Ke Ai: Growing up with Xiao Ai

Ash Hara: "Kudo-kun, can I stay at your house from next week?"

Conan: "-I can understand it as... Do you want to live with me?

" Gray Yuan lamented: "Hey, that's not like that! You also know about the doctor!!"

When he said this, I realized that what he had just said was inappropriate, so I hurriedly denied it.

"Well, it's not because of that incident - the doctor and Miss Fusae, who reunited after ten years, seem to have been on good terms lately. Conan

: "The Doctor wants to fall in love at dusk?"

Gray Yuan mourned: "Hmm... If I'm at home, the two of them won't be able to let go.

Kudo-kun said with interest.

"So, you're coming to my house, aren't you? "

Damn! I have a valid reason, but I don't dare to make eye contact with him at this moment.

"That's it—— that said, when Miss Fusae isn't at home, I still help the doctor cook nutritious meals for longevity~

" Conan: "Haha, I'm still so strict with the doctor." Gray

Yuan mourned: "Oh, do you think you can escape∽

" "Eh, am I too."

Kudo-kun smiled bitterly, and then said something out of nowhere.

"—So, do you think that's okay?"

The conversation span was so long that I didn't understand what he meant for a while.

Gray Plains: "Huh

?" Conan: "Before, the Doctor was your dependent, right?"

But—

Gray Plains mourns: "Now, there are you." You're going to stay with me and not leave me alone, right?"

Conan: "Oh, we're partners, but if we're always together, people will mistakenly think we're dating." "

This guy... If it's cheap, it......'s good!"

Don't you want to be misunderstood like that?"

I said, a little annoyed.

Seeing that I was really angry, Kudo-kun smiled helplessly.

"Fool~ Of course not-then again, didn't you say that we wouldn't get along

......?" How many years ago are you talking about? "

Actually, you don't have to take it so seriously -

well, actually, I want to wait beyond my original age... After the age of 18.

However, it is now common for people to get married at the age of 16 in Japan.

Conan: "...... So, can we start dating?"

Well

, really, why is the atmosphere so ambiguous?

I'm afraid it won't be justified to continue to be arrogant.

I can't help it....

"If you don't socialize and live together, I really can't explain it to the doctor. I

blushed and said something I wanted to forget immediately.

Compared to me, Kudo-kun seemed calm - as if everything was under his control, he whispered in my ear close to me.

“...... I didn't expect to start dating you in such a way. "

Thank you, Doctor~"

I turned my head a little shyly.

◇

Don't go overboard!?Gray

Yuan actually took the initiative to show weakness to me!

It's so cute-no

, this kind of opportunity is missed once less!I have to bully her~

I pretended to be dissatisfied and looked at her.

"Really, you're not cute at all, you. After

hearing my words, Gray Yuan immediately turned his head to see me, is he going to stare at me?

" "But, you like me, don't you?"

Her cheeks were red, and her face was no longer cold... All that is left is infinite tenderness.

"Hmm...... Well. "

Hee-hee, thank you~"

I looked at her smile... Shyly looked away.

Heartbeat~

◇

"Since Miss Kiko has agreed, I'll move things to your house next week." Can you help

me move?" Ashbara, who had restored his original appearance as the flower of Kaolin, told me the exact time of the move.

Conan: "That's a little thing, no problem...... By the way, can I make a request when we live together?"

"What, don't try to do anything sexually explicit. Gray

Plains looked at me warily.

"Not that! I'm talking about—"

Kudo-kun whispered into my ear.

Uh....

Isn't that a bit weird about the rent?

But I agreed to him.

"Well, since I'm here to bother, I can do a little bit of ......

" "Okay, make an agreement. So, please take care of it from next week, Gray Plains~

" "Well, you too, Kudo-kun-"

And just like that, our cohabitation life began.

- A

week later.

Gray Plains: "From today onwards, please advise, Shinichi-kun."

Kudo: "Oh...... , please advise, Shi, Zhibao-

" Gray Yuan: "Wait, I called you by your name first, why are you shyer than me

......

?" Kudo: "No...... I can't help it, I've always called you Gray Plains. Gray

Yuan: "Then you don't have to force yourself, let's use the original name?—— really, the proposal to call each other by name is obviously made by you... As a result, I was too shy to scream!

"—really, what do you think?

Kudo: "No, I've always wanted to call by my original name when the two of us were together. That's what Ayumi calls you. You called me Kudo-kun because I couldn't restore my original appearance, right

......?" Can you not reason to this point!

It's shy to be said.

Kudo: "Haha, besides, isn't it more like a lover to be called by a name?" Gray

Plain: "...... Can you decide without my consent?It's a romantic comedy brain--well, try it again!

" Kudo: "Oh, oh, then I'll make it clear this time!"

"Please advise me from today, Shiho~

" "..................

" The moment he called me "Shiho", my thoughts stopped.

It's just the name -

that's what I thought just now......

I couldn't stop crying.

"What's wrong!?are you alright......"

I suddenly started to cry, and he looked panicked.

However, I don't know why I cried, it's really inexplicable.

The waves of emotions stimulated my heart, and my brain was in chaos.

"I'm sorry, I may have reminded you of something bad......

" he said, looking worried about me, gently stroking my head—

"It's not like that,"

I replied quietly.

Then, looking up at him gently, I slowly regained my composure.

My name was given to me by my parents, and the person who called it the most was my sister... But I'll never see them again.

So, I don't have nostalgia for the name.

That's what I thought, but -

"My name has a special meaning, you remind me of it......

" "...... Shiho. "

He hugged me tenderly, and I cried with tears.

◇

"I didn't expect you to be doing such a thing since that incident...... "

The night you started living together.

In a studio full of materials... He fell asleep on his stomach on the table.

When I gently covered the blanket and saw his case file, I was shocked.

Indeed, I have seen him appear sleepy during the day many times.

At that time he was always perfunctory, but—

"Surely you don't want to upset me...... However, you can choose to rely on me, Shinichi-kun~"

...... Because I've always relied on you, too.