Halo
words: 461
"I, well... That's kind of why I called you. I was hoping you could... I don't know, maybe give me... advice... on something."
That was certainly new. Ran sat up straight. What in the world could Shinichi, of all people, need advice from her on. "What is it Shinichi? Something with your case?"
"Not really..."
Okay, now Ran was really intrigued. He was being so evasive, and dare she say, quiet about the subject. That really wasn't like him at all. "What's wrong Shinichi?" she coaxed.
"Well.. See, th-there's this... person... I met that I'm... kindofdevelopingfeelingsfor."
Ran stared blankly for several seconds, brain working through what he'd just said. She had never heard him stuttering or rambling his badly before. In fact he was still saying something, but she had no idea what. The little proverbial shoulder devil wanted her to tease him mercilessly, but as skittish as he was being... The proverbial shoulder angel promptly whapped the devil with its halo.
Vaguely she wondered why she was envisioning her shoulder angels as tiny Conan lookalikes.
"That's great Shinichi! So, who is she?"
There was a long pause and for a moment she didn't think Shinichi was going to answer at all, when finally he said, "He."
Ran blinked, then blinked again. Oh. Oh. She bit back the snicker building, though it took a great deal of effort. Her proverbial shoulder Conans were in an all out war at the moment. "Is that the problem?" she asked soothingly.
"Well, no, not really. I don't really care either way about that, but... I just don't know what to do about...." he trailed off as though hoping she would be able to psychically pluck his problem from the air.
Luckily, Ran spoke very good Shinichese. "You don't know how to approach them about your feelings." The sigh of relief he gave was immense, and Ran couldn't help but grin at the fact that he trusted her so much. "Have you just tried telling them? I mean, I know that isn't something you're used to doing...."
"You're one to talk," he teased right back, making her grin. "It's sort of complicated. I'm not sure coming out and saying it to him directly is going to do me any good."
"I see. Well, then... You'll just have to get him to see things your way! I'm sure it won't be that hard. You're a great guy Shinichi."
"Maybe you're right Ran." His voice was a strange combination of wistfulness and hope that Ran couldn't really comprehend, but she silently wished him good luck as Shinichi steered the topic of conversation elsewhere until they finally hung up.