Misztina wrote:
Mind you, Ran didn't live in fairy world either. Okay, Shiho's past is definitely more sad, cruel etc., but Ran's mother just left her and dad for a still unknown reason (as movie 2 isn't canon). Eri takes care of them, but imagine this shock for the little 6 year-old Ran.
We are after the case where Kaito's dad appeared if you remember. Back then Kogoro and Eri were lovey-dovey, they probably had fights, but they were cute together. Then suddenly, after Eri became a lawyer, she leaves them, almost hating Kogoro. Chibi-Ran just saw that mommy and daddy loved eachother and then came the sudden break. And it is still going on after 10 years. Ran became self-reliant in these years, she practically takes care of Kogoro and now of Conan as well.
I think deep in her mind she is scared that the same thing with her and Shinichi might actually happen. But good for her, Shinichi doesn't drink, smoke , he is not even chasing skirts like Kogoro does. But Ran often imagines Shinichi as a playboy, a cool guy, who has a relationship with older women. It is interesting and funny to see that Ran takes Shinichi too much serious, despite the fact that Shinichi is not like that at all. That's actually a serius issue and might lead to something tragic. Both Shinichi and Ran misinterpret the other's character a bit.
And thinking about this we realize that Ai got plenty chances to see how Shinichi's true character is like. She can see through the "I'm cool" mask, because Shinichi is like an actor in front of Ran, Ran is the audience and Ai is actor as well. What I mean is that Ai actually know Shinichi better to some extent. She sees when he is acting, she knows what is his aim (in love issue) and she totaly understands him, because she is sort of teh same as him.
The best example for this is The Missing Watch case. Shinichi reveals that he would even disappear from Ran's heart, making only him sad in a way, only to not make Ran cry again. Then Haibara on the inside agrees, by saying: "Pitiful, both you and I". She is practically saying that she does the same thing, so understands it. She loves him, but she knows that Shinichi is not interested in her at all and if she'd tell the truth he would act only awkward and he would feel sorry for her and he would be confused, because he wouldn't know what to do etc. so she rather doesn't say a thing.
Yet in the Hooligan case, and after that she still tries to do her best to win his heart or to get close to him I don't really know. :-\
I agree with some points you made here, though it is clear you are a Ran/Shin fan and I'm Ai/Conan Shiho/Shin fan. I agree Ran's parents got a divorce when she was young because of the fact that her father is a slob and loves looking at other women. Its obvious why. Ran is more self-reliant because of it, even motherly, considering she is the woman of the house she lives in. She is also stuck putting up with her father. She's pretty darn faithful. I feel when Eri got her job, she was finally able to support herself and took the opportunity to divorce. That is devastating for a child. Also, Ran lives a harsher life than that of her close associates Sonoko and Shinichi. But her life is actual a normal one, that most people around the world can relate to. It's not something that would never happen to anyone. She still has people who love and care for her, and she still has a mother to guide her in the right direction. Shinichi and Sonoko are lucky and spoiled.
But Haibara...that life is an abnormal kind of harsh. She never even knew her parents, barely knew her sister, and was forced to make a poison for an Organization she was born and raised in. She didn't have any parental guidance, except the org members, and she lived all the way in America, far from her sister. She does not know how to love, and no one has shown her love in her whole life. Now she's on the run from an organization she had no choice but to be in or die. Shinichi was the only one who showed her that he cared. And whether she feels romantic for him or not, that is the only male she has cared for and the only one who has cared for her. That unfortunate event was not Ran's life. Ran has the ability to live a different life from that of her parents. Their mistake is not her downfall. This is what Ai has to deal with until the end of the org. She is forced to live her life like this. If Ran chooses to follow Shinichi into danger, than that would be her own fault. Really, Shinichi didn't get involved until he got nosy. Ai was always a victim. Shinichi chose for his life to be ruined, thinking he could bust Gin and Vodka.
