So, I'm going through old writings to see what's there and I find I had another one shot from several months ago. This was made probably around the time I was searching for inspiration for my fic for Kingdom Hearts, and then read a certain quote from the games. This was also probably around the time I was checking out Movie 26 stuff and saw a certain few scenes of Haibara and Conan in the deep.

Whether this fic is friendship or romantic, either way could work, I think? Maybe? Well, here you go!

Title: Respond

Type: Quote Fic? Story - One Shot

Summary: "I kept telling everyone we were just friends, but he crept into my head… Wonder how he feels…"

Idea: Taking A Quote from Kingdom Hearts and making a story inspired by Detective Conan and Movie 26: Black Iron Submarine Scenes.

Sub-Ideas: Look For The Rest Below

*SPOILER WARNING: A lot of Canon scenes with Haibara, plus Movie 26: Black Iron Submarine Scenes are used!

Date: July 16, 2024


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"I kept telling everyone we were just friends,"

A girl sits on a park bench under the shade of a tree as she watches her friends play a game of soccer. She smiles as she sees the two taller boys, Kojima Genta and Tsuburaya Mitsuhiko, facing off against a girl, her good friend, Yoshida Ayumi-chan, and him… "Edogawa-kun." He receives the ball as the girl kicks it to him and ran circles around the other team, running till he scores another over the top and impressive goal.

She sighs as she watches Ayumi-chan's reaction to Conan. Her eyes shine with amazement and her actions fill with glee as she tackles him into a hug. Though, she knows better, the hug meant so much more to the girl who has a major crush on him. It brought back to mind a question she posed several months ago;

"Could it be that… You like him? You like Conan-kun?"

Though she teased her friend, though she reassured her that she doesn't see him in that light, she could never truly say how she feels. After all, Edogawa Conan is nothing more than a victim. He was a victim of her own design, her very own fault that he was ever here in the first place. How could she see him as anything more than that?

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"…but he crept into my head."

He was shot, his life in critical danger. But the way Mouri-san looked at him, she knew. She knew the teen had an inkling of who Conan truly is. So she goes, into his room in the dark of the night, holding the party trick gun to his head as a warning, all to protect their secret, all to keep them safe and out of the Organization's dangerous world. She couldn't afford anyone else knowing the truth. THEY needed to believe the two of them were gone from the world.

But…

Even after she had tricked him, her mind couldn't stop thinking back to that moment. When the gurney was rolled in as he was taken to the operating room, Morui-san's expression linger with her. It was the way her eyes looked with worry, and hope. It was the way she looked at the one she loves. It wouldn't leave her mind. Equally so, she couldn't stop thinking about his life. She couldn't stop thinking of her life.

She was doing this to protect their secret… right?

It wasn't emotional in any way… right?

She wasn't growing attached to him and all her new friends… r-i-g-h-t?

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"Into my heart."

She was sitting on the bus after everyone left. It was better this way so that the Black Organization wouldn't find her. By her being gone, it would be better for everyone. They would stay safe, they would never notice the boy whose life she had destroyed. A shame, since she was beginning to feel comfortable with them, the Detective Boys, with Agasa-Hakase, and with him…

They may not always have seen eye to eye, but Kudo-kun was like a wave of refreshment. He really did care for her, huh? They all really cared for her. But now it would be over, her troubles would be one less thing for him to worry about. She thinks, oh if only these blissful days with him could last.

"Haibara!"

He rushed in. That idiot really rushed in. He can't change her mind. But he grab her, never letting her go. He crashed through the window, covering her in his own blood, all to protect her. How could someone like him just be this way? Why couldn't her heart stop pounding so hard when she thought about him?

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"It started to feel weird being together."

The days passed and life was as simple as it could be. But Ran this and Ran that was all she heard from him. It was getting rather tiresome, hearing about the one he loves so much. Hearing how close and yet so far they are from each other, it was a nuisance. Those carefree days, as many as they had, they started to grate on her. From the fun times with the children to her secret talks with Agasa and him…

Ran was more on his mind than ever…

It was beginning to get uncomfortable, awkward.

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"I stepped back,"

It wasn't noticeable at first. She made small excuses, using her fear of being found out as the best possible reason. But truthfully, that wasn't all. She couldn't stand in the way of his love for Mouri-san. Anything she would do, anything she would say, he wouldn't understand anyway. So she watched as Edogawa Conan's life unfolded, as Kudo-kun made his affectionate and apologetic calls to Ran, and slowly, she distanced herself further. She retreated, separating herself from him and forging stronger bonds with the children.

It was better this way.

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"…and he never stepped in to close the distance."

Was it really any wonder though? How could he be so naïve? He always comforted her in her fears, protected her when there was danger. Even "Ran-neechan" protected her in that darkest hour. How could he be so close, yet so far away?

.

"I wonder how he saw it."

The way he treats her, it always felt so special to her. He regards it as something so normal, to give her something or treat her to things, to be a certain way because they were so close, to care as deeply for a life such as hers in so lovingly a manner. But, she can't help but wonder how he saw it. Was it as a friend? Was it as a teammate, a partner? Was it as a knight who protects those in need? Was it as a detective who wished to solve a way out her situation? Even now, she didn't understand how he saw her.

