He supposed first love never died.
Even when he had his arm wrapped around the beautiful Suzy's shoulders, his mind was somewhere else, on someone else. He felt guilty for thinking like that, for even daring to allow himself to feel that way.
He just couldn't help it.
"Shinichi?"
He snapped out of his reverie and glanced at the girl next to him. Her usually bright azure eyes were suddenly a shade darker now as she looked at him. His arm around her shoulders automatically tightened.
"Yes, Suzy?" he said, managing a smile.
"Are you even listening to what I've been saying?" she asked with that small frown on her beautiful features.
"Of course!" Shinichi nodded.
"Well then, what did I just say?"
A test, huh?
"Your father." He said. "You wanted to visit him this coming Christmas but you still can't bring yourself to forgive him for what he did years ago."
She looked impressed.
"But I think you should," he continued then paused. "Ran..." No I shouldn't use her name. "A friend of mine had a father like that. Well, technically he never cheated but he liked pretty girls, so of course his wife couldn't stand that. Neither could his daughter."
I should stop thinking about her now. Why did I bring her up?
"But they forgave him at the end," Shinichi finished. Suddenly, his mouth felt like sandpaper.
"What did he do to deserve their forgiveness?" Suzy asked, clearly interested now.
He took a bullet for them.
"He just changed his way, like your father did. He remains single ever since the divorce, right?" he asked.
Suzy nodded. "Yes, but who knows if he's had girlfriends. But anyway, I probably should visit him." She looked up at the sky. "After all, I'm all he has."
Shinichi looked to his left at the dark river. "And I'm all she has…" he muttered under his breath. His voice was barely audible that Suzy, who was practically glued to his side, couldn't hear him.
x
"Hello?"
"I figured you'd still be awake."
Shiho glanced at her watch then spoke into the phone. "It's kind of late for a check-up call, don't you think?" She stood up from her chair at the desk that was littered with documents, walked toward the couch and flopped down on it, pulling her legs up under her.
She's glad he called. She treasured these phone calls, though of course she'd never admit that.
"Well, considering you're a night owl, I don't think this is late," he said. His voice was loud and clear so she believed he wasn't with his girlfriend.
Maybe back at his place? In his studies?
"So to what do I owe this pleasure, Great Detective?" She started playing with the hems of her nightgown.
"Just wanted to see how you're doing. Been kind of a while since I last talked to you."
"We text."
"But it's not the same, right? I mean, I haven't heard your voice in quite a while."
It's true, she thought. They hadn't really seen each other that much since she moved out. The only real form of communication they had was through messages. She had to admit she missed his voice, too. It had gotten a bit deeper now that he's older.
"Are you telling me that you called just to hear my voice?" she said, smirking.
He laughed. "In a way, but also…"
She knew something was troubling him. He never did anything without a reason.
Just like a pact they once had.
"I was with Suzy today. We were walking around the park," he was saying. Shiho looked up at the ceiling. "A topic about her father was brought up, but long story short, I realized… that I'm all you have."
A pause.
A pause too long for his comfort, so he spoke up, "Say something."
"What do you want me to say?" she said quietly. Really, what did he want her to say? To beg him to be hers? Absolute nonsense.
"Move back here with me."
Those words were like daggers that cut into her throat, forever impairing her ability to speak. She was at an utter loss for words.
When she decided to move out, he tried so hard to get her to stay but once she made up her mind, she wouldn't back down. She stood by her decision and no matter what he said, she wouldn't change her mind. She wasn't a headstrong woman for nothing.
The topic was never brought up again until now.
She sighed into the phone. "I can't. You know I can't," she said.
"I'm all you have, Shiho, and to be frank, I'm worried about you living by yourself."
"This is a good neighborhood. This apartment is great. The neighbors are nice and considerate. I fail to see where the problem lies. And I've been living here for months now without any incidents."
Why does he want me back? After all this time? Could it be…
"I'm still worried," he said. "Who knows what the future holds. Something could've happened tomorrow or the next day. You never know."
"Heh, maybe I should find myself a man then."
A pause.
"But you already have one."
She was taken aback by his response.
"Shinichi…" She gripped the phone harder. "You shouldn't be saying these things. You have a girlfriend. I…" I what?
"As a friend," he said quickly. "Suzy won't mind you living with me I'm sure. She knows you have no family and that you're a real loner. If we could just… you know leave out that part then I'm sure it won't be a problem."
