Haibara, in her adult form, lay on the bed, her skin glistening with fragrant sweat. Her damp body, curved with the grace.
The sharp pain wracked her body, making it hard to breathe. She tried to take slow, deep breaths, her full figure exuding the youthful beauty of a grown woman.
Lying on her side, she turned her head slightly and saw Toru standing at the doorway. Enduring the pain, she asked, "H-how did you get in?"
"I heard you groaning in pain, so I came to check."
"Get out."
Haibara hurriedly pulled the blanket over her body, hiding herself beneath it like an ostrich.
"It's not like I haven't seen you before. I even bathed you. What's there to be shy about?"
"That was when I was a child. I'm an adult now. It's different."
"What's different? It's still you."
"Just get out!"
She grabbed a nearby doll and threw it at him, her face flushed in pain and embarrassment.
Toru chuckled at her reaction and didn't press her further.
"I'll wait outside the door for ten minutes. If you're still feeling unwell, call me. If you can't even speak, I'll come in after ten minutes."
"Okay."
Haibara responded softly.
She wasn't angry. She had only thrown the doll because she was flustered. It was genuinely uncomfortable to face him like this.
After Toru closed the door, she lay on the bed and rested for another two minutes.
Her heart no longer hurt. Only her muscles felt sore and weak, but that wasn't a major issue.
Taking a deep breath, she got up, walked to the bathroom, and thoroughly washed off the sweat from her body.
Outside, Toru heard the sound of running water and was finally at ease.
A while later, Haibara opened the door. Seeing Toru leaning against the wall waiting for her, a warm feeling bloomed in her chest.
"Are you okay?"
Toru looked at her.
Haibara had returned to her original form. She wore a brown long dress with a waist cinched by a belt resembling a trouser belt.
The fabric clung to her figure, making her already slender waist appear even more delicate, while accentuating the curves of her now grown-up body.
The hem of the dress reached just past her calves. She wasn't wearing socks, her fair feet slipping into a pair of high heels, giving off a stylish, youthful vibe.
"I didn't expect it to hurt so much," Haibara said, shaking her head.
"A new drug?"
"Yeah."
"You're pretty daring, taking it yourself."
"I had Kudo Shinichi try it first."
"You're still pretty bold. You know better than anyone how risky experimental drugs can be."
"There aren't many test subjects. Besides Kudo Shinichi, the only other one you told me about was Akai Mary. But she's my aunt... I couldn't experiment on her."
After a short pause, Haibara continued, "...After Kudo Shinichi tested it, I had him send me his medical samples after he reverted to his adult body. By comparing them, I confirmed that the drug doesn't cause any damage to the body."
"He did write in his report that his heart hurt when transforming back. I just didn't expect it to hurt this much. This version still needs improvement."
She had completely forgotten how she'd been crying out in pain just moments ago. Resting her hand on her chin, she sank into thought.
Toru admired the way she approached her research with such focus and seriousness. Haibara, in research mode, was even more charming.
She was already a brilliant, intellectual girl.
"How long does the drug's effect last?"
"I'm not sure. It varies depending on the individual. The data Kudo Shinichi gave me might not be accurate. I'll continue testing to collect more data."
Her expression was excited. The fact that this version could temporarily return her to her adult form meant she was on the right path.
As long as she continued her research, she would eventually develop a complete antidote to the toxicity of APTX4869.
"Are you going to keep working on APTX4869?"
"Of course. How could I stop researching something that can shrink the body?"
Toru let out a quiet breath of relief.
As expected, a true scientist wouldn't abandon a miracle drug with that kind of effect.
He had been a bit worried that she might give up on it altogether.
From the looks of it, Haibara had simply stopped researching the toxic effects of APTX4869. Instead, she was focused solely on the shrinking mechanism—what her parents had once dubbed the Silver Bullet.
She had truly inherited their legacy.
"Should I call you Haibara, or Shiho Miyano now?"
"Whichever you prefer."
"Then I'll call you Sherry."
"You…"
"Don't overthink it. I just think it sounds better."
She didn't particularly like the name. It reminded her of her past as a member of the Organization.
But it was just an English name, after all. Since Toru liked it, she didn't object.
Heh, Sherry…
Toru smiled. Forget it. He had no intention of cosplaying as Gin.
But then he noticed something odd.
It was normal for Sherry to change clothes, but she had even changed her shoes.
"You're going out?"
"You promised to go to Omotesando with me."
Sherry looked eager.
