Post by Cesela on Feb 28, 2016 23:56:13 GMT
Prompt: The detective boys decide (or are assigned in class) to write a story, and decide to write a mystery story.
Summary: It goes pretty much as you'd expect if we lived in a rational world.
Wordcount : 2658
Unfortunatly rather hurriedly written. Sorry for all writing mistakes.
Pens and knives
The corridor was deserted. The only time it was full was whenever class started or ended. Hordes of children screaming and pushing in order to get to their destination. Rows of lockers and benches lay scattered by the walls, leaving the middle clear.
In one of the room's named 'office' sat five lone figures. Three heads bowed in shame, one in annoyance and the last seemed to be confused by the entire situation. The little, brown haired girl sniffled.
“I told you we should have gone for the missing kitten.” Sharp hazel eyes eyed one of the boys. Displeasure read clear in her petite face.
The boy kicked his feet slightly before turning his head around to meet her gaze. “They are the ones who wanted to do this.”
Haibara narrowed her eyes. “They are kids, Kudou-kun. They don't know better. You do.”
Kudou-kun – or as he was currently calling himself, Conan shook his head fractionally. Exasperation clear in his features, “They are just overreacting. I did this all the time back then too.”
“Besides,” he continued amicable. “You are the one who actually drew it, Haibara.”
Her lips tugged slightly upwards at that. A gleam of sadism in her eyes. “How could I resist?” She purred like the cat who ate the canary.
Cold shivers went down his spine. He avoided her gaze. He wouldn't fall for her bait. He raked a hand through his hair. The fault laid in both of them. They should have known better. He was more than willing to take all the blame.
“'I still think we did a good job. I don't get what they are getting so worked up over. We spent weeks on this project! Grown-ups are just dummies.” Genta's timbre voice cut in. His cheeks bulged in anger.
Mitsuhiko elbowed the larger child with a grin. “We, Genta-kun? All you did was stare at us while eating your benta eel.”
“Ai-chan and Conan-kun did all the work anyway,” Ayumi pipped up from her seat as she eyed the not-children with a soft smile. “We just came up with the idea. Who knew Ai-chan was such an amazing artist!”
A door opened somewhere on their right. Five pairs of eyes were drawn in the direction. An elderly woman peeked at them with an impassive expression.
'”They are ready for you now. Spit spot.”
The good humour of the room drained as the children made to jump off the children-sized chairs. Ayumi grabbed Haibara's hand as she fluttered nervously. Mitsuhiko looked ashen and Genta patted his stomach absentminded.
All eyes turned towards the unnamed leader of the detective boys. Conan glanced at them, before sighing. Alright, alright, I'll go first into the lion's den. There were no other words to describe it. He snuck a hand into a pocket and started towards the door.
The adjacent room was filled with several people. The principle sat on a chair behind a large, mahogany desk. The vice-principle stood behind her. His face nervous. Their substitute teacher stood by the window, arms crossed as he followed the children's movements with his eyes. A furrow of worry clear in his features.
Conan glanced at him. Ah, yes. That was where the problem had started. Kobayashi-sensei had gotten sick just as the project was due. This entire spectacle could have been avoidable if it had not been for the temporary switch. He climbed up on one of the chairs that was displayed for the five children. He eyed the rest of the occupants in the room.
Professor Agasa looked ill at ease. His moustache twitched every now and again as the professor was apron to involuntarily lip movements whenever he was nervous. He tried to catch the detective’s eyes to query on what he should do.
Next to him stood a very worried Ran. A hand clenched around her wrist as if she was desperately trying to not reach out to her ward. She mouthed 'Conan-kun' when she noticed him staring at her. He dropped his gaze.
The three other occupants he vaguely remembered as Mitsuhiko's mother, Genta's dad, and Ayumi's mother.
Silence settled over the crowded room. Conan twitched slightly in unease.
“Now that we are all here, we can begin,” the principle started. In all her years as principle of Teitan Elementary. She had never experienced anything this shocking. If this came out, she would surely lose her job. The point of a school was to educate children in proper behaviour as well as gaining knowledge for a future employment. And more specifically, make sure they do not turn into savages and mentally unstable individual that would rake havoc to their society. The knowledge of what was right and wrong, good and bad, was important for everyday life. However, today, the knowledge that education and responsibility of the teachers had gone horribly awry had come to the surface. She had to correct this as fast as possible.
