[At least it's direct, even if it is negative. His refusal does mean she's hitting on some things that are close. It's another part of the mystery to unravel.]
[She needs to find out where he is. And why he won't tell her any details. All of this seems to mean that he's at least in a similar situation to whatever it is at home. Somehow whatever it is very possibly got echoed here.]
[. . .]
["Always by her side," though -- what does that mean?]
[For not the first time, she thinks of Conan. She's suspected him before -- even gone so far to try to trick him into a confession. They're so alike sometimes -- even though Conan is definitely sweeter in temperament overall, more awkward, more humble than Shinichi ever is. They're still so alike, though, it's hard not to think of him.]
[But even though she's suspected Conan before, she's always had to discard the idea -- and she has to do the same now. Teenagers just don't turn into children in her world. In the past she's thought that Agasa could overcome that, but he's really more of a mechanical inventor than a biologist or chemist -- not someone who could affect someone's very physique and age. It's just too complex and delicate for the tinkering, elderly man.]
[. . . Admittedly, she also has to think -- or hope -- Shinichi wouldn't be lying to her just because of something that Agasa did. It seems too cruel. For all that Shinichi doesn't always express his feelings well, doesn't always consider others, he's not cruel. Hiding in plain sight, seeing how his absence has affected her, seeing her watch and wait and worry . . . it's too much. She can't believe that of him -- or at least she doesn't want to. She'd have to completely re-evaluate everything she knows about him.]
[Plus -- and it's almost reassuring in a way with the thoughts above -- there have been times when Shinichi and Conan have been in the same room together, both looking back at her at the same time, both engaging with her. That's not something that can so readily be managed. It's not as though Shinichi can be divided in two.]
[No. There has to be another explanation. And she'll find it, whatever it is. She'll find him. And if he's in the situation where he's lying to her, she needs to -- both for him and for herself.]
You'd better have a good reason for all of this, Shinichi. And not just one you think is a good reason.
[She wants to be angrier about this. But it's hard to be angry when she's also scared.]
no subject
[She needs to find out where he is. And why he won't tell her any details. All of this seems to mean that he's at least in a similar situation to whatever it is at home. Somehow whatever it is very possibly got echoed here.]
[. . .]
["Always by her side," though -- what does that mean?]
[For not the first time, she thinks of Conan. She's suspected him before -- even gone so far to try to trick him into a confession. They're so alike sometimes -- even though Conan is definitely sweeter in temperament overall, more awkward, more humble than Shinichi ever is. They're still so alike, though, it's hard not to think of him.]
[But even though she's suspected Conan before, she's always had to discard the idea -- and she has to do the same now. Teenagers just don't turn into children in her world. In the past she's thought that Agasa could overcome that, but he's really more of a mechanical inventor than a biologist or chemist -- not someone who could affect someone's very physique and age. It's just too complex and delicate for the tinkering, elderly man.]
[. . . Admittedly, she also has to think -- or hope -- Shinichi wouldn't be lying to her just because of something that Agasa did. It seems too cruel. For all that Shinichi doesn't always express his feelings well, doesn't always consider others, he's not cruel. Hiding in plain sight, seeing how his absence has affected her, seeing her watch and wait and worry . . . it's too much. She can't believe that of him -- or at least she doesn't want to. She'd have to completely re-evaluate everything she knows about him.]
[Plus -- and it's almost reassuring in a way with the thoughts above -- there have been times when Shinichi and Conan have been in the same room together, both looking back at her at the same time, both engaging with her. That's not something that can so readily be managed. It's not as though Shinichi can be divided in two.]
[No. There has to be another explanation. And she'll find it, whatever it is. She'll find him. And if he's in the situation where he's lying to her, she needs to -- both for him and for herself.]
You'd better have a good reason for all of this, Shinichi. And not just one you think is a good reason.
[She wants to be angrier about this. But it's hard to be angry when she's also scared.]