A/N: Thank you, Enji86 and YELLOW JACKET PRIDE, for giving kind reviews! I'm sorry that I'm a bit bad at writing romantic stuff…Mild inspirations were only the things that supported me to write this. Anyway, I edited some parts of the previous chapters so…hope they are better! Reviews are welcome.

Disclaimer: I do not own DC. If I do, why am I in fanfiction?

Chapter Three

Dramatic Ego

The 63th solution for the wise: run away.

-0-

(Ai's POV)

We've made it to the crossroads.

"Bye, guys!"

"Bye Conan, Haibara!"

"Ai-chan, don't forget what you said!" Shouted Ayumi cheerfully.

"Yeah!" I called back.

We walked for a few minutes in silence when he finally broke it.

"I'm surprised."

"I thought detectives are supposed to know what's coming up, but. What is it?"

"Up till now, you've always been so nice to Ayumi."

Now that I think of it…I could be cold, even sarcastic to her. But she felt like a cute little sister to me. Why? Aha, the answer came out from nowhere.

"She was the first to call my name. Even when I tried to go home alone, she didn't give up. Her search for friendship is much too strong."

He chuckled, which annoyed me slightly.

"What're you laughing at?"

"Its just déjà vu. She was the first to talk to me, too."

"Ah."

Some silence. Then,

"Let's never forget Ayumi Yoshida-san." We said simultaneously.

More awkward silence. Then we laughed out loud.

"Looks like we have the same minds."

"I don't want to be a deducing-freak like you."

"Oh, look who's saying. Do you think I want to be evil-eyed and super-sarcastic mad scientist?"

"Please. Still a total jerk, aren't you?"

It was much easier to be with him now, jabbering at each other. Then, we arrived at the Mouri Detective Agency.

"Well, bye now" I said after stating how irritating it is to be next to someone that is constantly saying stuff like, 'I got it', or 'I see' without telling a clue to anyone. I started to walk faster, leaving him in front of the building.

Suddenly, he grabbed my hand. "Wait, Haibara."

There was a small shock of electricity as he got hold of my hand. I instinctively smacked it. Hard.

"Ow." Another bit of silence.

"I-I'm sorry." The words were stammered out of my mouth. I could feel my face grow hot. My voice was somewhat broken. What the…Why did I hit…? "Sorry, what were you gonna say?"

"It's just that I don't live in Uncle's house anymore. I live in my own, so…"

"Ah." Now I couldn't think of anything to say, so we just walked together in complete quietness. I could tell he was amused by my actions; he was smiling. When we finally arrived at my (no, hakase's) house, it was because of that irksome expression that made me open the fence harder than necessary. My toe hit it and it hurt like hell, but thankfully, he didn't notice.

"See you tomorrow, Kudou-kun."

Still embarrassed, I tried to make my way inside as quickly as possible. However, he grabbed my hand for the second time. This time, there was no shock, so I just looked up at his face. He wasn't smiling anymore.

"By the way, Haibara…"

I waited for him to continue.

"Even though the organization is gone, I'm still willing to do my job. To protect you, I mean that I will do my best to make you happy. Just like the rest of the kids. I wish you can always have a smile like them."

With that, he let me go and said, "See ya!", grinning as if he'd done everything he wanted to do today.

Even after I heard his door close, I stood still for a while. I do NOT get it. What is he trying to do? Confused and tired, I almost ran into the house.

"Oh, welcome home, Ai-kun! How was school?"

"It was good, considering that my friends are there…and now that the problems are solved, I guess I will try to enjoy my life from now on."

"So you won't leave, right?" Hakase was happy.

"Guess not…" I was still deep in thought as I went downstairs to find a band-aid for my toe. But it's a school…where I have to be with him…

-0-

(General POV)

The alarm clock rang. As much as she'd have loved to just stay in bed for a good few hours, she had school today.

She looked at her image in the mirror. She could see large bags under her eyes which she got from lack of sleep. Sigh. First day of school all over again. She took a quick shower and got dressed up for school. When she got into the kitchen, she saw Conan eating a piece of toast with butter on it. He was in a conversation with hakase, (what the-) only with pants and an unbuttoned shirt on.

"What are you doing in here?" She asked, while trying not to stare at his body.

"Oh, good morning, Haibara." Conan put his toast in his mouth and quickly buttoned his shirt. After taking out a large bite out of the bread, he said, "I thought we could go to school together."

Normally she'd have just rolled her eyes and waited for him, but her insides didn't allow it.

"Today, the teacher asked me to drop by earlier, so excuse me."

