#the next one isnt //cue manic laughter

[gisachi]

I hope I'm not late jumping to the prompt bandwagon, but shinran with 39?

Thank you for the request!  In the end I couldn’t do angst (I attempted and I failed 😭) so I went for a hurt/comfort, the closest I can get to writing a pained character lmao. Hope you like this! It’s AU btw!

39. Kissing tears from the other’s face. (1,776 words)

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They met each other at Beika Hospital’s rehabilitation unit.

She worked herself along parallel bars, taking slow steps while a P.T. noted her progress. He saw her effort in each hop, each she took as preparation for succeeding advances, intervals per step getting shorter until the whole walk looked natural.

It was impossible to ignore the positive spirit bubbling within her, for despite minor missteps and the P.T. rushing to her, she’d tell the latter, with eyes glimmering like hopeful sunlight after a heavy storm, that she’s okay and she’d do this on her own. And she would.  

Eventually he learned of her name— Mouri Ran— and true to her name she was like the pinkest orchid blooming in an autumnal orchard, standing out with her bright, joyful features, leaving trails of vibrancy where she’d pass. Her smile was contagious, flipping frowns of old grumpy patients rightside up, making even the most nervous children burst into a feat of laughter when she cracked jokes before their operations.

Shinichi had only been around the hospital for a week, but he understood what other patients meant when they said their pain became much more bearable with her around.

In a place like this, her smile was light.

He knew getting along with her wouldn’t be difficult, as minutes after sitting next to each other in the rehab unit, they conversed like they’d been friends for a long time. Apart from her name, he learned she’s the same age as him, a black belter in karate, had a lawyer mother and a detective father who paid her visits twice a week.

In two days, he found out why she’s here. On the way to her karate training, she was hit by a car after saving two elementary school children crossing the street, earning her three fractured ribs and a head injury meant to heal in a week. Her ribs healed in five days, but the headache and dizziness progressively worsened, leading the doctors to conclude a traumatic brain injury, requiring major surgery.

Days turned to weeks, weeks turned to months, and she remained here, hospital already like her home. She had taken an indefinite leave of absence in school, missing lectures and karate training for two months and counting.

“What about you, Shinichi-kun? Why are you here?” Ran asked him one time while they hung out in the day room.

“Two gunshot wounds on my shoulder. Received surgery a week ago and now I’m feeling better,” he answered nonchalantly, not omitting the fact that as a teenage detective, it was normal for him to expose himself to life-or-death situations; that this set of wounds was the second he’d gotten, the first one when he was sixteen.

Seeing the shock passing at her face, he exhaled sharply, lips twisting up a little. “I’m okay. It’s not as grave as you think it is. And I’ll be discharged in three days.”

That didn’t remove the frown in her face though - which was new for he’d never seen her frown until now.

She asked him where his parents were, he said they were in the States. She asked if he’s living with a relative, he said no, but his next door neighbor served like one. She asked if he’s still studying, he said yes, in Ekoda High, thirty minutes by train from her school, Teitan High.

“You’re so young yet so independent and...and strong, Shinichi-kun.”

He shrugged, not in a dismissive way, before resting a hand on her shoulder, “Aren’t you describing yourself, Ran-san?”

He was strong and independent because work and circumstance required him to. While Ran, she’s strong and independent because...she naturally was.

She’s brave. Braver than he’d ever be. He wanted her to know that.

Frown morphing into an all familiar smile, she squared her shoulders, excited eyes meeting his.

“Well, guess what? I’m getting discharged next week too!” She exclaimed, beam as bright as day. “I was afraid they’d move my discharge date, but thankfully they didn’t. I’m getting better! I’ll be able to attend karate training, and if they allow me, I can even compete in the division match! Or even—”

She stopped short when she heard him snigger.

Sinking into her seat, she hid her blushing face behind two hands.

“Ack! I got really excited...Sorry!”

“Don’t be,” Shinichi said, wiping a stray tear from his eye. If anything, he was elated as much as she was. “What about we plan a meet-up in two weeks?”

“Okay!” Her beam got wider, “Let’s, Shinichi-kun!”

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Her smile was always a source of light.

But not that day.

“It’ll be a quick and painless operation, Mouri-san…”

He didn’t mean to overhear when he passed by her private room the next afternoon, but it was impossible not to. Two other voices, a man and a woman— probably her parents— asked for more details, but he didn’t catch anything else since his mind drifted to another concern. Her reaction.

He waited for her voice. None.

Losing track of how long he’d been standing outside, the doctor passed by him as he exited the room, and the indistinct sobbing of her mom reached his ears.

