"So... You're taking Conan back overseas with you?" A teenage female sat on a couch, across from an older woman with dark hair. The teenager was wearing a high school uniform, a blue blazer, green necktie, white shirt, and blue pleaded skirt. Her crystal blue eyes seemed intent, curious, and inquiring. But that masked the real emotions she was having: remorse, worry, loneliness, and worst of all: Reluctance.
The other woman was dressed up in a female business suit, but with a ruffled, lacy white neckpiece. Her hair was done up in a bun. She gave a small, curt nod.
"Yes. We can finally bring him with us. My husband and I found a very good school for him to go to as well. So you needn't worry about his education. He's old enough to take care of himself now too." The woman smiled warmly.
"Oh. Alright then. I was betting Conan was getting anxious and homesick as well. He's very good at hiding his feelings, but I'm pretty sure he missed his parents very much." The girl replied. What are you saying? Conan never even acts like he HAS parents... The teen thought to herself.
"I'll come back tomorrow, though. Give him time to pack and give good-byes," the woman got up. "Would you mind telling him all this for me? It was really nice seeing you again, Ran." She started for the front door, and the teenager, Ran, quickly climbed to her feet, following her to the door. She seemed rather distracted.
"O-oh. Hai, I'll tell him. It was good seeing you too, Mrs. Edogawa." Ran bowed with respect and bid the mother farewell as she exited the office.
As soon as she disappeared down the staircase and then down the street, Ran's eyes softened into dismay and her feigned smile faded.
"Conan... going back with his parents?" She murmured quietly. She walked back inside and resumed her cleaning duties at her father's work desk.
That's right... I've come so used to Conan living here... I forgot he had parents too. They're always overseas, so I almost completely forgot. I think I was starting to think he really was my otochan...
As Ran continued her cleaning, she heard the door open. Looking up, she spotted a small brunette boy stepping over the threshold.
"Konnichiwa, Conan-kun.! Okaerinasai!" Ran greeted, giving the grade-schooler a very large smile. Conan seemed in the middle of a sigh, but quickly flashed Ran a warm, greeting smile back.
"Doumo, Ran-neechan! Konnichiwa. Ogenki desu?" The boy took off his coat and hung it up.
"I'm fine, Conan-kun. And you?" Ran inquired. She was beating around the bush. "Anything new at school?"
"I'm good too." The boy approached the couch, with an intent to relax and maybe catch a bit of light reading. "Genta-kun got his head stuck in-between the monkey bars... he climbed up on top of them, pretending he was an actual monkey."
Ran laughed lightly, "Oh, poor Genta-kun. He's always getting himself into trouble, isn't he?"
"...Ran-neechan?"
Ran looked up at this inquiry. "Hai, Conan-kun?" She blinked. She noticed he was eyeing the teacup on the table. The teacup his mother had been drinking from.
"Did somebody visit?" he asked.
"Oh... uh... hai..."
"Really? Who?" Conan looked up to Ran, who looked down and fiddled with her fingers.
"It... was your okaa-sama." Ran smiled. Conan seemed surprised. "G-guess what she said, Conan-kun." Conan blinked, listening intently, "...She's going to take you back overseas, so you can live with them."
Conan jumped up. "What!? Really?! No way!!" He threw his arms up. "Yay!!"
"Y-yeah..." Ran stuttered. Well... he IS happy... Ran gave an encouraging smile. What's best is Conan-kun's happiness.
Conan blinked however, glancing to Ran. "Ran...? What's wrong, Ran?"
Ran blinked, "Hm? Nothing, what makes you think there's something wrong?" She smiled again, leaning in closer to the boy.
Conan seemed unsure, staring at Ran with deductive eyes. "...Well! I'm going to go start packing!" Conan ran out of the office. Ran's eyes cast downward, darkening.
The high-schooler looked back up and started out, heading upstairs after Conan. I should make dinner... A good one.
Ran got herself into the kitchen and pulled out some things. I'll use the good white rice. Ooh, and noodles... eggs? Maybe I should make stir fry... fondu? Or maybe I should make oden? ... Ran laughed slightly. I'm worrying too much. I should just ask Conan what he wants. "Oi, Conan-kun!" Ran called, walking into the kitchen.
"Haiiii?" Conan's response came from the other room.
"What would you like for dinner?"
"Oh... that's okay, I was going to go to Hakase's house later." Conan walked into the kitchen.
