" I love you."
Haibara froze, the words she said clinging onto the conversation like a dog on a priceless bone. Conan and Ran just stared at her, their mouths open, gaping at her, and it was miraculous how two people of the different gender looked so much alike. The three of them were at Ran's house for lunch, and just as Ran had just come back from the kitchen bringing back the food, the words just flowed out of her mouth unexpectantly to Conan. It was strange why, actually. She remembered it was something he had said, but for the moment, everything was a blur right now.
Ran dropped the platter onto the table, eyes wide.
" You what? Ai-chan?" she asked.
Feet trembling, feeling a sudden weakness all of a sudden, she dashed for the door, face red, as she grabbed her coat.
" Haibara!" Conan yelled, running after her.
He was a fast runner. Or maybe it was just that she was slow. He had grasped her hand just as she was on her way down the steps to the street. Her head turned to glare at him, not her expression softened at the look on his face. Confusion, expectance, sorrow-maybe even hopefulness? Haibara was not sure.
" You-you love me." Conan said, speechless.
" No I don't." she barked, trying to wrench her hand from his grasp.
" But you just said it." He argued.
" I-I was just kidding." She continued hopelessly, giving up on getting away, trying to give him that usual smirk she always did.
" No you weren't." he said, trying to pull her towards him.
" Oh, yes I was." Haibara almost yelled.
" Haibara!" Conan yelled, as Haibara got out of his grasp, grabbing for the handle of the door but he slammed it shut, his hand on the door, her hands on the handle. " Do you really love me? You can't have been kidding!"
" Fine!" she yelled. " I wasn't kidding, happy?"
Silence.
" You love me." He said once more.
" No," she stammered, in a voice so unlike the regular Haibara.
" What?" he asked, astounded.
" I was kidding that wasn't kidding, okay?" she spat.
" Haibara." He said, voice soft now, his hand slipping away from the door. " Do you really love me? I-I want a true reply. I-I just don't know how to react."
Haibara didn't say anything, her face not facing his. Tears were starting to fall from her eyes now, and all she wanted was to be hugged. Her sister? Ran? Conan? It wasn't like her to be so weak. Not Haibara Ai.
" I do." She said quietly, opening the door.
And this time he didn't stop her.
She ran out, the rain splattering on her face as the detective agency slowly disappeared out of view.
Ran crept behind Conan, biting her lip.
" Aren't you going to go after her? Conan."
Conan watched the rain splatter down on the streets from the view of the small opening of the door.
" No." he said, almost soft enough to be speaking to himself.
" No, I don't think I will."
Ran watched him walk past her and enter the house, the soft sounds of movement of the things in the house made Ran aware that he had went into his room. She looked at the door holding Conan. She looked at the raining streets. She bit her lip and grabbed an umbrella, running into the street.
