KudoEdogawa presents...

""Always""

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Chapter 8::

"I really have no idea what I am supposed to do..." Shinichi said sadly. "A part of me wants recover my memories, while another part of me is struggling to keep it like this. It's such a strange feeling, I don't know why that part of me wants it this way."

Eri sat there listening to him, slowly sipping her coffee.

"It's really weird. Somehow..., I feel scared of knowing who I am."

Eri lowered her coffee cup. "I guess you're afraid of knowing who you really are, or you've found out something that you've misinterpreted, or..." she paused. "It could be that you're enjoying your new life, your new memory."

An image of Shiho came to Shinichi's mind, that familiar yet foreign feeling struck his heart. The image of the brown-haired girl came to his mind also, who are you? "I think it's all three..." Shinichi said at last.

"Well, do you know who you are?"

Shinichi nodded slowly, "The Osaka teen told me..., I'm the world's greatest detective, and I think it's that identity that's making me afraid. He told me the story of how I was shrunken..., I feel endangered."

"Have you found out anything else about your past which completely disgusted the current you?"

Shinichi thought about it, and said, "That Osaka detective..., he said he's my best friend, but to me, he feels so rude..., and foreign and distant."

"Bah, don't mind him." Eri waved an impatient hand. "That guy's a nice guy..., he's been one of your most trustworthy friends, although he could get a little hot-tempered sometimes. I think he didn't tell you even half of your life, especially..." She paused. She had learn of the Shiho girl from Heiji the previous night, if she told him about Ran now..., it's gonna make him more miserable. But what if he doesn't have feelings for Shiho? Would it be safe to tell him? Eri decided to make sure. "Is there any part of your new memory that you like?"

Without hesitating, Shinichi nodded.

"Is it that Shiho girl who helped you out?"

Shinichi nodded again, confirming Eri's fears. Although Eri didn't tell Shinichi about Ran, Shinichi now had a clue about who that other girl in his mind could be..., and he didn't want her to be who she is anymore. He wants Shiho to be in that place in his mind.

"Well," Eri said after a long while of silence. "Do whatever you want. You can get your butt outta here and never come back, or you can stay and try to find out who you are. But whatever your choice is, know this: we'll forever be your friends and family, and we'll always be supporting you no matter what your decision is."

Shinichi nodded a grateful thanks as Eri got up to leave. "Follow your heart," she said, and left.

Shinichi left a while after and headed for Shiho's house. Eri's support had made him felt better..., he wanted to do what he wants: to leave Japan with Shiho and start a new life. But no, not yet. He wants to find out about that other girl first, he wants to find out what Eri didn't tell him.

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Yeah...I know, it's a short and crappy chapter. I tried to make Eri sound all helpful and all that..., but I couldn't. For one, I've never lost my memory, so I wouldn't know what troubles there'd be. For two, I'm not a psychologist, nor do I study psychology, so I don't know how to make Eri help Shinichi.

I'm sorry for this crappy chapter...But I hope think the next few chapters could be good...I'm thinking of climbing to the climax in the next chapter.