Crossover PS 189 (Patreon)

Infinity Castle, living room.

Mahiru sat on a cushion by the window, hugging her legs. Her chin rested on her knees, her gaze fixed on the starry sky outside.

Kiss-Shot leaned on the sofa on the other side and watched Mahiru with great interest. "Little girl. Are you really that comfortable letting that man chat alone with Mai?"

Mahiru turned her head to look at her. "I believe in Minoru-kun."

Kiss-Shot raised an eyebrow. "Oh? The way that girl named Mai looks at him is certainly not ordinary. And that new arrival, Psykos, her figure, her aura... tsk tsk."

"I've lived for so many years and seen too many relationships fall apart because of such things. Are you not worried?"

Mahiru smiled. "It would be a lie to say I'm not worried. But the sense of security Minoru-kun gives is enough. He can naturally hold my hand, wipe my tears, and ruffle my hair in front of so many people. That wasn't for show, nor was it just to make me happy. He just wanted to do it."

Mahiru's gaze was full of tenderness. "I know there are many people around him and I know many people like him. But as long as he is willing to acknowledge our relationship in front of everyone, that's enough."

Kiss-Shot turned her face away. "Hmph. Human emotions are truly troublesome."

But in those golden eyes, a flash of complex light appeared.

...

After a while.

Footsteps sounded.

Mahiru's eyes lit up but she didn't move. She just kept holding her legs, looking out the window.

The corner of Kiss-Shot's lips curled up slightly. "He's back."

Just as she spoke, the living room door was pushed open.

Minoru asked, "Have you been waiting long?"

Mahiru shook her head. "Not long."

Minoru walked over and sat down beside Mahiru. He reached out and put his arm around Mahiru's shoulder.

Mahiru leaned into his embrace and closed her eyes, inhaling the familiar scent on him.

Kiss-Shot watched this scene and gave a light huff. She stood up and walked toward her room.

Reaching the doorway, she stopped. "For breakfast tomorrow, I want to eat doughnuts."

With that, she disappeared behind the door.

Minoru looked down at Mahiru in his arms. "Are you sleepy?"

Mahiru shook her head. "Not sleepy. I just want to stay with you a while longer."

Minoru tightened his arms, letting Mahiru lean more comfortably.

[Ding! Detected that the Host has successfully intervened in and terminated a core battle node of "One Punch Man" — The downfall of the Monster Association!]

[Plunder program initiated!]

[Ding! Detected that the Host has successfully crushed the core combat power of the Monster Association, dismantling the strongest Monster organization that occupied the underground and threatened human civilization!]

[Plunder progress +10%! Luck Points +500!]

[Successfully obtained core trait — King of Monsters (Mastery)!]

[Effect: Gain innate suppression over the concept of "Monster". Can perceive, track, and deter all Monsterized existences.]

[Possesses absolute rejection and dominance over Monster cells and mutation factors.]

[Can limitedly analyze and replicate the core abilities of defeated Monsters, integrating their traits into your own combat system.]

Minoru gave it a brief glance before withdrawing his attention.

Five hundred Luck Points and a minor trait, it was better than nothing. Compared to that, the person in his arms was more important.

After a long while.

Mahiru suddenly spoke, "Minoru-kun."

"Hmm?"

"Today... thank you."

"Thank you for coming back safely. Thank you for standing in front of us. Thank you for holding my hand in front of so many people."

Minoru lifted Mahiru's chin, making her look at him. "Mahiru."

"Mm?"

"No thanks needed. Because it's you, it's worth it."

Mahiru wanted to say something, but the words reached her lips and were swallowed back down.

She just buried her head in his chest and muttered in a small voice, "Minoru-kun, if you're like this, I'll become more and more unable to leave you."

Minoru rubbed Mahiru's hair and said, "We will be together forever and ever."

The two stayed for a while longer, chatting about many things, until Mahiru's phone vibrated.

She took it out to look, it was a news notification.

Lately, Mahiru had developed the habit of checking the news every day.