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"Wonder how he feels."

He tells her things that Ran could never know. He shares his hurts and complaints of how this shrunken life has treated him. These are things no other than she could ever understand. She feels what they have is something special, unique, undefinable because of the circumstances that have defied all she ever knew. But one thing she can still never decipher is how he actually feels. When his mom showed up that one time, she could tell what she was trying to suggest. But, apparently it was enough to fly over his head when he asked the most ridiculous question.

"Is there something on my face?"

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"…What's this emotion, filling me?"

They were in danger again, the Black Organization so close on their tail. They escaped. But they're not out of the waters yet. He wasn't back, going off and doing what he always does best, saving lives. She can't help but worry, deciding to take the action to search for where he may be. But when she finds him, he's unconscious. She panics, her action to move to his side immediate. He is unresponsive, so she brings breath back into him, the kiss of life. In her actions, she is overcome by instinct, and that life saving breath becomes one of unintended passion.

She pulls away, temporarily lost in emotions that are now swelling within.

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"It's overpowering."

He coughs, eyes opening and thankful for her rescue. She is relieved, but emotions overpower, fighting against all logic and reason.

How could she have done that?

Why did it become genuine instead of a life saving necessity?

Why did she kiss him?

No, she couldn't let it take over, instead deciding to relish in what happened, to believe that she was ready to leave everyone and keep them safe. She has had a wonderful time with them all, with him. But she couldn't fool herself any longer. She was meant to pull anyway. She was meant to be a fleeting presence in their lives, a friend for the now and a stranger for tomorrow. She had overstayed her welcome. With a final thought, she think of this last shared experience and becomes content to let go, to move away and let them be. She was ready to say it,

"Bye-bye, Edogawa Conan-kun."

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"It's him."

She's startled as he grabs her, pulling her up and out of such thoughts. Their eyes meet and they stare at each other in their silence. His face is bare of the usual spectacles as he smiles brightly and honestly. That smile alone speaks to her, telling her that everything will work out fine. She can't help but think of all the times he smiled like that, all the times she couldn't understand how he could be so kind, how his presence alone in the face of hardship was enough for her to be at ease. She couldn't ignore it as he looked to her kindly, awaiting her answer to continue onward.

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"I have to respond."

Her eyes shine in awe as her lips curve into an affection smile. He understands her message. She is ready, she's not giving up yet and will keep on going. So, they do, making their way back into the warm embrace of life and security.

As they do, she can't help but be thankful for him, emotions coming back full force to remind her of all she had done earlier in an act of desperation and of passion. This was a feeling she could no longer deny.

.

"I have to tell him…"

In the quiet of the night, alone in her little basement laboratory, she sits by the old cassette player. Her mother's messages are not filling her ears of their sweet whispers of love tonight, instead a blank tape rests within. A microphone is plugged into the cassette player as her hands hover over the record button. The tape begins to roll and she starts speaking, pouring out all her feelings from the day that had occurred. She speaks of her joys with the experience, of her pains and fears of the organization's close call, then, she speaks as if she is talking to him.

She speaks of her thankfulness in saving her, scold him for all the recklessness that exists within every bone of his body, and of how she couldn't help but worry nonstop for his well-being. The talk goes on into a stream of emotions as she pours out all she feels for the boy who had saved her time and time again. She brings up her doubts of how hard a time she had in understanding just what their relationship is to each other. She admits to all that her heart holds for him and everything in between.

One day she would be brave.

When the troubles were finally over...

When the cure to be restored was finally completed and safe to take...

She'd repeat these words from her tape.

One day, she'd go to him...

Be upfront and honest...

And say this,

"Kudo-kun, I have to tell you…"

"…how I really feel."

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End

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Full Quote:

"I kept telling everyone we were just friends, but he crept into my head. Into my heart. It started to feel weird being together. I stepped back, and he never stepped in to close the distance. I wonder how he saw it. Wonder how he feels. ...What's this emotion, filling me? It's overpowering. It's him. I have to respond. I have to tell him how I really feel."

- Kingdom Hearts III ~ One Of The Nameless Stars

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Sub-Ideas: We're just friends… right?

-Open and ambiguous.

-Unrequited? One Sided Love? Ignoring Feeling For Awhile?

-Or Just Oblivious Conan not being able to "interpret the heart" of Haibara?

Haibara and Conan in that scene, oh that was quite a sight! It seems she really does admire him, but is in a small battle of whether to stay away and keep everyone safe, or to really open up about her feelings. What helps in holding her back is the fact she's hiding from the B.O. and her respect for his feelings for Ran. But really, Shinichi is so sweet to her, it really must get hard to keep it to herself sometimes.

That's all I've got for now. Did any of this make sense? Was it readable? This is the second time I'm sharing a quote fic(?), using another Kingdom Hearts III quote, and I'm still asking the same questions. Anyway, thanks for reading!