Another ShinRan week is officially over. Again we got so many beautiful and talented works to enjoy, so let's thank all creators who participated this year:
Creator names follow:
@ravenclawwitchc
@subbe93
@otaku-108
@marshmallowgoop
@ellie-tarts
@detectivefable
@digitallyfanged
@wata-kushi
@kylee-11
FeatherDragon (AO3)
@ueyyuey
@lenawin4
@rux363
@marivanilla05
@deducingcircumference
@artycreaty
You can find a list of the entries by prompt here.
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Thank you for being part of ShinRan Week 2023! We enjoyed the week, and we hope that you did too ❤
One side dies, the other lives on for a long time, but with a happy ending. (Maybe?
In the afternoon, Kudo Shinichi and Mouri Ran attended the funeral of Mrs. Hope. At the time of her passing, she tightly held the pocket watch bestowed upon her by her husband on their wedding day and the cross medal earned by her son. All the inhabitants of the island surrounded her, including her husband and son. Time, ever flexible, reversed her body to its most exquisite state in memory—her white hair turned black, wrinkles faded away, and the bronze pocket watch regained its smoothness. Her parting words were, "I have no regrets." Ran leaned over the edge of the bed, her petite hand gently resting upon the rigid fingers of the departed, silently offering her blessings.
A reunion banquet ensued following the funeral as the sun slowly ascended towards the east. Shinichi and Ran graciously obtained leave, promising to arrive a little later. While the adults collectively hurried to the other side of the island to greet the newly arrived neighbors, these two children, hand in hand, clumsily ran towards their secret hideaway. They had made distinctive markings on the parchment map they had prepared a few days earlier in the courtyard.
Skipping through a lush expanse of wolf-tail grass and prickly juniper bushes, adorned with the resplendent blooms of the Endless Summer hydrangea, Shinichi narrowly avoided a face-to-face encounter with a swooping black-backed albatross. Fortunately, his companion courageously shielded him. After a hesitant circling, the albatross soared away, its wingbeats lost amidst the symphony of birdsong.
Looking up at the majestic creature, they watched it ascend higher and higher, riding the sunbeams that filtered through the foliage toward the island's edge. With a shared glance, they promptly followed its lead.
"Hey! We found it! It's right here!" Pushing aside the final obstruction, a towering leaf, a golden sandy beach emerged before their eyes, devoid of coarse gravel. "See, Ran? I told you, you wouldn't get lost if you followed me," the young boy exclaimed playfully, casting a proud glance at their intertwined hands, his sun-kissed face graced with a smile.
Ran squeezed the boy's hand firmly, observing the momentary quirk of his features, and narrowed her eyes with a playful smirk. "It seems that Conan is indeed more reliable than Shinichi, isn't he?"
During their preparations for the wedding in Hawaii, they clandestinely slipped away, temporarily delegating the various details, such as the banquet arrangements and guest list, to their respective parents. Despite their deep love for each other, marriage remained a weighty topic for these twenty-year-old lovers. They rediscovered the sensations of young romance, realizing their youthful spirits like any eloping couple, hearts thumping powerfully within their chests.
The darkness concealed their blushing cheeks, and they believed in an infinite realm of possibilities for the future, until the woman expressed her desire to return. The man, using getting lost as an excuse, continued to guide her in circles along the highways of Hawaii. Ran didn't believe the reason at all, yet she couldn't resist the fervent and bashful gaze of Shinichi.
"All of that is in the past now. Tell me the truth, though. Weren't you enjoying yourself back then?" The little boy had enough discernment to know when she called him Conan, whether she was genuinely angry or just playfully teasing.
Over time, this topic had ceased to be taboo between them. He smirked, pulling her closer and planting a chaste kiss on her ring finger, his eyes lifting to observe her expression. They shared an unspoken understanding, choosing not to bring up the interrupted wedding and redirecting their gaze toward the entrance of the underwater tunnel before them. "This is it, isn't it, Ran? The dinosaur."
During her childhood, Ran had a phase of being obsessed with dinosaur plush toys. She arranged the stegosaurus, triceratops, and tyrannosaurus rex according to their size, placing them by her pillow. When she passed by classmates in school who fervently idolized the tyrannosaurus rex, she couldn't help but engage in debates, her body bursting with fiery determination, ready to challenge those who dared to comment, "Liking dinosaurs isn't girly enough."
Shinichi was always there to support and cheer her on, unconditionally believing that she had the potential to star as the leading lady in Jurassic World, even when she blushed due to Yukiko's teasing. He would earnestly encourage her; little did they know that this was a prophecy that would be fulfilled in the distant future.
In her thirties, Ran finally had the qualifications to appear in such a production. On the green screen set, she almost burst into laughter due to the actors disguised as dinosaurs around her. No one knew what memories the actress, known for her disciplined demeanor, was recalling. Only Sonoko, who visited the set, worriedly held her hand.
Now they were truly inside the underwater tunnel, a remarkably long passage that no one had ever had the patience to venture to its end. The islanders wondered who could harbor such wild fantasies. Shinichi and Ran simply smiled upon hearing these speculations, reclaiming a semblance of the joy they experienced during their childhood adventures, hidden from Eri.
"Look at this, Shinichi!" The tunnel emitted a faint glow as Ran leaned against the glass, observing the various marine dinosaurs of all sizes outside.
Her gaze pierced through the dense blue of the underwater world. A majestic ichthyosaur gracefully glided by, its streamlined form and translucent body passing effortlessly through the tunnel, akin to a phantom. Yet, the tunnel itself trembled as if acknowledging its presence.
Ran recalled the games she played with Shinichi Kudo during their childhood. They would use the wooden floor as their ocean, maneuvering their dinosaur models to collide with each other. Sometimes her thoughts would wander from the game, focusing instead on the boy across from her who playfully uttered childish remarks. Sunlight danced between his brows and eyes. Now, in retrospect, she felt that her affection for him had extended beyond what she initially believed, reaching back further than their time in New York City.
Her heart trembled, and instinctively, she reached out to the side, her hand being effortlessly caught. She turned her head to look at Shinichi, knowing that he was reminiscing about their aquarium date. He had an unreasonable memory for every occasion when she refused to acknowledge their relationship, playfully keeping a tally for future reference. Truly a child at heart.
As they emerged from the silent tunnel, the melodies of birdsong reclaimed their sense of hearing, bringing boundless joy of life. On their return journey, they attempted to take a different path than before. Guiding their way was a short-tailed albatross, with a slight damage to its right wing and a red string tied to its left foot. As it took flight, the red thread traced a swaying arc, and its white feathers gleamed in the twilight.
Shinichi remembered that the albatross was a friend of the Kasahara couple on the island. He and Ran had dined at their home, where Mr. Kasahara, with his infectious smile, had treated them to ramen, a trendy dish for his generation. Reflecting on their connection with the albatross, they had once been buried together under scorching lava during a volcanic eruption in the Izu Islands.
The albatross led them to the reunion banquet, and the long walk left the two children with sore legs. Ran began to miss having an adult body. The adults on the island had a wicked sense of humor and enjoyed welcoming every visitor with a colorful spray. By the time Shinichi and Ran arrived, the venue was adorned with streamers, and parents, children, couples, and friends were dancing around a blazing campfire.
When the Kasahara couple saw them, the twirling skirts came to a halt, and they asked where they had been in the afternoon. But the two children remained silent, determined to let the mystery of the dinosaurs be something only they knew.
"Who came today?" Shinichi arranged the dishes for Ran. Since his arrival, he quickly became familiar with everything, and after her arrival, he went the extra mile to do all the little things for her. Mrs. Kasahara blinked her deep brown eyes, gesturing for him to look at the couple not far away. Unlike the laughing and joyful crowd, they remained motionless, embracing each other. They formed a silent silhouette as if burning in the midst of the fire.
"Was I like that back then too?" Ran gazed at them, feeling a long-lost sense of embarrassment welling up in her heart.
The encounter with Rose and Jack after their deaths allowed the aged woman to relive her youth, forever staying on that Titanic. Seventeen was the best time in Rose's heart. Many significant events also happened when Ran was seventeen—her childhood friend's disappearance, confirming their romantic relationship and, reunion. Yet, she met Shinichi as a child, as if denying the young adulthood, they were supposed to share after their long separation. Fortunately, Shinichi was understanding of her vulnerability, perhaps out of remorse. He knew the fleeting nature of their reunion, so he refrained from asking.
They brought the chiffon cake back to the yard, filled with Endless Summer, intending to save it for tomorrow or maybe yesterday. As they pulled up the curtains, Shinichi finally embraced Ran affectionately. It was the usual position they always slept in on the small bed, even though she teased his childlike body, unable to do anything. The dinosaur plush toy nestled quietly beside them.
Before going to sleep, they chatted about dinosaurs, hoped for rain the next day, and were reminded of playing It Takes Two by the couple they met today.
In the midst of their conversation, their silent gazes met. Ran thought to herself that life would be better if it only consisted of childhood. They had already spent countless days and nights together on this small island, but it felt too brief compared to her long solitude and his abruptly interrupted life. Perhaps one day, like Mrs. Hope, they would have no more regrets. But until that future arrived, they had unlimited time together.
A/N: Okay, here is my last entry for ShinRan week! Honestly, this came out to be much longer than I planned, which is the reason why my reread attempts haven't been very good, but I hope this is still enjoyable ^^
This was something I came up with when I told in The Light in My Nightmares chapter 15 how predictable the first Detective Conan live-action movie was. But like said, I also realized that at this point, I have pretty often made Ran to be the damsel in distress, so I decided to fix that! Though because I thought to make one shot, I suffered pretty much with the plot, and now I'm not even sure if I like this, but hey, I did it and this is what it is, so let's go! xD I hope you would still enjoy it!
