Chapter 217 Turning around, one glance is eternity

Chapter 218 Turning around, one glance is eternity

Wow wow wow…

The drizzling rain showed no sign of stopping. I had been walking in the rain for a long time. I had been walking like this since I arrived at the rice flower market in Tokyo by bus. Because I had no shoes, my feet were already blue from the cold rain. In the rain, the uncomfortable clothes did not provide much warmth. The coldness was swallowing up my consciousness bit by bit. But I had to hold on, at least until I saw him.

Finally, I arrived at Kudo Shinichi's house and rang the doorbell, but there was no response from inside. Bing, aren't you here? My heart suddenly twisted, could it be... Didn't he survive? I don't know, and I don't intend to think too much, because at this time, my consciousness has already collapsed to the extreme. At least, find a place to keep warm. I thought so, but perhaps it was the effect of APTX-4869, my physical strength could no longer sustain me to move forward. In the end, I sat quietly in a place to shelter from the rain, hoping to rest for a while, and at the same time I needed to think about where to go next. But who knows, maybe it was because my whole body was already soaked. Not long after sitting down, I lost consciousness. I don't know if I fell asleep or fainted. But when I woke up, I was already lying in an unfamiliar room. I was covered with a thin blanket, and the only wet clothes left was a high-necked T-shirt left when I escaped from the organization.

"You're awake..." Just when I was wondering where this place was, an old voice sounded from behind me. Subconsciously, I pulled up the quilt covering my body.

"Oh, sorry, sorry. I scared you." Turning around, I saw an old man in a white coat holding a pot of steaming hot chocolate. "I saw you fainted at the door next to mine. So I took the initiative to take you back to my home. How do you feel now?" The old man asked me while pouring hot chocolate into the cup in front of me. But I didn't answer him, but immediately began to observe the surroundings. This is what Bing taught me. No matter where you are, every time you arrive in an unfamiliar environment, you must first observe the surroundings and determine the doors, windows, the location of the furniture, and anything that can be used as a weapon.

"Um... can you understand me?" The old man asked me slowly when I didn't respond. "Can you understand what I'm saying?" When I didn't respond, the old man asked me again in broken English. At this time, I had already observed the whole room, and then I looked at the old man in front of me. He was a fat old man with a white beard sticking to his face. He was very kind, and his bald hairline had reached the back of his head. At first glance, he didn't give a bad impression.

"I understand Japanese." I replied softly.

"Oh, I thought you were a foreigner because of your hair color, so... Hey, sorry."

"I am of English and Japanese descent," I said again.

"Oh, I see." The old man handed me the hot chocolate. "By the way, why did you faint near my house? Where are your parents?"

"...Where is this place?" I didn't answer him. I just picked up the hot chocolate in my hand and took a sip. The warm drink instantly slid into my throat, and I felt warm.

"It's my home."

"As I recall, I was at the doorstep of Kudo Shinichi's house, right?"

"Ah? Oh, you know Shinichi." The old man addressed Kudo Shinichi in a very friendly way, so he must be someone Kudo Shinichi knew well. "I am Dr. Agasa who lives next door to him. Please give me your advice. By the way, who are you?" This man who called himself Dr. Agasa was not wary of me at all. That's right, I am just a child now. Why should I be wary of a child?
"My name is Miyano Shiho, you can also call me by my code name, Sherry."

"Sherry?" Dr. Agasa scratched his head. "Little boy, that's not a code name, that's your English name. Did your mother give it to you?"

"No, the organization got it for me." I put down the cup in my hand and looked at Dr. Agasa seriously.

"organize?"

"Yes, it is a black organization, and everyone in the organization uses the names of wine as code names."

"You, what are you talking about, kid?" The doctor smiled a little unnaturally.

"Kudo Shinichi. You probably haven't seen him for a long time, right?" I said calmly. "Or rather, you haven't seen the enlarged Kudo Shinichi for a long time, right?"

"You, who are you?" Dr. Agasa looked at me in shock.

"Sherry, APTX-4869 is the manufacturer of the drug that caused Kudo Shinichi to shrink after taking it." I said coldly. "W-what?! How is it possible!"

"Nothing is impossible. The reason you see me like this now is because I also took that drug and escaped after my body became smaller."

"Escape?"

