Chapter Text
It was a normal day for Conan. Going to school, learning about stuff he already learnt ten years ago and meeting up with the Detective Boys to go to Dr. Agasa's house. This routine is his new normal after being shrunken to a body of a seven year old other than encountering dead bodies once in a while. Although, there was something quite different about today.
Meeting up with the Detective boys, he tried to focus on this current conversation about the new episode of Kamen Yaiba yet he could not. There was a perfect reason for this. His mind has been racing the entire day. Dr. Agasa has told him about a new invention that he had made. He asked Conan to test it out to which he immediately agreed. Lately, his days are becoming too boring with the lack of cases on his plate. He has been looking forward to this so much that his excitement has been apparent, according to Haibara.
"Conan! Are you even listening to what we're saying?" exclaimed Genta suddenly.
"Hmm? I'm sorry. It's just that I have not watched the new episode yet," Conan whitelied.
"Conan, you're so old. We reminded you about the new episode yesterday during school!" Mitsuhiko replied.
..He really doesn't want to deal with those kids today.
---
After much necessary bickering to prove that he was not old, the building of Dr. Agasa's residence was in sight.
A cough was heard beside Conan. Gulping, he turned around and saw one of Haibara's many angry faces.
"If you guys do not stop fighting, I will be forced to prevent you guys from entering the house," Haibara threatened.
Haibara, the peacemaker of the group (although she uses underhanded methods to do so), stopped the argument at once. No one dared to oppose her except for, maybe, Ayumi. Ayumi looked at the situation worryingly and tried to make light of it.
"Well.. we're almost there either way so I don't think that Ai would be so mean to leave us outside of the Professor's house."
Conan knows that Ayumi is right. The only problem is that if he pisses Haibara off, he probably would not be allowed to try out the new invention. He knows that Haibara most likely contributed to the invention in a way.
The walk was then more of an awkward silence, not knowing what type of chatter to fill it. Conan tried striking up a conversation about the game they were about to play but was shot down by Haibara.
At long last, they arrived at the house. They made their way to the door and went in.
"Professor Agasa! We're here!" the Detective Boys announced.
The named professor rushed out of his room to greet his mini guests. Oil can be seen on his face which suggests that he was in the middle of something.
"Oh, everyone's here! Come, I have some games for you guys to play!" Dr. Agasa said.
Despite the wording, he clearly meant for the Detective Boys to play. Conan and Haibara stood there with a slight smile as they saw the rest acting excitedly to play the game.
The game looked to be an average video game. Supposedly, the player has to help the character, a thief, to steal a jewel in a museum. In addition, the player has to avoid getting caught by the detective to not lose. Conan squinted when he heard the description as it was oddly familiar.
Haibara glanced at him before walking to the kitchen, probably hinting him to follow her. As he made his way to Haibara, a hand grabbed him by his back to turn him around.
"Alright, Shinichi! I've prepared everything necessary for this new invention. Hopefully this would turn the gaming industry around by their heel!" Dr. Agasa claimed.
"Is it really okay for me to be testing this machine when the rest are playing here?"
"Of course it's okay! I'll make sure Haibara has her eyes on them."
Conan nodded his head as he looked back to where Haibara was. She wasn't there anymore. Judging by the direction she went to, she probably went to the kitchen to make some snacks.
Conan took a quick glance at the detective boys, who seemed eager to play the new game then followed Dr. Agasa to the inventions room.
Conan could clearly see that the professor has been upgrading some of his gadgets. He smiles when he is thinking about it. What's next? A ball that blows up? A pocket gun? A robot that looks like him?
One huge invention in the room drew his eyes towards it. It was a giant big white box. Exposed wires can be seen tangled up beside the box. A faint outline of a door can also be subtly seen. His mouth was slightly opened while analysing it.
"Don't you just like how big it is? This is my new invention, the Time-Anywhere Simulator!" Dr. Agasa proclaimed.
Conan side-eyed at the professor. What type of name is that?
"Does this mean I can go to any time period?"
"Of course!"
"This reminds me of the Cocoons," stated Conan, inspecting the invention closer.
"It uses a similar technology to it. Though, its quite different. I want you to test if it really works!"
As the doors open, Conan stepped into the machine warily. If it was a new machine, the chances of the machine exploding is significantly higher.
