Do you believe me?"
Chi Feichi stared at him for a moment. "Maybe."
Wasn't this world essentially created by Gosho Aoyama? Did that make it real or not?
He honestly didn't know anymore.
The man exhaled in relief, eyes lighting up. Suddenly, he grabbed Chi Feichi's arm. "You're the first person who's ever believed me! Since you believe me, I can't just leave you alone. I'll tell you—this world has serious problems. There's a pair of eyes always watching us. I have a way to escape—"
Chi Feichi watched him ramble on, feeling tired already. He stepped forward, caught the man's arm, and flipped him over in one smooth motion. As the man hit the floor, Chi Feichi struck his carotid artery.
The man passed out instantly.
Finally…
No, not finally. The world still wasn't quiet.
"What are you doing?!"
"Over here! Quick!"
Before they could even run up to him, Chi Feichi had already released the man without resistance.
…
An hour later…
The middle-aged doctor in front of him was slightly bald, a bit overweight, with a round, cheerful face that radiated friendliness. "Mr. Chi, I'd like to know—why did you strike his neck?"
Chi Feichi looked at Dr. Shiming Fukuyama, his attending physician, expression still blank. "He was too noisy."
Fukuyama chuckled. "Just because of that?"
"I knew what I was doing," Chi Feichi said simply. No further explanation—let them think what they wanted.
In a place like this, the more you denied being sick, the more they assumed you were.
Fukuyama nodded, his tone noncommittal. "In the future, please don't do that. The neck is a fragile area. Striking the carotid artery can cause unconsciousness or fainting—but it can also be fatal. It's dangerous."
Chi Feichi could practically see the doctor mentally adding another note to his little file. He didn't comment further. "Understood."
Fukuyama studied him for a moment, sighing inwardly. It was clear Chi Feichi wasn't taking the warning seriously. Whether or not he had a tendency toward violence still needed careful observation. Outwardly, though, the doctor kept smiling. "You've been doing better lately. The personality switches aren't happening as often, and with more communication, you might recover soon… By the way, do you know what day it will be tomorrow?"
Before leaving the ward earlier, Chi Feichi had seen the date on a calendar and in a newspaper. Today was Tuesday. "Wednesday."
"Actually…" Fukuyama coughed lightly, "tomorrow is Friday."
Chi Feichi fell silent, resisting the urge to flip the table.
Today is Tuesday, and tomorrow is Friday?
Wonderful. He knew it was a trick question from the start.
At this rate, he might never get out of here.
He thought the flow of time in this world was broken. But since everyone else found it normal, that made him the odd one—the patient.
And maybe… that was exactly how many people with mental illness felt.
Meanwhile, the succulent plant on the doctor's desk wouldn't shut up either, muttering in dissatisfaction: "So thirsty… so thirsty… need water… so thirsty…"
"Friday, huh? Got it," Chi Feichi said evenly, keeping his gaze straight ahead.
Last time, this same plant's whining had distracted his eyes, and Fukuyama—who'd been watching him—had noticed, probing whether he'd "seen" or "heard" something unusual.
Psychologists really were a hassle.
Their conversation ended about half an hour later.
Outside, the doctor's assistant, a young woman, smiled faintly and whispered, "Mr. Chi must be one of the better-recovering patients, right? He's been cooperative since admission, and the two personalities communicate through written notes. It seems like he hasn't had hallucinations lately. Everything's going in the right direction."
Fukuyama's expression darkened slightly. "Not necessarily. He's very clever…"
"Huh?" the assistant asked in confusion.
"Have you ever read his diagnostic report carefully?" Fukuyama took a file from his drawer, opened it, and pointed at the results. "Dissociative identity disorder. Both personalities have emotional detachment disorder. One is severely depressed with obsessive-compulsive tendencies and suicidal ideation. The other experiences auditory hallucinations, delusions, and time perception disorder."
The assistant nodded. "Classic dissociative identity symptoms."
"Which makes it complicated to treat. Now, it looks like both personalities acknowledge each other's existence and communicate actively, but his daily behavior still needs close watching. With DID, patients are extremely emotionally detached from others," Fukuyama said. "From that alone, he's far from cured. Recently, it's mostly the delusional personality in control, isn't it? He's clever, aware of his own condition, but doesn't accept it. He's pretending, deceiving us. That personality… is very smart, very cunning. And when it surfaces, he shows remarkable physical skills—but his background record has no sign of such training."
"So… this personality is just part of his delusion?" the assistant wondered aloud.
"We need him to recognize that, and then assess whether the delusional personality is dangerous," Fukuyama replied. "For now, at least, that personality won't attempt suicide. Have you contacted his family recently?"
"Yes," the assistant said softly. "But his parents have no intention of visiting. After a couple of sentences, they said they were busy and hung up."
Fukuyama frowned. "They really have no interest in cooperating, do they…"
Chapter 2 – Once You Enter the Asylum, There's No Coming Back
Under the tree, on the same bench.
The usual spot.
On his way back, Chi Feichi grabbed a newspaper and sat down to read.
Now that he was sure this was the world of Detective Conan, he figured he might as well check the current point in the timeline. With nothing else to do, the news would be a good place to start.
