Chapter 7: Okay, Sherlock

As Ryu was talking to Mikasa, Dr. Yuki entered the room. "Ryu, how are you feeling today?" she asked, placing a cool hand on his forehead.

"Much better; thank you, Mother Yuki," Ryu replied sincerely. "The food was delicious, and Mikasa kept me great company."

Mikasa beamed at the praise, her eyes sparkling with warmth.

Dr. Yuki smiled, her concern easing. "Well, that's good to hear. Remember to get plenty of rest today, alright?"

"Of course, Mother Yuki," Ryu said. A comfortable silence settled between them for a moment, then Mikasa spoke up.

"Thank you, Mother Yuki, for taking such good care of us," she said, her voice filled with gratitude. "You're always there for all of us."

Dr. Yuki's smile softened. "It's my pleasure," she replied, gently patting the girl's head. "You all deserve better."

"It was fun talking to you, Ryu! I'll leave now. Get well soon!" Mikasa said as she left the room.

There was another moment of quiet before Dr. Yuki addressed Ryu again. "Speaking of getting better, I think it might be a good idea to move you to a private room for a while away from those kids," she said. "It will be quieter, and it'll be easier for me to monitor your progress. Plus, it'll keep those rowdy kids from disturbing your rest."

A wave of relief washed over Ryu. The shared room with its constant bustle had been tiring, and the prospect of a quieter space was appealing. "Thank you, Mother Yuki." he said with a genuine smile.

Dr. Yuki said, "I will ask Hiroto to move you to a room near my office."

"You are a lifesaver," replied Ryu with an innocent smile.

"Enough with the flattery. Do not get out of bed just yet; you still need to rest," said Dr. Yuki with a hint of tough love.

As Dr. Yuki left, Ryu couldn't help but feel a mix of gratitude and curiosity. Her care was evident, but there was something more to her—a depth of character—that intrigued him. He wondered about her past, her reasons for running the orphanage, and what knowledge she might possess that could aid him in this new world.

Soon after, Hiroto, the caretaker, arrived to help Ryu move into his new private room. As Hiroto assisted him, something strange happened. Ryu's unusual powers surged to life once more, revealing mysterious circles and floating texts that hovered over the caretaker.

"Whoa," Ryu thought, his mind racing. "It's like I've got my own personal heads-up display."

A faint outline, like shimmering lines, briefly traced Hiroto's form, revealing hidden details in textual format. Ryu's eyes widened as he tried to process the bizarre sight. It was gone as quickly as it appeared, leaving Ryu with a furrowed brow. In a moment of realisation, Ryu deciphered these hidden details, including red marks and stray hairs that piqued his curiosity. His [Eidetic Memory] had already recorded that information, and he had already processed it without even trying with [Parallel Thinking] and [Fast Thinking].

Ryu struggled to contain his excitement, knowing he needed to appear as normal as possible. But inside, his mind was whirling with the implications of this power. A mischievous grin played on Ryu's lips as he pondered the possibilities. He decided to take advantage of the situation.

"Mr. Hiroto," Ryu began innocently, "I don't like the books you gave me earlier. I want books from Dr. Yuki's library."

Determined to explore further, he requested access to the private library of Mother Yuki, the head of the orphanage, from Caretaker Hiroto. Earlier, he had given him a children's book, but not satisfied with it, he asked for access to the private library of the orphanage head.

However, his plea was met with a swift denial, citing the inappropriate nature of the books for a child like Ryu. "Kid, those books are for adults. Stick to the book I gave you earlier," Hiroto said firmly.

Ryu's mind raced, weighing the ethical implications of what he was about to do. The adult part of him, Ken, knew that blackmail was wrong. But the thirst for knowledge—the need to understand this new world and grow stronger—overrode his hesitation.

"Okay, Sherlock, time to put those deduction skills to work," Ryu muttered to himself. Then, louder, he said, "If you're not going to give me the books, I might have to tell everyone about you and Ms. Hotaru being lovebirds."

