Disclaimer: I don't own Detective Conan. Aoyama Gosho does. If I could own it tomorrow, you know I'd be throwing hands—I mean, give Heiji and Kazuha some freaking progress. YES THEY ARE progressing BUT a FAIL IS A FAIL, and it has been 17 FAILS ALREADY DID YOU KNOW THAT. Anyway. Enjoy. Please leave a review if you're compelled to! .
-ecsalt
It was almost 10 pm at Shin-Osaka Train Station. A call on Heiji's phone stopped the laughter of the owner and the other. It was a particular ringtone that made Heiji quickly fetched his phone, unlike other calls he had been silenced for the rest of the evening.
"It's your dad," Heiji uttered. Glancing at Kazuha, he answered it. "Good evening, Toyama-san. I'm at the station. No, Kazuha-chan hasn't boarded yet, the train is leaving in ten minutes. Yes, she's still here with me. Oh, understood. I'll be right over."
Heiji put his phone in his pocket and then looked at Kazuha, who apparently was staring at his phone with a slight frown. "Kazuha?"
It was a slight startle, and she was startled, so Heiji eyed her expectantly. Kazuha just waved her hand, "Oh, I don't think I'll ever be used to on how you address my dad now. You used to call him uncle, but now you always formally call him. Toyama-san, I mean, that's how I am addressed, too."
"Yeah. Ever since I enrolled as his intern subordinate, of course there has to be formality."
"Well! I should get going. You have your boss called you over, so you should get going, too!"
Heiji pierced his eyes and slightly frowned. He himself and Kazuha recognized this as his default reaction whenever they had to part. These three days Kazuha was in Osaka, Heiji could only spend less than five hours with her. Heiji's Osaka Law School and internship took most of his time, even on the limited times he could have with Kazuha, the rare times when she came back from her busy Kyoto Medical School. He then visibly covered his dissatisfaction with a grin.
"I won't forever be his subordinate, just so you know."
"Sure, sure! I was about to text my dad not to be too difficult on you, but it seems like you've got it." Kazuha chuckled, "Please take care, okay, Heiji? Until next time. Goodbye!"
"You too, take care, Kazuha. Call me whenever you need me. Let's keep in touch, until next time. Text me when you're home."
Kazuha nodded with a smile as she dragged her suitcase, but then stopped just four steps later. She turned back, her face was concerned. "Heiji... I'll be up this night if you want to call me."
"Ahou, there's no need to do that. Once you're in Kyoto, go to your apartment, text me, then get to sleep. You have full classes and a night shift tomorrow, right? Just text me, I'll be waiting."
Her expression remained concerned, before she pulled a smile and nodded. She waved and Heiji waved back, as they turned in their directions.
Heiji opened the gate to Toyama's house and parked his bike on the sidewalk. In the rearview mirror, he fixed his hair and tie. Taking his briefcase and folder, he headed to the porch. Mazui, Kazuha's mother who looked so much like her, opened the door and greeted him with her smile.
"Obaa-san, good evening."
"Good evening, Heiji-kun. He's over there."
"Thank you, obaa-san."
Ginshiro was reading some conversations on his phone. He was still in his shirt and tie, jacket was folded neatly on the chair. He glanced at Heiji entering the room, straightened his back, and put his phone down. Heiji bowed and greeted the old man.
"Evening, Toyama-san."
"Evening, Hattori-san. Please take a seat."
Heiji walked over and sat down. He took the green folder and handed it to Ginshiro.
"I've finished the report. For the case in this evening."
"Already? When? How did your dinner with Kazuha go?"
"The dinner was good. After Kazuha left for the train, I worked on the report at the station and went here."
"You're getting faster than ever," Ginshiro commented. He opened the report and checked on the contents. But it was a way too quick skim, as he already closed the folder.
"This is not the reason why I called you here."
"Huh? Is there anything else?"
"Mazui," Ginshiro called out in the direction of the kitchen. The beautiful older lady came into the room with three glasses of water.
Heiji's eyes widened before he blinked as he immediately knew the direction of the night talk. Because he couldn't teleport out of the trap, he burrowed his brows as he quickly assembled the words he needed to say. 'They want a plan? I have a plan.'
"When you were out for two days of Kazuha was here, on the first day, she didn't come home alone." Ginshiro opened, then glanced at his wife.
'What?'
