Chapter 3

Tokyo Central Library

The sun above coated the Earth with the warmth and brightness of lights. The sky was high and clear, printed with the color of aero blue. Although it was a very nice Sunday morning, the Central Library was packed with students busy doing research for their study.

The academic silence comfortably engulfed the chamber of knowledge. It was only heard the sound of flipping papers, scribbling pens and typing keyboards. There should not be any other sound but Ran heard an even tiny sound beside her.

It took Ran a while to detect the sound and a few more seconds to realize that it's Eisuke timid snoring. Luckily, it was not too loud to disturb other students. Ran nudged him on the shoulder

"Eisuke, wake…wake up" she whispered, try to lower her voice as soft as possible

After some valid tries, Ran succeed in waking him up

"Ran!?…" Eisuke sleepily replied

"Are you tired?"Ran mouthed the word

"Yesterday, I worked up late at the Studio."

"For Kudo's project?"

"Dare me Ran. Since the Equipment incident, I avoided working for his project. Or else, Mr. Hoshimoto gonna bite my head"

Ran tried to suppress her giggle as the two teenagers managed to maintain their conversation at barely a whisper.

"Same here, I try to elude all shifts with his project, more work, more pressure, more stress"

It's turn for Eisuke to smoother his agreeable laugh into a amusing nod.

"But we can't do it next week. It seemed that at the peak period, his project need to accelerate schedule for Yamastude festival." Ran continued

"I'm thinking to take a whole week off" Eisuke joked

"Then you will earn no money"

They both laughed off and resumed their reading.

/

/

/

Ran was on her way to the 9th date working on Kudo's project.

She was sitting on top of ladder, fixing bundles of replica branches of trees and overheard a conversation of two other errand girls. She was not a type of gossip lover or information mining but their small talk evolved around a certain someone whose name captured her uttermost attention.

"Kudo sama must have subtle notice for her" Miyuki, a lovely amiable brunette said

"Really? Did he? Why you know that?" Sasshi, another girl with an ethereal braid excitingly inquired

"I don't know but I saw Kudo sama looked at her when she argued with Mr. Director" Miyuki explained

"That Ryoko-chan, she made a breakthrough, she's very brave and smart… and elegant and… oh so gorgeous" said Sasshi with great admire for Ryoko chan.

To Ran, Ryoko was a sophisticate charming little lady. The girl had an ethereal refined visage and strong intriguing personality. She always had her blonde hair in style and her clothes up to latest trend. She didn't seem to care much about working in the grand studio and meeting Kudo sama more often.

She held high self-esteem and virtue so that she even opposed against the crew member on their toll demand and ignorant attitudes. Ryoko was type of headstrong girl would draw attention from the leading male character, according to all manga series Ran ever read. If there was a Cinderella tale in this Golden Grand Studio, it just should be Ryoko chan.

"Yeah, I think it might be possible, given that Kudo sama don't have a girlfriend now" Miyuki words captive Ran's ears again

"It's strange, he such a handsome and charming gentleman." Sasshi wondered

"I think he kept it as a secret, to prevent from shredding all young ladies' heart" Miyuki joked

"Quite right, he has never denied or confirmed rumor with supermodel Aguchi or actress Haesime"

"But isn't Miss. Aguchi had gone studied aboard?"

"I don't know"

As the three girls, two in conversation and one eavesdropping, seemed lost in thought for the issue at hand, even a small voice could make them jumped remarkably.

"Booo"

…And someone just too fragile for this trick

"Aaaaaa"

Ran startled at the sudden appearance of her co-worker. Her hands firmly clutched the replica branches to support her body and keep her from falling from the high platform hanging casually mid-air. Thank God, the replica branches was very strong and durable, otherwise, Ran would lie unconsciously on the stage floor. She still rested her head against branches, trying to compose her wit.

"Ran chan, you OK?" Ryoko, the one that unexpectedly arrived, asked in concern.

"I'm fine" finally Ran managed to reassure her friends

The three girls breathed out in relief and then giggled softly.

