Work Text:
Shiho realizes that Christmas is upon her when she receives a text from her sister reminding her about the Christmas dinner with her husband Shuu. Yes, Akemi is alive and married to Akai. We are ignoring the fact that in canon they are related. Also, am I just wasting words to explain this? Yes, I am. But back to Shiho.
She has forgotten about the annual Christmas dinner or the fact that she had broken up with her boyfriend and hasn't told her sister yet. She frowns and contemplates when and how to break the news to her family. Honestly, Christmas is the worst time to announce to the family that Shinichi and her have decided that a 5 year relationship is enough. Especially when Akemi will be giving a playful nudge that the ex-couple should tie the knot soon.
Speaking of knots, there's a knock on her office door. (What do a knot and knock have to do with each other? Nothing but just add words to my word count.) Shinichi Kudo, the bane of her current situation, enters her office. If Shiho were honest, the whole situation happened because she "forgot" to tell her older sister that she broke up with Shinichi… 9 months ago.
She bites her lips, it has been 9 months since they've broken up except it doesn't feel that way. They've remained close friends and have always worked well with each other. Even now, Shinichi is able to read her like a book.
"What's the matter?" He asks with just one look at her.
"Oneechan just reminded me of the Christmas plans." She replies.
"Ah." He nods and waits for her to continue.
"I haven't told her yet." She finishes.
"Told her what?"
"That we broke up."
"We broke up 9 months ago."
"I know. I was there. I'm the one who suggested it. I remember it, Kudo." She tensely replies, then she sighs.” I’m sorry, I’m stressing… I just don’t know how to tell her.”
He wraps his arms around her. “Don’t worry about it too much Shiho. You’ll find a way to tell her and she will always love you no matter what.”
“Yeah…” she replies, feeling her worry disappearing with his warmth.
~~~
Shiho takes her time to get to her sister’s house. She is really dreading the fact that she would ruin the Christmas atmosphere with her announcement. Akemi has just texted her asking if Shinichi would be able to join them, and she chooses to vaguely say that Shinichi would most likely not be able to make it due to cases he has to solve.
Therefore to see Shinichi waiting outside her sister’s apartment building is a big surprise to her.
“What are you doing here?” She asks.
Shinichi gave an impish smile. “Akemi-nee-chan texted and asked if I’m coming.”
“Then you should have told her you’re busy with a case.” Shiho hisses. “ How am I supposed to tell her that we broke up if you’re right there.”
“You don't have to tell her anything.” He replies.
She stares at him.
“For a couple of hours we can pretend…” he says. “For Akemi-nee-chan… For Christmas… Please Shiho…”
She didn't get the chance to reply as Akai-San bumps into them, and quickly ushers them into the warm apartment.
~~
“Are you and Shinichi okay?” Akemi asks as Shiho helps her set the table.
Shiho freezes for a moment. “We’re okay.”
“Hmm…” Akemi hums and studies Shiho for a moment.
“Why do you ask?”
“Well…” Akemi glances where Shuu and Shinichi are, and catches the glances Shinichi is throwing toward Shiho. “He looks like a kicked puppy and you seem to be a little tense.”
Shiho also looks at the boys and her eyes locked with Shinichi. “We’re okay.” She repeated.
~~
Dinner is lovely. They have steak, wine, and dessert. They have lovely conversations about current events, cases Shinichi and Shiho are doing, and Akemi and Akai’s big news about being pregnant. Shiho hugged her sister tightly, with tears in her eyes, and Shinichi congratulated Akai.
Shiho is really glad that Shinichi came and that she didn’t ruin her sister's big announcement.
Currently, she is cuddling next to Shinichi as they listen to Christmas music. Shiho thinks she must have too much wine as she leans in and places a kiss on Shinichi’s cheek. “Thank you for being here.” She whispers.
Shinichi pulls her closer to him. “There’s no place I’d rather be at than here.”
Shiho looks at him in the eye and sees nothing but tender love from him. She can’t help but wonder if Shinichi is still in love with her as she is with him or is it simply part of the charade that they are playing for tonight.
~~
Overall the evening was lovely and successful in Shiho’s opinion. But now that the audience is gone, she can't help but the need to run and get some distance between her and Shinichi. Her mind is playing a dangerous game of what-ifs.
“I’ll see you at work.” She says.
“I’ll walk you home.” He replies.
“You don’t have to.”
“I want to.”
“Shinichi…” She says. “ We’re not…”
Shinichi takes her hand into his and flashes her his charm that she is weak to. “Shiho. Can’t we continue this for a few more minutes? Till I get you home?”
She knows that she has to say no, but right now Shiho’s guard is down and she also wants to prolong this. So she agrees and walks with him to her apartment, and fingers are laced with his.
“ I guess this is it,” Shinichi says as they are in front of her door.
“Yeah..” she replies, reluctant to let go of Shinichi’s hand. She turns to insert the key to her door and notices the red mistletoe on top of her door frame. She looks up at it, and in turn, makes Shinichi look up at it too.
“Aren’t you going to kiss me?” She asks.
“Can I kiss you?”
She nods.
Shinichi cups her cheeks and she holds her breath till their lips meet. The moment their lips meet, is electrifying. Everything they couldn’t say is exchanged in sweet and breathtaking kisses.
“Do you want to come in?” She asks.
Shinichi nods and Shiho lets him into her apartment and leads him into her room.
The end.