In the first-class cabin of a Boeing 747 flying from Los Angeles to Tokyo, a mature woman wearing sunglasses and beautiful brown wavy hair was chatting excitedly with the man beside her, just like a young girl.
"Yusaku, look at Shinichi after shrinking. He looks exactly like he did when he was a child. Seeing him makes me feel like I've become twenty years younger."
Yukiko was holding her phone, showing a photo of Shinichi after turning into Conan Edogawa, sent to her by Dr. Agasa.
Yusaku sighed helplessly and replied, "He is Shinichi. Of course he looks the same as when he was a kid after shrinking."
After saying that, Yusaku's expression became serious again.
Yukiko replied casually, "What are you so worried about? If he shrank, he shrank. At worst, he'll just grow up again in a few years."
"That's exactly what I'm worried about," Yusaku said. "What if that mysterious drug has other side effects, like damaging Shinichi's cells?"
"If this drug causes permanent damage, and Shinichi's body can't grow anymore..."
His words made Yukiko's expression stiffen.
This was indeed a major problem.
If Shinichi couldn't grow anymore, wouldn't that mean he'd remain a child forever?
If it was just for a few years, Yukiko thought her son looked cute, but if it was for a lifetime, how was that different from having dwarfism?
More importantly, with Shinichi's personality, would he eventually lose it? Would he go as far as to try to take his own life?
Yukiko also started to feel uneasy.
She stammered, "I-It might not be like that."
But Yusaku's worry didn't go away. "He's so afraid that the hospital might find something strange in his blood or body that he doesn't even dare to get a check-up."
"When we get back this time, we need to take him for a full physical examination. I know someone at a medical institution in Tokyo who can run a full test, and the results won't leak."
Yukiko let out a soft sigh. "That's all we can do."
Seeing her mood drop, Yusaku thought for a moment and added, "Yukiko, do you really want to go through with this little act? Don't let it backfire."
As soon as Yukiko heard the word "act," her mood brightened instantly, and she smiled cheerfully. "What's there to backfire? Don't tell me even you can't handle Shinichi anymore?"
Although he knew she was just trying to provoke him, Yusaku's expression lightened, and he snorted. "What about that brat can't I handle? Just watch me."
Yukiko finally smiled in satisfaction.
Isn't a son something to play with? He stopped being fun after growing up, but now that he's shrunk, she could enjoy teasing him again.
...
In the Western-style house in Tokyo's North District where Toru lived, he was sitting across from Haibara in his study.
A computer beside the desk was playing audio. The conversation being broadcast was between Yusaku and Yukiko on the plane.
After receiving Toru's order, the CIA agents in America had placed a hidden listening device in Yukiko's bag.
This device was highly advanced. Even when in areas without signal, it would record everything. Once it reached a place with reception, it would transmit the data automatically.
"This is the conversation between Kudo Shinichi's parents on the plane. They've already disembarked and are currently on their way home."
There was also a map of Tokyo displayed on the computer, with a red dot moving across the screen.
In addition to audio surveillance, the device also had GPS tracking.
Haibara, sitting opposite Toru, furrowed her brows slightly. Her small frame carried a mature air. "To discuss the Organization so openly on a public plane, they really are bold."
Toru chuckled. "That's because they don't understand how deep the Organization's roots go. But that's their own problem."
"After learning that there's a drug capable of shrinking people, they should've become more cautious instead of playing games and pretending to be members of the Black Organization to scare Shinichi."
Haibara glanced at him. "So now you want to turn the tables and play the Organization to scare them back?"
"Exactly."
"I see you're still a child at heart."
"Haibara, how can you say that? I'm doing this out of kindness. It's a warning to the Kudo family that they can't act recklessly or carelessly when dealing with the Organization. Otherwise, their whole family might get wiped out."
Haibara let out a quiet snort. She clearly didn't believe his explanation. In her eyes, this was just Toru's twisted sense of humor.
But that didn't matter. As long as she could get a sample of Shinichi's blood, the process didn't matter. In fact, Haibara felt a little excited and even thrilled.
No matter how much of a genius she was, she was still only eighteen, with all the playful thoughts and impulses of someone her age.
It was just that she had always been under surveillance by the Organization, and that's why she forced herself to act mature.
Now that she was free, her mind was already full of mischievous thoughts, and she had the urge to carry them out.
Toru was currently holding his phone, flipping through his photo album.
