Title: Reminiscent Aria of Love
Anime: Detective Conan
Pairing: Mostly Kudo Shinichi and Mouri Ran but will feature the other pairings
Genre: Hurt/Comfort, Romance, Humor, Drama, Angst, Family
Time start and end/Date: PST 9:45 AM- 3:39PM / May 9, 2021
Summary: Series of Oneshots depicting the OP, ED and Movie OSTs of our favorite anime! In random order.
Notes: 4th installment! As always, pardon my grammatical and typographical mistakes.

Disclaimer: Meitantei Conan © Gosho Aoyama. Fanfiction story © Mari Kia Aishiteru.

Chapter Plot: Inspired from the ending song, Kimi no egao ga nani yori mo suki datta by Chicago Poodle. Shinichi could not help but marvel Ran's smiles. After all, it was because of it that he fell in love with her and is still falling.—ShinRan—
Add-on: There are official scenes from the anime so those are not actually my ideas. The others are really mine, though. These are in Shinichi's point of view.

—Reminiscent Aria of Love—
The Fourth Aria: I Love Your Smile More Than Anything Else
Written By: Mari Kia Aishiteru

"Hey…"

Four-year-old Kudo Shinichi faced the little girl again, questioning look in his eyes. The girl stared at him and said, "If you want a cherry blossom, I'll give you this one I made."

"Okay." His gaze went to their teacher again, finding him suspicious.

The girl prepared her pen and said, "I'll write your name for you." Looking up at him from her futon, she asked, "What's your name?"

"Huh?" his eyes found hers again as he replied, "Oh, Kudo Shinichi."

He fully turned to her, before adding, "Sakura Class."

The boy watched as she wrote his name on the paper cherry blossom she made. "Ku..do..u Shi…ni…chi."

He bent down in front of her. "T-Thank you."

The girl offered the newly-made pink cherry blossom paper name tag to him. "Here, it's done!"

He was surprised and mesmerized by the kind smile she was offering him and felt his heartbeat fast against his chest.

He realized that he wanted to keep that smile on her face forever.

"But aren't you glad?" she asked. "We got to see such a pretty sunset." She added looking at the beautiful orange hue coloring the sky before them.

"Yeah." He answered, doing the same with a small smile. "I'd rather not admit it, but I feel the same, Ran."

She was surprised to hear her name from him. He could not blame her. It was his idea after all.

"Oh, sorry… Mouri."

She turned to him. "No, Ran is fine! I want to hear Ran!" she insisted. Shinichi did not say anything, and he saw her lower her gaze.

"Is that… alright?" she looked at him worriedly, afraid of what his answer might be.

Shinichi stared at her and realized he must be staring for too long, so he turned to the orange sky once again.

"If that's what you want, I guess it's okay." He replied.

"Really?" she asked excitedly and proceeded to hug him, spinning with her arms around his neck. "That's great Shinichi!"

She had always been strong physically and he squirmed.

"Stop that!" he said but the truth was he did not really hate it.

He knew he was going to be teased again the next day the minute he calls her by her first name, but…

He shrugged. It was fine.

After all, her big bright smile was the best he could ask for at the moment.

He noticed her silence the moment she entered the classroom. Seven-year-old Kudo Shinichi noticed that there was something different with his childhood friend, and he knew it was not good.

Sonoko greeted her and she did the same with a small smile. It did not reach her eyes and that was suspicious. Ran was always happy, as far as he was concerned.

Curious, he waited until the class was over since they always took the path home together. He would have time to ask her.

And now, walking home with her in silence, he figured out that there was something… really wrong.

"Ran?"

She continued to walk next to him, eyes on the ground. She did not even hear him.

"Ran!"

Shinichi didn't know if she could not hear him, or she could but was just ignoring him.

He stopped walking and waited for her to notice.

After a few steps without him, she finally stopped and turned to him. "Eh? Shinichi? What is it?"

He moved next to her, held her wrist and pulled her with him.

"Hey, where are we going?" she asked.
"Come with me for a second."
"Eh?"

He took her to the riverbank, with the orange sky as their witness. It was almost setting.

"Shinichi?"

He pushed her gently on the grass to sit down and he followed suit.

"Is there something wrong?" he asked, knowing that beating around the bush would not do anything good.

Ran probably realized that she could not hide anything from him. He saw her eyes tear up and Shinichi's eyes widened at her words.

"Mom left us."

