All Things Happen As They Are Meant To

Shinichi had noticed it a while now; he was drawn to the black haired, good natured simple keiji. At first he didn't realize, or maybe at that time it just wasn't there, but he could say for sure, these days, Takagi Wataru popped up in his mind most often. When he needed to interact with the police, who did he go to first? You guessed it, Takagi-keiji.

One could say it was simply because Takagi was one of the officers more willing to listen to him, one could say it was because the officer was open minded and kind and easy to deal with, one could say he had simply began to see the goofy detective as a good friend and comrade. Oh, one could say so many reasons why, and Shinichi did indeed say all these to himself in an attempt to rationalize it once upon a time. Now however, he knew, knew it was much more than these very logical reasons.

He could feel it, the most illogical reason , one that couldn't be categorized, quantified and analyzed so simply. He was ready to admit it.

He had fallen for Takagi Wataru.

He wasn't sure when or where it had started to happen, but it had happened, and looking back now, he couldn't picture how it couldn't have. The police detective was simple, humble, kind yet when he needed to be he was serious and sharp. His smile, it was adorable.

Shinichi loved to see that smile. It was because of this that he decided that he would never be able to act on his feelings for Takagi, he could keep them to himself, move on with life and watch Takagi – keiji smile that radiant smile forever. For surely, if he knew of Shinichi's affections, that smile would be gone. It would only spell trouble for the both of them. Takagi would be troubled by the meitantei's feeling, and Shinichi would feel crushed at being officially rejected. They couldn't work, and there were so many reasons why:

Takagi didn't like Shinichi that way [hell, did he even really know him?], he liked Sato-san.

Shinichi was a guy [would that matter to Wata- I mean, Takagi-keiji?]

Everyone said he was supposed to be with Ran, he had even thought so.

Shinichi shouldn't like anyone, it would just give the BO more targets.

Shinichi was currently 7 years old. [Age difference indeed!]

With this reasoning, Shinichi decided not to pursue his Takagi-keiji. He even encouraged him in his relationship with Sato-san, because this made Wataru happy.

He had to admit, he did feel a sense of triumph when Takagi and Sato didn't share that kiss on the stake-out. It had surprised him but he supposed it shouldn't have. It's not like he would ruin Wataru's chances in a moment of jealousy.

Now, standing here outside Takagi's hospital room, he could see Sato moving closer to Takagi, after hearing his complaints. He thought "Good for you Wataru" as he turned his face. He really couldn't join the detective boys as they peered on eagerly, waiting for the happy ending to the fairytale they had been avidly following for almost a year now.

He was happy, he really was. So why couldn't he watch? Why was he feeling his chest tightening, and his airways constricting? Why did he feel like he wanted to run and keep running, to scream til his voice went hoarse and to cry til his tears went dry?

He heard a gasp from the detective boys. So the deed had been done. He guessed it was over, there were no hopes or dreams of getting between the two now, they were indisputably official. With that thought he realized that even though he hadn't known it, he had still been looking for that chance. That chance that was now gone.

I guess this is life's way of saying to get a grip.

Shinichi fixed his childlike face into his usual smile and turned back to the other detective boys.

All things happen as they are meant to.