10. Aren't you tired, Edogawa-kun?
He definitely shouldn't have done it.
Could you imagine? Ever after they brainstormed ideas for the school festival, and they decided to just go with whatever he thought up, the researches and all the hard works are up to him now.
Well, it's not like they, the real thirteen-year-olds could think up any better ideas.
"You're talking like you're not a thirteen-year-old."
"Of course I'm-"
He almost said those words aloud at that moment, but of course he won't and he couldn't say, the fact that he's actually Kudo Shinichi who's twenty-three by now.
And anyways, even if he did tell everyone that he shrunk, would anyone actually believe him? Even if he did tell, what's going to change, will he return to his old form again.
The answer is no.
No one will be able to experience what he's been through, no one can feel the loneliness deep down in his heart.
It all belongs to Edogawa Conan, only.
"Ne, Edogawa-kun, you've been looking busy recently. Is it because of the school festival?"
"What else do you think could it be?" His annoyance had always entertained her well.
That Haibara, with her usual cold aura.
He doubts he'll ever able to deal with that cold blooded woman.
"Thinking about asking me for help?"
"There's no need for that." His eyebrows twitched, "I wouldn't even need to break a sweat."
"So full of yourself, just like usual."
"Thanks for the compliment."
The proof's right in front of them, of how he's not making up lies. After all, he did collect the most information and calculated the pros and cons for the plan, in such a short time.
"Say, you're not working hard just because of the school festival, right?"
She sounded like she's sure of his answer even though the sentence ended with a question mark.
He nodded, "Ran said she'll be coming to have a look."
"Thought so." Haibara Ai turned around and walked away with that calming expression of hers, though not without the daily amount of teasing.
"Working so hard just for her, it really is something you'd do, Meitantei."
For some reason, her back and her tea-coloured hair swiftly swinging in the air looked especially lonely hat day.
"Huh?"
Did she just insult him or something?
He shook the idea out of his head, packed up, and went home.
"Conan-kun."
He swung his head around, with eyes hoping to find the owner of the familiar soft voice.
"Ran-"
When he turned around, nee-chan stuck in his throat like glue, not coming out of his lips, not going down with the lump in his neck.
She stood in front of her with the sweet smile she always has on her face, looking at him.
And next to him, stood a man who is also staring at him with his amber eyes.
He is about half a head taller then Ran, has smooth cheek bones and tanned skin under the slightly messy inky-black hair.
"Ran nee-chan, he is…?"
There was an uncomforting feeling in his stomach.
"Hi," The man spoke first. His voice is deep like the rumbling thunder in summer, but soothing and less frightening. "I am Akatsuki Kazuki. I work in the same hospital as Ran, you could count me as her collegue."
"Not just a collegue." She sounded like she was scolding him, but her eyes smiled in a way they were almost sparkling, an expression she hasn't had for a long time. "Despite his young age, he's already quite a respected doctor. Unlike me who's still studying."
She didn't hide the adoring tone of hers, and ended the sentence with a pout.
He couldn't control that feeling.
Why, he called you Ran, not Mouri?
Why did you bring him without warning?
Why are you so close?
Are you in a relationship? Does he… like you?
He had a million questions in his mind.
But he decided to hide it.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Edogawa Conan."
He still has that polite smile on, "I hears often from Ran about you, now I finally got to see you in person."
He thinks, he knows the answers to his questions now.
Those amber orbs, let out a loving gaze way too strong and passionate for people to ignore. If even he had realised, then Ran must had already.
She knows, he likes her.
And she's not avoiding it.
Just for a split second, he felt so jealous that he felt like he was literally burning up.
And after what felt like a million years for him, he brought himself to ask about the forbidden area deep down in him.
"Ne, Akatsuki-san, are you dating Ran nee-chan?" He counted himself lucky that he spoke without raging and tears down his face.
He wished the answer is not what he's expecting.
"Well, it's up to you."
He was right, it wasn't what he was expecting.
But not in the good way.
"Conan-kun, you're almost like a brother to Ran, a really important person." He paused, sunken into thoughts, and then said, "I will take good care of Ran, do you trust me?"
Do you trust me?
Is this an international joke or something?!
Do you think you're good enough for her?
How long have you known her? Ten years? Twenty years?
Do you think you know her well enough? The Ran who puts on her brave face for other people's sake, the Ran who has to lock her inner self who still hasn't walked out of the shadow of her best friend's death away, do you know that?
He clenched his fist inside his pockets, with his knuckled turned so white and lifeless.
More importantly, Ran, do you like him?
He breathed in, he breathed out.
"If it can make Ran nee-chan happy, of course I'll... I'll"