Ai Haibara and Mitsuhiko Tsuburaya

Mitsuhiko and Haibara hearing the radio.

Relationship analysis

Mitsuhiko develops heavy romantic feelings for Ai, and Ai is aware of this. However, although Ai is kind to him, she does not seem to reciprocate romantic feelings for Mitsuhiko, perhaps because she is really much older and has had very different life experiences. Ai uses his feelings to her advantage when she needs him to do something, but she also admires his courage during critical situations and respects his feelings. She, in some episodes, also shows more confidence with Mitsuhiko than with Ayumi or Genta. A recurring element in Mitsuhiko and Ai's relationship is Conan; he usually secretly observes their "moments" and pokes fun at Ai's interest in Mitsuhiko while she replies with some sarcastic comments.

Moments

Manga/Anime

Episode 212-213: Mushrooms, Bears, and the Detective Boys

• This is the first time that Mitsuhiko starts showing affection for Haibara. He blushes after she explains about the legend regarding apple being the forbidden fruit. When asked by Conan why he made such a strange expression, Mitsuhiko answers that he was just looking at Haibara, as he is amazed by her intelligence, mature personalities, and mysteriousness. However, the boy gets embarrassed and denies that he has feelings for her. Conan then warns him that Haibara is not the right choice for him, since "she'll be too difficult to deal with".

• Later, when the group's spreading out to search for Genta who got lost, Haibara chooses Mitsuhiko as her partner, much to his surprise. Meanwhile, Mitsuhiko is concerned about the way Haibara and Conan usually discuss in private, about things that normal children don't understand, and wonders whether there is some kind of relationship between the two. However, Haibara states with a serious look that her relationship with Conan "is not as romantic as it seems".

Mitsuhiko carrying Haibara.

• When Ai falls to the ground after twisting her ankle, Mitsuhiko immediately runs to her side and aids her by cutting his towel into strips to wrap around her ankle, just like a bandage. She is conspicuously delighted by his natural intelligence and compliments him. Mitsuhiko blushes and answers modestly that he actually learned this technique from Conan. The boy then sadly comments on how smart and knowledgeable Conan is and the fact that he can't compare himself to the young detective. Unexpected to Mitsuhiko, Haibara smiles and tells him:

“	How silly... The most important thing is that you have this knowledge and know how to use it after learning. Right now, you're my most outstanding rescuer. Thank you for your help...	„

• Mitsuhiko shyly blushes because of Haibara's compliments. They stand up and continue walking, with Mitsuhiko gently supports and carries her away while smiling in happiness. It is implied that Haibara's aware of his feelings for her, as she stares at his reddened face silently.

• On the ride home at the end of the case, when Mitsuhiko is no longer looking at Haibara, she turns around and observes him, revealing a gentle smile. Conan notices this and smirks at Haibara, causing her to blush and she awkwardly asks what was he looking at.

Episode 279-280: Hooligan's Labyrinth

• On the train, when Mitsuhiko is listening to the result of the game, Haibara leans her head right next to his in order to listen to the radio. Mitsuhiko constantly blushes as she questions him about the status of the game and whether the player Ryusuke Higo is still on the field, to which he answers awkwardly. Haibara then asks him to let her know if the match starts again, and Mitsuhiko agrees with his face still red.

• At the end of the case, Haibara leaves the group and Conan suspects that she's trying to depart away from them all by taking another train. However, it turns out that she has been looking for Mitsuhiko's lost portable radio this whole time.

Episode 289-290: Mitsuhiko's Mystifying Forest

• When the Detective Boys find out that Mitsuhiko is leaving the city and track him down to a mountainous area in Gunma, Haibara voices her concern about his sudden and secret travel, wondering what could possibly have prompted him into having such behaviors, as Mitsuhiko has always been the serious and considerate one.

• It later turns out that Mitsuhiko went into the mountains to catch fireflies because he had overheard Ai and Ayumi talking about how pretty they were, and wanted to surprise the girls, as fireflies are symbols of summer that you can't find in the city. However, when he has finally caught one, he realizes that he must hold it with both hands, and thus unable to answer to Conan's call via the detective badge. Despite this, Mitsuhiko didn't give it up for the sake of Ai and Ayumi. Earlier, even after hearing Conan's warning that there was a serial killer nearby and that he needed to contact them immediately, Mitsuhiko refused to let go of the firefly and chose to run away from Ki'ichiro Numabuchi instead. Ai, along with Ayumi, is astonished when she learns this and asks "You did all that for us?". They express their appreciation, while Mitsuhiko blushes and smiles happily.