"Hey, wait a bit!" He was putting on his coat. However, she pretended not to hear him and left the house without another word. She almost ran to school, thinking hard.

All this time, She thought. I've been acting cool. Trying to tell others that I was somewhat different from them. Even I thought I was tough…or strong, but. Really. My mind is filled with…nothing. Like an onion, that is covered with countless layers without having an actual core.

As she arrived at school, she cleared up her thoughts.

I still want one. An escape. I have to be me.

-0-

(Mitsuhiko's POV)

Oh GOD! I can't be late again! How could I forget that the alarm clock was broken? I was late just yesterday!

I ran like hell. No stops or anything. I took a look at my watch. 3 minutes left. This is like a god damn race, I thought.

Whew! Made it. Wait…What are my friends all talking about?

I heard something like,

"That's the transfer student?"

"Uh-huh. She is beautiful, but she is so cold."

"Yeah. Doesn't even talk much, does she?"

Wha-That means- My eyes flew around rapidly. Then, my suspicions were confirmed.

"Ha-Haibara-san…"

She was sitting at the corner of the classroom, gazing out the window. Her strawberry blonde hair turned to me, and I saw a gorgeous face.

"Hey, Tsuburaya-kun. You were almost late." She smiled at my gawking face.

Whoa~She is incredibly cute today…She smiled at me.

I thought I was gonna melt. She'd normally keep a poker face no matter what.

"Oh…yeah…we are in the same class I guess." I could only stammer out my words. "By the way, today we are going to celebrate at hakase's, right?"

"Ah, that's right! Maybe I'll cook some dinner for you guys."

"Okay, thanks." I wanted to talk to her more, but a voice interrupted me.

"Oi, Mitsuhiko, who's that?" Conan…appeared out of the blue.

"Oh, Haibara. So you are in this class, too?"

I looked at her. She merely nodded. She wasn't this cold to everyone. What happened?

Then, Conan ruffled her hair. She froze at the touch. Really, what happened? She doesn't even want to glance at him?

"Don't go ahead tomorrow." Conan said. "Hey, Mitsuhiko! We've gotta change for P.E."

"Ah…yeah!" We left the class, leaving Haibara-san there.

I wonder what's going on. I don't think Conan or Haibara-san would tell me. At that time, we certainly shared everything with each other…or did we? And now…Argh! It's so confusing. But I hope you smile a lot more now…

-0-

(Ai's POV)

During those days back then, it was okay to be me. I had a reason to be next to him. To create the antidote…I could be buried in here. But now…

I could get away from here. I don't have any reason to stay. I could make him forget about my existence. I could escape. But I didn't.

I could run away forever…

"…Ai-chan!" I realized that Ayumi was waving in front of my face.

"Sorry, Yoshida-san. What is it?"

"Well, about the question I asked you yesterday…" She seemed hopeful. "You will be able to join us, right? The detective club."

What should I do? My previous thoughts got me.

"Sorry, Yoshida-san. I don't think it will be possible." She looked really disappointed, so I added, "But feel free to come at my house for meetings or ask me for advice. After all, I'm still your friend."

She looked better. "Thanks, Ai-chan. It still means much. See you later!" She went away.

I sighed.

-0-

(After school, 6pm, at hakase's)

(General POV)

Even I can enjoy your sensuous lies
Maybe we are playing hide-and-seek

I love looking in your curious eyes
You may be making a tongue-in-cheek

She sang in a low voice while making curry for the kids that would be coming today. She put a small spoon in her mouth, tasting her result. It was good. She was so into it, that she did not notice someone sneaking up on her.

"So, Haibara. You won't join them?"

The spoon clanged on the floor.

"Ku-Kudou-kun! Don't scare me like that!" She tried to calm herself, and saw Conan's amused face.

"I think your instincts died over 10 years. Can you even see me clearly? Haha." As she picked up her spoon, he said, "So, why are you crawling out of this? It's not really detective stuff we do now. It's more like a study group."

"I don't need any of it." Still annoyed by his appearance, she snapped the words.

Conan flinched a bit at her tone. It's the first time I see her so ignorant. It's a good thing, I guess…

"Oh, by the way, Haibara." She looked up at him.

"Please don't call me Kudou-kun anymore. I am Edogawa Conan." Then he walked out the door. He didn't hear the spoon hit the floor for the second time.

-0-

-End of Chapter Three-

A/N: The last part turned out to be shorter than I thought…Reviews and tips, please! I will accept anything :D Tell me what you think about the story. The next chapter may come out at sometime between next week and this weekend.