ShinRan fans, I haven't forgotten about this story! I was just so busy! Take this chapter as my apologize!

Here's the prompt shinranlove suggested ("please write something wherein they meet for the first time in a coffee shop and it's love at first sight for Shinichi but make it kind of funny 3" ). I hope you enjoy!

When I first saw you…

"I can't believe I agreed to help you with this!"

The cold air and the snow which had been tormenting Tokyo for several days now didn't make it any easier to go Christmas shopping -or in young Shinichi's case- to carry a tree through the crowded streets.

"I'm sorry…but usual your father helps with that." Professor Agasa looked at him apologetically, but he knew that the boy wasn't really as angry as it seemed. He rarely ever was.

"And why are you taking care of this right now? It's just a day before Christmas!"

And Shinichi didn't even have half of his gifts ready…or practiced that song his mother wanted him to perform tonight. His fingers felt so cold; he really wondered if later he would be able to play his violin at all.

"Let's say I was busy."

The boy rolled his eyes at him, but continued walking until he reached the main street. Suddenly he stopped in his movements hearing somebody behind him scream.

"Thief! He stole my money! …Stop him! THIEF!"

Shinichi didn't even see the woman who exclaimed this words nor the man running away right in his direction. Nevertheless he tried turning around, though it was kind of complicated with the charge on his shoulders.

"STOP HIM!" he heard her shout again, before he finally saw the culprit…only two meters in front of him.

"Watch out!"

The man had covered his face with a black scarf and maybe that was the reason he didn't react in time as Shinichi threw the tree right at in front him.

"WHA…?!"

There was a loud crash as he couldn't stop himself anymore falling hard to the ground instead.

"Yes!"

The woman had managed to catch up and then two men who had followed her to help immediately threw themselves of the struggling thief to hinder his flight.

"Help me…" Shinichi carefully approached the scene now, addressing the two who were holding the other one.

"Be careful. Don't hurt him."

"But boy, he's a criminal!"

Shinichi shook his head with determination. "Maybe he is, but we can't tell yet. Maybe he had his reasons. Stealing money once doesn't make you criminal."

They looked rather unconvinced, but the woman suddenly smiled at him.

"You're right. We'll call the police and let them handle the rest." She then took a step forward and offered him her hand.

"I'm Eri Kisaki. I really have to thank you for being so brave or I would have lost a lot of money. What's your name?"

Shinichi took her hand, shaking it confidently while grinning widely at her.

"I'm Shinichi Kudo. Nothing to thank for. Was easy."

Eri had to hide a chuckle as he saw how much this young man enjoyed her praising. Well he was still a child after all.

"How old are you, Kudo-kun?"

"I'm fifteen. "

"Oh…just like my daughter."

Her eyes wandered to the older man who was staring sadly at the banged up tree.

"Oh…" Shinichi felt a bit awkward forgetting about the professor like this quickly pulling him to his side. "That's Professor Agasa, he's a good friend of mine."

Eri bowed down to show her respect, before also shaking his hand. "I'm sorry for your tree, sir. You allow me to pay for the damage?"

"No…it's all right. It's still possible to make a nice Christmas tree out of it…I invented a tool lately which could be perfect for this purpose."

His eyes were shining at this idea and Shinichi wondered if he was the one who had to carry the tree once again.

"That's is good news, but there must be something I can do…"

The man thought about it for a moment before witnessing Shinichi was rubbing his neck like he was having some pain there.

"There's indeed something you can do, madam. Shinichi, nice as he is, helped me carrying the tree to my house, but…it' really heavy. I you maybe know someone who could help s with that…" Eri quickly nodded, pulling out her cellphone.

"My friend from the office will take care of it. He works in the building right behind as and he told me he still owes me a favour for getting him this job. That's no problem."

Shinichi was happy to hear that and knowing he was no longer needed, he decided to say goodbye and leave. Maybe he could investigate some more about the case his father had told him about and practice the violin. Or not.

"Wait, wait…where are you going?" It was something in that voice of the woman what made Shinichi stop immediately.

"Home."

"To your parents?"

"No…they're still in L.A. But I think they will arrive this evening."

Maybe, he added silently not liking the sympathetic look she was giving him. He wasn't lonely or something.

"Don't you wanna go to the new coffee shop right behind the city mall? I will meet my daughter there and I could invite you. Please, I would be so happy."

Shinichi wanted to say no. Really.

"Okay, sounds good."

Wait what!? Why did he just said the opposite of what he had been thinking?

"Have fun Shinichi!" The professor patted him on the arm leaving him no chance to back out of this anymore. "Let's go. Ran must be already waiting…"

At the coffee shop:

"So where she is?"

Eri shrugged her shoulders. "I can't see here…wow, this place is really crowded."

Shinichi looked around surprised that he hadn't realized this before. Normally he hated places with so many people, but apparently not today. Strange.

But even stranger was what happened next.

"Is this your daughter, madam?"

His eyes had caught a girl dressed in a red sweater and reading a magazine. Her table was the third in the row at the left window.

"Yes, that's Ran!"

Happily Eri started heading towards said table before suddenly stopping dead in her tracks.

"Wait a minute…how did you know it was her? You never met, did you?"