Also, thanks to everyone for your support during ShinRan week ❤ I'm happy that you have enjoyed my writings (and I have also got to enjoy other's works too! ❤).
Detective in distress
Ran was worried. God, she really was even though she probably shouldn’t be.
“Idiot. Don’t worry about me”, she could hear Shinichi’s voice in her mind. That sentence she had heard too many times before, but it couldn’t be helped. She knew that Shinichi was a known high-school detective who had even taken down that mysterious Black Organisation, which meant that it wasn’t that unprecedented that he could have been asked to help with some case.
But he barely ever left during the school day. Usually, after the lessons were over.
And then there was the fact that Ran got that feeling. She couldn’t tell why she felt so worried, but somehow, she had a feeling that something had happened to Shinichi. She had had that feeling when he had left, but like always, he had just smiled and told her that there was nothing to worry about, it is going to be just a meeting with someone - a client.
But usually, when she has had that feeling, something terrible has happened.
And it didn’t change the fact that Shinichi had been silent the whole morning. Like he had been in his own thoughts. She had thought that there was some case he had been thinking about, but when she had asked about it, he hadn’t given her any answer.
And the fact that he just left the school, like that. And that he hadn’t…
“Your husband probably got some kind of case”, Sonoko said, taking Ran out of her thoughts. Ran took her eyes off her phone that she had looked at - again. God, only now she realized how obsessive she was about her phone. But it couldn’t be helped, she was waiting for an answer from Shinichi. All those messages she had sent after he left three hours ago… “And now he is too busy to check his phone”, Sonoko continued and smiled at her. “So don’t worry because you haven’t had any contact with him for a few hours.”
Ran rolled her eyes but looked again at the phone before she made herself shut it. “But Shinichi has always answered me even if he had a case”, she muttered, feeling like Sonoko didn’t take her seriously. “Besides, he hadn’t answered any of my calls.”
“Ran…”
She sighed again and looked at the sky. “I know, he has a bad habit to get too much into cases that he sometimes forgets everything around him, but really, I have the feeling that something bad is happening to him and I can’t get rid of it until… until…”
Sonoko didn’t say anything, and it was terrible because it made Ran’s thoughts go much further than they should. If something had really happened to him and he couldn’t answer to her? Or what if he has gotten into the hospital and was unconscious? Or what if… Ran felt something turning on her stomach. What if he had gotten into something similar situation as with the Black Organisation?
But… This time, he would tell her, right? He promised.
“Ran.”
Ran lowered her head and turned to look at Sonoko. She smiled at her and put both of her hands on her shoulders, squeezing them gently. “I believe he is just into some case and had lost the reality while working on it. There is no way that he would forget you, and I believe that if something would have happened, someone would have informed you.”
Ran looked away. She wanted to believe in it, but still…
“And that feeling… Maybe you are just too worried about him”, Sonoko continued. “I mean… I wouldn’t be surprised if that Conan thing had just left marks on you, and you are just extra cautious and thinking too much.”
It made Ran sigh. She wanted to argue against it. It had been some time since Shinichi took that organization down and got an antidote that turned him back to Shinichi. And after that, Shinichi had taken care of some cases, and during those times, she hadn’t felt this same feeling. Not even though she hadn’t been with him, not even though she hadn’t got a message or call from him during those cases…
But human psychology was another thing. Maybe there was a chance that Sonoko was right. Maybe this was some kind of trauma that woke up only just now. She had talked about the whole Conan mess with Shinichi and made peace with it, but then again, she was so close to losing him because of that organization and takedown. Maybe the realization of that had just hit her now…
Though she didn’t believe in it. She didn’t remember when that feeling had been wrong, but…
Ran shook her head. “You’re probably right”, she agreed finally and looked at Sonoko, trying to smile. “I just worry too much.”
Sonoko smiled. “That’s the spirit”, she shouted happily. “What if we would go to some café later? I heard that close to the station, there is a new one, and they got so much sweet…”
Ran’s smile widened and this time it was genuine. “Oh, really?! Of course, we really should check it out!”
“Yesh! Let’s meet at six.”
“Fine, see you then!”
They said goodbyes and left in their ways. Going to the cafe made Ran feel better. The idea of getting something sweet with good company sounded like something she just needed. But she should tell Shinichi about it. Just so he would know, just in case…
She took out her phone and opened it. But before she had time to search her conversations with Shinichi, she got a message.
Sadly, it wasn’t from Shinichi. And sadly, it made her stop right there. She stared at the message, feeling how her heart sank. She felt cold and worried. She felt desperate. She wanted to turn on someone, but she couldn’t do it. She was too afraid to do so.
She just looked at that unknown number hoping to get any idea who it would belong to, and then she read again that message, which made her shiver.
Dearest Mouri Ran.
I got something that you consider dearest to you. If you want to see your beloved Kudo Shinichi ever again, meet me at Tokyo’s sports hall as soon as you can. And if you want to see him alive, come alone. We have so much to talk about.
With love, your biggest fan.
She came to the sports hall as soon as possible. She had run the whole trip as fast as she could, so when she got to the parking space, she needed to stop for a moment, lean on her knees, and take some breaths to calm down. Though it felt so worthless because she was so worried about Shinichi that she felt like there was no time to stop. She felt tears burning in her eyes when she straightened up and looked at the big building in front of her. The same building where Shinichi and her biggest fan should be.
But it looked so dark and empty, and that made something twitch in Ran’s stomach. She looked around, hoping to find out any clue that someone was there, but it was hard to believe. There was nothing. But this was Tokyo’s sports hall! So where are they? Had she been led wrong?
But she needed to calm down. With panic, she wouldn’t help anyone. Not herself, not Shinichi.
Her biggest fan wouldn’t gain anything by lying to her. If they would want to get rid of Shinichi, why would they waste their own time contacting Ran? Well, to be honest, if this “Biggest fan” would have wanted to talk to her, why they couldn’t just ask? Why take a hostage?
Ran shook her head. Now wasn’t the time! She should check those doors and get in.
She ran to the front doors and tried it. Both of them were locked. She glanced at the inside from the glass, and it still looked desolated, like there was no one. There was only a big, dark lobby where she had been many times while coming to the tournament. Back then, there had been lights on and so many people, so it was pretty weird to see it this empty.
But it wasn’t the reason why she was there. And if her biggest fan wanted to keep this a secret, then there was even no reason to put every light on.
She let out a sigh. Well, she should try other doors.
She ran to the next one and tried it, but it was locked. And the next one too. Ran started to feel frustrated. What was this? Why any of these doors weren’t open if there should be someone inside? Of course, she knew that whoever would be inside, could always lock the door, but still, if they wanted to talk to her… She ran to the next one, which said, “Staff only” and tugged it.
It opened.
With surprise, she just stood there for a moment, just staring at the door. Well, she had known that some of them must be open if she had been invited, but still…
She felt anxious. It felt a little bit scary to go inside. She didn’t know at all what there was waiting for her, and to be honest, even the thought about Shinichi, being somewhere in there, maybe in bad shape…
But it was the reason why she needed to move on. Because he needed her!
Ran stepped inside and slammed the door shut behind her. She was pretty sure that she would find Shinichi and this biggest fan from the biggest gymnasium that was the center of this building - the place where people gathered in the stands to watch all kinds of sports matches, the place where many people around Japan came to compete who would be the best team or individual every year.
But who was her biggest fan?
Ran had thought about it on her way here, trying to figure out who this could be, but she hadn’t got anyone in her mind. To be honest, she couldn’t figure out anyone who could have gotten better of Shinichi. He seemed always being aware of his surrounding, it was hard to try to surprise him. But this one had gotten him. If this fan was someone close to him or her, it would explain why Shinichi probably hadn’t waited for anything to happen but Ran still couldn’t figure out who it could be. And if someone would have just wanted to get rid of him, she didn’t believe that this fan would have bothered to include her in it.
Part of her kind of wished that it would be Shinichi, but part of her knew that Shinichi wouldn’t call himself her biggest fan, and to be honest, even this would go too far from him. He would never make jokes about something like this and made her worried without reason. Right? Though she could also imagine how she would enter the gymnasium and he would be there waiting for her like nothing had happened and probably would laugh at her worry…
If he was behind this, she really hoped for his sake that he has a good reason for this.
Ran came to the big doorway and slowed her steps. In front of her were doors that lead her to the short aisle that those grandstands made. She felt nervous, yet she slowly grabbed the handle and after bracing herself to encounter whatever behind those doors waited, she pressed it down and carefully opened the door.
There was light, but she didn’t see anyone. But she couldn’t even see the whole hall from the doorway, so she stepped inside and closed the door. Slowly she walked that short aisle, seeing more of the hall…
And then she saw it. Someone lying on the floor on their side, but Ran didn’t need much to recognize them. Him.
“Shinichi…”
She let her school bag drop on the floor, making a loud noise. It felt hard to make her feet move, but when she did, she ran toward him. She dropped to her knees beside him, bending over him to see his face. His expression looked painful, but she couldn’t find any visible harm in him. His school uniform looked a little bit messy, like…
Had he been in a fight? But if so, then with whom?
“Shinichi?” she called him, bending a little bit closer. Carefully she touched his face, and almost at the same time, he grimaced. Ran touched his hair, moving them from his forehead when he turned his head a little bit, opening his other eye to look at her…
And something twisted on Ran’s stomach. He was hurt.
