[ Old ] Crossroad 『Detective Conan』

Chapter 70 - His fault.

   Yoko had been at her window, staring into space, for a good hour. She had made Jinpei something to eat and had simply gone to her room, without swallowing anything. She wasn't hungry.
   Instead, she'd just opened her window and looked out over the city. She didn't know what she should be thinking or how she should interpret the events that had happened previously.

   She had the impression that Conan had been trying to keep her away. Probably to keep her out of danger, which was quite logical, but it made her angry. He hadn't done anything wrong, she knew that, but it made her angry.
   She didn't want to be protected, but he always seemed to be the one deciding. Deciding when to talk, when to get information or simply what the former schoolgirl should do. It was certainly selfish to think like that, but she couldn't think any other way. And that was enough to make her angry with herself.

   The boy in glasses didn't necessarily know how his friend felt, he didn't know what it would do to send her away, it wasn't his fault. He hadn't done anything wrong...
   And yet... He had to suspect that his friend just wanted to move on and that she hadn't asked him for help for nothing. He must have suspected that she didn't want to leave Jinpei. He was a detective after all, he must have guessed that, right?

   Or else... If he had at least spoken to her before deciding on his own what to do, that would certainly have changed a lot of things...

   Yoko placed her bag heavily on the table. She was the first to arrive in class among her group of friends. There were already a few students in the room, who turned their heads towards the young girl when they heard the noise she had made.
   She was tired, having hardly slept at all. She had spent the whole time at the window overthinking things, trying not to blame Conan.

   But she couldn't.

   She settled back in her seat, staring into space. She tried to calm down the part of her that was angry, before the boy with the glasses arrived. She didn't want Genta, Ayumi and Mitsuhiko asking her questions.

   Speaking of the three children, they had just arrived in the company of Ai and Conan.
   -Ah, hello Yoko-chan! Ayumi greeted her friend.
   She barely turned her gaze towards the newcomers, who looked at each other in confusion. She didn't seem to be in her right mind.
   -Do you think she's all right? Mitsuhiko worried.

   The young detective paid no attention to the expression on his comrade's face and walked towards her, placing his bag on her table first.
   -Hey, Yoko, can we talk later? he whispered.
   Talk? ? Had he just asked to speak to her? When he was the first to avoid discussion when it suited him?
   -... Is this about... Starling Jodie-san? asked the girl concerned in a low voice.
   -Yeah, well... I just wanted to make sure you'd been able to meet... her...

   The bespectacled boy was surprised to see his friend simply stand up as he spoke. He blinked before looking at her expression, then noticing that she was clenching her fists, leaning them against the table.
   -Yes, I've met her and it's no... On that, I'm going to toilet...
   She left her seat, crossing the classroom to the door and disappearing into the corridor.
  
   Genta raised her eyebrows, not understanding what was happening.
   -What's wrong with her today? he wondered aloud.
   -That's a good question... replied the freckled boy simply.
   Ayumi wore a worried expression. As for Ai, she looked serious before approaching Conan.

   -She seems to be angry with you... said the redhead.
   The boy concerned gave her an annoyed look, thinking she could keep her thoughts to herself, before staring at the door Yoko had come out of.
   -What did you do to her? asked the young girl.
   -I didn't do anything. I just refused to let her put herself in danger by trying to sue the organisation before yesterday, and I asked Jodie-sensei to go and see her and offer her the witness protection programme... Yesterday she seemed to be acting normally... I don't understand why she's acting like this today... Conan explained.
   -... Did you tell her about Jodie-sensei's visit?
   -No, I didn't. If I had, she might have told Matsuda-keiji and I was afraid he'd convince her to refuse...

   There was a silence, Ai looking at her comrade out of the corner of her eye. She felt like calling him an idiot, vaguely understanding the situation.
   -Maybe you should have talked to her about it... She must have taken it badly, especially if you didn't explain it to her beforehand... she said.
   -Eh? Do you think so?
   She nodded. The man concerned looked at her a little surprised before looking towards the door again, looking serious and above all realising that he had perhaps played his cards wrong.

   Yoko finished splashing some water on her face, taking her mind off things a little. She took a breath, wondering if her behaviour towards Conan was ridiculous. But she knew that even if it was, it wouldn't change anything. She was angry with him. That was all. And he didn't seem to have completely noticed.
   Unfortunately, she was going to have to stay close to him for the day. She'd go straight home after school, that was for sure. She would see how she felt in the next few days about all this...

   Taking a deep breath, she headed back towards the classroom. If she stayed in her corner too long, she'd be late, and Kobayashi would start to wonder. Two tardies in three days was going to be a lot...

   Once she arrived in front of the room, she slid the door open and headed for her seat.
   -Yoko-chan! Are you all right? Ayumi asked as she approached her.
   She gasped and looked at her friends in surprise.
   -Eh?
   -You seem a bit strange today... Mitsuhiko said.
   -Ah... Erm... I think I'm just getting sick, don't worry...
   She smiled, embarrassed. She didn't want to include them in this. She just couldn't. Even if she could trust them...