[At the sound of the door, Ran stands up anxiously, eager to see how he's been. A video feed doesn't show much, after all. And she is doubly worried, knowing who he really is.]
Th-That was just a lot faster than I'd expected, that's all.
[She walks over to help him with that, watching him stand on his tiptoes. Still so arrogant, even as Conan. She wonders how she could've mistaken it for anyone else.
[He draws his feet in, wrapping his arms loosely around them, and stares at the wall for a moment.]
...I never meant this to last this long. When it first happened, I thought it would only be a few weeks, and then I could find a cure. But it was big. So much bigger than I ever imagined. And the more I discovered, the more reasons I found to not say anything.
This is dangerous, Ran. Anyone who finds out what is really happening puts themselves in danger.
[She stares intently, as if she's listening to some fictional bedtime story being told. But this isn't fictional, and even in his tiny body, she can tell he's being serious. She follows him so far, for the most part, putting the bits of information together with what she's already seen thanks to the scientists.]
...It was that guy from the Mystery Coaster, right? One of the two wearing black, who were so eager to get out of there, when the police started asking questions...
[That's who she saw. That's who fed Shinichi...whatever that was that shrunk him. She puts a hand on her chin.]
I always thought it was odd, the way they carried themselves so seriously in an amusement park that's supposed to be for fun. [Not to mention the way they dressed, but that's less of an issue. And probably something Sonoko would've taken note of.] If that really was your memory I saw, it looks like you came across the real reason they were there.
Gin and Vodka. Those are their codenames. They were there to carry out a weapons deal. I thought I would be safe enough hiding and taking some photographs for the police. But Gin came from behind and hit me on the head.
The police were still nearby because of the rollercoaster murder, so they couldn't risk a gunshot. They gave me an experimental poison instead, and left me there.
[He hesitates.]
It was supposed to kill me. I learned later that in tests it had had nearly a perfect success rate. But for some reason it didn't kill me. It made me shrink.
Everything he's saying makes sense now with what she saw, what she experienced back then. They really did want him dead. This whole time, she'd known something was off about him...
That'd been around the time that "Conan" came to stay with them, too.]
And that's the cure you're looking for. The cure to this poison.
Why didn't you...
[Why hadn't he said anything?
No...no, she knows why. He'd just explained it, so she trails off. But still--]
And you shouldn't have to face your situation alone, just because of a mistake.
[She punches the couch, unable to help herself.
How could she have allowed this to happen?]
We all make them, Shinichi! [Her voice is subdued somewhat, because she knows he doesn't want anyone overhearing. Her tone is clear, though.] You aren't perfect, no matter what you'd have us believe.
Didn't you think to...to reach out to anyone?
[There's no way...
He had to have help covering this up. She's seen Conan and Shinichi at the same time before. He's gone out of his way to fool her.]
[She can't imagine Yukiko knowing and not Yuusaku. She's an actress, too, so this actually makes some iota of sense. She supposes Hattori isn't a complete surprise, either.
It explains all of his slips in regards to his name, at least--how well they could get along--]
And Haibara. Little Haibara? Ai-chan?
[She'd been absent that day, right? When they put on the play, and somehow he'd come back.
She always did get along with "Conan," too ...]
Everyone...
[Everyone. Everyone found out before her--
This isn't fair at all. She has to turn away from him for a moment, she can't stand this...]
...She didn't think of it at first, and really, she doesn't know whether she should be impressed or not that Yukiko had fooled even her, just like her son did.
She doesn't even know what to make of that next statement.
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[At the sound of the door, Ran stands up anxiously, eager to see how he's been. A video feed doesn't show much, after all. And she is doubly worried, knowing who he really is.]
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[He stands up on the tips of his toes to close the door.]
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[She walks over to help him with that, watching him stand on his tiptoes. Still so arrogant, even as Conan. She wonders how she could've mistaken it for anyone else.
She sighs.]
You were nearby, this whole time?
[Again--]
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In this situation, how could I go any further away?
[Translation? He was worried about you.]
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Sometimes, I wonder how I could've let you.
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[She is almost annoyed. But instead of being so, she decides to take a deep breath and walk back over to the couch, trying to keep calm.
There's no way this will end well, otherwise.]
Come on. Have a seat.
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After a moment of silence, she realizes she's not the one who has to explain herself.]
...Well, I hope you weren't expecting me to start.
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...I never meant this to last this long. When it first happened, I thought it would only be a few weeks, and then I could find a cure. But it was big. So much bigger than I ever imagined. And the more I discovered, the more reasons I found to not say anything.
This is dangerous, Ran. Anyone who finds out what is really happening puts themselves in danger.
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[She stares intently, as if she's listening to some fictional bedtime story being told. But this isn't fictional, and even in his tiny body, she can tell he's being serious. She follows him so far, for the most part, putting the bits of information together with what she's already seen thanks to the scientists.]
...It was that guy from the Mystery Coaster, right? One of the two wearing black, who were so eager to get out of there, when the police started asking questions...
[That's who she saw. That's who fed Shinichi...whatever that was that shrunk him. She puts a hand on her chin.]
I always thought it was odd, the way they carried themselves so seriously in an amusement park that's supposed to be for fun. [Not to mention the way they dressed, but that's less of an issue. And probably something Sonoko would've taken note of.] If that really was your memory I saw, it looks like you came across the real reason they were there.
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The police were still nearby because of the rollercoaster murder, so they couldn't risk a gunshot. They gave me an experimental poison instead, and left me there.
[He hesitates.]
It was supposed to kill me. I learned later that in tests it had had nearly a perfect success rate. But for some reason it didn't kill me. It made me shrink.
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Everything he's saying makes sense now with what she saw, what she experienced back then. They really did want him dead. This whole time, she'd known something was off about him...
That'd been around the time that "Conan" came to stay with them, too.]
And that's the cure you're looking for. The cure to this poison.
Why didn't you...
[Why hadn't he said anything?
No...no, she knows why. He'd just explained it, so she trails off. But still--]
I could've helped!
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[She punches the couch, unable to help herself.
How could she have allowed this to happen?]
We all make them, Shinichi! [Her voice is subdued somewhat, because she knows he doesn't want anyone overhearing. Her tone is clear, though.] You aren't perfect, no matter what you'd have us believe.
Didn't you think to...to reach out to anyone?
[There's no way...
He had to have help covering this up. She's seen Conan and Shinichi at the same time before. He's gone out of his way to fool her.]
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[All of whom had figured it out on their own and insisted on helping.]
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...How many others?
And what about Conan's "mom"?
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...One of Mom's disguises.
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[She can't imagine Yukiko knowing and not Yuusaku. She's an actress, too, so this actually makes some iota of sense. She supposes Hattori isn't a complete surprise, either.
It explains all of his slips in regards to his name, at least--how well they could get along--]
And Haibara. Little Haibara? Ai-chan?
[She'd been absent that day, right? When they put on the play, and somehow he'd come back.
She always did get along with "Conan," too ...]
Everyone...
[Everyone. Everyone found out before her--
This isn't fair at all. She has to turn away from him for a moment, she can't stand this...]
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She's the same as me.
...What's wrong?
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...She didn't think of it at first, and really, she doesn't know whether she should be impressed or not that Yukiko had fooled even her, just like her son did.
She doesn't even know what to make of that next statement.
"Same as him" ...? Who, Haibara?]
...This is a lot to take in.
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[...Not. Exactly what she wanted to hear, but okay. As long as they're on a roll here...
What else hasn't he been telling her?]
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Sigh. And the fact that he's still in this body says a lot about that. ie; it's true.]
...There's even less of a chance of us finding it here.
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action. 1/2
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