Ier parts of the famous detective's story, things took on a bit of a faal struggle.

  In the end, should he choose the rade who fought alongside him against the Bck anization, or the childhood sweetheart who had always been by his side?

  Ren didn't particurly like how the story progressed in its ter stages, nor did he enjoy the theatrical versions. He had only heard about certain developments but never paid much attention to them.

  He had no iion of discussing the parts he did remember iail.

  "A story is just a story. Reality is something else entirely."

  "Mouri, I believe you uand that."

  "People shouldn't get caught up in what happens in a story's future."

  "…I know."

  Ran took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.

  "But I'm still really angry!"

  This time, she couldn't suppress her emotions.

  "Shinichi and I have the closest retionship."

  "He knows I don't care for Sherloes' antics, yet I've always been the one promising for him. 't he aodate me just a little?"

  "I gave him so many ces during our weekend date, but the moment a case appeared, he ran off, leaving me alo the amusement park."

  "I have feelings too!"

  Listening quietly, Re out a soft sigh.

  "So it really is just a story after all."

  "Iy, no girl would keep giving endless ces after all of that."

  He pletely uood why Ran was having su emotional outburst.

  First, she had discovered that Shinichi had kept secrets from her. Then, she realized that his supposed prote of her wasirely selfless.

  And now, she had learhat iure, there would be another Irene Adler, someone who shared Shinichi's fate, someone who would walk alongside him.

  Any girl would be upset.

  And Ran was not the kind of person who could just accept that without feeling anything.

  It was only natural to feel jealous after finding out that someone else would be at the side of the person she liked.

  It was normal to be upset knowing that the boy she had feelings for would have anirl by his side, someone who shared his struggles and experiences.

  "Mouri, this is just my personal uanding. What I'm about to say doesn't necessarily reflect Shinichi himself."

  Ren thought for a moment before tinuing.

  "I don't think Shinichi ever expected things to escate the way they did before he got hit with that drug."

  "Of course, if he had known, he definitely wouldn't have rushed in so recklessly."

  "He was just doing what he had always done, what he liked to do. Like any normal 17-year-old boy."

  "His life had been too smooth. He never realized how dangerous the world could be, never sidered that criminals don't py fair."

  "He's like the protagonist of a shounen anime, always chasing the unknown, always wanting to solve a mystery."

  "And holy, that's not unusual."

  "Think about Shinichi's upbringing."

  "He grew up in ae enviro, exposed to advanced knowledge from a young age. His father had already made a name for himself as a mystery , and Shiniaturally ied that curiosity and drive for exploration."

  "In a way, he didn't do it on purpose."

  "Or maybe, he just never fully grasped the nuanotions at least, not with the kind of precision you'd hope for."

  "That's pretty on for boys his age."

  "Besides, you two grew up together. At school, everyone calls you the 'Shinichi-Ran couple,' and you've never de. To outsiders, you're already a couple."

  "But there's still something missing."

  "And Shinichi himself knows it."

  "There are things he wants to say, but something—maybe uainty, maybe fear, keeps holding him back."

  "Again and again, because of nerves, hesitation, or self-doubt, he pulls away instead of speaking up. That's probably the situation he's fag."

  "…"

  Ran listened carefully, abs Ren's words.

  She could uand what he was saying.

  She also recalled those moments, times when Shinichi had seemed ready to say something, only to hold back at the st sed.

  But despite uanding, she couldn't help but ugh.

  "So many times."

  "For as long as I remember, Shinichi has wao say something but never could."

  "But… it's enough."

  "If he couldn't say it then, he won't say it now, and he won't say it iure either."

  As she spoke those words, she felt a strange sense of calm.

  Shinio longer had the ce to say those words, which meant their retionship would never progress any further.

  And in that moment, she realized just hht Sonoko had been all along.

  She and Shinichi had different values.

  Being together wouldn't ge that.

  Some things were simply meant to be ungeable.

  "Ran, that's the right mi!"

  "Fet about Shinichi. Just treat his story as if it never existed."

  "Besides, hasn't he already 'killed' his identity as Kudo Shinichi? Just sider him dead."

  "Yeah… I think I will."

  Hearing Sonoko's words, Ran found herself agreeing wholeheartedly.

  There was no point in thinking about Shinichi anymore.

  He had already made his choice. There was no reason to try and ge the oute.

  Besides, Aunt Yukiko and Uncle Yusaku had done everything necessary to erase Shinichi's identity.

  She was sure that they had created a perfectly ving illusion of Shinichi's death, ohat the Bck anization wouldn't be able to see through.

  If that was the case, she might as well just sider him dead.

  There was no reason to dwell on it any further.

  "Now that I've made up my mind, I feel a lot better."

  "Before, it felt like a weight ressing on my heart."

  "But now… I feel lighter."

  Ran finally felt a sense of relief.

  She knew she wasn't pletely over it, some things couldn't be let go of so easily.

  But she could move on.

  As long as Shiniever appeared in front of her again, time would take care of the rest.

  Eventually, she would get used to the fact that Shinichi Kudo no longer existed.

  "Amamiya, do you think… letting go is the right choice?"

  "I 't ahat for you."

  "But if that's how you truly feel, then all that matters is what's best for you."

  "Fet the story. This is your decision to make."

  "…Yeah. Thank you."