[Detective Conan] I'm Almost Done Watching the Resurrection Ad

Araki Toru died twice.

The first time, he died in a spectacular explosion as a promising genius at the police academy, trading one life for a hundred.

The second time, he died in the darkness before dawn as a notorious member of the Organization, taking his last breath in the arms of the person he loved.

Words left unsaid, the smell of gunpowder, and icy tears.

*

[Who told you to kill off everyone? Do you want me to send you a box of razor blades or what?!]

[Where's that promised fanfic about redemption? Who exactly did you redeem???]

[You redeemed the distillery, buddy. I can't believe not a single important member got caught. They all got away (scoffs).]

[Bring them back! Bring every single one of them back!]

Araki Toru accidentally learned that he was the protagonist of a fanfic and received a resurrection ticket, valid for only thirty seconds. Use it before it's gone.

He tapped it five or six times, then complained, "Who made the X so tiny, huh?!"

That's right. He didn't want to come back to life at all.

Tell me: if you had another life, would you want to be human again? He wouldn't. It was too exhausting.

Then he was forcibly resurrected.

*

Rei Furuya had two childhood friends.

One was a gentle, devious young man with catlike eyes, who died on the rooftop that night. He was the silent rain that shrouded Rei's heart.

The other was a languid, unruly young man with almond-shaped eyes, who died by his gun, in his arms. He was a brief but fierce hurricane.

Rei Furuya held the man's body as it slowly grew cold, unable to tell whether the blood had run out of him first or his own tears had dried up first.

He had executed the person he loved with his own hands, yet people praised his courage and fearlessness. The world was twisted beyond recognition.

At the age of thirty-five, he lost his last friend and beloved among his classmates from the police academy.

When he opened his eyes again,

he was back on the first day of the police academy. His ragged breathing gradually calmed when he saw Araki Toru sleeping with his head on the desk, but his eyes remained dark and unreadable.

Everyone was alive. It was a reality like a beautiful dream.

Rei Furuya stared at the young man, his gaze lingering on his pale eyelids veined with red, his trembling lashes, and finally his light-colored lips.

This time, no matter what, he wouldn't let go. He would keep him by his side, whatever it took.

He would never let go again.

Reader's Guide:

1. An unconventional redemption story. The police academy group saves themselves, while the protagonist is busy saving himself (?).

2. The five members of the police academy group remember their first run-through. They're all darkened, and each has a bit of a lovesick-ghost streak...

3. A mountain of headcanons. Apologies for any out-of-character moments.

Theme: Hold tightly to the things you want to protect.