Chapter Text
Shinichi isn't sure whether Hattori will actually write to him. The other detective had seemed sincere about his promise but he doesn't really know much about his new fiance. They only met for a few minutes as teenagers – the rest was spent as Conan – and Hattori might forget his promise as soon as he encounters something more interesting.
The dark-skinned teen has already proved the reckless type. Who kisses a total stranger even if you are engaged? So Shinichi tells himself to be realistic even though expecting the worst of Hattori feels strangely dissonant, like a deduction that doesn't quite fit all the facts available.
However, that question is soon answered when Professor Agasa tells Conan that he's received a letter for Shinichi from Osaka. His fiance must have mailed it almost as soon as he returned from Tokyo since it's been less than a week and Shinichi won't deny he's curious about what Hattori has to say.
Though Conan does deny that he's excited when Ran asks the boy why he's bouncing in his chair that afternoon. He gives her an excuse about a new toy the professor wants to show him, faking it so well that he almost believes the words are true. After all, Shinichi is a detective and detectives don't get excited over mail.
So he's definitely not nervous when Agasa hands him the envelope. The professor's address is scrawled in handwriting that perfectly matches Shinichi's memory of Hattori: a little messy and overly energetic but somehow perfectly intelligible nonetheless. The same as the letter tucked inside.
'Hi Kudo,
I ain't really sure what ta say here. But I guess I probably didn't make da best first impression an' we barely got a chance ta talk before ya had ta leave again. So I'll jest start from da beginnin' now.
My name is Heiji Hattori. I'm 16 years old an' my old man is da police chief here in Osaka, which is probably why I've always wanted ta be a detective. Seems like we have dat much in common. I'm also captain of the kendo team for Kaihou Academy an' maybe once we get ta know each other better, ya can come see a tournament. I'd love ta show ya my home town.
Cuz I do wanna be yer friend an' not jest yer fiance. I figger we can begin with dat an' work up ta the rest over time. I won't push ya fer more again until yer ready. Don't worry about dat.
So tell me about yer interests. Favorite case, favorite color, favorite hobby, anythin' ya wanna share. Or talk about yer deductions if dat's more comfortable. I've read about yer cases in da papers but dey never explain all da evidence properly. An' if ya ever want help with yer current problem, jest let me know an' I'll be dere.
Please write me back. I'll be waitin'.
Heiji Hattori'
Shinichi knows that he shouldn't encourage his fiance, not while the Black Organization is still out there. However, he's charmed by the letter despite himself. The eastern detective is used to people lying about their true desires; his cases have taught him that's usually the norm, either out of malice or just self-preservation. But Hattori is straightforward instead, stating his intentions clearly even as he promises not to cross the line again.
What a weirdo. Shinichi can't imagine putting his own heart out there so easily. He's never even managed to tell Ran that he might like her.
But the boy can picture Hattori writing out this message, his distinctive dialect bleeding into the letter's words. He can picture the western detective waiting eagerly for a reply and discovers that he doesn't want to disappoint his fiance.
While neither of them chose this engagement, Hattori is obviously putting forth his best effort and it feels wrong not to do the same. As long as Shinichi doesn't mention the Black Organization and they keep their relationship quiet, the other boy shouldn't be put in danger just from writing him. Which is really just rationalization for the fact that he wants to write Hattori back.
Shinichi still doesn't plan to marry the other detective; he hasn't changed his mind that much. But the thought of talking to someone who has no idea about Conan is enticing, someone who wants to be his friend without the weight of years.
Ran knows Shinichi well because she's been with him forever, but that's only made it harder to continue his deception. Talking to her on the phone right now is an exercise in reassurance and discretion, trying to make her feel better without slipping and saying something that only Conan knows. The eastern detective can't share his burdens with Ran because he doesn't want to hurt her and there's also some things about him that she's just never understood. Admired, yes, but the sheer magnetic pull of an unsolved mystery has always baffled her.
Based on their one brief meeting, Shinichi thinks Hattori actually might get that impulse. Even if he doesn't, what is the detective risking? A fiance that he didn't know he had until a week ago? The stakes are so much lower than the chance of losing his oldest friend.
So even though the rational part of his mind still says this is a bad idea, Shinichi finds himself writing his own letter anyway.
'Hattori,
I won't talk about my current case. It's too dangerous for anyone else to get involved. However, we can discuss other mysteries if you want. Let me know if there's a particular case that you're curious about. Or tell me about one of yours that you got right in the past.
It also sounds like you've read about me, so you should know the basics. I won't bother with all that. But my favorite author is Arthur Conan Doyle because Sherlock Holmes is the best fictional detective. Someday I want to be as good as him.
I don't have a lot of hobbies outside of mysteries but I do enjoy playing and watching soccer. I'm not on the school team anymore but I'd say I'm pretty good. Are you into other sports?
And you shouldn't worry about your first impression. Just don't fall into the murderer's trap next time.
Shinichi Kudo'
Shinichi almost doesn't send the letter. Reading it back, the words sound cold and arrogant, more likely to chase Hattori off than bring him closer. How do people actually make friends anyway? He's pretty sure Ran only likes him because she's too nice to stay mad and she's had lots of time to get used to all his quirks.
