Consciousness Space.
Inside the Activity Room of Fudo High School's Mystery Phenomenon Research Club.
With the players gone, Jiang Xia pushed open the door and entered.
A few meters away, Miyano Akemi was holding "Miyano Shiho"—or rather, an empty shell modeled from Miyano Shiho's data—and reluctantly handed it over.
Matsuda Jinpei caught it, checked the time, slung the shell over his shoulder, and quickly ran off in the other direction.
Jiang Xia withdrew his gaze and looked at Miyano Akemi. "If you tell Haibara Ai outright that you're a ghost, she probably won't be able to accept it right away. Better let her come up with a suitable explanation herself. Something like her body died, but some mysterious scientific organization intercepted her brain and turned her into something like an 'artificial human.'"
"..." Miyano Akemi nodded, lowering her head to study her hands thoughtfully.
Her little sister had been adorable as a child, but the adult version was more comfortable to hold... It would be nice to have both.
Elsewhere, in each player's "home."
Suzuki Sonoko slammed down the receiver.
This time, before she could try breaking through the door, the two parents had already heard the commotion.
They looked up in the direction of the sound and asked doubtfully, "Who was that?"
Suzuki Sonoko looked at the pair of "parents," her eyes flickering slightly. Then she suddenly thought of something and said righteously, "It was the school!"
"...The school?" the parents muttered. "Making students come over this late at night—they're really dedicated... Fine. Since the teachers said so, go take a look—but come back early. Don't run around outside."
Suzuki Sonoko's eyes lit up. She gave a perfunctory response and hurried out.
After successfully leaving the house, she soon ran into three people on the street.
—Mouri