“Ra... Ran?” He let out with a hoarse voice. Then he let out a cough that looked so painful. “What… what are you doing here?”
“I could ask the same from you”, Ran answered gently, checking him again, trying to understand what had happened to him, but… “What happened to you? What’s wrong?”
“I…”
“Finally, I got your attention, Ran-chan.”
Ran felt shivering on her back. That voice…
Slowly Ran turned to look behind her. On the door, between grandstands, stood a man. Ran felt something tighten on her chest.
And somehow everything started to be clear to her. Everything started to make sense. And she started to blame herself for being so blind and stupid. She should have guessed this, but she hadn’t. How? How in the world she hadn’t thought?
“Okawa-san”, she breathed out and turned a little bit to see him better. She didn’t let go of Shinichi, but her eyes stayed on the black-haired man who was a few years older than she. The worry started slowly turn to anger. “What’s the meaning of this?”
He smiled sweetly. That stupid, boyish smile that made him look so sweet, so nice, so kind… It almost made her forget everything, almost made her think that maybe she was wrong, maybe this was some kind of misunderstanding, but she threw that idea away. She knew better.
“I just wanted to talk to you.”
Okawa Takehiko. Ran had met him for the first time two months ago. Truth be told, she had always been aware of him since he was a karateka. He had been part of a competition in the men’s group, so Ran hadn’t had many chances to meet him personally, but she had seen his matches, and he had always been victorious. Though Ran was sure that Makoto would win if there would be a match between the two of them.
But two months ago, that man had approached her. He had told her that he admires her karate skills and would love to go to the café. She had agreed and it had been worth it because Ran had had fun. They have had so much to talk about.
The only problem had been Shinichi. After she had told him about the meeting, he had become in a bad mood. They have fought it. Shinichi had claimed that Takehiko wanted to date her. Ran had told him that he was just ridiculous and jealous, and… Well, since none of them admitted being wrong, she had left with a fury. Like she wanted to be with that stupid detective anyway!
They had made peace on next day. But Shinichi hadn’t given up on the story that he had met Takehiko before and he had asked Shinichi if he could take Ran on a date. That had been the stupid thing that Ran had ever heard. Like who in the world would be bold enough to ask someone’s girlfriend on a date? Not Takehiko. He had been so nice and kind to her, and Ran had told him that she had a boyfriend. Besides, even if that would be true, why he would have asked about it from Shinichi? Isn’t she the one who would make that decision? Well, she wouldn’t leave Shinichi for someone else (and she told him that), but still, she had thought that Shinichi was just too jealous.
So, she met Takehiko some more times. And why not? He had been nice, kind, cheerful, positive, joking, and they shared so many same interests. Since they were both karatekas, he shared the same knowledge as she did. It was so refreshing to talk about their idols, other karatekas, tactics, moves, matches, and what else. Of course, she had talked about those things with Shinichi, but it wasn’t a secret that Shinichi’s knowledge wasn’t much. He hadn’t the same interest as her, even though he always listened and asked some questions if he didn’t know. The discussion wasn’t as deep as with Takehiko.
She didn’t mind having more friends, even though Shinichi had shown a long face every time she had told him that she is going to meet Takehiko. But at least he hadn’t tried to stop her, and she respected that. Like… Why couldn’t she have more friends? It wasn’t like she had been jealous every time Shinichi had had a woman as a client! And besides, she had never said that Shinichi couldn’t join them! Maybe she should ask Takehiko if Shinichi could join them next time. Then Shinichi would see that Takehiko was a nice guy!
But then it changed. Takehiko had asked her for the finest restaurant, and even though the idea had been nice, it made Ran feel slightly uneasy. Well, first of all, it had been the same restaurant where Shinichi had taken her after that school play some time ago. The place where - she later heard about it - he had tried to confess to her. The same restaurant where Kudo Yusaku had proposed Fujimine Yukiko. It felt like she would betray Shinichi if she would go there with someone else.
And the second thing was that it was a fine and expensive restaurant. Ran believed that no one took just a friend there, promising to pay for everything. She had felt like it wasn’t okay. Somehow it had started to feel like there was something more behind this, but she hadn’t dared to assume anything. In the end, there had been a possibility that she was just overthinking.
So, she declined. She had explained that this certain restaurant held some meaning for her and Shinichi and that she would feel like betraying her boyfriend if they would go there. It had been scary and made her nervous, but Takehiko was nice. He would understand and respect her for that.
Except things hadn’t gone as she had hoped for.
Because she had gotten an answer where he had admitted that he had a crush on her and wanted so badly to take her out.
Ran had been a little bit shocked. Maybe she shouldn’t have been, because in the end, Shinichi had said that Takehiko wanted to take her on a date, but… still. She hadn’t believed in that at all.
She had turned him down nicely. She had told that he had been brave to tell her, but she already had a boyfriend. Ran had thought that he would have been sad and probably answered something like “pity” before letting her be, but instead, she had gotten a message where he had just told her that she should give him a chance and see if he would be a better one. Again, Ran declined and explained that it wouldn’t be fair for Shinichi and she would still feel like she was betraying him if she would accept. But she hadn’t got the understanding that she had hoped for. Instead, Takehiko had continued insisting. Message after another he tried to convince her to go out with her, and every time she told him that she loved Shinichi more than anything else, and after getting enough, she told him that he would be nothing like Shinichi and asked to leave her alone before blocking his number.
It had been something she had never done to anyone. And even if it had been the right thing to do, she had felt a little bit bad for Takehiko. And even if that hadn’t been enough, she also felt bad because all this time, she had thought that Shinichi had been jealous for nothing. They had even fought about it, and now she needed to admit to him that she had been wrong all the time and apologize. She told him everything.
But instead of making fun of her, telling her something like: “I told you”, he had just thanked her for being honest and took her into his arms, giving her a warm and soothing hug. Ran had felt bad for doubting him, but luckily, he wasn’t mad about it.
Then, after a few days, Takehiko appeared behind her door. Luckily her father had been at home and been the one who had opened it. Ran had recognized Takehiko’s voice and with a panic, hide in the kitchen. She regretted now that she hadn’t told her father about Takehiko, and now all she could do was hope that her father wouldn’t let him in if he would claim to be Ran’s friend or something…
But luck had been on her side. Takehiko had been so confident that when her father had asked who the hell Takehiko was, he had introduced himself as Kogoro’s future son-in-law. There had been a long silence before her father announced that he had already one future son-in-law, so he didn’t need another one and shut the door, leaving Takehiko outside.
Ran had been so grateful, but the aftermath had been so awkward. Of course, when they finally ate their dinner, her father asked about that man. Ran hadn’t had any other choice but to explain the situation to him. But when he asked if Shinichi knew about this “other boy”, Ran exploded. God, what her father was even thinking? Did he really think that she was cheating on Shinichi with someone else?! She had shouted at him, asking him how in the world he even dared to suggest something like that! Of course, right after that she had felt that she had been so unfair. She had been just so shocked and stressed out about the situation, and deep down she knew that her father had meant well and wanted to make sure that everything between her and Shinichi was okay.
The last straw had happened a little over a week ago at school. Out of nowhere, Takehiko appeared at Teitan High School. Luckily Ran had missed him and successfully avoided him even though he had just walked around the school, asking everyone where he could find Ran. And luckily this school and her classmates had been on her and Shinichi’s side. Sonoko had informed Ran that she had done everything that Takehiko wouldn’t bump into her or Shinichi while searching the school, and she knew to tell that even though she had planned to instruct their classmates not to tell anything, it seemed that without a word, they had shown their support to Shinichi and Ran. When Takehiko had asked, they had just told him that Ran was dating Shinichi and they were meant to be, so he wouldn’t have a chance, whatever he would do. It had made Ran blush deeply, but she had been so grateful. If her words didn’t mean anything to him, she hoped that hearing that from outsiders’ mouths would make him realize that she was serious and wouldn’t go out with him.
But even though the girls had taken the situation seriously and comforted her and Shinichi about it, some of the boys didn’t take it as seriously. It seemed that as soon as they got a chance, they started to joke about Ran having another man or Shinichi having a competitor that he should be careful of. In another situation she would have probably laughed, but this? No, this wasn’t even fun anymore! And when she had glanced at Shinichi… God, he had always laughed with others, joked back, but this time? He had just made that forced smile before turning away without saying anything.
This all had made her wonder how much this situation had tested their relationship. It was true that their love had survived probably much harder situations than this, but she couldn’t lie: Seeing Shinichi as that had hurt her. She hated to see him hurt because of this. And it hadn’t helped that after that day when they were finally heading home, she had opened her locker and found out all the gifts, flowers, and a letter that Takehiko had left her. It had been embarrassing, knowing that Shinichi saw that all… But it hadn’t been her fault. And like his locker hadn’t ever been full of gifts and love letters! But he hadn’t said anything, just helped her to throw them in the trash can. Yeah, she had felt bad for doing so, wasting someone’s money and time, but she didn’t want them.
And that’s why she felt now foolish. She should have guessed that it was Takehiko who would call himself her biggest fan. Of course, he would be the one who would approach Shinichi and hurt him just to make sure to get in touch with her. Though she still couldn’t understand why. She had told him that she loved Shinichi and she wouldn’t leave him for Takehiko. Why make everything just harder? Why couldn’t he respect her and leave them alone?
God, this was enough. She had been patient with him, but this time he had gone too far.