Over the past week's papers, there had been no reports about Kudo Shinichi.
That low profile probably meant he'd already been shrunk by the poison.
There was, however, a front-page article from two days ago about Mouri Kogoro:
"Collision Between Fictional and Real Detectives: Author of the Sato Monji Detective Series, Ninna Rentarou, Passes Away — Famous Detective Mouri Kogoro Cracks the Code Hidden in His Work!"
So it was somewhere around that event in the story. But was this world running on the anime timeline, or the manga's?
If it followed the manga, Haibara Ai should have already appeared. If it was the anime, it might still be a while.
He was a little curious about that loli scientist…
Chi Feichi thought for a moment.
Knowing the shadowy nature of the Organization, they probably hadn't exposed much information publicly. That meant its members were unlikely to be listed on any bounty board — at least not on the public ones.
And Shiho Miyano = lab researcher = nameless shut-in… = worthless, in bounty terms.
Well… that was his old "cleaner" mindset talking.
A "cleaner," also known as a bounty hunter, primarily hunted down dangerous criminals to hand over to the police or government.
Such work required a license issued by the International Investigation Bureau.
Back in his previous life's homeland, society had been safe enough that there was hardly any space for such a profession.
But he'd done it anyway…
That year, seven children — the oldest ten, the youngest only six — had ended up together.
They were martial arts school students.
Kids went there either because their parents couldn't handle them, or because something had happened in the family.
Given the country's reality, very few were sent purely for "passion" or "interest."
If you just wanted to learn martial arts, a weekend hobby class would do, wouldn't it?
Those seven all had parents who'd met with accidents, and with no one to care for them, relatives had sent them to the school. Naturally, they got along well.
One day, one of the more hot-blooded kids heard about "cleaners." Just the mention of it instantly lit up the middle-school-chuunibyou fire in all of them.
No one wanted to be ordinary. Or maybe… they just wanted a goal to live for — even if it was a goal they barely understood but could throw their whole hearts into.
Ten years later, the seven of them left the country, carrying a decade's worth of sweat and skill far beyond their peers.
At that moment, they really did feel free. But reality… was crueler.
Even after finding a path forward and identifying their weaknesses, not everyone could make up for their lack of firearm skills with talent alone.
Over the next few years of grueling trials, only three of them were left.
Within a year, the other two quit, leaving him as the only one still holding on.
Why did he keep going?
He wasn't sure.
Maybe because he'd treated it as the meaning of life since childhood. Maybe because he remembered the lost, frustrated faces of his departing comrades. Or maybe… it was that intoxicating sense of freedom that made him unable to turn back.
Still, it wasn't exactly a "good" career.
The ones who returned home became wealthy men's bodyguards or martial arts instructors. It wasn't as profitable as being a cleaner, but it was safe and steady.
He, on the other hand, had pushed on stubbornly for years. He'd made a lot of money — at the cost of his life expectancy — and never regretted it.
The freedom, the recklessness, the strange and breathtaking sights… they were a deadly kind of beauty.
Chi Feichi's gaze drifted from the mostly unread newspaper to the wall across from him.
Far more beautiful than anything here.
Six liars… even in this life, I don't want to miss those sights. You were the ones who said I was the most talented of us all, so keep on envying me.
He lowered his eyes, hiding a faint smile, and was about to return to the paper when a flood of unfamiliar memories surged in, carrying with them a mix of envy and resignation.
The memories of this world's Chi Feichi.
Parents bound by business interests rather than affection — and within five years, whatever feelings they'd had were gone. They lived separate lives.
For the sake of their corporate image, they didn't divorce, maintaining an empty marriage, and they barely cared for their only child.
In the memories: a cold, empty home, school events where his parents never showed up, and the countless times he'd tried to earn attention through academic excellence, only to get a brief word of praise and the sight of them hurrying off again…
No melodramatic tragedy — just a personality that was too withdrawn and isolated. Never dated, had no friends, no goals, no hobbies… and eventually broke down.
The memories ended with a lingering mix of envy and release from three days ago.
Chi Feichi realized the original consciousness had probably vanished for good.
Regretfully… perhaps due to his own nature, even after experiencing those emotions through memory, they only stirred him for a moment. There was a flicker of resonance, but nothing deep.
So even two minds sharing the same body couldn't fully understand each other. Those doctors who said, "I understand you, I know how you feel," were speaking the gentlest lie in the world.
Silently grumbling about the asylum's staff, Chi Feichi refocused.
Time to adjust the plan.
Before, he'd stayed in the psychiatric hospital because the original personality's depression worried him. If that guy ever took control and decided to end it all, he'd be dragged down too.
Here, even if he was asleep, doctors and nurses kept watch. Safer that way.
But if the original consciousness was gone, there was no need to keep playing along.
Discharge?
To get out, either the doctor had to believe you were cured, or your family had to come fetch you.
The second option was a dead end. The doctors here were too responsible, and his parents had no intention of being involved. Without clear signs of recovery, the doctors wouldn't approve his release.
That left option one…
Not even worth considering — a dead end.
Forget the "time perception disorder" diagnosis; once you were in here, these sharp-eyed doctors could find something wrong with anyone.
