Disclaimer: I don't own Detective Conan.

A/N: Thank you so much for following my story and making your favourite.

Enjoy the chapter.

Chapter 10

The first day of high school should be an excited day, but not for Shiho. She felt anxious and she wished that she could set aside her going to school. She knew that as a new student, she would be in the centre of attention, especially as a Kudo Shinichi's close friend. Shiho only hoped, it wouldn't last too long. Children in the elementary school talked about her for two days, and then she was treated as everyone else. Hopefully, it would be the same case in the school, where she's going now.

Shiho waited for Shinichi to walk with him, though he seemed to temporize. She knew that like her, Shinichi wasn't looking for his return to school. She was really worried about him. It would be better, if they acted as normal as possible, so they wouldn't arouse any suspicions.

After, last day of shopping, Shiho knew that both Ran and Sera would like to be her friends, and if she would decide to ignore them, then they may find it weird. They could even reach the truth, though Shiho knew that it would be rather impossible for them to find out, for now, at least.

The plan to deceive Ran, was working perfectly. However, sooner or later, they would have to go to the plan B, and it would be difficult to make Ran believe in it, not mentioning that it would cause some tears for Ran, as well.

"Are you ready? We gonna be late," Shiho rushed Shinichi.

"Yeah, I am," he responded to her.

Shiho started the conversation, "I was shopping with Mouri-san, Suzuki-san and Sera-san, yesterday. I'm invited for Ran's seventeenth birthday and of what I know, you also gonna be invited."

"I see that you already made friends. Good for you," Shinichi said with his bored voice, ignoring the fact about Ran's birthday.

"I thought about it and I think we shouldn't try to avoid Mouri-san. She might find it strange, and she may ask us, inconvenient questions."

"Are you expecting me to act as nothing happened," Shinichi hissed through his teeth.

"Of course not," Shiho tried to keep her voice calm, "I know, you may have trauma, aft-"

"I don't have any trauma!" Shinichi quickly denied.

"I'm just saying that if you will behave as you're behaving now, then she would figure out that you're hiding something."

"Ran would think that I behave this way, because of the Conan's situation. There's no way for her to suspect anything," Shinichi assured Shiho, who looked at him sceptically.

"Don't underestimate, Ran. She's smarter than you think," Shiho said firmly.

"Look, I will try to behave normal around Ran, but you know it will be hard for me."

"Don't forget, you're not the only one in this situation," Shiho responded.

She was afraid that something might go wrong. She sometimes wondered how they managed to hide this secret so well, and if they would be able to still keep it.

As Shiho predicted, she became in the centre of attention among the students, even quicker than she thought. When, Shinichi entered the room with the shoe cases, all eyes set on him. They immediately were surrounded by students.

"Look who decided to visit our school," the teenage boy with brown hair said.

"Probably, some case happened, wonder who died," the other teenage boy with black hair responded.

"Nobody died. The case, I was working on is closed now," Shinichi said irritated.

"It's the big case, media still talked about it," brown-eyed girl said, and she started to giggle with her other friends.

They all started to bombard Shinichi with lots of questions. They wanted to know everything, staring from how big the organization was, ending on what kind of weapons, they used.

Shinichi's face looked more irritated every time, he was asked a new question. What worse, he had no way to escape, considering all the students standing around him. Shiho, who also felt irritated, hemmed. It was enough for them to look at her.

"Hey, Kudo, where did you take such fine chick, from" black-haired teenage boy said.

Shiho shoot a death glare towards that boy, fine chick?

"Your new girlfriend had temperament," he laughed.

Girlfriend?

It seemed that in this school, everyone jumped into conclusion, very quickly. She wanted to say something, but another boy with glasses spoke, "No way, Kudo couldn't cheat on his wife, right?" he poked Shinichi into his arm playfully.

Shinichi rolled his eyes as he responded, "She's professor Agasa's adopted daughter, Miyano Shiho, you know my neighbour."

"So, Shiho-chan, since you are free, go on date with me," black-haired boy said with his confident voice.

"I'm afraid, I might be infected by your stupidity, if I do, and also, don't call me Shiho-chan," she kept her death glare on her face.

"Whoa, Kudo, she has hot temperament, I like it."

Before, Shiho or Shinichi could respond, one of the students said, "We should go to the classroom, before we gonna be late."

Shiho was glad that they finally could escape all this commotion. She really hoped that all the attention of her would disappear soon. She couldn't believe how boys were so self-confident to ask a new girl on a date. However, she shouldn't be surprised. Kudo also acted self-confident, especially, if it was about cases. He also was too confident in keeping the truth

from Ran. Shiho wished to have his optimism, but she couldn't help to think that something would go wrong.

All students were sitting behind their desks, when the teacher entered the classroom. The first thing, he did, was to introduce the new student.

"I expect everyone to treat Miyano-san with the respect."

The teacher eyed everyone in the class, before he pointed out the free seat to Shiho.

Her desk was two seats behind Kudo and next to Sera, who smiled at her. Shiho smiled back at both her and Ran, who also gave her the small smile. Sonoko only looked at her with her scrutinizing gaze, if she tried to read Shiho's thoughts. Shiho was sure that Sonoko was thinking that Shiho came only to this school to seduce Kudo.

