Chapter 7 - Trial

From the dance floor, Sonoko noticed that this guy from earlier was sitting with Ran and that the two were talking. Sonoko smiled. It had been a good idea to persuade Ran to come along. After all, Ran laughed again, which had become really rare lately. She seemed to get along pretty well with the man.

"Oh yes? I know that, my father is sometimes like that too." Ran answered with a laugh when Akio told her that his father was a real clumsy man. Ran knew a lot about him now. Akio was 22 years old and works in his mother's company as an assistant to the management. But he only did this to finance his studies. Ran found that she was kind of taken with him. He was a little taller than she was, athletic, slim, had brown hair and bright blue eyes. What she also found amazing, however, was that he studied law and criminology. Akio also asked Ran a few things, but she didn't say much about herself. Aside from her age and what school she went to, all he knew was her name. He seemed genuinely interested in her. Akio looked at the clock. It was two in the morning. "Sorry Ran, but I have to go now. I have a meeting tomorrow morning and have to get up early." "Oh, well then I don't want to hold you up any longer." Sonoko, Minako and Akiko came back to the table. "I would like to see you again." Akio whispered to Ran. Ran blushed slightly and nodded hesitantly. Akio said goodbye to the women and left with a smile. Before he left the club, however, he looked again at Ran, who was talking to her friends.

“Didn't you say you weren't interested?” Ran blushed. "He doesn't either, but what should I do if he sits down next to me and buys me a drink?" "Yes, yes, tell your hairdresser." The girls giggled. After half an hour they decided to go home too.On the way, Sonoko and Ran said goodbye to Minako and Akiko, who had to go in a different direction. When they were alone, Sonoko couldn't take it anymore. She wanted to know more about the guy. "And?" "What and?" "Who was that guy? What's he like? How old is he?" "His name is Akio. He's 22 and ..." Ran paused. How should she describe him? "And what?" questioned Sonoko. "He's nice. Very nice. And charming." Sonoko paused when Ran went into raptures.

“Where is it?” Ran rummaged in her pocket. "Here it is." Ran took her cell phone and switched it to mute, after all, she did not want to be woken up by someone early in the morning. She noticed a small wise card lying on the floor. “Mh?” She picked it up. There were two phone numbers and Akio's name on them. Ran turned the card over. There was something else:

It was a pleasure to meet you. I'd like to hear from you. Akio Shinichi.

She smiled. Ran changed clothes and went to bed.

When Ran was in her bed, she thought again about the evening. Actually, she had been having fun. Akio was a really nice guy. She should meet him sometime, maybe there'll be more of it. When she closed her eyes, she suddenly saw Shinichi. She sat up and looked in the direction of her desk and therefore also the picture of Shinichi and her. No, she shook her head. It was over with him before it even started.

Ran was awakened by the falling sun. She opened her eyes and sat up. She looked at her alarm clock, which was on a small bedside table next to her bed. It was just 9 o'clock. Her gaze fell on the little card that she had discovered the night before. She reached for it. “Should I really call him?” She picked up her cell phone and punched in the number. But instead of pressing call, she saved his number. She wondered if she should text him.All he had said was that she should get in touch, but not how. So a text message would be better to start with. It's always easier to write. She started texting.

Good morning, I hope I'm not bothering you. I just wanted to tell you that I was happy to meet you too.
Ran

She sent out the text message and put her phone aside. Ran got up and got dressed. And already her cell phone rang.

Good Morning. I'm glad to hear that, and like I said, I'd love to see you again. What do you think of going out for coffee with me today?

Ran smiled. Why not, she thought and wrote:

With pleasure. When and where?

The answer came less than a minute later.

I'll finish my meeting around 3am. I would say we'll meet at 3:00 p.m. in the foyer of the Beika Center. See you.

She only wrote him that she would be there. Now Ran went into the kitchen to prepare breakfast for her father and herself.

Around 3 p.m. she was in the foyer of the Beika Center and looked around for Akio. He had already spotted her and approached Ran. "Hello Ran. Nice to see you." "Hello," she answered shyly. “Shall we?” Ran nodded.

They had a good time. But Ran had still been able to really open up to Akio. Too often he reminded her of Shinichi. Or was she just looking for connections? Ran mentally shook her head. She wanted to give Akio a chance. So the two spent the afternoon getting to know each other a little better. As much as she wanted to, she kept catching herself comparing the two.
In the evening they said goodbye. Ran went home lost in thought. She found Akio charming. He was polite and intelligent too.

Ran and Akio had met more often now and they got along better and better. The two just came out of the cinema and Akio now brought Ran home. "It was a very nice evening again."Akio looked tenderly into the eyes of Ran. She looked at him and said that she would have enjoyed the evening very much too. You were now standing in front of the detective agency." Shall we meet tomorrow? "" Of course, "said Akio and ran his arms down on both sides of Ran and now held her hands in his." And I'm looking forward to that. I don't want to part with you at all. "Ran blushed at Akio's words.

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

In his room in Los Angelos, Shinichi woke up. "What the hell…"