Kiss #12: Cocoa
Title: Cocoa
Author: ran_mouri82
Word Count: 492
Rating: G
Disclaimer: Detective Conan is pwned by Aoyama Gosho. I only admire his l33t skillz.
Pairing: Kudou Shin'ichi and Mouri Ran
Notes: 30 Kisses: #23 - candy
Cocoa
On the frigid afternoon of February 14th, Shin'ichi was trying not to act too disappointed. He had started the day confident that this was finally the year Ran would pull him aside and shove a loose bundle of homemade chocolates into his hands. Then, she would wait breathlessly until he ate one, and then he would say how delicious it was, and . . . well, his fantasies were cut short each time Ran pulled something out of her satchel-in the walk with her to school, before homeroom, lunchtime, and during those last moments after the closing chimes-because what emerged was always a notebook or handkerchief or anything considered the opposite of chocolate.
But Shin'ichi also noticed a change in Ran as they walked home. She started fiddling with whatever else was in her bag more and more, and with the clinking sound it made, Shin'ichi realized it was her change purse. Soon she paused every time they passed a coffee shop, but then shook her head and kept walking. It was beginning to bug the heck out of him.
Suddenly, they rounded the corner of the last coffee shop, a Starbucks, before the edge of the residential district. Ran halted, squeezed her fists until her knuckles were white, shouted "Please wait!", and rushed inside. Five minutes later and much chillier, Shin'ichi turned from where he'd been kicking pebbles by the road and glanced up.
Ran raced out of the store, flushed as ever, and peered over her scarf at him with a nervousness that made her look queasy. Holding her hands firmly behind her back, she straightened in her puffy coat, then bowed and thrust forward-a coffee cup?
"Happy Valentine's Day, Shin'ichi!" Ran stammered, holding the steaming cup like a sacrificial offering. The rounded lid, like a sippy cup, made the sight more ridiculous. "I tried to make you chocolate last night, but with the news broadcast of your case on TV, I forgot and left it on the stove. So here's some hot chocolate!"
Shin'ichi blinked in wonder. He'd almost forgotten about that case with a vengeful hotel employee who had held the CEO hostage. Well, the case was hard to forget, but it hadn't dawned on him until now that he could've ended up on the wrong end of that man's gun. Ran had congratulated and teased him as usual, but maybe . . . .
He lifted the cup, blew the swirling steam away, and took a sip. It burned his tongue, but he didn't care. "Hey, Ran," he said, grinning at her. "It's really good. Thanks."
Ran blushed and grabbed her satchel once more. "You're welcome."
Then, when one of her hands slipped to her side, Shin'ichi didn't hesitate to give it a squeeze, but said, "I wonder what this means for White Day."
"Huh?"
"You know," he said, chuckling, "want a white chocolate mocha?"
And Shin'ichi was rewarded with a jab in the ribs.
-
Yes, it's a belated Valentine's Day fic. But the chocolate always tastes sweeter after National Discount Day!