One figure got the girls attention.

"Oh my, Kudo sama just walks in" Sasshi informed, caused the other three girls looked down.

Shinichi paved leisurely into the studio and disappeared behind the curtain. Like others, Shinichi looked up to the source of the scream and his eyes caught a figure holding tightly to the replica branches as if her dear life depended on it. Which was quite true and Shinichi amused at the thought. Although the light couldn't reach her at the top of the arch, he could make out a slim figure and a dark long hair.

It must scare the daylight out of her

"Does he hear my scream?" Ran wondered in panic, her hands came up, covered her red crimson cheeks

"Yes, of course. You're too loud" stated Miyuki as she playfully watched Ran get more nervous

"It's OK, Ran chan. If Kudo sama notices, he only notices his beautiful Ryoko-chan, you're safe" Sasshi played along

Ran nodded. She looked to Miyuki and Sasshi, seeing them smiled in agreement then the three of them looked over to Ryoko with admiration. Ran didn't know whether she should happy with Sasshi assurance or sad on the bitter truth that Shinichi would never get interest in her.

Ryoko felt discontent with her friends playing the match game. Although she somehow got little attraction to him, but basically, she didn't care much about random people or even celebrities who had no knowledge about her.

"Why all the staff members are talking about me and him? You guys don't know that besides him were super hot sexy models fell easily at his heel" Ryoko tried to object the idea.

"Ryoko chan, but you're special, did you watch movies, and popular boys always fall for hard-to-get girl that act differently, just like you" Sasshi commented

Ryoko seemed fed up with this kind of argument. She turned to Ran who looked uninterested in this discussion

"Ran chan, why I haven't seen you for…weeks? You skipped?" Ryoko happily changed the topic

"Yeah, I haven't met you for a while" Ran agreed.

"Ran chan, If you have a shift on Kudo sama's project, you definitely meet Ryoko chan" said Sasshi

"I try to avoid his projects for a month now" answered Ran

"Why?" the three asked in surprise.

"Due to the Equipment incident?" Ryoko guessed and she was right. For a sensible girl as her, it's easy to put two and two together.

Ran nodded

"It's Eisuke's fault not yours. Besides it's his task, we are hardly assigned any tasks that could get blame for."

"I have to run errand, I just afraid if I can't get his right choice …"

"No Ran-chan, he would never blame you. Kudo sama is a very nice guy" Ryoko told her softly

Ryoko hadn't talked to him or even known him but she saw how he treated his crew members, how he looked at others. She was sure he was real gentlemen.

/

Ran stood beside Eisuke in Equipment room, helped him tidy the storage and put all the devices into place. Actually, it's not Ran's task to do that, she just want to have some work to do while she had idle time in the Studio premise.

Equipment Room was quiet than the Main Stage where she should be standby waiting for another errand order. After a long errand to the convention store, Ran inclined to find someplace peaceful for her tired body and dizzy mind. Unlike other errand girls who spent most of their free time, staring at him from afar, Ran sought for some ways to shake his image out of her mind.

She has uneasy feeling like something quiver inside her as she saw him posed intimately with other model. The model had her head rest on Shinichi's broad shoulder, her lips parted as Shinichi gradually bent his head lower into a perfect pose. Ran wondered if it was her, how it would feel like. Ashamed of her own thought, Ran ran off to the Equipment Room… to be called out again

"Ran chan" Miyuki ran to the Equipment Room. Urgency laced in her voice.

"Miyuki chan?!"

" call you over"

Ran grew alarmed, she quickly got back to the Main Stage. Mr Tosouk, the strict and picky shift leader. Did I make something wrong? It must be about the errand to the store. I've double checked before proceed to the cashier.

Nothing missed out, if she could not find anything, she still managed to get the substitutes as advised on the list. To sum up, Ran got everything on the list just fine, nothing more nothing less.

Why Mr. Tosouk wanted to find her?

"Mouri san, where have you been?" His stern voice gave Ran the fright of her life.

