A/N: This oneshot takes place after "Kiki and Shuichi's Career Counseling!" Please read, review, and enjoy!
The Ultimate Detective and The Ultimate Hope Gaiden: Gonta's Confession!
"…Gokuhara-kun? Gokuhara-kun…?"
"Huh?!" Gonta shook his head, before he looked at Kirumi's concerned face. "Yes, Tojo-chan?"
"…Gokuhara-kun…" Kirumi's lips tugged into an even more pronounced frown. "You were spacing out again…"
"Sorry!" Gonta squeaked. "Gonta promises to pay better attention."
"…You said the same thing the last time you spaced out…and the time before that…and the time before that…"
Gonta blushed furiously, falling silent as he was reminded of how he had spaced out repeatedly during her lessons. "Gokuhara-kun…" Kirumi sighed, concern dancing in her eyes. "…Is something wrong…?" As Gonta bit his lip anxiously, the young maid asked "What's the matter, Gokuhara-kun? Is something on your mind…?"
"…Gonta…isn't sure what to say…" Gonta admitted hesitantly. "Gonta…doesn't believe gentlemen should tell lies, even white lies. But…Gonta feels…embarrassed to talk about what's on Gonta's mind…"
"…If there's one thing I appreciate about you, Gokuhara-kun, it's your blunt honesty." Kirumi admitted, though her concern intensified in her eyes. "Still, it would not do as a maid to ignore when my client is feeling discord…or as a friend."
"…But…what if after hearing what Gonta has to say, you don't want to be friends with Gonta anymore?"
"That is unlikely, Gokuhara-kun. It would take an extreme shift in behavior to make me want to rescind my friendship with you." Kirumi assured him. "But if it makes you feel better, then I vow on my honor as a maid that I will not think less of you."
"…Okay…Gonta will try…" Gonta sighed as his cheeks darkened. "Gonta…has…enjoyed Tojo-chan's lessons. Gonta appreciates all that you've done to help Gonta be a better gentleman…"
Kirumi cocked her head, furrowing her brow in confusion. "I'm…glad to hear that, Gokuhara-kun…but is that what you were embarrassed to tell me…?"
"Gonta's not finished…" Gonta averted his gaze as he continued "Gonta…has come to…appreciate Tojo-chan. Tojo-chan…means…means a lot to…to Gonta…"
Kirumi's eyes widened as she finally connected the dots. "Gokuhara-kun…are you saying…you…have a…crush on me…?"
"…Gonta is sorry." Gonta's lip quivered. "Gonta didn't think he'd feel this way after Kiki…but…before Gonta knew it…Gonta started to care about you…But…Gonta understands…you probably wouldn't want to go out with someone like Gonta…"
"…Gokuhara-kun…please look at me…"
Gonta sighed and forced himself to look at the surprised maid. To his surprise, her own cheeks were a faint shade of red as she appeared unusually bashful.
"Gokuhara-kun…I have enjoyed our tutoring sessions as well." She admitted quietly. "It is true that you have been a good student, spacing out notwithstanding. Beyond that, however…I've…found a kindred spirit in your desire to be a gentleman. It is an…admirable quality that makes you…endearing."
"Gonta is…endearing…?" Gonta asked curiously, genuinely surprised by Kirumi's admission.
Kirumi nodded. "That is correct, Gonta. You are…endearing to me…and…my recognition of that has caused me to grapple with my own feelings-"
"Sorry!" Gonta profusely apologized. "Gonta did not mean to make you confused…"
Kirumi let out an unusually girlish giggle as she shook her head. "You do not need to feel sorry, Gokuhara-kun. On the contrary, my confusion has caused me to realize that there might be more I want out of my life than merely to serve others. Perhaps…I want something…for myself as well. Perhaps…I would also like someone…who I can be myself around."
"Tojo-chan…"
"And after unraveling my tangled heart…I have come to realize…that I…I like you, as more than a friend or classmate, Gokuhara-kun."
"So…you…"
"Yes…I would like to court you, Gokuhara-kun…if you are willing."
"Gonta…is so happy…" Tears of joy trickled down his cheeks. "Gonta would love to go out with you…"
A small smile appeared on Kirumi's face. "I'm glad to hear that. Why don't we think about what we'd like to do for our first date and assess our suggestions in a couple of days?"
"Sure, Gonta would like that."
Neither of the two could keep the bashful smiles off their faces as they thought with amazement We're going on a date…where should we go? What should we do?
"Ah, so you're going on a date with Tojo-chan?" Shuichi asked in slight surprise.
"That's right." Gonta nodded nervously. "Gonta is just trying to figure out what to do for our first date."
"Okay, but why did you come to me for advice?" The young detective asked curiously.
"You had a happy relationship, right? Surely you must know how to make a date enjoyable."
"Ah, yes, but…we broke up…" Shuichi reminded him, surprised when he didn't feel a twinge of heartbreak.
"Yes, but the relationship lasted a long time, right? Kiki and Gonta never made it past date one. So please…give Gonta advice! Gonta wants to make this special for Tojo-chan!"
"Ah, I see." Shuichi nodded with a smile. "Okay, I'll do what I can. Is there anything you've crossed off your first date ideas?"
