Who knows where this takes place in the fic timeline wise— certainly not me! It doesn't matter, this doesn't have any consequence on the 'canon' of this story, and it won't really be brought up again.
xXx
Ran tilted her head at the bakeneko as it winced again at another crack of the fireworks, then shook itself out as though ashamed of its reaction.
She had asked Conan to come with her to see the fireworks since she figured that she could stand to bond with him; as awkward as it was, this cursed yokai now lived with her. When inviting him, she had pictured him coiled calmly around her neck in awe of the fireworks. And… maybe she had hoped Shinichi would show up. Maybe Conan would bring good luck like a cat should, for once in his life.
It was probably too much to ask, and instead she found herself on the usual end of Conan's bad luck in the form of him tensing so bad the first explosion and scratching her shoulders, eliciting a sharp gasp. He hopped off and landed on their picnic blanket with an apologetic look. She shrugged it off; his claws hadn't gone too deep, and she was a karate champion. She could handle a little pain. Ran just hoped a mark from him wasn't cursed or anything like that—
The next firework went off, and it looked like it took every bit of the cat's willpower to keep from running away.
"We can leave, if you want. I'll take you home," Ran said softly, gathering the tense cat in her arms. Going back means not seeing Shinichi. I told him where I'd be, so maybe—
Who am I kidding…?
His long tail flicked and the cat shook his head, cutting Ran's thoughts off while looking up at her with a bit of worry.
It tilted its head and used its carried position to reach up and smear her face in question.
"Why am I sad?" she laughed, and the cat nodded. "I'm just… waiting for someone. He's a no-show though, I think."
The cat frowned and stared at the ground for a moment, then began wiggling. She set it down, and it gave a little paw-wave and darted off. Ran watched it for a moment before returning her attention to the fireworks, figuring it had gone to find somewhere quiet.
xXx
In reality, Shinichi had darted away to pop a pill of the fast acting catnip Agasa had stored in his bowtie "for emergencies." They only lasted for about ten minutes and it was painful as usual, but it didn't have the bothersome high period before it. (Unfortunately, that meant he was high for twice as long after, but he could deal with that, well, after).
xXx
Ten minutes was more than long enough to find Ran and watch the last of the fireworks that opened up New Years together with her wrapped in his arms and whispering apologies.
Ran was confused, surprised, and overjoyed all at once; Shinichi had thoroughly warned her to not expect him there over their phone call the previous day, and yet he had come for her. Ran had laughed tearfully, and they hugged as the New Year came in with a multitude of explosions.
With the last boom, Shinichi ran off into the night again, giving one last squeeze to a dazed Ran while blushing to his ears, then releasing and bolting with a sad, pained expression.