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 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 does admire his courage during missions the Detective Boys must perform and respects his feelings. She also in some episodes showed more confidence with Mitsuhiko than with Ayumi or Genta. Ai is often irritated by the childish behavior of the Detective Boys. However, in this regard she clearly has more problems with Ayumi and Genta, because Mitsuhiko is cleverest of the three. A reoccurring element in the MitsuxAi relationship is Conan; he is usually secretly observing their "moments" and poking fun at Ai interest in Mitsuhiko while she rolls her eyes and makes some ironically comment.

Moments

Mushrooms, Bears, and the Detective Boys (Manga Volume 27 file 10 and 28 Files 1-2, Episode 212-213)

This is the first episode that Mitsuhiko starts to show affection for Ai. In fact, it appears to hit rather quickly. As she is speaking to Ayumi, Genta and Agasa in one of her adult-like explanations regarding the apple being the forbidden fruit of Adam and Eve, causing them to be banished from the garden of Eden by God, as well as the apple being able to analyze good and evil, he's struck by her words and blushes. Conan notices this and asks "What's wrong? What's with the weird look?" and Mitsuhiko gets defensive at first, stating "I'm not making a weird face!" He seems to give in and answers with "I was just looking at her." Directing their attention to Ai. Mitsuhiko continues speaking about her then, saying "Haibara-san's words are harsh but she's really pleasant, smart, and mature. Don't you think she's mysterious?" Growing embarrassed Mistuhiko tries to cover up his words by stating "B-but, just because, it's not like..." Conan's face grows serious as he places a hand on either side of Mitsuhiko's shoulders, replying with "Well, Mitsuhiko, I won't say anything mean, but don't choose her. She'll be too difficult to deal with." Haibara hears him say this and blinks in confusion at the two.

Later in the episode, Genta gets lost while they are searching for a certain kind of mushroom and Ai makes Conan pair up with Ayumi and tells Mitsuhiko to come with her to go look for him. Conan gets a dark look on his face and says "Be careful, Haibara." as they are in hunting territory and humans are often mistaken for animals and shot by accident. Ai smiles in a very genuine way and says "Thank you for worrying about me." Conan scoffs and says "Whatever." Mitsuhiko feels left out and looks from one to the other repeatedly. When they start searching, Mitsuhiko remembers this and asks "What is your relationship with Conan?" when she gives him a confused look he goes on to say "You two often go off into a corner and talk about things normal children don't understand. It's like you two only understand each other...like you're in your own little world." Ai brushes him off and says "You're wrong. It's not as romantic as it seems."

In episode 213, Ai falls to the ground after twisting her ankle when they were running away from what they thought at the time was someone intentionally trying to shoot them.

Mitsuhiko immediately runs to her side and cuts his towel into strips to wrap it around her ankle like a bandage. Ai is conspicuously delighted by his natural intelligence and exclaims to Mitsuhiko "Wow, that's amazing!" Mitsuhiko blushes and then looks down saying "Actually, I sprained my ankle when I was camping with Conan-kun once and...Conan-kun...he showed me this. He knows everything. He's amazing. He's also a great leader. I'm not even close to being like him..." After a pause Haibara smiles and says "Stupid...the most important thing is that you have this knowledge and can use it after learning it. Right now, you're my outstanding rescuer. Thank you for your help." She nods with a pleased expression when Mitsuhiko blushes and stammers "Ah, n-no. I'm embarrassed by the way you said that!" When he stands to continue, Mitsuhiko supports Ai and carries her from the mountain. The scene ends with her gazing at his reddened face intently.

On the ride home at the end of the episode, Haibara is sitting in the front while the rest are in the back, discussing what had happened. When Mistuhiko comments about Jubei ((The female bear)) and Matasaburo Saika being friends for 20 years, thus explaining why he was willing to kill to save her, Haibara shoots him down, stating "When an animal lovers goes this far, it's rather annoying." Visibly hurt, he sits down and talks with Ayumi, who picks up the conversation with him. When Mistuhiko is no longer looking at Haibara, she turns and watches him, letting out a small smile. Conan notices this and smirks at her smugly, causing Ai to blush and reply in anger with "What are you looking at?" He simply says "Nothing." and leaves her to look away in spite.