At first, it was just because she noticed Minoru checked the news every day. Later, it slowly became a habit.

She also began to pay attention to current affairs and events in Tokyo, big and small.

She just wanted to be able to join the conversation when Minoru talked about something.

She just wanted to understand what he was talking about when he said, "Something happened today."

She just wanted to be a little closer to him.

The moment the headline caught her eye, Mahiru's expression froze.

"Minoru-kun... look at this."

Minoru took the phone.

On the screen was a striking news headline.

[Shocking! Famous Detective Kudo Shinichi Murdered! Police Confirm It Was A Revenge Killing!]

Minoru raised an eyebrow and scrolled down.

[Kudo Shinichi, son of the famous novelist Kudo Yusaku, has recently drawn much attention for assisting the police in solving several major cases.]

[A few days ago, he teamed up with a mysterious man and successfully captured core members of the international criminal organization "Black Organization," Gin and Rum.]

[Following the clues, several Black Organization members were arrested one after another, though the organization's leader, Karasuma Renya, is still at large.]

[However, just tonight, Kudo Shinichi was found murdered, with preliminary judgments suggesting it was retaliation from the remnants of the Black Organization.]

[The culprit has been identified as the organization's second-in-command, Rum, who is believed to have planned this assassination before his arrest.]

"This..."

Mahiru's eyes widened. "The person we met at Tropical Land that day..."

Minoru nodded. "Yeah, it's Kudo Shinichi."

Mahiru was silent for a few seconds, processing this information.

That day at Tropical Land, she and Minoru had happened to meet that high school detective who was investigating a case.

Who could have imagined that it was actually a confrontation with an international criminal organization?

And now...

"He... he's dead?"

Minoru closed his eyes. His consciousness crossed space, landing on that residence located in Beika Town.

Professor Agasa's house.

A shrunk figure was sitting on the sofa and looking at the reports about "Kudo Shinichi's murder" on the TV with a face full of helplessness.

Although Kudo Shinichi wasn't dead, he might as well be. He had turned into an elementary school student.

"Not necessarily. As for Kudo Shinichi... perhaps he has his own path to walk."

Minoru sighed in his heart.

Originally, at Tropical Land that day, Kudo Shinichi should have been forced to take the poison by Gin and turned into a child. But because of his own intervention, that course of events was changed.

Not only did Kudo Shinichi not shrink, but he also worked with him to assist the police in capturing Gin and Rum. Although in that process, he only served as bait.

Thus, Kudo Shinichi, who should have been hidden in the shadows, by a twist of fate, became the great hero who took down the Black Organization. He was completely exposed to the sunlight, ultimately leading to this current outcome.

"Fate is sometimes quite wonderful." Minoru remarked.

Mahiru leaned in his arms, nodding thoughtfully.

The chance encounter at Tropical Land that day, those moments that seemed very ordinary...

It turned out that such a confrontation had occurred in places unseen.

She remembered the scene at Tropical Land that day. The fireworks, the little polar bear and Minoru's shoulder.

Mahiru said, "That day... Actually, for me, it was a very important day."

Minoru looked down at her. "Hmm?"

Mahiru didn't explain, just smiling.

Minoru looked at her and didn't press further.

After a moment of silence, Mahiru looked up, a hint of softness in her gaze.

"That girl... Mouri Ran, she must be very worried. Tomorrow, shall we go see her?"

Minoru looked at her, his expression surprised. "Mouri Ran?"

Mahiru nodded. "Mm. Kudo Shinichi's childhood friend. Right now, she really needs someone to be with her."

Minoru thought for a moment, then nodded. "Alright."

Just then, Mahiru yawned.

Minoru asked, "Sleepy?"

"A little."

"Then go rest."

Mahiru stood up, but didn't leave immediately. She looked at Minoru, biting her lip. "Minoru-kun."

"Hmm?"

"Tonight... can you stay with me? Not that kind. Just... sleep together."

Minoru smiled. "Okay."