Shinichi Kudo's childhood clothes were mostly similar. Sora picked a relatively new set to wear and carried another downstairs.
When he reached the bottom of the stairs, Shinichi was examining a pair of glasses that once belonged to his father, Yusaku Kudo.
The fateful glasses.
Shinichi put them on and felt a bit dizzy.
Unscientifically, Shinichi with glasses looked like a completely different person—though the difference was subtle, Sora felt it strongly.
Indeed, the glasses were the protagonist's true essence, perfect for disguise. But Sora didn't need them—after all, there were two kids identical to a young Shinichi Kudo.
Realizing this, Shinichi took off the glasses, tucking them into his pocket. They had a prescription and weren't suitable.
After changing, the two identical boys sat down to discuss what came next.
Mostly, Shinichi talked, and Sora listened.
Soon, Shinichi decided to seek help from their neighbor, Dr. Agasa.
Dr. Agasa's name was simply Dr. Agasa, a scientist whose skill far outstripped his fame and someone Shinichi trusted deeply.
Moments later, Shinichi stood on tiptoes to ring Dr. Agasa's doorbell.
"Who's there?"
"Doc, it's me, Shinichi!"
"Shinichi, huh?" Dr. Agasa, a balding middle-aged man in a black short-sleeve shirt under a dusty "white" lab coat, opened the glass door. "Wait, where's Shinichi?"
"I'm right here, Dr. A-ga-sa! I am Shinichi!"
"Oh, relatives of Shinichi's, huh? No wonder you look so much like him as a kid…"
They were on completely different wavelengths.
Sora quietly stepped back, letting Shinichi handle Dr. Agasa.
Explaining that a drug had not only turned him into a child but also split him into two was, unsurprisingly, hard to sell. Even after Shinichi revealed Dr. Agasa's secrets and showcased his extraordinary deduction skills, the doctor remained skeptical.
Shinichi had to keep storytelling.
Starting from the first time he met Dr. Agasa, Shinichi racked his brain, recounting nearly every memory they shared. Only then did Dr. Agasa start to believe him, albeit reluctantly.
"Alright, I believe you're Shinichi," Dr. Agasa said, scratching his head and glancing at Sora, who was watching the show. He pulled Shinichi aside. "But, Shinichi, shrinking from a drug is already wild. You're sure you split into two?"
"Well… it's hard to believe, but it seems that way," Shinichi hesitated before replying. "He says… he's my subconscious, and I'm the conscious mind, so our personalities differ."
"Didn't expect you to speak for me," Sora interjected abruptly.
Dr. Agasa and Shinichi jumped.
"Hey, eavesdropping isn't polite!"
"I wasn't eavesdropping on others," Sora emphasized the word "others." "Besides, I've been standing right here."
"So, Doc, you believe we're both Shinichi Kudo?" Sora continued, addressing Dr. Agasa before Shinichi could respond.
"Well… I'm not fully convinced, but let's go inside and talk…"
It was less a slow chat and more a rapid dive into the issue.
On Dr. Agasa's couch, Shinichi quickly got to the point, detailing how he was forced to take the drug.
Prompted by Dr. Agasa, Shinichi realized that shrinking and splitting needed to stay secret to avoid endangering himself and others.
"So, the name Shinichi Kudo can't be used anymore!" Dr. Agasa declared.
"And you've split into two."
"So, we need two fake names."
"Let's each pick one and say it together," Shinichi suggested, testing again.
"Alright. Count of three," Sora agreed readily. "Three—"
"Hey, that's too fast!"
"Two—"
"Damn it, I haven't thought of one!"
"One."
"Edogawa Conan!"
"Edogawa Conan."
Their voices rang out simultaneously.
"…"
"Pfft!" Dr. Agasa burst out laughing. "Shinichi, you… you guys picked that name? Hilarious!"
"No choice, he rushed me with a countdown, so I came up with that," Shinichi said helplessly.
