I know it been a while since I last updated this story but here we go...
"Nee Ai-chan... how did it go with Masudo-niichan?" Ayumi asks her best friend. The girls, after the waterpark trip, decided to meet up together a few days later at a local bakery.
"It was nice..." Haibara said, with a slight smile on her face as she takes a sip of her drink.
"So... Ai-chan... when are you guys going to hang out?" Ayumi asks, getting excited on Haibara's behalf.
"Nothing been decided... maybe I'll ask him the next time I see him."
"Really!? That's great, now your chances. He's right over there. Masudo-niisan!"
"WHAT!?" Haibara cries, spiting out her drink in the process.
Masudo notices the girls and begins to walk toward their direction. This is not good. I haven't decided where to invite him, much less how I would actually ask him out...
"Haibara-chan, Ayumi-chan! It's nice to see you girls here. Is there something I could help you with?" Masudo asks.
"N-Nope, nothing at al-" "Ai-chan has something to ask you, don't you Ai-chan?" Ayumi interferes.
Thanks Ayumi-chan, what couldn't I do without you...
"Um...right... well... you see..." Haibara begins her sentence. Why must I suffer like this...
"Haibara-chan..." Masudo suddenly said. "H-Hai?" Haibara reply back, stun by hearing her name being called by him abruptly.
"When my shift ends in about half an hour, can we talk in private?"
NNNNNAAANIII!, he wants to talk to me in private? I must reply back quickly. "Um..sure..."
"Thanks, I'll see you soon. Oh and if you girls need anything, let me know." Masudo offer before leaving.
"AH! Ai-chan, I think Masudo-niisan is going to ask you out! I can't believe it." Ayumi exclaims as she gets out of her seat to run toward her friend to hug her congratulation.
"A-Arigato." Haibara merely said, still stun by Masudo's words although inside her, she has doubt. There's no way he's going to ask me out...
"We must celebrate, I'll buy you dessert." Ayumi offers as she calls Masudo to take her order.
About half an hour later...
"I better go... I'll call you tonight, you better tell me everything, okay?" Ayumi said.
"Yes, I will. I promised. And thanks..." Haibara said, looking away, still somewhat flushed.
"You're so cute like this. I'm sure Masudo-niichan can see how cute you are. Well I better go before he comes, bye." Ayumi said as she takes her things and begin to walk home. Haibara looks toward her friend for a moment before a voice breaks her train of thought. Turning, she sees Masudo, calling out to her. Haibara smile lightly once more before walking toward him.
"I take it that Ayumi-chan left already."
"Yeah... so Masudo-kun, what is it you wanted to talk about?" Saying his name like that makes her heart beats rapidly. Haibara and Masudo both remains standing.
"Well... I'll be honest here... yesterday I bump into Ran on the way home. She been talking about how our 'double date' with Conan-kun and 'Hitomi-chan' ended abruptly. She planning to ask Conan-kun tonight, to ask you out on a double date, as 'Hitomi-chan'." He stops there and wait for her initial reaction.
"What! I have to go on a date again with Edogawa-kun?!" Haibara exclaims. "Well that or tell Ran the truth, that you were Hitomi-chan but that may require you to give her the reason as to why you disguised yourself to begin with. Sorry for being so straight forward with you Haibara-chan..."
Shaking her head. "No, it's my fault anyway. Pretending to be Hitomi-chan isn't so bad but going on a date with Edogawa-kun may just be." Haibara confess as she looks down on her lap.
"Well... if you're able to withstand the whole date, I'll treat you to something as a reward. Would that help?" Masudo offers.
"Like what?" Haibara asks, looking up at him, deeply interested in the reward. Her eyes sparkle, as she awaits for his answer.
"I'll buy you something as a reward but I won't tell you what. It will be a surprise." Masudo said, gesturing the secrecy of the reward. "So, will you do it?"
Haibara looks down for a moment before looking back at him. "I'll do it." FOR THE PRIZE!
Masudo offer to walk Haibara home to which of course she accepts. Walking besides him, she takes the opportunity to take hold of his hand.
Alright...just relax... it's no big deal... I just have to causally grab his hand.
Taking a deep breath, she reach out and latch her hand to his wrist instead. Masudo turns to look at his wrist, then Haibara who face is looking away, eyes closed and face partly flushed.
Looking away, he lifts his hand somewhat and in the midst of it, grabs Haibara's smaller hand. Haibara felt the sudden change in their hand's position. Continuing to look away, she tightens her grip. They remain this way until they reach Dr. Agasa's house, a.k.a. Haibara's home.
"Alright Haibara, I guess I catch you later. I'm sure Conan will tell you the information about the date so I'll see you then, okay?"
Haibara wanted to invited him but she knew she couldn't. Maybe if she was older...in her original age, she would have but not with her current state. Haibara settles with saying "Good night, Masudo-kun."
