Friendship: Chapter 3

#01: Detective Conan (Shin'ichi/Conan & Shiho/Ai)
...xXx...

The room was filled with so much tension that it could suffocate everyone within the room. Ai Haibara knew perfectly well what the cause of the tension was. It was none other than her reckless action a few days ago. Why was he so upset with her? Shouldn't he feel grateful that with her gone, his secret would be safe, and the Black Organization wouldn't know anything about his involvement with her? Didn't he realise that his safety had become the most important thing since he became her best friend?
"Why?" His tone raised an octave.
She was happy that he finally talked to her. Yet, she was not pleased with their current situation. As much as she hated to admit it, it was her own fault that they ended up like this. His face was enough to tell her that he was trying to control his anger. Gazing away from him, she replied, "I think the answer is rather obvious."
When he made no sound, she looked back at him and regretted it immediately. His eyes were enough to tell her just how immense his sadness was, and it made her cringe inwardly.
He stood up from her bed. "I thought you were my best friend, Shiho…"
She invisibly flinched. Her heart broke when he didn't even look back as he made his way out of her room.
"Shin'ichi…" His name was uttered from her lips before she could stop herself.
Shin'ichi stopped in his tracks but did not turn around. When he heard nothing from her, he faced her once again and gazed into her eyes. Before truly leaving her room, he told her, "Do you still remember what I told you a few weeks ago? I really meant what I said. I do like you, Shiho." The night I almost lost you was the night I realised that I like you as more than a friend.

...xXx...

After wandering aimlessly for an hour, Conan decided to go back to Ran's place. However, he was surprised by an unexpected guest who was waiting for him.
"Conan-chan." His mother's sweet voice was enough to make him roll his eyes mentally.
"Okaa-san," he greeted normally before looking around and failed to find Kogoro-oji-san anywhere.
Before he could say another word, Ran walked into the room with a hand luggage. "Ah, Conan-kun! Your mother is here to pick you up."
Yukiko stood up and took the luggage. "Thank you, Ran-chan. I'll return with my son in a few days."
Knowing what to do, Conan obediently grasped his mother's hand and went downstairs.
"See you in a few days, Conan-kun!" Ran said with a smile as soon as Conan sat down on the passenger seat of the car.
Conan strained a smile and nodded. "See you in a few days, Ran-nee-chan."
With that said, they left the agency.
Something was wrong; Yukiko was sure of that. Her son had been quiet the entire trip back home. She had received a call from her son about the incident at the Twin Tower Building a few days ago. As a mother, she was worried about her son's safety, but she knew Shin'ichi could take care of himself. What made her come back here was the way her son had told her everything about the incident. Apparently, this Shiho, the girl who was from the Black Organization meant a lot to him.
"Shin-chan?"
"…"
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"I don't understand what she was thinking, Okaa-san."
Yukiko stayed still.
"She doesn't trust me to always protect her."
"Sounds like a gallant prince."
Slightly annoyed, he replied, "I'm serious, Okaa-san."
"Always?"
Confused, he glanced at his mother.
"There might be a day when you return to Shin'ichi Kudō. When that happens, will you still protect her?"
"Of course, I will!"
Yukiko spared a sideway glance at her son. "What about Ran-chan? Didn't she promise to wait for you?"
No answer came from him.
Yukiko remained silent to let her son think. Shin'ichi might be a good high school detective, but she knew he was dense when it came to girls' feelings. He was even denser when his attention was only devoted to Shiho. She sneaked a glance at her son. Sooner or later you will have to choose, Shin'ichi.

...xXx...

"I wonder what happen to Conan-kun and Ai-chan," Ayumi wondered out loud. They were on their way back from school.
"Both of them didn't talk to each other since the Twin Tower's incident," added Mitsuhiko.
"Is that so? I didn't notice at all," supplied Genta.
Ayumi and Mistuki stopped walking and gave him a bland look.
"W-what?" Genta felt uncomfortable with their stares.
"Genta-kun is so dense," said Mitsuhiko while shaking his head.
"Really dense," agreed Ayumi with a nod before walking again.
"H-hey! Wait for me!" shouted Genta while chasing after his two best friends.

...xXx...

