Chapter Text
Being seen isn't all that bad.
Because whatever happens, the media will follow.
If a person is infamous for a very specific thing they do, they're likely already have their face everywhere throughout their hometown, city, country, or even across the country. Even someone as young as seventeen years-old have a chance of their face and identity spread nation wide. For the young Detective of Beika, being known throughout Japan was equal to a good breakfast in the morning.
Though humans are still humans. Having popularity means to be an open book of themselves.
A vintage black Porsche 356A drives down the road as the sun had begun to set. Inside sitting in the passenger seat next to the driver, a man with sunglasses scanned through the newspaper in his hands. He hummed reading through the contents.
"What do you think, Aniki?" he asked towards the driver without looking away from the newspaper.
The driver's grip on the steering wheel tightened as he grinned. His sight locked towards the road with the eye that's uncovered by his long silver hair.
"We hunt him down."
"So you're telling me you almost left her in the middle of your date, again?"
The older of the two winced slightly at the younger's comment.
It was evening when Kudou Shinichi—the infamous Highschool Detective of the East—had gotten home from his hangout with his childhood best friend. Supposedly he had planned out parts of that day specifically, one of them being the part where he finally admits his feelings towards the girl.
"Okay first off, I wasn't actually going to leave her–"
"You were considering it for the case." the younger stared blankly.
"Alright, fair. And second off, it wasn't a date–"
"It was a date."
"Would be if she hadn't rejected me."
Well to be fair, Shinichi couldn't actually tell if Mouri Ran genuinely rejected him or if she was too pissed on the fact that he almost was always willing to put himself in danger for a case. Second reason seems the less sense, but seemingly less heartbreaking to think about. What doesn't make sense however, was telling nearly everything about that day to seven year old Kudou Conan like he's his private counselor.
"I thought Ran-neechan said "I don't know"?" Conan tilted his head to the side, leaning back a bit on the couch still holding the opened Sherlock Holmes novel.
Shinichi shuts his mouth as he pinched the bridge of his nose taking a deep breath.
"Why am I even telling you all this?" the teen sighed.
The seven year old just shrugged as he continued where he left off with his book. Hearing his older brother mumbled something incoherent as his footsteps gradually disappeared from the room. Conan watched him from the corner of his eyes and sighed, making himself comfortable again.
Conan shifted his position the couch, from sitting criss-cross, laying on his side, to laying on his back with his head on the armrest. Though the little one's mind was still replaying the events his brother told him.
Starting from where Shinichi took Ran to a cafe she liked, taking an annoying amount of time stumbling his words through the confession, witnessing a dead body at the cafe's doorstep and solving the murder case, saw a suspicious person and almost went after it, and then walked home with Ran repeating her "I don't know" response when Shinichi asked her again.
"Did I missed something?" his thought spoke.
As much as the details of the recount itself seemed off, what stuck to Conan's mind the most was the way Shinichi explained the events. A piece of the puzzle was missing, a piece that had been hidden.
"Heh, who am I kidding. I'm probably over thinking it."
In his room, Shinichi laid on his bed staring at the ceiling with an arm above his head. Recalling every single thing he did and say, cringing over some of the memory. Remembering how frustrated he was trying to put his words together, only to get a reply of hesitance. But it's not like he couldn't blame her for getting upset when he was going to put himself on danger again after solving a case by chasing down suspicious people. Suspicious people.
Almost immediately he sat up at the edge of his bed with his hands together under his nose and his elbows on top of his knees. When Ran pulled him back by the sleeve before he could chase the person from the corner of his eye any further. Almost the same as what happened in Tropical Land. Only this time, instead of him keeping an eye on them, it felt like they're watching him.
Maybe that's why he was now second guessing his confession to her.
A tune beside him stopped his thoughts from going any further. Seeing his best friend's name from the screen of his phone, he picks up.
"Hey, Ran."
"Hey, Shinichi."
Ran's tone on the phone was as if holding something fragile. Shinichi, even though she couldn't see it, raised his eyebrow.
"What is it, something happened?"
"No no, everything's fine! I just…"
She paused taking a deep breath,
"I'm sorry, Shinichi…"
For a only few seconds the line was quiet. It was like the world froze taking its time, even breathing seemed to stop for a while before Shinichi spoke.
"This is about earlier isn't it?" Shinichi chuckled humorlessly.
"Shinichi- I-i…–"
"To be honest, I already suspected you'd reject me. Even at the cafe I was sure you'd say no on the spot."
Another uncomfortable silence occurred. Taking in the unseen heartbreak and hesitance between the two. Only their deep breaths could be heard for a good moment.
"I can hear you thinking from a mile away. Listen, I'm fine about it. Even if you say you hate me for it I can never hate you back, okay?"
He could hear her sigh.
"But this won't change our friendship, right…? We can still be friends…?"
The softness of her voice somehow makes it hurt more. Even then he smiled.
"Barou! I just told you I can never hate you. Yes, we're still friends, happy?"
