'The professor is busy building something downstairs…
Kudo-kun is at school…
Furuya-san is at work…'
Shiho sighed as she flipped through the television. After a week of enjoying some much needed relaxation, she was officially bored.
'Oh, that's right! Kudo-kun and I are going to go to a soccer match in two weeks. At least there's that to look forward to, speaking of which…'
She switched to the sports channel and watched a soccer match on tv.
'I miss playing soccer with the kids. Obviously I can't play with them like this…maybe I should take up something I can do alone?'
Shiho thought deeply as she watched the players run across the field.
"Well, I guess it beats sitting on the couch all day…"
Shiho put on a blue long-sleeve crop top and joggers set, along with some white sneakers Yukiko bought for her at the mall. She grabbed some headphones and headed to a nearby park.
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'It feels awkward to do stuff like this…' She thought as she glanced at some people jogging. She let out a deep breath.
'But I'm already here, might as well…' She looked through the music app on her phone and turned up the volume.
Shiho was lightly jogging while listening to Yoko Okino's new album.
"Huff…huff…" She paused to catch her breath. 'Ok, that wasn't so bad! Let's see, I ran for a total of…5 minutes?!' She squinted at her phone to double check the time.
'It feels like I've been out here for an hour! I guess my body is still adjusting to being an adult again…' She nodded her head. 'Yeah! Just go at my own pace…' She thought to herself as she continued to jog.
HONK
"Miyano-san! Miyano-san!"
Shiho turned towards the source of the noise.
"Furuya-san!" She said as she pulled out her headphones. "What are you doing here?"
"Just heading back to the station." He said as he motioned to his partner. "Miyano-san, this is Kazami! Kazami, this is Miyano-san!"
"Oh, yes…Furuya-san mentioned you before. Nice to meet you, Kazami-san."
"It's nice to meet you too, Miyano-san! I've heard a lot about you." Kazami smiled. "Hm? That sound…" Kazami leaned in across Rei to listen to the music playing from Shiho's headphones.
"I knew it! Yoko-chan's new album, right? I'm her biggest fan!" He grinned. "I have all of her CDs. I even got front row tickets for her next concert!"
"Um…Kazami…" Rei chuckled. "Do you mind getting off of me? Your elbows hurt…"
"Sorry, sir!" Kazami pulled back to the passenger seat.
"By the way, Miyano-san." Rei turned back to Shiho. "I go for a run every morning. If you're interested, we can go jogging together sometime."
"Oh I'm not much of a runner, I just wanted to get some fresh air…" She explained as she tightened her ponytail. "I'll probably go too slow for your pace…"
"Don't worry about that! It'll be fun." Rei smiled. "We have to get back to work now. If you change your mind, let me know!"
"Nice meeting you!" Kazami waved as Rei drove away.
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Kazami grinned at Rei as he continued driving.
"Something on your mind, Kazami?" Rei asked at the stop light.
"Oh, nothing… just curious about your intentions with Miyano-san, inviting to go jogging with her and all…" He snickered. "I can see why though, she is very pretty! And has good taste in music."
"Not sure what you mean, Kazami." Rei shrugged.
"Mmhmm…." Kazami hummed. "Sure you don't." He teased, elbowing at Rei. "We might be dinosaurs, but that doesn't mean you don't have a chance, right?"
"Just trying to be friendly. Besides, jogging is good for your health! Ah, you know what is unhealthy though?" Rei thought aloud.
"Hm? What?"
"Eating out! I guess we shouldn't go out for meals or drinks anymore, thanks for reminding me!" Rei smiled.
"Ah, no! I won't tease, I promise!" Kazami pleaded.
"Haha, what do you mean?" Rei laughed. "But if you insist, I guess we can still treat ourselves now and then." Rei hummed.
"Furuya-san, you can be quite intimidating, even with a big smile…" Kazami mumbled.
"Hm?"
"No-nothing!"
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After finishing her jog, Shiho sat at a bench, drinking some water.
