Stay! By My Side

Chapter 37

Ran's POV

It was supposed to be a regular dinner time, like I convinced myself earlier before I decided to bring my feet here, the professor's house, unannounced. I just, I miss Conan-kun, dearly. He practically moved here since Ai-chan left, which is still a mystery, even though I have a vague idea of what this is about, but I couldn't bring myself to touch the fact. Yet.

The fact that Hattori is here, eyes as huge as Conan when they entered the main gate and saw my face, proving my point that they're on in the middle of something huge. Ai-chan might be in danger. 

Of course Hattori would be here. Of course he knows everything. Of course - because he's a reliable partner to you, ain't it, Shinichi?

Hours ago, I braced myself to deal with the lies. The lies they all did under my nose, in broad daylight, in which I willingly believed without fail. Rage consumed me, boiling my blood, causing tears flowing down my eyes with no mercy. But then I stopped crying right the moment I decided to bring my legs here, to bribe someone the truth, to put this misery to an end.

Yes, it was supposed to be a regular dinner time, but the bitterness can't bring themselves out of my taste buds. The bitterness stayed there, drowning me deeper in jealousy, serving pain and disbelief from what feels like betrayal. The dinner on the table, as appealing as it can be, couldn't even tease my appetite.

I'm hungry, I am, but for different things.

We dined in silence. Hattori and Conan sat across of me, while Professor Agasa took the seat beside me. I realized that I didn't behave as usual, and it's clearly shown. Judging by how the professor was fidgeting a lot, they also realized that something is wrong with me. The usual me wouldn't approve of such tension, but right now I don't care anymore. I'm gonna drag the little man in front of me home to the agency, dig everything with all I might, and finally, finally, embrace the truth. No matter how dangerous it would be for me, it already had been dangerous for their little group, anyway.

I only want the truth, what's so wrong with that?

______________________________________

Heiji's POV

The Crack, as mentioned in any damn dictionary, is a break without a complete separation of the parts. Or you can say it was the beginning of raptures, until it finally explodes in any unmeasurable given time. Well, if this isn't the condition of the Onee-san across the table, I don't know what else then.

Surely, something is really wrong with the mood here, man.

The silent was deafening, or maybe at some point, deadly. She wasn't usually like this, for as long as I could remember. She usually full of life, sunshine smiles, not in this brooding state with dark circles clearly drawn under her eyes. Oh, for the love of everything that's holy, I wish this is just because she randomly had a stomachache or whatever.

I swear, if this is something worse...

"So, Conan-kun," she finally speaks, breaking the ice or whatever it was in the air a moment ago.

Here we go.

"Yes, Ran-Neechan?" the shrunken emotionally constipated boy answered, nonchalantly.

The audacity. I bet he didn't even grasp the atmosphere yet.

I glanced to my right side, where Kudo seated, only to find him wearing his pretense innocent child face, the face he always wearing every time he encountered people who aren't aware of his true identity. He, however, looked tired. If I'm being honest, the case with this Haibara lady is taking most of everyone's energy. No wonder he looked so done.