To say he was shocked was an understatement when Shiho appeared on his doorstep. He never knew she would come to his house as she had never visited him before. It was always the other way around. He opened the door wider so that she could enter. "Come in."
"Sorry to intrude," she replied as she went into the house.
Right after he closed the door, his mother came down from upstairs. "Ara, Shin-chan! You have a visitor?"
It was a statement rather than a question.
Ai gave a small bow. "Good afternoon."
Yukiko smiled. "Good afternoon. You must be Shiho-chan."
As expected, Ai turned to look at Conan, who was looking away from her. Turning back to Yukiko, a small smile was on her face as she replied, "Yes, I am. Nice to meet you…"
"Just call me 'Okaa-san' like Shin-chan, alright!" Yukiko winked with a grin.
Ai was speechless while Conan turned red. "Okaa-san!"
"I'm going out with my friends. Look after the house, Shin-chan." Yukiko ruffled her son's hair before smiling at Shiho. "Nice to meet you, Shiho-chan."
Both stood where they were even after his mother left. They felt awkward, and both didn't know who should start speaking.
"I'm tired of standing." It was Ai, who broke the awkwardness between them.
"S-sorry," Conan stuttered out and led the way to the living room.
"Is orange juice alright with you?" he asked once she sat down.
"No."
"Eh?"
"I came here to talk to you, Shin'ichi…"
"Alright…" He sat down across from her and waited.
"…"
"…"
"…"
"I'm sorry," they said at the same time, surprising each other.
Conan let out a small laugh. "Ladies first."
Ai nodded before saying, "I know you have promised that you will protect me, Shin'ichi, but I know that it won't be forever."
He wondered mentally if Ai had some sort of agreement with his mother as of a few days ago; his mother just reminded him about the same thing.
"You have Mouri after all."
They had, he concluded inwardly.
"I just couldn't bear… to lose you."
Alright, he didn't expect that, and he became quiet to let her words sink in.
"I love you more than anyone else in this world."
His wide eyes immediately met her normal ones. "W-what?"
"Didn't you tell Mouri that before she gained her memory back?"
"That was because I was trying to help Ran recover from her memory loss."
She looked away from him. "Are you sure about that, Shin'ichi?"
When he didn't answer, she sighed. She felt so out of character for talking about this. Since when had she become so emotional? Oh yeah, since the day she admitted that she liked him. Standing up, she told him, "I have said this before; I'm not a child anymore even though I appear as one. I don't need your protection."
Before she could get away from him, he caught her wrist, stopping her from leaving.
Is this what Okaa-san meant? I have to choose between Shiho and Ran? Conan looked up at Ai, who was also looking at him. "Will you let me protect you if I choose you?"
Her heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean by that? For your information, I'm not one of your choices."
He released her wrist. "You lied to me then?"
"What?"
"I thought you said you like me, Shiho."
"Well, you said it first."
"…"
"…"
"Do you like me then?"
"…"
"Answer me, Shiho."
"…"
"Shiho!"
"Yes! I like you! I like you as more than a friend! Are you satisfied now?" Her face flushed red.
He wasn't sure if it was from embarrassment or anger.
The former, he decided when she refused to look at him in the eye.
Ai frowned when she suddenly heard Conan laugh. She glared at him. "What's so funny about it?"
Conan stopped laughing and removed his glasses to wipe away his tears of joy. He had been too worried about her refusal.
She never expected him to put his glasses on the table and then truly gaze into her eyes. The intensity of his gaze made her blush. A gasp escaped her lips when Conan took both of her hands and held them tenderly.
While holding her hands, he stood up before her. He let go of her left hand and reached out to caress her cheek.
His smile was enough to make her heart beat even faster, and she stayed still.
"I like you as more than a friend, Shiho."
He released her hand and stepped closer to her.
She closed her eyes when he wrapped his arm around her waist.
He moved his hand that was on her cheek to her nape slowly as he leaned down to her lips.
Any rational thought flew out of their mind when their lips met. They parted their lips at the same time, and they started kissing each other naturally as if it was not their first kiss. After deepening the kiss for several moments, they realized they needed to let go. Both broke apart but still held onto each other. Their foreheads met with their eyes closed as both tried to calm their ragged breaths.
Conan opened his eyes and admired Ai's flushed cheeks. She looked even more beautiful when she blushed in happiness.
"You will pay for this," said Ai before opening her eyes.
Shocked, Conan stared at her. "What?"
"That was my first kiss."
He blinked. "That was my first kiss, too."
Several months ago, Ran had kissed him as Conan Edogawa, but that didn't count as she did it to save his life. If Ran didn't save his life, he wouldn't be able to find Ai. Feeling grateful, he mentally thanked Ran for saving his life.
She gazed away from him to hide her blush. Why did she tell him that that was her first kiss? It was a really embarrassing confession even though it was the truth. Since she started working for the Black Organization, she had never had a boyfriend. And even Shin'ichi was indirectly introduced by her older sister Akemi. A thought suddenly crossed her mind.
"What are we now?" She needed to make sure he had truly chosen her.
"What do you want to call it?"
She glared at him.
He smiled. "Will you go out with me, Shiho Miyano?"
After staring at each other for a moment, she replied, "Let me—"
"Uh-huh. Your answer is 'yes' or 'no'."
"But—"
"I don't want to wait anymore."
A small smile decorated her face. "I didn't know you were such an impatient detective."
He shrugged. "Sometimes. So, what's your answer?"
She looked at him in the eye. "… Yes. I will go out with you, Shin'ichi Kudō."
He grinned. "Good."
Before anyone could say a word, the main door was unlocked and revealed none other than Yukiko.
"Welcome home… Okaa-san," greeted Ai. The last part sounded like a whisper.
Yukiko smiled. "I'm back, Shiho-chan."
Conan narrowed his eyes when he caught the glint in his mother's eyes. Yet, he shrugged away his suspicion and put his glasses back again. When his mother mentioned his father would be coming home soon, he stopped dead. "What did you say, Okaa-san?"
"Yūsaku is here, Shin-chan. He wouldn't let me go home alone and his childhood friend had called him to discuss a few cases, so he came back to Japan with me."
"A few cases? Why Otou-san—"
"Because it's only small cases, Shin'ichi," a deep voice interjected.
Conan looked at his father in surprise. "Otou-san!"
"Yūsaku, I thought you wouldn't be back until dinner."
"I just wanted to see how my son's doing." Yūsaku grinned at his son.
Conan took a step back mentally.
Ai gave a small bow at Yūsaku. "Good afternoon."
Yūsaku replied Ai with a smile, "Good afternoon, Shiho-kun."
Conan glared at his mother instantly. He was sure his mother had told his father everything about Shiho.
"Traitor," he muttered, utterly annoyed.
"Shiho-chan, would you like to stay for dinner?" Yukiko asked suddenly.
Ai was surprised. "I would love to, but…"
"If you're worried about Professor Agasa, we already invited him, and he said it's up to you," added Yukiko.
Ai smiled. "I will accept the offer if you let me help, too."
What should I make out of that? Conan thought while looking at his girlfriend and his mother who started discussing dinner's menu.
As he heaved a sigh, he felt his father's hand on his head, and he looked up at his father.
Father and son shared an internal conversation for a moment.
"I understand, Otou-san," Conan said, ending their mental conversation. I'll tell Ran that she doesn't have to wait for me anymore…
Yūsaku nodded in reply. It's good that you have finally decided, Shin'ichi.