But… this guy thought of the same name? Could I really have split? That's so unscientific.
"Terrible name."
"You picked it too!" Shinichi snapped. "And we can't both use the same name, can we?"
…Good point.
After a moment, Sora said, "Then call me Kaedehara. Kaedehara Sora."
Sora was the name his master gave him, and he wanted to keep it.
Neither he nor Shinichi were great at naming, so he borrowed a surname from a character in a game he'd played.
Noticing Conan's suspicious look, Kaedehara added, "It's a name we used as kids playing detective games."
"I don't remember that."
"You forget a lot," Kaedehara replied. "Like what Dad said when he first taught us to fly a helicopter."
"…"
"I remember," Kaedehara recited a line from Yusaku Kudo in Shinichi's memories. "And I remember what we were thinking: Annoying, so long-winded. I could learn this in one glance."
Conan flushed, embarrassed. It took him days to master it. But… that did sound familiar. Maybe this guy was another him.
Their private names were settled.
But Dr. Agasa suggested they live as twins to hide their identities, giving Kaedehara the public name Edogawa Doyle.
Privately, though, they'd stick with Kaedehara Sora to distinguish from Conan.
At that moment, the doorbell rang again. Edogawa Conan and Kaedehara fell silent in sync.
Conan scurried behind the couch, waving for Kaedehara to follow. After a moment's thought, Kaedehara joined him with his short legs.
Dr. Agasa answered, "Who's there?"
"Dr. Agasa! It's me, Ran!"
Conan and Dr. Agasa sighed in relief, but Conan tensed again. He hadn't figured out how to face Ran Mouri, the girl he'd grown up with.
"Hey, long time no see, Ran," Dr. Agasa opened the door again. "What's up this late?"
"Um… I'm looking for Shinichi. I haven't been able to contact him since we parted today… Do you know where he is, Doc?"
Dr. Agasa could see the girl's worry.
In fact, this was Ran's second visit. Earlier, she'd gone to Shinichi's house, found it empty, and left. Halfway home, still uneasy, she returned to ask Dr. Agasa.
"Well, Shinichi…" Dr. Agasa hesitated. "I don't know where that kid is."
"Oh…" Ran's voice fell, disappointed.
"Oh, right, Ran! There are two kids… uh, distant relatives of Shinichi's family…"
"Huh?"
"Their parents were in a car accident and hospitalized, so I'm watching them temporarily. But I'm not great at caregiving. Could they stay at your place for a bit?"
"Shinichi's relatives? Sure, but I'd need to check with my dad…"
"Great! It's settled!" Dr. Agasa said quickly, pulling Ran inside. "Hey! Conan! Doyle!"
"Conan Doyle?" Ran blinked. It was a name Shinichi had mentioned so often her ears nearly calloused.
"Yeah, one's Edogawa Conan, the other's Edogawa Doyle. Their parents are detective novel fans… Wait, where are they?" Dr. Agasa explained, then noticed the kids weren't there.
A small hand waved from behind the couch.
"Ran, these kids are a bit shy, haha," Dr. Agasa said, scratching his head. "I'll talk to them."
Behind the couch, Conan whispered urgently, "Doc! If this happens, Ran will figure out I'm—"
"What's wrong?" Ran's curious head poked over, "Oh!"
"R-Ran…" Conan stammered.
Kaedehara hesitated, deciding not to step back. The next moment, both he and Conan were scooped up in Ran's arms.
"So… so cute! They look identical! And just like Shinichi when he was little!"
"Yeah, they're twins," Dr. Agasa patched the story. "The one on the left is Conan, the right is Doyle. They're in your care, Ran."
"Sure," Ran said, her heart melting at the sight of two kids so like young Shinichi. She had no thought of refusing. "So, Conan, Doyle, want to stay at big sister's house for a while?"
"S-Sure…" Conan, dazed in her arms, forgot his earlier complaints.
Ran looked at Kaedehara, who hadn't answered.
(End of Chapter)