• At the end of the episode, Ayumi mentions to Haibara the sighting of a legendary animal, called Tsuchinoko. Both girls mention how they would like to see it. Mitsuhiko and Genta begin plotting ways to go find this creature and show it to the girls, even though this is seemingly impossible.

Episode 312-313: Festival Dolls Dyed in the Setting Sun

• Mitsuhiko pulls Ai to the top of the stairs with him so that they would become the empress and emperor in the photo.

Episode 374-375: A Code of Stars and Tobacco

• Mitsuhiko suggests, while blushing, that when they discover a new comet, it should be named after himself, Haibara, and Ayumi.

Episode 376: The Time Limit is 15:00!

• Conan, Mitsuhiko and Genta try to release an unconscious Ran from a car. As the current gets stronger and stronger, it sends with itself Conan and the two boys. When Mitsuhiko and Genta reach the shore swimming, the current is already very strong, so Ai helps Mitsuhiko come out of the water.

Episode 427-428: Super Secret of the Road to School

• The Detective Boys look for a missing girl who is said to resemble Ai. Ayumi says that the girl is popular among the girls but not among the boys in her class. Mitsuhiko, however, blushes and says that Ai is liked even by boys. When Ai hears this, she turns around to Mitsuhiko, smiles at him and thanks.

Episode 466-467: The Unsmashable Snowman

• Mitsuhiko grabs Ai's hand during the snowstorm to make sure she doesn't get lost, but it turns out to be Genta's hand instead and everyone looks embarrassed.

• Later Ai shows Genta special attention when he falls into the snow and gets a nosebleed. She uses tissues to stop his nose from bleeding and holds his face while telling him to be careful next time. Mitsuhiko watches Ai walk away, blushes and exclaims that he's really jealous of Genta.

Episode 481-482: Mountain Witch's Cutlery

• The professor tells the horror story of a mountain witch who eats children. Mitsuhiko states that he will protect Ai and Ayumi with his life, should the mountain witch really appears. As a result, Ai smiles sarcastically and comments that she would be honored if Mitsuhiko let himself be eaten in her place. She responds to Mitsuhiko with "Mitsuhiko-kun" for the first time, instead of with "Tsuburaya-kun".

Episode 509: Red, White, Yellow, and the Detective Boys

An apartment is burned down and three of the residences are suspected as the arsonists. While Conan tries to figure out who the culprit is, Ai holds onto him freaking out about her "sixth sense" with the members of the Black Organization. She suspects that one of the three is a Black Org. member. To get a better look at them, she asks Mitsuhiko to do her a favor. She puts her hands on is shoulders and says "Stay like that and walk backwards. That's all I need." Mitsuhiko blushes and then says "Walk backwards? Is there something behind me?" as though someone is pulling a joke on him. Ai holds his face in her hands and says "Don't turn around. You need to keep looking at me." He stammers "Y-yes." They walk backwards until Mitsuhiko says "Haibara-san, you're hurting me." because she's grabbing his shoulders too hard. She accidentally pushes him out of surprise and he falls to the concrete and scrapes his elbow. Ai is very much anxiously around Mitsuhiko when it pushes him mistakenly to ground. She bends to him down, and asks him whether he is injured.

This is a big trust proof from Ai, because for the first time it entrusts someone else than Conan, her protection before a member of the black organisation.

Episode 518-519: Meiji Restoration Mystery Tour

A young woman is being kidnapped, along with Mitsuhiko. Ai jumps in the car and tries to pull the ignition key to prevent Mitsuhiko's kidnapping.

Episode 524-525: The Blue Spark of Hate

Ai asks Mitsuhiko to do her one favour. He follows to this request with pleasure.

Episode 622-623: Emergency Situation 252

The children want to play kick-the-can, however, Ai and Conan are still undecided whether they also want to join in. Their friends persuade the both, and Mitsuhiko packs Ai in her shoulders.

Chapters 841-843: Delivery Service

One day when the detective boys are playing football a cat jumps into the game and get in the way of Haibara in the middle of a kick. Ai desperately tries not to kick the animal and instead kicks way off and falls down on the ground. Mitsuhiko offers Ai his hand to get up, but she instead plays with the cat until it runs off.