“It's all my fault,” the bespectacled child interrupted with a low voice. “It's my idea. I wrote it. The rest have nothing to do with it.”
Ran gasped in surprise. Her eyes watered as her entire body twitched. The urge to go to the boy she regarded as a little brother was clear in her movements.
Conan coiled slightly from the clear distress in the girl's actions. I’m sorry Ran.
The three real children looked ready to argue, but held their tongues when Haibara shot them a warning.
The eighteen year old-turned six crossed her arms as she glared defiantly at the principle. “Edogawa-kun wrote the story, I drew it.” Though her expression was fierce, her voice came out in a monotonous and bored intonation. She ignored the surprised glance Conan shot her. She would not let him take all the blame. That would mean she owed him. She hated owing people.
The principle cleared her throat slightly as she glanced between the two children. Indecision and uncertainty clear in her face. “Is this true?” She turned to the three-silent kids.
Ayumi, Genta and Mitsuhiko glanced at each other. A wordless conversation shared between them. A few seconds passed as several expressions flickered across their faces.
Conan was getting a bad feeling about this. Oy oy, don’t tell me. His eyebrow twitched slightly in exasperation. Just as he finished the thought, the three children turned towards the principle.
“It was our idea. Conan-kun and Ai-chan did as we told them to do.”
“They are lying.” Conan gritted. He folded his arms across his chest and sent his friends’ a displeased expression. He was trying to protect them for goodness sake. This was not a laughing matter.
The principle looked bewildered. A finger tapped on the wooden surface of the mahogany desk. Several emotions flickered across her features before she came to a decision. She stood slowly and faced the older inhabitants of the small room. “Yoshida-san, Tsuburaya-san and Kojima-san. Would you please step out of the room with your children for a little while? I assure you we will come to the bottom of this. I’d like to listen to the children’s stories separately.”
The next moments were filled with agreed murmur and rustling of clothes and chair as the population halved. Genta, Mitsuhiko and Ayumi sent their two friends distraught and concerned looks. Genta tried objecting by shouting and grabbing the doorframe. Kojima-san did not pause as he picked up his son. The protesting children’s cry of accountability drowned out when the door closed shut.
Conan slummed back in the chair. His breath leaving his chest in relief. At least the kids were out of the woods for now. He glanced at Haibara. The remaining question was thus, what would happen to them?
Haibara was of no help whatsoever. Her expression possibly gleaming with amusement as she regarded him. She knew well she would get out of this with little reprove. Agasa knew her secret identity. Ran – Ran did not. The merciless tilt in her lips made his stomach sink fractionally. He was screwed.
The principle coughed. All attention snapped back to the authority figure. “We all know why we are gathered here. The pupils of Kobayashi-sensei had a project due this morning. Unfortunately, she had gotten sick the night prior and Shige-sensei was kind enough to substitute for her.” She nodded towards the man standing by the window.
Shige straightened as he was introduced. He was a man in his late twenties. Dark hair framed a virile face. He had kind, jade-coloured eyes, making him quite popular with older women. His face now featured a worried expression. “For the project the kids were to write and draw a story together as a group and present it. One of the project,” he hesitated, eyes wandering across the room to gauge the reaction of everyone present. The furrow in his brow deepened when his gaze fell on the two children.
Haibara’s face were carefully blanc, desperately trying not to show any trace of her amusement or fall into bits of giggles.
Conan’s squirmed in his seat. He laced his fingers. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled. Ran’s eyes burned into his back. He gulped, stomach filling with unmistakable dread. He could predict were this was going and he was not looking forward to the repercussions. Why had he let it go so far?
“It has come to our attention that Kobayashi have neglecting her duty as a teacher and instead encouraged appalling behaviour.” The principle cut in. Her eyes gazed upon the room with a rigid expression. “Be assured we will be releasing Kobayashi-san from our employment immediately and make sure she will never work in the system again. We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this and any therapy sessions needed will of course be payed by this institution.” The principle and vice-principle bowed.
All previous enjoyment in Haiabara’s face drowned, leaving her looking pale. Eyes widened as the realization hit them. This was not within the expected consequences. Being grounded and some counselling sessions yes, but costing Kobayashi-sensei’s her job?
