Ke Ai: Growing up with Xiao Ai

"There is no Edogawa Conan in this world anymore...... "

It's been a month since I gave the antidote to Kudo-kun.

He's changed back to Shinichi Kudo, and now he should be enjoying high school life happily with that girl.

What about a happy ending.

That's what I should have thought ......

However, some shadows began to appear in my mind.

Only realized after being separated from him.

No, probably from a long time ago, but I just deliberately didn't realize it.

What a hope it meant to me as a person like Conan Edogawa -

the reason I was able to stay calm in the days when I continued to fear the Black Organization in order not to let important people die anymore was because of a ...... He is always by my side and makes me feel at ease.

But in the end, I still couldn't tell Kudo-kun about it.

“...... It's ironic. Before the destruction of the black organization, the world was so bright and dazzling for me... I've been in hiding. The

corners of Gray Yuan's mouth smiled bitterly.

In the end, I didn't go back to the way I was.

Unlike Kudo-kun, almost no one is waiting for the return of Shiho Miyano.

Maybe it's because I can only change if I exist in the name of Gray Plains.

Yes, it's because I've met people who have lived as "Gray Plains Mourning" since I started ... The people who are familiar with it.

And in the midst of this, the encounter with Kudo-kun had a huge impact on me that I can't describe in words.

“...... Wanted to see him. "

It's a quiet room where no one can hear a sound.

I whispered what was really going on in my heart.

"No, such a loss doesn't look like me. I should be stronger when I am recognized as his partner!"

I don't have time to think about it right now because I'm too busy helping the FBI with the work to think about it.

When Kudo-kun and Ms. Ran have a happy family, the guilt fades, and I feel like everything has been compensated -

what will I do as a person without parents and sisters?

From my past behavior, I was able to easily predict that.

“...... Well, maybe it's better not to think about it anymore!"

As long as I can remember the past with you... I was satisfied.

Although I can't be the kind of sun that is full of enthusiasm and can give people the same light.

But I should be able to illuminate the darkness of the world as gently as the moon.

-

"Ah, why do I feel so tired when I'm not doing much different things than he has entrusted me......" I

yawned weakly.

We did the same, with the goal of solving the incident, the only difference might be -

"Because you don't have a partner around, right?"

I clenched my hands with my back to the person behind me.

It was a familiar voice, one I thought I would never hear again.

I suddenly had a strong urge to turn my head immediately, but when I looked at the Edogawa-kun reflected in the window...

“...... What do you think?Why didn't I use the antidote I had worked so hard to complete?" I

tried to calm myself down, but my body still trembled slightly.

What do I look like to him now......

"Aren't you useless?"

"Don't make a fuss, you know it, right? I don't have to force it back to the way it was." But you, for the sake of that girl who has been waiting for you—"

As I turned to question him, I saw the look on his face... I was dumbfounded.

"Ah~ I've always thought like this...... Until you disappear...... "

Why......

Why are you looking like this now?

—is it because of me......

Conan: "I don't know... Why am I looking for you so desperately? Gray

Plains mourned: "...... Kudo-kun.

Conan: "Perhaps, the reason you disappeared was because you... Like me, I've reasoned about such a possibility. Gray

Plains mourned: "...... You're such a lack of delicacy, and you're going too far with your self-righteousness!

" Conan: "Maybe..."Kudo-kun

is still the same Kudo-kun as always.

I'm a rather strange person myself, and I feel this strange sense of security for him.

Conan: "It's just that my relationship with Gray Yuan can't be summed up by simple words like love or liking - after knowing your position, I've been bothered by it and can't act. Gray

Plains mourned: "...... So, what's the answer? You'll only get to this point until the mystery is solved, right?"

I've been thinking about that answer since the day I handed him the antidote.

However, this mystery has not yet been solved.

- Do you know the answer?,

Conan shook his head.

"No, this answer has not yet appeared"

I couldn't help but be stunned when I heard his unexpected words.

Gray Plains: "So, then, why are you here...... Conan: "

Do you need a reason to welcome your partner home? I'm here because I want to see you!"

Again, you unconsciously uttered something like this—

easily into my heart.

I regret it, but I don't hate it......

feelingI sighed.

“...... Got it, I lost. You, who were still a schoolboy, went to Europe to say this—I couldn't have gone back. "

Obviously, I'm soft, but this guy should have to make inches, Kudo-kun looked at me with a hippie smile.

Conan: "Haha, you're so honest

, it's really not like you......" Gray Yuan lamented: "Hehe, it's all the fault of some idiot detective that I've become like this."

Conan: "Hey, Grayplain." What does that mean!?Are you scolding me......"

Kudo-kun panicked as usual in the face of my questioning.

"Hehe, you can think about this yourself, Mr. Holmes in the Heisei period~"

Just chatting with Kudo-kun for a while, my originally depressed mood became relaxed as if it didn't exist anymore.

“...... Sure enough, if I hadn't had a conversation like you, my state would have been messed up.

I whispered to myself, but he heard me.

"Hey, hey, don't suddenly say something strange with such a serious expression!"

"I'm sorry, I've been in a bad state lately........."

Really, how long are you going to be sluggish?

I always call myself a detective and never give me an answer, and I gradually get angry about it......

"Ah, forget it. I've been used to this for a long time. "

I will continue to be forced to be there for you.

But if that's my fate, there's no way around it –

you won't let me get it, whether you run away or give up....

But... It's not bad to maintain the previous life~

A smile naturally bloomed on the corner of my mouth.

◇

Conan's monologue.

"Actually, there's only one reason why I'm here to greet Gray Plains—"

That reason, waiting for the moment to usher in it......