Chapter 3: Making Up

Damn! I couldn't concentrate on the teacher's lesson! What should I do? Maybe he thought that I was mad at him. Yes, I was mad! I don't care what would happen to me when that organization would chase me as long as he's with me! I was worried. The last two years was as if the other half of my heart left me! I was hurt.

I was thinking a lot when sensei called me for recitation, "Mouri-san, answer the problem on the board."

I'm good at math but I wasn't paying attention to sensei's lecture. I couldn't answer the problem. It took me a couple of seconds to stand.

"Sensei, I think I know the answer to that problem."

Whew!

Shinichi stood up and answered the problem on board. Of course, he's a meitantei, he knew that I wasn't paying attention to sensei.

"Nice work, Kudo-kun. You saved your wife there." Even sensei was teasing us…not that I hate it.

He replied with a low tone, "She's not my wife."

I was thinking to make up with him but he was looking down when he passed by my seat. He hadn't smiled after our talk in the other room. What should I do?

The whole day was like that. When the classes ended, Sonoko approached me.

"Ne, Ran, what happened?" Sonoko was also troubled, just like the two of us.

"I'll tell you later."

"Call me."

"Okay. I have a karate practice. Ja."

I went to the gym and practiced karate with my club mates. I commanded that we would have kumite (sparring) for the day. Everyone started.

I was thinking about what Shinichi had told me…How he lied to me, how he knew that I love him, everything. Again, I was not paying attention and my mind was not in the sparring. My partner managed to kick me on my abdomen.

"Taichou! Goumen, goumen."

"Daijoubu."

The last thing I remembered was that I sensed someone coming. Was it the club's adviser? I didn't know.

I passed out.

I was on a bed when I woke up. I thought I knew the room that I was in…not my room. Where am I?

"Ran, you're already awake? How are you? Are you badly hurt?"

All I saw was Shinichi's worried face.

"I'm alright. I'm going home. Thanks, by the way."

"Matte! We have to talk." He drew me to the wall. His hands were just above on my shoulders and his face was a few inches from mine. I could sense anxiousness on his face. I could hear his heartbeat.

"Okay, I talk first." I told everything that was on my mind the whole day. "Why did you take the burden alone? Didn't you know that I would be worried of you? If I knew that you were Conan then I would not waste my time crying for you! I was like that for two years! I-I-I…" before I could finish my sentence, his lips met mine.

I was stunned by his actions. He noticed my reaction and pulled back. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."

I didn't talk.

"I love you, Ran." I could hear my own heartbeat. It was faster than normal. I was trying to hide my heartbeat.

"Ran, this is the reason why I didn't tell you. I don't want you to get hurt because of me. Please understand what I did."

I understood him. All anger in my heart faded away.

"Okay, I forgive you."

Shinichi repeated himself, "I love you, Ran."

Without thinking I murmured, "I love you too."

I, myself, was surprised with my words. Did I just say 'I love you too'?

"What did you just say, Ran?" I finally saw his smile that was lost for the whole day.

I couldn't believe I said that! I pushed him lightly so I can go. "I'm going home."

He pulled me back, "You're not going anywhere, Ran. What did you just say?"

"I'm going home."

"Before that..."

"Okay, I forgive you."

"I think I heard something else."

"What?"

"I love you, Ran."

It was like I had an automatic response, "I love you too."

"That were the words that I wanted to hear. (laughs)"