"I'm in the Equipment Room" Ran timidly answered

"Isn't you signing up for Main Stage today?"

"I…" Ran didn't know what to say.

"You think you have completed your job?"

That what's I thought. Ran knew better not say anything.

"Where's the drink for Kudo san?"

Now here's the real problem

"There's no name on the list" Ran stated the matter of fact.

"Mouri san, did you see this?" Mr. Tosouk grabbed a paper and shoved it to Ran.

It's the shopping list Ran brought along during her errand. You still keep it, Mr Tosouk

He pointed to the line *** Mitsuya Cider lemon/ grape-fruit favor.

"Triple stars indicated his order. Where's Mitsuya Cider lemon favor?"

"I couldn't find it so I took the substitute grape-fruit favor." Ran warily explained

"Why you didn't try another store? Why you…"

"Mr. Tosouk, Ran had tried her best. If she ran for another store, there would be no time. She already brought the substitutes as written on the list. What else she could do?" Ryoko cut him off, argued with the unreasonable manager.

"Ryoko chan, it's not your business" Ryoko really got on his nerve, dare to correct him in front of many people. He turned to her, prepared to give her piece of his mind but a voice arisen made him stop.

"Grape-fruit is fine with me." Kudo Shinichi deliberated walked pass Ran. He took the Mitsuya Cider grape-fruit and drank from it.

Everyone watched as he carried the soft drink with him and walked back to his privileged comfy sofa on the stage.

Mr. Tosouk quickly walked away in annoyance.

The girls came to the back of the Studio. Ran heard people chatter about Ryoko- fearless, discreet and sensible. Ryoko chan, could you lend me some of your wit?

"Arigato Ryoko chan" uttered Ran sheepishly

"Don't worry. You're just too soft and gentle that he could dominate you"

Ran nodded in agreement. She felt so small when walking side by side with Ryoko chan whose admirers increased since everyone witnessed her courageous act, stand up for what's right, step out to protect her poor little friend being bossed around by a crude shift leader. Ran found herself like Sakurako while Ryoko chan like Tsukushi in Hana Yori Dango movie and Kudo sama would be either Rui or Tsukasa, the popular elite boys both fell for Tsukushi at the end. Actually, Kudo Shinichi was much more attractive than those actors.

Ran remembered his delicate timber wood scent overwhelmed her nose as he passed by recently. Every time she got to the dangerous zone closer to him, her heart either skipped a beat or pounded ardently in her ribcage. She couldn't even think, her whole body just moved involuntarily that she couldn't control.

Chiming… chiming…chiming

Her phone chimed, a text message from Kaito, saying he will come late this evening to pick her up. Until then did Ran notice the time. Her shift nearly finished.

Kudo san and his crew had gone, only the Studio staffs including errand boys and girls hurried to clear the stage, tidied the equipment, put away the props. The props were categorized based on sizes and usages then filled into bags or carton boxes.

When everything was put in place orderly, everyone got up and head for their home, left Ran alone in the Studio while waiting for Kaito. She still knelt on floor, sitting on her heels, busied herself with the bags lying on the stage floor.

The Grand Studio stood as a magnificent royal palace, a masterpiece of 18th century architecture still alive today. People would feel overwhelmed and enchanted with its elegant and exclusive interior, embedded the sense of elite and nobility. However, Ran just felt uneasy and fearful in the entire spacious hall alone. She closed her eyes, chasing the fear crept inside her, secretly prayed Kaito would come earlier.

"Hey" a voice spoken behind her. Not Kaito voice. Who else is that? Isn't her here alone.

Ran started panic, her heart beat faster and her blood ran cold sending chills along her spine as she felt that speaking thing come closer.

"Hey" the voice tried again and boldly tapped her right shoulder

As perplexed, Ran turned around. Her face was as pale as a sheet that couldn't hide the obvious fear in her azure teary eyes. But in contrary with her imagination, it's not a ghost or a monster haunted in the Hall. Greeting her was an angelic face, contoured with defined line, impressed by twins sapphire orbs and enhanced by an enthralling smile. Standing against the light, he looked like a seraph to Ran, in the creamy white poised tux.

