Chapter 5: The Difficult Person

One person ate while the other fiddled with their phone.

About five minutes later, Ai Haibara finished eating, took her cold medicine, and went to her room to change clothes.

On Chi Feichi's side, the information for the three bounty missions was also downloaded onto his phone. After clearing the traces left on the computer, he shut it down, covered Ando Kitagawa with a jacket, and waited for Ai Haibara to come out. He then packed the pajamas she had changed out of, along with another set of new clothes, and took them with him.

Ai Haibara tacitly accepted Chi Feichi’s actions. Upon stepping outside, she pulled the hood of her red jacket over her head and asked, “What about him?”

“If he wakes up, he’ll go back on his own,” Chi Feichi said as he closed the door. “Where exactly is it? I’ll drive you there.”

“21, 2-chome, Miharacho.”

An hour later, a car stopped at the gate of the Kudo residence.

Ai Haibara looked at the dark, silent house and cleared her throat. “Seems like everyone’s gone out. You can head back first. I’ll wait outside for a bit.”

Previously, she had been intent on finding Shinichi Kudo, who had also shrunk. Whether as a ‘shrunk peer’ or someone who also knew about the organization and had a grudge against them, teaming up with Shinichi to figure things out was a good choice. She almost forgot that after shrinking, Shinichi wouldn’t be living here either...

“I’ll stay and wait with you,” Chi Feichi said, getting out of the car.

“No need!” Ai Haibara followed him out, adopting the posture of a little girl with a wary expression. “I heard some perverts like to target very little girls. Are you trying to figure out if anyone’s home, then make a plan to kidnap me?”

Chi Feichi was momentarily stunned...

Then he burst out laughing.

Laughing?

Ai Haibara looked at him blankly. The smile on the big guy’s face was faint, but his pale purple eyes smiled like clouds melting, warm and soothing.

This guy...

Snapping back to reality, she put on a cold expression.

“Why... why are you laughing? What’s so funny?”

Chi Feichi rubbed his face. It seemed this body hadn’t smiled for a long time; the muscles were stiff, and suddenly laughing felt a bit strained and painful. “It’s funny how you suddenly act like a snotty, arrogant, difficult little brat.”

Just before, he was perfectly fine, then suddenly changed his expression as if saying: “I’ve always suspected you’re a bad person. Now that we’re home, I’m fearless. I’m going to confront you and expose you!”

Others might think that way, but unfortunately...

He knew Ai Haibara wasn’t really a little girl and wouldn’t act so childishly.

Was she worried about running into people from the organization here? Or afraid he’d get involved and was deliberately keeping his distance?

Ai Haibara recalled the stack of books she saw earlier on the living room table and realized this guy was studying psychology. Fine, no point pretending anymore. “I was joking.”

Chi Feichi nodded. “Mm.”

Ai Haibara gave Chi Feichi a strange look. Someone who seemed to think little, silent, and quiet to the point of being introverted—was he really studying psychology properly? “Have you always been like this?”

Chi Feichi looked at Ai Haibara puzzled.

“No curiosity, no smiles, poor affinity; you come across as cold, aloof, and hard to get along with...” Ai Haibara replied calmly, returning the earlier insult Chi Feichi made about her being “arrogant and difficult.”

---

Chi Feichi thought for a moment. “I really seem like a difficult person?”

“From the outside, yes,” Ai Haibara said, looking quietly at Chi Feichi’s expressionless face.

The implication: but not in reality.

However, comforting a man without overthinking it... with a bit of a girlish attitude, just thinking about it made her uncomfortable...

Anyway, he should understand what she meant.

Although he spoke little, he wasn’t aloof; at least he was relaxed to be around and likely gentle inside.

Bringing her back could be out of sympathy or ulterior motives. Buying her clothes could mean he had money to burn, didn’t mind spending it—but he even bought slippers and underwear... That doesn’t count!

Also, when she ate, she saw the empty lunchbox on the table, meaning he’d specially bought two meals, one for her...

There was still a faint scent of shampoo in her hair, but her pillow showed no dampness, meaning he had washed and carefully dried her hair.

The pajamas and slippers were the softest, meaning he had thoughtfully chosen the fabrics, bought two sets of clothes in different colors, and even two jackets suitable for the recent chilly nights.

Plus, she woke up to find something to eat, and when it was time for medicine, the water was almost the perfect temperature.

And from beginning to end, he never mentioned what he had done, as if it were all perfectly natural.

Setting aside personality and money, these small details were more touching.

Ai Haibara glanced sideways at Chi Feichi, who stood beside her, head down looking at his phone, always wearing a cold expression, seemingly uninterested in anything and completely unable to show emotion...

“Um...”

Next door, Professor Agasa opened the door, looking puzzled at the two standing in the cold wind. “Are you here to see the Kudo family?”