Ran blinked, her eyes moving to stare at Conan. Her expression became disheartened and she slumped slightly. "Oh... o... okay then... I'll just make whatever for otou-san, then..." she tied her apron around her waist and grabbed up pots and pans to cook something.
"Oh! ...But, Ran-neechan, I can stay. This is the last night we'll be together for most likely a long while, so... I'm sure Hakase would understand if I told him I told him I wanted to spend it with you."
Ran's face brightened. "Alright then, what am I making tonight, Conan?" She smiled, looking to him. Conan's blue eyes directed towards the ceiling as he thought.
"Mmmm... How about pot stickers??" Conan grinned.
Ran laughed. "Pot stickers it is!" She got out a pot and went to cooking.
Conan left the room as she went about doing this.
Ran continued to get her cooking job. I'll just make sure that his last night here enjoyable. I can't do anything about him leaving, and– her thoughts were cut short as the phone abruptly rang. Taking a moment, she went to the phone and picked it up.
"Moshi moshi, Mouri Detective Agency." Ran answered.
"Oi, Ran, did you see in the news? They almost caught KID!" A voice came from the other line.
"Sh-Shinichi!!" Ran exclaimed in pleasant surprise.
"That's what the call me." Shinichi responded. Ran's expression changed from pure happiness to deeply annoyed.
"...Shinichi."
"Hai, Ran?"
"...Do you have ANY idea HOW LONG IT HAS BEEN SINCE YOU LAST CALLED?!!!"
"Ow! You're going to blow out my ear drums, calm down," Shinichi grumbled, "I've been really busy, okay?"
"Yeah, well, I'm kind of busy too, you know..."
"Oh. Sure. Making dinner. That is just SO hard."
"Hmm?" Ran quirked an eyebrow. "How did you know? I don't remember saying anything about making dinner."
"Ran, Ran. The time. Knowing you, you would ask Conan what he would want for dinner as soon as he came home from school. Considering what time he gets out, and how long it would take to get back to your place from there, he probably got home about five minutes ago. Now, if it was something that would take a long time to make, you would start on it now - Also, I know Conan well... and he would choose pot stickers, because it's one of his favorite foods."
"...can you come out of detective mode for FIVE. MINUTES, SHINICHI!?" Ran demanded.
"G-Gomen! I'm a detective, it's my life, you know that!" Shinichi whined.
Ran voiced a sigh. "Shinichi... guess what?"
"Hmm? Nani, Ran?"
"...Conan's going home."
"Oh! ...Well, great for him! It's about time his parents got things together. They're almost worse than mine," he laughed.
"..." Ran sighed again, her eyes casting downward.
"...Na? What's wrong, Ran? Something the matter?"
"...It's not fair. I know I'm acting selfish, but I'm so dependent on Conan's company. Without him, I wouldn't feel whole anymore. Especially with you gone." Ran admit.
"Oh, Ran... Well, guess what! I was gonna wait a while to say this buuut... All my cases... I'm done! I can come home and relax!" He exclaimed.
"...W-What...?" Ran couldn't believe her ears. "...You're coming home... T...Tell me I heard you right, Shinichi..."
"Hai! I'm coming home, Ran. I'll come home tomorrow," Shinichi paused, his voice sounding very happy and pleasant, "I'll come visit you first, okay?"
Ran fell to her knees, choking out a sob.
"?! RAN?! Ran, are you okay???!!! RAN!!!"
"I-I'm fine..." tears cascaded down the brunette's cheeks... but she had a large smile. "I'm just so happy... you're finally coming home, Shinichi..." her heart was so relieved, but she began to remember Conan leaving and that hurt as well. It was like losing her best friend... but one that was also her brother. She choked another sob as her tears went from happy to sad.
"...Ran..." Shinichi murmured, his voice giving a hint of concern... wait, was that a bit of guilt as well?
There was sniffling as Ran got herself up, wiping her tears and going to wash her hands and get her apron on. "I'm alright. So anyway, Shinichi, did I tell you about how Sonoko and I went shopping last weekend?"
Shinichi was hesitant. "...No, you didn't. What did you buy?"
"Ah... I'm completely broke so I just helped Sonoko carry her bags." Ran laughed. "Sonoko said Ic ould borrow her clothes if I wanted, but... her clothes don't really fit me."
Shinichi viewed this as a prime opportunity to piss Ran off.
