KudoeEdogawa presents...
Feelings

This story takes place five years after the incident described in Volume 40.

Of Hakase

Fifty-seven years...

I sighed at my old age, it seems that I've been spending most my life on inventions, providing statistical help to Yusaku and Shinichi, baby-sit the Detective Boys and act guardian to a girl who's actually already twenty-three years old. I barely have any social life, and almost no love life.

Almost none.

Whenever I reminiscences on my life, my mind always brings me back to that day, forty-five years ago when I first met her, then to that day five years ago...

I've made it a daily habit of walking to Teitan Elementary and spend a while there, under the maidenhair tree. I especially loved doing so in the autumn, when the fan-shaped gingko leaves fall freely from their branches. An occasional wind might pick up, creating a furious flurry of gingko leaves, which causes the scene from forty-five years ago to reenact in my mind.

I am not lying when I say that I do not love her.

But it would be a lie to say that I have no feelings for her.

Kinoshita Fusae.

It's quite funny though, now that I think about it. I've forgotten her for nearly forty-years, and then she is called back into my life due to a group of five nosy children and an invitation that fell behind the television. Perhaps, contrary to my beliefs, that there really is something called Fate.

Ai-kun has gone to the park with Conan and the others, leaving me alone at home. I don't mind though, I could take a break, or a leisure walk to Teitan elementary.

And I did.

I sat myself down on the bench near the maidenhair trees, watching an occasional kid or two running by, and teacher who have decided to come and chat on this Sunday.

A breeze of wind passed by, carrying a few gingko leaves that have fell from their support. One particular piece fell straight into the palm of my hand. How beautiful, I thought to myself. Year after year, people change, but these gingko leaves don't. They continue to shine with beauty, the fan-shape emitting happiness.

I smiled; when can I see her again? Her and her hair that colored so much like the maidenhair trees towering above me. And I guess Fate heard my question.

"Agasa-san?"

I looked up, and there she was, carrying a handbag of her own brand, and clothes of gingko leaf colors. I nodded in reply.

"Mind if I sit here?" She asked, pointing to the empty space next to me.

"Not at all, go ahead."

She sat down and I toyed with the piece of leaf in my hand.

"Year after year, people change," she sighed. I turned to look at her. "Yet these trees certainly don't... every time I come back here, they still shine with such beauty and seems to be emitting happiness constantly."

I nodded, "Yes, they do."

She smiled at me, "So, where are your grandchildren?"

"M-My grandchildren?"

"That group of kids that I saw during our last meeting," she said, seeing my confused and somewhat shocked look, "Aren't they your grandchildren?"

"Eh? No, no, of course not!" I said, "They're the kids that I baby-sit, that's all... I've been single all these years." I let out a small, embarrassed laugh, and rubbed my hand nervously behind my head.

"They are?" She said, rather surprised. "I see.... Well, if you have the time, would you like to get a cup of coffee? And we could chat for a while?"

"Sure... but what about your husband?" I asked, remembering the man from last time.

"Husband? I'm sorry," she apologized, "That man was actually my mother's second husband. I, erm, asked him to act like my husband so that I wouldn't feel too awkward in case you were married."

"Oh," I replied and stared back down at the gingko leaf in my hand.

"So, would you like to go for a cup of coffee? I know an excellent coffee shop not to far from here," she said and smiled at me.

I looked up and met her smile. I smiled back, "It'd be my honor."

I guess it's never too late to fall in love.

-End-

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Hmm... not really a whole lot of emotion in this one... kind of rushed this one a bit since I'm leaving the country soon... speaking of which... I won't be updating for about a month because of that. Sorry! (It's times like this that made me wish I had a laptop; I can't live without computer and internet ==ll)

The next few updates will be: Takagi/Satou, Heiji/Ran, and finally concluding with Ai/Conan/Ran/Shinichi...
Anyone interested in Sonoko/Makoto?

Thanks to all those who have reviewed!
Next Chapter: Takagi