always thought of him. She finally wanted to confess her feelings to him. She would give anything to make him come back.
But she couldn't mop up now, she had promised. Sonoko would be very disappointed and she didn't want to spoil her best friend's evening. She forced a smile and nudged Sonoko in the side. "Tell me Makoto, where are the others?"
“Uh, what?” He seemed to be lost in thought too. "Oh, where are the others? They have already gone in, it was too cold for them out here. You don't believe how empty it is still inside. You don't think so when you see all the people here."He smiled at Sonoko. He didn't seem to be able to take his eyes off her the whole time. But she really didn't look bad today. Not as exaggerated as usual, but more natural.
"Well then I'll go in, because I'm already pretty cold. I'll find the others if it's not so full and keep a nice place free for you." She grinned encouragingly at Sonoko again and disappeared in the gym. Hopefully they'd make it today.

It really wasn't very crowded in the hall and she found the others as soon as she got inside. A big stage was set up and a band started playing at 11 p.m. The music was still playing from the speakers. Around it was a huge dance floor and even a kind of bar was set up where the equipment actually stood. Where did they put them? Tables and chairs were set up on the sides, but not even half of them was occupied.The party didn't start until 10 p.m. and who came at the beginning? It was clear that nothing was going on yet. She ran quickly to the half-occupied table where the others from the Klick were sitting.
"Hey Ran, where did you leave your better half?" Mamoru asked curiously.
"Oh Sonoko is still outside. With Makoto, I think they still have something to talk about.", She grinned and winked at him.
He looked at her confused. "I actually meant Shi ..." But Akiko's elbow was already in his ribs. "Pssst! Are you crazy! You know exactly what's going on." she whispered.
He stared at Ran in horror. "Um ... I mean ..." He was embarrassed about the situation, but he didn't know Ran as well as the girls.
However, Ran had already understood what he was getting at. She felt a stab in her heart. Now she was being reminded of him again, that couldn't be true. One then resolved to suppress this thought and then it reappeared everywhere.But she pulled herself together, didn't want to appear weak again, she did that often enough.
"Oh Shinichi you mean. I don't know, the crime spinner is somewhere in world history." She laughed and waved him away and sat down on a free seat.

"Look here they come!" Akiko giggled ten minutes later and pointed to the entrance. And then Makoto and Sonoko actually came, holding hands. The two had stood outside for a while and stammered at each other until Toya had conjured up a rose all of a sudden. (I don't know where -.-)
Then he told her that he had loved her for a long time and kissed her.
She was extremely embarrassed that the others were staring at her like that. It was quite red around the nose. "Well, what were you doing so beautiful out there?" Grinned Mamoru.
"Oh come on, leave them both alone.", Ran complained. Sonoko looked grateful and compassionate at her friend. She was thinking of Shinichi again, she saw that.She had that sad expression on her face again, although she smiled you could tell. Sonoko broke away from Makoto and went to Ran to hug her. “He'll be back soon, trust me.” She gently stroked her back.
Ran was frightened. She knew She was her best friend too, but she wanted to pull herself together. Was it so obvious that she was thinking of him again? "Yeah, I know he's coming back. But I'm fine, really." She smiled at Sonoko. She didn't want to spoil her evening, especially not when it had started so well for her.