'It's still pretty early…' She thought as she looked at the time on her phone. 'I guess I could take a look around the stores.'
Shiho stepped into a large supermarket. Luckily there weren't too many people, considering it was the middle of the workday.
"Ah, that feels nice…" She said as she entered, feeling the store's air conditioning. 'Hakase gave me some allowance, even though I'm not a kid anymore.' She thought as she patted her pocket. 'I should use it to make him a nice dinner.'
Shiho looked around the store, trying to figure out what to make.
"What are you making? That's quite a lot of ingredients you have." A nearby customer asked her friend.
"I'm making a special celebration dinner for my daughter!" The other customer exclaimed as she raised her basket. "She just got a job at a big company. She loves pizza, so I thought I'd try making one myself. I'm not sure how well it will come out though…" The woman chuckled.
"Oh I'm sure it'll turn out great! Tell your daughter I said congrats."
"I will, thank you!"
Shiho thought to herself as she overheard their conversation. 'Hakase does like Italian food… maybe I can try making something like that?' She began searching her phone for some ideas, and picked out the ingredients accordingly.
'I've never made something like this before, but the recipe didn't look too hard, I hope he likes it!' She thought as she wandered to the other side of the market, where they sold non-food items. "Hm? This looks nice…" She mumbled.
It was a photo album, decorated with a red plaid design and a bear holding a sign that said 'MY FAMILY.' Shiho smiled at the words, placing it in her cart before proceeding to checkout.
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After eating some dinner at home, Rei began looking through an old photo album of him and his friends. He gazed at Hiromitsu, thinking about the truth of his death that he recently learned.
Haro leapt into his owner's lap, sensing his sad emotions. He began sniffing at the pictures, curious as to what they were.
"Heh, you want to meet my friends, Haro?" Rei asked as he snuggled up to the puppy. Haro licked Rei's chin excitedly.
"Ok, ok!" Rei chuckled as he wiped his chin. "Well, this is Hiromitsu, Jinpei, Wataru, and Kenji… They were the greatest men I ever knew. I bet they would have liked you a lot, Haro!" Rei smiled as he pet him.
"I bet Miyano-san would like you a lot too! You haven't met her yet, but I think you'll like her as well." Rei smiled, thinking about their encounter earlier that day.
'I wonder what she's up to right now?'
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Shiho came home from the market. After washing up, she laid out her ingredients and a recipe she found online.
"Oh, welcome back, Shiho-kun!" The professor smiled. "I was wondering where you went. Are you making dinner?"
"Mm." Shiho nodded. "It's a surprise though, no taste testing!"
"Oh, how exciting! You didn't have to do all this…" He said as he drooled, looking at the ingredients. "Oh, I wonder what it'll be…"
"Hakase! No peeking either!" She scolded.
"Ha ha, yes ma'am, I'll be in my room then…" Agasa laughed as he exited.
Shiho carefully read through the recipes and began prepping the kitchen. As she started cooking the food, she couldn't help but think of Rei.
'Cooking is so much work, but it's kind of exciting to try unique recipes. I wonder if Furuya-san would like this sort of food?' She shook her head. 'He probably wouldn't be interested in my cooking…' She thought back to their brief conversation today. 'Should I take him up on his offer? Maybe he was just trying to be polite…'
Suddenly, her thoughts were interrupted by a harsh sizzling sound. "Oh shoot, the sauce!" She quickly reached for the spoon to stir it, accidentally grabbing the handle the metal pot, and slightly burning herself.
'Ugh…What am I thinking about Furuya-san so much?' She grumbled as she ran her knuckles under some cold water. 'I need to focus on this meal!'
Shiho had finished cooking, plating two meals for Agasa and herself. "Hakase! Dinner's ready!" She called out as she placed the food on the dinner table. As she gathered some utensils, she heard her phone beep. 'A text?' She thought to herself.
It was a message from Rei.