"Yeah, goodnight Haibara-chan."
Just like that, he left, leaving her to look at where he just stood. Grasping the imprint he left on her, which stills radiating from within. Closing the door, Haibara decided to first tell Ayumi of the conversation she had with Masudo.
"What! You're going on a double date with Masudo-niichan, Ran-neechan and Conan-kun!"
"Yes but like I told you, I'll be in disguised as Hitomi-chan." Haibara reminds her friend.
"Right right... so this Hitomi-chan that you created... was so you could interfere with Ran-neechan's and Masudo-niichan's 'fake' date?"
"Right..." Haibara said, confirming with Ayumi. "And now I have to continue with the persona of Hitomi-chan since I really don't want to tell 'her' that I was jealous." Haibara said as she tighten her grip on the phone.
"Why?" Ayumi asks, with much innocence and curiosity.
"Because it's embarrassing, alright!" Haibara raising her tone. Realizing what she did, Haibara quickly apologize for her sudden outburst. "G-Gomen Ayumi-chan... it's just that... thinking about it makes me feel unease."
"Nee Haibara, you really like Masudo-niichan." Ayumi comments. Haibara smiles as she shake her head in disagreement. "No... I don't just like him... I love him." Haibara confesses. Haibara expected Ayumi to screech in surprise and happiness but instead Ayumi stay in silence before speaking again. "Did you figure out why?"
Hearing it from Ayumi cause Haibara to pause, stun/surprise by her friends reaction before answering. "No, I don't know why I love him but I know that I do... so I'll be pretending to be Hitomi-chan in the double date." Haibara declares. "Do you have any idea what's he planing to buy as the reward." Ayumi asks, an answer Haibara too wants to know herself.
"No... but whatever it is... I want it."
Haibara and Ayumi soon ends their talk and agreed to talk later. Like Masudo predicted, Haibara receive a text message from the detective. Explaining that Ran wants to have another double date. Of course Conan is only repeating what she already knows, thanks to Masudo. She quickly replies,
'Alright, I understand. So when is this "Double Date"?'
'This coming Sunday... Are you alright?' You replied without much thinking. Haibara didn't reply right away, and after a minute or so, Conan sent another message.
'Did you talked to Masudo-niichan?'
It only fair to include the detective in this...right? since it would be more of a hassle 'not' to tell him, Haibara reply back,
'Yes, we spoke and he filled me in on most of the details.'
'Thought so... Alright then... Goodnight, sleep tight. You'll need your beauty sleep.'
'Right, Thanks for the advice, NIGHT.' Haibara texted back before preparing herself to go to bed.
Sunday is just in a few days, still she's nervous of what to come. Oh right... I'm the detective's date... Haibara thought, realizing that although she's going on a double date with Masudo, she's paired up with Conan and Masudo with Ran.
Sometime I hate myself...
Two days later... Ayumi invited Haibara to her home, an apartment way up high. The girls begins to cook something for themselves as they chat way. Cutting the vegetables, Ayumi asks Haibara, "Ano...Haibara... can I see what 'Hitomi-chan looks like?"
Haibara stop cutting and turn to look at her friend. "Why would you want to see something like that?" Her eyes fixated on Ayumi.
"Well...I know you have feelings for Masudo-niichan and not Conan-kun but I'm still a bit worry." Ayumi said, still cutting at this point but then stop to look at Haibara with less promising smile. "I guess I'm sort of scare that Conan-kun might start to like this 'Hitomi-chan..." Ayumi confesses. Her words low and close to trembling.
"Ayumi... Conan-kun does not have feelings for me like that... you know who he has feelings for and I doubt that would change anytime soon." Haibara states as a matter of fact. She return her attention to the vegetables and begins to cut away again. "Sorry... " Haibara said, knowing that although she assures that Conan does not have feelings for her, she also assure Ayumi that Conan still have feelings for the girl living the the Mouri agency, a.k.a. Ran.
"No...it's okay, it just mean I have to fight even harder as well. Still, I'll be cheering you on Ai-chan. I'm sure Masudo-niichan will accept your feelings." Ayumi said, assuring her back with a smile.
Haibara nods in agreement. "I'll show you what I'll look like before I leave." Haibara declares without looking at her friend. Ayumi replies back with a "Hm." and a slight nod.
After preparing their meal, the girls take their dish to the living room to eat.
'!' "Ai-chan! I just realize something." Ayumi said, raising her voice and tone, acquiring Haibara's attention. "How about cooking him lunch or dinner. You know... like they say, 'a way for a man's heart is through their stomach', right?" Ayumi exclaims, gesturing Haibara to agree with her.
Thinking about it for a moment, Haibara nods in agreement. "That does sound promising... Preparing meals for him would show him how dependable and resourceful I am."