"What?" he asked and did not know if he should be mad at her parents for always arguing with each other. He knew it hurt Ran. After all, she loved her parents.

"Dad and Mom are fighting again last night, and Mom just turned around and left the house. She told me she would contact me soon though. I tried to convince Dad to go after her and talk it out but…" she sniffled, wiping the tears that ran down her face. "You know how stubborn he is."

Shinichi sighed. "They both are." Ran agreed to that.

Silence engulfed them as the sun's orange glow reflected the river in front of them. He found it magical but, looking at his crying best friend now, he could not find the heart to appreciate the view.

If only…

"Ran."
"Hmm?"

He pointed in front of them. "Look."

The girl followed his gaze and with eyes wide, marveled at the sight. "Wow!"

Half of the sun was already out of view but its reflection at the river and the light-orange colored sky complimented one another. He saw her amazement and smiled.

"It's beautiful…"
"Right?"

"Hm!" she turned to him with a big smile, track of tears still on her cheeks. But for some reason, he found it endearing. "Thank you, Shinichi!"

Damn. He was trapped with the beauty between the view before them and the saddest yet adorable smile he had ever seen.

Ran had always wanted to join a club related to Martial Arts in middle school. Her father was exceptional in Judo and her mother learned from him. They were childhood friends turned lovers after all. She also wanted something like that.

Shinichi knew. Of course, he knew everything about her.

So, when she told him that she was going to try-out the Karate club in their first year of middle school, he wished her luck. She had always been physically strong since they were young. It would not be a problem to her.

However, he was surprised when he saw her on the stairs by the school entrance on late afternoon. It was after school and no one was left aside from him, who was waiting for her try-out to finish. He promised to treat her to a sweet shop after.

It was raining and he immediately ran towards the first floor, holding his bag to meet her.

Reaching the lockers and donning his shoes, he noticed she was still wearing her karate uniform. With the umbrella opened, he walked towards her slowly and heard it. It was drowned by the rain, but he could not mistake it. Added by the shaking of her shoulders, there was no doubt.

She was crying.

He wondered why. Was it related to the try-out?

He mentally hit himself. This was not the time to think of that. It was raining and she was there, crying for who knows how long.

Shinichi walked and sat down next to her, leaving a gap in case she wanted her space. He shielded her with the umbrella he had causing the rain to fall on him instead, but he did not mind.

She cried and cried for he did not know how long. He just stayed there quietly, waiting for her to calm down.

After a while—probably noticed that the rain was not coming down on her anymore—she raised her eyes and glanced next to her, seeing her childhood best friend sitting there, even shielding her from the umbrella, while he was getting wet himself.

"Shinichi!" she exclaimed, touching the umbrella, and moving closer to him, to get him inside the make-shift roof.

"How long are you…"

"Who knows." He replied, eyes staring at the falling droplets.

Ran stared at him, with a questioning look in her eyes. "But… why didn't you say anything? If you did, you might not have to wait like this in the rain."

He shrugged. "I just figured out you don't want to talk about it and need your space."

The teenage girl's eyes widened and proceeded to wipe her tears away. Shinichi almost gasped when her arm touched his. He looked at her and found her gazing up at him.

So close…

She smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Shinichi."

He gulped and tried to stop the fast beating of his heart against his chest.

"I-It's nothing…"

She stood and pulled him up with her, umbrella still above them. "Let's go home!" she chirped. He was glad she was feeling better.

"Really, thank you." She whispered to him and he nodded.

Of course, there was no way he would let the smile he loved so much disappear just like that.

Because he had a case to solve, he was not able to watch the final moments of her opponent before she defeated her. After failing at her try-out, she did her best to get in and finally, she did. She trained and dedicated herself in Karate a lot and now, finally it was rewarded. She was in second place in their first-year high school Kanto Karate championship. And this year, since her senpai graduated from high school, who was the first placer back then, it would be an obvious deduction that she would win the first place this time and indeed, she became the Karate champion in Kanto.

She deserved it. He was always being threatened by her moves and he even tasted her kick sometimes. It was painful even though he knew she wasn't using her one hundred percent on him.

He knew she was mad at him for leaving. According to Sonoko, she won that final round thanks to him. She was so mad at him that she took on her anger on her opponent whom she defeated mere seconds after he left.

He gulped in fear.

After solving the case of the old man killing his best friend in his new year party, he received a message from her. He thought he would be reading a lot of curses, but he sighed with a smile when instead of that, he found her message to be lovely, including the photo attached to it.

