A raging fire soared toward the sky, its tongues of flame dancing wildly.
Haibara Ai's eyes widened as she stared in terror at the oncoming blaze, despair filling her heart.
She helplessly closed her eyes, preparing to meet her death.
But just then, a wave of warmth enveloped her. She saw countless flickering particles of light flash before her eyes, rapidly converging into a dazzling beam that tightly wrapped around her small frame.
In the next moment, Haibara Ai felt her body gently lifted by a pair of strong arms. She opened her eyes in shock and looked up to see Roy's sharply defined face.
His gaze held a trace of concern.
"So this is the God of Death? I'm gone for a moment, and this happens."
Roy's slightly teasing words reached Haibara Ai's ears, easing her tense heart.
As Roy moved, Haibara Ai felt as if she were truly flying.
They crossed the blazing sea of fire at astonishing speed, arriving in a secluded forest in the blink of an eye.
"Ai, are you okay? Are you hurt?"
Haibara Ai took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, and replied, "I'm fine. I'm okay."
Though she said she was fine, her heart still couldn't settle.
Because only now did she realize that she was being held tightly in Roy's arms!
At this thought, her cheeks flushed a vivid red, like a ripe apple.
From childhood to now, Haibara Ai had never been this close to any man.
At this moment, her heart raced wildly, an indescribable shyness washing over her.
Yet, somehow, despite her fluster, she also felt an unprecedented sense of security.
This contradictory feeling left her at a loss, even stirring a desire to stay in Roy's arms just like this.
As if sensing something, Roy pulled Haibara Ai closer, gently pressing his cheek against her smooth forehead.
"Don't be afraid, Ai. From now on, I'll protect you."
Hearing this, Haibara Ai's face instantly turned crimson, as alluring as a ripe apple. Her heart pounded so hard it felt like it might leap from her throat.
Still, she didn't pull away from Roy's warm embrace, only letting out a faint murmur from her throat: "Mm…"
Though soft, this sound was filled with trust and reliance.
The two held each other tightly for a while; time seemed to stop, the world shrinking to just the two of them.
But then, a sudden cry broke the silence.
"Haibara! You're here!"
From a distance came Conan's surprised shout. He dashed toward them like lightning, his face full of excitement and concern.
Startled by the shout, Haibara Ai snapped back to reality. She frantically signaled Roy to put her down, a hint of panic in her eyes.
Once her feet touched the ground, she quickly straightened her slightly disheveled clothes, carefully checking to make sure nothing was amiss. Only then did she let out a long sigh of relief, her heart finally settling back into place.
"It's great that you're safe," Conan said, reaching them with a joyful look at Haibara Ai, genuine concern shining in his eyes.
Though Conan could sometimes be stubborn, clinging obsessively to the truth, he was kind-hearted and deeply caring toward his friends.
"Mm… thank you," Haibara Ai replied calmly, trying to maintain her composure.
But just as she thought this little incident was about to end, Conan suddenly raised his right hand, rubbing his chin as he stared at her with a puzzled look.
This made the usually composed Haibara Ai feel a bit flustered and embarrassed. She thought to herself, "Did being held leave some trace?"
Just then, Conan continued rubbing his chin, lost in thought, murmuring, "That's not right. Just now, you were clearly in the car, Haibara. How did you end up here in an instant?"
He kept pondering.
Roy stood aside, watching Conan with interest. He thought, "Looks like this guy is about to notice something off about me."
However, after a brief moment, Conan's eyes lit up as if struck by a sudden realization. He excitedly exclaimed, "Haha, I've got it! It must have been the powerful blast from that huge explosion that blew you over here. And Roy happened to be nearby and caught you in time, so you're safe and unharmed!"
With that, Conan nodded proudly, quite satisfied with his deduction, and looked at Haibara Ai for confirmation.
Just then, Dr. Agasa arrived with the others. After hearing Conan's explanation, they all nodded in agreement.
Seeing this, Haibara Ai, who had been tense, finally let out a sigh of relief and gave a small nod.
Then, she quietly approached Roy and gestured for him to bend down.
When he did, she leaned close to his ear and whispered, "That's a relief. Thankfully, Edogawa came up with such a reasonable explanation. For now, it's better if your true identity isn't revealed."
But Roy, watching them nod along, was somewhat dumbfounded.
Was this forcibly applying "Conan logic"?
No matter what, it could always be explained by "Conan logic."
In that moment, it seemed to him he saw a chaotic will lingering in the air around them, a chilling thought.
Soon, Roy stopped dwelling on it. After all, in a world where it could be summer one day and winter the next, there was little logic to grasp.
"It's time to find a Devil Fruit to give Ai," Roy mused.
After all, with a "God of Death" like Conan around, having some special abilities would undoubtedly be much safer.
Due to the string of unexpected incidents, Dr. Agasa's long-planned ski trip was naturally ruined.
Left with no choice, the group returned home disappointed.
Over the following days, Roy continued to stay at Dr. Agasa's house.
After that day's encounter, Roy keenly noticed that Haibara Ai's attitude toward him had grown noticeably more affectionate.
Now, in front of him, she acted more relaxed, no longer as reserved and shy as before.
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