11: Balance at Work
Kudo Shinchi gaped at the lunch boxes that were spread across the table. His eyes constantly moving everywhere until it fell onto the last box after Ran opened the lid and put it aside.
"You cooked a lot today." He commented.
"I was in the mood." Ran handed the chopstick over to Shinichi as he nervously take it from her hand. "You got to finish all of them. I put in a lot of effort." Her eyes narrowed at him dangerously, but there was still a hint of sweetness left in her eyes and it made Shinichi chuckled.
"I don't know how but I'll try."
Ran beamed. "Good."
Shinichi steadied the chopsticks in his hands and started on the sushi first. Savoring the sweet rice and the tuna in his mouth, he nodded his head satisfyingly as Ran pushed the box towards him, her smile still plastered on her face.
Ever since Shinichi began working in the homicide division, the time spent outside of work grew a little lesser than usual, but that didn't stop Ran from being unable to see her boyfriend. She made the effort to bring lunch to him everyday, text him at least once a day and often dropped by at his workplace after his work.
He was grateful for everything she had done for him, for being the patient, loving and beautiful girlfriend that was always by his side through the ups and downs. Getting to eat the six filled bento boxes made with love and care was actually an honor for him. Furthermore, her cooking was good so he got nothing to lose at all, just that he had to make sure to lose all the fats that he might get for eating such nutrition and delicious lunch almost every day.
As Ran watched him cheerfully stuffing the food in his mouth, she casually glanced around the office. When she was looking back over her shoulders, she noted the three loyally policemen that were under Shinichi's care staring at the two of them.
One was holding a cup of instant noodle, another was holding onto a piece of bread while the last one was gripping tightly onto a can of orange juice. As they pathetically sit on the couch with their lunch, they nodded their head and greeted their leader's girlfriend with awkward smiles when their eyes made contact.
She smiled back. "Satoshi-kun, Izumi-kun, Hataka-kun, would you like to join us? I've made plenty today."
The three of them glanced at each other before looking back at the table and their face immediately brightened. Instantly, they placed their food down on the small table in front of them and was about to stand up when they noted a glare directing right at them. Their eyes moved away from the innocent and oblivious Ran to their ominous-looking leader sitting right in front of her.
With their butt raised in the air, Satoshi managed a laugh first. "Oh it's fine. We're almost full." The three of them sat right back down on the couch and picked up their half-eaten lunch.
"Next time then!" She chimed.
"Yeah, sure." The three of them replied in union.
Ran turned to look at Shinichi and his face instantly changed back to usual calm look.
"Don't forget your miso soup." Ran uncapped the steel flask and poured the steaming miso soup into the cup.
Shinichi afforded a last glance over at his subordinate before smiling back at Ran and accepted the cup into his hands.
.o.
Because he was too busy investigating a new murder case he had in hand, Shinichi forgotten to tell Ran to not wait for him outside the police headquarters today. He didn't mean to forget it, but once the new case got stuck on his mind, his brain didn't have the time or space to remind him at all.
It was only until he felt the need to go to the bathroom then he picked up his phone that was left under the piles of photos and reports and noticed one call he failed to answer since he set his phone on silent mode.
"Shit." Shinichi breathed out when his eyes read Ran's name on the miss call list and he immediately dashed out of his office, completely ignoring the fact that he needed to pee. While he was rushing towards the entrance, he began keying Ran's phone number while muttering curses to himself. He once swore to himself that he would never let Ran wait for him again but once again, he failed to keep his promise.
It was already three hours after his agreed time to knock off and he wondered if she was still foolishly standing outside and waiting for him. And then he realized it was entirely possible because she was... Ran.
He was about to press the dial button until he noticed a familiar figure sitting at the lounge area at the first floor and stopped on his track. And he was right when he thought the figure looked familiar because he knew who that person was.
Ran was sitting on the sofa, a smile etched on her face before she began laughing behind the back of her hand. Shinichi blinked, and blinked again as he slowly moved his eyes away from Ran and onto the person she was laughing with.
It was Tadashi, a traffic cop who was rather known in this police headquarters for his behavior. Shinichi always abide by the traffic rules and rarely came across any colleagues from the traffic department unless there was a case related to the road. But for him to remember Tadashi so well, there was a reason for that.
He was the biggest flirt.
Shinichi was never interested in gossips, but once in a while when he was getting a coffee from the vending machine, his ears would hear things even when he didn't want to in the first place.
"God damn it that Tadashi, he just got a date with Fumiko yesterday."
"Are you bloody serious? Didn't he just went out with Sayaka from the 4th division like a week ago?"
"That asshole. He better don't lay his hands on my Haruka-chan."
"Heh. I wish you all the best."
Shinichi didn't know what exactly the feeling was erupting in his chest but he didn't like it at all. Clenching his teeth, he took careful strides towards the couch where they both seated and stood over Tadashi, his shadow cast over his body and it instantly catching their attention as they turned their heads towards the detective.