Shinichi,

I hope you already solved that case by now and on your way home. It was past midnight and you're supposed to rest now. Don't forget your promise to me that we're going to Tropical Land since I won the championship!

And if you do not believe me, there is a photo attached here. After all, the most important thing for a detective is evidence, right?

Ran.

A picture of her holding her championship trophy with Sonoko flashed before his eyes but it was not what he was currently staring at.

It was the sweet smile of success that she had on her face.

They were both having fun in Tropical Land. After having lunch, they walked together when Ran found a souvenir booth. She held the big huggable mascot of Tropical Land to herself, telling him to buy it for her.

After all, it was his treat.

He looked at the price tag and his eyes widened. "Wait, why don't you have this instead?" he offered her a small version of what she was holding, and Ran was surprised. She remembered that they were both playing with a squirrel that size years ago and so she accepted it with a smile.

Shinichi was relieved and happy not only because it would save his wallet but also because of her smile.

He ended up buying it for her later on though.

Taking their seat and wearing the harness in the jet coaster, Shinichi continued to blabbered about Sherlock Holmes and Ran, who probably couldn't take it anymore, stopped him.

"Geez! Stop with Holmes and Conan Doyle already, you deduction geek!" it was loud that Shinichi laughed nervously. She lowered her gaze and whispered. "I was really looking forward to coming here with you…" he heard it and his eyes widened with her next words.

"Why can't you understand my feelings?"

Ran…

She looked like she would be crying any minute now and Shinichi had to think fast or else…

He didn't want to deal with a crying Ran in a jet coaster and of course, it might also be the chance to tell her.

The one thing he wanted to tell her the most.

"T-To be honest, I… also…."

He turned to her when he heard her laughter, and he was confused.

"Silly you, why are you so nervous? Of course, I'm kidding!"

He blushed and turned away from her gaze, embarrassed. Damn. He didn't want to admit but she got him there.

"Huh? You fell for it?" she teased as she patted his head. "If you fall for something like that, how can you call yourself a detective?"

And as the jet coaster moved, she told him, "But you see, it's true that I'm really looking forward to this day with you."

He was speechless again, this time, with her smile. He could not help but stare at her as they turned up, down and side at the coaster, only her happy smile and laughter visible in his eyes.

This day could not be any happier for him.

However, never in his dreams would he be able to predict, that he would be back to his six-year-old self that same day.

Shinichi—currently known as Edogawa Conan—purposely slipped on his butt again. He saw Ran nee-chan running towards him in worry. "Conan-kun, are you alright?"

Sonoko arrived next to her and smirked. "It's fun to see you vulnerable this time, you brat."

He glared secretly at her.

He had to pretend that he did not know how to ski or else, Ran would get suspicious again.

"Conan-kun?" his thoughts were cut off by her voice and he looked at her with a smile. "I'm alright, Ran nee-chan."

She helped him stand and patted his clothes to take away the snow that graced his figure. "Are you sure?"

"Hm!"

She smiled at him. "Do you want me to teach you?" she offered and well, he could not do anything but to accept.

"Really?" he asked, eyes shining. But inside, he was kind of thinking that it was tiring to act like a child sometimes.

Ran nodded and turned to her friend. "Sonoko, you can go ahead of us, I'll just teach the basic to Conan-kun so he doesn't have to fall anymore."

The rich heiress sighed and placed a hand on her hips. "Troublesome brat." She whispered and Shinichi felt his forehead wrinkled. "Okay, Ran! See you later."

She nodded. "Hm!"

With Sonoko out of the picture, he was helped by Ran and taught him how to ski. Though he already knew all the things she was teaching him.

After explaining to him, she let him try it on his own and of course, in order to make her believe that he was just a child, he stumbled again on the snow.

There was no way she would think now that he was a genius little child who could learn anything by just a few minutes.

Ran skied towards him and bent next to him. "Conan-kun!"

This time, he was buried in the snow and he shook his head, a handful of snow still on his head and some on his face. Ran giggled.

He was confused.

"I'm sorry, Conan-kun." She grinned at him. "It's just… you look so cute."

He laughed awkwardly, but inside, he smiled as he looked up at her.

It was worth the pain for that wonderful laugh and smile she was giving him right now.

She thought he forgot about her white day present? No way.

Shinichi—Conan—chirped aloud. "Ah le le?" he ran towards the apartment door, passed her, and pointed at the door mail slot.