The time during the class went for Ran too slow. She couldn't focus, at all and she occasionally glanced at Shinichi, who looked at her only once, ignoring her for the rest of the lesson.

Ran didn't want things to be like that between them. They were best friends since their childhood, and Shinichi, even confessed to her, two months ago. Ran was aware that the whole situation with the shrinking body and hiding from the big evil organization could affect Shinichi in a wrong way, but she hoped, he soon would back to his old self.

Ran partly blamed herself of what happened to Shinichi. She had the bad feeling that she would never see Shinichi again, after he left her at the Tropical Land. If she would prevent him from leaving her, then maybe Shinichi wouldn't need to hide. He would spend last months with her and his friends as himself not like the grade school boy.

Though, Shinichi being Conan had its good points, as well. Ran was almost sure that if it wasn't for Conan, they still might be in denial. They knew about their feelings, at least, though their situation was very awkward. Ran wanted to make a first move, but she knew that Shinichi should take a first step. She knew that if Shinichi would decide to beg for her forgiveness, she would forgive him right away. She already did, for that matter. She forgave him, but it would be much harder to forget and she would also need the time to trust Shinichi, again.

Ran also had the same bad feeling, when Shinichi left her to follow the men in black. She felt that something horrible either will or did happen. Besides, she felt like she lost something or someone very important to her, but she couldn't think of anything. However, this feeling was bothering her too much. Her intuition said to her that it might be something regarding of what Shinichi was hiding from her.

Ran called herself stupid on multiple occasions. Shinichi already confessed the truth about Conan, so why he would be a fool enough to hide something else. But, what if, that something was even worse from living under her roof and hiding his true identity from her.

Ran shook her head. Shinichi wouldn't lie to her and besides, there cannot be anything worse.

He lied to you once, he can do it again, the voice echoed in Ran's head.

"Hey, Miyano-san, Kudo-kun, over here." Sera's voice interrupted Ran's thoughts.

Shiho and Shinichi approached her, Sera and Sonoko. Ran noticed that Shinichi hesitated at first, but when he saw Shiho joining them, he probably thought, it was better to come to them, as well.

As usual, Shinichi was looking in the other direction than Ran's.

"You know Shinichi-kun, if you keep ignoring Ran, others would think that you had some argument with your wife," Sonoko teased.

"Sonoko!" Ran blushed.

"What you were talking about?" Shiho decided to save Ran and Shinichi from this awkward situation.

"We're discussing Ran's birthday," Sera responded.

It reminded Ran, she should ask Shinichi, if he would come.

"Will you come, Shinichi?" she asked.

For the change, he decided to look at her. He was going to say something, but Sonoko interrupted, "Of course, he will come. It will be on this Saturday at seven pm in my house."

Ran didn't want Shinichi to feel as he was forced to come for her birthday, that why, she asked again, "Will you?"

Four girls focused their eyes on Shinichi and he replied, "I have nothing better to do, so I will come."

Ran smiled slightly at him. Maybe, if she would show that she had no grudge against him, then he would stop act like that. Shinichi might try to ignore Ran, because he was simply ashamed of his lies and there was nothing more.

As Shinichi gone, they talked about the preparations of Ran's birthday.

"Invitation cards will be ready for tomorrow, everyone in class will get them," Sonoko informed.

"Everyone?" Ran repeated. She could already imagine the party going out of control with so many people.

"It's your birthday! Oh and I'll call Makoto, he said that he's free on this Saturday, so he will come too."

"That's great! I'll invite Kazuha-chan and Hattori-kun, as well," Ran said.

Even though, the party will be big, there will be people close to Ran, at least. She also felt her heart race at the thought of Shinichi coming.

"How is your first day at the school, Miyano-san?" Sera asked.

"Besides, that I feel as I was in a zoo, it's not bad," Shiho responded.

"Don't worry; it will pass in a few days. I was there, so I know how you feel," Sera comfort her.

Ran was glad that Shiho was more social than Shinichi and she wasn't running from her. However, Ran noticed that Shiho also avoided Ran's gaze, but she probably was embarrassed with the fact that she was the one, who created the drug that shrunk people.

She wanted Shiho to become their friend and she hoped that Shiho will be more comfortable around them soon.

Shinichi felt relived as he could finally leave the school building. He couldn't stand his all friends asking him all these questions about the organization. He wished to forget about the organization, but it was hard, when he was reminded of it every day.

It was even harder to be around Ran. Just being around her, reminded him of his guilt. The only comforting thought was that the plan was working perfectly and there were low chances for Ran to find the truth.

He listened to Shiho's advice and he decided not to ignore Ran, but it was very difficult for him. Shinichi wished, he could come back to the past and prevent himself from...

"This day wasn't as bad as I thought, it would be," Shiho said as they both were on their back way home.

"Uh-huh."

"I know, it's difficult for you, but you know I'm here for you," Shiho smiled at him.

Shinichi was very grateful for her for being there for him. Shiho reminded him that the world didn't end, though he knew that Ran would have this feeling, if she would know the truth, and he would need to do everything not to let this happen.

"Thank you. Sometimes, I think, I would be in the dark place, if it wasn't for you," Shinichi responded.

Shiho was the only person, he could freely talk to and he was very thankful for it.