I'm back into my prepubescent body when I wake up. It feels like I had a very weird dream. I check that the professor took his painkillers, I get dressed, eat breakfast and rush to school.
Conan looks so disappointed when he sees me.
"You're small again!"
"Don't be too upset. The professor is OK."
"Great! I'm sure you'll make the antidote right next time. Now, tell me. Do you like Dr Araide?"
The question startles me. I just stare and ask:
"What… why?"
"Because he likes you! When we were at the hospital, he asked me if you have a boyfriend."
"No, you must have heard wrong. He asked if Ran has a boyfriend."
"I know what I heard. He said: 'Maybe I shouldn't be asking this but do you know if the cute lab assistant has a boyfriend?'"
Lab assistant? Lab assistant? How dare him?! I'm nobody's assistant. I'm a genius biochemist, I graduated at 13 as a valedictorian and… wait, does the cute doctor think I'm cute?
Ok, I know I'm definitely not ugly. But Ran was around him when he called me cute. Ran Mouri is like fire: fierce, warm, fascinating and incredibly beautiful. I'm like dark water: cold, gloomy and I can kill you if you come too close. Wherever Ran goes, she attracts all the boys' attention and even she doesn't know how she does that. So the doctor called me cute in front of her? What's wrong with him?
Conan is looking at me with a smug smile. Of course, he can tell I'm taken aback, which doesn't often happen to me. He thinks he can challenge me. Let's show him I'm too strong and too smart for those silly things.
"This is ridiculous," I say. "He's probably 25 and I'm 8."
"You're 18."
"I look 8. I hope he's not a paedophile."
"But you're going to find a permanent antidote sooner or later and on that day, you'll be perfect for each other! You both like science and cats, you live in the same city…"
Sometimes Conan is so annoying I just want to spike my next attempt at an antidote with a powerful laxative. That would teach him how to respect me. Anyway, his enthusiasm sounds so forced I become suspicious.
"Is this the real reason you want me to get close to him?"
"Well, it could give you extra motivation to find the antidote."
"Tell me the real reason."
He seems to be shrinking in front of me.
"Well, last night, Ran had him at dinner. Kogoro kept saying he would like him to marry her one day. I don't think they would be good for each other. They're too different. You, on the other hand…"
I see. Vertically challenged Shinichi Kudo feels threatened whenever a grown man shows the slightest interest in his precious Ran. He just wants to get his "rival" out of the picture. And ironically, I'm the one who's too different. The cute doctor looks kind, warm and somewhat innocent, just like Ran. I'm cold, aloof and jaded.
"You know Ran is still underage?" I ask. "She won't get married any time soon. It's funny to see how jealous you are."
He turns red.
"I'm NOT jealous! I just think you deserve someone great. Look at him! He's smart, he's handsome, he's kind. He's perfect for you!"
Maybe that's the problem. Deep down, I don't think I deserve someone perfect. Also, if I ever become involved with Dr Araide, the Organisation may try to harm him one day. He looks so innocent… I don't want to put him in danger.
Thankfully, the Detective Boys interrupt us just before things get too embarrassing. Now let's pretend to be the everyday schoolgirl.
To be continued…
