Stay! By My Side

Chapter 24

Ai's POV

"Shiho..!!"

I turned my head towards the sourcje of the voice. He called me by my name. Did I heard it right?

"Kudo-kun... What did you just called me?"

He didn't reply that question. Instead, he pulls me closer to his embrace. Okay, what is this? Can anyone explain this to me?

"What are you doing, Kudo-kun? Are you not on your right mind?"

He stayed silent and totally ignore my puzzlement. I couldn't put my mind straight right now and my heart rate is rising rapidly. He's losing his mind right now. Maybe he's thinking I'm Mouri Ran right now.

"Kudo-kun, I think you're hugging a wrong girl."

Again, he didn't say a single word on reply. His arms are wrapping around my body, makes me wonder when will my heart stopped beating.

His body sweating a lot, he must have had a scary dream. I close my eyes and be still, cherishing every second I stayed in his arms and feel the warmth of his body on my back, my waist, and even on my hair.

I didn't have any courage to hug him back. But my body can't resist the urge to touch him. Right now, eventhough he thought me as Mouri Ran, I just want to treasure this moment.

"You should... hug me... back, you sadistic... girl." He said in a shivering voice.

"Kudo-kun..?"

"Let's stay.. like this.. don't leave me."

I saw Professor Agasa is sliding through the door, leaving us behind.

"You're still sweating a lot. What did you see in your sleep? Don't get me wrong, I'm just asking to gather any information regarding the antidotes."

That was a lie, obviously. I was asking because I wanted to know why he suddenly go for a first name basis. Moreover, he called me Shiho instead of Ai. I kind of like it, honestly. Because it makes him closer, somehow. Then again, maybe I heard it wrong.

"Tell me, is this real?" He asked without letting me go at all.

"Do I feel imaginary to you right now?"

"Forgive me. I had a false reality a moment ago. I need to make sure this time it's genuine."

"Oh my, I'm sorry to hear that. But, Kudo-kun, just so you know you've been crushing my bones for a while now. Could you at least loosen it a bit?"

He did as I asked and then we back to a long awkward silence. I wish I could control my heart rate right now. I really don't want to raise my hope for now, I need to calm down. And I need to start a conversation to break this ice.

"Say, Kudo-kun. I don't know what's on your mind right now. But I'm not Mouri Ran, in case you've mistaken me for her."

He still doesn't say anything.

"You know, being in this position feels kinda weird. I'd rather you being a detective freak than a melancholic test subject."

"Shiho."

He called me with that name again. So does this mean that he's hugging me now because I am me?

"Aren't you listening? I clearly say your name, not hers."

This time, I'm totally freezing. I can't believe a single word I heard.

"Say, Shiho. Why wouldn't you hug me back? This is the second time I've asked, can you at least do it to me before I throw away all my dignity to ask you over and over?"