She almost smirked. Shinichi, you're so naïve for a great detective.
"It won't work," she said softly. "You don't understand, Shinichi. No matter how you put it, your girlfriend won't be happy knowing there's another girl living with you, unless that girl is family, and I'm no family to you. And she knows that."
He sighed. "Are you asking me to break up with her?"
She made a noise.
"You're putting words in my mouth. Are you just using me as an excuse to break up with her?" Her heart was racing.
Shinichi and Suzy's anniversary was coming up. They had been together for almost eight months now.
Is eight months his limit?
When she didn't hear a response from him, she pressed. "Shinichi, do you want to break up with her?"
A pause.
A pause too long for her comfort, and when she was about to ask again, he answered. "No."
There was a lump formed in her throat and suddenly she felt annoyed.
"Then why-"
"Forget it," he said abruptly. His voice so stern and cold that it took her by surprise. "Forget I ever said that," he continued. "But I really meant it when I said I'm worried about you, so you know the offer still stands. There are a lot of extra rooms in my house, you know that. Whenever you have a change of heart, let me know."
She composed herself. "Of course."
Another pause, then "Good night, Shiho."
"Good night, Shinichi." And the line went dead.
She held the phone loosely in her hand, her eyes staring straight ahead at the white, bare, undecorated wall.
Millions of thoughts were running wildly through her mind.
x
Higo was a great man. She met him at a soccer game. More like, she was being a faithful fan cheering him and his team on. Shinichi was with her. Of course so was Suzy. Suzy wasn't a soccer fan like Shiho had thought. Clearly, she was only there because either Shinichi made her or she had nothing better to do or she wanted to make her boyfriend happy.
Either way, Shiho thought Suzy could put in more effort, because during the whole game, the girl was simply on her phone. Her long slender fingers scrolled down on the screen mindlessly with a bored expression stitched on her face.
Shinichi didn't seem to mind, however. He was very much into the game. Occasionally, he'd leave to buy them food and drink, and during those breaks, it was so awkward between Shiho and Suzy. As if the latter really knew of the true nature of their relationship. Shiho could tell the girlfriend didn't like her. Not even one bit.
So much for moving in with you, Shinichi… She'd murder me in my sleep.
Higo didn't recognize her adult form. As a matter of fact, they barely had any interaction at the game. He only flashed a huge smile her way once and she thought that was just a coincidence.
It was only after the game that they managed to bump into each other.
No matter where Shinichi was, what form he's in, what he was doing, who he's with, he always always managed to attract murder.
Higo's manager was framed for a murder he didn't commit. If said manager were put away for good, Higo's team would be at a loss at what to do since there was talk of them emigrating to a better playing team.
So Shinichi stepped in.
To say Inspector Meguire was eternally grateful was an understatement.
This was a big case. It made national news the day it happened, and Shinichi just happened to be there, easily solving it like it was a child's game.
Suzy looked on in boredom. Occasionally, she'd glance over at Shiho and the latter would return her stare.
"What?" the scientist would ask, and the black-haired woman would just shrug and walk away.
"That was impressive!" Higo had said at the end when everything fell into its rightful place in the puzzle. He was utterly impressed. His eyes sparkled and his dazzling smile danced on his lips.
"It's nothing," Shinichi had said, grinning while scratching the back of his head. Suzy was holding his hand. Shiho stood by herself. "Only if the cases that I'm currently working on were this easy…"
"Easy? I don't know how you got to that conclusion so fast!" Higo had replied, looking awed.
"Playing detective has always been his hobby," Shiho had said idly. The soccer star turned to look at her, and just like that, their fates were intertwined.
Shinichi should have been happy for her. For them. For everyone.
After all, they all got their respective partners. And he's sure Higo would make Shiho so much happier than he ever could.
But strangely enough, he felt a knot in his heart. Unexplained. Unfathomed.
He hated this feeling so much. He hated not being to rationalize something logically.
But the feeling was there. Stubborn and poisonous and not going away.
a/n: Fear not my readers! This story isn't abandoned I can promise you that! It might take a while but I do not want to leave any story of mine unfinished, so I will definitely finish this. Well, I hope you like this chapter, and thank you so much for staying with this story this long. Truly appreciating ya'll :) Now, if you would be kind enough to leave a r-e-v-i-e-w, it would certainly make this author so very happy.