One of the photos was of Yukiko in her youth, taken during the filming of a TV show. Another was a recent street photo taken by the CIA.
This year, Yukiko was thirty-seven, but based on looks alone, there was almost no difference from twenty years ago.
The biggest change was in her aura. She now had a more mature and womanly charm.
Toru hadn't thought much of Yukiko before.
But after watching the TV shows and films she starred in back then and comparing them to the recent photos, Toru had to admit she was truly a rare beauty, with a presence that ordinary girls couldn't match.
Madam, you really are still quite charming.
This gave Toru a new idea.
He handed Haibara a knitted hat and a mask. "Wear this. That way, no one will recognize you. Also, I don't plan on letting you show your face too much. You're too recognizable."
Haibara nodded silently and accepted the disguise.
Then Toru said, "From now on, your name is Sherry."
Haibara froze slightly. She really didn't like that name.
But in order to carry out this plan, she could only use it for now.
"And what about you?"
"You can call me Martini."
Toru didn't know if there was already someone with that codename in the Organization, but it didn't matter. It was all pretend anyway.
"Martini was first mentioned in the book Modern Bartender in 1884. The drink was described as a blend of Curacao liqueur, medicinal wine, gin, and vermouth."
Haibara softly spoke, showing her knowledge. At the same time, she was wondering if Toru had some deeper meaning in choosing that name.
Toru glanced at her. "Don't overthink it. I just picked something randomly."
"Using an alcohol name as a codename... you're also trying to leave a hint for Kudo Shinichi about the Organization?"
"If he doesn't know anything, wouldn't that be boring?"
After all, with Haibara not by Shinichi's side this time, he couldn't get any information about the Organization through her.
Toru gave Shinichi a small clue on purpose, just to see whether this would stir up more chaos between him and the Black Organization.
...
At the Mouri Detective Agency—
"Uncle Mouri, Ran, I'm here to hang out again."
Conan appeared with the bright, innocent smile of an elementary school student as he entered the agency again.
These past few days, he had been investigating Toru, but hadn't found anything useful.
He was just a kid right now. How could he have the connections or means to dig into someone's background?
Sure, he could use the Voice-Changing Bowtie to pretend to be Kudo Shinichi and ask his past acquaintances for help.
But Conan quickly realized that, back then, he only had decent relationships with police officers like Megure. He didn't know anyone in higher positions.
Even if he did, they weren't close enough for this kind of favor.
Besides, upright officers like Megure would never agree to investigate someone like Toru on his behalf.
Even if Megure agreed, an Inspector-level officer wouldn't be able to find much anyway.
Apart from some basic info available online, Conan still knew nothing about Toru.
He wanted to dig into Toru's true identity, while also trying to use the Mouri Detective Agency to gather information on the Black Organization. He was juggling way too much at once.
"You brat, why are you here again?"
Kogoro Mouri was slouched in his office chair, the table still cluttered with beer bottles. He looked at Conan with drunken annoyance.
Ran, wearing an apron, was cooking in the kitchen. Hearing that, she came out and glared at her father. "Dad, Conan is just a kid. Why are you yelling at a child?"
Then she smiled warmly. "...Conan, have you had dinner? I'm cooking right now. Why don't you eat here? Take a portion back to Dr. Agasa too. Tell him to stop living on instant noodles."
Conan was touched. As expected of Ran, she was so kind-hearted, even thinking about Agasa.
Kogoro muttered, "This kid always comes here to freeload. Never pays a cent."
Still, despite the complaints, Kogoro was actually happy whenever Conan came by.
As people age, they tend to become more superstitious. Ever since Conan showed up, Kogoro's luck as a detective had turned around.
In the past, all he ever got were jobs like catching cheating spouses or looking for lost pets.
But after Conan arrived, he started getting all kinds of criminal cases and solving difficult ones. The media even started calling him the Sleeping Kogoro.
Now he had way more business than before, and his income had gone up too. Of course he was pleased.
As for how he solved the cases, he didn't care.
Just then, the agency's doorbell rang.
Kogoro's eyes lit up, thinking it was a client. He immediately swept the beer bottles aside and said to Ran, "Ran, go get the door."
Ran responded and went to open it. Standing outside was a plump middle-aged woman.
As soon as she stepped inside and saw Conan, she rushed over with joy and hugged him tightly.
"Conan, I just came from Dr. Agasa's place and heard you were here. Madam is here to pick you up and take you home!"
(To be continued.)