The only way was to get his parents to agree, then push firmly for release.
After all, he hadn't broken any laws or shown antisocial behavior. They couldn't legally keep him.
In that case, running away would be stupid.
Push firmly, get discharged. If you try to escape instead? Obviously the patient's getting worse! Drag him back and stick him in high-security care!
Flipping his newspaper absentmindedly, Chi Feichi considered calling his biological parents in a few days to talk about getting out.
"Mr. Chi, are you looking for something?" the young nurse beside him asked with a sunny smile.
Flipping through the paper while zoning out wasn't normal. She'd have to keep an eye on him — note the abnormal behavior, and if she couldn't figure it out, record it for the doctor to review later.
Chi Feichi immediately saw through her thought process. After a moment's silence, he said, "Just spacing out."
"I see. Got it." The nurse nodded. Yes — patient exhibited signs of zoning out; she'd have to jot that down later.
Chi Feichi was speechless. He glanced toward an uncle leaning on the railing, staring up at the sky.
Word was, the man had been here eleven years already — and wouldn't be getting out anytime soon.
Once you enter the asylum, it's as deep as the sea. Recovery? Impossible. Terrifying.
…
Eat, exercise, sunbathe, eat, take meds, sleep — another day gone.
Apart from the lack of freedom, it was basically the dream lazy life of any slacker.
But to avoid outside influence and electronic dependence — and for safety reasons — patients weren't allowed personal phones or computers. That alone would make many would-be slackers despair.
The next day, Chi Feichi went to Dr. Fukuyama's office to make a phone call.
As usual, no one answered the home line. He tried his father's mobile instead.
"Beep… beep…"
Two rings, and it connected.
A calm male voice: "Hello, you are…?"
"Father, it's me. Chi Feichi."
A brief pause. "How's your recovery?"
"Fine. I want to be discharged."
Straight to the point.
From the memories, both his parents were obsessed with making money. Whether or not they had affairs was unclear, but they spent lavishly and never skimped on his living expenses.
Even this hospitalization had been handled like business: they'd brought him in for tests and admission in the morning, then rushed back to work in the afternoon.
A truly bizarre family.
Addicted to earning money… unable to quit…
If they went a day without making money, they got withdrawal symptoms…
Money is joy, earning it is bliss…
Other than money, life held no pleasure…
Even the process of making it was fun…
In fact, thinking about it almost made Chi Feichi smile.
He was, after all, a transmigrator. They could live however they wanted.
"I'm flying to France tomorrow, at least half a month," his father said evenly. "We'll talk when I'm back. Honestly, it's better for you to be in the hospital — you've got people looking after you. The doctors and nurses are more professional than any butler or maid."
Listening nearby, Fukuyama frowned.
Put simply: "Son, we don't have time for you. The asylum feeds and watches you, isn't that nice?"
Who talked like that to their own kid? Cold didn't even begin to cover it.
Chi Feichi wasn't surprised. It was exactly what he'd expected. "What about Mother? Still not back?"
"I'm not sure about her," his father replied.
"Then could you find someone to get me out first? It's too boring here."
"I've already arranged leave for you at Tohto University. Why leave?"
"When I get bored, I feel like calling you every day to check in," Chi Feichi said calmly.
A pause on the other end. "…I'll see if someone can pick you up."
"Preferably a relative."
"Got it. Wait for news."
"How many days at most?"
"Three."
"Good."
The call ended cleanly.
Chi Feichi looked up and met Fukuyama's thoughtful gaze — the kind that reminded him of a certain watchful uncle from the Marvel movies.
Fukuyama asked, "Mr. Chi… does your family have a history of mental illness?"
Chapter 3: Sorrow in the Rain
Chi Feichi put the phone back in its place. Was this…
A suspicion that his parents had mental issues?
"Dr. Fukuyama, the hospital fees here aren't cheap…"
"So, there really is a family history of mental illness?" Fukuyama Shimei's expression grew more serious. He advised, "If there's a problem, it's best to treat it early…"
"No, what I mean is," Chi Feichi said in his usual calm tone, "spare them. If the whole family ends up here, who's going to pay the hospital bills?"
Fukuyama Shimei was momentarily at a loss for words, then said, "Well, hospitalization might not be necessary. We could also work through communication, which could help with your recovery."
"I'm not trying to be sarcastic, but I am curious — is seeing problems in everyone part of your occupational habit?" Chi Feichi asked.
"You could say that," Fukuyama admitted after thinking for a moment. Then, suddenly, he asked, "Mr. Chi, can you tell me tomorrow's date?"
Chi Feichi glanced at the wall calendar. Today was August 21. "August 22."
"Tomorrow is August 11," Fukuyama corrected. "Looks like you still have some issues with time perception."
Chi Feichi hesitated for just 0.01 seconds between flipping the table or not… Forget it. Aside from his occupational quirks, Dr. Fukuyama was still a responsible doctor.
"There's no need to rush or avoid it," Fukuyama said, jotting notes down while offering reassurance. "Take your time. You'll get better."
Chi Feichi remained silent, expressionless. Twice.
