"my sweet partner ii"

published: nov. 13, 2017

The news of the newly-established relationship between Conan Edogawa and Ai Haibara spread around the school like wildfire.

It started out as a small rumor, but once they were seen together, holding hands as they walked around the halls, everyone was talking about the two. When questioned about their relationship, Conan's face heated up as he beamed with delight. Ai, however, only smiled faintly and responded with "Perhaps?"

They were the absolute ideal couple, some said. They were too cute. And those people were absolutely right. The couple was not one of those flashy, over-the-top ones that liked to flaunt their lovey-dovey relationship all the time. They were more of the quiet yet loving ones, and they seemed like a married couple living their mundane, sweet lives.

They walked to school together in the mornings, their hands entwined, and according to the rumors, they were living together along with a relative. Conan would talk excitedly, either about ordinary life or the newest cases. Ai would listen and nod along, a faint smile tugging at her lips. Conan would stay in the second years' classroom until the bell rings, when he would ask for a hug from his girlfriend before he left to class. Usually he would be sent back without one, but occasionally they would embrace each other, and their classmates would "awww" at the cuteness.

Conan would return to Ai's classroom during break, and the two would walk around or find the rest of the ex-Detective Boys. The five teens remained best friends even after the Detective Boys disbanded, finding no reason to cut off their well-developed friendships.

Ayumi Yoshida grew up to be a kind and pretty girl, just like what was expected. She started letting her hair grow past her shoulders, occasionally sporting neatly-tied ponytails. She had a good reputation with both the girls and the boys, able to blend into various different friend groups. She had long ago given up on her crush on Conan, and is not currently looking for a relationship — she idolized Ai, and wanted to work towards being independent and successful.

Mitsuhiko Tsuburaya did not undergo many changes from his elementary years. He still looked rather much like, well, himself, but with some more grown-up features. He was more of the quiet, smart type, doing rather well in his studies and maintaining a good reputation with teachers. He was rather keen on pursuing Ayumi, but with not much luck.

Genta Kojima, however, had an extreme image change. He shed many pounds after his obsession with eel rice subsided, and although he was still the loudest member of the group, he was now much more poised than before.

The five of them often up during break and after school, as none of them had any classes together. Despite their differences in classes and schedules, they were just as close as before.

"Ah, Conan-kun, Ai-chan!" Ayumi exclaimed, running up to the couple, the two boys trailing behind her.

"Aw," said Genta, grinning. "How sweet." He gestured to the couple's entwined hands.

The two of them let go of each other reflexively. Conan looked away bashfully, while Ai smiled faintly.

"That reminds me," said Mitsuhiko. "When did the two of you develop feelings for each other?"

"Ah, I want to know, too! I'm curious!" said Ayumi, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Conan and Ai looked at each other.

"Why would you want to know about that?" asked Conan, laughing.

"We just want to know how long you've been hiding this from us!" said Genta, nudging Conan with his elbow.

"Oh? What's wrong? I want to know, too, Great Detective." said Ai, looking straight into her boyfriend's eyes.

Conan's face flushed red and he scratched his cheek, embarrassed. "To be honest, I'm not really sure." he said.

"Come on," said Mitsuhiko. "You didn't think we'll let you off the hook with that kind of response, did you?"

"Right, I knew that." said Conan, sighing. "I guess… Do you remember when we went to Beika City Hall to play that new game, Cocoon?"

"The one set in London about Holmes, right? The one we were trapped in?" asked Ayumi.

"That's the one." said Conan, nodding. "When we were escaping from the chaos in the opera house, Ai pushed me out of the way of a falling beam that, well, 'killed' her. As she disappeared in front of my eyes like the mermaid princess dissolving into bubbles, she looked at me with such a heartbreakingly sad gaze that was also full of hope and trust.

'Don't give up,' she told me. 'Even without the helping character, we have our Holmes — you. That much ability resides within you. There are no cases Holmes can't solve, right?' Saying that I was Holmes to her was the highest praise I could ever get — it meant that she put her wholehearted trust within me to save her and everyone else. I think that's when I fell in love. Of course, being the dense person I am, I didn't realize them until much later. I was always very naturally concerned when she was put in danger. I tried to protect her with all my power, and I will continue to protect her."

Ai looked slightly surprised, but it was obvious that she was glad. "…I can't believe you remember what I said so clearly." she said.

"It's one of those things that you can't forget easily, you know." said Conan.

After the three friends squealed in delight at Conan's answer, they looked towards Ai.

"What about you, Ai-chan?" asked Ayumi excitedly.

"Me?" asked Ai. Her lips formed a faint smile as she reminisced her past with Conan. "It was when I tried to commit suicide during the bus explosion. I was ready to leave behind my life that I thought was meaningless. My life that was cloaked with darkness. Just seconds before the bus exploded, he ran with all his might, risking his own life to get me out alive. I was never more surprised in my life. He protected me even after we escaped from the bus, not letting me go at all. He looked into my eyes and told me something that changed my life forever.

'Don't run away from your destiny.'

He shed light onto my dark world. He changed my life forever. Maybe… I even fell in love with him even before that — it's almost like destiny."

The four friends stayed silent after Ai's words.

"Oh, was that too dark?" asked Ai. "I'm sorry."

"Oh my god, I'm tearing up." said Mitsuhiko, wiping at his eyes with his sleeves.

"Ai-chan, I never knew you thought that way!" said Ayumi, sniffling.

"Hey, Conan, say something!" said Genta, nudging Conan.

Without a word, Conan took Ai's hand and pulled her into an embrace. He buried his face into her shoulder.

"Idiot," he said. "I think I just fell in love with you all over again."

"…Saying such romanticized things isn't like you." said Ai, smiling.

"I just wanted to let you know." said Conan, letting go of her.

"…The two of you shouldn't have waited so long to get together." said Genta. "You're way too perfect for each other."

"I guess," said Conan, sighing. "Damn, we've sure lost some time."

"Not exactly." said Ai, making Conan turn around to look at her.

"In reality, we've gained an extra ten years. And besides, we've still got the future to wait for."

Wow, I didn't update as soon as I hoped to. Whoops, sorry about that. But I do have the next chapter pretty much done, so stay tuned! I'm sorry if anything's OOC; I haven't watched Detective Conan in a long long while. Please leave a review, and see you next time!

~nxiro