"Ai-chan, it to show how great of a wife you'll make." Ayumi-chan exclaims. Haibara's immediate reaction is to swallow to quickly, almost causing her to choke on her food. Her face beyond embarrassed, the color of the red star, Haibara shouts back to her friend, "THAT'S FAR TO EARLY TO BE THINKING OF SOMETHING LIKE THAT!" Haibara retorts.
Still, Haibara couldn't help imagining herself as a housewife, preparing dinner for her 'husband' Masudo. She bang her head on the coffee table in order to 'turn off' the dream she's experiencing. "That's far too early..." Haibara mutters as Ayumi tilt her head in confusion.
Deciding after their meal to be the perfect time to show Ayumi her alter ego 'Hitomi-chan', the girls made their way to Ayumi's room where Haibara begins her transformation.
It's not really much since her persona really consists of Haibara making pigtails out of her hair, and wearing cute dresses, instead of her usual style of mature and composed one clothes. Fortunately for them, Ayumi has tons of cute dresses to try out.
"Ah! Ai-chan, you're so cute! I can't believe I'm actually seeing you like this!" Ayumi shriek grabbing onto Haibara's shoulder to shake her a bit. "And Masudo-niichan was able to tell it was you?" Ayumi asks, still reacting to the new look/persona.
"Yeah... while on the date, he notice my trademark 'glare' I was giving to Mouri-san." Haibara confesses. Turning slightly away from her friend as a light blush forms around her cheeks.
"Kya! Were you reallu jealous of Ran-neechan for being Masudo-niichan's date?" Ayumi asks. "Of course I was... and he allows Mouri-san to call him by his given name..." Haibara mutters the last part although Ayumi is able to pick it up.
"I'm sure it's nothing more but to make Shinichi-oniisan jealous like they said." Ayumi said, trying to help make Haibara feel better. "Still... I can't help feeling jealous..."
"Don't forget why you are doing this..." Ayumi reasons. "So I won't have to tell Mouri-san that I was jealous?"
"No silly! Well yes but more importantly, for the prize! Just keep your eyes on the prize. You say it yourself, no matter what it is, you want it." Ayumi reminds her.
After that, Haibara and Ayumi experiments ideas as they paints their nails. Eventually, Sundays came rolling in. The day before, Conan came by and through the midst of his visit, told Haibara that he's picking her up around noon tomorrow.
As much as Haibara hate to be reminded that she's going on a date with Kudo, she shook it off as she reminds herself of the prize.
Just like Kudo said, he came by around noon. Haibara already in disguised informed Kudo that as soon as they walk out, she would be in character the whole time. Kudo nodded his head as they went over with the final details of the date. Leaving, they made their way to the town's outlet[mall] where Ran and Masudo are probably waiting. Enter the mall, they walk around until they stop by the a candy store. Inside they spot Ran and Masudo together.
Walking in, they greets each other. "Hitomi-chan! It's good to see you again." Ran said, walking up to the girl and bend down to her level. "H-Hai, it's nice seeing you too." Haibara said as Hitomi. Masudo walks toward them. "Oh, T-TTakashiiiiro-san, thanks for walking me home last time." Haibara said, having trouble calling him by his first name.
"Oh, it was no trouble. It's nice to go on a double date with you again, Hitomi-chan." Masudo, then he turns his attention to Conan. "So Conan-kun, where should we go first?" Conan looks up at him before taking Haibara's hand. "Let's check out the bookstore first." Everyone seems to agree as they walk to the bookstore.
Great, now I have to hold the detective's hand. LUCKY ME... Haibara thought sarcastically.
Entering the store, Conan drags Haibara to the book section containing the mystery genre.
"M-Mystery novels?" Haibara said, trying to sound surprise. Keeping with the character although in her mind, she's thinking, For your first date with a girl, you take her to buy a mystery novel, why am I not surprise...
"Yep, one of my favorite mystery writer just release a new novel today." Conan said merrily before taking a look around the section.
After a few minutes, they went to the cashier to pay. Haibara notice Masudo and Ran by the comedy section and Masudo showing her a page of a book. Ran instantly laugh. Ran then shows him another book, and similar to her reaction, he laugh.
Oh, how I wish that was me...
"Hey Hitomi-chan...Hitomi-chan." A voice said, bringing her back from whatever trance she was in.
"Huh? Oh... sorry." Haibara said, looking back as Conan pulls her away, already paid for the book. "Are you alright?" Conan asks. "Yeah, just something on my mind..." Haibara said in a low tone.
"Right... Masudo-niichan!" Conan shouts, getting his attention. "Conan-kun, are you done?" He asks the boy. "Yep, I'm done."
"Then, lets go... Ran and I want to take you guys somewhere." Masudo said. Both Haibara and Conan look at each other.