"Well…" Gonta crossed his arms and tilted his head in contemplation. "Gonta thinks a restaurant might not be a good idea. Tojo-chan works at a restaurant as a waitress, and Gonta doesn't want her to feel tempted to take everyone else's orders."
"I see…that's good. It means you're thinking of what she'd enjoy." Shuichi gave the bug enthusiast an impressed smile. "In that case, why don't you try seeing a movie?"
"Oh, Gonta has lots of bug movies in Gonta's dorm room!"
Shuichi sweatdropped. "Ah, maybe your first date shouldn't be a bug movie…"
"…But why not? Bug movies fill Gonta with fight!" Gonta grinned.
"Yes…but it might be best to temper your enthusiasm for insects until you guys go on more dates, so that she feels like her interests are receiving attention too."
"Gonta…didn't think about it like that…" Gonta admitted.
"When I was dating Kaede, I went to a number of her piano recitals. At first, music wasn't the most interesting to me, but after hearing her play, I grew to really enjoy and admire her musical talent. And in turn, she took an interest in my detective training."
"Gonta…understands…" Guilt danced in his eyes as he admitted "When Kiki and Gonta went on our date…Gonta could only talk about bugs. Gonta didn't mean to bore Kiki, but…"
"Ah, I think I understand." Shuichi smiled reassuringly at him. "Lots of guys who go on their first dates makes mistakes. It's all part of the learning process. As we get more experienced, we learn what to avoid doing so we don't repeat those mistakes."
"Okay, so no bugs for now…but then what movie should Gonta take Kirumi to?"
"My advice: just go to a theatre and check out whatever's popular. It might also help to talk with Kirumi about what movie she wants to see. If she has a preference, that might make things a little easier."
"Okay, Gonta will do that." Gonta smiled gratefully at Shuichi. "Thank you, Saihara-kun."
"Oh, it was nothing…" Shuichi smiled awkwardly.
Shuichi could practically hear her giggles echo in his ears as he imagned telling her about it. He shook the thought from his head as Gonta turned towards the door.
"Good night, Gonta is going to research movies!"
"Okay, good night, Gokuhara-kun."
Shuichi waved awkwardly as Gonta closed the door behind him. I can't believe I just gave someone romance advice…wait until Kaede finds out…
"Really?" Kiki exclaimed excitedly. "You're going on a date with Gonta?!"
Kirumi nodded. "Yes, I suppose I am. This doesn't make things awkward for you? I am aware that you and Gokuhara-kun-"
"Are you kidding?! I was rooting for him to get a girlfriend ever since our one date turned out to be a flop. Plus, I couldn't have picked anyone better for him than you, Kirumi!"
"Oh, well…thank you…" Kirumi muttered bashfully, blushing in embarrassment from Kiki's praise.
"Yeah, this is amazing!" Tsumugi exclaimed energetically. "Gonta's finally found his one true love!"
"I do not know if I would call it that." Kirumi's cheeks turned dark rouge as she pointed out "We have not even gone on a single date yet."
Ignoring her, Tsumugi turned to the single Naegi. "Now we just need you and Saihara-kun to get your acts together-"
"Tsumugi, I told you to stop." Kiki cut her off with an annoyed glare. "Teasing Gonta and Kirumi is now marginally more acceptable since they have officially entered into a relationship, but please no teasing me or Shuichi."
"…Right…" Tsumugi sighed, meekly apologizing "Sorry…"
After shaking her head, Kiki turned her attention back to Kirumi. "Anyway, have you decided what you and Gonta are gonna do on your date?"
"…I think a movie might be best." Kirumi admitted. "If memory serves, there is a theatre close by campus grounds. I could use your advice however on what movie to choose. I admittedly am not familiar with popular cinema."
"Oh, I know!" Tsumugi exclaimed "There's this really great anime movie that's playing in theatres. You guys have to watch it, it's-"
"Ano…maybe some other time, Tsumugi." Kiki interjected, causing the otaku to sigh dejectedly. "Anyway, I can help you research what movies are playing in the theatre you were talking about."
"I would appreciate that very much, thank you." Kirumi bowed her head slightly before she added "We should probably be on the lookout for any movies involving bugs."
"Yeah…I don't blame you for wanting to avoid bug movies…" Kiki and Tsumugi shivered before Kirumi cocked her head.
"Actually, I was thinking if there are any bug movies, Gokuhara-kun would like to see those."
"Wait, you…" Tsumugi raised her eyebrow in surprise and confusion. "You…want to see a movie about bugs…?"
"It's…not that I have a fascination about bug movies…I merely thought it might make Gokuhara-kun feel more comfortable."
Kiki giggled and shook her head in amusement. "That's really sweet of you, Kirumi, but maybe you guys should just stick to a normal movie for your first date. Trust me, you'll have plenty of time to watch bug movies or hear Gonta talk about bugs." Kiki frowned as she lamented "Bugs were all he could talk about on our date. He needs to learn to be able to talk about other things, at least while he's on dates."
Kirumi nodded in acceptance as she mused A normal movie… "I see…I suppose it will only help him to grow as a gentleman."
Kiki nodded, critiquing "And since you two are dating, maybe you guys should drop the honorifics and call each other by your first names."
"I see…that does make sense, I suppose…" Kirumi conceded. "Very well, I will try to be less formal with Goku…Gonta."
Kiki smiled as she pulled out her cell phone. "Alright, let's see what movies are playing this month…"