"Alright," Fukuyama said after finishing his notes, smiling, "we'll try again tomorrow."
Chi Feichi felt like telling him, "Just give up. This can't be cured," but he knew that would only earn him another hearty dose of comforting "chicken soup" speeches, so he switched topics instead. "I'd like to apply to go out for a while."
"Is there something you need to do?"
"To buy two books."
"I'll need to know what the books are about. Is that alright?"
"What time will you be back? I'll log it in the records."
"Five in the afternoon."
"The weather forecast says it'll rain today. Remember to take an umbrella."
…
Going out required stating the return time, and having someone accompany him.
That was Chi Feichi's life in the psychiatric hospital.
His escort was a young male doctor named Kitagawa Anda.
He was very young, wearing a perfectly neat black suit, trying to look stern, but his demeanor gave away the fact that he was a fresh recruit.
"Dr. Kitagawa, are you nervous?" Chi Feichi asked casually while carrying his chosen books to the cashier.
Kitagawa quickly denied it. "No."
Chi Feichi silently added another "rookie" label in his mind. Compared to the ever-smiling veteran Fukuyama, Kitagawa was far behind. "Don't be nervous. I don't attack people, and I'm always rational."
Kitagawa secretly felt relieved and then glanced at the books Chi Feichi had chosen.
On the left pile: Introduction to Psychology, Measuring Personality, Abnormal Psychology, Experimental Psychology, Psychological Statistics, Psychometrics…
On the right pile: Murphy's Law, The Anatomy of Human Destructiveness, Three Lectures on Theory, Studies on Hysteria, The Interpretation of Dreams, On the Contribution of Sensory Perception Theory, Crime and Personality, Lying…
Kitagawa froze.
What… what is he planning?
"That's all," Chi Feichi said, paying for them. He set aside two books, then wrote his address on a label and handed it to the shop clerk. "Pack the rest in a box and send them here. If no one's in, just leave them with the doorman at the building entrance."
"Alright!" the clerk replied cheerfully. "We can have them delivered by around three this afternoon!"
Chi Feichi nodded, taking only the two books he had set aside as he left.
The Interpretation of Dreams and Introduction to Psychology.
Kitagawa followed quickly. "Uh, Mr. Chi, about the books you bought…"
"Isn't it allowed to read these kinds of books?" Chi Feichi asked calmly.
"It's not that… but…" Kitagawa hesitated. "I'm not sure. I'll have to check with Dr. Fukuyama."
Chi Feichi nodded and focused on waiting for the green light at the crosswalk.
Kitagawa felt like crying inside. Even though they stood side by side, and he was dressed more formally in a full suit while Chi Feichi wore casual clothes, why did it feel like he was the junior following a superior?
Was this what they called "presence"? It didn't make sense. He was the doctor here…
Light rain began to fall from the sky.
"Oh? It's raining?" a pedestrian nearby held out a hand to feel the drops.
The light turned green, and behind them a couple argued as they crossed quickly.
"I told you it'd rain today, and you didn't bring an umbrella."
"You didn't bring one either."
"Good thing Dr. Fukuyama reminded me…" Kitagawa muttered with relief, pulling two umbrellas from his bag. "Since my bag's lighter now, let me carry your books."
"Thanks." Chi Feichi withdrew his gaze from the sky, took the umbrella, and handed Kitagawa his books.
The rain grew heavier, darkening the already overcast sky.
Umbrella-less pedestrians hurried past, shoes splashing through growing puddles.
As they walked, the streets grew quieter. By the roadside, a small figure in an oversized white lab coat staggered along barefoot, one hand against the wall, head down, steps slow and unsteady.
Chi Feichi stopped when he saw the figure.
Kitagawa followed his gaze in confusion. "That child…"
The next moment, the little figure tripped over the lab coat's hem and fell into the water. Her already wet, tea-colored hair was splashed with even more dirty water.
Chi Feichi sighed inwardly and walked toward Haibara Ai.
Seeing the small girl collapse in the rain was surprisingly heart-wrenching…
Haibara struggled to her feet, wiping her face with her soaked sleeve. She was about to move forward when she saw two tall, slender men in black holding umbrellas blocking her path.
One looked more mature, wearing a neat black suit and white shirt, short black hair, and a serious expression.
The other, who seemed to be the one in charge, looked younger, also dressed in black. His loose black jacket was zipped high, its upright collar partly hiding his face. His short black hair fell softly, and his pale violet eyes stared at her with calm detachment.
Could they be from the Organization?
Had they… found her?
Haibara's face went pale as she froze, tilting her head up to meet Chi Feichi's gaze with alarm and wariness.
Sensing her reaction, Chi Feichi glanced at his own clothes, then at Kitagawa. It really was amusing — both dressed in black today, perfectly triggering the nerves of a hyper-alert little girl like her. He crouched down, meeting her eyes. "Where are you going? I'll take you."
Haibara said nothing, keeping her wary stare.
That calm tone and cold gaze… maybe the question was genuine, but the "I'll take you" part — was he mocking her pitiful state?
Beside him, Kitagawa eased his expression, coughed lightly, and smiled. "Mr. Chi, I think you scared her. Try smiling at kids instead of keeping a straight face."