But the detective isn't sure how to make the letter better and eventually he sends it anyway. Hattori should know what he's getting into. It's not like Shinichi is suddenly going to get better at social interaction and his fiance seems to have forgiven him for the insults before. Indeed, the next letter from Osaka arrives with the same quick turnaround, evidence that Hattori is eager to keep talking anyway.
'Hey Kudo,
I'm glad ya wrote me back. I was worried ya might not. An' I won't push about yer current case either. Jest know da offer stands if ya ever change yer mind. Fer now, I've always wanted ta know more about yer first murder investigation. Was it really on a plane? How did ya find the murderer?
I shoulda known dat ya'd like Holmes. Ya seem like ya appreciate the brainy ones. What's yer favorite story? Doyle is a pretty good author though I hafta say I've always preferred Ellery Queen myself.
For sports, I love watchin' baseball an' sometimes soccer when I get da chance. Though kendo is all I've ever done. I was serious about dat tournament, but I'd also like ta see yer soccer skills at some point. I bet yer real impressive when ya put yer mind ta it.
An' I promise I won't let anyone trick me like dat again. Next time we get da chance ta team up on a case, we'll both find da truth instead.
Heiji'
Apparently Shinichi didn't need to worry. Hattori took his letter in the spirit it was written: a request for information and an attempt to bridge the gap. His fiance seems willing to accept him exactly as he is – brusque and sometimes awkward – and Shinichi isn't sure what to do with that.
That's not to say Hattori doesn't argue with him. Their disagreement about Sherlock Holmes vs Ellery Queen spans the next four letters without pause. But the discussion always feels good-natured despite their opposing viewpoints and the fact that the dark-skinned teen is wrong.
Shinichi starts looking forward to each rebuttal, wanting to see what new arguments the other detective will use to claim the impossible, and talking about their cases is even easier. Hattori wants to know every detail of his past investigations and when given that information, quickly proves he's capable of sussing the culprits out.
The first time is a whim. Shinichi lays out the evidence he discovered on the airplane but leaves off the solution. He just wants to see what the other boy will say. However, when the western detective replies with the right answer and similar details about his last murder investigation, it becomes a challenge back and forth, one where Hattori doesn't disappoint.
He starts to think that his fiance's mistake at their first meeting must have been a fluke. Still wrong but not the norm and if the diplomat's father hadn't confessed, Hattori might have realized the error on his own. It's not as though Shinichi's initial theories have never been incorrect.
So really, the teen-turned-child shouldn't be surprised when he wins a place on a Sherlock Holmes tour and the western detective is already there when Conan arrives. Of course Hattori is smart enough to realize that he'd be interested and impulsive enough to apply for the tour himself. This is hardly the first time the dark-skinned teen has traveled a long distance just to see his fiance.
Though he doesn't realize Hattori is shameless enough to admit it until Ran asks him why he's here and “I was hopin' ta run inta Kudo,” is the cheerful reply.
Ugh, don't just say that, Conan thinks, wishing he could chide his fiance in this body without it being weird.
“Did Shinichi tell you that he was coming?”
“Ah, no. We've been chattin' some but not about dat sorta thing,” Hattori says, rubbing at the back of his head sheepishly. “I was hopin' ta surprise 'im. Ya know how crazy Kudo is over Sherlock Holmes. I figgered he'd be a shoo-in once I heard about dis tour. As long as he could get away from dat current case a' his.”
“Oh.” Ran isn't sure how to feel about that answer. After their first meeting, she'd asked Shinichi what he thought about his fiance the next time that he called. The girl had been surprised and a little hurt to learn about their engagement, that she suddenly had a rival for her best friend's affection. Ran doesn't know if she's in love with Shinichi, but she definitely cares about him and she thought they'd have the chance to figure things out at their own pace.
So she'd been reassured when he told her, “I don't know. We talked a bit and I guess he's an okay person. But I can't imagine marrying the guy.”
Ran hadn't known that the two teens kept talking afterwards. However, Hattori's tone is too fond for a stranger, his smile too knowing when he talks about Shinichi's love of Holmes. If they've been in such frequent contact while she's had to make do with sporadic phone calls, maybe Ran should have been more concerned about Hattori after all.
“Man, I really thought Kudo was gonna make it,” the dark-skinned teen continues, completely oblivious to Ran's internal conflict. Though his own smile dims a second later as he sighs, “Guess I was wrong again.”
Meanwhile, Conan can only watch this interaction and wonder what the heck is going on. Why are they both unhappy? Neither of them is supposed to be sad because of him, but the detective has a niggling feeling that he's made a mistake somewhere.
It bothers Conan for the rest of the evening, through the explanation of their tour and their host's one thousand question test. When he's writing down the date of the Final Problem, his mind drifts to Ran again, trying to figure out why she'd looked so disheartened. When he's working on the last few symbols of the dancing men, the boy wonders if Hattori will even bother to complete this quiz. Or will the western detective throw in the towel because he thinks Shinichi isn't here?
