AN: This is told with Murano being the main point of the story. Every chapter will alter the focus between Shinichi and Murano.
Purplehippo47: I'm disappointed that the anime isn't more popular, and I'm glad for those that like it too. And thank you as well, good sir. I'm trying to redeem myself after blundering horribly with my AgK fic xD
bluebloodblues: Aw, thanks! I've always been better at adorable and the cutesys rather than the deep plot or storyline. Don't worry, in his chapter, he got even dorkier for some reason. It's like I'm pulling out their stereotypes lodged inside of them and expanding on them with this story. I want to hug them both and say that they're perfect for each other! Hopefully Kiseijuu will see this :3
ssj4gohan5: Ah my loyal buddy. I may incorporate Kana into this somehow if I can find the time. Thanks so much as always!
Here we are at chapter 2. Leave a follow, drop a favorite, and please, above all review! (I am become the king of poetry.)
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"Oh man, I just can't get over how good their coffees are," Murano sighed, savoring the tangy, bitter taste of the coffee mixed with the creamy delight of the cream. She replaced the lid and frowned at the next problem that she needed help with. Even Shinichi had his mouth twisted in confusion before sighing and standing up.
"Murano, I don't think I can get this one. Sorry," Shinichi apologized, shrugging and smiling apologetically. He sipped his smoothie and was surprised to find that this secluded cafe in the middle of nowhere had very realistic-tasting pineapple. Almost too real, in fact. As he sipped, he realized a strange burning sensation on the tip of his tongue. It felt like a burn, but it wasn't that, exactly.
Canker sores!
"Gah!" Izumi whisper-shrieked, clutching his tongue in the surprisingly painful sensation. "The pineapple must be real, then!"
The woman working behind the counter in her mid-twenties, rushed out from behind her workstation and set a cold glass of water in front of this. "Here, honey. Sorry about that. This's happened to a few guests in the past," she explained all while scratching her head in slight amusement.
"Oh." Shinichi shrugged as he held the cool glass to his lips and drank. "It's okay. I mean, I guess I didn't know…" he sheepishly replied.
"I'll have to talk to management about the… potency of their pineapples. Anyway, I'm sorry, hon," the woman stated and walked back to her workstation where she continued to look quite bored.
Shinichi, whose tongue had decided to calm down and revert to its normal tasting state, looked over at Murano, who was trying very, very hard to hide a smile.
She was failing very, very miserably.
"Hn? Murano, what's so funny?"
She giggled, unable to control herself any longer. "You, silly! You get a smoothie, talk all serious about trig, and then you get a canker sore," she giggled again while speaking, causing Shinichi to blush.
"Hey! I couldn't have known!"
"I know, silly. I know," Murano sighed. She remembered the times where they'd hang out together, back in junior high. No pressure to date, no probing friends, no nothing. Just the two of them having a really nice time.
Like they were having now.
"Mm…" she sighed, looking into her coffee cup.
"Are you still hung over that coffee? It looks like normal ol' caffeinated sustenance to me," Shinichi stated drily with an air of humor about his words. Murano caught the air and giggled in response.
"Nope, Izumi-kun. I was just remembering how nice it is to spend time with you." Seeing no response from the now-blushing teenager, she continued. "Remember when we were in junior high? Those days were my favorites days."
"We hung out all the time, didn't we?"
"We 'most certainly' did, as you'd put it," she stated with a slight smirk. He frowned.
"Do I really sound that uptight?" he muttered, scratching his chin. She couldn't tell if he was being dead-serious or light as a feather.
"Nope, you don't. You sound smart," she replied. "Unlike me. I wish I could sound smart. Then people would acknowledge me when I speak."
"Even though I speak a little funnily, and by funnily, I mean more intelligently, according to the culture's standards, Murano, that doesn't necessarily mean I'm going to be noticed by all when I talk…" Shinichi said, sadly lowering his head just a few centimeters when he said those words.
"It's just 'cause you're shy, Izumi-kun."
"You think so?"
"Well, not around me, at least. But I do noticed how your answers are super short and concise when you're called on in class," she thought aloud, tilting her head in the process. He'd always been like that, no matter how old they were when they knew each other. "And we both know you've got the brains to go on for a much longer time, y'know."
"R-really? You think?"
"I know! Look, I know we sound like the completely typical teen who can't see his own abilities and his friend who sees them, but it's really true! Sure, you may not be the most athletic, but what are their chances of playing pro sports?"
"Actually, their chances are-" Shinichi began to launch into a long-winded talk of probability, but Murano cut his off by stealing his smoothie.
"Hush now, or I'll give you another canker sore!" she angrily stated with fiery humor in her eyes. She smiled, letting him know her true intentions.
"..."
"Good. As I was saying, you've got a much better chance of being way more successful than the jocks who can't tell a vector from a quadrant. Heck, even I know that!" Murano encouraged, somewhat bashing herself in the process.
"You just need to practice more, then you'll be better than I could ever be," Shinichi said, noticing the way Murano worded her 'compliment.'
"I doubt it," she shrugged. "Anyway, Shinichi, I've been thinking a bit about how long we've been friends."
"It's ... nice, isn't it? We've stayed connected even after the trials of high school tear most junior-high friendships apart."
"Yeah! So I was thinking we should promise something to each other."
"Yes?"
"Let's make a promise to never drift in friendship during high school!" she said, lopsidedly smiling as she looked for his approval.
"I like that idea. I don't want to lose the few friends I have," Shinichi said.
"That's kind of sad when you think about it. Pinky swear?"
Shinichi held out his pinky finger and grasped it in his own. "Pinky swear, Satomi."
"It's been a while since you called me by my first name, Sheech," she mumbled happily to him, using the nickname they established long ago.
"D-don't call me that anymore!" Shinichi exclaimed, blushing. He was ashamed of the nickname Murano used for him long ago.
"Fine, fine…"
The two sat in awkward silence, which was very predictable considering their true natures. Shinichi broke the silence.
"W-would you want to… meet like this again? Same place?" he nervously stuttered, hoping his childhood friend didn't get the wrong idea.
Satomi sighed internally. While she loved the idea of spending more time with him, she wasn't sure he- and herself- was ready to handle a relationship just yet, even though there was the long-lasting bond of childhood friendship. Her thoughts drifted to her friend who was hurt terribly by her former boyfriend. She shook the thoughts from her head. She knew Shinichi wasn't like that. Summoning a bright smile, she replied brightfully and cheerfully.
"I'd love that, Shinichi. I'll call you the next time trig is too hard for me."
Deep down she knew that she was horribly unprepared to deal with the potential romantic feelings that would inevitably come along with what they were about to embark on. However, to her surprise, she wasn't made uncomfortable with the thought of struggling through her feelings with Shinichi.
It made her feel welcomed and strong, something she hadn't felt since she last spent time with him on a regular basis.
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AN: Well, sorry for the stereotypical conversation. Leave a review please! Thanks so much for reading!