[The scene changes. And suddenly, they're in what appears to be a warehouse. Ranpo is sitting in a chair, appearing to be around his early teens, swinging his legs and looking bored. But this hardly looks like a situation worth being bored about--
"Listen, Master Detective Ranpo. This is the best deal you are going to get. It's either you take the deal, or they squeeze the information out of you. Which is it going to be? I don't think you're in any position to negotiate--"
"Negotiate? I have no intention of negotiating, and when the conversation doesn't interest me, it just goes in one ear and out the other. Just sounds like a cow mooing to me. Mooooo."
"Listen, Ranpo. You're extremely lucky that I'm the one here negotiating with you. The others would have probably sawed off your toes by now. But I saw your marvelous skill, which is why I'm being sincere when I--"
"Oh, hey. There it is again. Moooooo."
The man looks increasing more frustrated, his hand moving towards the gun at his hip.]
[Outside of the memory, Ranpo is just grinning, his tail wagging.]
Say, looks like we just found an interesting one! This was from one of my first cases!
Of course not! I knew he wouldn't have the time to.
[The scene continues, with the man growing increasingly more frustrated, pointing his gun at him as Ranpo claims to have planned being kidnapped from the start.]
But I was working unofficially here. After all-- this was right after I met Fukuzawa-san.
[As if on cue-- Ranpo goads the man to go on and shoot him already. But he won't get the chance. A figure jumps through the window, knocks the man, and proceeds to throw him over his shoulder, launching him towards the ceiling before sending him unconscious to the floor.]
["Fukuzawa!"]
[In what seems to occur in a damn near instant, Fukuzawa takes out the guards in the next room, disarming them and knocking them out before they even have the chance to pull the trigger -- all with nothing more than his bare hands.]
[It would be easier to think that this was the result of a special ability than to assume he was just that skilled at hand-to-hand, for how quickly he takes them all out. And all the while, little Ranpo looks delighted.]
[Oh, but this one is still going. As little Ranpo runs up to Fukuzawa -- the real Ranpo is cut off by the sound of his smaller self being slapped across the face, hard enough to send the glasses on his face flying. And Fukuzawa starts yelling -- yelling so hard he's practically shaking.
"Calculation!? You knew I'd make it in time!? What was that pointing in your face when I arrived just now!? A gun, that's what!" "I--" "There is no such thing as 'for sure' in this world! If it took me even a second too long to realize what had happened-- a second too late getting here-- you would have been killed!" "B-But... I knew... I knew you would come--" "No, you just wanted to demonstrate what you can do! You're free to flaunt your gift-- but you have to stop gambling with your life! You're still-- you're still just a kid!"
Ranpo reaches up and presses a hand over his cheek. Fukuzawa's expression quickly shifts. As large tears begin to roll down his cheeks, Fukuzawa reaches out to pat his head -- prompting Ranpo to cling to him, sobbing as he apologizes over and over again.]
I'm not sure 'embarrassing' is the word I'd use...
[Upsetting, mainly. Atsushi reaches out to pat baby Ranpo's head too, but his hand passes right through.]
We can switch to a random one of mine, if this bothers you.
[The scene shifts to what's definitely an infirmary. Spirit Atsushi is in a white hospital bed, under a small pile of plushies: one orange cat and a handful of rabbits.
There's a man in a military uniform. His voice is firm, but not unkind. "How are you feeling, Nakajima?"
"Fine, thank you." The Atsushi in the bed picks up one of the rabbits with a look of mild wonder. "Did Kyouka bring these for me?"
"He was worried you would be in a bad mood again, and he wanted to help."]
When Tiger gets hurt enough, he stays in control even through the recovery process so that I don't have to feel any pain. [This Atsushi clarifies.]
[Despite the implication of him being hurt, the mental image of this is pretty cute. Everyone just assuming Atsushi's in a bad mood because Tiger's so prickly.]
Ahh, speaking of Tiger-- say, why don't you come out too already?
[This is VR land, let there be three!! Plus-- Tiger will have memories he doesn't share with Atsushi, given how their connection works. It might be interesting to see what comes up.]
[Meanwhile, Mori feels memory-Atsushi's forehead. "You seem to be recovered, but don't push yourself. When you behave recklessly in battle, it worries all of us. Your friends especially."
