greeted her.: I'm not that stupid either. "Said Ran.: Well, who knows. So when should I pick you up tonight?" Shinichi wanted to know. : You want to pick me up? How many degrees of fever do you have today? "Asked Ran.: Haha, very funny. Please tell me a time so that I'm not too late." asked Shinichi. : Okay, then at 7:45 pm "answered Ran.: Good, see you later." Shinichi said goodbye and hung up. He grabbed a ball and ran to the football field, where he then kicked a few balls. At 7 p.m. he took her shower, got dressed, and went to see Ran. Exactly at 7:45 p.m. he arrived in front of her house and rang the bell. Ran opened it for him. : Hi, I'm done. We can go. "She said. Shinichi nodded and they started off.: Were you with the children in the home again today?" asked Ran. : No was not me. But I'll be back tomorrow. "Said Shinichi.: Also on your birthday?" Ran wanted to know. : No, I invite you to me. Of course you and a few people from my class too. "Shinichi reassured her.: You have got used to these boys very well. "Ran guessed.: Yes, they are fine and I enjoy playing soccer with them or building sandcastles with the smaller ones. The boys have completely changed me. They have no parents and I'm almost the big brother to them. " told Shinichi. : May I ask you some personal questions? "Asked Ran.: Yes, go ahead." said Shinichi. : Do you want to have children later too? When you are married The way you speak now, you can think it. "Said Ran. Somewhat astonished by this question, Shinichi replied: Yes, I would." They arrived at Yoshiko's house and went inside. During the evening they talked, laughed and danced, but Shinichi did not dance because he could not. He was watching Ran and Yoshiko teased him. : Our detective of the century still hasn't said it. Man, Shinichi, if you wait any longer, someone else will grab you. ": I don't want anything from her." Shinichi stuttered.: No, not at all that is why you stare at her all the time. As long as she's still solo, you should tell her, otherwise someone will get ahead of you. "Yoshiko warned his friend. Shinichi sighed heavily and considered, but he couldn't come up with a solution that could help him. He went with Ran after 3am At home and he sat down at the PC, where he wrote invitations. On Sunday he threw one in Ran's mailbox and the next at Yoshiko's. Then with a few other people from his class and then off to the children's home. There he was already expected by the kids.: I'll be there immediately, I have to talk to Mr. Kitazume for a moment. " he said and scurried to the office. : Hello, Shinichi. Already back again? Don't you even want to rest? After all, you were here almost every day. "Said the director.: Oh, I don't need to. I'm here because I want to ask you something." said Shinichi. Mr. Kitazume pointed to a chair and Shinichi sat down. : My birthday is Saturday next week and I wanted to ask if you would mind if I invite the boys over here.I have grown dear to them and I would be very happy if they were there. "Shinichi explained. The manager considered.: Normally I would say no, but you are sensible and I will also entrust you with my boys if you promise me that they won't drink alcohol. " said Mr. Kitazume. : Of course, I don't drink myself. There will be lemonade and such, but not a drop of alcohol. "Shinichi promised.: Then I'll leave it to you." smiled the leader. : Thank you very much, I will not forget that. I'll bring the boys back to you, too, around noon, if it's okay with you. "Shinichi said. He left the office and gathered the boys in the dining room.: I'm going to invite you all to my birthday next Saturday." he said. : Do you mean that seriously? Are we allowed to do that? "Asked the boys in confusion.: You may, I've already spoken to Mr. Kitazume and he doesn't mind." answered Shinichi. As usual, he spent every day in the home.During the week he had cases to solve and was therefore unable to go to the home that often. But he was already looking forward to Saturday, when he would have everyone around him. On Friday he did a bulk shopping for Saturday and in the evening his parents called. Shinichi talked to his mother and ended the conversation after 1 hour. When he woke up on Saturday, he got dressed and tidied everything up. The "house" was a bit bigger than the children's home and so Shinichi had a lot to do. At 3 pm he finally finished cleaning and prepared everything for the evening. He put the stereo in the living room and put the drinks on the tables and started cooking. When he was finally finished at 6 p.m., he hopped into the shower and washed the sweat off his body. he thought and had to smile a little, because he was especially looking forward to Ran, because on every birthday they had, something had happened. Sometimes positive and sometimes negative, but everything always turned out well.At 19.30 the doorbell rang and Yoshiko was already there. : Well, birthday boy. I wish you all the best and a few more years. "He