Haibara said nothing, still wary.
These two… were they deliberately making fun of her?
"Oh… is that so." Chi Feichi didn't argue. He could guess that apart from Kudo Shinichi, who shared her experience of shrinking and had a grudge against the Organization, she wouldn't trust anyone else.
Especially with them both dressed in black, they were practically asking to set off her nerves at their most sensitive state.
Unable to stand it any longer, Haibara took a deep breath. She was going to die sooner or later — why endure their mockery? Her voice was weak, but still carried a chill. "If you've finished mocking me, just carry out your mission. You—"
Chi Feichi, pointed at by her gaze, said nothing.
"You're not just a peripheral member, are you?" Haibara asked. She couldn't read minds, but she could feel the danger from him. That cold gaze, matching his demeanor — in the Organization, he wouldn't just be an ordinary peripheral.
A codename member, perhaps? Who was he?
"But it doesn't matter anymore," Haibara said calmly. "Go ahead."
Kitagawa was baffled. "Uh, little girl, what are you talking about? Wait! Mr. Chi, you—"
Chi Feichi had already picked Haibara up, holding the umbrella in one hand and her in the other. "She told me to act."
"That's not what she meant…" Kitagawa trailed off.
If she tells you to "act," do you really just… act?
"Didn't you notice? She's not well," Chi Feichi said, touching her forehead. "As I thought, she has a fever. Better take her to a hospital."
Kitagawa immediately became serious, pulling out his phone. "Let's find the nearest hospital… Little girl, where do you live? Do you remember your parents' number?"
Haibara froze. Maybe… she had misunderstood these two?
But if Organization members were nearby searching for her, she needed to get far from here…
"No… no hospital…" Haibara gripped Chi Feichi's sleeve tightly, her gaze intense. "We can't go to a hospital!"
Chi Feichi understood — she probably hadn't gotten far from where she'd escaped. "Then my place?"
"No!"
"No!"
Haibara and Kitagawa spoke in unison.
Haibara fell silent. She couldn't drag others into this.
Kitagawa spoke firmly. "Mr. Chi, your permitted time outside is only until five. It's just over an hour from now. You have to return, so the hospital is the best option. And we should contact her family — they'll be worried if she's missing. Little girl, do you remember your home's contact info? Uh… little girl?"
Chi Feichi looked down at the unconscious Haibara. "She's already fainted."
Kitagawa was speechless.
Was he… talking too much?
Chapter 4 – Definitely a Girl...
Beihu Town, Luxury Apartment Building, Room 303.
Chi Feichi carried Haibara Ai inside.
Kitagawa Andatsu followed behind, nagging. "Mr. Chi, we really should take her to the hospital and notify her family. I don't know what her parents are thinking, letting a child run around barefoot in the rain…"
Chi Feichi carried Haibara into the bathroom and placed her in the bathtub.
Kitagawa Andatsu said, "Even if she's unconscious and we can't reach her family, we should contact the police. Her parents might be frantically looking for her right now…"
Chi Feichi took out a large bath towel.
Seeing Chi Feichi stay silent, Kitagawa decided to act himself, taking out his phone. "Hm? A call from Senior Fukuyama…"
Chi Feichi put the towel on the edge of the tub and looked up.
Kitagawa suddenly had a bad feeling. "Chi—"
A hand chop.
Silence returned to the world.
Chi Feichi steadied Kitagawa with one hand, took the phone with the other, and answered it calmly. Imitating Kitagawa's voice, his face stayed expressionless, but his tone carried an apologetic note. "Senior Fukuyama, we ran into a bit of trouble. No… ahem, we came across a lost little girl on the road. She got caught in the rain, has a fever, and fainted. We were just about to take her to the hospital. Yes, I might have caught a cold too… Don't worry, Mr. Chi is fine. I've already contacted the little girl's parents. They're not in Tokyo, but they'll be rushing over. Yes, once they arrive, we'll head back…"
He hung up and went back to dealing with the little drenched troublemaker.
He gave her a bath, wrapped her in the towel, and tossed her into bed.
Later, he'd have to buy two sets of clothes for the girl, pick up some books the bookstore had left at the front desk, and grab some ready-made meals since there wasn't much food at home. He already had cold medicine, so no problem there.
Plenty to do.
Two hours later, the rain outside began to ease.
The lights in the living room and bedroom were on. Chi Feichi sat at his desk, browsing a webpage on his computer.
Taking advantage of this rare chance to freely access the internet, he searched for information on the deep web.
In this world, bounty hunters existed, but there was no International Investigation Bureau.
To take on a bounty, one had to contact the relevant department of a country, register, and get official approval before acting.
In the US, that would be the FBI or CIA; in Japan, the Public Security Bureau under the National Police Agency.
There were two ways to register.
One was to go directly in person. Being a bounty hunter wasn't necessarily a secret—many flaunted the title openly. They'd just ask some questions, test your skills, and then record your details.
The other was to find their online portal on the deep web, contact an administrator, register under an anonymous account, and possibly complete the whole process without ever meeting face-to-face.
In his previous life, Chi Feichi had gone with the first method.
