haven't spoiled my evening. It's okay. Would you like to go home? Should I bring you?"
"No!", She said with a trembling voice, but slowly recovered. "No, I'll go alone. Have fun a little longer, otherwise I'll have a guilty conscience." She had already asked Sonoko enough that she didn't want to be brought home as well."No, I won't do that. I won't leave you alone now. I'll make you a suggestion." She pushed Ran slightly away from her and looked into her eyes. "We'll both stay until midnight and then we'll go home, okay." Ran nodded silently. "Thanks!"
"It's not a thing. Now let's go back inside, because it's really cold out here." She got up and then helped Ran up on his feet as well. “Come on!” She put an arm around her friend and led her back into the gym.

Makoto was waiting impatiently for the two of them at the table. When he saw her he breathed a sigh of relief. He walked up to her immediately and gave her an encouraging smile. "Hey Ran, are you feeling a little better again?" She nodded briefly and gave him a forced smile. But it seemed enough for him. He stroked her back again and then turned to Sonoko. "It's good that you brought her back in," he whispered. "Take care of her a little more."She nodded and kissed him briefly on the mouth. Then she sent him back to the dance floor with a nod of her head. She led Ran to the seat and they sat down on the chairs. Ran had calmed down a bit, she was only breathing a little Luckily, Yumiko and her attachments had disappeared again.

Shortly before noon there was unrest in the hall. Students wandered aimlessly to look for their jackets and firecrackers together. Nobody wanted to be out too late and miss the great fireworks at exactly midnight.
Ran and Sonoko also got ready to go outside to the school yard. The fireworks would be beautiful and even Ran was looking forward to it. The others soon came too and quickly got dressed. Makoto wanted to go to Sonoko and outside with her, but she just looked at him indecisively. She couldn't just leave Ran standing around alone. But she would also like to be with him, they had only just gotten together.Ran noticed Sonoko's look and smiled at her. "It's okay, Sonoko. I'll manage it all by myself. I'm not made of sugar. That's okay. Now let's go, otherwise we'll miss the fireworks." She grabbed both of them by the arm and pulled them behind her here in the cold.
It was a beautiful night, there was not a single cloud in the sky and the stars shone brightly. Only a few precocious rockets lit up the sky now and then. Ran looked up with a smile, but it was more of a sad smile. Sonoko and Makoto stood close behind her, but she didn't want to turn around, it would only hurt her.
"Only 30 seconds left, Ran.", Sonoko said excitedly. Ran just nodded slightly.
"10, 9, 8, ..... 3, 2, 1, HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE TOGETHER." Everyone around them wished each other a Happy New Year and good luck and, and, and .....
The sky was lit by hundreds of missiles and looked beautiful. Hardly anyone threw any loud firecrackers around.Fascinated, she watched the bright colors that spread across the sky. She knew that Sonoko and Makoto were probably kissing behind her. How jealous she was, but she gave it to her from the bottom of her heart. It had to be wonderful to have someone hold you in a moment like this. Few tears ran down her cheeks when she thought of Shinichi again. What was he doing now? Maybe he was sitting all alone somewhere. She wanted so much to be with him now and enjoy this evening with him. With a wave of her hand she removed the tears from her face.

"I wish you a happy new year my beautiful and all the happiness in the world. You don't have to cry, today is such a wonderful evening.", A soft male voice whispered in her ear and someone put his arms around her waist. She started up. Normally she would have told the guy something, but something was stopping her. This voice...
But that couldn't be.She had wished it, yes. In the depths of her heart she had hoped, but never believed it. She shook her head slowly and in disbelief, silent tears welling up in her eyes.
But this voice. She would have recognized them among millions, no billions. And those hands. She thought of the photo on her desk. With his hands on her shoulders, so warm and gentle. It had been the same feeling she had now. As if in slow motion, she brought her hands to those resting on her waist and stroked them lightly.
"No, it can't be," she whispered. She turned slowly and looked into those beautiful, clear, blue eyes that she had missed so much and that nothing seemed to miss. Tonight they shone even more than usual, but she couldn't tell whether it was the fireworks or the tears that lay in those eyes.
“I've missed you so much, my little Ran!” He smiled happily at her.Now she could see clearly that it was the tears that made his eyes shine.
"Sh-Shinichi! That can't ...!" She fell around his neck and hot tears ran down her cold cheeks. "Oh Shinichi. I ... I ... knew you were coming. I knew you wouldn't leave me alone," she howled. “I missed you so much.” She couldn't quite believe it. Shinichi should be back? But he was standing in front of her, he was there and held her very tightly in his arms. She wasn't dreaming.
"Oh man Ran, I missed you too." Happily he put his arms around her. "I was so alone, the whole time. I couldn't have lasted much longer without you. Ran, I love you! I love you so much! I will never leave you alone again. At no cost." He gave her a squeeze closer to himself and his tears dripped silently onto her shoulder.
"I love you so much too, my Shinichi. Don't ever let go of me, please!" She sobbed.She gently ran her hand through his dark hair. It seemed like an eternity as they stood there and held each other in silence. Only a faint sob was heard from Ran now and then.
As they slowly separated from each other again they looked into each other's eyes for a long time, unable to say anything. He gently brushed the tears from her tearful face and caressed her cheek. Even with her eyes that had turned red from all the howling, she still looked beautiful and beamed happily at him. "I love you so much, my angel."
He closed his eyes and carefully placed his lips on hers. She did the same and returned his gentle kiss. Nothing and no one could harm their love now. They would face all difficulties and dangers if only they were together. That kiss would seal their love and fate forever and bond them together. They enjoyed this wonderful moment to themselves, while everyone around them laughed and celebrated until the early hours of the morning.~~~~~ * END * ~~~~~

And that's it for me again. I hope you enjoyed the story, so not me. But I didn't feel like reworking it, because it was more of a pastime and it shouldn't be that long.