You changed me

Ron was bored. Extremely bored. He was lying on his back on the soft floor he had in his home with an open novel on his face and letting out little groans, filled with frustration and slightly muffled by the book's pages. The cat, who was curled up by his side, opened an eye lazily, meowed quietly and went back to sleep. It was already used to its owner's behavior. Ron took the book from his face and just stared at the ceiling. This was the third police novel he had read that week. It had been quite interesting, but not as interesting as a real case, of course. A real case… It had already been more than three weeks since the last time Toto had shown up at his place, presenting him one. Such a long time! Of course, Ron didn't wish for people to get killed, he wasn't such a heartless bastard, but a born detective like him needed cases to solve like air to breathe. The five years he had spent in complete isolation had already been hard enough. Well, maybe it was time to work off another item on his list… or to knit another 100-meter-scarf he could then give to Toto for Christmas. Speaking of Toto… Ron wondered what his favorite officer was doing right now. Paperwork? Drinking his fifth cup of coffee to get over the last night he had probably spent working again? Getting yelled at by Amamiya? Or maybe all three at once? The detective chuckled at the thought. This was the moment he realized just how often he had started thinking about Toto. Well, the latter had become the person who was the closest to him, the one approaching him the most, so it was only natural. Wait… was it really? Ron's face became serious as he compared his old self before the Bloody Field Trip and the one he was now. Back then, he would have never spared a single thought about other people that didn't have anything to do with a case, it was as if he had been another person. And it was true, he had been another Ron. But the isolation had changed him. And Toto as well. Ron smiled again. Toto… that naive little idiot, who had never solved a case by himself… that incredibly impulsive, selfless and also brave idiot… had changed his life and given it a new meaning after Ron himself had started to believe that he would rot in that apartment forever, not being able to work as a detective ever again. Suddenly, the doorbell rang, making him snap out of his thoughts. He already had a strong feeling who it might be. "Speaking of the devil," Ron said with his typical grin and stormed towards the door. A few minutes later, Toto was sitting in Ron's living room, holding a cup of coffee in his hands and looking slightly apologetically at Ron, who was sipping brown sugar syrup in front of him. "Sorry I don't have a new case for you. I just wanted to see how you were, hope that's alright" Ron did look a bit disappointed, he couldn't help it, but what could you do. He grinned again. "I'm fine, as you can see. Contrary to you, officer Isshiki." He pointed at the dark circles under Toto's eyes. "A sleepless night, I guess?" "Yeah, there was a ton of work that had to be done asap. But I'm going to go home soon and sleep, so don't worry." "You know what, Toto?"  "Hm?" "You're a workaholic." "Maybe I am." "And an idiot. A real idiot." Ron had gotten up, holding the now empty package of sugar syrup in his hand. "This again?! Say, will you ever get tired of insulting me?"  Toto was glaring at him, being slightly fed up with being called an idiot. "It's not an insult." "Huh?" The officer was staring at the detective with wide eyes, his anger already forgotten. Ron, who had been standing with his back to him, turned around. There was a smile on his lips, not his usual grin, but a warm, gentle smile. A smile Toto was seeing for the very first time. "If everybody was a pure-hearted idiot like you... the world would be a much better place." And with these words, Ron left the room to feed the cat, leaving the furiously blushing and speechless Toto behind.