Expecting another silence, instead the girl let out a muffled laughter.
"So, that means we'll still get cheesecake together with Conan-kun tomorrow?"
"Can't promise no dead body encounters though,"
"Please do not say that, ever!"
Stepping through the door, the smell of fresh baked goods that filled the air immediately welcomes them. Genzo's Cheese Bakery, was a fairly new bakery—opened a few months ago—specializes in cheese associated baked goods, that opens at 3 PM so everything there were all still freshly made.
"Amazing! No wonder Sonoko recommended this place!" Ran stared in awe as people filled the place.
The decor was simple with monochromatic cream and brown color pallette, but it was calm and comfy paired with the mellow music playing in the background.
"Eeh? I thought you've been here, Ran-neechan."
Conan looked up at the girl as she shakes her head in response.
"No I haven't, and I wish I have.
"I hope Shinichi's not taking too long with whatever he's doing."
Conan hummed in agreement. The two glanced back at the doorway, looking for any sign of the teen detective.
"Considering Onii-san and Ran-neechan were being awkward earlier, it's no wonder that he was keeping his distance from her."
As the younger was lost in thought, Ran watched the road sadly.
Shinichi's words from their call last night came back to her. His choice of words declared that he was fine, but his tone and the way he acted earlier before and on their walk told a different story. As much as he tried to hide it, he failed to notice his body language and Ran had known. It was all her fault wasn't it?
Ran shook her head and formed a smile. "He just needs time. I'm sure he'll catch up."
"Well, it's his lost. Come on, Conan-kun! Let's look around and order while we wait for him!"
Conan looks up at the girl who smiled with eyes of guilt.
There were many variants of cheesecakes from around the world on display such as the soufflé cheesecake, New York style cheesecake, and the burnt Basque cheesecake. Some are topped with fresh fruits like strawberries, cherries, oranges, etc. There were other savory options made as well.
Ran picked out one of the various cheesecakes for herself and Conan. Looking back at the options infront of her.
"What to get for Shinichi?– Oh–!"
She felt something—someone—bumped her from the side nearly dropping her tray.
"Sorry, I wasn't payin' attention!"
A tan skin girl slightly shorter with her hair on a low bun, had her hands in the air as she apologized. Ran told her that it was fine, as she then noticed something about the girl beside her.
"Nee, it's fine! Don't worry!
"Oh, your accent! You're not from here are you?"
The girl recovered from her panicked state as she straightened up.
"Mhm! Am actually from Osaka, is my accent's that obvious?" She leaned a bit on the display shelf.
"Ohh, your accent's not exactly as strong as I thought."
"Nee nee! Does Onee-san go here often?"
The two girls looked at the child speaking.
"Hm? What got'cha think a' that?"
"I saw you picking out pastries without second thoughts like you knew what to get, and the staffs must've recognize you since they greeted you by name and said "Welcome Back"! You also took time talking with the person at the counter!" Conan points out, with a grin on his face.
The two stared as they processed what he had said, before the Osakan broke the silence.
"Amazin' deduction there! If my brother was here, he woulda like ya!"
"Your brother?"
"Mhm! He's a well-known person in our hometown, stickin' his head inta cases he shouldn't.
"He actually came here ta Tokyo with me, usually he doesn't. Said somethin' like wantin' ta meet someone, didn't pay attention much to what he said."
The girl shrugged, as the two stared whilst she explained.
"Hm? Cases?" Conan couldn't help but wonder.
"Nee Onee-san, what kind of cases your brother do?"
"Conan-kun."
The Osaka girl giggled at her sudden complaint.
"Nah, I'm fine with it! You're a curious one aren't you?
"Hm, well he dealt with multiple kinds a' cases. But I think he deals with homicide cases more."
"So like, a homicide detective?" The little boy tilted his head.
"Ya could say that." The girl smiled a bit.
"Anyways, like he said I go here often whenever I could. Before this place opened, my brother once helped the owner, Horiyama Genzo, so I got ta know him a bit personally."
"Amazing, your brother sounds great!" Ran clasped her hands.
"Ehh, I guess ya could say that."
They then bid farewell after the short talk.
After admiring the place for a bit more, Ran took a look at her wristwatch and frowned.
"Mou, Shinichi's taking a long time…"
Ran made her complaint fishing out her phone, while the younger boy fixed his glasses as he glanced at the doorway behind him.
"Onii-san really is taking a long time catching up to us. Did he got lost? No, he must've walked into a case halfway."
"Or maybe…"
"Conan-kun, do you think–"
"I'll go look for him, stay here Ran-neechan!"
Conan grinned at the taller girl, running out of the doorway before Ran could catch up to him.
"Conan-kun!"
Realizing the situation, she sighed giving up on the two.
"They really are brothers."
Conan went back to where Shinichi left them. Stopping at the specific area. He began to look around, searching where he could've gone from there.
