Night had fully settled over Tropical Land.
Bright neon lights illuminated the park.
Laughter.
Music.
Couples walking together.
Yet hidden behind one quiet maintenance building…
Something impossible had just occurred.
A small boy struggled to stand.
His oversized clothes slipped around his body like a blanket.
The boy stared at his tiny hands.
"W-what…?"
His voice was high.
Childlike.
His breathing grew heavier.
"No… this… this can't be happening…"
Moments ago he had been Shinichi Kudo, the famous high school detective.
Now—
He was the size of an elementary school student.
Shinichi looked around frantically.
The men in black were gone.
The alley was empty.
Only the distant sound of amusement park music remained.
He clenched his fists.
"That drug…"
His mind raced.
Poison? Experimental chemical?
But he was still alive.
Which meant—
Before he could finish the thought—
Footsteps approached.
"Shinichi?!"
The voice echoed from the nearby path.
Panicked.
Familiar.
Ran Mori
Shinichi's eyes widened.
"Ran!"
He instinctively stepped forward.
But then he froze.
If she saw him like this—
There was no way she would believe him.
Even worse…
The men in black might still be nearby.
Shinichi quickly hid behind a stack of maintenance crates.
Ran rushed into the alley.
"Shinichi?! Where are you?!"
Her voice trembled.
Shinichi clenched his teeth.
He had to stay silent.
Ran looked around.
Confused.
Then her eyes fell on the pile of clothes on the ground.
Shinichi's clothes.
Her face paled.
"W-what…?"
Her hands trembled.
But before panic could fully take hold—
A small sound came from behind the crates.
Ran turned.
Their eyes met.
The tiny boy.
Messy hair.
Frightened expression.
Ran blinked.
"...Are you okay?"
Shinichi froze.
This was Ran.
The person who knew him best in the world.
Yet she looked at him like a stranger.
He forced himself to stay calm.
Ran crouched beside him.
"Where are your parents?"
Shinichi couldn't answer.
Not yet.
His mind was still racing.
Then suddenly—
Another voice echoed from the alley entrance.
"Ran?"
Both of them turned.
A tall young man stood near the fence.
Calm expression.
Sharp eyes behind glasses.
Haruki Akizawa.
Ran looked relieved.
"Oh! Sorry, I didn't notice you earlier!"
Haruki nodded politely.
"I heard someone calling for help."
His gaze moved briefly to the small boy.
Then to the pile of clothes.
His expression didn't change.
But internally—
His mind worked rapidly.
Exactly like the anime.
But seeing it in person felt surreal.
Ran stood.
"I was looking for my friend… but I found this kid instead."
She looked worried.
"And these clothes were just lying here."
Haruki walked closer.
His eyes examined the clothes.
Shinichi's school uniform.
Large.
Far too large for the child.
Then he looked at the boy.
Shinichi felt something strange.
The man's gaze wasn't confused.
It was… analytical.
Like he was observing evidence.
Haruki crouched slightly.
Their eyes met.
For half a second—
Shinichi had the bizarre feeling that this stranger already knew everything.
But that was impossible.
Haruki spoke calmly.
"Looks like someone abandoned him."
Ran gasped.
"You think so?"
Haruki shrugged lightly.
"It happens."
Shinichi resisted the urge to argue.
Abandoned?!
Ran knelt beside the boy again.
"Poor thing…"
She smiled gently.
"What's your name?"
Shinichi hesitated.
His mind searched for something.
Anything.
Then suddenly—
His eyes landed on a nearby poster.
A promotional display for two mystery writers.
Arthur Conan Doyle.
And Edogawa Rampo.
Shinichi looked back at Ran.
"My name is…"
He hesitated.
Then said the name that would define his new life.
"Conan Edogawa."
Ran blinked.
"That's… a strange name."
Haruki almost smiled.
Almost.
Ran stood up.
"I can't just leave him here."
She looked at Haruki.
"Do you know where the nearest police station is?"
Haruki thought for a moment.
Then shook his head slightly.
"The police will probably send him to child services tonight."
Ran frowned.
That clearly bothered her.
Haruki continued calmly.
"But… your father runs a detective agency, right?"
Ran nodded.
"Yes."
Haruki gestured toward Conan.
"Detectives sometimes take temporary guardianship of children in unusual cases."
Ran's eyes brightened slightly.
"You mean…?"
Haruki shrugged.
"It's an option."
Shinichi stared at him.
This guy…
That suggestion perfectly matched what would eventually happen.
Was it coincidence?
Or calculation?
Ran crouched again.
"Conan… would you like to come with me?"
Shinichi hesitated.
But realistically—
He had no better option.
And staying close to Ran would allow him to continue investigating the Black Organization.
He nodded slowly.
Ran smiled warmly.
"Okay! You'll stay with us for now."
Haruki stood up.
His role here was finished.
But before leaving—
DING
[ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ]
New Skill Acquired
Skill: Observation Boost (Level 1)
Effect:
• Slightly enhanced visual perception
• Improved ability to notice small environmental details
• +5 Observation
Limitations:
• Does not reveal hidden information automatically
• Requires conscious focus
Another screen appeared.
[ STATUS ]
Name: Haruki Akizawa
IQ: 138
Observation: 97
Deduction: 88
Psychology: 81
Memory: 90
Skills:
Observation Boost (Lv1)
Items:
Micro Camera Lens
Relationships:
Ran Mori — Neutral acquaintance
Conan Edogawa — Unknown
Haruki quietly reviewed the update.
Then he turned toward the park exit.
Ran called after him.
"Thank you for helping!"
Haruki nodded slightly.
"You're welcome."
As he walked away—
He heard Ran speaking to the small boy.
"Let's go home, Conan!"
The boy sighed quietly.
And the legend of Detective Conan officially began.
Outside the park.
Tokyo's night air felt cool.
Haruki walked slowly down the street.
His mind replayed everything that had happened.
The Black Organization.
Gin.
APTX-4869.
Conan.
Everything had unfolded exactly as expected.
But that wouldn't last forever.
Sooner or later—
His presence would start changing things.
Haruki looked up at the city lights.
His lips curved faintly.
"A world full of murders, mysteries… and geniuses."
"Let's see who solves the most cases."
End of Chapter 3