Hooligan's Labyrinth (Episode 279-280)

The episode begins with the Detective Boys and Professor Agasa having just finished watching a soccer/football game between the Tokyo Spirits and Noir Tokyo. On the train back Mitsuhiko is listening to the sports results of the next game on the radio and Ai puts her head against his to listen. He notices how close she is and blushes, stammering "Ha...Haibara-san." Turning to face him, Ai asks "How is the game?". With a bright red face Mitsuhiko manages to say "Uh, y-yeah." and reports that the game is still zero to zero, saying that they had just got into the first half of the overtime period. Conan takes notice of the two when Haibara asks if number 9 from Big Osaka ((A player by the name of Ryusuke Higo)) is still on the field. With a nervous swallow and the blush still across his face, Mitsuhiko manages to say "Higo is still playing. But the booing makes it harder for people on his side to pass the ball to him." Haibara looks to the ground as he says this, whispering "Oh." Concerned for her, Mitsuhiko stares at Ai sadly and says "Um, Haibara-san?" Before he could speak more, Haibara glances up at him and states "Well, please let me know if anything happens." Excited by her request Mitsuhiko replies "Yes, of course!"

At the end of episode 279, Haibara leaves the group pretending to have to use the restroom. After Conan solves the murder in episode 280, and the police take him away, Genta remarks that Haibara is slow to return. Mitsuhiko and the others don't know where she is until they notice her standing on the platform on the other side of the train tracks like she's going to get on a different train. Conan fears the worst and bolts up the stairs to try to get to her before she leaves. When he's on the other side, she's no where to be found. Conan pauses to catch his breath, and screams her name. Haibara appears behind him and says "Why are you shouting?" Conan tries to save face but she already knows that he thought she had run away. She tells him, with slight irritation, that she was just searching for Mitsuhiko's portable radio that he had lost earlier in the episode.

Mitsuhiko's Mystifying Forest (Episode 289-290)

This episode begins as a regular day. They're all doing community exercises outdoors to mark the beginning of summer, while Ayumi explains to Genta about radio exercising and fireworks are some of the only symbols of summer that haven't disappeared over time. Ai suddenly states "Speaking of disappearing...Tsubaraya-kun isn't here today either.", being the first of the group to note that Mitsuhiko isn't present. It seems he has been gone for a few days already.

Later that day the Detective Boys and Agasa go to Mitsuhiko's house to check on him. Mit-chan, as his sister calls him, says that he was going camping after the exercises, and is surprised to hear that he wasn't with the Detective Boys already. She also mentions how excited he seemed to be. The gang begins an investigation into the whereabouts of Mitsuhiko, following his tracks, and leading them into a forest located in the mountains. Ai voices concern then by saying "What is it that made Tsuburaya-kun, the serious and considerate one...Turn his back on us for the first time and travel this far into the mountains?" The end of episode 289 shows that Mitsuhiko is now lost in the forest.

In episode 290, it begins with the Detective Boys desperately looking for Mitsuhiko in the forest where it is now known a serial killer has escaped. During Haibara's remarks that the serial killer is an ex Black Organization member, and how she couldn't sense him like she normally could, most likely due to living such a peaceful life now; Conan suddenly remarks with "That's good!" This surprises Ai. Conan goes on to say "That means you're finally being able to live a normal life, doesn't it?" Then he states that they shouldn't waste anymore time, and continue looking for Mitsuhiko. As Conan turns to walk away, he finishes by saying to Haibara, "After all, he's a crazy guy who wants to see you and Ayumi-chan smile." Completely surprised by this, Ai questions "Yoshida-san and I?" Before he could reveal why Mitsuhiko was in the forest in the first place, they hear the beeping of a Detective badge in the distance. The serial killer approaches with Mitsuhiko, but let's him go and easily walks off with the police, seemingly content.

In the end it turns out that Mitsuhiko went into the mountains to find fireflies because he overheard Ai and Ayumi talking about how pretty they were, and wanted to surprise them. When he finally caught one, he couldn't answer his detective badge or it would get away. It was a symbol of summer that you couldn't find in the city. One he overheard Ayumi and Ai stating they would like to see. Mitsuhiko ended up risking his life just to impress Ai because there was a dangerous killer roaming the mountains. Ai is astonished when she learns this and says "You did all that for us?" Referring to Ayumi and her. She goes up to Mitsuhiko and quietly says "Thank you." It seems his actions honestly impressed her. The night is suddenly filled with the glowing lights of fireflies, and everyone observes, even the serial killer, who perhaps lied about a buried body in the forest to come see the fireflies one last time.