Conan’s stomach dropped in dread. They can’t just – they wouldn’t –. The chair fell in a clatter behind him as he rushed to stand. “Kobayashi-sensei isn’t at fault! It’s me. I did it.” He dabbed a finger against his chest. “That does not merit sacking her. Kobayashi-sensei is a kind hearted and amazing teacher. You cannot deprive us of her presence. No one will stand for this injustice.”
The principle’s eyes hardened as she peered down at him. The lines around her lips tightened. “Oh, we are well aware what nuisance you are, Edogawa-kun. We’ve kept an eye on your development. However, we resigned to stay out of it as no depraved notification has been given from your teachers. Until now. Kobayashi-san not only did not warn us about this problem, but she outright encouraged it.”
She leaned across the table to pick up some sheets of files. “You are a frighteningly intelligent young boy, Edogawa-kun.” Her eyes drifted up from him and landed on the person standing behind Conan.
Conan’s breath hitched as he remembered they were not alone in the room. He turned around to peer at Ran. His heart shattered from her crestfallen expression. She looked even paler then earlier, tears accumulating in her wide eyes and her hands shaking slightly. The guilt overcome him with a suffocating embrace.
“Before Yoshida-chan, Tsuburaya-kun and Kojima-kun met him they were just like every other child in their class. Now they run around completely obsessed with crimes and death. Does this count as normal behaviour for six-year-old children?” The strict tone of her voice conveying her opinions. She thought Conan was manipulating and dangerous. “Look at these. This is their project. A murder mystery. How could any child conceive of these horrendous crimes? They even have detailed faces.”
Her hands shook slightly as a page slid between her hands. It flashed its contents to the people in the room. A face similar to Conan’s was covered in blood as a knife was plunged into his chest. Conan swallowed. What had Haibara been thinking when she drew those?
Dejection and shame flashed across Ran’s features. She gasped softly. “It’s my fault isn’t it? I should have kept him away from the crime scenes.” Tears fell freely from her eyes.
The principle shook her head and fixed the girl with a pitying gaze. “It is most certainly not your fault, Mouri-san. His parents on their other hand.” Her eyes dropped to regard Conan. What kind of parents leaves their children with strangers half across the world? Read clearing her face.
Conan clenched his fists. It was true he had been left alone by his parents the first childhood around at the age of fourteen. He never begrudged them the need to travel. It had given him the freedom to act as he wished. He glanced back at Ran. This entire situation was ravelling out of his reach. What could he possibly do to rectify this? He had already decided to take all responsibility. But how could he do so without it ending up with hours of therapy sessions and possibly institutionalised if they believed he showed sign of ASPD at this early age? Dread spread through his veins at the thought.
“This is what we are going to do,” the principle continued. “We are going separate the group. Possibly find private tutors for those who requires it.” The glare she sent the two children indicated she meant both of them.
For the first time since they entered, Agasa stepped forward. “I can – erh – I can take them.”
The principle tsk-ed “Rest assure we’ll be sending social service to check out the validity of that.”
Agasa withered visibly. His moustache twitched in distress.
Ran cleared her throat, interrupting the suspicious scowl the principle was sending the professor. Her face looked ashen and the tension in her shoulder’s tired. “Is that all? Can I take Conan-kun home with me and continue this tomorrow? We’ve all been quite shocked.”
“She’s right,” Shige glanced at the principle. “We should not speak of this in front of the children. We still need to talk to the other parents.”
The aforementioned woman’s lips thinned possibly even more before she nodded. “Naturally. Before you leave though, I would like the contact numbers for the children’s real parents.”
Conan and Haibara glanced at each other, panic flashing in their eyes. This had gone out of hand the moment they stepped into the room. He would have to call his parents and ask for help. They were bound to have contacts that could help sort all of this out. But that did not stop the fact they had been careless and never considered the school as a complication towards hiding their secret identity. Entering elementary school was suppose to help hide them, not blow their cover. Could everything unravel from this tiny mistake? It was almost laughable to think about, if it was not so serious.
He took a deep breath. One step at a time, Shinichi. Leave the office, get home and contact my parents. He had to take a second breath in order to keep away the panic that curled in his chest. Just one step at a time.
The next few moments went by in a blur. Ran and Agasa left contact numbers – in the professor’s case a burner phone. And they were out the door.
Ran fluttered next to him nervously. Her hands twitched in distress as though they could not decide what action to take.
He bowed his head. Every single lie he had made was threatening to unravel in front of his eyes. What could he possibly do to fix things with Ran? There had to be something he could do. The next couple of days would be vital. A new plan was needed in order to sew all of this together. If it even could.
