Chapter Text
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"Detective Takagi! Could you please do me a favor?" Agasa waved his hand with his other hand as he holds an exceptionally strange looking machine that looks straight out of a certain blue cat cartoon. Takagi was just casually doing his usual jog as he passed by Agasa's house every morning. Being the helpful officer he is, he decided to wave back and stopped.
"Yes, Professor Agasa? What do you want me to help with? I really hope it isn't something related to your machines..." Takagi was already regretting it. He heard tales from Conan about Professor Agasa's inventions sometimes being a miracle or straight up nightmare. It could explode anytime or help you in dire situations. Takagi shook his head and tried to think positively. After all, this is the renowned professor that has created a lot of gadgets and inventions for that brilliant kid.
"I would like you to test out my newest invention, the Mega Deluxe Vacuum 3000, the newest edition!"
.....
"A vacuum... You say?"
"Exactly! I have perfected the machine and before the latest upgrade, it could only suck things like dust, but now, it can even suck 5 rats at once! That's how powerful it is!"
"Eh... Professor Agasa.. I don't think vacuums are supposed to work like that..." Takagi slowly backed off. Aside from rats, he was already imagining being the lab rat. Was Agasa going to ask him to clean all the rats in his house? He could sense it. Unfortunately, he failed to reject an old man's plea. Professor Agasa shoved the machine at him, and left in a hurry.
"Wait, Takagi, let me get something for this thing to power it up! Stay right there, don't go!" Agasa hurriedly went inside of his house, silence engulfing the empty streets.
....
"Professor Agasa is sure taking his time, huh." Takagi inspects the machine. Aside from being heavy, it was also full of buttons. It looks complicated. Being the curious detective he is, he clicked on one of those buttons. He didn't know that one simple act would change his life forever.
Nothing happened at first. Takagi chuckled a bit.
"Silly, there's nothing going to happen-"
And there it is, a bright light emanating the whole place. The universe started warping, and Takagi couldn't believe his eyes, he thought he was hallucinating. The light blinded his eyes and as he dropped the machine in shock to cover his eyes, and a loud noise started shrieking, making Takagi's ears bleed. It happened in the span of 4 minutes, but it was enough to traumatize Takagi.
.....
Takagi slowly opened his eyes, and aside from being shocked, he slowly looked down.
The machine was broken. Probably because he dropped it so suddenly, but he was so fucked.
As usual, luck is always not on his side.
At the same time, Professor Agasa comes out from his house to check the situation. He was met with a tanned officer, crouching down in front of his house.
"Professor Agasa, did you see that? It suddenly flashed me and let out a loud noise!" Takagi was still shivering on the road. His eyes hurt, his ears are ringing from the loud noise.
"... Are you okay? Why are you in front of my house? Is everything alright?" Professor Agasa hurriedly rushed to Takagi to see if the man had any injuries.
"Ah, nothing. Your machine just started malfunctioning, I guess. I..need to get going." Takagi quickly stood up and was about to leave, until the professor stopped him.
"I'm sorry, before you leave, could you tell me how you got my name? Because I have never seen you before. And you dropped this." Professor Agasa handed him the broken machine to Takagi, seemingly like he had no attachment to it like he did 30 minutes ago.
"...Pardon? It's me. Detective Takagi. And this machine is yours."
"I only know one Detective Takagi... Are you perhaps new here? Besides that, I never built a machine that looked so intricate before."
"I am the only Detective Takagi here. Are you playing with me, Professor Agasa? You handed me this 30 minutes ago while you made me stand here for god knows how long!"
"I was just inside the whole time... Are you perhaps a madman?"
"Are there any problems here, professor?"
......
All eyes averted to the recognizable, small kid wearing glasses, the iconic suit and the pose that just screams confidence. Conan Edogawa.
"Conan, there you are. You see, Professor Agasa is trying to play a trick on me. He keeps saying he doesn't recognize me."
"I'm sorry, I don't recognize you either, sir."
"....Excuse me?"
"I have never seen you in my entire life. May I know your name, please?"
"Detective Takagi. Takagi Wataru."
In an instant, Conan and Professor Agasa seemingly to gaze each other in unison, communicating using telepathy. Takagi stared at them in bewilderment. Those are the eyes of a stranger.
"....Sir, before I report you to the police, you better leave." Conan brushed him off. seemingly had set eyes on him. Conan suspects that this tanned man was up to no good. Takagi, in confusion, walked away.
Takagi inspects his surroundings. The area that he always patrols, which he always receives smiles and polite greetings, is now filled with strange gazes and untrusting looks. There was nothing on his face, but why does no one recognize him anymore?
Then he looked down to the very strange machine that he broke. This wasn't just a simple machine, it was something far more darker. The machine suddenly looked very ominous in his hands.
"Help! Help!"
Takagi turned instinctively to the shout. A woman's bag has just been snatched by a thief. Being the very detective he is, he stuffed the machine in his bag and started sprinting towards the thief that is fleeing on a motorbike.
Unbeknownst to him, someone was chasing the same guy too. After a long chase, Takagi was the one who finally managed to apprehend the thief.
"You're under arrest, thief!"
As the thief struggled under Takagi's grip, one person finally managed to catch up and sighed a breathe of relief.
"Thank you for helping, kind sir. I was deeply moved when you're the only one who was brave enough to chase the criminal. You can hand him to me. I'll put him in handcuffs and send him to jail."
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After the thief was sent away by the police car, Takagi inspected the guy who thanked him. He is tall with broad shoulders, having defining cheekbones and a smile that spreads positivity. Having a clean, fair skin that radiates the whole area, handsome with his slightly ruffled hair from the chase, it's the face of a fresh young man.
"Thank you for sending him, uh.... Officer. May I know your name?" Takagi offered a handshake to the officer. The man happily agreed and shakes Takagi's hand.
"It's Detective -"
"Wataru!" A recognizable female voice made both of them instinctively turn their heads to the sound. Takagi recognized the voice anywhere. It was Sato's voice, his very own senior that he was crushing on for a straight 3 years.
His hope and love crushed when he noticed that the smile wasn't directed at him instead, it was for the stranger that he's currently shaking hands with.
"Uh..Yes, Miwako?" The stranger replied. Takagi's eyes widen. Who is this stranger that is so comfortable calling Sato by her first name?
"Wataru, who's this?"
"Oh, this is the person who helped me catch the thief from earlier!"
"Um...may I know your name?"
"Oh, I forgot. I'm Detective Takagi Wataru, at your service. I work at the Tokyo metropolitan division one as the constable. Nice to meet you! And yours is...?"
At this moment, with all kinds of stares from people, Takagi finally knew.
He didn't belong here.