"I know. Sorry to worry you, sensei." Atsushi hugs the rabbit close to his chest.]
[That's... both expected and unexpected. The Kenji he knew was more perceptive than he let on, but would also be more likely to just accept that Atsushi just gets mad when he fights.]
[But as if on cue-- a memory starts up behind him. The ADA office looks... well, like a bomb went off, or something. Bullet holes in the walls, desks and things overturned. But everyone is just casually cleaning up like it's no big deal. Except Ranpo, who is very obviously just getting snacks. "Ah, Kenji-kun? Can you fix this shelf for me? It's in my way."]
[There is no reason he can't just walk around the shelf. But Kenji, with bright eyes and an even brighter smile, looks happy to help. "Sure thing, Ranpo-san!"]
[And with one hand, he lifts the entire bookshelf, and sets it upright against the wall again. With all the books were still in it. "Hmm, was that where it was...?"]
["Ahh, no, it was on this side, right?" And now the whole shelf is being lifted. Books and all. It bumps a light near the ceiling as he proceeds to carry it to the other side of the office, dropping it back down in the right place with a loud sound. No one bats an eye.]
He looks like a sweet kid. [Atsushi's immediately taken by him, as all people should be.] His Ability is either Night on the Galactic Railroad or - no, if it's super strength, it's Undefeated by the Rain, right?
Good thing boys that age are practically always hungry.
My Miyazawa is a children's literature writer, so he manifested as a child himself.
[The scene shifts to the library, where an even younger boy with a starry cloak bounds up to Atsushi. He presents Atsushi with an apple, and Atsushi smiles and takes off his hat so that he can ruffle his hair.]
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I'm okay. It was a long time ago and it doesn't bother me anymore.
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[That faint smile is unconvincing. Which is why, after a moment of thought--]
...random?
[Fair is fair, right?]
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"Listen, Master Detective Ranpo. This is the best deal you are going to get. It's either you take the deal, or they squeeze the information out of you. Which is it going to be? I don't think you're in any position to negotiate--"
"Negotiate? I have no intention of negotiating, and when the conversation doesn't interest me, it just goes in one ear and out the other. Just sounds like a cow mooing to me. Mooooo."
"Listen, Ranpo. You're extremely lucky that I'm the one here negotiating with you. The others would have probably sawed off your toes by now. But I saw your marvelous skill, which is why I'm being sincere when I--"
"Oh, hey. There it is again. Moooooo."
The man looks increasing more frustrated, his hand moving towards the gun at his hip.]
[Outside of the memory, Ranpo is just grinning, his tail wagging.]
Say, looks like we just found an interesting one! This was from one of my first cases!
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[Atsushi shouldn't be surprised. Ranpo's confidence is an inspiration, really.]
I didn't realize you started as a detective so young.
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[The scene continues, with the man growing increasingly more frustrated, pointing his gun at him as Ranpo claims to have planned being kidnapped from the start.]
But I was working unofficially here. After all-- this was right after I met Fukuzawa-san.
[As if on cue-- Ranpo goads the man to go on and shoot him already. But he won't get the chance. A figure jumps through the window, knocks the man, and proceeds to throw him over his shoulder, launching him towards the ceiling before sending him unconscious to the floor.]
["Fukuzawa!"]
[In what seems to occur in a damn near instant, Fukuzawa takes out the guards in the next room, disarming them and knocking them out before they even have the chance to pull the trigger -- all with nothing more than his bare hands.]
[It would be easier to think that this was the result of a special ability than to assume he was just that skilled at hand-to-hand, for how quickly he takes them all out. And all the while, little Ranpo looks delighted.]
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[So this is the Fukuzawa Atsushi's heard so much about. Atsushi's awed to see just how skilled he really is firsthand.]
No wonder you weren't concerned. Fukuzawa takes good care of you.
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Ahh, I bet we can find another cool memory of him, like--
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"Calculation!? You knew I'd make it in time!? What was that pointing in your face when I arrived just now!? A gun, that's what!"
"I--"
"There is no such thing as 'for sure' in this world! If it took me even a second too long to realize what had happened-- a second too late getting here-- you would have been killed!"
