After noon, the mountain villa slowly emptied as guests began packing up to leave. Inside the foyer, muffled steps echoed softly as everyone gathered their belongings.
Hayashi Yoshiki stood by the door, securing the final bag. Beside him, Haibara Ai followed quietly, a surgical mask covering her still pale face. Her steps were light, and her small frame was wrapped in a thick coat.
"How's the child doing? Feeling better now, Mr. Hayashi?"
Araki Yoshinori, ever warm and helpful, was carrying luggage toward the exit. His concerned gaze briefly shifted to the silent girl at Yoshiki's side.
"Thank you for your concern, Mr. Araki," Hayashi Yoshiki replied with a gentle smile."Her fever broke about two hours ago. She still needs rest, but she'll be fine."
"That's a relief."
The group stepped out into the snowy world.
Their boots crunched against the fresh powder. The cold wind swept softly through the trees, brushing against flushed cheeks and scarves. Almost instinctively, Hayashi Yoshiki took hold of Haibara Ai's hand.
Out in the yard, yesterday's snowmen stood slightly misshapen but still cheerful. Haibara Ai glanced at them without a word.
"Ai-chan, are you feeling okay?" asked Ran, her eyes full of concern.
"I'm fine."
Her reply was short, cold even—but Ran only smiled. She could tell the girl was in high spirits, even if she didn't show it.
In the backseat, Ran and Sonoko were chatting softly.
They spoke of maybe going shopping after they got home. Sonoko had half a mind to invite Yoshiki along, but after hearing Ai had just recovered, she gave up on the idea for now.
They reached the car, crossed the narrow suspension bridge, and began the journey back to the city.
"Brother Yoshiki," Xiaolan said after a while, "aren't you going to offer Mr. Doito a ride?"
"No need. He said he'd fly back later," Hayashi replied.
"Fly back?" Sonoko repeated, puzzled.
"Mhm."
His tone was casual, too casual. The girls blinked at each other in confusion.
Then from beneath her mask, a muffled voice emerged:
"...That's Kaito Kid in disguise."
"Wha—!?"
The girls gasped in unison.
"The name Katsuki Doito," Ai continued calmly, "rearranged in katakana, spells out 'Kaito Kid'."
Their eyes widened. The dots connected instantly.
"Wait, so that's what Yoshiki meant when he said we'd met him before!?"
"Unbelievable... That was really Kaito Kid!?" Sonoko squealed. "I was chatting with him online!? I—I'm gonna faint!"
Hayashi Yoshiki said nothing. He focused on the road.
Beside him, Haibara Ai cast him another glance.
That thought had come to her the night before—somewhere between fever dreams and strange suspicions. She realized that he had seen through it almost instantly, just from walking into the room.
No wonder he's trusted even by Gin...
Two hours later, after dropping the girls at the Mouri Detective Agency, Hayashi Yoshiki turned the car toward Dr. Agasa's house.
The snow had begun to thin, but the chill in the air lingered.
"Even if the fever's gone down," he said gently, "you should keep checking your temperature. Just to be safe."
"...I know."
Haibara Ai lowered her head. The mask hid the faint red creeping across her cheeks.
She was still reeling—not from the fever, but from what had happened.
Twice.
Last night, and again this morning.
Despite her resistance, Cointreau had… administered the medicine himself.
Her pride had been crushed beneath his sheer composure. The memory of his calm expression—completely unaffected as he treated her like a child—burned in her mind.
He's… really not someone you can resist once he's made up his mind.
His kindness had the softness of silk, but the resolve of steel beneath it.
"...Pervert," she muttered under her breath.
"Hm?"
"Nothing."
Hayashi Yoshiki reached into his coat and produced a small medicine box.
"By the way, Araki-san gave me another dose of fever meds. Just in case. But looking at you now, I figure you'll be able to use it yourself."
"No need! Dr. Agasa has everything I need."
"Alright, then."
They stepped into the Agasa residence, the familiar warmth of the home wrapping around them.
After the doorbell rang, Dr. Agasa welcomed them at once.
"Ah, Mr. Hayashi! Perfect timing—I've made that fire-retardant coating you asked for!"
"Already?"
"Haha, well, it wasn't that hard. Come, come—Ai, help Mr. Hayashi get seated."
Agasa shuffled into the lab and returned moments later with a bottle of clear liquid and a few sheets of paper.
"I call it a fire-retardant coating, but don't expect miracles. It doesn't make the paper fireproof, just gives it a bit more time. Ten seconds maybe, before it chars."
He lit two identical pieces of paper: one treated with the solution, the other plain.
The untreated paper curled into ash almost instantly. The coated one resisted the flames, lingering for several long seconds before finally catching fire.
"That's perfect," Hayashi Yoshiki murmured.
He wasn't looking at the flame.
He was thinking of names written in invisible ink. Of paper sealed in a trap wallet designed to ignite in an instant.
Of how to use that to control someone—without lifting a finger.
Kurosawa Jin… soon.
"How much do I owe you, Doctor?"
"Owe me? For this? Don't be silly!" Agasa chuckled. "But… why is Ai wearing a mask?"
"She had a high fever last night," Hayashi answered, keeping his tone light.
Agasa's face darkened in concern.
"Oh dear. Poor girl—must have been tough."
He didn't press further. He knew Ai's circumstances better than most.
"Use this for now, Mr. Hayashi. If you need more, you know where to find me."
"Thank you again, Dr. Agasa."
As the afternoon light waned, the snow outside the window glowed softly.
Inside, quiet voices and the smell of tea drifted through the warm room.
Somewhere behind Haibara Ai's mask, her lips curled into the faintest of smiles.
Even if she couldn't say it out loud...
I'm grateful.