CHAPTER 2- Friends?
Shinichi has returned to school and Shiho has enrolled in the same school as him and Ran! Ran fears the worst but she still believes that Shinichi would keep his promise and come to her! What is going to happen? Read to find out!
Thank you Detective Pichu for correcting my mistake! Didn't realize that my Microsoft word changed all of the 'senpai' to 'sempai'. Thanks!
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Throughout the first few lessons before lunch, Ran watched Shinichi closely. Shinichi was more hardworking than ever. Well maybe it's understandable as he hadn't been in school for more than a year so he had missed out many lessons. But of course, Shinichi being Shinichi, he caught up quickly and didn't seem to have any problems following the lessons. He was as smart as ever, the same old Shinichi that Ran remembered. But something was a little off about him. He seemed to be glad to be in school almost thankful. And that scar beneath his left eye was bugging her as well. Where did he get it?
"Alright class," the teacher said loudly, jolting Ran out of her daydreams, "You may all leave for lunch now."
After thanking the teacher, most of the class rushed out of the room, eager to have their lunch. Shinichi waited for Ran at his desk, avoiding the stampede of students. Ran approached him and Shinichi smiled at her before they walked out together.
Ran took a deep breath and said, "Well?"
Shinichi was looking around the hallways, smiling slightly. When Ran spoke, he snapped back to attention and said, "Well what?"
"Well, are you going to tell me about that case that took you one and a half years to solve?" Ran replied impatiently.
Shinichi grimaced at her sharp tone and said, "Sorry Ran. The details are confidential."
Ran stopped in her tracks and placed her hands on her hips. "What do you mean 'confidential'?" Ran asked testily, "And how did you get that scar?"
Shinichi raised his hand and touched the scar unconsciously. The scar was long, reaching from his the tear duct of his eye, ending near his left ear. It looked pretty deep as well. Shinichi's hand dropped and he smiled at Ran. "It's nothing," Shinichi said, "Just a bad guy who tried to hurt me. Nothing to worry about."
Ran narrowed his eyes and arched her eyebrow at him. Shinichi looked away from her and began to look around the hallways again. Ran saw gratitude and happiness in his blue eyes as he took in the lockers, the hallways, the white painted walls and the tiled floor. Ran cocked her head in wonder. Shinichi was acting like he was lucky to be back in school. Not like Shinichi at all, Ran thought.
"Kudou-kun."
Shinichi and Ran turned around. Shiho was walking towards them. Shinichi smiled. Ran looked sideways and was shocked to see that smile. That smile, the glad and affectionate smile, Shinichi had only used it for her. So why was Shiho receiving it too?
Shiho smiled at Shinichi and nodded at Ran. "Kudou-kun," Shiho started as soon as she was close enough, "Do you want to have lunch together? Of course Mouri-san could join us as well."
Ran blinked at the mention of her name. How did Shiho know her name? Ran never remembered introducing herself to Shiho.
"Of course!" Shinichi replied happily, "Come on then!"
With that, he rushed off to the cafeteria, leaving Ran and Shiho alone. Shiho turned and smiled at Ran. "Hello. My name is Miyano Shiho," Shiho introduced herself.
Ran returned her smile with a confused one. "Um…" Ran said, "How did you know my name?"
"Kudou-kun always talked about you," Shiho said as they continued their walk to the cafeteria.
Ran's heart lifted. Shinichi talked about her? "What did he say about me?" Ran asked eagerly.
Shiho smiled and replied coolly, "I think I better not answer that question."
Ran's heart dropped again. Did Shinichi talked bad about her? What did he say? Ran thought furiously as they walked into the cafeteria.
Shinichi was already eating. For the first time, Ran saw Shinichi eating the high-school food with relish as though he had missed high school food. Ran thought that was weird. Shinichi never really enjoyed the food here. But now… He seemed to love it. Shinichi smiled at them and waved at them. Shiho and Ran walked over to the table and sat.
"You got to try the food Miyano-senpai," Shinichi said in between mouthfuls of food.
Shiho wrinkled her nose slightly and muttered a 'No thanks' before going over to the magazine rack at the corner of the cafeteria. She took a fashion magazine before returning to the table. Sweeping her reddish blonde hair behind her ear, she flipped open the magazine and began to read it in silence.
"Shinichi," Ran said, "How exactly are you two related?"
Shinichi swallowed his food and replied, "I already told you. We met each other in that case."
Ran wasn't satisfied with the answer. "How is Miyano-senpai related to the case?" she pressed. Ran was tired of vague answers and explanations that didn't make any sense. She had heard it for more than a year. Everytime Shinichi called, he would say he was on the case and never bothered to explain about the case. That wasn't like Shinichi. Shinichi was the one to boast about his brilliant deductions and the cases he had solved. But ever since he got stuck in that case, he rarely spoke about it. It was like he was avoiding the issue all together.
"I was one of the lead suspects in the case," Shiho cut in. Shinichi and Ran looked at her in shock. Shinichi was more in shock because of all answers; she had chosen one of the worst. But what is done is done so Shinichi just nodded to confirm the statement Shiho made.
Ran's eyes widened. "So Miyano-senpai is the lead suspect in the case," Ran said slowly, trying to figure out the meaning behind everything, "And Shinichi solved the case and proved your innocence? Am I right?"
Shinichi nodded and smiled at her. Then he turned to Shiho and said, "Hey, you better eat. There are going to be more lessons after this and you will need fuel to survive through them."
Shiho looked up from her magazine and gave Shinichi an 'are-you-kidding' look before lowering her gaze back to the magazine. "Pass," Shiho replied coldly, "I ate in the morning."
"Jeez," Shinichi muttered, "No need to act so cold all the time."
Ran looked at them in wonder. There was something about them that she couldn't place her finger on. She had heard the same conversation before. And the closeness that Shinichi and Shiho were portraying was striking Ran as odd. It wasn't just a 'detective-suspect' kind of bond. It was much closer. It was as though they knew each other for a very long time. The kind of expression that Shinichi showed when he was muttering and the cool reply that Shiho gave; it made Ran feel odd. She had seen it before.
Then it hit her. Why didn't she realise it earlier? It was just like Conan-kun and Ai-chan! The same expression, the same words, the same actions. They were exactly like the two kids. Conan-kun even looked like Shinichi! And Ai-chan, she was the smaller version of Shiho right now. Shiho's hair was very alike with Ai-chan's hair. The reddish blonde hair, the style of the hair and even the way they combed their hair was the same. And Conan-kun and Shinichi were so alike that Ran couldn't believe it sometimes.
Conan and Ai had gone back to America together. They said their goodbyes and they left together. Ran was sad when they left. Conan was like her little brother and Ai was like her little sister, although she was cold sometimes. Then Shinichi and Shiho appeared in school three days after they left. Together.
Ran could feel it. There were many secrets that those two was shielding and hiding. She sensed that the migration of Conan and Ai had something to do with the return of Shinichi and the appearance of Shiho. But what was it?
"I've got to know," thought Ran as she watched Shiho read her magazine and Shinichi happily eating his food, "I can't stand anymore secrets anymore."
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OK personally, I hate this chapter. I can't find the words to write and I can't find emotions to describe. Maybe I'm just not fit to write a ShinRan story. :( Please review as I need comments to help me with the story.