“Ran...I’m sorry,” said the woman, sadness sown in her words. “You’ll have to stay here for a little longer, okay?”

He didn’t know how long the silence lingered until Ran finally spoke.

“I understand, Okaa-san, Otou-san. I’m okay.”

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“You okay?”

At another time of the day, she would’ve answered differently. But it was two in the morning, when all walls were drawn and her resolve consciously broken down into fragments.

It was two in the morning, when vulnerability was not an unwelcome presence as she sat awake on her hospital bed, anxiety and darkness creeping in her heart and flesh, numbing her lips to a taut line, no grin, no smile, no anything.

“No,” she confessed, raw, uninhibited.

If he’s a different person, she would’ve answered differently. But he’s he. Her constant for a week. The first she’d allowed to enter her private room in the dead of the night. Her rock.

Her shoulders started to shake, sobs cutting through empty silence.

“I just want to return to normal. Go home. Spar. Do homework. I... I don’t want this anymore.”

It was disconcerting to see the usual glint in her eyes gone, her body bowed and trembling - sad, tired, done - but he realized she’d been carrying this for months, and though it’s a sight he didn’t want to see, it’s a sight she needed to expose.

“I’m sorry we cannot leave at the same time, Shinichi-kun...” Ran echoed his thoughts, clutching the thin fabric of his shirt as she cried on the shoulder he offered.

The crack in her voice added to the sting in his heart.

How he wished he could steal her misery away, but he knew no amount of consolation could heal the piled up pain eating her inside out at two in the morning.

If there was just a way, any way.

“Excuse me for doing this...”

He cupped her face and tilted it up.

His eyes met hers, wide and confused, still glazed with tears.

His face was a breath away, lesser when he pressed dry lips over one teardrop cascading down her cheek. He did it to another teardrop— and another, and another— each press gentle like snowflake on her skin, stopping only when not one drop was spared, and his lips were dry no longer.

As soon as he ended, he let up, released her face and backed away to the end of the hospital bed, as far from her as possible. He didn’t want her to think he’s invading her personal space, but he wouldn’t have done that had he not felt like they’ve known each other for years even when it’s just been days.

If it was just him, he didn’t mind it. Didn’t mind proximity. It was a risk to wish she’s on the same ground.

“My...My mom used to do that whenever I hurt myself and cry when I was kid,” he began, not meeting her eyes as he ran his hand through his hair. “You won’t ever hear me admit it to her face, but every time she did that, I’d always calm down.”

A breathy chuckle escaped him, and he peered at her again.

“I...hope it had the same effect on you.”

Ran blinked, didn’t speak.

She returned his gaze, silent as she gorged herself of his image, expression unreadable, and he didn’t know if it’s supposed to be a good thing, or a sign to start apologizing for doing something out of line.

Then her lips pursed; she bent her knees and hugged them, burying her face in them.

“O-Oi! You’re crying again—”

“It does.”

She blurted out, voice muffled by her gown, the bright pitch and lack of quiver in her voice enough of an indication she had stopped crying.

“It does work. Thank you… Shinichi.”

He didn’t need to see her face to know she’s smiling.

Whether it’s the fact that his unusual way of consolation succeeded or that she consciously omitted honorifics in her last statement, Shinichi didn’t bother reasoning the cause of the blush spreading on his cheeks. Soft spring warmth flourished in his chest, as if an orchid seedling buried itself there and had just started blooming.

Shinichi knew enough. He’d fight tooth and nail to see her smile every single day. That’s what she deserved.

“...Your karate match. I’ll watch it.”

“Eh?”

“I’ll visit you. Your upcoming match. I’ll watch it.”

“...But I don’t even know if I’ll recover on time.”

“You will,” he asserted, eyes filled with intent and hope, “And even if you don’t, there’ll still be plenty of matches for you. I’ll watch them all, Ran.”

Her expression shifted easily. Maybe that’s how she coped for so long. Maybe that’s her mastery over her emotions. Whatever the case was, Shinichi found it a blessing, not only to others but to Ran herself.

With how she grasped her sentiments, how she’s in touch with both reality and feelings, how she really meant a smile when she gave it, he knew she’d endure this fight. He believed in her strength.

All he had to do was support her all the way.

“That makes two promises then, Shinichi.”

She scooted close, extended her pinky. “I’ll meet you again outside the hospital. And you’ll watch my future karate matches. Promise?”

“Promise.” He hooked their pinkies together.

There were still so many things he wanted to know about her. He’d wait until she’s out with him.

Until then, he’d remain her rock.

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