"Yes, I betrayed the organization. Before the organization ordered my execution, I escaped. Of course, you can choose not to believe me. If you don't want to believe me, I can leave immediately. As for calling the police, if you want Kudo Shinichi to die sooner, then go ahead. The undercover agents of the organization in the police station will help you."

"You, are you really a member of that organization?" Dr. Agasa still looked at me in disbelief.

"It seems that Kudo Shinichi has really become smaller, and he has told you, his neighbor. Does he trust you very much?" I said with a playful smile.

"W...what?" Dr. Agasa's face changed instantly.

"Don't worry..." I picked up the cup of hot chocolate again. "I'm not trying to trick you, I'm just not sure if Kudo Shinichi is really still alive. It seems that he has indeed become smaller."

"Well, then you..." Dr. Agasa became nervous.

"I just said that I betrayed the organization and am now on the run. From a certain perspective, I am now on the same front as Kudo Shinichi. So, there is no need for me to lie to you. On the contrary, I have to help Kudo Shinichi. Otherwise, all that is left for me is a dead end. At the same time, I also hope to get help from you. This way, I will have time to make the antidote.

"Huh? Didn't you make that medicine?" Dr. Agasa asked.

"The data is too huge. Even I can't remember so much. I can only explore it bit by bit." I said to Dr. Agasa. "Anyway, this is my situation. As a future partner, do you have any other questions?"

"Well... well." The old man who called himself Dr. Agasa said awkwardly. "Well... you said you were the creator of that 69, may I ask how old you are..."

"18 is old."

"What?!" Dr. Agasa looked surprised.

"My learning and growth are different from others. When others just graduated from junior high school, I was already studying college knowledge at Harvard. Ala, haven't you also read my thesis?" My eyes drifted towards the computer not far away. I found an article about biological evolution on the screen. And that article happened to be written by me.

"Eh?" Dr. Agasa turned back to look at his computer. "You said you wrote this theory on whether reverse growth can be successful?" After saying that, Dr. Agasa hurriedly looked at the signature. Sure enough, it was written by a student from Harvard University, and the signature was Sherry.

"Isn't there a case of reverse aging right in front of you?" I joked as I adjusted the blanket covering me. "You said your name is Dr. Agasa, right? So what is your research direction?"

"Me? Hehe, I'm just researching some random stuff." Dr. Agasa scratched his head awkwardly. Perhaps in his eyes, he was far inferior to me. "Wait, wait a minute, why am I being diverted from the topic again?"

"again?"

"No, nothing." Dr. Agasa smiled. "In that case, I can trust you temporarily. After all, if you are lying to me, maybe you know these from me, which is enough to kill me. As for Shinichi, I can arrange a meeting for you, but Kudo is not so easy to talk to. It is not easy to gain his trust." After that, Dr. Agasa said to me seriously.

"I know, I will tell him in person." I nodded. "By the way, do you... know a guy named Bing? He's a boy of about 17 or 18 years old."

"Ice?" Dr. Agasa dragged his chin in thought. "I don't think I've heard of this name before."

"What about the boy of seven or eight with the same name?"

"Um... No."

"Is that so?" I said somewhat disappointedly. "Is he not here? Or maybe he is really... dead?"

"Hmm? What are you talking about?"

"No, nothing." I shook my head. "Anyway, can you find me a set of clothes first?"

"Hmm? Oh. OK." Dr. Agasa ran back to his room, took out a spare bathrobe and handed it to me. "Go take a hot bath first. I don't have any suitable clothes for you right now. You have to make do with this for now. I'll order some for you online later."

"Okay, thank you." Without saying anything more, I turned and walked into the bathroom. I took off my clothes, which were still a little damp, and looked at myself in the mirror. My young body was just over one meter tall. It was exactly the same as it was ten years ago. The difference was that this young body contained the mind of an eighteen-year-old girl. Haha, it was really unbelievable when I thought about it.

