"Hey, Mouri-san, who's this Shinichi person? You've mentioned him a couple times already."
Shinichi nearly died at Kaito's curious question. He slowly looked over at Ran, waiting for her reply.
"Oh, Shinichi? Kudou Shinichi, have you heard of him?" Ran answered, looking supremely unconcerned.
Kaito cocked his head quizzically, motioning for Ran to continue. Even from his height two feet below them, Shinichi could see the blaze of curiosity and slightly calculation locked in the man's indigo eyes.
It was a look that meant definite trouble for Shinichi.
Oh God, Shinichi thought. This is bad. Really bad. I should've never thought avoiding this would be a breeze. He racked his mind, trying to find some unsuspicious way to manuver out of the dangerous situation. Coming up short, Shinichi was forced to watch as Ran elaborated.
"He's a pretty well known teenage detective. He's a mystery freak and an idiot, but he's still a good person," she described, a small smile growing on her face. "He seems cold sometimes, but he's always watching out for me. I really..." Ran let out a little sigh, now positively beaming. "He's just... amazing."
Struck speechless, Shinichi stared at his childhood friend, feeling himself starting to blush. I never knew she thought so highly of me...
Glancing over at Kaito, Shinichi was surprised to see him wearing a dark expression. "I see," he said with more than a hint of a chill, and Shinichi recoiled, quirking an eyebrow.
What's wrong with him?
So I hit #20. Considering whether or not to stop now.