A mere minute into lunch, Ran and Sonoko not only found my class, but also scooted two desks up to mine, and asked five rapid fire questions. Caught mid-chew, I could only blankly stare at the two.
"What?" I asked after swallowing. I quickly held up a hand before they spoke. "No wait. First; sorry about leaving like that yesterday."
"That's fine," Ran waved her hand as if to blow my offense away.
We ate for a few minutes and picked up on hobby topics. Although Rans hobbies disheartened me a little. So many motherly skills since she lives with a "deadbeat dad" as Sonoko put. I wonder where she would be with a capable father figure.
Sonoko leaned in on her elbows with a sudden burst of energy. "So, did you get down and dirty with Shinichi?"
Ran had to turn away to stifle a snort.
"How does-?! wha-!? No!" My face flushed.
Ran leaned in closer. "But you like him, right?"
"Yeah, he's nice and... well, who wouldn't?" My cheeks were still tingling. How did we get onto this topic so fast, I thought.
"Are you going to ask him out?" Sonoko asked.
"N-no! I'm simply saying that there's feelings. I don't wanna date or anything."
"You like someone?" Shinichi voice popped up from ahead. Our heads shot up to see him twisted around to face us, sitting at the desk in front of mine, eating a store bought bento. We all froze at the sight. Shinichi eyes opened a little wider and he blinked one... two... three times.
"I thought you knew I was here," he finally broke the silence, taking a bite of his food. Moments later our blank stares threw off a light-bulb in his head, and he stated, "I got here when Keiko said 'who wouldn't?' Should I not be listening?"
"Actually, we were talking about our crushes. Fancy anyone Shinichi?" Ran asked.
"Well~" He let his eyes wander to the ceiling… the window… and… back to us. "I—" The bell conveniently interrupted him. "Bye~!" Shinichi packed up and hurried out of the room.
"He waited for the bell... didn't he?" Ran grumbled, glaring at the spot he last occupied.
The lessons dragged on longer today. We went in depth into history on my second day of school. I couldn't keep track of the incoming stream of who conquered what and where. So, I gave up, and began to doodle. The teacher snapped at me once or twice for answering a question wrong on the board, but at least I didn't fall asleep.
After school Ran and Sonoko invited me to go out for ice cream. Thankfully they held normal conversations this time, and I was able to observe more of their personalities. Ran's sweet, while her best friend Sonoko isn't afraid to throw in an insult or two. Opposites attract, huh. We took a seat with our cones in hand, but my constant yawning eventually grabbed their attention.
"Was class that boring?" Ran asked.
"Yes, history," I groaned.
"It's torture, isn't it?" Sonoko readily agreed with me.
"Actually, I'm horrible at remembering it," I mumbled while biting into my vanilla cone.
"We could help you," Ran offered.
"Ha, second day of school and you're already doomed to flunk," Sonoko snickered.
Ran patted her shoulder. "It's alright to be behind, besides me and Sonoko both have trouble in math."
Sonoko went quiet, suddenly focusing on her ice cream.
"Then..." My eyes went skyward in thought. "How 'bout I help you two before math tests, and you two tutor me before history tests?"
"Deal." We all tipped our ice cream cones toward the center of the round table to solidify a promise.
The weeks went by dramatically fast while I nestled into my new life, and learned more of my friends' lives. Here and there Ran invited me to her home at a Detective Agency, which is owned and operated by her father Kogoro. Meanwhile Sonoko flaunted her wealth by whisking us away several times to her many different summer homes. And Shinichi gave me permission to use his enormous library. Somewhere in this time I also met Shinichi's neighbor; Professor Agasa. He's an odd quirky inventor, but kind and very friendly.
"I'm going!" I shouted while rushing out the door.
"Wait, a second! Where are you going?" Mother flew around the corner from the living room. "It's late."
"I told you, it's a sleepover with my friends at Agasa's house, he's going to show us his new invention."
She pointed at the clock. "I didn't know you'd be going so late,"
"Don't worry, the professor's number is on the fridge if you want to call," I said then dashed out.
She ran to the door. "Then you'd better pick up in five minutes!"
It's the first day of summer break. When school started for me it was three days into July, now it's finally August. Shinichi, Ran, and Sonoko all decided that we should collectively do something cool for each day of the break. So, tonight Agasa is unveiling his latest invention. We wanted to spice it up a bit and asked him if we could have a sleepover, and of course, he agreed.
When I made it to Agasa's, Sonoko swung me in by the arm and pushed me onto the couch. Ran blindfolded me. Somewhere in the background I heard the phone ring, shortly followed by Agasa's answering 'hello'.
"Now, we're playing Smell It with Keiko going first!" Sonoko announced.
That sounded sketchy. "We what!?" I scrambled to get up until Ran sat across my lap.
"We decided that whoever walked in next would have to play this," Ran said apologetically.
"So, my guess is Shinichi hasn't arrived yet?" I asked.
"Hmph, the guy lives next door and he's late. Anyway, what's this?" Sonoko leaned in closer and held something to my nose.
"Is that a... clay vase...?" I forcibly frowned.
"Sonoko!" Ran scolded.
"What? I didn't prepare anything."
"I did!" Ran sang. She got up, so I tried to stand. That's when Sonoko fell on me.
"Ooouf." I doubled over in pain. Elbow; that was definitely her elbow in my gut. "You guys need to be more gentle."
"Keiko!" Agasa called.
"Yes, Professor?" I answered.