“I’m a distant relative of the Kudo family. My parents planned to visit, but unfortunately, I got separated from them,” Ai Haibara glanced at Chi Feichi, who was putting away his phone. “He kindly gave me a ride since it was on the way. I have something important to discuss with Shinichi Kudo.”

Chi Feichi, labeled the good Samaritan, was speechless.

“Looking for Shinichi, huh? He hasn’t been home recently...” Professor Agasa looked a bit troubled.

Having lived as neighbors for so many years, he had never heard Shinichi mention such a distant relative.

But distant relatives not visiting often was normal. Leaving someone outside waiting seemed a bit improper...

“You...” Ai Haibara looked at Professor Agasa with a mysterious smile. “Do you know what kind of medicine he’s taking?”

The professor’s expression stiffened upon hearing about the medicine.

“I think you wouldn’t mind if I waited inside for a while, letting unrelated people handle their own business first. After all, we’re somewhat related, and you should be happy to chat with me, right?” Ai Haibara’s tone was casual, but to Professor Agasa, it sounded like a clear threat!

“Oh, of course!” Professor Agasa relaxed his serious expression, forced a smile, and hesitated as he looked at Chi Feichi.

Is this ‘unrelated’ good Samaritan really?

Ai Haibara then turned back to Chi Feichi. “Thanks for bringing me here. I’ll wait inside. You can head back now.”

Chi Feichi was a bit curious about how Ai Haibara and Professor Agasa would communicate now that he was involved, but it was clear she didn’t want him involved. He nodded, got in the car, turned off his phone, and drove away.

Knocking out Ando Kitagawa and lying to delay returning to the hospital—this was already a fact.

Even if he went back willingly now, a package of ‘intensive observation’ and ‘moralizing lectures’ was inevitable.

Since that was the case, he might as well be straightforward and let them think whatever they want. He wasn’t going to play along anymore.

It was the perfect opportunity to head to Osaka and capture Ichiro Numabuchi!

...

The next day.

Osaka, Tsutenkaku Tower.

On the observation deck, a dark-skinned young man was introducing the sights to those nearby. “Over there is Tennoji Zoo, and that way is the Osaka Gymnasium...”

Hattori Heiji...

Chi Feichi glanced from afar, then looked away, continuing to inquire with others about which forest in Osaka had a waterfall and a cabin.

Luckily, he had driven overnight to Osaka and found a hotel to rest, or the bounty target might have already been intercepted by the little grim reaper schoolboy.

He didn’t remember the name of the place where Ichiro Numabuchi was discovered and had to pretend to be a tourist asking locals.

Tsutenkaku being a famous Osaka landmark attracted many tour guides, who should remember the local scenery...

“You’re probably talking about Kigamen Mountain’s Kigamen Waterfall. If you want a forest with a waterfall and a cabin, that should be the place. But I haven’t been there in years, so I don’t know if the cabin’s still standing,” the middle-aged guide sighed. “Back in the day, Kigamen Waterfall was famous—water plunging straight down a high cliff, very beautiful. Unfortunately, it wasn’t further developed, and since it’s a bit far from the city, it gradually became desolate...”

Chi Feichi pulled out an Osaka map from his new backpack and found the location of Kigamen Mountain. “The Kigamen Waterfall isn’t marked on the map.”

“I’ll mark it for you,” the guide took out a pen and moved closer to help. “I’ll also mark the route into the mountain. It’s driveable and convenient. But what are you going there for? If it’s for forest bathing, there are better places, like...”

Chi Feichi listened to the guide’s lengthy explanation. “Thanks, but a friend invited me there to meet up. If I have time, I’ll check out those other places with them.”

“I see. Then you can ask me to be your guide. I know Osaka’s sights like the back of my hand. There aren’t many who can compare in this city!” The guide pitched himself. “Go to Yamashima Travel Agency and ask for Masaru Hirakawa!”

“If I have time, I will,” Chi Feichi replied, taking the map and turning to leave, sneaking a glance at Conan’s group.

They were still chatting and admiring the view.

He still needed to rent a car. He envied those who got to ride in police cars to catch criminals...

At the observation window, Hattori Heiji was still explaining to Conan, “I dreamed that just when I was about to catch the bad guy, the guy stabbed me instead... and then you died~”

Conan staggered, sweating, joking, “Come on, don’t just kill people casually, okay?”

Hattori Heiji noticed Conan suddenly looking behind them and followed his gaze. “What’s up?”

“Someone seemed to be watching us just now...” Conan scanned the passing crowd, his gaze lingering on a figure dressed all in black.

“There are so many people here. It’s normal for someone to glance over as they pass, right?” Hattori Heiji rolled his eyes. “Even if they looked twice, maybe they were looking outside the window—outside! We happen to be standing right by the window...”

“That’s true.” Conan withdrew his gaze, thinking it was probably just his imagination...