"A ROLLER SKATING RINK!" Both kids said. "Yep, Ran and I thought you guys would like it." Masudo said.
"But I don't know how to skate..." "...III-I doon'tt kknnow hhow to skkate."
Both Ran and Masudo look at each other before looking at Conan and 'Hitomi'. "We'll teach you then."
Lucky for Haibara and Conan, they were able to pair up with the one they want. Haibara with Masudo and Conan with Ran.
"LL-LIke this?" Haibara said as she skates alongside Masudo, hand-in-hand. "Good... and don't be so tense, relax yourself."
Easier said than done... Haibara thought as she latch herself onto Masudo's arm after sensing she's losing control.
"You're getting it. Just follow my lead." Masudo suggest as he pulls her away from the rails. "Following his lead, Haibara takes a big breathe before matching with his pace. "Good, now I'm going to let go." Masudo warns. Haibara nods as she felt his grip around her lessen until it completely gone.
Alone, without any assisstance, she continues to skate along the way, using her momentum to gain speed and control. "I'm doing it! I'm doing it!" Haibara shouts but as she tries to stop, she realize that she has yet to learn how to stop. Losing her confidence along with her control, she begins to wobble.
"How do I stop!" Haibara shouts. There, it is there that she feel her slipping as one of her feet went up from the slippage as her body went back.
She anticipated feeling the hard cold floor of the rink but that particular feeling didn't come. Instead, she felt the arms of someone tall and sturdy behind her, supporting her, and more importantly, preventing her downfall. Literally.
"MMMAASUDO-KUN!" Haibara said, unaware that she went out of character by addressing him like that. Masudo smiles before saying, "You got it, for the most part. You just need to keep on trying . It would've been better if I taught you how to brake before going on with actually skating." He said. Haibara looks up at him. Her body still engulf around his arms. "I don't mind, if you come to prevent my falling every time." Haibara said. Oh no... I didn't want to say that to him. I say it without thinking!
Haibara panics from within, those words went out before her mind could ever inspect them. She awaits for his response but already, 5 seconds has pass with still nothing. Wait...now 8 seconds. "I don't really mind but it something were to happen, I would like for you to be prepare for the worse. I'll hate to see you hurt Haibara-chan." Masudo states, with him mouthing her name.
"Takashiro!" A voice said a head of them. Looking up, the couple sees Ran and Conan skating toward them. "I think Conan pretty much got the hang of it. And Hitomi-chan?" Ran asks, looking down at the girl. Haibara, reluctantly leaves the very arms that provided her stability and warmth. Standing up again, she looks up at Ran. "I-I think so..." Returning to her alter ego.
"She as well got it for the most part but Conan-kun, she stills working on her brakes so just stay close to her at all time, 'kay?" Conan response to the man is a nod and a exclaimed "Okay"
Ran and Masudo now takes the time to skate among themselves, in hope to cause a certain childhood friend to become aware and get jealous.
"You have no idea, how much I hate you right now..." Haibara mutters to herself but Conan picks it up from being so close to her.
"Me! If anyone should be mad, it should be me. Look, they're holding hands." Conan points out, observing the duos.
"Let's just get this over with..." Haibara said as she skates slowly with control.
The date pretty much became Haibara just trying to get the feel of skating without the need of holding onto the detective.
Later Masudo offer to take 'Hitomi-chan' home like last time. Ran agrees since Conan going with her. After they depart from each other, Masudo and Haibara are left by themselves.
"So Haibara-chan, did you enjoy your date with Conan-kun?" He asks her. Not sure if he's teasing her or just curious, Haibara answer honesty, "Fine... and yours?" Haibara asks, more curious about his time with the girl from the agency. "I had fun but sometimes I wonder what a guy like Kudo-san is doing that cause him to be away most of the time."
"I heard that he's alway caught up with new cases after he finish one." Haibara quickly replies back. "Still, after hearing so much about him through Ran, I'm sure he has a good reason not to be here. That and Ran don't mind waiting, just as long as he pops up ever so often. It just like one of those romance novel where the reader is waiting for the perfect happy ending."
Haibara played his words a few time in her head. Mouri-san is willing to wait... but will Masudo-kun willing to wait for me? Those words keep playing over and over in her head as they walk to Dr. Agasa's place.
Arriving in front of the door, Masudo plans to leave then and there. "Well Haibara-chan, Goodnight. I'll see you soon." He said, turning to leave but then stop after the feeling of a tug on his shirt. "Haibara-chan?"
"Masudo-kun... w-would you l-like to ccc-come in for some coffee?" Haibara said, looking up at him, her face partial flush. It seems like something that shouldn't happen but it did. Haibara is taking the initiative with an objective to complete.
"Sure, I don't mind a drink." He replys both of them just standing there in front of Dr. Agasa's house.
What will happen next? What is Haibara's objective? Hopefully I'll update sooner.