[ Old ] Crossroad 『Detective Conan』

Chapter 25 - Cookies

   The children making up the Detective Boys got out of school and started walking home.
   -Hey, you're not coming in Yoko-chan? Mitsuhiko asked seeing that her comrade was not showing her usual direction.
   - Nah, I wanted to go to the nearest combini. Replied the concerned.
   -Why don't you go to the one towards your house? Ayumi asked.
   - I would like to take advantage of having what I have to buy in mind so as not to forget anything, and that way it will allow me to get to know the neighborhood better... Yesterday I got lost... She laughed, embarrassed.
   - How did you do?
   She just shrugged at Genta's question. On the one hand, she found the boy's question stupid.

   Everyone then showed where the nearest combini was. There, the bespectacled kid began taking various ingredients. Then she went to the cash register to pay.
   -Why do you need so many ingredients? Matsuda-keiji can cook? Asked the girl in the headband seeing what her friend had bought.
   -However, I don't see him cooking... Added Mitsuhiko.
   Yoko could not help laughing a little.
   -I'll let you guess.
   The three took a break, thinking and certainly trying to imagine the policeman in the kitchen.
   -Don't tell me you know how to cook. Conan answered, not without raising his eyebrows.
   - Bingo! I promised him I'd take care of all his meals, otherwise we'd be eating mostly the same thing...
   The former high schooler couldn't help but stare to the side as she thought about what she'd eaten most often: instant noodles.

   -Do you know how to cook?! Genta wondered when he got out of the combi with his comrades.
   -Yeah. I helped in a restaurant too! She contented herself simply with answering the young girl with her hair tied up.
   - Can we eat at your house then? Asked the big of the group.
   -I don't think Matsuda-keiji will agree... Besides, it's a bit of a mess at home...
   The last sentence she said in a lower voice, so as not to be heard. She would have liked to tidy up but she didn't even know where to put what.
   -So we can go to hakase! Ayumi suggested. It might do Haibara-san good to taste one of your dishes!
   Yoko sighed but accepted. She didn't want to hang around too much either, but why not prepare them a quick trick. And if it could help Ai, why not give it a try.

   The children arrived at Agasa's house with a chorus of "Hello". The former high school girl looked around her once she was off her shoes. She had never set foot in the professor's house before. He had a big house. It was not unpleasant to have so many spaces.

   Yoko approached the man.
   - Say, can I borrow your kitchen? she asked.
   -Why ?
   - She's going to cook for us! Genta replied, sitting down on a couch around a coffee table.
   -Oh really ? Agasa asked.
   The brown haired girl nodded. Then he was told where to cook.
   -Good... I'm going to do something simple for them...
   Given the time, preparing a dish was useless. Doing something simpler was best, like cakes. So she was going to do that trying not to get distracted by her friends asking to play video games.

   One of the doors opposite the entrance opened on Ai. Normal that she had come for the noise there was.
   Seeing her coming, Conan stared at her. She was making a gloomy face. At the same time, seeing what had happened on the bus...
   -How are you ?
   -What is everyone doing here? Just ask the redhead.
   The boy sighed.
   -They wanted Yoko to cook them something to eat. he explained.
   -Tomura-san? She knows how to do that?
   -Yeah...
   He couldn't help thinking about his comrade again.
    -What are you hiding?
   Ai's question startled Conan. She must have guessed something from his expression. But he couldn't tell her his suspicions. No need to worry her anymore. Besides, he had no proof.
   -You won't say anything I guess... She breathed. But that's about Tomura-san, right?
   His only response was a nervous laugh. She shrugged as if it didn't matter to her.

   -Ah! Hi Haibara-san! You want to play ? Mitsuhiko offered.
   -I pass...
   -Can I play a game with you? Asked  Yoko, finishing washing her hands.
   She quickly joined her friends and sat down next to them. They gave her a controller and she played a game. She had quite a good time before going to take the cakes out of the oven. This caused a break in the games.
   -Aaah! You really made them?! Ayumi asked looking at the cookies.
   -Eh eh !
   Genta helped himself without being told if he could.
   -Ah! It's burning! ! He exclaimed in surprise.
   - That'll teach you to rush! His freckled classmate scoffed.
   -On the other hand, please don't eat everything, I'd like to save some for Matsuda-keiji! Warned the girl with the glasses in a smile.

   Once cooled, Yoko let her comrades help themselves.
   -It's so good ! Genta exclaimed.
   - Glad you like it... Thanked the former high school student. Even if I think you'd like everything... She added in a whisper, with a slightly mocking tone.
   Then, she turned to Conan and Ai, remaining, as often, in the background. She handed them the tray with the cookies on it.
   -I'm probably not the best person to say that but... Haibara-san, make sure you get better quickly! OK ?

   Yes. In her eyes, Yoko was not well placed to ask people to get better. She had always needed help to get better. Like the help of her comrades, or that of... She had also taken a long time to get back on her feet, and would have continued to go badly if she wasn't surrounded.
   But precisely, Ai was surrounded! Impossible to know what was happening to her for sure, but she had to be able to get better too. Everyone was worried about her...

   The redhead reached out to grab a cookie. She couldn't help looking at her friend's sweet face, before she turned around.
   -Are we having another game? she asked.
   -Yeah ! Mitsuhiko nodded.
   So they went back to the TV, continuing to play.