"There is something here! Was it here when we left?"

He looked at the recognition in her face, despite the tears in her eyes. She followed him and checked the paper envelope stuck in the mail slot.

She sighed in disappointment as she read the "Beika Tax Office" on the paper envelope. He watched as she opened the door to the apartment. "I wonder what this is…"

Conan followed her as she turned on the lights and he closed the door behind him.

"A notice of deficiency?"

They took off their shoes by the genkan as Ran continued to say, "If I recall, the deadline to file a confirmed tax return is fifteenth of March…"

And she gasped in realization. "Wait, that's tomorrow!" she teared the top of the paper envelope and was confused to find a pack of candies.

"Cough drops?" she whispered and held the white cough drops in her hands, seeing his name. "Shinichi?"

After reading his note, she opened the pack and took one cough drop and popped it in her mouth, smiling ever so brightly.

Conan, who was watching the whole time behind her, sighed in relief. He thought she would cry again. He did not want another repeat of the valentine's day last month.

He was glad that he was able to bring out that smile despite not being there as his real self.

It was three days after their Kyoto School Trip, and Conan was all better now. Well, he was not that sick, just pretending.

There were so many things that happened in the school trip, and even after that. His name circulated around the internet and he was in panicked that the Black Organization might caught on the fact that he was alive. He was grateful that his parents did the work though. And they would stay in Japan to plan for their next move.

He was a little relieved.

Going back to their usual lives, he noticed Ran's happy demeanor the moment she left her room that morning. Donning her usual apron and preparing their breakfast, she was all smiles, like she was enjoying the time of her life.

This, of course, didn't escape the eye of his father.

"Ran, you look happy. Did something happen?" he asked curiously and the daughter in question shook her head, smile still present in her face. "Nothing."

"Really? I'm afraid your face will get stuck like that." He commented. "You've been smiling all morning."

She grinned. "I'm just happy, that's all. Aren't you glad I am?" she asked, turning to the little boy who was observing their conversation. "Right, Conan-kun?"

He nodded. "H-Hm… I think it's good that Ran nee-chan is happy, and we shouldn't question it further…"

"See!" Ran giggled. "Even Conan-kun agrees with me."

The old man clicked his tongue. "Tsch. He always agrees with you."

Ran ignored him and proceeded to eat. "Thank you for the meal!"

The two with her followed and they all enjoyed the food prepared by the cheerful teenage girl.

After eating, Conan decided to help her fix the table and wash the dishes.

As he was bringing the dishes from the living room, he saw her staring at her smartphone and giggling. He was confused at first but when he realized what she was looking at in her phone, he blushed.

Could it be?

"Ne, Ran nee-chan…?"

The woman in question turned to him as she hid her phone in her pocket. "Hm?"

"I… know I said we shouldn't question why you're happy but I'm curious. Did something happen?"

She smiled again.

"I want to tell you this as soon as I got home from the school trip but… since you were sick then, I kind of forgot to tell you."

He curiously hummed and waited. "Well…"

She blushed and bent to his level.

"Conan-kun… Shinichi and I… are dating now." She grinned brightly and Conan, being Shinichi, blushed at her words. He also could not believe it and had to read the message from his smartphone so many times to remind him that it was not a dream.

That they were really, after so long, dating. Finally.

Ran hugged the little boy in her arms and Conan could feel her happiness with her gentle touch. Even though she didn't know it was him—as in really him—he knew she was glad to share her happy feeling with someone. And he was happy it was him, even if it was his fake identify.

He stretched his arms around her for as much as he can and whispered. "I'm happy for you, Ran nee-chan."

She tightened her grip on him and caressed his cheek with hers with a giggle. "Thank you, Conan-kun."

Shinichi, despite himself, blushed furiously at that. That was unexpected.

Pulling away, Ran noticed his red face and confusedly asked, "Ara, are you getting sick again? Your face is red."

The boy pulled away and grinned, rubbing the back of his head in nervousness. "No, I'm fine... ahehehe."

She smiled again. "Okay!"

Shinichi couldn't help but return that warm and happy smile she was presenting him, and he was so happy to be the source of it.

He could still remember that night. It was engraved in his mind and heart. He prepared himself for the aftermath, but of course, this was her he was talking about, so he had to expect the unexpected.

It was the right time to tell her all about him. The lies and the danger he brought upon himself.

The truth of his absence in her life since Tropical Land.