"Your mother wishes to speak to you." He put the phone to my ear, and silently asked Sonoko about what we were doing with a concerned voice.
"Yeah, Mother?" I inquired. And it was a lot of the same, always protocol, do's and do-not's, I already know. "I know, Mother." I exasperated with a sigh. Satisfied, Mother hung up, and Agasa left.
"Alright!" Ran announced. Then I heard a crumbling sound.
"Oh, that's perfect!" Sonoko exclaimed.
"What's this smell?" Ran asked.
I inhaled the aroma. "Peanut butter?"
"Really?" Ran asked, then chewing noises filled the air, "Correct!"
"What are you doing?" Shinichi's voice caught my attention. Sonoko rolled off me off, finally allowing me to stand.
"We're playing Smell It," I informed him as he removed my blindfold.
"With Jelly Belly's." Ran jiggled a bag of candy. "Wanna try?"
Before he had a chance to answer, Agasa came bursting in full of enthusiasm.
"Shinichi! It's so good of you to finally arrive!" Agasa exclaimed. He urged us into the lab with barely contained glee.
"Now!" he began. We all huddled in for a glance at the veil Agasa held over his surprise. Then he yanked it into the air, and pushed his machine forth.
"A helmet?" Sonoko asked, disappointed.
"That's how it looks." Agasa had a mischievous glint in his eye. He attached it atop my head and flipped a switch.
"What's it do?" Ran asked, anxiously watching me.
"First it eases the subject by slowing their eye movement, and relaxing their muscles." I felt myself loosen up despite the need to stay upright, and waver a bit. Seized with a sudden fear that I was losing control, I tried to keep my feet steady on the ground. Yet my vision blurred, couldn't think properly, couldn't stand...
[Shinichi's POV]
The contraption appeared to be untested, wires sticking out here and there, and the internal workings were visible; clear as day. Before I could voice my concerns though, Keiko lost her footing. She tumbled forward. Luckily I reacted fast enough to swoop under her waist to catch her. We went down slowly till I had her basically sitting in front of me.
"She's asleep!?" I exclaimed. Shaking Keiko awake only resulted in her head lolling into my upper arm.
"Don't fret," Agasa chuckled. "Her mind will return to its normal state, when the helmet is removed."
Sonoko pulled the helmet off and handed it over to Agasa.
"I call it, Bed Head." He grinned. We all involuntarily twitched, forcing smiles to hide how ridiculous we thought it was that he's still got a weakness for naming his inventions after clichés like it's the best pun in the world.
A warmth grew on my arm, and I noticed Keiko beginning to drool.
"I'm going to go lay her on the couch." I scooped Keiko up then carried her back to the living room.
There wasn't much space, Keiko easily occupied the whole couch. So, I lifted her head, and allowed her to rest atop my lap. Looking at her now she appeared so serene. Vulnerable. I can't believe she knocked me to the ground when we first met.
I poked her cheek. Urging her to awaken, yet she only twitched. I smirked at the reaction, and pushed the skin of her cheek toward her eye, nose, then overlapped her mouth.
Keiko's head jerked to the left. She trembled slightly afterward, almost as though she were struggling. Meanwhile her eyebrows drew together, and her teeth clenched. Oh. A nightmare. I tapped her cheek in a first real effort to stir her, and her body jumped. Keiko's eyes flew open, nearly causing me to leap out of my skin. Her sight locked onto a spot near the television, as though she had been expecting something different; something hostile. Then she slowly returned her attention to me. Keiko took a deep breath then released on a breathy, nervous laugh.
"Shinichi," Keiko greeted.
"Are you... okay?" I felt like my question should have been more detailed, yet couldn't think of anything better.
"Mm-hmm," Keiko hummed an answer. She sat up and looked around quizzically.
"You fell asleep," I stated, but she wasn't paying me any mind. I bent around her personal space to look at her face-to-face. "The Professor's invention, the one he used on you, makes people doze off. It's supposed to replace the nearly addictive need for melatonin. He called it Bed Head."
She rolled her eyes, but a smile played on her lips. I gauged her reaction. Normally she would comment or say something by now. But... nonverbal, and her eyes kept darting around the room. She appeared to be gauging her surroundings, for what?
"Keiko, what kind of dream were you having just now?" I softly asked.
Keiko flinched. Suddenly looking apprehensive; picking at her nails, as though she were conjuring up an excuse instead of an answer. Her hand found a throw pillow instead, she leaned back and hugged it.
"I don't..." Keiko's voice cracked the silence. "I don't remember."
"That's okay." I ran a hand down the back of my neck as I got up. I didn't expect her to tell me anything yet anyway, I thought. That's when she tugged my sleeve, pulling me back to the couch. Or maybe...
"There was this guy, Toreck Wendell." Keiko dug her fingers into the pillow. "Have you heard of him?" I silently shook my head for a 'no'. "He's someone I met once... in America. The reason-"
"Keiko, Shinichi!" Ran addressed us as she entered the room with Agasa and Sonoko in tow.
"Good to see you're awake, and with no mental repercussions?" Agasa inquired.
"Why was that a question...?" Keiko replied, somehow looking relieved for their interruption. "Well... yes, I'm fine. I think... I hope."
I slouched into the couch, crossed my arms, and sighed. So close to unraveling the mystery surrounding Keiko, and her chance to talk is ruined. Still. An excitement shot through me at the thought of gaining another lead. Who is Toreck Wendell?