"Where you get the drink?" He asked

"Huh?" was Ran's only small utter

"Could you get up?" watching the girl in front of him still stayed motionlessly on the floor, he offered her to move so she could get out of his spell. It was typical reaction for all girls when they first talked to him at this close distance but this girl was quite funny to watch.

"Yeah" Ran murmured a soft respond, automatically obeyed to his word without realizing the heavy bags still trapped in her hands. Ran stumbled as the weights and it fiercely pulled her down.

She hadn't fallen on the ground and the burden of her hand lessened. The boy caught the bags in time and supported her to fully stand up straight. The bags played as a connecting bridge transferring his strength to her.

"That's heavy! They let you manage these things."

"No! I just…" Ran trailed off, how she could tell him that her mind got distracted because of his ethereal charm.

Shinichi smiled at the girl, she was very nervous.

"Where did you get the drink earlier?" He repeated the question, hoping her mind was clear enough to form the answer he wanted.

"You want to buy it? I can…" answered Ran like a good little girl

"No, you had finished your shift." Shinichi smiled again. He didn't know why he had smiled a lot to this girl. "I can do it by myself. Tell me where it is"

"It's a few block away from here. You walk to the Road ahead then turn left, keep walking along and you see it on the right" Ran gave him direction with her hands moved along with her words, maneuvered.

"Thanks" He smile genuinely at her.

He left and she was alone in the entire spacious Studio again but Ran didn't felt scared at all. Her mind was too occupied with thought, questions and simulation.

Oh. My. God.

Kudo sama. Kudo Shinichi

Is it him just talking to me?

Why I'm acting like an idiot? Just looking at him dumbfounds? Does he think I'm a fool?

Why I couldn't make any sensible sound? Why words just left me?

Why he didn't catch me instead of catching the bags? Why his hands didn't touch mine? What if I fell badly, would he embrace me in his arms, would he…?

"Hey" Ran startle at the voice, she found it familiar as it is spoken to her few minutes earlier.

Oosp, have he heard what I am saying?

Nope Ran, you're safe in your mind

Ran inaptly turned around, her cheek made contact with something wet and cold. Ran jerked a little backward, her hand covered her cheek, looking at the alien object. Mitsuya Cider grape-fruit

Seeing the girl not recover from her stunning yet, Shinichi hopped down at her eye level, one leg knelt on the floor, the other firmly supported on his foot. Ran still grasped for her breath. Shinichi gently loosened the hand on her cheeks revealing a deep crimson blush.

"Are you OK?" He asked her tenderly

Ran nodded

"Here you are." Shinichi put the soft drink toward her

"Huh?" Ran still looked at him without trying to blink

"You must be thirsty by now. This is for you" Shinichi put the can neatly oh her palm; he delicately wrapped her fingers around it as she had no intention to hold it.

Ran looked at the innocent can in her hand, which made her aware that she hadn't drunk much water during the whole evening.

"Open it and drink" Shinichi softly ordered

And as usual Ran complied with his word without thinking twice.

Shinichi smiled as he watched her lift the can to her lips and drank from it.

"Good?" asked Shinichi when she finished

"Yeah." Now she was able to beam purely at him

Shinichi noticed how her little rosy lips and round eyes became straight lines when she genuinely felt happy. He couldn't help but involuntarily chuckled to himself.

"What?" asked Ran in bewilderment, hearing his laid-back laugh.

Shinichi slightly shake his head, casually asked "You go home on your own?"

"Yes" Ran just agree to everything he said

"That's dangerous as it getting dark." He seemed worry about her safety

"No, my housemate picks me up" She quickly corrected herself and told him the truth.

"Good"

Her response reassured him. Shinichi kicked himself mentally. Why on Earth had he suddenly cared for this high school girl? He quickly bid her a good-bye and on his heels trotted away.