“If you wanted to talk to me, you should have just asked”, she said angrily and glanced at Shinichi who tried to push himself onto his knees. It seemed so painful and Ran got her arms around him just to give him some support. “But this”, she continued and glanced at Takehiko. “Why?”
She saw how he glanced at Shinichi. “He would be only in a way”, Takehiko answered finally and smiled – that sweet, boyish smile, and somehow Ran didn’t like it as much as she did before. “He is just beaten, nothing serious.”
“Just beaten?” Ran repeated shocked and turned to look at Shinichi again. She couldn’t see his face, but she heard how he breathed heavily, like every move he made hurt him and took much more energy than usual. “It isn’t just beaten up! You have hurt him!”
“I didn’t have a choice”, Takehiko answered. “He didn’t agree to break up with you.”
Ran felt like her blood was boiling. All this for what?! “Then maybe you should stop harassing me”, she said, trying still to keep herself as calm as possible. Even though she wanted to go and beat that man up - he had done that to Shinichi too -, she tried to reason to herself that if they would just talk about this, maybe he would understand and leave them be. “He isn’t breaking up with me, I’m not going to break up with him, and I’m not going to cheat him. So, I don’t understand why you can’t respect it and let us be.”
Takehiko looked puzzled, but when Shinichi let out a grunt, Ran turned her eyes to him. She had enough time to catch him before he collapsed back to the floor. She wrapped her arms better around him, pulling him closer to her and giving him a place to rest. He let out a silent curse on her arms, leaning on her as if he had already given his all. And it made Ran so sad. The last time she had seen Shinichi in this bad shape, had been when they took down the organization. And like back then, this felt unbearable! Usually, nothing took Shinichi down, not this badly.
No one hurt her Shinichi. No one.
Yet, here he was, trying to pull himself up, and yet failing…
“What you see in him?”
Ran tightened her arms around Shinichi and turned to look at Takehiko. He just stared at Shinichi blankly.
“What?”
“What you see in him?” Takehiko repeated, raising his eyes at her. “What is so great in him?”
Ran closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath, trying to calm herself even a little.
How dare he even question?
“The list is long”, she said harshly, opening her eyes and looking at Takehiko. “But I’m not sure if a selfish person like you could understand.”
“A selfish person?” Takehiko repeated, looking confused. “I’m thinking of you! A girl like you need a strong man beside you, not that weakling who can’t even fight for you…”
Ran frowned and opened her mouth.
“Fighting for her?”
Ran shut her mouth and looked at Shinichi, who let out a toxic laugh and raised himself on her arms enough to face Takehiko, yet she felt how he leaned his head against her chest. “I would always fight for her. But fighting about her? That, I can’t do.”
Shinichi…
Takehiko let out hum. “And that makes me think that you aren’t worthy of her”, he said. “You aren’t ready to fight…”
“Because the problem is, you think of her as an item”, Shinichi interrupted. “The problem… The problem is that she is an individual human. She can think and feel herself; she made all the decisions that are about herself. And that’s why… That’s why I didn’t accept your challenge. Because if you want to go out with her, you must ask her, not me. As much as I hate the thought, I don’t own her. I can’t decide anything for her. And whatever she chooses, I must respect it.”
“Wait!” Ran shouted out, even though her heart was melting at his words, knowing how much he was respecting her, but... “A challenge?” she repeated.
“Yeah”, Takehiko answered. “I challenged him: If I win, he will break up with you and I could have taken you on a date”, he explained. “But that coward declined.”
“So, you attacked him?”
“I wouldn’t say that”, Takehiko said. “He got a chance, but he didn’t fight back.” He shrugged. “Shows how weak he really is, didn’t even try…”
Ran closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Calm down, don’t do anything irresponsible, she told herself, and yet, the storm was already thundering inside her.
How dare he? How in the world did he dare to attack Shinichi if he didn’t fight back? God, she just wanted to stand up, and… and…
Maybe she should do that. She would. Not herself, but she was so furious about Shinichi that she would. No one, ever, treats Shinichi like that. Not as long as she lived.
“Fine”, she said finally and opened her eyes. “Let’s fight. Karateka versus karateka.”
“Ran, don’t”, Shinichi hissed, making Ran look at him. “He… he is strong, and…”
“Don’t worry”, she said gently, smiling at him. “I’m going to be stronger.”
“Ran…”
“No one treats you like this and gets away with it”, she said and bent over enough to press a kiss on his hair. Even though it had been only hours since she had seen him last time, she wanted so badly just to hide her face in his hair and just hold him in her arms, but… She straightened herself. “Just rest here”, she said and carefully let go of him before standing up and turning to look at Takehiko.
“When I win, you leave me and Shinichi alone. Period”, she said and took her school uniform jacket away, letting it drop on the floor. She knew already that fighting in a school uniform will be hard, but she wouldn’t let it slow her down.
“Beating up a girl?” Takehiko asked, looking a little bit troubled. “I don’t know, Ran-chan…”
“Don’t worry about me”, she said, feeling anger burning inside her. “I don’t need your pity. Give it all or go home.”
His expression changed. “You can’t beat me”, he said.
Ran smiled. “Then, easy win for you”, she hissed, taking her position, ready for anything. Her anger just raised while looking at how Takehiko hesitated. She hated that he thought that she was made from porcelain and would break as soon as he would touch her.
She was much more than just that.
“So…” Takehiko started finally. “When I win, will you go out with me?”
“Fine”, Ran answered. She just stared at Takehiko, how he still stared at her like making sure that she was serious. Finally, he let out a sigh and started to look like he was ready.
“Ready?”
Ran nodded. Oh, she really waited for this…
He made the first move, and she blocked it. The dance was on. He was fast with his movements and hits and kicks. Even though Ran had thought to be ready for this challenge, she somehow found it hard to keep up with him. In most of his attacks, she got blocked just in time, but even still some of them got through.
She couldn’t feel desperate right now. But she surely needed a little bit more room. So as soon as she got an open spot, she blocked another hit and moves a little bit away from him.
Okay, he hadn’t kidding her. Only now she realized how much in trouble she might be. It wasn’t like she hadn’t met strong opponents, and to be honest, she had thought that Shinichi had been just overprotective while warning about Takehiko's strength, but no kidding, while dodging all those hits and kicks, she already felt them in her bones.
It was no wonder anymore that Shinichi was in bad shape. Ran had trained Shinichi to be a good dodger, thanks to her hits and kicks from time to time, but even though he was fast and good dodge those hits, with Takehiko’s strength…
Ran took another hit from Takehiko. She let out a cry but still was able to move aside again. God, she really needed to start taking over the situation. She needed to keep herself calm enough to concentrate and stop doing anything stupid, but still, something to keep her strength on and make him lose his defense. She wondered if she could kick him hard enough to break through.
Takehiko stopped. “You know, it’s okay to say you lose”, he said. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
Ran let out a laugh. “You beat me as badly as you did with Shinichi. Until I’m in the same shape as him, I haven’t lost”, she split.
Actually, those words were all she needed. It made her rage raise. She didn’t need his pity! Besides, when she remembered how badly he had treated Shinichi… She felt like it had just lightened her anger up.
Yeah! It was now or never if she wanted to win.
She ran to Takehiko, starting to attack him. He was taken aback but was fast blocking her hit and kicks. Yet she didn’t let it discourage her! She just danced around him, trying to find his weakness, finding even that one little spot to hit and make him fall. It maybe felt impossible but that’s how karate champions were. They were good, the best of them all.
But she would do that. She would tire him until he would slip, and when he would, Ran would hit that spot and end him.
“You are going just tire yourself, Ran-chan”, Takehiko breathed out while blocking her attacks. Ran held her mouth shut, ignoring him. She wouldn’t let him get the better of her. Instead, she just kept tightly of her anger and confidence to keep them together. She is going to win. The loss wasn’t an opinion, not with him.
She had taken down much worse opponents too. So, she could win him too, right? Right?!
No, there was no room for doubts. She brought back everything she didn’t like in Takehiko, reminded herself how selfish and stubborn he was, how he didn’t respect her or Shinichi at all. How badly he had treated Shinichi, what he had done to him…
And she thought about Shinichi.
She will win.
She hit harder, kicked harder, and moved faster, which seemed to confuse Takehiko a little bit. She continued until she saw how his defense got a crack and showed the spot. Ran hit. She gave her everything for that hit. It took Takehiko off guard, but Ran didn’t show mercy. While Takehiko was still recovering from her hit, she made another. He couldn’t rebuild his defense, Ran didn’t let him. She gave her all, making sure that this man would be on the ground, feeling the same pain…
And then he collapsed. Ran took a step aside but kept still in her position, ready for anything. She had learned not to trust anyone in the fight, not even though they would be on the ground, looking like they had enough.
But Takehiko looked like she had gotten the better of him. He just looked on the ground, leaning on his hands, breathing heavily.
And Ran waited, saying nothing, holding her fighting spirit.
“You… you really are a hard opponent”, he said finally and raised his head a little bit to look at her. “I was so sure that you wouldn’t have a chance against me.”
Ran frowned but held her mouth shut. Somehow those words made her just angry. But then again, he got what he deserved! She wouldn’t admit to him that he had been a hard opponent, not even though it would be probably polite. She felt a little pain everywhere, and she was sure that her body would be full of bruises and aching in the evening, but they would be worth it.
But she wouldn’t say anything about that to Takehiko.
“Get up”, she said instead. “Let’s get this done. I don’t have the whole day.”
God, she wanted so badly to go back to Shinichi. She wanted so badly to take him home and made sure he was okay…
She wanted so badly to get over this.
