All characters, Detective Conan, belong to Gosho Aoyama.

--Part 10, Haibara Ai's POV, Noble--

I let out a sigh of relief. I let out a loud sigh of relief. The children turned toward me, worry written all over their face.

"Are you alright, Ai-chan?" Yoshida-san was the first to speak up.

"Do you feel sick?" Tsuburaya-kun asked, eyes wide and full of fear. Oblivious to the others' concern, Kojima-kun suggested, "Maybe she's hungry?"

Ignoring their comments, I could feel Kudo-kun frowning in my direction. I gave them a child's smile, "I'm just glad we were able to finish our project before school was over."

The Detective Boys nodded in agreement. "Did you hear sensei?" said Tsuburaya-kun, color returning to his face. "She might put it up on the writing board for Parent's Day!"

"She really liked the ribbon I decorated the corners with!" Kojima-kun proclaimed.

"Genta-kun!" Tsuburaya-kun and Yoshida-san said in unison. They gave him an ugly glare.

"I mean, the ribbon we decorated the corners with!"

I shook my head with a smile. They're impossible.

As if he read my mind, Kudo-kun turned to me and rolled his eyes. Not even the great detective could help but smirk at our friends' antics.

"So," he whispered in a voice I could hardly make out, "what were you sighing about?"

"The poster…" I didn't meet his eyes, but looked out the window.

"Huh? Really?" he stuttered. "Why?"

Before I could answer, the bell decided to ring. "Have a safe weekend, children!" Kobayashi-sensei announced, receiving cheers from the class. I got up from my chair but was stopped by Kudo-kun's grip on my wrist.

"Haibara…?" he frowned. His worry almost scares me sometimes. I didn't think an investigator, and a high school one, at that, could have so much concern for the well being of a retired-enemy.

"I didn't like the color scheme." I turned away from his gaze, pulling away from his hold.

"Is Ai-chan going home by herself?" I could hear Yoshida-san ask.

I hadn't had a walk by myself since Hakase had gotten lost in the new mini-mall. Knowing that if I didn't take my chance, the children would catch up to me, I walked into the nearest classroom.

I looked around, adjusting my eyes to the darkness in what I recognized as the music room. I leaned against the door and slid down to a sitting position. A flash erupted in the room. Just lightening…it's still raining. With that thought, I regretted my actions.

I clenched a fist and put it to my forehead. I had forgotten my umbrella. I was too tired from the night before that I had barely remembered to change from my pajamas. What had been clear in my mind that morning was the run-in I had with Kaitou KID the night before.

I scoffed, "To take advice from a child…" To be fair, he was trying to escape from a child, another voice in my head popped.

"I suppose." I got up and walked toward the window. Although it wasn't furious, the rain splashed against the glass. I rested my arms on the sill. I tried to get lost in my thoughts as I stared into my own eyes. As smooth as the thief had been the night before, it seemed as if he didn't notice my slipping that into his pocket.

He's an actor of good quality, nonetheless.

As I saw the water coming from the sky become lighter, I turned on my heels. I sighed once again, knowing the day was definitely over. I'd still have to face the drizzling, the big deal Hakase would make of me coming home soaking wet, not to mention the reprimand I would receive from Kudo-kun…

"At least the day is over." I exhaled, closing the door behind me.

"Haibara-san!" I heard Kobayashi-sensei yell from down the hall. She jogged toward me.

"Sensei?" When she walked up to me, she was out of breath.

"I've been looking everywhere for you. They wanted me to give this to you," she beamed, handing out an umbrella.

"'They'?"

"The Detective Boys, of course!" she exclaimed.

"Oh. Thank you." I accepted the object. "Have a nice weekend, sensei." I gave her a sincere smile and walked in the direction of the exit.

With a quick inspection, I decided the umbrella would do, all things considered.

Must he always be noble?

--End part 10, Noble--

I'm tired. /smiley face/