Mazui nodded, her face serene, "A well-mannered, senior medical student, Fukushiro Hijiri, was accompanying her from Kyoto."
'WHAT?!'
Fukushiro Hijiri, Heiji knew that name. He saw it once in a kendo competition in Tokyo last year. Heiji didn't have a match against him nor did he see how he held the Shinai because Fukushiro left the match early. Kazuha mentioned that Fukushiro-senpai—that was how she addressed him—a few times, the first time was in that competition. He was her senior by two years, one of the kindest ones in the school. He more than rarely helped Kazuha understand various medical practices.
Right then, Heiji didn't realize Kazuha's parents saw how he tensed, balled fists on his thighs.
"Y-you mean...?!"
"Nothing too forward for now, Heiji-kun." Mazui waved, "He just had lunch with us, then went back to Kyoto because of a shift. He spent half of the day outside in a different city for just a small visit here, with Kazuha."
The last time Heiji asked, Kazuha said she wasn't interested in the perfect guy. She said Fukushiro was also quite popular and some girls of his class—Kazuha's seniors—were closer to him. Kazuha didn't even want to overstep her seniors by having too much of Fukushiro's attention. She looked and sounded honest when she said she had no feelings for the guy. But Heiji knew better. Kazuha never had to try to make thieves—he meant guys, have a crush on her. The more Kazuha be herself, the polite, lively, and sweet self, the easier those disasters happen.
As of the most recent shocking disaster, that Fukushiro already had lunch two days ago with her parents?! With Heiji had no idea it happened at all?! It could only mean one thing! Some daring thief was attempting to steal his Kazuha away! Why, why didn't Kazuha say a thing?! Is it because—
Ginshiro cut his train of thought. "I told Kazuha not to tell you ever since the day Fukushiro-kun persuaded her to accompany her home. Since he didn't even bother to meet you when Kazuha asked him to, not to mention he actually couldn't, because you were on that case, I thought it was a way for us to talk to you, without Kazuha. There are reasons why Kazuha isn't here to talk about this with us, and I believe you know yourself why."
To that day, Heiji and Kazuha, were still nothing but very close, long-distanced friends. No, he hadn't confessed yet. So no, there was no need for this topic to be talked with the four pairs of eyes unless it was clear that, the kids were together.
"I asked Kazuha if she liked Fukushiro-kun." Mazui said, sipping her glass of water, "She said no. She was waiting for someone else, I wonder who, hm? Alas, Fukushiro-kun seemed waiting for one one."
"So, Heiji," Ginshiro leaned forward, "We're not rushing you at all. Both of you and Fukushiro-kun are good men. However, it seemed Kazuha had already chosen not to be with Fukushiro-kun. Let me tell you... I was kind of surprised."
Heiji's right fist trembled slightly.
"I thought, over two years of you two barely together, she would get over you," Ginshiro stated with a smirk and crossed his arms. Heiji was close to pounding his fists to the table out of sudden irritation he got in just a few minutes. Mizui shuffled in her seat to face her husband, as she saw Heiji fuming.
"I mean, there must be several nice guys from the medical school that could be her—"
"Ginshi—"
"Ot-chan!" Heiji raised his voice and sat straight stiffly, fists on his thighs, prepping his elbows. "I love Kazuha! I've always have been together with her, since we were kids. I've sworn to never let her get hurt, to protect her, even if it means my life. I've always been proving it over and over, and I don't intend to give up! Not now, not later."
Only after he sprouted those words of his mouth, Heiji heard himself. His face turned to deep shade of red, then he covered it embarassingly. He did not just confess his love to the girl's parents, did he?! Even before to the girl herself?! 'Ahou!', he cursed himself. He never wished, so badly, to turn invisible.
Mazui had to cover her mouth and look away, while Ginshiro suppressed his delightful smile with a challenging smirk.
"I know. That's why we're here. It's the first and last head-up, Heiji-kun. Just so you know, Kazuha told us there actually were other two guys wanting to meet us before this Fukushiro successfully persuaded her. He is her senior, has been helping her, and Kazuha is not with anyone so she didn't have enough reason and courage to decline Fukushiro at all."
Hearing that, Heiji overcame his embarrassment rather quickly. "I'll be the only reason she needs," he declared sternly. "Ot-chan, Obaa-chan, don't get too worried. I have my plans. I'm not giving up the slightest."