“You are so cold”, Takehiko said and looked a little sad even though he smiled. “You love him that much?”
“More than anything”, Ran answered without hesitation. “And I don’t take lightly anyone who treats him like that.”
He let out a hum. “So, would you tell me… What is so great in him?”
Ran eyed him, still wondering if she should tell him, but at the same time, she was a little bit afraid that this was his way to try to soften her and when she would be off track, he would attack.
“He is everything that you aren’t”, she answered finally. “And even though I would explain, you wouldn’t understand.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“I am”, she answered right away. “And I would choose him all over again.”
“Always?”
“Always.”
He just stared at her. It felt like forever but Ran kept staring back. Then he closed his eyes and let out a laugh before getting himself up, with a painful grimace on his face. Ran felt bad, but somehow, she felt satisfied. She hoped that he would feel as bad as Shinichi, but seeing how he got himself up…
“Then I think I have to admit my loss”, he said finally. He looked at the floor. “It’s hard to admit, but it seems that I can’t have a girl I’m in love with.”
Did he try to make her feel bad, after everything he had done?! Well, to be honest, Ran felt, but she tried to move it aside because she still believed that Takehiko had made much more trouble than this case was worth. And there were so many things that she would have liked to say about love. How his love was more like an obsession and how the best way to show love is to let her be with the one she loves and accept it. Let her be with Shinichi and stop harassing them.
But maybe she wasn’t the one who should give pieces of advice to those who had broken hearts. In the end, her feelings had been returned. Even though their relationship hadn’t been always easy, she believed that every relationship got good and bad times. But she couldn’t really understand those who had been turned down by their crush. She could only guess, but she didn’t know how it felt. And maybe those words wouldn’t mean anything to him at this point.
God, Ran, don’t let your guard down. Not yet!
“I… Well…” He looked bothered. “I’m… I’m sorry for all the trouble.”
Just sorry?! God, Ran wanted to tell him that this wasn’t even good enough! She wanted to make him go apologies to Shinichi personally, but part of her didn’t want to let him close to him. Not after this. Besides, right now she just wanted to get rid of him. Rid of this whole mess. “Just promise to leave us alone”, Ran said finally.
“I… will”, he promised. Then he smiled that boyish smile and looked at her. “But I hope we can exercise sometime together. It would be interesting to spar with someone who has a chance against me.”
Ran got a little mixed feeling about this. She hated how full of himself he was about his karate skills, but… She had to admit, his request was something she would have liked to consider. But right now, after everything?
“We will see about that later”, Ran just answered. “And that’s the answer you have to accept because right now I’m so mad that I don’t want to see you ever again”, she continued.
He looked sad but nodded before turning and walking slowly to the door. In silence, she just followed him with her gaze, making sure that he went to the door, opened it, and disappeared. And didn’t come back.
Only after that Ran relaxed. Slowly she turned to look at Shinichi, who sat just where she had left him, but still looked like he was having a hard time.
Ran walked to him, feeling already her body aching, but she ignored it.
“Hey”, she said when stopped beside him, crouching. “How are you feeling?”
Shinichi raised his head, looking at her. “Have been better, to be honest”, he admitted. Then he looked down and Ran saw how he held his side. “I thought I can take much pain, thanks to your thigh grips and hard kicks and hits, but…” He let out a laugh. “He was something else.”
Ran eyed at him, worried. Somehow all the anger had melted away already, and worry had come back. “Did he ask you to come here?” she asked.
“Yeah”, he answered. “He wanted to see me, and part of me didn’t want to, but I also thought that maybe this would be a good opportunity to talk about the situation and make him leave you be. But…” He let out a sigh. “He didn’t buy it. Instead, he was sure that he would be a better boyfriend to you and that I’m just an obstacle to getting you on a date. So, he wanted to challenge me.” Then he met her eyes, smiling weakly. “And the rest you know.”
“You should have fought back”, Ran said, raising her hand on his hair, feeling those on her fingers…
He let out a laugh. “Do I look like I would have won?” he asked.
He wasn’t wrong, but… “But you could have dodged and done something to win”, she said. She smiled. “You have always found a way to win, I don’t know how he would be any different.”
Shinichi shook his head and looked away. “I dodged him, but he wasn’t as gentle with me as you have been. So as much as I dodged and blocked, he got better on me.”
Ran still had a hard time believing that there was someone who had got Shinichi like this. Never happened before. But maybe he hadn’t met too many karatekas who would have wanted to fight with him. And even if he had, then Ran had stepped between them.
Maybe she should teach Shinichi some karate moves. As a self-defense.
“Can you get up?” she asked and straightened herself, offering her hand to him. “I would love to get out of here and get finally at home.”
“Same”, Shinichi agreed and grabbed her hand. He tried to push himself up, but the pain took over and make him stop. She offered her other arm, helping him stand up slowly. When she had made sure that he could stand by himself without falling, she let go of him for a moment to gather all their things. He took his school bag from her hands, and after Ran put her jacket on her, she put his arm around her shoulder and wrapped her arm around his back to support him.
Her school bag was still close to the door, but she would get it when they would pass by.
After calming his breath, he let out a laugh. “Is this how it feels?” he asked, looking at her with that sparkle in his eyes. “Being a damsel in distress?”
Somehow, it made Ran smile. “Hopefully not”, she answered. “You look so much in pain that I hope other damsels in distress aren’t in that bad shape.”
“Huh”, he answered, taking slow steps to the door with her. “Well, I think I always want to do everything the hard way.”
Ran giggled. “I feel like you do”, she admitted. “Even though you could save me from so much worry by taking that easy and safer way, you know.”
He shrugged a little bit, as much as he could. “But at least my savior is beautiful and brave”, he continued, making Ran blush. “I think this all was worth it.”
Ran shook her head with a smile. “You are an idiot, you know that?”
And ShinRan Week is over! Just a reminder that we’ll still be here and reblogging works for another week, through the end of June 3. Remember to tag #shinranweek2023 or @ us.
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i like to imagine jobs the teens could have when they’re adults, and i think time with conan could lead both of them to take jobs teaching! ran as a karate instructor and shinichi as an elementary school teacher. i think no matter what he does in life he can still solve cases, and he probably wouldn’t like most of the non murder cases that private detective also take
He asks her to marry him on their way to the firefly festival. He could have waited until the festival is over, until they’ve laughed, feasted and watched the hundreds of fireflies sifting through the forest darkness, but he is worried that the gathering crowd of nearly one thousand people may breed chaos and murder, and most importantly, he doesn’t want to wait anymore.
Ran feels the request before he asks; there’s a determination in his eyes but a slight tremor in his hands. He turns to face her when they’re just fifty steps to the matsuri, clamor and laughter closing in around them. The sky is not yet dark, a fading, pale shade of tephra. Shinichi breaths, kneels in front of her and says it simply. In his palm the small box looks strange and discordant, the ring inside dull and lightless.
She pauses, and says no.
They stray from their usual way home two days ago. Black-crowned night-herons breed through spring and summer; they glide across the rivers all year round but Ran has never seen them roost. Shinichi takes her into the deep of Beika Park, first following the desire paths then no path and all, until human cacophony grows thin and the callings of birds drown the silence.
The woods are snowcapped with birds. Egrets call on treetops; blue-blacked herons hunches between twigs, over their brown-colored chicks. In awe, Ran steps forward. The birds explode out of the trees and into a restless cloud.
They feel guilty, but laugh more. Ran moves toward again but Shinichi grabs her arm, stopping her: in front of them a small clump of brown is retreating back into the shadows.
The chick bears stars of white spots all over it and copper eyes. It does not call but stares blankly at them, one wing held closely to its side, the other trailing on the ground. Ran gasps, instinctively reaching out, but Shinichi doesn’t loosen his grip.
“Leave it,” Shinichi says.
“But...”
“Leave it, Ran.”
But he goes to it himself and wraps it in his school jacket. He holds it as tenderly as a cat, a child. A year ago, Conan once gathered an unconscious tit into his tiny palms, smiling in relief as it came to and fluttered away. Longer, longer ago, Shinichi unclamped his hands and revealed to her a confused squirrel.
Shinichi walks away, and this time she waits. He's gone for under five minutes. When he returns empty-handed, she does not ask.
The day he goes home and promises her, Kogoro and Hakase that he would not go away again, Ran buys a cake. He leaves the front door open; still she rings the doorbell as he’s standing in the middle of the living room, staring up at the ceiling as if it is a miracle he cannot comprehend. She was going to bake, Ran explains, unloading the giant butter cake onto the kitchen table. But she doesn’t want to spend three hours camping by the oven. He looks at her strangely, so she decides to be brave: she wants to be here with him.
The yellow-tinted light bakes the room; Ran feels her cheeks glowing a soft pink. Shinichi only remembers to help when she spills plastic forks and paper plates all over the table. The blue icing spells “To Shinichi”. He dips a finger into it and licks.
“Stop it!” Ran swats at his hand. “Even Conan-kun has better table manners than you.”
Her tone is light, expression hopefully delightful, and he does grin. Still a dread gnaws at her heart: it’s more like a decision than a reaction. Summer heat sends throbs to her head: for days she has not slept well, has worried too much, has missed him. Now that he is standing in front of her, solid and intact, she decides to ask nothing.
She counts seventeen candles. She expects Shinichi to complain with impatience, but he simply stares. His brows are drawn together, his gaze back and forth, visibly trying to restrain himself from spurting out trains of analysis and theories. Silly detective, she thinks. Always making the simple things complicated.