Ran's face brightened and she immediately sprang to her feet. "Shinichi!"
Tadashi blinked and stood up from his seat as well. "That legendary Kudo Shinichi who can solve any case within a day?" He gaped at the detective.
"Yours truly." Shinichi scowled before looking over at Ran, his face softened naturally without needing his brain to tell him so. "Sorry, I was too distracted by a new case and-"
"I didn't know you're married." Tadashi interrupted and looked back at Ran.
"We're not!" Ran waved her hands exasperatedly. "He's just my... boyfriend." Pink immediately tinted her cheeks and Shinichi couldn't help but let his heart skip a beat at the sight.
"Lucky! That means I still have a chance."
Shinichi's eyes moved dangerously over to Tadashi. "A chance for what?"
Tadashi shrugged casually. "I presume you're smart enough to know what I mean."
"Before you consider hitting on other people's girlfriend, do think about who their boyfriends are." Shinchi eyes narrowed. "You've messed with many people from the 4th, 6th, 7th and 9th division, do you know that?"
"What's your point?" Tadashi raised an eyebrow.
"If the 1st division ever receives your case, I'll personally ruled it as a suicide. You're only seeking for your own death if you continue this behavior."
"What-"
"Let's go." Shinichi turned towards Ran grabbed her wrist, dragging her away and far from the surprised Tadashi who was still stunned by what Shinichi just said.
Without a place or purpose in mind, he unknowingly dragged her outside the headquarters.
"It hurts! Let go of me."
Once they were under the dark and starless sky, Shinichi finally let go like what Ran yelled at him to do. He muttered an apology as he watched her rubbing her sore wrist with a frown on her face.
"What's wrong with you?"
"Don't come here anymore." He didn't beat around the bush.
Ran glanced up sharply from her wrist and stared at Shinchi with a look of disbelief. "W-Why? Am I disrupting your job?"
"Yes! I mean, No. No you are not."
"So I am."
"I said you're not."
"You said yes first! That's what you truly feel!"
"Seriously, you're not."
She crossed her arms in a huff. "And why am I not? You're probably sick of my lunch, right? You rather face those pictures of corpses and reports than seeing me anyway."
"Come on, Ran." He reached out for her arms but she shrugged his touch away.
Shinichi sighed. "I'm always love to see you when my job is so hectic and busy. You're my sense of motivation whenever I stuck in a case, you know..." Shinichi glanced away, his lips curled downwards at how stupid he probably looked when he said all those words that sounded plain to others but too cheesy for him. "But when you go back, I start to worry. What if you met someone dangerous? Like a criminal that went out of control?"
Ran cracked her knuckles, deadpanned. "Are you underestimating me?"
"I'm not." Shinichi raised both of his hands. "I'm just... afraid."
"If you're worried about that, you would have stopped me from coming since the very start." Ran quirked an eyebrow. "It's something else, right?"
"N-No."
"Shinichi." Ran glowered.
He could feel the heat crawling from the back of his neck to his face and he was glad there wasn't much light around them for Ran to see him blushing for goodness' sake. "Why can't you let me win an argument for once?"
"Don't change the subject. You didn't want me to come because you're jealous, right?"
Shinichi felt like he was burning. "Who says I'm jealous?"
"I'll say you're jealous." Ran smirked, her hands playfully clasped behind her back as she leaned forward while Shinichi took leaned back. "You're jealous because Tadashi-san talked to me, aren't you?"
"Who cares about that guy."
Ran touched both sides of Shinichi's face and she chuckled, her soft laughter sending butterflies in his stomach. "You're so adorable when you're jealous."
"I'm not adorable." Shinichi scowled. "And I'm not jealous."
When her hands left his face, he felt like the his world just gotten colder. "Whatever you say, Holmes freak." Ran huffed before looking back amusingly at him. "Don't be silly, Shinichi. The only reason I'll ever come here is because of you and you alone. I can't believe you have so little trust in me."
"It's not you that I don't trust." Shinichi ruffled his hair. "There's still a lot of guys here... and I trust none of them."
"Aha, you just admitted that you're jealous!"
"No I didn't."
Ran rolled her eyes. "Anyway, you should head back in. There's a new case, right? Don't waste time arguing here with me."
"I can put it off for a moment." Shinichi took her hand. "I'll send you home first."
"It's alright. I can go home myself."
He caressed her soft fingers and shook his head firmly. "But I want to."
Her persistence didn't last long as she smiled and her hands tightened around his. "Fine. So, what do you want to eat tomorrow?"
"Sushi."
Hand in hand, they walked back home.
This idea had been bothering me non-stop and I guess an early update wouldn't harm anyway. Hope you guys like it! Personally, this may be my favorite out of all the one-shots I've done.
Reviews are appreciated!