I don't feel Haibara is that obsessed with Shinichi as people say she is. I don't think she would go as far as to break Shinichi and Ran up. That doesn't seem her style. I think she's trying to play hard to get, trying to play it cool. I do feel she charms him, but I think she's a mocking individual who likes to tease and flirt anyway. She acts like an org member to me. I don't think she really cares if he wants Ran, but i do know she doesn't want to die because of his recklessness. She's more independent than that. Plus, Japanese girls are often portrayed differently from American girls. As I said before.
One of the best Shin/Ran arguments I've heard, and I don't know who said it on the thread, but it was that Ran is not as strong as shinichi, and so she looks at him as an idol, as someone who is confident and more sure of himself than she is. She's always asking herself what would Shinichi do if he were in the situation. That is what makes him attractive to her. Shinichi sees that Ran is kind and caring, even through what she's been through. He's used to criminals, and is not used to someone who thinks of others selflessly. It's what makes her attractive. She has no dirty record. He likes that. I agree, he's used to criminals on the streets, and Ran is different for him to deal with. He likes that quality.
On the other hand, Haibara is unique in the way that she is different from all of the girls in the anime. To me, Ran has the same qualities Ayumi exudes. And even Satou. A lot of girls in Jap animes act like that. Haibara is not a normal female character in Jap animes. Shinichi, a detective for righteousness, and Ai, an ex-criminal on the run from evil, seems to be an interesting match. They learned from each other. Before Shinichi met her, he felt no mercy for criminals. He could've turned Haibara in. But he realized they were people to. Ai learned to be selfless, and be more caring and a different way of doing things, like not running away, which someone else said on here. They started off shaky, but they learned and grew to understand each other, which is how a real relationship is. When you're a kid, you just like the first girl/boy you know. When you're older, you have to cultivate an understanding of one another, and get to know each other. People change from when they're kids, so the childhood friends is a childish relationship and never works. That is high schoolers. Then again many high school girls are in romantic fantasies that will never work out.
Ran and Shinichi are not compatible to me. First off Ran is a Libra and Shin is a Taurus. It's not a bad combination, but not a good one either. They are Venus but... I should know...I am a Taurus. Ran's personal and second ruling planet is the Moon. Meaning she is clingy and sensitive, often looking for "Mr. Right." Shinichi's second and personal is Uranus. Uranus' like a loooong leash. They don't like the clingy type. They also don't show much interest in the romantic field. Which Shinichi doesn't. Thats why Haibara can handle him, because she doesn't either, even if she does like him. She's been so sarcastic with him, that showing weakness would break her pride. Plus, Ran barely likes when he goes off on cases now. Imagine marriage. She can't stop Shinichi from being a detective, so she'll be miserable. It won't make for a LASTING relationship. She can't contribute much to him. Whereas I can see Shiho and Shinichi starting their own detective agency, or Haibara being busy with her own science pursuits, like Shin's mom and dad. Or I can see her giving scientific advice to help him with his cases, like forensics. She is not so dependent on him that she cares if he goes off on a case. I feel their relationship is just interesting, even if it isn't romantic at all. They are going somewhere, Ran and Shinichi is just getting cold and dry and not rising up or down. It's just sitting there....Even Shiho and Shinichi sound good together S+S.... 8)
Last of all, Shinichi has too many girls. I can understand Goshyo wants to make his characters to have childhood friend relationships like Heiji and Kazuya, Kaito and Aoko, but that doesn't work for everybody. They are not the same where they have to be alike. They have different feelings, and handle their relationships differently. I like Kaito's friend, but I think he should have two girls and be cool (Akako who's like Yuko, yea! 8)) So if half of the fanbase doesn't agree with it, than something is wrong on the writer's part (like CCS Syaoran and Sakura 100 percent of the fanbase think they look good together). I feel if Goshyo didn't want a spark between Ai and Shinichi he shouldn't have made one, but writing can give off fickle responses. You have to be careful. Shinichi has all the girls like him because he shows that he cares about too many girls, even if he claims to love only one. Many girls love him, like Ayumi, Ran, and the soccor captain, and Haibara, who's desperately trying not to show it. I feel that Haibara is the best choice because she's not blowing his head up, and she's playing it cool. She's not obviously loving him, like the others.
Shiho+Shinichi S+S
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