Hiroto's eyes widened in shock. "What are you talking about, kid?"

Ryu then pointed to the lipstick smug on the caretaker's clothes and said, "You should be careful with the lipstick marks on your shirt, mister," his words dripping with subtle accusation and a hint of satisfaction, a master detective revelling in the reveal of a crucial piece of evidence.

The caretaker was shocked. He did not know what to say. Finally, he decided to deny everything and said, "What are you talking about, kid? I have no idea how that got there," he stammered, his voice betraying his growing panic.

Ryu's eyes gleamed with mischief as he said, "Yes, even the smallest details can reveal something to me. Like that lipstick smudge on your shirt. Unless you've taken up wearing makeup, Mr. Hiroto? Bold choice, I must say."

The caretaker's face paled. "I... I have no idea how that got there," he stammered, his voice betraying his growing panic.

"And let's not forget about that long hair on your shoulder," Ryu continued, pointing at a solitary strand. "Last time I checked, your hair was pretty short. Unless you're trying out hair extensions? Very fashion-forward of you."

The caretaker, Hiroto, said, "I have no idea how that got there," again imparting ignorance.

Ryu felt a twinge of guilt at Hiroto's obvious discomfort. But the prospect of gaining access to valuable knowledge pushed him forward. He reminded himself that in this world, information could mean the difference between life and death.

"And here's the kicker, Mr. Hiroto," Ryu said, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "You and Ms. Hotaru smell exactly the same. Either you're having some fun together, or you really like borrowing her perfume. Which is it? Secret romance or secret passion for floral scents?"

Ryu then said, "Either you and Lady Cook are having some fun or you swing the other way. Which one is it?"

The caretaker went silent for a moment, trying to come up with an excuse. The secret was out. But something about Ryu's playful demeanour disarmed him.

Ryu then said, "I am going to tell everybody that you like to wear lady perfume, and that is the same one Ms. Hotaru wears."

Hiroto's expression shifted from embarrassment to resignation. He looked at Ryu with a mixture of awe and wariness. "You're a sharp one, aren't you?" he said, his voice low. "Too sharp for your own good, maybe."

"I prefer to think of myself as observant," Ryu replied with a grin. "So, about those books..."

The caretaker finally relented. "Okay, fine. But you need to follow some rules and promise you won't tell anyone."

"I know you will agree to it; do not worry, I will not tell anyone," Ryu remarked.

With a sharp retort, Hiroto said, "Kid, I did not agree; I was made to agree."

Ryu nodded solemnly, understanding the weight of the situation. "I promise, Mr. Hiroto. Your secret is safe with me. And... thank you for trusting me with the books. I'll be careful with them."

Ryu whispered to himself, his voice tinged with a newfound confidence, "Mission successful. This ability... I like it."

Suddenly, he felt a surge of power. The room around him seemed to fade away, replaced by a swirling vortex of information. Floating text and symbols danced before his eyes, each one seemingly containing vast amounts of knowledge he had in his previous life.

As quickly as it had appeared, the vision faded, leaving Ryu back in his room. He blinked, trying to process what he had just experienced. Was this the true extent of his power?

"Whoa," Ryu whispered, his eyes wide with wonder. "This is... incredible. It's like I'm plugged into the matrix or something. What's next? Dodging bullets in slow motion? Maybe I'll start seeing people's power levels just like in DBZ. Over 9000, anyone?"

As he waited for Hiroto to return with the books, Ryu closed his eyes, focussing on the strange energy he felt coursing through him. Was this chakra? Or something entirely different? Ryu's mind raced with possibilities. The power of observation, combined with his unique ability to see hidden details, could be a formidable tool.

"One step at a time," he reminded himself. "First, learn. Then, grow stronger. And always, always be kind." With these thoughts, he settled in.

As Ryu waited, he couldn't help but chuckle to himself. "You know, if this whole 'reincarnated in another world' thing doesn't work out, I could always start a detective agency. 'Ryu Holmes: The Supernatural Detective has a nice ring to it.

[A/N: 

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