"This time, you do not need any type of helmet or straps! This experience makes it very realistic, so you can sense everything during your visit to any time-period! For today, I will have you test out Edo-period Japan," stated Dr. Agasa.
"You would not be able to interact with people though. You are like a ghost to them," he explains further.
Conan tried calming himself down, assuring himself that the chances of him burning in this forsaken box is not too high. Adjusting the way he sits in the box, he gives an okay sign to the professor. The door moved slowly as the light in the box becomes dimmer.
The professor then pressed the button.
---
"Where is Conan?" Ayumi exclaimed as she set the controller down.
"He is probably off doing cool stuff without us again," Mitsuhiko answered
Genta, too, jumped in the conversation.
"Why don't we find out where he is? Haibara is not here at the moment,"
"That is a brilliant idea Genta!"
They set off on a journey around the house with Mitsuhiko leading the way. Ayumi is trying to think where Conan could have gone. Genta, on the other hand, was consuming snacks and liquids during this mission. It was not too long until they stumbled upon the professor in the inventions room.
"Professor Agasa, do you know where Conan is?" Ayumi questioned.
Startled, he states that he does not know where the small boy is. Being preoccupied by the two kids in front of him, he did not take in account the other child in the room.
"What is this box- WHA-"
"Genta, what are you-" the professor panicked.
Juice was splashed onto the exposed wires. A loud boom was heard and crackling fire broke out. Without wasting any time, Dr. Agasa reached for the fire extinguisher.
"Genta! Look at what you have done!" Mitsuhiko bellowed.
The said boy hanged his head in shame. He was just curious. He did not mean for this to happen.
Strangely, the professor was shouting the name 'Shinichi' while extinguishing the fire. The kids were worried that someone was actually burning at the place.
"We need to help the professor!" Ayumi exclaimed.
Similarly, Mitsuhiko said, "Yes! The fire might be endangering someone!"
"The Detective Boys, let's go!" they all said in unison.
---
Haibara had noticed the commotion upstairs, having concluded that the kids were there. Within seconds, she saw the kids running to the bathroom with buckets and filling them up to the brim.
"Haibara! There's a fire upstairs! Help us put it out!" Mitsuhiko explained.
She shook her head and mentally blamed the professor for the incident. She then rushed to grab a bucket too.
---
Luckily, the fire was not too big. They still had pails of water on standby. The detective boys claimed this as their victory.
Although the professor should feel relieved, he instead rushed to the now burnt box to see as if someone was there. Haibara stood there worryingly, thinking about the most possible reason why the professor is panicking.
"The professor kept shouting for brother Shinichi." Mitsuhiko stated.
"Isn't that sister Ran's childhood friend? Why is he here instead of meeting her? I heard that he has not visited her at all for a while," Ayumi said.
"Who cares about that! I hope I didn't actually burnt someone alive," Genta confessed.
Haibara could see the picture adding up. She almost broke. Kudo? Kudo should be in that burnt box, right? She looked at the professor for any signs of hope.
The said professor was standing there with a blank look as if something was missing.
"Shinichi.. isn't here?" He said, almost as if he was tearing up.
Haibara ran to the scene to look inside the box. According to her deductions, the fire wasn't too big enough to burn a whole body. A corpse should be present. So, it was shocking when she took in the scene in front of her.
There was nothing in the box.
---
Conan was walking in the streets, absorbing what he sees in the simulation. It felt surreal. There were people that looked as real as in real life. As childish as he is, he tried making faces in front of people and they did not react one bit. The professor was right, he guesses.
Suddenly, the simulation flickers as his surroundings blackened. Was this the end of the simulation? He wondered while waiting to be woken up.
Moments later, he felt as if he was gaining temperature. As if he was burning. Maybe something else was burning in the inventions room, he tried to reason himself.
Soon, he blackened out.
---
Sounds of trotting were heard as he gained his conciousness. He looked around and it seemed as if he was somewhere else rather than Dr. Agasa's house.
He quickly noted that this is not Edo-period Japan. The people wandering the streets were wearing top hats and formal wear. Horses pulling carriages while no one bats an eye. The street names were in english, which is rare to see in the former Japan.
He moved his head around to take in his surroundings. To quickly analyse what country and what period he was in. He then heard a loud chime of a bell on his left. He turned to his left and saw a very familiar clocktower. The clocktower where he met Ran after avoiding her previously.
"Huh?"