Shinichi sweat dropped not finding quite an explanation for his guess. H really couldn't remember ever having met Ran at school…maybe she and her mother just looked similar in some way.

"I…I…-"

"Hi mom!" Ran had seen them waving at Eri showing a sweet and excited smile which made Shinichi gulp. Why did he felt so warm of all sudden?

"Hello Ran!" Eri seemed to quickly have forgotten about the incident already heading to her daughter while Shinichi still stayed where he was and stared.

Sorry, observed. Yes, this was better.

"Come on" Eri made a gesture telling him to come over and eventually they all had managed to sit down. "Mom who's that?"

"That's a brave young man who stopped the man who stole my purchase, honey."

"What? Mom, is everything all right?" Ran was worried immediately, but Eri assured her nothing had happened.

"Well…thank you a lot! How's your name again?"

Shinichi's ocean blue met her soft brown eyes and he was surprised he even found his voice to answer.

"I'm Shinichi Kudo, it's my pleasure to meet you."

Ran smiled a bit taken aback from his formal introduction. But she liked to finally meet a man who know how to express himself…it was just strange he was so young.

Oh my...it's my pleasure to meet you? Was he coming from the high society or what? Shinichi internally cursed himself, but she didn't seem to be annoyed.

"It's my pleasure as well, sir." Ran laughed at him, but not about him.

This place felt much fancier by second.

"Anyone wants some coffee? Tea?" Eri interrupted them in a loud, but not unfriendly way. She knew the look Shinichi was sending her daughter and…well, she couldn't say he was all to happy about it.

"I take some coffee. You know which one." Ran said while Eri stood up to order. "And you?"

"I'm what?"

"What do you want to drink? I invited you."

Right.

"They have a real good hibiscus tea here, do you want to try that?" Eri helped him, making him nod instantly.

"Yes, thank you."

It wasn't like he was allergic to hibiscus or something…maybe he was. Damn it.

Luckily Ran still seemed willing to talk to him.

"Well…I think I know you from school. Aren't you playing as a striker in our football team?"

"That's right."

Say something clever! You are clever Shinichi and she doesn't know that!

"You're pretty good. I like doing sports to."

"Thanks." He hoped she couldn't see him blushing. "You practise karate, don't you?"

She nodded surprised he knew. "You like karate? I am new on the school team, so I didn't assume someone saw me already…"

"No, no."

Stop Shinichi, stop!

"I deduced it. The way you are holding your arms and the fact your body stature allows you to be fast…"

WHY WAS NO ONE HERE TO STOP HIM!?

"…were the first hints. Also I can tell that you're quite strong cause you just put your mother's bag on this chair using just one hand. Reconsidering that the karate club just accepted new members and having the impression you wanted to choose school activities as a subject for this conversation…"

Shinichi felt himself giving up slowly…it was like he was running on auto-pilot. This never had happened before!

"…I came to the conclusion that it's likely for you to be a Mudansha*."

And now she hates me, he thought. And he could understand why.

Ran had a confused, shocked, but also admiring look on her face. Should she feel awkward? Scared? Flattered?

She tried to read what he was thinking…he seemed so nervous sitting there. Had he been flirting?

"Kudo-kun…?"

There was something very innocent in his eyes what he hadn't witnessed before.

"Hey, I'm not mad okay? Just startled."

"I'm sorry. I didn't want to…make you feel uncomfortable."

"I know. It was quite impressive…are some kind of…detective?"

"I am."

She had no clue how happy that comment had made him.

"Well, my dad is a detective as well. Maybe you two should meet…oh here comes my mom."

Eri put the drinks on the table realizing how they got quiet of all sudden. "What have you two been talking about?"

"Just school" Ran answered quickly saving Shinichi from her mother's severe glances.

The next minutes the woman were talking while Shinichi tried to come up with any brilliant ideas to get rid of the tea in his glass without having to drink it.

Maybe he could pour it into the flower pot.

Or into his shoe.

Oh my god.

"Well it was nice to meet you, Kudo- kun. I'm sorry, but Ran and I have another appointment to attend…so we have to say goodbye to you."

Shinichi nodded watching the two of them putting their coats on. He felt horrible.

"Wait…I have forgotten my cellphone…" He lifted his head hearing Ran coming back to him.

"Where's your phone?" He started searching around the chairs.

"In my bag, Mr. detective." Ran winked at him, fighting the urge to laugh at his expression.

"Why did you come back then?"

"I wanted to invite you to my first official tournament next week. I promised to give my best. Maybe I can even win."

"That's sounds good." he said finally smiling back.

Ran thought he was really cute.

"Well I hope you mean it, because that's the same thing you said about that tea you ordered and you still haven't drunk it."

She had fun teasing him a bit. And it got him once again.

"No! Of course I mean it! See, I'm drinking!" he quickly answered putting the cup on his lips, drinking like his life would depend on it.

"See?"

"All right then. Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas."

He watched her till she was out of sight, then let himself sink back into his chair.

Ran.

What a beautiful name.

...

...

"Did I really just drank that whole cup of tea!?" he suddenly eclaimed loudly staring at the empty cup he was still holding.

Then he laughed.

He didn't care.

Liked it? Please review!

(*Mudansha= karate student (9. – 1. Kyu))