Chapter 10: An SMS that speaks volumes

Akio slowly pulled Ran towards him. Their faces were just a millimeter apart when ...

"WHAT DOES THAT BECOME?"
Kogoro had seen Ran as she climbed the stairs to the detective agency and was wondering why she wasn't inside yet. He looked up and what he saw he didn't like at all. "As soon as one of them has finally disappeared, you've already got another ..." Kogoro couldn't finish his sentence because he was interrupted by Akio. "Mr. Mori, I'm Akio Shi ... Au ..." Ran had poked Akio in the side. If he said his middle name now, her father would go nuts, that was as certain as the amen in church. "Akio who?" Kogoro asked disparagingly, scowling at him. "Excuse me, Mr. Mori. Akio Takashi is my name. I am pleased to meet you." Akio held out his hand to Kogoro. This hit only reluctantly. "Yes, fine. Not me." Ran looked at her father with wide eyes. "Dad! How can you be so rude ..." She got no further. "It's okay, Ran. I'll go now. See you." Akio went down the steps and briefly raised his hand in parting.

Ran looked at her father angrily and walked past him into the apartment, shaking his head.
“Who was the Ran type?” Kogoro looked at her inquiringly. He didn't want her to run into a guy again who would only make her unhappy again like this no good student detective. She had taken off her jacket when her father asked her that. "You know that. He already forgot to introduce himself?" Ran tried to stay calm. She didn't feel like having an argument with her father. "I know that myself, Ran. I don't want to know what his name is, but what he does, where he comes from and where you know each other."
Ran rolled his eyes. “He's 22 and works in his mother's company to finance his studies.” Kogoro scowled. "He's 22? Isn't he a little too old for you?And besides, how do you know each other now? "" Yes dad, he's 22. And it is my business who I meet. To answer your question, how do we know each other. Surely you remember that I went to this club with Sonoko and a few other girls about a month ago? "She waited for her father to answer her question." Good. And we met in this club. And before you say anything now. No, he didn't mess with me. We got into conversation by chance. And now I'm going to sleep if you don't mind. "With that she turned around and went into her room. Her father was left behind, perplexed. He sat down in front of the television and opened a can of beer. Of course he hadn't forgotten to light a cigarette either."

Ran stood in her room, shaking his head, thinking. Would she have let Akio kiss her if her father hadn't intervened? She smiled. Probably yes. Her eyes fell on a small black book. She took it off the shelf and sat with it on her bed. Sighing, she looked at it. She opened it and wanted to start reading. But she struck it. “No.” she said aloud. "It's over. Shinichi is gone." She opened her closet and stowed the book with the things she rarely wore. That way it wouldn't fall into her hands again anytime soon.

She changed and wanted to go to bed, but her cell phone stopped her. Akio had texted her. He always did that when they met.

I wish you good night, sleep well and sweet dreams. Akio

Ran smiled. He was called Shinichi by many. But since she didn't, he had got used to just writing Akio. Ran was grateful to him for that. She didn't know how she would have reacted if his only name had been Shinichi, but since that wasn't the case, she didn't have to worry about it.She wrote back, of course.

Thanks. I wish you the same.
I'm sorry for what my father did.

She laughed softly. Only now did she realize that it had actually been HER management. Her and Shinichi's, and now it was only her and Akio's. Although Shinichi would also fit. She didn't wait for an answer. She was just too tired. So she put her cell phone on mute and lay down. She slowly didn't know where her head was anymore. When she thought that she actually didn't want to know anything about Akio about Shinichi and was now no longer sure whether she would have let Akio off if Shinichi had stayed. She was just confused. She didn't know. Akio was there for her. Shinichi was gone. Definitely. Shinichi had unconsciously made a difficult decision for her by leaving. Even if it was almost unbearable for her at first to be without him, she had got used to the thought and the situation.
Again her thoughts went to this book and the promise she had given shortly after receiving it. "What am I doing? I can't forget you that easily. After all, I loved you. Being in love passes quickly. But love ...?" Another question she had no answer to. Was Shinichi still in love? Had she even loved him, or was it just being in love? She thought for a long time until she came to a conclusion. `I loved him. It would have been too much feeling for anything else. But do I still do it now? '

She looked at the clock. It was only half past six. For a moment she wondered whether she should lie down or get up. She chose the latter and turned on her side. Her eyes fell on her cell phone. She picked it up and saw a message. Ran opened it. She paused. "What?"
Ran had to read this message from Akio a couple of times before she really realized what it was exactly.She blushed when she reread the text message.

Do not worry about it.
I accept a lot for the woman I fell in love with.