Rei: Hi Miyano-san! What are you up to?
She smiled at the unexpected message, she faced her camera above the table, sending him a photo of the food she just prepared.
Rei: Wow, that looks really good! What restaurant is that?
Shiho: Ha ha, very funny. I made it myself.
Rei: Really?! I'd love to try it sometime. I didn't know you like to cook.
Shiho: Not really, I just wanted to try it out.
Rei: Heh, did I inspire you? I can lend you some cooking magazines if you want.
Shiho: Yes Furuya-san, you're the only one in the world that cooks, so I thought I'd join you.
Rei: Lol, I'm honored! :P
Shiho hesitated to ask him about going for a jog, but her thoughts were interrupted as Agasa came up to the table. "Wow, this looks amazing Shiho-kun!"
"I tried doing Japanese and Italian fusion. I made some yuzu-glazed carrots, broccolini with bonito flakes, and pasta with a curry-based tomato sauce." She explained as she sat down. "It's nothing fancy, but I know you like Italian food, so…"
"Mm, it tastes so good!" Agasa exclaimed as he took a bite. "So, how was your day today?"
"It was alright…" She said as she twirled her fork. "Hey, Hakase, I've been thinking about getting a job."
"A job?" He said in between bites.
"Mm." She nodded. "I don't know what kind of job yet, but I'd like to contribute to the house. I am an adult again after all..."
"Well, I think it's a great idea!" Agasa nodded "But not to contribute to the house."
"Eh?" She tilted her head in confusion.
"I think it is a great way for you to meet other people! Socialize! Besides, you're so smart and skilled, it would be a waste to not have your talents utilized." He explained as he continued to eat. "I'll ask my colleagues if they know any good job positions open."
Shiho smiled as she took a bite of food as well. "Thanks Hakase."
The two conversed for a bit as they finished their meals. Afterwards, Hakase took their plates to the sink to wash.
Shiho glanced at her phone, checking to see if Rei has texted her anything else. She sighed at the blank notifications, and went to the bathroom to brush her teeth and get ready for bed.
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She took out the photo album she bought earlier, opening up to the blank spaces. She began placing some photos she stored in her desk drawer, mostly of her and the detective boys, and two especially important photos. One of her and Akemi that she found with Kudo, and the family photo that Rei helped retrieve while she was still Ai Haibara.
'Thank you Furuya-san…' She thought as she placed the photo in her album.
As Shiho put the album on her bookshelf she noticed her phone beeping again. She checked her phone, surprised to she another text from Rei.
Rei: By the way, I'm going jogging at 7am tomorrow. You probably have weekend plans, but would you like to join me?
Shiho took a moment and carefully typed out her message, not wanting to sound too excited.
Shiho: That's fine, meet me in front of Hakase's house.
Rei: Sounds good! By the way, is it ok if I bring a friend along? I think you two would like each other a lot.
'A friend?'' She thought to herself. 'His girlfriend, maybe? Come to think of it, he never outwardly said he was single… He said we would like each other a lot, is he trying to set me up with a date?' Shiho began to get frustrated at the possibilities. She texted back as nonchalantly as she could to avoid him noticing this.
Shiho: ok, see you tomorrow.
She sighed as she crawled into bed, rereading their texts, trying to decipher how Rei saw herself.
Rei, also laying in bed, did the same. He decided to send one more text before going to sleep.
Rei: Good night, and sweet dreams :)
Shiho sent one final text back as well, smiling at his message.
Shiho: :P
Wow! It's been awhile since I posted for the story. I decided to finally continue writing it, and also Uncovering Okiya as well. I began re-watching Detective Conan and got inspired :)
I based the meal that Shiho made on a menu I found online for a Japanese-Italian fusion restaurant, but I've never tried it myself. I'd love to have some one day. Have any of you tried this type of fusion before? I'd love to hear about it!
What are your favorite meals? I like lentils with rice, vegetable soup and lasagna.
Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, please let me know what you think! :D