"'Don't fit'? ...Ran. Have you been gaining weight?"
Ran could feel her face get hot as the blood rushed to it. "KUDOU SHINICHI! JERK! I HAVE NOT BEEN GAINING WEIGHT! Wh-WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN, ANYWAY! YOU HAVEN'T SEEN ME IN AGES, HOW WOULD YOU KNOW IF I WERE FAT?! THAT WAS COMPLETELY OUT-OF-LINE, I SHOULD–" Ran was interrupted by Shinichi's laughing.
"Well, it's pretty easy to deduce. First of all, over the phone a few times you've told me you've been eating more, and haven't been practicing your karate as much Also, you said you can't fit in Suzuki's clothes - you used to be able to fit into them fine... And we both know how much Suzuki eats!" Shinichi chuckled.
Ran growled, "WELL IF YOU THINK I'M SO FAT WHY DON'T YOU TELL ME WHERE YOU ARE SO I CAN PUMMEL YOUR ASS WITH MY FATNESS!?!?!"
Shinichi let out a nervous laugh this time, "I'm kidding, Ran! ...I'm sure you look great. If anything, I bet you're thinner. You're dieting too, right?" ran blinked for a moment, her expression becoming calm, even a bit confused.
"...Nani? How did you know?" she asked.
"Hehheh, Conan told me you've been eating a lot of grain-related foods, so I figured you were on a grain diet. Plus, your voice sounds a tad worn-out, meaning you don't have much energy, likely due to the fact you may not be getting the right vitamins." Shinichi responded.
Ran looked amazed. But her face became a scowl, "...Shinichi..."
"Hm? Nani, ran?"
"STOP TALKING LIKE A DETECTIVE TO ME!!!!!!!!"
"Okay, okay, I'll stop!"
Ran heaved a sigh. She heard a hissing noise, and her attention fixated on the pot that was boiling over. "KYAA!" Ran screamed, "Shinichi! I'll talk to you later!" She quickly snapped the receiver down so she could tend to the dinner.
Minutes later, Conan came walking in, PJ's on and a towel around his neck.
Ran looked over, "Oi, Conan-kun... took a bath already?" she blinked.
Conan nodded, "Mm! Ojii-chan went in after. You can go in after him." the boy smiled.
Ran gave a soft sort of smile, letting out a laugh, "but what about dinner, Conan-kun?"
Conan grinned. "We can eat alone now and ojii-chan can eat when he gets out. This is... our last day together, right?"
"Oh, don't say that, Conan-kun..." Ran insisted with a smile. Conan's eyes darted away.
"But, Ran... It's true... you see, I'm–"
"Now I won't have ANY of that, alright? My otochan will always be with me, and of course you'll visit again." Ran wagged her finger at Conan, a small smile tugging at her lips. She could feel herself break down on the inside. The thought of losing Conan forever was unbearable.
Ran felt something. On her face. She blinked, as she now felt something on her other cheek. In front of her, she caught Conan's expression contort into guilt.
"R-Ran..." The boy stared at her. When she realized why, she immediately turned her attention away from the boy and went back to the dinner, trying to wipe her eyes without drawing the boy's attention.
"Ran."
Ran didn't respond.
"Ran-neechan."
Ran couldn't look at him. She couldn't look at Conan. If she did, she knew that would be it. She would break down and make Conan feel terrible. She would ruin the whole night, their last night together... the last time they'd ever see each other.
"Gomen nasai Ran-neechan."
Ran's eyes darted to the boy.
Conan stood next to her, hands at his sides. His eyes were directed off in antoher direction, away from Ran.
"Gomen nasai." he whispered again, eyes becoming shadowed. Again he whispered his apology, but now his blue irises turned to stare up at her. His eyes. The look in his eyes, they always masked an undefinable, ungraspable something. That something was nearly graspable now. He looked as though there were a million things, secrets and otherwise, that he wished to tell her. So many things he wanted to ask her, all at once. So much sorrow and regret. But even with all that regret, all that desire to tell, all that sorrow, all Conan could manage to do was mutter another,
"Gomen Nasai."
Ran took a step towards him, falling to her knees. More and more tears fell as she pulled the boy into a tight hug, sobbing. "Conan-kun... Conan-kun...! Conan-kun!!!" All she ocould think about was his leaving. Even though she was getting Shinichi back, losing Conan was just too much to bear. It really was.