This time, he didn't even consider it.
Right now, he was still officially a psychiatric patient, and even after discharge, that history would remain. Better to keep a low profile—no telling if they'd use that as an excuse to push him out.
He found the Public Security Bureau's portal and sent the admin a message:
[Requesting bounty hunter registration. Activity area: Japan]
The reply came quickly: [Have you previously worked as a bounty hunter in another country? If yes, please provide your code name and license number.]
Chi Feichi: [No prior bounty hunting experience.]
Admin: [Bounty hunters are rare in Japan. Why choose to work here?]
Chi Feichi: [Because I'm in Japan.]
Well… fair point.
The reply took about thirty seconds this time: [Please provide a code name.]
Chi Feichi: [July.]
Admin: [Preferred payment method?]
Chi Feichi sent his anonymous overseas bank account number: [2219…]
Admin: [Contact information?]
Chi Feichi registered a new email: [8781…]
Admin: [Do you understand the scope of bounty hunter work?]
Chi Feichi: [Yes.]
As long as the pay was good, bounty hunters would do almost anything—delivery jobs included.
There were also treasure hunts, information gathering, and similar tasks.
It sounded like detective work, but with more dangerous jobs, like arresting dangerous criminals, or even illegal activities such as ambushes or assassinations.
The main difference from mercenaries was that mercenaries often worked in teams and valued discipline, while bounty hunters were lone wolves. Even if they teamed up to make up for weaknesses, groups rarely exceeded five people.
The admin sent him the operational guidelines and a data packet: [We'll need to evaluate your skills.]
Chi Feichi opened it. The rules were straightforward—
If you harm innocents or cause a criminal's death, you won't get paid and may be held accountable.
If you're arrested while carrying out one of their illegal assignments, they might offer some help depending on the case. But if you break the law on your own or at someone else's request, you're on your own.
Add in the basics—keep missions confidential, bring your own tools, cover your own expenses.
As expected, almost the same as in his previous life.
As for "offering help," he wasn't counting on it.
Sometimes it was better to abandon a mission than take unnecessary risks. Relying on others to clean up your mess often meant they were only being polite.
The data packet contained three bounty missions—
One was to gather evidence of a violent gang's crimes, another was to capture a serial killer, and the third was a protection job.
Search, capture, protect—three categories, serving as an initial assessment.
If he couldn't complete any of them, they might keep his registration for a while, and he could still find work through public bounty boards, but until he proved himself, they likely wouldn't contact him again.
The best-paying jobs, of course, came from internal channels.
The protection job lasted only three days but offered the highest reward.
The search and capture jobs had no deadlines.
Logically, he should prioritize the protection job, then work on the other two.
Especially the capture job—they'd only given a photo and basic details. Finding the target could take time.
But the capture target was someone special… Numabuchi Kiichiro!
He remembered that case. Easy way to grab money and credibility—he just had to find Numabuchi before Conan did.
From the timeline, Haibara had already defected from the Organization, which meant Numabuchi's arrest would be in the next few days. Tight schedule. Should he take the chance to have some fun?
Chi Feichi glanced at the unconscious Kitagawa on the sofa. The psychiatric hospital had been convinced for now, but if Kitagawa woke and he went back, they'd probably put him under observation again, plus more counseling.
From the bedroom came a faint sound.
The half-closed door opened. Haibara Ai looked toward the living room, stopping at the doorway.
She'd been awake for a while.
She'd noticed she'd been changed into a brand-new set of warm brown pajamas that fit perfectly, with a small black round tail on the pants. Her feelings were… complicated.
What was with this cutesy outfit?
No—more importantly, who had changed her clothes?
She remembered meeting two men, mistaking them for members of the Organization, almost despairing, then being carried by one of them… before blacking out.
Before stepping out just now, she had comforted herself: maybe those two had a sister, or a female friend… Someone who bought the pajamas and helped her change. Yes, only a woman would pick something like this. Only a woman would be that thoughtful, even buying matching brown bear slippers… and matching underwear…
Then she opened the door, saw no woman present, and her heart sank.
"You're awake?" Chi Feichi glanced at her, locked his computer screen, and went to the kitchen to boil water. "There's a meal on the table. Eat first, then take some medicine."
Haibara watched him walk away, all her questions stuck in her throat. She quietly went to the table, picked up the bento box, sat on the sofa, and began eating.
He was so calm she had no idea what to say.
And if he asked about her family, she'd have to think of a cover story.
But he didn't ask…
When the water boiled, he poured a cup, placed it with some cold medicine on the table, and went back to his computer.
Haibara glanced at the sleeping Kitagawa on the other sofa.
The sleeves of his coat showed dried rain marks. He hadn't taken it off, and his tie was pinned under his shoulder—not a natural sleeping position.
But his chest rose and fell. Breathing—still alive.
She looked back at Chi Feichi. He seemed to be downloading something from his phone to his computer, showing no intention of talking.
Somehow…
It felt like she was the only one here. "I'm staying with relatives. If I don't go back, they'll worry."
Chi Feichi: "Eat your medicine first, then I'll take you."
Haibara: "…"
Silence.
One ate, one watched the download bar.