The very last of the episode has Ayumi mentioning to Haibara about the tv broadcast sighting of a legendary animal, called Tsuchinoko. Both girls mention how they would like to see it, while Genta and Mitsuhiko listen from behind. The two boys then begin plotting ways to go find this creature to show Ayumi and Ai, leaving Conan to think to himself "Here we go again."

Festival Dolls Dyed in the Setting Sun (Episode 312-313)

Mitsuhiko ask/pulled Ai to go to the top of the stairs with him to be the empress and emperor of the photo.

A Code of Stars and Tobacco (Episode 374-375)

The Detective Boys examine the case of a missing amateur astronomer whose skeleton they find. Mitsuhiko wants to maintain a star after itself, Ai and Ayumi name, when they the Detective Boys about stars and her discoverers.

Time limit 15 o'clock! (Episode 376)

Conan, Mitsuhiko and Genta try to release unconscious Ran on from a car. As the current stronger and stronger will get, sends away Conan both boys, with it this not in danger. When Mitsuhiko and Genta reach swimming the shore, the current is already very strong, and Ai Mitsuhiko helps to come from the river.

The Super Secret Road to School (Episode 427-428)

The Detective Boys are looking for a missing girl who looks a lot like Ai. Ayumi says that the girl is popular among the girls but not among boys in her class. Mitsuhiko, however, blushes and says that boys like her too. When Ai hears this, she turns around to Mitsuhiko, smiles at him and thanks.

The Unsmashable Snowman (Episode 466-467)

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 in the snow and gets a nosebleed. Ai uses tissue 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 "I'm so jealous of you, Genta-kun!"

Mountain Witch's Cutlery (Episode 481-482)

The professor tells the horror story of a mountain witch to the children the children eats. Mitsuhiko explains as a result that he protected Ai and Ayumi with his life, if this mountain witch really appears. As a result Ai says smiling (and also slightly ironically) that she feels honoured that he can be eaten at her place. In the course of the action Mitsuhiko is very obliging to Ai and Ayumi. Ai responds to Mitsuhiko in this result for the first time with "Mitsuhiko-kun", instead of with "Tsuburaya-kun" what is very confidential in Japan.

The Vanished Policeman (Episode 483)

A restaurant owner disguises himself as a policeman to protect, at night, the woman in whom he is in love secretly. At last says Ai ironically that men can never show their feelings. Maybe she wants to indicate that she waits for the fact that a "man" confesses her his true feelings in her surroundings, Mitsuhiko or Conan. However, maybe she makes fun even only of a stereotype about men.

Red, White, Yellow, and the Detective Boys (Episode 509)

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.

Meiji Restoration Mystery Tour (Episode 518-519)

A young woman should be kidnapped together with Mitsuhiko. Ai jumps in the car and tries to pull the ignition key to prevent Mitsuhiko's kidnapping.

The Blue Spark of Hate (Episode 524-525)

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

Emergency Situation 252 (Episode 622-623)

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.

Countdown to Heaven (Movie 5)

Mitsuhiko tells Ran that he is in love at the same time in Ayumi and Ai, and, therefore, feels as a bad person. Ran comforts him, and advises him to be friends for the time being with both girls. With which of them it would be one day lovers, would appear if he is older. Mitsuhiko can be content with this answer for the time being.

Ai becomes with the escape by a car from an exploding building, flung from this. Mitsuhiko holds on them with whole strength, and preserves them in such a way to fall in the depth, and injured themselves fatally to. Besides, he says that he never lets alow to fall them.

The Phantom of Baker Street (Movie 6)

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

Strategy Above the Depths (Movie 9)

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

The Private Eyes’ Requiem (Movie 10)

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.

Full Score of Fear (Movie 12)

Mitsuhiko instead of looking at Ayumi when they are singing he looks at Ai while he blushes. Their chorus coach says that he was singing bad because he was looking at Ai.

Mitsuhiko daydreams about Ai Haibara.

The stranger in ten years later (OVA 9)

Ai makes again a diet, and Mitsuhiko says that this is unnecessary, because she also has now already a good-looking body. Besides, he easily blushes.

A Secret Order From London (OVA 11)

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