Chapter 256: The Gossip of the Mouri Couple

"Perhaps it’s not that I’m uncertain, but that I had already confirmed it upon hearing the news of Shinichi’s death; the uncertainty was merely emotional."

Speaking of this, Ran Mouri suddenly lowered her head, the reflection of Conan Edogawa shimmering in her eyes.

Too many things had happened in the past month.

So many that they far exceeded the events of her previous dozen-plus years of life.

It was precisely because she had been exposed to so much that she found herself in a state of confusion and inability to process her own feelings.

She immediately lifted her head, glanced sideways at Ren Amamiya, and leaned in toward him of her own accord.

"The uncertainty was about the past; now, I am certain."

"Perhaps my fate with Shinichi was completely severed the moment he decided on the death of the identity known as Shinichi Kudo."

Ren Amamiya also reached out at the right moment to hold Ran Mouri.

Ran Mouri’s cheeks flushed slightly; at this moment, she felt her heartbeat accelerating rapidly. She could be certain now that whenever she was by Ren’s side, she could never control her emotions.

If in the past she called this a flutter or an expression of affection, then now, she was truly in love.

It was just that the object of her affection was no longer the deceased childhood friend Shinichi Kudo, but the boy she had only known for a month: Ren Amamiya.

"As for now, I can vaguely feel it. When I’m with you, I don’t have to keep listening to those topics I dislike. When I’m with you, my heart races, and sometimes I can’t help but think about you."

Ran Mouri couldn't help but recall the events of this past month.

The initial shock of Shinichi Kudo turning into an elementary school student seemed to have been swept away by the emotions wrapped up in the Wonder Diary.

After the identity of Shinichi Kudo was confirmed dead, Ren had also entered her life.

With increased contact at school and deepening connections during extracurricular hours, the void left by Shinichi Kudo had been filled.

A boy with a slightly inferior personality who always maintained a safe distance from her.

Yet, it was this very boy who gradually entered her life, beginning to bring a multitude of colors into her world.

Habit is truly a terrible thing.

When Ran Mouri realized she had begun to grow accustomed to having Ren by her side, she started to discover that she seemed to have more awareness of this boy.

Perhaps she couldn't yet confirm it was love.

But she certainly had the desire to share everything about herself with Ren, to let her emotions wash over him so that he, too, could feel what she felt.

"On the way home last Monday night, I ran into Aunt Yumi, and after hearing about this weekend’s hot spring trip from her, I thought of you immediately."

Ran Mouri couldn't help but sigh.

"I think I must have been influenced by Aunt Yumi. Because she said I could find a boyfriend to go to the hot spring with to surprise my father. At that moment, the first person I thought of wasn't anyone else, but you."

"This... is truly my honor."

Such a result was a situation Ren Amamiya had never anticipated.

"Is it because of the story again?"

Ran Mouri raised an eyebrow.

Ren Amamiya nodded in distress.

"There is indeed an influence from the story. In the story, your feelings for Shinichi Kudo were incredibly devoted; even with some twists and conflicts in between, you never showed any signs of changing."

"So, I always thought you... were still as devoted as you were in the story."

Hearing these perceptions from Ren, Ran Mouri angrily pinched this big idiot.

"I can be devoted, but he doesn't give me the chance!"

"The prerequisite for devotion is at least being able to communicate normally with him, right? He already killed off his own identity, and he and I aren't husband and wife. Even if I know the hidden reasons behind his situation, why should I refuse to interact with other boys for his sake?"

"That’s not devotion; that’s just being a fool!"

If they were married, devotion could be understood, but why would someone who isn't even dating need to be devoted?

Devotion should at least be a commitment made after a relationship is established.

"The me in the story is such a big idiot. Who would be so devoted to a boy they aren't even dating?"

"And another thing, isn't the me in the story disappointed at all after being treated like that? No matter how much patience one has, being jerked around like that will eventually lead to disappointment and discouragement."

Ran Mouri never believed that her affection and feelings for someone could be continuous; any kind of emotion requires reciprocation.

Besides, she watched her own father and mother—who clearly had good feelings for each other—separate due to some issues; and she and Shinichi were only childhood friends, after all.

"Hiss!"

Ren Amamiya, having been pinched, felt a very intense pain—so intense that even the Joker couldn't control the expression on his face.

"Ran, please control yourself... my physical fitness isn't that strong."

Ran Mouri’s fingers paused; she didn't continue to pinch hard. She glanced at the spot she had just pinched—the flesh on Ren’s waist—and the thought of helping him massage it to disperse the bruising also faded.

In broad daylight, she couldn't just reach her hand inside Ren’s clothes, could she?

It wouldn't be appropriate out here.

Avoiding the spot she had just pinched, Ran Mouri tapped Ren with controlled force.

"So, the character setting in the story is just too perfect, but there are no such perfect people in reality."

"No one can maintain one-sided effort for long. Especially in matters of the heart; if there’s no response, the fire will go out very quickly."

"Even with the relationship between my father and mother, they ended up living apart due to some conflicts. If I didn't know that their feelings for each other were still there, and even knew that they occasionally met up when they went out, I would have thought their relationship had problems too."

"Huh?"

Hearing this special news for the first time, Ren Amamiya was a bit dumbfounded. "Your parents still meet up often?"

Ran Mouri pursed her lips, complaining with a touch of speechlessness.

"Otherwise, why do you think those two haven't divorced after living apart for so long? It can't just be because of me, right?"

"Those two are just being stubborn; it’s not like they really have bad feelings for each other. I’ve been watching from the sidelines the whole time, how could I not know?"

"Dad and Mom are both stubborn mules. If either one of them just lowered their head, they could go back to how things were, but they just won't turn back. Every time I deliberately pull them together, I’m giving them a chance, letting them think I don't know."

"And yet, Dad and Mom still keep acting in front of me."

"Tch!"

Ran Mouri felt that sometimes, being the one who knows the truth hidden behind her parents was quite exhausting, especially having to play along with their act. Honestly, sometimes she felt sick of it.

PS: New book is out, asking for data.