Summary: It goes pretty much as you'd expect if we lived in a rational world.
Wordcount : 2658
Unfortunatly rather hurriedly written. Sorry for all writing mistakes.
Pens and knives
The corridor was deserted. The only time it was full was whenever class started or ended. Hordes of children screaming and pushing in order to get to their destination. Rows of lockers and benches lay scattered by the walls, leaving the middle clear.
In one of the room's named 'office' sat five lone figures. Three heads bowed in shame, one in annoyance and the last seemed to be confused by the entire situation. The little, brown haired girl sniffled.
“I told you we should have gone for the missing kitten.” Sharp hazel eyes eyed one of the boys. Displeasure read clear in her petite face.
The boy kicked his feet slightly before turning his head around to meet her gaze. “They are the ones who wanted to do this.”
Haibara narrowed her eyes. “They are kids, Kudou-kun. They don't know better. You do.”
Kudou-kun – or as he was currently calling himself, Conan shook his head fractionally. Exasperation clear in his features, “They are just overreacting. I did this all the time back then too.”
“Besides,” he continued amicable. “You are the one who actually drew it, Haibara.”
Her lips tugged slightly upwards at that. A gleam of sadism in her eyes. “How could I resist?” She purred like the cat who ate the canary.
Cold shivers went down his spine. He avoided her gaze. He wouldn't fall for her bait. He raked a hand through his hair. The fault laid in both of them. They should have known better. He was more than willing to take all the blame.
“'I still think we did a good job. I don't get what they are getting so worked up over. We spent weeks on this project! Grown-ups are just dummies.” Genta's timbre voice cut in. His cheeks bulged in anger.
Mitsuhiko elbowed the larger child with a grin. “We, Genta-kun? All you did was stare at us while eating your benta eel.”
“Ai-chan and Conan-kun did all the work anyway,” Ayumi pipped up from her seat as she eyed the not-children with a soft smile. “We just came up with the idea. Who knew Ai-chan was such an amazing artist!”
A door opened somewhere on their right. Five pairs of eyes were drawn in the direction. An elderly woman peeked at them with an impassive expression.
'”They are ready for you now. Spit spot.”
The good humour of the room drained as the children made to jump off the children-sized chairs. Ayumi grabbed Haibara's hand as she fluttered nervously. Mitsuhiko looked ashen and Genta patted his stomach absentminded.
All eyes turned towards the unnamed leader of the detective boys. Conan glanced at them, before sighing. Alright, alright, I'll go first into the lion's den. There were no other words to describe it. He snuck a hand into a pocket and started towards the door.
The adjacent room was filled with several people. The principle sat on a chair behind a large, mahogany desk. The vice-principle stood behind her. His face nervous. Their substitute teacher stood by the window, arms crossed as he followed the children's movements with his eyes. A furrow of worry clear in his features.
Conan glanced at him. Ah, yes. That was where the problem had started. Kobayashi-sensei had gotten sick just as the project was due. This entire spectacle could have been avoidable if it had not been for the temporary switch. He climbed up on one of the chairs that was displayed for the five children. He eyed the rest of the occupants in the room.
Professor Agasa looked ill at ease. His moustache twitched every now and again as the professor was apron to involuntarily lip movements whenever he was nervous. He tried to catch the detective’s eyes to query on what he should do.
Next to him stood a very worried Ran. A hand clenched around her wrist as if she was desperately trying to not reach out to her ward. She mouthed 'Conan-kun' when she noticed him staring at her. He dropped his gaze.
The three other occupants he vaguely remembered as Mitsuhiko's mother, Genta's dad, and Ayumi's mother.
Silence settled over the crowded room. Conan twitched slightly in unease.
“Now that we are all here, we can begin,” the principle started. In all her years as principle of Teitan Elementary. She had never experienced anything this shocking. If this came out, she would surely lose her job. The point of a school was to educate children in proper behaviour as well as gaining knowledge for a future employment. And more specifically, make sure they do not turn into savages and mentally unstable individual that would rake havoc to their society. The knowledge of what was right and wrong, good and bad, was important for everyday life. However, today, the knowledge that education and responsibility of the teachers had gone horribly awry had come to the surface. She had to correct this as fast as possible.
“It's all my fault,” the bespectacled child interrupted with a low voice. “It's my idea. I wrote it. The rest have nothing to do with it.”
