[ Discontinued ] Crossroad 『Detective Conan』

Chapter 79 - Going outside !

   Jinpei put his hand on Yoko's forehead, and she recoiled slightly at the gesture. A few days had passed, and the young girl was feeling better. The policeman was just checking that she no longer had a fever.
   -Well, I suppose you'll be able to go back to school. he concluded, withdrawing his hand.
   The girl concerned began to smile. At last her boredom of being cooped up at home was coming to an end. Apart from watching television, she hadn't been able to do anything. What had only been a short week had seemed like an eternity.

   The man got up from the sofa he was on, putting his hands in his pockets.
   -Do you feel like going alone? he asked.
   -Yes! replied the girl energetically.
   -Good.
   He grabbed his sunglasses from the table and put them on his nose before going into the hall to put on his shoes, as he had to leave for work.
   -Don't dawdle too much. he warned.
   -Yes...

   Jinpei left. As for Yoko, she headed for her room to get dressed. She had some time to spare before going to school, but wanted to take advantage of it to go and take some photos.
   Once changed, she grabbed her bag and headed for the front door. She put on her shoes and went out.

   Fortunately, the sun was shining outside. It was going to be a great help in taking good quality photos, and that was nice.
   -I'd better be in a park near the school... she muttered, looking at the time on her phone.
   She walked briskly to get near her school, not wanting to waste any time.

   She reached the park next to her school fairly quickly. She looked at the calmness before her and smiled as she took a deep breath. The place was fairly empty, although there were obviously a few people wandering around here and there.
   -Well, let's go!
   She wandered off into the park in search of something interesting to photograph. The first thing she found were some flowers with pretty red petals. Positioning herself at a good angle in the beautiful light, she was able to take a fairly good photograph. Then, more hastily, she picked up a squirrel. And so on.

   Eventually, the young girl returned to the entrance to the park, dropping onto a bench to take a breather. She was exhausted more quickly than usual, the flu having weakened her more than she thought.
   She picked up her phone and sighed.
   -I can wait at school now, I suppose...
   She got up and started towards the exit, when she felt something on her sleeve. She shivered and looked at the back of her arm before she froze.

   At the same time, Conan, Genta, Ayumi, Mitsuhiko and Ai passed the park on their way to school. Their eyes were caught by their classmate. The girl in the headband immediately smiled.
   -Ah, it's Yoko-chan! she exclaimed as she ran towards her classmate.
   She was followed by the two boys, the two younger children watching them from a distance. The boy with glasses put his hands in his pockets, rather puzzled by the fact that she wasn't moving.

   -Are you feeling better, Yoko-san? asked the freckled boy as he approached her.
   The trio looked at the girl, who said nothing, remaining completely silent.
   -Oe! You could answer us! snapped the biggest boy in the group.
   This time, the three children got an answer. Not orally, but visually. Yoko raised her head, tears in her eyes, and held up her arm, on which was an insect that was probably a bedbug. Her friends looked at her and laughed. The two who had stayed away were reassured that it was nothing serious.

   Once that moment had passed and the insect had been put away, the group returned to the street, continuing to laugh a little.
   -I didn't know you were so scared of insects! Ayumi said.
   -It's not my fault... muttered the girl concerned.
   -It's too good though! protested Genta.
   -Does that mean you've never been bug hunting? asked Mitsuhiko.
   -Well, no, logically...
   -What?! You've got to do it, it's so good! added the biggest of the group.
   -Mmmh...
   -You'll see, it's not bad! You won't even be scared of it! The girl with the headband agreed.
   -Mmmh...

   Faced with the brown-eyed brunette's unconvinced and unsettled expression, Ai decided to intervene.
   -Don't you want to leave her alone? She's just come back, you don't want to scare her away, do you?
   The three looked at each other, a little guilty. It was true that they had missed their comrade...
   -You know, there's nothing wrong with Tomura-san being afraid of insects. Not everyone can be like you... sighed the redhead. Come on, apologise for making fun of her. she added.

   The three apologised, turning to Yoko.
   -Sorry Yoko-san... began the freckled boy.
   -I'm sorry. Followed his friend.
   -We didn't mean to make fun of you... finished the girl.
   Their friend laughed embarrassed, not at ease with the situation.
   -It's all right, you know...

   Conan looked at his watch before turning to everyone.
   -We'd better go before we're late. he said.
   This changed the subject, leaving Yoko to sigh a little. What's more, the three real kids didn't return to the previous subject, starting to rush off to school, leaving their three friends behind. The boy in glasses put his hands in his pockets again before starting to walk forward, followed by the two girls.

   -Were you absent because of them? he asked suddenly, before arriving at the school.
   -Huh ?
   -I wonder if there's a link between your absence and the men in black... Like last time.
   The dark-haired girl raised her eyebrows, intrigued by this question, before shaking her head in the negative.
   -I was just ill. If anything had happened, I wouldn't be here. Or I'd be talking about it... Thanks for the concern but you don't need all the time. I'd tell you if something was wrong. Would you?
   At her words, she caught up with her classmates rather quickly, to a sigh from the former high school student.