The cat runs off and hides in a delivery truck for frozen goods. Scared that the cat would freeze to death inside the car, the detective boys follow it and end up locked inside by the unknowing drivers. Ai's new hand knit sweater get caught in some bushes, and as the car drives further away, her sweater starts to unravel. Eventually Ai is left wearing nothing but her underwear and hides away from Conan and the others. When the children find out that Haibara is practically naked in the freezing car, Mitsuhiko goes over to her and offers her his jacket to prevent her from getting cold and to cover her up when they leave the car. Conan tells them they can't leave the van yet, since he had discovered a corpse in one of the boxes. Their phones and badges don't work, so they are trapped inside the freezer.

Ayumi notes that Mitsuhiko has become very quiet and asks Mitsuhiko how he is doing. Mitsuhiko claims he's not cold anymore and isn't even shivering. Conan yells out that this is very bad but before he can explain further, Mitsuhiko looses consciousness. Conan examines and finds symptoms of hypothermia and notes that Mitsuhiko will freeze to death if they don't find some way to warm him up. Genta points out that Since Mitsuhiko gave his jacket to Ai, he's only wearing a t-shirt, this greatly upsets Haibara and Ayumi.

When Mitsuhiko wakes up, he's sharing his jacket with Ai who is embracing him from behind to warm him up. Ai, who is only wearing the jacket and underwear is trying to warm Mitsuhiko up with her body heat and apologizes that he must be cold because he gave her his jacket. Mitsuhiko realizes how close they are and when he remembers that Ai isn't wearing anything but her underwear, he blushes heavily and thanks her for warming him up. Ai tells him not to move too much, and that she will warm him even further. They sit in this position until the case is solved and they make a dash out of the car while in mortal danger.

Movies

Movie 5: Countdown to Heaven

Mitsuhiko confides in Ran that he is in love with both Ayumi and Ai and asks her if that makes him a bad person. Ran reassures him and advises him to stay friends for now and who he should date will be settled in time. Mitsuhiko seems content with her answer.

As the detective boys make their escape in a sports car that they ride off the top of an exploding skyscraper, Ai (who is not wearing a seatbelt) is flung out of the seat and almost falls to her certain death on the concrete below. Mitsuhiko grabs her hand, desperately hanging on as he screams that he will never let her fall. Ai seems heavily moved by this.

Movie 6: The Phantom of Baker Street

Ai says that she is cold. As a result Mitsuhiko takes off his jacket and gives it to her.

Movie 9: Strategy Above the Depths

Haibara makes fun of Mitsuhiko asking him to have a bath with her. He immediately blushes and faints to the floor.

Movie 10: The Private Eyes' Requiem

The Detective Boys are in a fun fair. Genta is hungry, however, the children stand in a queue. Ai offers to keep the place for them. And Mitsuhiko wants to remain immediately with her to wait together with her.

Movie 12: Full Score of Fear

Mitsuhiko looks at Ai while he's singing and blushes heavilly. The chorus coach scolds him and tells him his singing was bad because he was looking at Ai.

OVAs

OVA 9: The Stranger from Ten Years Later

Ai tells them she is on a diet. Mitsuhiko immediately blushes and tells her that it's unnesscary since she already has a perfect body.

OVA 11: A Secret Order From London

Mitsuhiko daydreams about Ai Haibara.

On account of some misunderstandings (also by Conans guilt) Mitsuhiko develops the "conspiracy theory" that Ai the child star Grace Aihara is, and that she was a spy of the MI6 who has spied out mafia, and had to disappear in Japan under false name.

When a black-dressed man and a black-dressed woman Ai and Ayumi obstruct the way, Mitsuhiko intervenes. He holds on the man, and says the girls that they should fast run away. Obvious he is ready to risk his own life to protect Ai, because he holds the man for a member of the mafia.

In the end Mitsuhiko tells Ai about his theory and shows also her the picture of Grace Aihara. As a result shows Ai him compared with so much trust that she confirms to him that in his theory more as a spark of truth is, while Ayumi holds his theory for nonsense.

At last Mitsuhiko dreams of being married one day with Ai.

See also

• Ai Haibara
• Mitsuhiko Tsuburaya