...xXx...

When they reached Professor Agasa's house, Ai turned to Conan. "Thank you for walking me back."
After dinner was over, Professor Agasa had gone back before her to finish his future invention as he named it. After helping 'Okaa-san' cleaned the dining room, Conan had offered to walk her back.
"Don't mention it," replied Conan casually.
Both stood in front of the main door without saying anything, feeling shy all of a sudden.
After a moment or two, Conan kissed Ai on the cheek before blushing. "G-good night, Shiho."
Before Conan could leave, Ai caught his wrist and quickly kissed him back on the cheek. "Good night, Shin'ichi."
Smiles were on their faces as they parted for the day.

...xXx...

While staring at the picture of Conan liplocked with Ai, Yukiko started, "I can't believe that Shin-chan is already in that age."
Yūsaku sweat dropped. He was sure his son would be mad if he knew this. "Shin'ichi is already in high school. He's just trapped in his elementary form."
To his dismay, his wife ignored him as she was busy looking at other pictures and muttering about where to put them. He shook his head, giving up the thought of reminding his wife to be careful.
Unknown to him, his son would keep the picture in the future for that moment was where his relationship with Ai started as more than just a friend.

Prev Chapter 1—Friendship Chapter 2—Best Friend Chapter 3—More Than Friendship Chapter 4—Friendship No More Next