I jumped into the bathtub. The warm water made me feel comfortable all over. The cold air left by the rain was swept away. Lying in the bathtub, I felt the warmth and freedom at the same time, and I was also worried about the organization's ruthless pursuit. In two days at most, the organization will find out my escape. They will also chase me to the garbage dump. Fortunately, there are no surveillance cameras at the garbage dump. And there are no surveillance cameras all the way out. After all, I chose the most remote road. I believe that the organization's clues can only reach the garbage dump. In addition, the rain will erase even the footprints. As long as I don't meet those members of the organization who have seen me as a child, I think I will not be in danger in the short term. However, if I am gone, the organization will continue to develop the drug. Although Bing destroyed some of the data, it is only a matter of time. And the probability of that... I don't know if they will find it. So, I must make a decision as soon as possible. Either look for Bing's figure everywhere, or stay here. At least I can find the victim, Kudo Shinichi, to discuss things. If I am alone... Now this small body has too little ability.

"Forget it, let's stay here for now." After thinking about it, I decided to settle here temporarily. At least here I can solve the problem of survival. It's better not to stay on the street and wander around everywhere.

About 20 minutes later, I came out of the bathroom. The doctor had already ordered clothes for me online and started preparing dinner.

"Well, um, Ms. Miyano." Dr. Agasa said awkwardly. "Doctor, don't call her by this name anymore, lest it cause unnecessary danger." I thought about it. "Well... think of a new name."

"Hmm? Oh, then, how do I get it?"

"Whatever, as long as it's not my real name." I wiped my hair and said casually.

"Well, how about naming it after the detective's name?" Dr. Agasa said with interest. "Well, how about naming it after Gray from Cordelia Gray and I from VI Warshawski?
"Gray? Gray? I? Ai? HaibaraAi?" I thought about it, then smiled as if reminiscing. "He wouldn't like this name."

"Him? You mean Shinichi?"

"No, it's not." I glanced at the doctor. "Whatever, but don't use the Chinese character for love, use the character for sorrow."

"Ai? Huibara Ai? Isn't this too heavy?"

"It doesn't matter." I smiled sadly. "Bing will definitely not like the word 'love'. Maybe it's better to use 'sadness'. I have a feeling that Bing will definitely like this name."

"What exactly is the ice you are talking about..." The doctor was puzzled.

"It's not a big deal. Don't worry about him. Doctor, let's have dinner first. I haven't eaten for a long time." I looked up and said to the doctor.

"Oh, that's right, look at my brain." Dr. Agasa patted his forehead. "Then wait a moment, I'll go see what else is in the refrigerator." With that, the doctor ran into the kitchen. "Well... eggs, bread, and leftovers from lunch. Two saury and some sweet onions. Well... marinate two fish, with rice, an egg and some bread. Isn't that enough?"

"It's okay, it's enough." I walked to the doctor's side. "These materials are enough, leave it to me from now on." As I spoke, I took out the things in the refrigerator, stood in front of the stove, and started preparing dinner.

"Eh? Miyano... ahem, Ai-kun, you even know these?"

"Well, I lived alone in the United States for four years. I did everything by myself, like cooking." As I spoke, I started chopping onions with a knife.

"You lived alone in the United States for four years?" The doctor looked incredulous.

"Well, when I was fourteen, I went to Harvard University in the United States for further studies. At the age of eighteen, I returned to the base in Japan and began to study drugs. Later, due to some incidents, I betrayed the organization and was imprisoned. I took the drug with the intention of dying, but found that my body became smaller, and then I escaped here from the garbage duct. Because the only missing victim in my data was Kudo Shinichi, I tried to come here. If he was still alive, maybe I could be more helpful. At least a research material." I said calmly. I didn't pay any attention to the twitching corners of his mouth. "By the way, Doctor, can I live here? As rent, I will share your three meals a day and housework."

"Ah, don't be so polite." The doctor scratched his head in embarrassment. "How can I let a genius like you do such rough work?"

"What a genius..." I said with a hint of self-mockery, "Now I am just a stray dog ​​wandering outside. No, maybe since my sister died, I don't even have a home. How can I be a stray dog?"

"elder sister?"

"Well, my parents and sister were all killed by the organization."

"Oh, sorry." The doctor hurriedly apologized to me.

"It's okay. It's nothing to apologize for." I turned off the stove. "Okay, let's eat."

"Okay, so fast!"

"Just some simple saury sashimi and dehydrated onion and egg fried rice. Bread and milk can be used as a midnight snack."

"But how can it smell so good?" Dr. Agasa's mouth was watering as he smelled the aroma of the food.

"It's just the seasoning." As I spoke, I brought the plate to the table. "So, Doctor, can I stay here?"

