"I can wait at the school gates until your club activities are over."
"Don't worry, sister. Back at the orphanage, I used to sit alone all the time. I'm really good at waiting for people."
His voice was soft, his tone humble.
A tea-sweet confession, laced with loneliness.
Hearing this, Yukinoshita Yukino faltered.
She turned to look at the little boy walking beside her.
His head was slightly bowed. The late afternoon sunlight washed over his face, casting delicate shadows across his tender features, making him look like a stray kitten without a home.
Yukino's chest tightened unexpectedly.
She opened her mouth, a glimmer of guilt flashing across her eyes.
Her voice softened without her realizing.
"You don't have to wait outside... I'll come pick you up from the clubroom."
"I'll take you to lunch, too."
She lifted her gaze—and saw Shiraishi Asa looking up at her, smiling brightly.
His clear, starry eyes were brimming with happiness, like her words had gifted him the greatest joy in the world.
Yukino stood stunned, feeling a strange warmth bloom inside her chest.
"Good. Caught her."
***
Shuchiin Academy – Elementary Division
Class 1-B
Standing by the podium, the homeroom teacher Kobayashi Sumiko, wearing a sharp skirt suit, spoke with a gentle smile.
"Everyone, please welcome our new transfer student."
Shiraishi Asa stepped forward confidently.
"Hello everyone, my name is Shiraishi Asa."
His crisp, youthful voice carried across the classroom.
Every little face in the room turned to stare at him with wide eyes.
"So handsome!"
"So cute!"
The little girls gasped and covered their mouths, starstruck.
Asa's naturally captivating looks instantly stole the show, making him the center of attention.
He scanned the room briefly, surveying his future classmates.
Sure enough, he spotted some familiar figures.
"Conan... and that Detective Boys group."
But no sign of Ai Haibara yet.
"Maybe she hasn't taken the APTX 4869 yet in this world."
Kobayashi Sumiko led Asa to an empty desk.
"Shiraishi-kun, you can sit behind Yoshida-san."
He slipped into his seat. As soon as he sat down, the cheerful Yoshida Ayumi turned around, beaming with excitement.
"Hello, Shiraishi-kun! I'm Yoshida Ayumi! You can call me Ayumi!"
Ignoring the suspicious glares from Genta and Mitsuhiko, Asa smiled politely.
"Nice to meet you, Ayumi-san."
Although Ayumi's energy was infectious, Asa had no real interest in little kids. After a few polite exchanges, he turned his attention elsewhere.
Elementary school lessons were dull to him.
But eavesdropping on Genta and Mitsuhiko's wild rumors was somewhat entertaining.
What surprised Asa most was that Kudo Shin'ichi—or rather, Conan—seemed to have only an average relationship with Mouri Ran here, merely ordinary neighbors. He was living at Dr. Agasa's house like usual.
Well, it was a mixed-up anime world after all. Variations were normal.
Soon, school ended.
Rejecting invitations to play from his new classmates, Asa made his way to the high school gates.
Standing there, schoolbag in hand, his presence immediately drew attention.
"Whoa, what an adorable little boy!"
"Look at that elementary school uniform! So cute I could scream!"
"I just wanna pinch those cheeks!"
High school girls swarmed around him, unable to resist.
Shiraishi Asa's flawless shota appeal was lethal here.
In mere minutes, he was surrounded by a crowd of beautiful girls.
"Little guy, what are you doing here?"
"I'm waiting for my sister."
His sweet, slightly babyish reply triggered a new wave of squeals.
The commotion only grew louder.
Through the throng of girls, Asa caught a glimpse of Yukinoshita Yukino approaching.
"I see her."
Without hesitation, he squeezed through the crowd and sprinted toward her.
The girls pouted as they watched him run off.
"Isn't that Yukinoshita-senpai?"
"That must be her little brother!"
"So cute… Yukinoshita-senpai is so lucky..."
Watching Asa brush aside all the other girls to rush toward her, Yukino's tightly clenched fists relaxed.
"Hmph."
An involuntary snort escaped her lips.
For some reason, seeing him surrounded by other girls had left her feeling oddly upset.
"Sister Yukino, let's go."
The little boy reached her and instinctively grabbed her hand.
The last traces of irritation in Yukino's heart melted away.
"If that happens again, call the police immediately."
"Mm."
Asa nodded obediently.
"So typical of Yukinoshita Yukino," he thought with a smirk. "Always the ice queen."
Yukino gently squeezed his small hand, feeling how warm and soft it was.
Somewhere deep down, she wanted to hold onto it forever.
Every time she touched him, a strange happiness filled her chest.
Leading Asa to the school building, they entered a quiet clubroom.
"This is the Service Club. I'm the only member. You can do your homework or read here."
"Okay."
As Asa settled at a desk, a teasing, regal voice floated from behind them.
"Yukinoshita, kidnapping a shota now? That's a crime, you know."
Without even turning around, Yukino replied coldly.
"Hiratsuka-sensei, I've reminded you to knock before entering."
Shizuka Hiratsuka, standing in the doorway, gave a dry laugh.
"I'm so tired these days that even knocking feels like a chore."
When Yukino looked up, she noticed that her usually radiant teacher had faint dark circles under her eyes.
"If you have complaints about work, go tell the principal."
"You're so cold, Yukinoshita."
Ignoring her, Hiratsuka's sharp gaze immediately zeroed in on Asa.
"You must be Shiraishi Asa, right?"
Yukino blinked in surprise.
Hiratsuka grinned.
"Haruno mentioned you last night. She wouldn't stop talking about how cute her new little brother is."
She crouched beside Asa, cupping his cheeks with gentle hands.
"Ahhh, so cute. Just seeing you makes me feel healed."
Her elegant smile grew wider.
But then she noticed Asa's eyes weren't meeting hers.
Instead, he kept staring at her earring—or so it seemed.
"What is it, Asa-kun?"
He shook his head and smiled innocently.
"Sensei's earrings are really pretty."
Hiratsuka laughed, ruffling his hair affectionately.
"You're such a sweet-talker! Let's go get some snacks."
"Yukinoshita, I'm borrowing your little brother for a bit!"
Without waiting for an answer, Hiratsuka Shizuka pulled Asa along.
...
In the corridor.
A dark, shadowy presence clung to Hiratsuka's shoulder.
The evil spirit's invisible form writhed in agitation.
It realized with horror—
The boy could see it.
Shiraishi Asa could see everything.
The spirit shivered with a mixture of fear and excitement, whispering incoherent threats in the air around them.
It hungered.
It yearned to consume him.
But the oppressive aura leaking from Asa's body made it hesitate.
For now.
***
Support & Read Advance Chapters On Patreon.com/Zexxxxy