“For the birthday you missed,” she tells him. “Welcome back.”
Three days later she finds out that he is Conan.
“I’m sorry,” Ran says, blinking from coming tears. The world moves again, somehow has turned cerulean in eye blinks. Several steps away, a bunch of balloons blooms in the evening breeze. A child cries and badgers his mother for cotton candy. “I didn’t mean—”
He replies too quickly. “I know.”
“I’m not ready,” she doesn’t say “we”. A tremor leaks out of her throat and she has to clamp her eyes shut; still shadows of faces press and shake behind closed eyelids. Tears do not isolate her eyes from pain.
“I know,” Shinichi says. She fails to read his voice; it feels distant, weightless. People pass by; some gawk, leaving inches on her skin. A teenager whistles. Ran opens her eyes and sees Shinichi remaining on his knee. Quietly, she asks him to stand up; he obeys. Uncurls his fingers and slides the tiny box back into his pocket.
Every June in Beika, they host art markets, matsuri and then release three thousand fireflies into the forest. They come here yearly since fourteen. They compete for higher scores in dart-throwing, eat roasted corns and exchange gifts. This year, Ran buys Shinichi a pen and he buys her a wooden duck (“It’s a merganser.” “Shinichi!” “Okay, okay!”).
Fifteen minutes to seven, they slide out of the crowd and into the riverside shortcut; it takes three minutes in the unlit woods but brings them straight to the front row of the release. In soft darkness she gives him her hand; he teases at her night sight but his breath stutters himself. Three minutes, two, one.
They find the crowd just in time. Count down, cheers. Numerous fluorescent dots, into curtains of darkness like pollens of one invisible flower. Shinichi doesn’t let go of her hands.
“Can they stay alive out there?” she wonders aloud. Eighty percent of them die during transfer and after release, fourteen-year-old Shinichi has said, and looked annoyed when Ran cried. And the rest of them would not live past two months as adults.
Do you know there’s a firefly cave in New Zealand? It’s really pretty, you would never want to cry if you see them. They’re not flying fireflies, but slimy worms. But they glow blue and dot the inside of the cave, making it look like a starry sky.
Have you seen it?
No, but I’ll ask Tou-san and Kaa-san if you want to go.
Seventeen-year-old Shinichi says nothing. He says nothing as the crowd breaks, as the fireflies go, dispersed by wind and instinct. She lets him hold her hand until they part ways under the big oak tree. “See you tomorrow,” she says, as gently as she can.
“See you tomorrow,” Shinichi smiles.
He hands her the duck, turns away first. Ran glances at the lanterns twined between the leaves and thinks: This is the tree; it has watched them grow up. It has seen birds, snow, rain, fireworks, them. She doesn’t feel like crying now.
🌸 ShinRan Week 2023 - Day 7 - Post Canon / Artist Choice 🌸
I had many ideas for post canon, but limited time so those will need to come later. I was thinking about another detective show Hyouka recently and wondered how these two might react watching it together.. It’s funny cause the lead can get blown away in the same way Shinichi can with Ran. This is a mini comic of Shinichi being a bit of a sap trying to make his girlfriend blush on a date night so a little while into dating when he can be slightly more smooth hahaha.
This is my other reminder that I also need to finish this show I’m still only 5 episodes in to Hyouka. If this ain’t a face that Shinichi has made.
This is my first time writing a fanfic. Please bear with me 🥺. Thanks to @subbe93 for your 'pressure', finally i dare to post this 😆.
Day 6 : The Proposal
Twenty one years old Mouri Ran was sitting on the park bench under the tree in the Beika Park. It was a sunny and warm afternoon. She has been sitting for a while with the book in her hands, waiting for a certain detective. She wasn't bore though, since she was too occupied with the book. And it was so relaxing to be outside after some weeks of restricted movement. Too focus she didn't notice someone walking towards her from behind, stopped a few step behind her and cleared the throat. Ran shocked and turned her head quickly, but then smiled when she recognized who it was. Quickly stood up and reached out but the other person faster to gave her a warm hug.
"Yukiko-san! i didn't expect to see you here".
"I know, Ran-chan. This is suppose to be your date with Shin-chan afterall. Of course you aren't expecting me". She winked playfully.
Ran blushed.
"Where is Shinichi? Is he alright, Yukiko-san?" A bit worried.
"It's okay, Ran-chan. Actually Shin-chan needs to do some urgent errand and asks me to pick you up. He's so worried about leaving you alone here. Not that i blame him. He's just become more protective after everything that had happened".
Ran sighed, "I'm not helpless".
"Of course he knows, we all know that, Ran". Yukiko smiled and took Ran's hands, "Shinichi just doesn't want anything bad happen to you".
"I can say the same thing about him".
Yukiko giggled, "Sure, Ran-chan. Anyway, can you help me for some grocery shopping?"
She wondered why Shinichi didn't say anything about the errand. To be honest, she was a little annoyed that Shinichi didn't call or apologize for suddenly canceling their date. Decided that she need to knock some sense into his head the next time they met, she then smiled. She would love to help his mother with the shopping anyway. "I'd be happy to".
--
Kudo Shinichi ran up the stairs to the agency. Panting, he took a deep breath and knocked on the door. Silent. He knocked again.
"Come in!" It was Mouri Kogoro's raspy voice.
Shinichi slowly opened the door, composed himself for whatever was coming. Stepped into the room.
"If you're looking for Ran, she's not here". Kogoro sat facing the window, his back to Shinichi. A cup of coffee on his desk, steaming.
"You know that i'm here to talk to you, Occh.. Kogoro-san".
Kogoro stood up, took the cup, walked to the sofa and sat down. Casually drank the coffee and asked, "Are you gonna stand there forever, Brat?"
Shinichi took that as a cue that the older was willing to have a conversation with him. He sat on the sofa across the table, facing Kogoro. Swallowed the lump in his throat and began to talk, "I don't know if i deserve Ran".
--
It was winter. They gathered in Kudo Mansion and made plans to beat the organization. Everything went according to the plans except for the revelation of the identity of Edogawa Conan by the organization. They knew that Edogawa Conan was Kudo Shinichi who got shrunk because of the apotoxin. The organization tried to capture him as hostage but Ran interfered so they took Conan and Ran instead. Gin and Vodka recognized them as the two teenagers who they met at the Rollercoaster Accident in Tropical Land a year ago.
They brought Conan and Ran to their headquarter, an abandoned drug factory with a huge laboratory in the outskirt of Tokyo, interrogated them to talk about Sherry, the poison and the antidote. Conan kept silent. That was how Ran knew the truth. Then they found out that Ran was Kudo Shinichi's girlfriend, his weakness. Gin smirked and pointed his gun to Ran. Ran was scared but she bravely forbade Conan to say what they asked for. Gin pulled the trigger. Conan lost his mind and jumped at Gin who blew him to the wall. The bullet hit Ran's left stomach, and Conan saw how Ran's shirt turned red. That was when a loud noise came from the outside, the FBI and Tokyo Police Force stormed in.
--
Shinichi shook his head. Ran's pale face, her blood in his hands.. The event of that night still frightened him. It was the biggest showdown, the fallen of the black organization, involving the Tokyo and Osaka Police Force, also FBI and CIA agents. Gin and the others were found dead under the rubble of the factory building. They caught the head and some prominent member of the organization. Ran was save, he gave his blood to her like she did when he was shot in the cave. Vermouth came the other day in the hospital and gave him the formula of the apotoxin so that Haibara could make the antidote. He got his body back.
"I'm really sorry i couldn't protect Ran. I promised myself that i would never let her get hurt, yet i failed.." He lowered his head, "I don't know if i deserve her".
Kogoro just silently watched the detective boy. The boy who usually looked smug now looked miserable. Kogoro smacked his head, "I can't believe you! After everything you two have been through, you want to give up on Ran?!"
Kogoro snorted, "You know how Ran is, Brat. Always do what she believes is right and so stubborn. I'm not saying that i'm not mad at you for all that happened, but maybe you shouldn't treat her as if she's helpless. She can take care of herself".
"I know. I'm just afraid.. of losing her" He swallowed the last part.
Kogoro stood up, walked towards Shinichi and sighed, "You should try to trust her, since you plan to spend the rest of your life with Ran".
Shinichi gasped, wide-eyed, couldn't believe what he just heard. Then stood up and met Kogoro's eyes.
"That's the ring, right?" Kogoro pointed at Shinichi's pocket. He then patted Shinichi's shoulder, "Take good care of her".
Eri stood behind the door, smiled and wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes.
--
A month ago, Shinichi and Ran had dinner. He had offered her a date in tropical land or dinner at the Beika Restaurant Building, but she said she had enough of the both place. She didn't want him vanished at the end of their date. So the two had dinner in a small cozy cafe. He had had the ring for two months already, he kept it in his pocket, but too hesitant to give it to Ran, he wanted the perfect moment. They had a nice dinner and about to walked her home, when suddenly there was a scream. Shinichi cursed silently. A man held a scared small girl and pointed a gun at her head. The crying woman, most probably her mother, begged the man to let the child go. Shinichi observed the situation and then shouted to the mother to crouch. He kicked a soda can, aimed it at the man's hand holding the gun and succeed. He dropped the gun and accidentally loosened his grip on the child. Shinichi ran towards them, caught her from the man, and secured the gun. He handed the child to the mother who cried with relief and thanked him, unaware that the man was holding a switchblade and pointing it at him. Later he heard Ran's voice and a loud bang. He looked back and saw the man lying on the street clutching his stomach, unconscious. And then Ran fell down, there was the blade stuck in her thigh.