"Heiji-kun," Mizui called with a soft voice, her eyes and smile truly resembled Kazuha's. "So is she."
"The standards," Ginshiro took his glass, "have raised now that I've seen such potential of another guy inside this house. Have a drink and listen up, Heiji-kun."
K : Heiji, I'm home and safe. How about you?
The message was sent forty minutes ago. Heiji just got home after that most stressful meeting of his life that he never even had the chance to prepare for. Right then, he just stared at the opened chat screen. Both of them appeared online, but Heiji wasn't typing any reply. So Kazuha began to type another message.
K : How did the meeting go?
I'm sorry I didn't tell you. We're close friends yet such a thing like that, I chose not to tell you. Are you mad at me?
H : Don't be sorry.
I'm mad, though. Out of the blue, your parents suddenly talked about something very unexpected.
K : I'm so sorry. It's my fault. Do you want to talk about it? We can call. I promise you I'm not tired for a call.
H : No. Just go to sleep now, Kazuha. And no, I'm not blaming you or your parents.
I thank you.
I thank you very much.
K : Heiji, what does that mean?
Heiji!
H : I need you to know, though.
K : Yes?
H : I'll make sure that Fukushiro goes into the next February national kendo competition.
K : Heiji... what are you planning?
H : Something lethal.
K : HEIJI!
H : Nah, of course not! I would like to know about this guy myself. Kendo reveals its practitioners' characters. So, we'll see, Kazuha.
K : Heiji, he's nice. You'll only interact with him in one kendo match, while I've known him since one year ago. Please don't hurt him, because I know you're fully capable of it. I'm not saying this because I like him, but you have a reputation to uphold and emotions to control.
If only they weren't fifty kilometers apart! Heiji would kiss her to shut her up! Heiji gritted his teeth as he typed his reply as calmly as he could as if he was on a live call.
H : Kazuha, do me a favor. Don't worry about him, don't worry about me. You'll see it in February. I promise. Okay?
K : You won't hurt him?
H : I have to hurt him if I want to win, and I'm going to win!
K : Heiji!
H : As a part of the sport! I'm going to win fairly. No unnecessary feud is going to happen.
K : Akita-kun is going to participate, too.
H : Not a stupid feud is going to happen to him, too.
K : Okay, Heiji. I took a screenshot.
H : Keep it in the favorites section. Now, go to sleep!
K : Done. You too! Good night.
H : Good night.
K : Please sleep, Heiji. Dad said you fell asleep at his office again yesterday.
H : If you're typing this in your sleep, it means I'm sleeping.
Kazuha's green circle in her photo profile changed to a yellow crescent moon. The photo was of her and him at Osaka Castle, and she hadn't changed it since a year ago. That thief was really a thief, after all. And the other two thieves?! Oh, he will question Kazuha about them… and maybe also give her props for refusing them. Heiji fell to his back, and let his phone on his hand loose.
'February 14th, please, Kami-sama. Nothing goes wrong. Even if there is a case… I'll let Kudou solve it. I swear.'
"You did give the case to him! I had to leave Ran-chan alone because of you. Gosh, I only know now, that was because you were afraid I'd marry Fukushiro-senpai! Chief Hattori Heiji, was terrified of getting old alone!" Kazuha pulled a wide, fat grin from ear to ear and Heiji just had to pinch his wife's cheek until she begged him to stop. Saw her reddened cheek, Heiji ducked in and kissed it gently.
Kazuha just couldn't stop giggling. "Why had you only told me this now?!"
"Dad made me promise not to tell you unless he's lying in a hospital bed."
"Oh! Daddy!" Kazuha leaned to her smiling dad, smiling through the breathing and intravenous tubes, with beeps of machines Kazuha was well-aware about. Kazuha glanced delightedly at her smiling mother across. "Get well soon, daddy. I'm going to cook all your favorites when we get home."
A/N: Let's simply pretend that cool guy who attempted to steal Kazuha and kill Heiji from the 27th movie didn't go to jail. Idk though so maybe he didn't? Whatever, heheh.
Hope you enjoyed it! Thanks for reading! And double thanks if you leave a review because I'm working on other fics AND the manga scenes and it will definitely motivate me. Wish me luck in finishing it before entering the scary surgery rotation by November! Buh bye! _
-ecsalt, or cyntiart23 on Instagram if you want to see the fanarts!