Model worker and his little darling

"orchid."

Ran, who was still in a daze, saw Conan standing at the door and said softly, "Shinichi."

Conan sat down opposite Ran and remained silent for a while.

"Lan, do you remember that time we went to the amusement park together?"

Ran nodded, and that was the night she took Conan home.

"I followed a man in black and saw them making a deal with the chairman of a large company. We were discovered and then poisoned. When I woke up again, I looked like this."

Even though he already knew that Conan was Shinichi, hearing Shinichi tell the truth still sent chills down his spine.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, and for a moment, she didn't know what to say.

"You've been lying to me for so long..."

Seeing Ran cry, Conan felt a pang of pain in his heart.

"I remember when I lost my memory, you reverted to Shinichi's appearance."

Upon hearing this, Conan pursed his lips. "Haibara is like me. She betrayed that organization and developed a temporary antidote. I was so worried about you at the time and wanted to protect you, so I took the temporary antidote."

Ran lowered her eyes. Haibara?

Conan and Ai Haibara were always very calm, which made them stand out from the other three children. She even made fun of them before; now that I think about it, she probably just seemed like a fool to them.

Was the Conan who appeared at the observation restaurant last time Haibara in disguise?

Conan suppressed the bitterness in his heart and said, "Yes."

Xiaolan wanted to laugh, but she couldn't. Her heart grew colder and colder.

They had already conspired to deceive her without her even knowing it. Ironically, she was still immersed in the beautiful dream woven by Shinichi Kudo.

They were boyfriend and girlfriend; he knew everything about her, while she knew nothing about him.

"Everyone knows your true identity: Professor Agasa, Ai Haibara, Taira no Kiyoshi, Hattori, even Dad knows."

She took Conan away because of Professor Agasa's explanation, and also because Conan gave seemingly innocent hints when her father was making deductions, and Hattori repeatedly called out Kudo's name...

She suspected Conan several times, but each time these people helped him, just to keep it from her.

Hearing Ran say this, Conan grabbed her hand. "Ran, that's a transnational criminal organization. They're ruthless. I don't want you to get involved with them. I'm afraid I can't protect you, and I don't want you to worry..."

Ran looked at Conan with a gentle and focused expression.

She understood Shinichi's thoughts, but Shinichi didn't understand her.

"Shinichi, we're childhood friends, we're boyfriend and girlfriend, we've grown up together since we were little. I'm not a parasitic plant clinging to you, I'm capable of protecting myself, and I think I deserve to stand by your side."

But he felt extremely bitter inside. Shinichi felt that he was not qualified to fight alongside him, so he chose Haibara, Taira no Kiyoshi, and Hattori.

So he either stays with Hirai or goes to Professor Agasa's house.

He kept the whole truth from her, all in the name of love and protection.

What she wanted was not deception and concealment, but to be with Shinichi and face the unknown dangers together.

But Shinichi didn't think that way.

Even though there was so much unavoidable hardship, love, and care within this deception and concealment, it was all Shinichi's decision on his own. She was touched by Shinichi's feelings for her, but she didn't want to accept this decision.

Conan opened his mouth, but the man who used to be able to make the murderer kneel in agony was now at a loss for words. He was not a good boyfriend.

He did this to protect Xiaolan, but the potential danger they faced was also brought about by him.

Suddenly, Conan remembered the time he was injured and how his parents wanted to bring him to America. He insisted on staying in Japan, wanting to use his own strength to track down the organization.

Perhaps he should have listened to his parents back then.

Then, everything might be different, and Mom and Dad wouldn't have any accidents.

No matter how he investigated, even searching his entire house, he found no clues; it all seemed like an accident. But a voice inside him told him that it shouldn't be like this.

Ran squatted down in front of Conan and gently took off his glasses.

She discovered this answer time and time again, only to miss it again and again.

All the little moments the two shared together came to mind, and it was clear that both Shinichi and Conan felt the same way about her.

She disliked Shinichi's secrecy towards her, but she didn't seem to have the means to earn Shinichi's trust or help him escape his current predicament.

Shinichi is just a high school student, yet he carries so much on his shoulders.

Xiaolan felt sorry for her; she felt that Xiaolan wasn't good enough or outstanding enough.

"Was your injury earlier, along with Professor Agasa's, caused by that organization that shrunk you?"

Conan nodded. "Yes, I've been investigating their whereabouts, trying to find a way to recover. I was the one who injured the professor, and I feel like their people are always around us."

“If they knew I was still alive, they might very well attack me. So I don’t want you to know, I don’t want you to worry, and I don’t want you to get hurt.”

Hearing this, Xiaolan was both angry and heartbroken.

Even though she knew she might be discovered by that organization, she still reverted to her Kudo appearance, just so that Kudo could regain her memories.

But in that case, her father might also be in danger.

She was willing to stand by Shinichi's side and face everything with him.

But she didn't want her father to be in danger, and that danger was brought about by Shinichi.

He gave a wry smile and gently hugged Conan. "I'm sorry, Shinichi, I need some peace and quiet for a while."

Upon hearing this, Conan began to panic, sensing that Ran was about to leave him, and he couldn't bear the consequences of losing her. So, he tightly grasped Ran's hand.

"Lan, please wait for me. I will be myself again as soon as possible."

Xiaolan nodded.

"Lan, actually, I considered telling you everything at first, but... I also knew that my existence would bring danger to you..."

"Stop talking, Shinichi, it's late, get some rest."

Conan opened his mouth and swayed slightly. He didn't want to disappoint his beloved girl, but he still couldn't do it.

As Conan disappeared, Ran collapsed to the ground, hugging herself tightly.

She recalled how Shinichi had hesitated to speak in front of her several times, but in the end, he said nothing.

She waited until Shinichi told her everything in person, but the truth behind it all was too cruel.

P.S.: I kind of regret writing about Shinichi and Ran confessing and getting together _(:3 ⌒?)_, while writing this I even wanted to break them up (／_＼) What a jerk!!!