About a minute later…
"You changed my clothes?" she asked.
"Yes," he admitted. "I also gave you a bath."
"You bought these clothes too?" Her tone was uneasy.
"Yeah," he said without looking up. "Besides the pajamas, I bought two sets of everyday clothes for you. You can change into one before we go out. You were only wearing an ill-fitting T-shirt under that lab coat, nothing else. The rainwater ruined all of it."
Her ears turned red. She quickly shoveled more food into her mouth. She was smaller now, so her old clothes wouldn't fit, but… a grown man being this considerate? Even buying underwear for her? She could have done that herself after waking up…
Another minute passed in silence.
"…Thanks," she said quietly.
"You're welcome."
Silence again.
"What's wrong with him?" she asked, nodding toward Kitagawa.
"Ether."
"…," she muttered.
Was it that hard to use more than two words?
At least he followed up this time. "It's better if he sleeps for a while."
She recalled vaguely hearing them talk about going somewhere earlier. "I think I caused you trouble…"
"Not really," Chi Feichi replied. "I happen to have some things to do."
She saw he wasn't going to elaborate and didn't push. "You're not curious? Why I was out alone in the rain?"
"Not really."
"Nothing you want to ask?"
"No."
She stared at him wordlessly.
He looked back, calm as ever.
She lowered her head and kept eating.
Fine. She'd lost this round.
Chapter 5 – Difficult People
They ate in silence—one person eating, the other fiddling with their phone.
About five minutes later, Haibara Ai finished her meal, took some cold medicine, and went to her room to change clothes.
On Chi Feichi's side, the information for the three bounty missions had just finished downloading onto his phone. He cleared any traces left on his computer, shut it down, draped a coat over Kitagawa Anda, and, when Haibara came out, packed up the pajamas she had changed out of along with another set of fresh clothes to take with them.
Haibara didn't say anything about his actions. After stepping outside, she pulled up the hood of her red coat. "What about him?"
"He'll go home on his own when he wakes up," Chi Feichi said as he locked the door. "Where exactly are we going? I'll drive you there."
"Mihua Town, 2nd District, No. 21."
An hour later, a car stopped in front of the Kudō family's gate.
Haibara stared at the dark, silent house and gave a small cough. "Looks like everyone's out. You can head back; I'll wait outside for a while."
Earlier, she'd been focused on finding Kudō Shinichi—someone who, like her, had shrunk and knew about the Organization, someone who might be a good partner in figuring out what to do next. But she'd almost forgotten… after shrinking, Shinichi wouldn't be living here anymore.
"I'll wait with you," Chi Feichi said, getting out of the car.
"That's not necessary!"
Haibara followed him out and put on the act of a wary little girl. "I've heard there are some creeps who like targeting little girls. Are you trying to figure out if my family's home so you can make a plan to kidnap me?"
Chi Feichi paused for a moment.
"Pfft!"
He… laughed?
Haibara froze. The young man's smile wasn't deep, but the light purple in his eyes softened like melting clouds—warm, almost gentle.
This guy…
Snapping back to herself, her face hardened again.
"What are you laughing at? What's so funny?"
Chi Feichi rubbed his face. It had been so long since this body last smiled that his facial muscles felt stiff—it even hurt a little. "It's just funny how you suddenly started acting like a cocky, hard-to-get-along-with little brat."
A moment ago, she'd been perfectly fine. Then suddenly she changed her expression, as if to say, "I've suspected you're a bad guy this whole time. Now that we're here, I'm not afraid anymore, so I'm going to expose you!"
That's how most people might see it. But unfortunately for her…
He knew she wasn't really a little girl and wouldn't act like one.
Was she worried they might run into Organization members here? Or was she just trying to distance herself so he wouldn't get dragged in?
Haibara remembered the stack of books she'd seen on his living room table earlier and figured it out—this guy probably studied psychology. Well, no point in keeping up the act then. "Just kidding."
Chi Feichi nodded. "Mm."
Haibara gave him a curious look. For someone who came off like a withdrawn, quiet type—almost like he had social issues—was he really studying psychology? "Have you always been like this?"
Chi Feichi tilted his head in confusion.
"No curiosity, barely smiles, not exactly approachable… you act like a cold, aloof, hard-to-deal-with person." She said it with a calm satisfaction, throwing his earlier "cocky, hard-to-get-along-with" comment back at him.
"Do I really seem like I'm hard to get along with?" he asked after a moment.
"From the outside, yes." Haibara studied his calm face.
The unspoken message: but you're not actually like that.
Still, the thought of comforting a grown man and telling him not to overthink things… felt too awkward for her.
She figured he'd get what she meant anyway.
Sure, he didn't talk much, but "aloof" wasn't the right word. Being around him was actually relaxing. She was sure he was someone with a gentle heart.
Bringing her back could have been out of pity—or for some ulterior motive. Buying her clothes might just be a casual, "I have money to spare, so why not?" thing. But he'd also bought slippers and underwear—okay, maybe that didn't count.
She'd also noticed the empty bento box on the table earlier, meaning he'd bought two lunches, remembering to get one for her.
There was still the faint scent of shampoo in her hair, but no sign her pillow had been wet—proof he'd washed and carefully dried her hair.