--
That night Kudo Shinichi walked to his house with a clear mind and a light heart. He honestly didn't intend to give up on Ran, he just wanted to clear his mind when he decided to meet Ran's father. He did not expect that he actually got the last push to solidify his intention on Ran.
Shinichi opened the front door of the Kudo Mansion and walked towards the kitchen where his parents and Ran were having dinner.
"Shinichi! Where have you been?" Ran got up from her seat and approached him.
"I just came to the agency".
"Agency?"
"Yeah, i met your dad".
"Is it about a case?"
Shinichi smirked, "You can say that, a troublesome tough case".
Ran puzzled.
"Both of you, save your conversation for later, let's have dinner first shall we?" Yukiko pushed the two to their seats.
After the dinner, they all gathered in the Kudo Library. Shinichi and Yusaku discussed something at the study desk, maybe some case. While Ran and Yukiko looked happily at the Kudo Family photo album. Every now and then they laughed at Shinichi's childhood photos. There were many photos of Ran too, no wonder because they practically grew up together since the beginning. The photos brought back all the memories, their first meeting in preschool (that was funny how she used to hated him back then), their childhood adventure with Agasa Hakase, their trip to New York (his very first case and when Ran realized her feeling for him) also their 'date' in Tropical Land (that place left an unpleasant feeling for her). Many things had happened, especially the last few years, who would have thought that they could honestly admit their feelings to each other during the conan fiasco. Ran smiled at the photo album in her hands.
"Nostalgic, huh?" Shinichi's voice came from her right side.
"Yeah, right". Ran answered without even looking, still smiled. And then she remembered something. "Shinichi, what's with that urgent errand?"
He slipped his hands into his pocket, "I came to clear some things with your dad".
Ran turned to him, worried.
Shinichi smiled at her worried face, "Don't worry, he help me clear things out".
"About what?"
"About you". He tucked some strands hair behind Ran's left ear. "I said sorry to your dad for i couldn't protect you. That was all my fault that you got hurt".
Ran protested, "Don't blame yourself, Shinichi. I can take care of myself. And about that last month's incident, it was my fault for not being careful".
Shinichi laughed, "He said the same things, that i should try to trust you since i want to spend the rest of my life with you".
"Yeah, you should listen to my dad, Shinichi". Ran looked proud, "Wait, what?"
Shinichi took her hands and gave her a gentle gaze, "You hear me right, Ran". A slight blush on his cheeks.
She held her breath, a matching blush on her cheeks.
He took out a velvet box from his pocket, "Marry me and become Kudo Ran, will you?"
There were tears at the corner of her eyes, but she smiled so bright, "Of course i'll marry you, detective nerd".
Her smile was contagious, making him smile too. He then took her left hand and slipped the ring to her finger.
Earlier that day Mouri Ran didn't expect their suppose-to-be date would turn into a proposal. Well, a life with Kudo Shinichi always full with an unexpected things. She didn't mind, neither did he, as long as they had each other.
She stared at the ring in her finger, "Thank you, Shinichi".
He held Ran's chin, making her look at him, he then crossed the distance between them and kissed her. Full of love.
--
Yukiko peeked from the library door with the camera in her hands, recorded the important moment. She was very happy for both of them. Yusaku shook his head at his wife's antics. He looked so proud of his son though.
A/N: Now I can imagine how other ShinRan week mods are looking this like: “Subbe, what the heck?!” xD When we wrote the Anniversary description, I whined a little bit that why Anniversary needs to mean only Wedding Anniversary. Don’t get me wrong, wedding things are cute, and when we talk about anniversaries, the wedding is the common one. But personally, I just like that prompts have many possibilities.
But luckily, I never said that I don’t want to write about it myself! Because two weeks ago I got this idea when thinking about ShinRan’s family life, and since I couldn’t get rid of it, I decided that I need to write this for ShinRan week :’D I hope you enjoy this ^^
Like in the Old Days
It was beginning of the April. It was that certain time of the year when Sakura flowers were most beautiful. Shinichi looked at them, those small, pink flowers, and followed how some of them were slowly falling on the ground.
They were so special to him. Only just seeing them made him feel so nostalgic. They had always made him feel so, every time, year after year.
She had made a Sakura badge when they first met. She had smiled at him for the first time while offering that badge to him. The badge where she had written his name.
Ran loved them too. He knew that those flowers were special to her too. Even though he knew that she had hated him when they first met, he also knew that she remembered all those nice and warm memories when Sakura flowers were blooming.
It had always been their flower.
Sakura flowers had also been the theme of their wedding. When they had planned their wedding, Shinichi had hinted that wouldn’t it be beautiful to be married under Sakura trees. Of course, he hadn’t admitted anything when Ran had smiled mischievously and asked about it. “Don’t you just love them?” Shinichi had asked back then and left. But when he had thought about what Sakura flowers meant for them… Wouldn’t it be a perfect symbol for their wedding?
Call him sensitive, but Ran had agreed. And they had had their wedding at the beginning of April, under the Sakura trees.
Many years ago.
He felt how someone sat beside him. Shinichi turned to look at the woman, his wife, who just turned to look at him with that gentle smile. Like she always did, she slowly wrapped her arms around his, her right hand touching his hand that rested on his knee, fingers gently touching his.
“What are you thinking?” Ran asked. He felt how her fingers petted his, like asking for attention. Slowly Shinichi raised them, letting them wrap together - like they always did. Like it should be.
“Nothing interesting”, he answered and raised his head, looking at those little pink flowers. “Just looking at them…”
He heard how Ran let out a little, gentle laugh. “It feels still weird”, she said. “It’s still so hard to believe that it’s our sixtieth wedding anniversary.”
Shinichi turned to look at his wife. Once that long, dark brown hair was now a little shorter and white. These days her movements were slower than back then, and when she turned to look at him, there were some wrinkles on her face, telling the story of past years, and yet…
And yet, she was the same girl that he had fallen in love with many years ago. He could see all the same features in her, those orchid-colored eyes hadn’t lost their shining, her smile was as breathtaking as in the first time she had smiled at him, her touch still so gentle and loved…
She was still the most beautiful woman in the world.
“Yeah, it is”, he said finally and grinned. “Any regrets for being Mrs. Kudo this long?”
She let out a giggle. “Well, I would have probably aged much better with someone else”, she said mischievously.
Shinichi shrugged. “That would probably be true”, he admitted and looked away.
He felt how she leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder, tightening her grip around his arm. Well, if something had changed, it was the strength of her grip. She couldn’t squeeze his arm as tightly as she had when they have been younger, but to be honest, he still got bruises. But he didn’t mind, because they were a cheap price for keeping her close, and besides, they reminded him of those times when Ran had been scared and squeezed his arm so tightly that it hurt. Hah, he could still almost feel it.
“But I don’t regret anything”, she said finally. “I wouldn’t change anything.” She kept a little pause before continuing: “Our life has been perfect.”
“Perfect?” Shinichi repeated and looked at her even though he couldn’t see anything else than those white hair. “Even the Conan thing? Even though I have been a murder magnet? Even though…” He kept a little pause. “Even though I have made you worried so many times?”
“We have gone through so much together, Shinichi”, she answered and raised herself to look at him with that gentle and soft expression. “Even though everything hadn’t been a bed of roses, we have so many good things too. Like our children and grandchildren…” Shinichi looked away. “And as long as I love you, I would always be worried about you. As much as I’m sometimes worried about our children and grandchildren too. As are you”, she continued. “And even though you don’t ever admit it, I know I have made you worry too.”
Of course, he won’t! He would never let her feel guilty about it!
“I think our life has been perfect”, she continued. “I wouldn’t change you or this life for anything. I would go through everything again if it would mean that I could be with you.”
Even though he had known it, it made him feel warm. Loved.
“I know”, he said finally and turned to look at her. “Even though I have always hated to bring pain to you…” He looked at their fingers, tangled together. “I’m the luckiest guy in the world. Meeting you, having a woman who had waited patiently and forgiven me and looked after me sixty years…”
Ran let out a laugh. “Come on, Shinichi. Sixty years looking after you isn’t even enough.”
Shinichi smiled and met her eyes. “Fine. Seventy-eight years.”
She laughed. “That sounded more accurate”, she said and leaned her head again against his shoulder. “I started to be worried that your memory is starting to fail you.”
Shinichi smiled and finally lowered his head, letting it rest against Ran’s hair, feeling how it tickled his cheek - like many times before. But like after all these years, he still felt comfortable there, being close to her. The only place that he felt belonged. He didn’t even care if everything would have gone worse in their life - even if they would have been poor, wouldn’t have gotten family or really anything - as long as he would have Ran, it would have been enough.
And the older they had gotten, the more Shinichi has started to feel anxious. He wasn’t afraid of death. Everyone would face it sooner or later. And people had joked that the death would just be happy to finally get him. In the end - he admitted it himself - he had cheated death so many times. But the thought that Ran would leave before him…
He knew he shouldn’t think about it too much, just live day after day like always. But he couldn’t help the thought of life without Ran. Somehow it felt so impossible, something that he would never get over.
His life would end with Ran’s.
And he pushed the thought away from his mind. He should just enjoy the time they still have, and even though he should maybe talk about it with Ran, the day wasn’t today. In the end, it was their sixtieth wedding anniversary. He wouldn’t ruin it.
