Stay away from Conan.

Because the antidote has failed, Shiho Miyano's body is about to revert to Ai Haibara's child form. The pain she will endure during this process is unparalleled, a fact that both Shiho Miyano herself and Takato, who is standing nearby, have already experienced firsthand.

After all, this was not the first time the two of them had experienced something like this, so it should actually be something they were used to.

However, no matter how much you get used to it, pain is still pain, especially since this kind of habit is not something you experience often in your daily life.

Therefore, facing the experience of her body turning back into a child's form, Shiho Miyano not only felt physical pain due to this dramatic change, but also felt a little reluctant looking at Takato who was by her side. After all, if she turned back, she and Takato would probably return to their previous state.

At this point, as she was about to revert to Ai Haibara's appearance, seemingly to resist the physical and mental pain, Shiho Miyano made this request to Takato—

"Can you...hold me?"

Thus, faced with Shiho Miyano's request, since the two had already tacitly expressed their feelings yesterday, Takato didn't hesitate and stepped forward to embrace Shiho Miyano, who was beginning to tremble.

As for Shiho Miyano, after falling into Takato's arms, it seemed as if she had grasped some kind of support, causing her arms, which had been holding herself, to extend and wrap around Takato's back—

Immediately, Takato, who was just gently embracing Shiho Miyano, felt that Shiho Miyano was holding him tightly, and it could be said that the strength she was releasing due to her pain was being used on him.

Gao Yuan could understand Shiho Miyano's pain at this moment. He watched her bury her head in his arms and try her best not to cry out in pain. It was just that the pain was so intense and pervasive that her body couldn't help but curl up, and she needed a place to vent it.

Therefore, at this moment, no one but himself could properly comfort her. So naturally, Gao Yuan looked slightly relieved, enduring the tight grip of Miyano Shiho's hands on him while gently embracing her and patting her back to offer some comfort.

As time passed, Shiho Miyano endured unspeakable pain, but felt a little calmer from Takato's warmth. However, as the antidote began to wear off and her body gradually changed, shrinking, she felt Takato's embrace broaden in her immense pain, and she could no longer hold him with her own hands.

At that moment, as the pain slowly subsided, and her clothes became loose but not falling off, Shiho Miyano raised her head and looked at Takato in front of her—

At this moment, the difference in their physical forms became obvious, and he had indeed returned to Ai Haibara's form once again.

As a result, given this difference in size, Shiho Miyano, or as Ai Haibara should be now, felt a subtle shift in her feelings for Takato as her physical appearance changed.

At the same time, this feeling wasn't unique to Ai Haibara. When Takato watched Shiho Miyano gradually shrink back to Ai's appearance, and then looked at her again, this subtle shift in emotion caused by the change in appearance made Takato realize that ultimately everything had to return to the original reality. This was a multifaceted issue, an insurmountable reality.

Even though, at this moment, both of them were certain of their true feelings because of what they had expressed yesterday, Shiho Miyano, now back as Ai Haibara, knew, under the guidance of reason, that she should return to her previous state.

And so, the two remained silent, exchanging glances. Finally, Ai Haibara left Takato's embrace and went to the room on the next floor to change back into the clothes she wore as a child…

……

"So... you're hoping to learn about that organization by investigating Rena Mizunashi's past?"

Meanwhile, Kogoro Mouri and his friends were still shopping. Conan was talking to Heiji Hattori about Eisuke Hondo's appearance and the clues about Rena Mizunashi that it brought up. After hearing Conan's request to go to Osaka to investigate Rena Mizunashi's past, Heiji Hattori thought for a while and then asked this question—

After all, in Hattori Heiji's mind, even if they found out about Mizunashi Rena's past, so what?
Perhaps the person in that photo was indeed Rena Mizunashi from back then, or perhaps that person was Rena Mizunashi's past identity, but...

Rena Mizunashi at that time may not have been involved in the organization at all, so it is possible that she did not agree with Conan's purpose of investigating the organization.

On the contrary, in Hattori Heiji's opinion, the key issue is Hondo Eisuke, who only now took the initiative to approach Mouri Kogoro.
Although Conan intended to meet the other party in person, Heiji Hattori still felt that if he really thought there was something wrong with that guy, the simplest thing to do was to ask the FBI, who had contact with Conan, for help.

Therefore, after thinking it over, Heiji Hattori still felt that Conan might have other ideas about this matter.

"Well... actually, I'm not quite sure how to explain it, it's just..."

Faced with Heiji Hattori's question, Conan couldn't help but think about it seriously for a moment, recalling some details of the incident when Rena Mizunashi was arrested by the FBI—

What's most intriguing is Haibara and Akechi's reactions when that incident occurred.

After all, it was a major event concerning the organization's operations, and it involved a core member of the organization with a code name, "Kir." However, in the end, only Haibara rushed over after learning about it. Even Mr. Akechi didn't take the initiative to come and inquire about it. This made Conan feel that something was not quite right.

Then, there was that day at the observation restaurant in the Beika Central Building. As I was leaving after the incident, Mr. Akechi approached me and asked if the FBI had contacted me recently. Clearly, Mr. Akechi wasn't asking about the FBI, but rather—

Rena Mizunashi. (End of Chapter)