Chapter 3: The Light is Shining! The Light is Roaring!
[Non-Human Beings Chat Group]
SpongeBob SquarePants: KYUBEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! THAT LITTLE GIRL IS FALLING! SAVE HER! PLEASE, SAVE HER!
Tom Cat: [Cat_Horrified.jpeg], [Cat_Covering_Eyes_with_Paws.jpeg]
Kyubey watched Haibara's plummeting form and once again directed its telepathic voice toward the stunned Mitsuhiko.
"You're the one who caused her to fall. If you don't act now, this lifeform will die a meaningless death because of you." Its tone was chillingly flat. "If you don't want Ai Haibara to become Ai Haibara paste on the pavement, then make a contract with me. Become a Magical Girl."
Conan glared at Kyubey with pure fury.
"You! You did that on purpose! You appeared on his shoulder to distract him!" he accused. "You're the reason she's falling! What is your goal?!"
Kyubey paused to lick one of its paws before turning its calm, crimson gaze to Conan.
"I merely provided an option. It is up to humans to atone for their own mistakes."
Ai Haibara was falling fast. The wind roared in her ears.
So... this is the end...
A strange sense of calm washed over her. She closed her eyes.
Mitsuhiko's face was sheet-white, a crushing guilt consuming his heart. He was the one who failed to grab her hand. He was the one who let her fall. His mind flashed with memories of their time together.
That time on the forest path when she'd sprained her ankle, and it swelled up purple and bruised. He had tried to be like Conan, carefully wrapping the bandage for her. She had smiled and said, "You're actually pretty amazing, you know?"
He had shaken his head. "I'm not even one ten-thousandth as good as Conan..."
"You're silly," she'd replied softly. "It doesn't matter where you learn something. It's how you use it that counts. And right now... you're my number one rescuer! Thank you. I'm so glad you were here."
And that other time, when she had huddled under the same large coat with him to keep warm.
And when she had leaned her head close to his to listen to the music on his headphones.
And when she'd needed his help, placing her hands gently on his cheeks and saying with utmost seriousness, "Don't look anywhere else. Just keep your eyes on me."
And... and so many more moments...
They flashed through his mind like lightning.
"Haibara... I'm so sorry..."
Tears streamed from Mitsuhiko's eyes. In this desperate moment, his only hope was in the realm of magic and miracles. As a kid, of course he'd seen anime about magical girls. He could only pray that what Kyubey said was true.
He had to believe it.
"I'll do it! I'll become a Magical Girl!"
"Then, what is your wish?"
"I want to save Haibara! I'll pay any price!"
Without a second thought, he unbuckled his seatbelt and leaped from the car.
"MITSUHIKO, NO!" Conan screamed, the fear of losing another friend tearing at him.
But it was too late.
Kyubey's red eyes gleamed.
"Excellent. The contract is sealed."
Conan stared at the creature, his mind reeling. "What are you?! Why would you do this? Why would you put another life in danger?! What do you think life is?!"
"I only provide the choice," Kyubey replied, its voice devoid of emotion. "He made the decision to become a Magical Girl himself. I gave him the opportunity to save both himself and Haibara. Am I... wrong?"
In that instant, a blinding light erupted from Mitsuhiko's body.
The light was shining!
The light was roaring!
Inside the car, Conan, Ayumi, and Genta were forced to shield their eyes. The intense flash was so powerful that it temporarily blinded everyone in the vicinity who happened to be looking in their direction.
[Non-Human Beings Chat Group]
SpongeBob SquarePants: WHOA! It's so bright! I'M BLIND! I'M BLIND!
Tom Cat: [Cat_Shocked_and_Awed.jpeg], [Cat_Covering_Eyes.jpeg]
Mitsuhiko's soul was extracted from his body, crystallizing into a glittering gem. A radiant blue aura enveloped him. In mid-air, his clothes dissolved into particles of light and reformed into a blue magical girl outfit, complete with frills and a bow.
"This power... it's overflowing..."
Mitsuhiko could feel an incredible strength surging through him.
"Haibara! I'm coming to save you!"
His body shot through the air like a blue meteor, moving at an astonishing speed.
Conan could only stare, dumbfounded. "What... what is happening...?"
As Haibara fell, her life flashed before her eyes.
Her sister Akemi's warm smile.
Dr. Agasa's gentle care.
Conan's unwavering trust.
The friendship of the Junior Detective League.
She had finally found a place where she belonged... but now...
"Maybe... this is really how it should end..." she thought, a tear escaping the corner of her eye. "Sis... I'm coming to join you..."
But another voice deep inside her screamed in defiance: I don't want to die!
Suddenly, a young but determined voice pierced through the rushing wind.
"HAIBARA!"
"HAIBARA! GRAB MY HAND! I'M HERE TO SAVE YOU!"
Her eyes snapped open. There was Mitsuhiko, wearing a bizarre blue dress, hurtling toward her at an impossible velocity.
"Mitsuhiko! Y-You... how are you...?"
Her shock quickly gave way to panic and fear.
"What are you doing?! You can't just jump! You'll be killed!"
This was her accident. Her death was supposed to be the end of the burden she carried. Her disappearance was supposed to mean she couldn't hurt anyone ever again.
But now, Mitsuhiko had thrown himself into the abyss for her.
Weren't the lives lost because of her drug already more than enough? And now... even in her final moments, was she destined to bring harm to others? Was her death going to drag a child down with her?
How could she ever rest in peace?
"Why...?" she cried out to the heavens. "WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?!"
Mitsuhiko's eyes shone with an unshakeable resolve.
"You told me yourself!" he shouted back, his voice clear and strong. "That I'm your number one rescuer!"
His words struck her heart like a thunderbolt, followed by a wave of soul-crushing guilt. Her tears streamed upwards, defying gravity.
The ground was getting closer.
Mitsuhiko pushed himself faster.
Faster!
Faster!!
FASTER!!!
He roared in his mind, his small body trembling from the strain.
Just as Haibara was about to hit the pavement, Mitsuhiko's body exploded in a brilliant flash of blue light. He dissolved into countless particles of light, surging toward her at a speed that transcended imagination.
"I can still make it!"
A gentle, water-like blue energy emanated from him, wrapping around Haibara's body. It felt like being embraced by a warm ocean. Her rapid descent slowed, softened, until she landed gently on the ground, completely unharmed.
Mitsuhiko reformed beside her, a triumphant and relieved smile on his face.
"Miracles and magic... they're real! Haibara... I did it!"
Ai Haibara stared at her own hands, then touched her face in disbelief.
She... was alive.
Mitsuhiko had saved her.
"Mitsuhiko... you... what just happened?" she asked, her eyes wide with confusion as she took in his strange outfit and the glittering blue gem on his chest.
Before he could answer, a tremendous crash echoed from above. The red Ford Mustang, propelled by the explosion, had cleared the gap between the buildings and landed safely in the B-Tower's rooftop pool.
Conan, Ayumi, and Genta... they were all safe.
[Non-Human Beings Chat Group]
In the group livestream, the frantic protests from SpongeBob and Tom had finally ceased.
SpongeBob SquarePants: THAT WAS AMAZING! They're all safe! Mitsuhiko is the greatest hero ever!
Tom Cat: [Cat_Clapping_Wildly.jpeg], [Cat_Wiping_Tears_of_Joy.jpeg]
Kyubey watched the scene unfold, silently calculating the energy increase from the contract.
[Ding!—Contract with a major supporting character from the Detective Conan world has been established. 500 units of Contract Energy harvested.]
"The first Magical Girl," Kyubey mused to itself, "has been born."