"Of course." The doctor responded quickly.

"Really? Thank you, then let's have dinner." I smiled faintly. At least, the problem of survival has been solved.

"By the way, Ai-kun. I will help you get an application for admission to Teitan Elementary School tomorrow. You can go to school in a few days. Shinichi will be there too." The doctor said to me while eating.

"Okay." I said calmly. "Then I will stay at home for the next few days, and I will go and meet Kudo Shinichi formally on the first day of school."

"Well, sure. By the way, can I ask you some questions about biochemistry later?" The doctor looked very interested.

"If this can serve as rent, I'd be happy with it."

"Hmm? Oh! No problem! Of course no problem! Haha! With the guidance of a doctor-level figure, my new invention will be completed soon! Hooray! Hooray!!!" The doctor was very happy. He was so happy that he raised his hands and shouted like a child.

Looking at the doctor, a faint smile appeared on the corner of my mouth. Is this a smile under freedom? Without any impurities, just happy for the sake of being happy. Haha, will there be a day when I can have such a smile? As I was thinking, I looked out the window. The quiet night sky was more beautiful than anything I had seen anywhere else.

————The scent of orchids, the scent of lavender, the scent of home & the wings of angels, the wings of demons, the wings of guardians————

Time flies, and three days have passed in the blink of an eye. Today is my school day, but because the school arranged too much time, when I arrived at the classroom, it was already the last class in the afternoon. Haha, going to class with the kids? I didn't expect that I would have a day to relive my childhood. I thought helplessly.

Following the footsteps of teacher Xiaolin, we came to the class I would be in for a long time, Class B of Grade 1. Soon, the bell rang and the teacher opened the door of the classroom.

"Wow!!!! So cute!!!"

This was the first sentence I heard before I entered the room. Walking to the podium, the teacher wrote the three words "Gray Hara Ai" on the blackboard. I took the opportunity to look around the class, then lowered my head silently, because, that was it. The last glimmer of hope in my heart was shattered.

"He...is not here." Yes, this is my last ray of hope. If Bing is not here, then it is very likely that he has really...

Are you willing to sacrifice your life for my freedom? Is it really worth it? The so-called freedom now is nothing more than endless hiding and escaping. Is it really worth your sacrifice? Do you know that what I really want is for you to stay by my side? Bing... Why are you so stupid?

"Then... please choose your own seat, Huiyuan." The teacher interrupted my thoughts. Hearing this, I looked at the whole class again.
. . . He is not here. In this class, I only saw the shrunken Kudo Shinichi that the professor mentioned. Without him, such a life, such freedom. Is it really what I want? I raised my head and looked at Kudo Shinichi. His eyes were just like those of ordinary high school students looking at new classmates, not as bright as those children.

Forget it, I'll try my best to live on. At least, I can't let down Bing's efforts for me and my sister. . . . I made up my mind and walked towards Kudo Shinichi, because there was a seat next to him. So I passed the place that the fat classmate made for me and walked towards the seat next to Kudo Shinichi.

...Hurrah!!!
Just when I was about to put my schoolbag on the seat next to Kudo, the door of the classroom was suddenly opened. I looked in the direction of the sound and saw a little boy standing at the door. When my eyes were focused on him, I found that I could no longer look away.

The first thing the boy did when he entered the classroom was not to say hello to the teacher. Instead, he looked inside the classroom very quickly and locked his eyes on me at the first moment. When he saw me, he breathed a long sigh of relief, and then looked at me with a gentle smile.

Lilac eyes, black windbreaker, although the hair color has changed to pale gold, but the delicate and slightly mature facial features, and the wing necklace on the chest that matches mine, I will never forget it in my life. It's him! This tender gaze, just a moment, made me recognize him! In an instant, the haze that enveloped me disappeared again because of him!
Yes, at this moment, he appeared.

At this moment, he made me feel the sunshine from him again.

At this moment, I seemed to breathe in the warmth of the faint lavender scent on his body again.

With this smile, I was sure that I had his company again.

At this moment, I recalled the impact and changes his actions had on me.

At this moment, I realized that all those years of hard work were not in vain.

This hope, the past reunion, the choice, the separation, now all seem worth it.

And this turn... that glance, became eternal.

He's here!
He! Is still alive!!!

(End of this chapter)