By dinnertime the next day, Conan has finished the quiz but is no closer to any other answers and it's almost a relief when their host dies suddenly. The boy will take a mystery over emotional introspection any day.
However, investigating with Hattori around quickly proves both exhilarating and incredibly annoying. Just like last time, the dark-skinned teen keeps pace with Conan as he looks for evidence, the two of them running into each other more than once. When he lays out his suspicions, Hattori follows his thought process and is able to offer useful insights of his own. It's easy to fall into a rhythm, easy to work together until Shinichi remembers that he's Conan and has to pretend that he's just joking every time. But he's not sure if Hattori is actually buying it.
Indeed, the western detective is growing increasingly suspicious of this child who talks like he's much older when he thinks no one is listening. Not only that, but the way Conan speaks is so familiar. The idea is crazy. Yet if it's true, that would go a long way toward explaining Mr. Mouri's sudden fame. Having seen the man in action several times, he's definitely not that competent.
There has to be a puppet master pulling Mouri's strings and a few careful questions for Ran confirm that it's most likely Conan. No one else fits the evidence as perfectly. An' if dat's true, maybe he really is...
Shinichi is getting frustrated, He knows who the murderer is and he's fairly certain that Hattori knows it too. But his fiance refuses to admit it. When Conan prompts him to give the deduction, the dark-skinned teen just plays dumb instead.
He's trying to force me to say it, the eastern detective realizes. As proof that I'm more than I seem. Proof that he can't afford to give his fiance.
However, using Mr. Mouri to make the deduction isn't an option either. Hattori would see straight through that ruse. Which means I've only got one choice.
Shinichi lures the other boy away from the crowd before hitting him with a tranquilizer dart. If he lets his fiance thump against the wall on the way down, at least he isn't actually injured, and it serves the jerk right for making him do this.
Then in his best Kansai dialect, Shinichi-as-Conan-as-Hattori lays out the details of the murderer's crimes. There's an iffy moment when Mr. Mouri smacks the dark-skinned teen and Shinichi worries that he might have woken up. But Hattori doesn't stir even when the eastern detective mangles another vowel. He must still be unconscious. Otherwise, he'd definitely kick my ass for this.
So Shinichi continues his denouement, going over each piece of evidence until the murderer finally cracks. When a yawning Hattori takes credit for the deduction afterward, the boy thinks he's free and clear. However, before he can run back to Ran, a proper Kansai accent stops him short.
“Yer Kudo, ain't ya?”
Conan's stomach lurches and his body flushes cold. Indeed, he's feeling faint as he slowly turns to face Hattori. The eastern detective is met by piercing green eyes, narrowed with suspicion, and Conan has a sinking feeling that he's not getting out of this.
“Ha ha ha. What are you talking about? I'm just a kid,” the boy tries anyway.
“So, dis is da device ya used ta mimic my voice?” his fiance asks, ignoring his deflection completely and grabbing his bow tie. “I was watchin' ya outta da corner a' my eye.”
Shit. “From where?”
“From 'It kinda looks darn impossible, yeah'. Thanks fer mockin' how I talk da entire time,” Hattori growls and Conan winces. Okay, I earned that one. But maybe I can still salvage this.
“Fine. I borrowed your voice for the deduction since you wouldn't do it,” the boy admits. “I want to be a detective and no one will listen to a little kid. But that doesn't mean I'm this Kudo person. I don't know who that is.”
Shinichi is hoping his fiance will accept that explanation and not push any further. However, the dark-skinned teen just glares.
“Ya talk jest like ya write, Kudo, when ya ain't pretending. An' I'd know yer deduction style anywhere,” Hattori tells him. “If ya respect me at all, don't lie straight ta my face.”
His expression is serious, no hint of his usual cheerfulness, and Shinichi's remaining excuses die in his throat. Even if he lies again, Hattori won't believe him. The teen will just think that his fiance doesn't trust him and that's a betrayal he might not forgive.
Shinichi just can't do it. Hattori has proved a good detective and a decent person; he can't bear the thought of claiming otherwise. He won't risk their nascent friendship to prop up a flimsy lie.
So the boy sighs heavily. “All right. You win. I'll tell you everything.”
That's exactly what he does on the ride back to the station. Shinichi explains about the Black Organization and shrinking into Conan as his fiance listens quietly.
“So yer hidin' at yer friend's house while tryin' to find dis syndicate?” the other detective asks once he's finished. “An' Ran don't know anythin'.”
“It's too dangerous. These people are serious criminals and I don't know how wide their network is. I wouldn't have told you either if you hadn't forced the issue. It's bad enough that you're my fiance.”
“I won't apologize,” Hattori says firmly. “If anyone goes after me, they'll have da entire Osaka police force ta contend with an' no one should hafta deal with somethin' like dis alone. I promise I won't go lookin' for trouble, but I'll let ya know if I happen ta hear anythin' an' ya can always call on me fer help. Ya said it yerself, Kudo. I'm yer fiance. Ya should be able ta rely on me.”
“Maybe.”
Shinichi still isn't convinced that this is a good idea. Yet he also can't deny that ship has sailed. For better or worse, Hattori knows and he can't take it back.