The pajamas and slippers he bought were all soft, comfortable materials. He'd bought two sets of clothes in different colors, plus two jackets suited for the chilly nights lately.
When she woke up, there was already food ready. The water by her medicine was at just the right temperature to drink.
And through all of this, he never brought up what he'd done for her—as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Forget personality or money. It was these little details that made an impression.
Haibara glanced sideways at Chi Feichi, who was standing beside her, looking down at his phone. She actually liked how he always kept that cool, detached look, showing no interest in anything, never putting on a show.
"Hey…"
Next door, Dr. Agasa opened his door, spotting the two of them standing in the cold wind. "Are you here to see someone from the Kudō family?"
"I'm a distant relative of the Kudōs. My parents planned to visit, but I got separated from them," Haibara said, throwing a quick glance at Chi Feichi. "He's a kind person who offered to give me a ride. I have something important to discuss with Kudō Shinichi."
Chi Feichi, receiving an unsolicited "kind person" label: "…"
"You're looking for Shinichi? He hasn't been home recently…" Dr. Agasa looked troubled.
After all, in all his years as their neighbor, he'd never heard of Shinichi having a distant relative like her. Still, it wasn't impossible—they just might not have been in contact before. And leaving a kid outside didn't feel right…
"You…" Haibara looked at him with a faintly mysterious smile. "You know about the medicine he took, don't you?"
Dr. Agasa froze for a second. Speaking of that medicine…
"I'm sure you don't mind letting me wait at your place for a bit," Haibara continued smoothly. "That way, someone unrelated can go about their business. And since we're kind of related, I'm sure you'd be happy to chat with me, right?"
The tone might have been calm, but to Dr. Agasa, it sounded like pure blackmail.
"Uh… of course!" he said, quickly forcing a smile before glancing at Chi Feichi.
So this was the "kind but unrelated" person…
Haibara turned back to Chi Feichi. "Thanks for the ride. I'll wait at his place—you can head back."
Chi Feichi was a little curious how things would play out between Haibara and Dr. Agasa now that he'd stepped aside. But since Haibara clearly didn't want him involved, he nodded, got in his car, shut off his phone, and drove away.
Knocking out Kitagawa Anda and lying to delay his return to the hospital—those were already facts.
Even if he went back now, there was no escaping a round of "observation" plus a dose of motivational talk.
Might as well skip it. Let them think whatever they wanted—he wasn't going to play along.
This was the perfect chance to head to Osaka and take down Numabuchi Kiichiro.
…
The next day.
Osaka, Tsutenkaku Tower.
On the observation deck, a dark-skinned guy was pointing things out to the person beside him. "That over there is Tennoji Zoo, and that way's the Osaka Gymnasium…"
Heiji Hattori.
Chi Feichi glanced in his direction but quickly looked away, continuing to ask around about a forest in Osaka with a waterfall and a small cabin.
It was lucky he'd driven through the night to Osaka and found a hotel to rest in—otherwise, the bounty target might have been snatched up by a certain shinigami-grade elementary schooler.
He didn't remember the exact name of the place where Numabuchi was found, so he had to play the tourist and ask around.
Tsutenkaku was a famous Osaka landmark, and plenty of guides gathered here. If anyone knew, it would be them.
"You mean Kimen Mountain's Kimen Falls? If we're talking about a forest with a waterfall and a cabin, that should be the place," a middle-aged guide said with a touch of nostalgia. "It used to be well-known—a beautiful waterfall dropping straight from a high cliff. But it was never developed further, and since it's far from the city, it eventually got deserted…"
Chi Feichi pulled a map of Osaka from his new backpack and found Kimen Mountain. "Kimen Falls isn't marked on here."
"Let me mark it for you," the guide said, taking out a pen and leaning over to draw on the map. "I'll even mark the route into the mountain. You can drive there easily. But what are you going there for? If it's just for a forest bath, there are better spots, like…"
Chi Feichi listened to him ramble on before finally replying, "Thanks. But I'm meeting a friend there. If I have time, I'll check those other places too."
"In that case, you should hire me as your guide! I know Osaka's attractions better than almost anyone," the man said enthusiastically. "Just go to Yamada Travel Agency and ask for Hirakawa Masa."
"I'll keep that in mind." Chi Feichi tucked the map away and walked off, glancing briefly toward Conan's group.
They were still chatting and enjoying the view.
He still needed to rent a car. He had to admit, it was nice how some people got to ride in police cars to catch criminals…
By the window, Heiji was telling Conan, "I dreamed that just as I was about to catch the culprit, he turned and stabbed me… and then you died."
Conan stumbled, giving an exasperated laugh. "Seriously? Don't just go around killing people in your dreams, okay?"
Noticing Conan suddenly glance behind them, Heiji turned too. "What's wrong?"
"Felt like someone was watching us just now…" Conan scanned the crowd, his gaze lingering for a moment on a black-clad figure's back.
"There are so many people here. It's normal for someone to look this way. And even if they did, they might have just been looking out the window. We are standing right in front of it, you know…"
"Yeah, true." Conan turned back. Probably just his imagination...