Author's Note: I just love Heiji too much! :P After rereading 'Kazuha's 1st Appearance' for the umpteenth time, a thought came to me as to why not show what happened after that? So I started writing this! Bear in mind that this is going to be Heiji's stand-alone case!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters. All characters from Detective Conan are copyrighted (c) to Gosho Aoyama.

File 1 – Back to School

Hattori Heiji yawned, sitting behind his desk in the classroom. He was the only one there so far---he had arrived early to see his teacher, but the teacher had a sick leave, so he had no choice but to sit in his classroom and wait for classes to begin.

He had only got out from the hospital the night before. It had only been three nights since his last case, which involved him getting shot in the stomach accidentally. Even though he was fine (at least it seemed so from his energy after the shot), he was forced to stay in hospital for checkup until he was allowed to go home. His wound still hurt somehow, which was natural.

No Kendo for a month...that doctor must be joking, he thought grudgingly. I have a tournament next month, how can I NOT practice? "Oww..." He clutched his stomach, wincing. He could feel the bandages under his uniform.

It was the first time he was injured seriously in a case. It was sort of his fault---if he had not stopped Sakata Yusuku from killing himself, he wouldn't have been hurt. But it was better than watching Sakata kill himself. What he was most satisfied about was that his 'good luck charm' saved Kudo Shinichi---or Edogawa Conan, so to speak. Before that, he could not stop thinking about the nightmare: Kudo getting stabbed while chasing a crook. According to what he was told, Conan was stabbed from saving Mouri Ran, but the knife had hit the handcuff piece that was with the lucky charm. Kazuha had made it and gave to Heiji, but he lent it to Conan instead. He definitely did not want his nightmare to come true.

But how could he be sure that it was what he was supposed to be looking forward to?

Heiji dug a hand in his hair, frustrated. Okay, no need to think too much there, he thought sternly. Kudo is a lucky guy, he won't get into too much trouble. Besides, why should I care? It's HIM, after all. He pushed all the thoughts out of his head and settled back in his chair, ready to fall asleep.

"HATTORI!"

His eyes popped open as a few of his classmates burst into the room. They ran up to him, patting him and firing him with questions and remarks in ecstatic. "We heard you were shot, is it true?" "Why didn't you die?" "Where is the wound?"

All this while, Heiji's stomach was killing him. "H-h-hey! I---"

"Get away from Heiji!"

Heiji blinked as they immediately jumped away from him. Tohyama Kazuha walked up to him, looking at the other boys in annoyance. "He's hurt, and if I didn't stop you, he's going to be sent into the hospital again!" she scolded sternly. "Really!" She shook her head, and then looked at Heiji. "And you, why don't you stay at home and rest? You only got out from the hospital last night!"

Heiji could hear snickers around him. Obviously, everyone in the class thought he and Kazuha made the perfect couple---after all, Kazuha was his childhood friend and they did a lot together. But Heiji personally did not see the connection---at least he didn't know he actually liked her.

"Too boring to stay at home," he replied, folding his arms. "Besides, the doctor didn't say I can't come to school. By the way, I'll be at the Kendo practice after school, so you don't have to wait for me."

"Kendo practice?! The doctor said no Kendo for a month, didn't you hear?!" Kazuha exclaimed.

"But we have a tournament next month!" Heiji argued.

"Your health is more important than a silly tournament!" Kazuha snapped into his face.

Heiji frowned. He always got annoyed when Kazuha tried to give him nonsense advices. "Is that true? During last year's tournament, you forced me to go to the tournament even though I had flu, because 'the tournament is more important than health', remember?"

Kazuha turned very red. "That was an exception! You were shot, and had to undergo three hours of operation just to extract the bullet!"

"Come on, Tohyama-chan, Hattori is best in Kendo, and he's got a strong body, he can do it," one of his classmates said, clapping Heiji on the back. Heiji winced slightly.

Kazuha was still determined. "I don't care. You could get hurt! I'm serious, Heiji!"

"All right, all right," Heiji said, annoyed. "I won't go for the practice. Are you happy now?"

Kazuha nodded. "Good! I'll wait for you at the front gates as usual, don't be late!" Heiji shrugged. But he had something else in his mind.

---

Where is he?! Kazuha thought with irritation as she looked at her watch again.

It had been half an hour since school ended for the day, and she had already been there for twenty-five minutes. She felt suspicious.

"Hey, have you seen Heiji?" she asked a classmate of hers who was just walking out.

"Hattori-kun? I think I saw him lurking by the Kendo dojo," the girl replied. "Are you---" She stopped very fast when she saw Kazuha's vein throbbing. "Uh, I'll be going." She rushed off very fast, in hurry to get away from Kazuha.

---

"Kote! (Wrist) One point win! Four to one, Hattori wins!"

"All right!" everyone cheered as Heiji took off his helmet, a victorious smile on his face. "You're still amazing, Hattori!"

"Of course I am," Heiji laughed merrily as he walked over to the bench and sat down on it. He pulled off the cloth from his head and let out a breath of relief. He did not realize how tiring Kendo practice was that way. His opponent had not tried to strike his body fortunately, but for some reason, his wound was aching.

"Are you okay, Heiji?" his friend asked, looking concerned. "I heard you were shot three days ago. Don't force yourself if you can't take it."

"I'm fine...of course I can take it," Heiji replied, stretching his arms. "It doesn't hurt at all." Well, maybe a little, he thought with a tiny wince.

"If you say so. What about Kazuha-chan? Isn't she waiting for you? She will be really mad if she finds out you disobeyed her."

"Don't bother her, she's always like that. She doesn't even know I'm here!" he laughed.

"Hattori, you're up against Sawutaru!" someone called.

"Interesting!" Heiji said with a smile, getting up. When he was ready, he stepped forward to meet Sawutaru, who looked very determined.

"Just to let you know, I won't go light on you," Sawutaru warned.

"Okay," Heiji grinned.

"Hajime!"

Heiji started to charge towards Sawutaru. Suddenly, the dojo door flew open. "HEIJI!" Kazuha screeched.

He came to a quick stop, his eyes widened as he looked around to the door. "K-Kazuha?!"

"Do!" Hearing the shout, Heiji turned around. Sawutaru was coming towards him. He tried to dodge, but the sword hit his stomach as he did. A sharp pain struck through him.

Kazuha shrieked when Heiji fell onto the floor, clutching his stomach and his face twisting in pain. "HEIJI!"