A Love Stronger Than Whispers

A Love

What is Love

Back to their familial issues.....

Hana slumped into the worn armchair of Shinichi's apartment, clutching her mug of tea like a lifeline. News of Kiri and Ruka's long-distance relationship hung heavy in the air, a bittersweet fog choking out the usual banter between them.

"So, that's it?" Hana mumbled, "Boston and Okinawa? Separated by half the Pacific Ocean and a whole lot of sushi?"

The problem is, Kiri and Ruka's Long-distance relationship aren't even going out from Korean Peninsula. Yet.

Shinichi, ever the detective, observed her carefully. "Hana-chan," he began, choosing his words as meticulously as he used to analyze crime scenes. "Remember when we first started dating? You were convinced I was some sort of undercover agent with a secret life based on my... unorthodox habits,"

 "Sasamoto said ain't no way Kiri or Ruka be goin' to Boston. Plus, Okinawa ain't even that far. You can hit up Jeongyeon on TWICE's IG QnA session and ask how they kept that 'Green Horn' under control. Their tips be on point, especially when everybody found out that San Diego's #63 was a straight heartthrob back in his Osaka days."

Hana chuckled, remembering her first suspicions 'bout her senpai's disappearin' acts and mind-bogglin' deductions. "Well, Edo-chan, you basically a detective! You just swapped them jetpacks for deductions and laser guns for tiny magnifying glasses."

He chuckled, a genuine, comforting sound that warmed the frosty air. "Maybe. But the point is, we made it work. Late-night calls across time zones, surprise visits fueled by jet lag and instant ramen, even that disastrous attempt at online escape room that ended with us yelling instructions at each other through the screen... and stop callin' me Edo-chan."

Hana's lips curved into a smile despite herself. They'd certainly weathered their fair share of unorthodox situations. From dodging rogue tifos at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, to defusing culinary catastrophes in Miyano's lab for Cafe Asia, their relationship had been a whirlwind of unexpected adventures.

"But this feels different," Hana admitted, her voice catching slightly. "Kiri and Ruka... they're young, in love, facing this huge obstacle. What if we can't handle it?"

Shinichi reached for her hand, his touch grounding her like a gentle anchor. "Hey," he said, his eyes the soft brown of melted chocolate. "We're not Kiri and Ruka. We've faced tougher cases than long-distance calls and time zone math."

"Remember the Case of the Disappearing Dog Biscuit sponsored by Petco? The Great Tofu Caper sponsored by Motorola? We even survived being in a stampede called San Diego's FIRST WORLD SERIES PARADE,"

Yes, during the time skip, the San Diego Padres beat the Anaheim Angels in the World Series. Twice in a row. Two straight seven-game series. Roger Bomman, the OG Angels in the Outfield protagonist was thrown out to Dotonbori River, losing the bet against the Dog Biscuit and Tofu Caper case by around three billion yen.

Hana couldn't help but laugh, the tension finally cracking under the weight of his ridiculousness. "Those were... trials by fire, alright," she conceded, her smile warming the room a little more.

"Exactly," Shinichi grinned. "So, instead of worrying about what might go wrong, let's focus on what makes us work. Our trust, our communication, our shared love for ramen and mystery novels. We can bridge any distance with those, Hana-chan. You know I'll always find my way back to you, even if it takes a hot air balloon powered by deductive reasoning."

Hana felt a surge of warmth flood her chest. His words were silly, absurdly Shinichi, but they resonated with a truth as clear as his eyes. This wasn't a case to be solved, it was a story to be written, and they were the authors, armed with love, laughter, and enough instant ramen to fuel a transpacific voyage.