grinned.: Thank you, I will have. Come in. You are the first, because I wrote 8pm." said Shinichi. They went into the living room, where Yoshiko put a bag down. : I still have a couple of CDs in here. "He said.: Great, then it can be good today." laughed Shinichi. At 7.45pm the doorbell rang again and this time Ran was standing in front of it. Shinichi's jaw dropped at the sight of her. : Happy birthday, Shinichi. "Said Ran.: Yes, thank you. Come in." asked Shinichi. Ran went into the living room, where Yoshiko then said: If I didn't have a girlfriend, I would take you right away. ": Old slime." returned Ran. Afterwards the kids came out of the home and then things went off because they knew how to set the mood. : When do you actually want to tell her? "Asked Ken Shinichi.: What should I say to whom?" Shinichi wanted to know.: Well, your friend, that you love her. "Grinned Ken.: Not at all." said Shinichi. Ken pushed Shinichi onto the balcony, where Ran was, as if by "coincidence", alone.: Oh, you outside too? " she asked astonished. : Yes, more or less. It's pretty fresh. "Remarked Shinichi.: What did you want to tell me now?" asked Ran. : Huh? "Shinichi was surprised.: Well, your friends told me that you wanted to tell me something urgent." said Ran. Shinichi thought. Ran looked at him questioningly. How should I know what to say to you? The boys just put that in your ear. " said Shinichi, because he was losing his courage. : Oh, so they played a prank on us. "Ran said. She went in and sat down next to Yoshiko, where the two were talking. Shinichi leaned her against the railing, he didn't know what had gotten into him. Takato came on the balcony.: Shinichi, what's the name of the boy your girlfriend is talking to? " he asked curiously.: That's Yoshiko. "Shinichi replied. Takato went back inside, talked to Yoshiko and then brought Shinichi in. He sat down at a table and finished his Coke.: So, Shinichi's song I should play for Ran. " called Yoshiko. Shinichi listened up and looked at Yoshiko questioningly, because he hadn't said anything and Ran didn't know what was going on either. Yoshiko inserted the CD and turned it up a little. : Love to be loved by you. "It came from the speakers. Shinichi grabbed Yoshiko.: What should I have told you? Why are you doing this?" he asked desperately. : So that you finally admit it, otherwise I'll tell her. "Yoshiko threatened.: This is blackmail." returned Shinichi. : No, that's called help. "Said Yoshiko. Shinichi just shook his head and sat down and waited for the song to finally end. At 12 o'clock Shinichi brought the children to the home. Ran, Yoshiko and a few more others from the class were still there. When Shinichi returned, he sat down next to Yoshiko.: What's wrong? You look like you've seen the end of the world. "Yoshiko teased him.: I just don't know how and if I should tell her. What if she'll turn me down? Whispered Shinichi.: You and one Korb, of course. Are you both totally blind or are you just pretending? " Yoshiko inquired. : Tell me what to do. "Shinichi asked. Yoshiko grinned, got up and went to Ran, who was talking to Sonoko. He tapped her shoulder.: I have to tell you something urgent. there is someone who is too cowardly ... "He got no further, because Shinichi covered his mouth. : What did he want to say? "Asked Ran.: He didn't want to say anything." Shinichi said and pulled Yoshiko with him. : Yoshiko what's the point? "He asked.: You can't do it otherwise." answered Yoshiko. At 3:00 am, everyone except Ran went home because she wanted to help him clean up. : You don't need to help me, I'll do it.You're definitely tired, then you should sleep better too. "Said Shinichi.: What nonsense, I'll be happy to help you." returned Ran. : I don't want that. You're a guest here after all, so I have to clean up. "Said Shinichi. Ran didn't listen to him and threw a few paper plates in the trash can. Shinichi just shook his head, went briefly into his room and gave Ran a sweater already help, but then I don't want you to get your dress dirty. " he said. Ran took the sweater and pulled it on. They cleaned up together and after 20 minutes the battlefield looked a little better. : I can do the rest by myself, Ran. "Shinichi said.: Forget it, I'll do the rest with you, then you'll be finished earlier." said Ran. She picked up the broom, but Shinichi wanted to take the broom away from her. They were already fighting for the broom until they were in each other's arms. Both were amazed and quickly broke up.: Sorry. "Shinichi apologized to her.: No problem, but I have to apologize too. If you want to sweep then you can do it." said Ran. : No, you do, you got the broom first. "Shinichi denied. Ran grinned and swept the floor. Shinichi put the remaining drinks in the kitchen.: I'm finished, can I help you?" Ran wanted to know. : Thank you very much, but I'll do that with the stereo. It's not for girls, "Shinichi said.: Oh, isn't it? I bet I can do it." said Ran. She