Her biggest hobby was reading fashion magazines.
But with a child's body, she hadn't been able to wear anything in them. Now that she had regained her adult form, she wanted to treat herself.
"You're just going out like this? Aren't you afraid of the Organization?"
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared. But the Organization just suffered a major loss. Several core members were injured or killed. They'll definitely lay low for now."
Sherry analyzed calmly. "...Right now is actually the safest time. The Organization won't let its members show their faces during this period."
"Tokyo is huge, and only a few core members know my real face. The odds of being recognized are too low."
Women… they really will risk their lives just to shop for new clothes.
"Do you have money?"
"Isn't that what you're for?"
"So you eat my food, drink my drinks, live in my house, and now you want me to pay for your luxury shopping too?"
Sherry walked up to him and turned her head slightly, letting Toru admire her stunning profile.
"...I won't let you suffer. I'll repay you."
Her lips curled into a confident smirk, proud like a queen.
Toru cleaned himself up, put on a baseball cap, and changed into something casual. The two of them got into the Porsche 911.
Sherry sat in the passenger seat, her Chanel bag resting on her lap. She had bought it a long time ago and finally had a chance to use it.
They drove to the area around Omotesando, found a parking lot, and continued on foot.
As one of Tokyo's busiest commercial streets and the most famous luxury shopping area, Omotesando was packed with tourists and pedestrians.
It seemed the previous terrorist attack hadn't affected people's desire to shop.
The buildings here were all uniquely designed. Top designers from Europe, Japan, and other places had left their mark.
Many world-renowned luxury brands had flagship stores here.
Walking with Sherry down the bustling street, she carried her Chanel bag on her left arm and held Toru's arm with her right. Sunglasses perched on her nose, she looked every bit like a young, rich lady out on a date.
As they walked, her striking appearance and refined aura caught the attention of passersby.
With the sunglasses, there was no need to worry about being recognized.
"Is that woman some kind of idol?"
"Not sure. There are too many Japanese celebs to keep track of. Maybe she's just a regular person with a good sense of fashion."
"Can a normal person have that kind of presence?"
"…"
People around them whispered among themselves.
Toru couldn't help but admire her. Sherry had such a distinct aura. She was the complete opposite of the messy, nerdy scientist people imagined.
If he told someone she was a pharmaceutical researcher with dual doctorates, no one would believe him.
They entered the stylish Dior flagship store. The moment the sales assistant saw Sherry, her eyes lit up and she hurried over.
Sherry ignored her and browsed at her own pace.
In the clothing section, she picked up a top and held it against herself. The assistant quickly said, "Madam, you can try it on."
"No need. I'm familiar with your sizing. I'll take this one."
She handed the top to the assistant.
The assistant took it immediately, treating her like a VIP.
She was clearly a big spender. Being so familiar with the sizing meant she was a frequent customer.
"I had my measurements taken for haute couture at Dior's Paris headquarters once. But I never dared to request my data here, in case the Organization found out."
Sherry herself didn't even know how deep the Organization's network ran.
What if they accessed her purchase records and figured out she was still alive and in Tokyo?
"Does it look good?"
Sherry sat in the lounge, trying on a pair of sandals. She raised one foot gracefully and asked Toru.
He glanced at her smooth, beautiful feet and nodded. "Looks good."
Honestly, he didn't care about the sandals at all. He was just admiring her legs.
Sherry thought for a moment, then told the assistant to add them to the bill.
She casually picked up a bag, one she'd seen in a magazine before. She liked it, so she ordered it without a second thought.
"Hold still."
In the men's section, she picked up a shirt and held it against Toru.
"Not bad. You're a natural model. Everything looks good on you. I saw this one on the official site and thought it would suit you."
"Their menswear is a bit too traditional. We'll check out some niche fashion labels next. Assistant, add this one too."
"I saw you go running every night, and those shoes are dirty. These Nike collab sneakers look great. The design is clean and scientifically structured. What size are you? Actually, try them on first."
Sherry dragged him through the store, buying clothes for both of them.
By the time they were done, they had several bags and were ready to move on.
Not because she was finished shopping—but because there were still more stores to visit.
"Please send these to this address."
"Certainly, Madam!"
The assistant bowed deeply.
When it came time to pay, the total was over 30,000 USD. The bag alone cost nearly 10,000 after tax.
Toru was just about to pull out his card when Sherry suddenly stepped forward and paid with her own.
Wait—where did she get that kind of money?
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)