Ran gasped in surprise. Her eyes watered as her entire body twitched. The urge to go to the boy she regarded as a little brother was clear in her movements.
Conan coiled slightly from the clear distress in the girl's actions. I’m sorry Ran.
The three real children looked ready to argue, but held their tongues when Haibara shot them a warning.
The eighteen year old-turned six crossed her arms as she glared defiantly at the principle. “Edogawa-kun wrote the story, I drew it.” Though her expression was fierce, her voice came out in a monotonous and bored intonation. She ignored the surprised glance Conan shot her. She would not let him take all the blame. That would mean she owed him. She hated owing people.
The principle cleared her throat slightly as she glanced between the two children. Indecision and uncertainty clear in her face. “Is this true?” She turned to the three-silent kids.
Ayumi, Genta and Mitsuhiko glanced at each other. A wordless conversation shared between them. A few seconds passed as several expressions flickered across their faces.
Conan was getting a bad feeling about this. Oy oy, don’t tell me. His eyebrow twitched slightly in exasperation. Just as he finished the thought, the three children turned towards the principle.
“It was our idea. Conan-kun and Ai-chan did as we told them to do.”
“They are lying.” Conan gritted. He folded his arms across his chest and sent his friends’ a displeased expression. He was trying to protect them for goodness sake. This was not a laughing matter.
The principle looked bewildered. A finger tapped on the wooden surface of the mahogany desk. Several emotions flickered across her features before she came to a decision. She stood slowly and faced the older inhabitants of the small room. “Yoshida-san, Tsuburaya-san and Kojima-san. Would you please step out of the room with your children for a little while? I assure you we will come to the bottom of this. I’d like to listen to the children’s stories separately.”
The next moments were filled with agreed murmur and rustling of clothes and chair as the population halved. Genta, Mitsuhiko and Ayumi sent their two friends distraught and concerned looks. Genta tried objecting by shouting and grabbing the doorframe. Kojima-san did not pause as he picked up his son. The protesting children’s cry of accountability drowned out when the door closed shut.
Conan slummed back in the chair. His breath leaving his chest in relief. At least the kids were out of the woods for now. He glanced at Haibara. The remaining question was thus, what would happen to them?
Haibara was of no help whatsoever. Her expression possibly gleaming with amusement as she regarded him. She knew well she would get out of this with little reprove. Agasa knew her secret identity. Ran – Ran did not. The merciless tilt in her lips made his stomach sink fractionally. He was screwed.
The principle coughed. All attention snapped back to the authority figure. “We all know why we are gathered here. The pupils of Kobayashi-sensei had a project due this morning. Unfortunately, she had gotten sick the night prior and Shige-sensei was kind enough to substitute for her.” She nodded towards the man standing by the window.
Shige straightened as he was introduced. He was a man in his late twenties. Dark hair framed a virile face. He had kind, jade-coloured eyes, making him quite popular with older women. His face now featured a worried expression. “For the project the kids were to write and draw a story together as a group and present it. One of the project,” he hesitated, eyes wandering across the room to gauge the reaction of everyone present. The furrow in his brow deepened when his gaze fell on the two children.
Haibara’s face were carefully blanc, desperately trying not to show any trace of her amusement or fall into bits of giggles.
Conan’s squirmed in his seat. He laced his fingers. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled. Ran’s eyes burned into his back. He gulped, stomach filling with unmistakable dread. He could predict were this was going and he was not looking forward to the repercussions. Why had he let it go so far?
“It has come to our attention that Kobayashi have neglecting her duty as a teacher and instead encouraged appalling behaviour.” The principle cut in. Her eyes gazed upon the room with a rigid expression. “Be assured we will be releasing Kobayashi-san from our employment immediately and make sure she will never work in the system again. We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this and any therapy sessions needed will of course be payed by this institution.” The principle and vice-principle bowed.
All previous enjoyment in Haiabara’s face drowned, leaving her looking pale. Eyes widened as the realization hit them. This was not within the expected consequences. Being grounded and some counselling sessions yes, but costing Kobayashi-sensei’s her job?
Conan’s stomach dropped in dread. They can’t just – they wouldn’t –. The chair fell in a clatter behind him as he rushed to stand. “Kobayashi-sensei isn’t at fault! It’s me. I did it.” He dabbed a finger against his chest. “That does not merit sacking her. Kobayashi-sensei is a kind hearted and amazing teacher. You cannot deprive us of her presence. No one will stand for this injustice.”