"Shouldn't gone far from here"
He entered a park nearby the area. It was then he spotted something that stopped his tracks.
A girl around Conan's age looking up at a tree in tears. When a teenage boy had climbed down, she smiled in joy reaching for what was in his arms. An orange kitten, jumped down to the little girl's arm.
The girl thanked him and bid farewell, right before Conan decided to approach the teenager.
"So, this is what the Great Detective of Beika was doing after running away?"
The teenager—Shinichi—flinched hearing the boy, before he relaxed knowing who it is.
"You make me sound like the bad guy. And don't smile like that while you're saying that."
The kid shrugged, leaning against the tree where the cat was saved.
"You kind of are when you made us worry like that." He stated, matter-of-factly.
The older sighed, staring at the leaves that slowly fall. Letting the breeze blow his hair from his face, attempting to carry his worries away. Looking up at the sky fading to a coral like color as the sun began to set. Whilst the leaves behind him where taken away flying infront of the younger one.
"You're thinking loudly, Onii-san." The younger shoves his hands in the pocket of his pants.
"It's not as simple as I thought, really. I want to act it's all okay, but I didn't want to strain our friendship because of my feelings.
"Though it seems like I only ended up making it worse rather than preventing something."
He smiled, taking a deep breath.
"I would want to say, "You'll understand how it feels when you're older". But it doesn't excuse anything.
"And to be honest, I'm actually hoping you don't understand how it feels at all."
The younger Kudou stared up at the older in confusion of his words. Taking in the silence to process, as the wind hits a few falling leaves dancing to the ground.
Seeing his reaction, Shinichi walks up to him and pats the little one's head.
"Come on, Ran's probably waiting for us."
And indeed she had been.
When Conan returns and Shinichi catching up, Ran had been infront of the bakery watching her phone intently until Conan had called out her name.
"You two worry me so much! Shinichi, where we're you? You also didn't answer my call." The girl unsurprisingly made her complaint.
"Sorry, Ran. I got distracted with what I was doing and forgot."
The other teen chuckled as he scratched the back of his neck. Hearing this, the girl could only sigh in relief before glaring at the two.
"Don't run off like that again, alright? You too Conan-kun"
"H-hai!" Both brothers responded in unison.
"Oi! Cheesecake girl!"
All three turned to look at the source of the voice calling. They find the Osakan girl waving her at them—specifically Ran—as she ran towards them.
"Oh! It's you again!" Ran relaxed her previously tensed body and smiled.
"Yup! Am waiting fer my brother to pick me up, shoulda been here a few minutes ago.
"Oh! Sorry that I called ya that by the way." she chuckled a bit.
"It's alright! I'm Mouri Ran, this is my friend Kudou Shinichi, and Conan-kun is his younger brother."
"Mouri-san, nice to meet you! Am—"
Before she could finish, the three infront of her panicked as Ran yelled out.
"BEHIND YOU–!"
It was very fortunate she had been pulled out of the direction where the speeding car had made an out of control turn. Otherwise the pole that it had hit could've been her as the others—Ran and Shinichi (with Ran pulling the girl and Shinichi taking Conan)—had made a move to dodge.
"A-are you okay?" Ran took a look at the girl who stared in shock at the car. Who only nodded wordlessly.
A cab then pulls over right infront of them, as the person, a teenage male who's skin was tanner than the girl wearing a baseball cap, rushed himself out of the cab intending to get closer at the scene. That was until Ran and the girl caught his attention, immediately approaching them.
"Crap– Hayami!"
The girl beside Ran—Hayami—snapped herself out and faced towards the person calling out to her.
"Nii-chan–? W-what–"
"Are ya okay? Did ya got hurt?"
The teen stood infront of her checking for sighted injuries, while also checking on the other girl for possible injuries.
"Am fine, am fine! Mouri-san saved me." Hayami nodded towards Ran.
"Anyways, what happened? 'Cause am sure you didn't rush inta a cab ta follow a car fer no reason."
At that, the guy infront of her rubbed his temple and groaned.
"It's a long story- I'll tell ya later, right now I need ta check in on da guy ta make sure he ain't–"
"Dead."
They turned their focus towards the scene, with both of the Kudou brothers near the car and the driver. With Conan contacting the police and Shinichi taking a good look at the scene itself.
"And it seems like it hadn't been too long either." The teenager detective stated, taking the offered phone from Conan.
"S-Shinichi?" Ran called out to her childhood friend.
"Heh, shoulda known that, The Detective of the East, Kudou Shinichi beat me to it in his own hometown." The guy didn't sound disappointed, instead he was grinning.
Ran was a bit taken aback by what she's witnessing, as Hayami snaps her fingers in realization.
"No wonder I coulda sworn I've heard a' him!
"Ah, sorry I should reintroduce while he's here now. Am Hattori Hayami, and my brother,"
Hayami gestured her hand towards the other Osakan.
"Hattori Heiji. Detective of the West."
—To Be Continued—