"B-But... I knew... I knew you would come--"
"No, you just wanted to demonstrate what you can do! You're free to flaunt your gift-- but you have to stop gambling with your life! You're still-- you're still just a kid!"
Ranpo reaches up and presses a hand over his cheek. Fukuzawa's expression quickly shifts. As large tears begin to roll down his cheeks, Fukuzawa reaches out to pat his head -- prompting Ranpo to cling to him, sobbing as he apologizes over and over again.]
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...I guess it'd be too much to ask for this thing to have a timer to cut off memories before they get embarrassing.
[BABY RANPO, STILL CRYING]
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[Upsetting, mainly. Atsushi reaches out to pat baby Ranpo's head too, but his hand passes right through.]
We can switch to a random one of mine, if this bothers you.
[The scene shifts to what's definitely an infirmary. Spirit Atsushi is in a white hospital bed, under a small pile of plushies: one orange cat and a handful of rabbits.
There's a man in a military uniform. His voice is firm, but not unkind. "How are you feeling, Nakajima?"
"Fine, thank you." The Atsushi in the bed picks up one of the rabbits with a look of mild wonder. "Did Kyouka bring these for me?"
"He was worried you would be in a bad mood again, and he wanted to help."]
When Tiger gets hurt enough, he stays in control even through the recovery process so that I don't have to feel any pain. [This Atsushi clarifies.]
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[Despite the implication of him being hurt, the mental image of this is pretty cute. Everyone just assuming Atsushi's in a bad mood because Tiger's so prickly.]
Ahh, speaking of Tiger-- say, why don't you come out too already?
[This is VR land, let there be three!! Plus-- Tiger will have memories he doesn't share with Atsushi, given how their connection works. It might be interesting to see what comes up.]
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Mori-sensei's lucky he's hard to snap at.
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[Also gonna just]
[Reach over and give Tiger a noogie, because he's gotta.]
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[Meanwhile, Mori feels memory-Atsushi's forehead. "You seem to be recovered, but don't push yourself. When you behave recklessly in battle, it worries all of us. Your friends especially."
"I know. Sorry to worry you, sensei." Atsushi hugs the rabbit close to his chest.]
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So Tiger's feelings for Atsushi were just as obvious back home, huh?
[Naturally this is Ranpo's take away -- he always did say he could tell how Tiger felt the moment he met him. So for him, it's obvious.]
Come to think of it-- did the other authors know you two were different, or did they just think Atsushi got aggro when things got violent?
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I tried to keep it a secret... But some of them figured out early. Edogawa and Miyazawa realized first.
...By now everyone besides Yoshikawa has realized, though.
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[That's... both expected and unexpected. The Kenji he knew was more perceptive than he let on, but would also be more likely to just accept that Atsushi just gets mad when he fights.]
[But as if on cue-- a memory starts up behind him. The ADA office looks... well, like a bomb went off, or something. Bullet holes in the walls, desks and things overturned. But everyone is just casually cleaning up like it's no big deal. Except Ranpo, who is very obviously just getting snacks. "Ah, Kenji-kun? Can you fix this shelf for me? It's in my way."]
[There is no reason he can't just walk around the shelf. But Kenji, with bright eyes and an even brighter smile, looks happy to help. "Sure thing, Ranpo-san!"]
[And with one hand, he lifts the entire bookshelf, and sets it upright against the wall again. With all the books were still in it. "Hmm, was that where it was...?"]
["Ahh, no, it was on this side, right?" And now the whole shelf is being lifted. Books and all. It bumps a light near the ceiling as he proceeds to carry it to the other side of the office, dropping it back down in the right place with a loud sound. No one bats an eye.]
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He has super strength and is practically invulnerable-- but only when he's hungry.
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My Miyazawa is a children's literature writer, so he manifested as a child himself.
[The scene shifts to the library, where an even younger boy with a starry cloak bounds up to Atsushi. He presents Atsushi with an apple, and Atsushi smiles and takes off his hat so that he can ruffle his hair.]
He's a good kid. [Even Tiger sounds fond.]
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[HE'S SURE HE'S VERY SWEET but also this face]
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[it be like that sometimes]
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Besides, it just sounds a little... unfortunate? Since you guys don't age like this.
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wrapup