The principle’s eyes hardened as she peered down at him. The lines around her lips tightened. “Oh, we are well aware what nuisance you are, Edogawa-kun. We’ve kept an eye on your development. However, we resigned to stay out of it as no depraved notification has been given from your teachers. Until now. Kobayashi-san not only did not warn us about this problem, but she outright encouraged it.”
She leaned across the table to pick up some sheets of files. “You are a frighteningly intelligent young boy, Edogawa-kun.” Her eyes drifted up from him and landed on the person standing behind Conan.
Conan’s breath hitched as he remembered they were not alone in the room. He turned around to peer at Ran. His heart shattered from her crestfallen expression. She looked even paler then earlier, tears accumulating in her wide eyes and her hands shaking slightly. The guilt overcome him with a suffocating embrace.
“Before Yoshida-chan, Tsuburaya-kun and Kojima-kun met him they were just like every other child in their class. Now they run around completely obsessed with crimes and death. Does this count as normal behaviour for six-year-old children?” The strict tone of her voice conveying her opinions. She thought Conan was manipulating and dangerous. “Look at these. This is their project. A murder mystery. How could any child conceive of these horrendous crimes? They even have detailed faces.”
Her hands shook slightly as a page slid between her hands. It flashed its contents to the people in the room. A face similar to Conan’s was covered in blood as a knife was plunged into his chest. Conan swallowed. What had Haibara been thinking when she drew those?
Dejection and shame flashed across Ran’s features. She gasped softly. “It’s my fault isn’t it? I should have kept him away from the crime scenes.” Tears fell freely from her eyes.
The principle shook her head and fixed the girl with a pitying gaze. “It is most certainly not your fault, Mouri-san. His parents on their other hand.” Her eyes dropped to regard Conan. What kind of parents leaves their children with strangers half across the world? Read clearing her face.
Conan clenched his fists. It was true he had been left alone by his parents the first childhood around at the age of fourteen. He never begrudged them the need to travel. It had given him the freedom to act as he wished. He glanced back at Ran. This entire situation was ravelling out of his reach. What could he possibly do to rectify this? He had already decided to take all responsibility. But how could he do so without it ending up with hours of therapy sessions and possibly institutionalised if they believed he showed sign of ASPD at this early age? Dread spread through his veins at the thought.
“This is what we are going to do,” the principle continued. “We are going separate the group. Possibly find private tutors for those who requires it.” The glare she sent the two children indicated she meant both of them.
For the first time since they entered, Agasa stepped forward. “I can – erh – I can take them.”
The principle tsk-ed “Rest assure we’ll be sending social service to check out the validity of that.”
Agasa withered visibly. His moustache twitched in distress.
Ran cleared her throat, interrupting the suspicious scowl the principle was sending the professor. Her face looked ashen and the tension in her shoulder’s tired. “Is that all? Can I take Conan-kun home with me and continue this tomorrow? We’ve all been quite shocked.”
“She’s right,” Shige glanced at the principle. “We should not speak of this in front of the children. We still need to talk to the other parents.”
The aforementioned woman’s lips thinned possibly even more before she nodded. “Naturally. Before you leave though, I would like the contact numbers for the children’s real parents.”
Conan and Haibara glanced at each other, panic flashing in their eyes. This had gone out of hand the moment they stepped into the room. He would have to call his parents and ask for help. They were bound to have contacts that could help sort all of this out. But that did not stop the fact they had been careless and never considered the school as a complication towards hiding their secret identity. Entering elementary school was suppose to help hide them, not blow their cover. Could everything unravel from this tiny mistake? It was almost laughable to think about, if it was not so serious.
He took a deep breath. One step at a time, Shinichi. Leave the office, get home and contact my parents. He had to take a second breath in order to keep away the panic that curled in his chest. Just one step at a time.
The next few moments went by in a blur. Ran and Agasa left contact numbers – in the professor’s case a burner phone. And they were out the door.
Ran fluttered next to him nervously. Her hands twitched in distress as though they could not decide what action to take.
He bowed his head. Every single lie he had made was threatening to unravel in front of his eyes. What could he possibly do to fix things with Ran? There had to be something he could do. The next couple of days would be vital. A new plan was needed in order to sew all of this together. If it even could.