Stay! By My Side

Chapter 25

Shinichi's POV

After three days of full rest, I'm starting to show up at school again. And also three days after that certain moment with her. I feel embarrassed just by remembering that night. And until today, I don't even have a courage to look into her eyes let alone hold her hand.

We didn't talk like we used to anymore. Most of the days she would be inside her lab, working on the last stage of the antidotes.

"Are you avoiding each other somehow?"

Genta, the most insensitive boy of all, insensitively asking a sensitive question. Actually it's not a bizzare question at all, because we literally are acting ridiculous right now. Everytime our eyes met, we would turn our faces away simultaneously.

"There you go again. Are you two having a fight?"

"Genta-kun, sometimes best friends have a certain disagreement. Maybe you shouldn't ask that question, it would be awkward for both of them to answer. Right, Conan-kun, Haibara-san?"

Mitsuhiko, the most sensible and diplomatic kid I've ever met, gladly explain the possible situation according to his analyses. Which, I admit, it suited most of the current situation I had with Haibara right now. Except the disagreement part. We're not currently having disagreement over anything, but I couldn't say she would agree on what I did that night since we haven't had any talk about that. We haven't talk about anything at all, to be precise.

"Edogawa-kun is confused about something for now. Let's hope he will sort it out soon."

Confused about something. Nice one, Haibara. That's not exactly what happened but whatever. She's right, I need to sort this out.

"Can you guys go play without us? There's something I need to talk to Haibara, so we're just going straight home."

"What is it that you need to tell Ai-chan? Can't you tell us?"

"I'm sorry, Ayumi. This is a matter between us both. But it's nothing to be worried about, we're doing fine. It's not like we have a fight or so. Ahahaha."

I grab her hand without looking. I said goodbye to the kids and dragged her along with me. I don't know why I'm running right now. It's not like someone's chasing us from behind.

The moment we passed the school gate, I'm starting to walk in a normal pace. I still don't have the courage to look at her face. So here we are, walking home hand in hand but not a single word coming out from our mouth.

I don't want to go home immediately because with Agasa around, we would ended up avoiding each other again. So I take a different intersection and heading to an ice cream shop around the corner.

"Where are you taking me, Kudo-kun?"

We stopped in front of the shop and guide her to a vacant seat.

"What flavor would you like?"

"Strawberry and chocolate, with nuts on top."

"Alright, wait here."

I'm taking my time to calm down my heart beat. This never happened to me before. Of course, my heart was beating faster when it comes to Ran, but this time it's different. I can't explain how different is different, but all I know is I never dealt with something like this before.

"Why all of these, suddenly? I feel like we're on a date."

"At least I know you wouldn't mind to have a date with me, then"

"Let's just stop, Kudo-kun"

"About what?"

"You said you have something to tell me about. Tell me, then. So stop buying time"

"Actually, um.. You know, that night when we were um.."

"I never knew you could be so unsure. This is the first time I see you stuttering."

"You know, this is not easy. It's not something you can say just like that."

She didn't reply on that, and we're back on being awkward.

"I don't what happened to me right now, because I never felt this way before. You know, we've been avoiding each other since that night and I need to start to talk you again. So I intend to clarify everything."

"Kudo-kun, when two person are busy about their own job doesn't mean they were avoiding each other. So I don't see anything you should clarify about."

"Huh?"

"Don't huh me. We both know I was working on the antidotes. And you're just in the middle of your recovery after taking the first stage."

"No, it's nothing to do with the antidotes."

"Of course it is."

"No! Listen to me, Haibara, you're avoiding the subject."

"There's no such subject. Don't put that idea inside my head, Kudo-kun. It's dangerous in every possible way."

"So are you saying our relationship is dangerous?"

"Don't start, please, I beg you."

"Why?"

"You should not waver, Kudo-kun."

"I haven't even said anything, Haibara"

"Don't. You're just being emotional for no sensible reason. And the night you were talking about, it was nothing. And we are keeping it that way"

"You hurt me"

"Don't... She was waiting for you all these time. She still does."

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Author's note

Good morning, afternoon, and evening to you all.

Thank you for all of you for still keeping up with me until this chapter. I'm so glad that I'm starting to write again. I wish you all health and happiness ❤️❤️🥳.

Please enjoy your reading.