[ Old ] Crossroad 『Detective Conan』

Chapter 6 - Back to primary school

   Kyoka took the cap off her head when she arrived in front of the teachers' desk. She took a moment, pulling up the pair of glasses she was wearing and taking a deep breath. Then, she knocked and opened the door when she heard an "Come in".

   The girl had been living with Jinpei for about a week. She had only been out a little, only accompanied the policeman to buy other clothes more in her size. She had taken the opportunity to get a cap and had found an excuse to have glasses, being careful to have a very low correction. She wanted to hide as much as possible, afraid of being found.
   - By the way, you're going back to school. Launched the man during a meal.
   -Eh ? Why ?
   - Well, you're not going to stay locked up in my house all day. Staying here moping isn't going to get your family back.
   She lowered her gaze. He was right. She wasn't dead, even though what she had been made to take was supposed to.
   -Which school would I go to?
   -Teitan, in Beika.
   Kyoka took the time to think where the Beika district was but she had no idea. She didn't know the neighborhood and hadn't really set foot in Beika.
   She just finished her meal and went to the room that Matsuda had prepared for her. It was a room with no great use except for storing pieces of just about anything.
   She didn't really want to go back to elementary school, because she suspected that given her appearance, that's where she was going. But since she had no choice...

   -Tomura Yoko, is that right? asked one of the teachers.
   She was a woman with glasses and short, slightly bluish hair.
   She looks like the policewoman... Sato I think?
   This resemblance struck the little girl so much that she forgot to answer.
   -... Ah uh... It's me...
   She looked away, remembering that she had taken a false name. She wasn't going to get used to it for quite a while.
   -Good. I am Kobayashi, your new teacher. Before going to class, do you have any questions?
   Kyoka just shook her head, staring at the ground. She already knew how a school worked after all.

   The teacher guided the new student through the corridors until she reached a room. You could hear chatter there.
Kobayashi opened the door, initially asking for silence.
   -Hello everyone. Today we welcome a new student. You can come in you know.
   -...
   She walked into the classroom after taking a deep breath. She looked around at all the children in front of her before lowering her head, telling herself that she should have been in high school by now, with Akihiko.
   -Wow! The students exclaimed.
   There was a flurry of whispers as their teacher wrote the name on the board.
   - Alright, everyone. We welcome Tomura Yoko. I'llask you to be nice with her. You may sit where you want.
   Kyoka immediately looked for a place at the back of the class and once found it, she rushed there and settled down. She didn't look at anyone, not wanting to meet anyone's gaze, and moved away from the window when she was usually still there.

   The lunch break arrived quickly. Everyone was eating in a small group chit chatting.
   A young girl wearing a headband brought her table closer to Kyoka's, which surprised the latter.
   - Yoko-chan, is that right? she asked.
   The girl nodded her head gently. She wasn't going to get used to her new name, she felt it.
   - My name is Yoshida Ayumi! The boys there are Kojima Genta Tsuburaya Mitsuhiko and Edogawa Conan. And the girl's name is Haibara Ai! she introduced.
   The boys settled down towards their new comrade.
   -Where do you live ? Asked the one who appeared to be Mitsuhiko.
   -Uh.. I... I don't know exactly...
   -What ? Ayumi asked.
   -I...I...I kinda moved...
   Kyoka, or rather Yoko as everyone would now call her, looked away.
   -What do you like ? Asked the first comer.
   -Uh... Taking pictures...?
   She moved her hand towards her neck, as if she wanted to grab something. As if she wanted to grab the camera that this man had taken from her. She sighed, remembering that she no longer had it.

   She put her head in her hand, patting the food with her fork.
   -Aren't you eating? Questionned the so-called Genta.
   -Oe Genta! Don't go and take her meal! scolded a boy with glasses.
   - But it would be a waste if she leaves everything! The bulk of the group justified themselves.
   "Yoko" stood up, slamming her hands on the table before going to a corner at the back of the class and sitting with her back against the wall.
   Everyone looked at her, especially the small group going to talk to her. They did not understand her reaction.
   - She didn't have to leave like that... the one who wanted to eat her meal growled.
   -It's your fault Genta-kun! Said Ayumi and Mitsuhiko in heart.
   -It's best to leave her alone for now. She just arrived, it must have stressed her that you all came. Explained the so-called Conan.
   The concerned sighed. She had heard everything and agreed with her new comrade. It stressed her to be in a class, or rather in a school where she didn't know anyone.

   The end of class had come. The girl rushed to the shoe rack she had been assigned and quickly changed her pair. She then put her bonnet back on and began to walk out.
   -Yoko-chan! Y-o-k-o-chan!
   It was after a few more calls that the former high school student turned around. Ayumi was towards her with her group of friends.
   -Y... Yes?
   - We can drive you home. You just have to tell us the elements around you and we'll find you the way in no time! Mitsuhiko explained.
   -After all, we are the Detective Boys! Genta boasted.
   Uncomfortable, she couldn't help but grab the chain hooked to her pants. She didn't know what to answer.
   -Uh... I... I can manage on my own...
   She ran away. She couldn't accept, she didn't feel ready to accept.

   Once she was in her corner, "Yoko" sighed. She was holding herself back from crying. Her loneliness and the arrival of these children reminded her of Akihiko. Akihiko who, ten years earlier, had acted almost the same way when his friend had lost her parents.
   She shook her head before walking back to the school, so as not to get lost. Then, she settled in a hidden corner while waiting for Jinpei to pick her up.