He thought she would get mad at him and break up with him and he was ready for that. After all, he deserved it for such a lie he fed her.

However, Ran was mad at herself instead. She understood him, his feelings, his pain.

He realized that she really knew him like the back of her hand and much more than he knew himself.

Still, he knew it was hard for her to accept that. She could not help but feel left behind but she focused on him, on his feelings.

She even told him that she would protect him this time.

"Ran…"
"Hm?" she was still caressing his head while he was in her arms.
"I… love you…" he whispered. Ran's hand stopped. "But… if you are mad at me for lying to you all this time… I am ready to accept whatever you think is the best for you."

The girl removed herself from him and looked into his eyes. He could feel the serious weight of her stare.

"What do you mean, what's best for me?"

Shinichi held her gaze. This was probably the last time he would be able to gaze at her beautiful eyes. He wanted to carve it in his mind and heart.

"If you want to… break up with me… it's okay." He spoke, hearing his heart break. "If… it will ease the pain I have given you because of my lies… I…"

"Stupid Shinichi."

His face showed confusion. Ran wanted to laugh.

"What?"
"I said you're stupid, Shinichi!"
"What the hell, Ran? I'm being serious here!"
"And I'm being serious as well! Didn't you hear me earlier? I knew you were hurting because of all the lies you must keep up to protect me! And it hurts me to imagine and think every single day of your life as Conan-kun cheering me up and drying my tears every single time!"

They stared at each other.

"I love you, Shinichi." She told him sincerely, with a warm gaze and smile. "So, it hurts me to see you like this. It hurts me to know that you endured all those pain for me."

"Ran…"
"So, this time… let me do that instead."
"Huh?"
"Let me protect you!"

Shinichi was floored at this new development.

"Wh—Eh?"

Ran giggled despite the tears in her eyes. She held his right hand in hers—since his left arm was bandaged in a sling—and stared at him with all the sincerity and love she had for him.

"This time, I promise… you'll never be alone in this again, Shinichi."

He did not notice the lone tear that cascaded down his cheek. His heart felt like it was going to burst out of his chest.

This girl, the girl he loved so much… his first client of heart-throbbing revealing mystery, his first female best friend, his first love, his first everything….

He realized he was so lucky to have her even though he was not deserving of her.

"I… didn't deserve this from you, Ran."

She smiled that smile. The reason why he fell in love with her, and still was.

"Stupid. Of course, you are." She replied softly. "After everything, you deserve this much from me, mystery detective geek."

He was surprised but with her giving him that smile… the smile that he fell in love with the first time he laid her eyes on her, he couldn't argue with her anymore.

As Haibara had told him when he told her of this plan after the Black Organization's downfall, Ran, in truth, was stronger than what he originally thought.

All the pain he had endured with all the lies he had given her, vanished into thin air with just a single smile from her.

It saved his already tainted heart.

"Shinichi, hurry up!"
"Wait for me!"

He waited for this moment to arrive. Finally. He was able to be in his original body permanently.

And because of that, they will be having their first date ever since they became a couple.

He was excited to spend the rest of the day with her, far from bloody murderers and evil kidnappers.

They were both in New York, visiting famous places since last time, they weren't able to due to a case. It was also kind of a painful memory for Ran, but now, he could tell that she was enjoying herself.

"Woah, I'm finally seeing the Statue of Liberty with my own eyes!" she exclaimed happily, adoring the huge statue before her eyes. Shinichi placed a hand on his hips.

"You already saw it last time, right?"
"Yeah, but that was from the car and it was so far!"

Shinichi sighed. Well, she was right about that.

Ran took his hand and pulled him towards the statue. "Let's go up!"

"Wait, Ran!"

Her laughter and excitement stopped him from resisting any longer. He just let her pull him. He was not able to prevent the smile that spread across his face.

She was cheerful and carefree, and that was what matters most to him. Ever since he got his body back, he promised to himself that he will always protect that smile and he would never ever be the source of her tears again.

He would do everything in his power as a detective to always bring out that smile from her, forever and always.

After all, he loved her smile more than anything else in the world.

Notes: I got stuck with some ideas, but I hope this turned out fine for you, readers. I like it how this turned out too.

There is an excerpt dialogue from "The Greatest Gift", my other oneshot, since it was also related to the oneshots here. If you are interested, you may check it in my profile.

Thank you and see you again!

Word count: 4711k

—Mari Kia Aishiteru.