[ Discontinued ] Crossroad 『Detective Conan』

Chapter 61 - Back to school

   Jinpei finished putting on his shoes with a sigh.
   -Well, are you ready? He asked his flatmate.
   -Yes, sorry!
   Yoko grabbed her bag quickly, so that she winced slightly. Her wound still hurt when she made sudden movements, but it was less painful than before.
  
   The young girl was a little nervous. After just over three weeks in hospital and a few days at home, going back to school was making her nervous. She was going to have a lot of questions from her classmates, but luckily the teachers weren't going to start, thanks to Jinpei's intervention. And there was also going to be a ton of homework to catch up on, although that wasn't going to be complicated either as she already knew the answers.
   There was something else that made her nervous about going back to school. Going out. The idea of being found again didn't appeal to her, especially if Gin and Vodka had been told. They were probably waiting for her on some street corner to take care of her. She was counting on her change of hairstyle to go unnoticed. And as her guardian had so rightly said, she couldn't stay cooped up all her life.

   -Sorry, I'm here! Apologised the little girl with a smile.
   The man finished yawning before looking at her. He'd offered to give her a lift to school, even though she'd be early.
  -Come on...
   The two left the house, taking care to lock the door.

   The road was fairly uneventful until they arrived in front of the school. Yoko looked out of the window as the rain began to fall, still nervous.
   -By the way... Have you made up with Sato-keiji yet? The little girl asked suddenly.
   -Eh?
   -I suppose not... She concluded with a disappointed look, still blaming herself for being the cause of the argument between the two policemen.
   Jinpei scratched the back of hisbhead with a sigh.
   -It's none of your business, you don't have to worry about it...
   Then he opened the glove compartment and took out an umbrella.
   -Take this and go and find shelter at school.

   The young girl looked at the umbrella for a moment before shaking her head.
   -You're not going to stand there and admire it, are you?
   The man's voice snapped her out of her thoughts and she smiled, clutching the object tightly in her hands.
   -Thank you very much. See you later !
   -See ya !
   She left, closing the car door before opening the umbrella. Jinpei looked at her for a moment before starting the car and driving off.

   Yoko stood against a wall next to the gate. She had time, although she wasn't comfortable with the idea of being alone. But she wanted to wait for her friends, especially as it had been a while since she had seen them.
   To wait, she watched the rain fall from her umbrella, which she had lowered in front of her face so that no one could see her, while listening to the sound of the drops. She held the umbrella handle firmly in her hands, as if it were her most precious possession.

   Suddenly, as more and more children arrived, the young girl recognised voices. Mostly Genta's, speaking louder than the rest of the group.
   -Ah! Yoko-chan! Ayumi suddenly exclaimed.
   The girl turned shyly, raising her umbrella as her friends drew closer. Everyone was confused when they saw her face without glasses and her short, badly cut hair.

   This discovery provoked a moment of silence before the little girl with the headband broke it.
   -Wow! You look great! But your hair's cut funny...
   -Did you cut it yourself? Asked Genta.
   She let out a nervous laugh. She didn't know how to say that she'd started it herself and that Jinpei had tried to make up for the massacre.
   -More or less... She finally replied.
   -Next time go to a hairdresser... Reproached the biggest member of the group.
   -I know, I know.
   -And why don't you wear glasses any more? ASked Mitsuhiko.
   -I... didn't need them any more... Replied the girl with the brown eyes.

   Conan and Ai, who were the last to arrive, let out an amused smile. Especially the boy with glasses.
   -Give her a break... She's only just come back... Said the young detective.
    The rest of the group moved aside a little, which made the concerned sigh with relief.
   -Thank you Conan-kun... She thanked him.
   He just smiled and put one of his hands in his pocket.

   -Your cold seems to have cleared up.
   The young detective's question startled her slightly. She'd forgotten that she'd told them that.
   -Y... Yeah... She replied hesitantly. Ah, could someone please give me what I've missed?
   -I'll give you my lessons. Genta offered.
   -Genta-kun... How do you expect her to be able to read you ? It's better if I give her mine! Replied Mitsuhiko.
   -OK, thanks! Thanked Yoko while Genta made an annoyed face.

   Her fears were allayed, and in the end, the young girl was happy to be back. It couldn't hurt to have the good humour of the group back, although they were going to be sticky as ever.

   Ai yawned and looked at her classmates.
   -Why don't we go to class instead of standing in the rain? We're going to catch a cold at this rate and it would be a shame if Tomura-san fell ill again, especially as she took the time to wait for us. Announced the redhead.
   -Ah, that's right! Come on, Yoko-chan!
   Ayumi grabbed her friend's wrist and dragged her inside the school.
   The two boys did the same, followed a little more slowly by the two rejuvenates.

   -Something's changed in Tomura-san... Noted the redhead as she changed her shoes.
   Yoko, who had also changed her shoes, was chatting to Genta, Ayumi and Mitsuhiko.
   -She wasn't ill. I don't know why she wasn't there, but it wasn't just a cold... Sighed Conan.
   Ai also knew that the younger brunette was lying. It was always clear on her face. She must have had her reasons, but it was still strange.
   -I'll try to talk to her about it...
   -Try not to frighten her this time... Warned the bespectacled boy's friend.
   -As if I scared her all the time...
   The detective's only response was a simple mocking smile, which made him pout.