It was 11:30 p.m., half an hour to midnight, and the party was in full swing. Not for everyone, however. Ran sat bored at the table and sipped her cocktail. It wasn't that the party wasn't good, but she was a bit exhausted and felt drained. At least she had danced for a few minutes, but the others were still on the dance floor.Now she sat all alone at the table and lost herself in her thoughts of Shinichi again.
"Oh no! What are you doing here? Are you lost?" A spiteful girl's voice tore her from her thoughts. Ran looked up and groaned. Well that was just missing. Yumiko Hanasaki, the most terrible girl in the school, stood in front of her table and looked down at her. Once again she had gathered all her followers with her. How this girl could have friends was a mystery to Ran. She just threw nasties at everyone's head and thought she was better. But she had money, which is why some of them still bothered with her. But not so Ran. She and Yumiko hated each other since they first saw each other.
"Hello Yumiko! What do you want here?", Ran asked viciously.
"Well, what? What kind of louse got over our livers? You probably didn't get a guy for today. Well with you it's no wonder the way you look."She laughed out loud. But Ran didn't react at all, the best thing was always not to listen.
"What is it, have you left speechless? Or do you still mourn your missing friend, this imaginary lacquer monkey who always interferes everywhere. Where has he gone?"
That was really enough for Ran now. Shinichi wasn't an imaginary lacquer monkey. She didn't know him at all. If Yumiko insulted her that was one thing, she didn't mind, but if she made fun of him. That was probably the last. She jumped up from the chair and glared at Yumiko. "Please leave your meanness. What did he do to you? Just because he let you down once? Pah, how ridiculous."
Nobody insulted their Shinichi with impunity, especially when he wasn't there to defend himself. "Where he is is none of your business."
"Oh not? I bet he noticed that he wasn't that great after all and withdrew.It only spits big tones. "Yumiko laughed contemptuously and looked defiantly at Ran.
"In case you are interested, he's working on an extremely difficult case and that's why he can't be here. If he were, he'd give you your opinion." It wasn't really her business where Shinichi was, but Ran just wanted to protect him. What this frightening screw imagined.
"Oh what, hard case. I bet he's sitting somewhere and will be served by his GIRLFRIEND. He doesn't think about you at all, he doesn't care about you. Otherwise he would probably come back. Wake up!" She saw Ran disparaging from top to bottom.
That was too much. Yumiko had hit her exactly at her sore spot. That was what she had suspected for some time. That he was with his girlfriend and no longer thought about her. She just had to get out of here now. Injured, she gave Yumiko another hateful look.She tore her coat off the chair and ran across the dance floor. At least she wanted to let Sonoko know. She was dancing tightly with Makoto, but Ran just couldn't anymore. She tapped her friend's shoulder and looked at her. But she couldn't really perceive Sonoko, she was dazed. "Sonoko, I have to ... I'm sorry, I have to get out of here," she said with a broken voice. She put her hand to her mouth and ran outside into the school yard. It was extremely empty here, only a few smoking students standing around here and there.

Sonoko looked at her friend in horror. “I have to go after her.” She wanted to turn around but was held by his arm. “Talk to her, but don't let her go home.” Confused, Sonoko stared at him. “What do you mean by that?” When she got no answer she got impatient. "Now tell me!" She snapped at him. Her best friend was doing who knows what and he wasn't letting her go. "It is not important now.But she should stay here until midnight. Then we'll bring her home. Are you doing this "He looked at her pleadingly. He was worried about Ran too, but she couldn't go home now." I don't know why, but I'll try. But I can't make any promises. I will not force them. "He nodded and gave her a short kiss. Then he let go of her and turned into the turmoil. She looked after him for a moment and then ran outside to Ran.

Exhausted, Ran sank down on the floor and began to cry bitterly. She just couldn't go on anymore. Shinichi wouldn't come back, Yumiko was probably right and she should slowly wake up from her dream.
Suddenly she noticed someone putting a jacket around her shoulders. Sonoko knelt down to her and took her in his arms. "Ran !? What's wrong? What happened?", She asked worried. Something must have happened, she wasn't just so exhausted.
"I just simply can not anymore.I can not stand this anymore. I miss him so much, I don't know what to do anymore. It hurts so bad. I feel like I'm suffocating. ", she sobbed and clung to Sonoko." I can't do it anymore, Sonoko. He should finally come back, otherwise ... Oh God, I love him so much! "
Sonoko didn't know what to say at all. She couldn't even begin to imagine how Ran was doing. After all, her great love had not disappeared and only contacted me now and then. All she could was to be there for her and to help her as best she could and distract her. "Ran I'm so sorry. Tell me what to do, how can I help you?" She couldn't bear to see her best friend like that.
"Thanks Sonoko, but ... I don't know ... you can't help me. Only Shinichi can do that, but ... he won't come back. He must have long since forgotten a girlfriend and me. It does so hurt, Sonoko! "She couldn't calm down at all.Her heart hurt so badly. She couldn't live without Shinichi, he was everything to her. But if he really ...
Sonoko stroked her back soothingly. "Sscht Ran, it's okay, calm down. I'm sure he'll be back. He'll definitely love you as well. He wouldn't leave you alone for so long if it wasn't extremely important."
"Sonoko, I'm so sorry, I ruined your evening. Why am I such a wimp? But I love him so much." Her voice failed and she buried her head in Sonoko's shoulder.
"Oh Ran, you don't have to be sorry, you