He had ruined already too many dates, birthdays, and anniversaries before that it made him sometimes wonder how in the world he was still married to the love of his life. But Ran had always been like that. She had never been too bothered about it. If something, she had just supported him to solve those cases. Even though she had told him many times that being a detective was a dangerous job, she still supported and cheered for him.
She was great like that.
“You know I love you?” he asked finally before turning his head to press a kiss on her white hair. “More than anything else?”
He moved his head when Ran moved away. She raised her face at him, those beautiful eyes glimmering, a gentle smile on her lips. “I know”, she answered. “And I hope you know that I love you too.”
Shinichi smiled and lowered his head a little to press his lips against hers. A light, slow kiss, full of love. Then their lips parted away, and Ran pressed her cheek against his. The gesture was soft and careful, probably an attempt to avoid moving his eyeglasses and making them press against his temple.
Well, they moved still, but he didn’t mind.
“That almost makes me want to ask what’s into your mind since you have to ask”, he heard her say gently. That was so terrifying in her. She always seemed to know when something was bothering him. But at the same time, he was grateful that she let him choose to tell if he felt like it.
“Let’s talk about it some other day”, he answered. “I don’t want to ruin our wedding anniversary date.”
“Date?” Ran asked and moved away to look at him with curiosity.
“Yeah”, Shinichi answered and straightened his glasses with his free hand. “I’m going to take you on the date”, he said proudly, looking away. “Maybe we could visit the aquarium or visit Tokyo Tower, or we can go check out old schools and reminisce everything like old people do.” Ran giggled. “Or whatever you feel like…” Shinichi continued and turned to look at her. “And of course, I would treat you a dinner in the finest restaurant…”
Ran smiled. “I feel like a teenager again, you know”, she said with a big smile. “Too bad that your leg isn’t its finest anymore. I would have loved to go somewhere we could dance like back then…”
“Hey, my leg works well”, Shinichi defended himself and looked at his right leg. It was true that it hadn’t been as it used to be, and the doctors had said that there hadn’t been anything they could do to it, which was the main reason why he needed to use the cane to support his walking, but it didn’t mean that he couldn’t walk without a cane for a moment. He would survive without it for a while. Tomorrow it would ache much more than usual, but it would be worth it. “I can still take my girl to dance if she just wants to.”
“I know, I know”, Ran giggled. Then she got a little more serious. She raised her head, looking somewhere. Shinichi believed that those sakura flowers that was floating in the air. “But you know where I would love to go?”
Shinichi looked at those flowers, thinking…
“Where?” he finally asked.
“In Tropical Land.”
The Tropical Land. Probably the only place where they hadn’t gone back just two of them. After the Black Organization was taken down, he hadn’t dared to suggest going there. In the end, it had been the place where he had made that mistake and followed those men in black, disappeared, and made so much pain for Ran. And he hadn’t wanted to remind her of that if he doesn’t have to.
Only after their own children had been old enough, they had made their first visit after the events. And even back then, Shinichi had been a little bit worried, but it hadn’t seemed to bother Ran. He had meant to ask about it, but he had forgotten, and later he didn’t even bother to ask. She had seem to be fine. Maybe the reason had been that they had been too busy looking after their children - later grandchildren - to remember those events there, and concentrated to spend time as a family and making new, better memories of that place.
And that place had changed so much over the years. Maybe it had been one reason why she hadn’t seemed to think of them too much.
But he still got those memories back every time they had been there…
“The Tropical Land, eh?” he asked finally and looked at Ran. “Don’t you be afraid that I would disappear again?”
Stupid joke, but he had to make it. He wanted to make sure that Ran would be okay with it. Even though it had been over sixty years ago and they have made peace with his being Conan and everything, he wanted to be sure. This time they wouldn’t have children with them. It would be just two of them, not distractions…
Ran looked at him and smiled mischievously. “If you can run after some men in black with that age and with your leg, I want to see it happen”, she answered, making Shinichi roll his eyes and look away. “But we hold some good memories there too”, she continued before he had time to throw her any snarky comment. “With our children and grandchildren too, but just two of us. And since it’s our sixtieth wedding anniversary, I feel like I would love to go there, just two of us. Just… reminisce…”
Shinichi nodded. He could understand. He also remembered those nice things they did there before everything went down with his curiosity. And since they had never really gotten back there to be together and reminisce, what would be better than going back there on their wedding anniversary, doing all those things that they did as a teenager…
Or at least what they could do at their age and their condition.
“Do you think they took in people over 80 years old?” he asked finally. He turned to look at her to see how Ran looked at him for a moment before smiling and rolling her eyes, looking away. He let out a laugh. God, he really loved to see that. Finally, and with hesitation, he let go of Ran’s hand and took his cane that leaned on the side of the park bench. With its and the armrest's help, he pushed himself up. He felt stiff and a little bit of pain, but it was nothing new. He had just sat there too long without moving. Slowly he straightened himself before taking the first step.
That one limping step.
God, it really wasn’t easy to be old. Not when he remembered being fast and flexible, ready to move as soon as needed.
He felt how Ran wrapped her arm around his left one. She didn’t say anything, just walked with his speed, patiently as she always did, waiting that he would get himself to move. And slowly he got himself to walk as he normally did - nowadays.
“You know what would be nice?”
Shinichi just looked at the ground while taking another step, thinking. “Can’t say I know”, he answered finally.
Ran chuckled. “That some case would happen.”
That he certainly didn’t wait for her to say. Shinichi raised his head and turned to look at Ran surprised, but she just smiled, looking happy.
“Well, that one, I didn’t wait to come from your mouth”, he admitted finally. “Usually you have been the one who had told me that I shouldn’t stick my nose everywhere and what else.”
Ran hummed. “I know”, she answered. “But it’s been years since you have had a chance to be in a crime scene…”
“And I have been retired for over ten years”, he answered. And even though part of him missed those times, he had to admit, culprits would just laugh at him nowadays. How in the world he would stop anyone to flee from the crime scene, with this condition? God, they would make fun of him for being slow and clumsy.
“As a retired detective, you have still worked pretty often”, Ran pointed out.
Well, about that, she wasn’t wrong. Even though he hadn’t been on crime scenes for many years, people still came to see him asking for his help. And he had never turned anyone away. He still liked to help people with problems if he just could. And it was kind of fun that even when someone from Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department came to visit with their mysteries, they carried him all the possible pictures and information they could.
Old detectives had taught them well to know who to ask for help with hard cases.
But Shinichi didn’t mind.
“I know you would love to get to the crime scene again”, Ran continued more gently.
“As they would let me”, he laughed. “Who in the world would let this old man disturb their investigations.”
It was Ran’s turn to laugh. “Oh, don’t give me that”, she said. “Everyone knows the Great Detective Kudo Shinichi. As soon as people would see you, they would recognize you, and they would let you on the crime scene to solve the case. I can even bet on it.”
Shinichi grinned. It was true that even younger people recognized him, but he still wondered. “And besides, culprits would make fun of me being slow and clumsy, not able to catch them”, he said finally. “Besides, are you this eager to want some kind of murder case to ruin our anniversary date?”
Ran shrugged. “I don’t want anyone to die! I just hope that maybe there is some kind of robber case that you can solve”, she said. “Besides it wouldn’t take the whole day. We would have plenty of time to have our date after that.”
He laughed. “It can take some time, you know…”
“My great detective has still sharp eyes and mind”, she said gently, and he felt how she pressed closer to him. “I know he would solve it in no time.”
Shinichi didn’t say anything. She was right. He still enjoyed puzzles and riddles which had made sure that his brain and memory were still in good shape - at least the doctor had said so -, and he still helped detectives solve the hard cases, but it was a different thing to solve those crimes from the home, hearing the story and seeing pictures than being in an actual crime scene. It had been too many years since he had been on a crime scene last time. Would he even know anymore what to do in there? And he would be awfully slow. It wouldn’t go as fast as before…
“And,” she continued eventually, taking Shinichi out of his thoughts. “It has been too many years since I last time have seen your face when you solved the case.”
Shinichi frowned. “What about that?” he asked. “You can see my face every day. It’s the same, right?”
She smiled, and there was something on that smile that Shinichi couldn’t catch. “You wouldn’t understand”, she answered and they stopped to wait for traffic lights to change. “And you don’t have to be worried about being slow or being unable to catch the culprit, you know.”
Shinichi frowned. “How so?” he asked.
Their eyes met, Ran’s sparkling brightly when she smiled. “Because I would stop them! Like in the old days.”
Shinichi stared at her determined expression before bursting out for a laugh.
“What?” Ran asked.
“Oh, sweetheart”, Shinichi said finally when calmed down a little bit. “As much as I love you, you are not able to stop anyone these days.”
Ran frowned, making that same pouting face that she had always made, making Shinichi feel warm and loving even though he knew that face could be a sign of danger. “Just so you know, even though I’m old, I still remember how to do karate!” she said.
It made him smile. “Have you forgotten how bad your balance is these days?” Before Ran could say anything, Shinichi continued: “As soon as I let go of you and you took one step, you fall. And even though I would love to, I’m not able to get you up from the floor…”
“That's not true”, Ran argued when the lights turned on green and they started to cross the street at a slow speed. Well, maybe he had exaggerated a little bit about her taking one step and falling, but the truth is that she would easily fall, and he wasn’t eager to find out that one last time she would ever fall. “Besides, I can still use my hands…”
Shinichi rolled his eyes, but still, he couldn’t help but smile. He felt happy and still madly in love with the woman who walked beside him. It was fun and soothing to find out that even though they had gained age and many things had changed around them, his wife was the same woman as she had always been. The same that he had fallen in love with many decades ago.
