Walking out of the music store, Kaito hesitantly looks over at his best friend. Seeing her trying, and failing, to put on a happy face, he attempted to bring her spirits up once more. "Don't worry Aoko. I'm sure they are selling that Two-Mix CD elsewhere. If not, we'll just have to wait until they restock."
Turning to him, Aoko puts a strained smile on her face. "I. . . I know that Kaito, it is just. . . this was one of the only stores doing a special promotional CD for the first one hundred customers. So. . ."
"I see. . ." Thinking to himself, Kaito tries to come up with a plan to cheer her up. However, before he is able to execute the plan, he is interrupted by someone calling to them. Looking over, he spots Conan running down the sidewalk to meet up with them.
"Edogawa-san! What are you doing here?" Aoko says with surprise written on her face.
Stopping in front of her, Conan bends over to catch his breath before speaking. "I. . . I'm glad I found the two of you."
Tilting his head to the side, Kaito looks down at the other boy, curious. "You were looking for us?"
"Yeah. . ." Fumbling in his back pocket, Conan produces two envelopes. Presenting them to the other two with a slight bow, he explains. "Ran-neechan was very happy to meet the two of you and was glad for the extra opinions. So in gratitude, she wanted to invite both of you to her wedding. It is one of those by-invite-only sort of things so . . . these are the invitations."
"Oh."
"Thank you. Be sure to give her our gratitude." Aoko said with a smile on her face.
"I'll be sure to do that. Um. . . Nakamori-san? Are you alright?"
"Huh? Sure I am. . . Why do you ask?"
"Uh well, it's nothing really. You just seemed sad about something before I met up with the two of you."
"Oh, that. I'm just a little sad that I wasn't able to get the special limited Two-Mix CD that they were selling here."
"I see. . . So because you came to help pick out Ran-neechan's wedding dress you. . ."
Seeing his expression become crestfallen, Aoko hastily says, "Ah! No, it's not your fault. I insisted on coming, so if there was anyone to blame, it would be me."
"Still. . . I'll se if I can make this up to you."
"Y-you needn't do that! I'm perfectly. . ."
"I insist."
--------------------------Later That Day--------------------------
"Hello, Beika Concert Hall. How may I help you?"
"Ah, Hello? Is the manager of Two-Mix avaliable?" There was silence on the other end. Conan couldn't believe that he was actually doing this. It probably would have been easier to go to some store and buy the CD, but...
"Hello, this is the manager speaking."
"Ah, I'm Edogawa Conan. Can I speak to Takayama-san or Nagano-san?"
"Edogawa, Edogawa, why is that name familiar?" The manager mumbled to himself. "Ah! That's right! One moment please."
"OI! Minami-san! Shinna-san!" The manager could be heard over the phone as he called for his clients. "A Edogawa Conan-san is on the line for you."
"Edogawa, Edogawa," Conan groaned, this wasn't looking good. "Ah! Conan-kun! Hi!!" An enthusiastic Takayama Minami picked up the phone. "Long time no see, tante-san!"
"Hey, Minami! Who's Conan-kun?"
"Mah, how can you not remember Conan-kun? He saved us remember?" Conan blushed a little. "So, how can I help you?"
"Ah, I just need a small favor. Any chance I could get a promotional CD, for a friend you know. She really wanted it and..."
"Ahh!! Conan-kun has a girlfriend!"
"DO NOT!"
"If you insist. I'll get it to you, how about, Beika Park in, oh say, half an hour? See you by the swing set."
"Ah Wait!" Conan was cut off by the sounds of a hung-up phone. "Arg!" Pulling on his shoes, Conan sped off to the park to get the CD.
A little while later
"Co-nan-kun!" Said a voice, eerily like his own. "I got the CD for you!" Conan turned around to see the pop-singer in the same get-up that they had first met in. Hair pulled up in a cap, and wearing a jacket. "You're girlfriend will love you forever for this, you do know that right?"
"She is not my girlfriend." Conan grumbled.
"Hai, hai, whatever you say." Minami ruffled his hair. "I still think that you could double for me sometime, if you learned how to sing."
"H-HEY!!"
--------------------------A Few Days Later--------------------------
Once they both reached the school's roof, they took a deep breath of the fresh air. Walking over to the railing that surrounded the edge of the roof, Kaito turned to Aoko and asked, "Well? So what is it that you wanted to talk to me about? What is it that you didn't want other people to overhear?"
Still feeling a bit hesitant, Aoko pokes her fingers together as she tries to explain her thoughts. "Um. . . What I wanted to say. . . Well . . . I was wondering. . . Kaito, do you . . ."
However, before she could say what she wanted to ask, a familiar voice interrupts. "Huh? Kaito-san, Nakamori-san, what are you two doing up here?"
Turning around, Aoko and Kaito spotted Conan sitting above the doorway that led to the roof.
"Edogawa-san!"
"Conan-kun! What are you doing up here?"
Smiling his ever present polite smile, Conan says, "Me? I was just trying to clear my head. There were too many distractions inside for me to think properly so I came up here. What about you two?"
Blushing slightly, Aoko mumbles, "Um. . . Well. . ."
Seeing such hesitation from the normally outspoken young lady, Conan shakes his head. "Never mind, what you do is your own business." Gently pushing off of his perch, Conan lands in a crouched position. Standing up, he then walks over until he was standing in front of Aoko. "Anyway Nakamori-san, do you have a minute?"
"Er. . . Well. . ."
Grinning at the opportunity to tease, Kaito asks, "Should I leave you two alone for a little . . . privacy?"
Watching Aoko blush at the implication said with those words, Conan turned to the other boy. "No, it is alright for you to stay. I won't take long. Now then, where did I put it?" Making a show of patting a couple of his pockets, Conan's hands finally emerge with a plainly wrapped square package. Neatly written upon the blue wrapping paper were the words, 'Sorry for taking up your time'.
Accepting the gift, Aoko asked Conan, "What is this for?"
Feeling a little embarrassed at her question, Conan places his hands behind his back and takes a step away. "Well, if you remember, a couple of days ago I said that I would repay you for, well, me interrupting your plans for the day. Er. . . I thought that this would be a good way to repay you. Um. . . I hope you will like it."
-------------------------------------------------------
First Excerpt (part1): RedHerring1412's "Masks of Identity" Chapter 11
Second Excerpt: (last part): RedHerring1412's "Masks of Identity" Chapter 13
-------------------------------------------------------
Whee!! So, I was reading RedHerring1412's "Masks of Identity," and I was idly wondering, how did Conan get the CD? I really don't know if it was the promotional CD that he gave Aoko or not, but this is my take on it. My part is kinda sandwiched between exerpts from "Masks of Identity."
Previewed and Approved by RedHerring1412.
Go read the story, it's really good:
