Chapter Text
His joint reeks as it halts on the steel knob, the promises replay in his head again and again like a cheap charm, useless detective Akechi was out for work today.
Scampering closes off his car door sews shut all the dull noises, counting the one in his head too as he pushes the [START] button, quickly trembles, and the machinery purr an inhumane greeting
Back then, there was someone calling me every time morning rose…maybe that old asshole’s assistant? Always bad, yeah, my mornings are always shitty.
“Confirm the total of damages last week, Siri.”
[YES, 7 FACIAL RECOGNITIONS ON THE MAIN HEM, INCLUDING LOCKPICKING AND GLASS BREAKING—SHOULD I CONTACT THE NEARBY GARAGE?]
“N…n-no, turn off Siri.”
The voice site its goodbyes and as his palm grinds the wheel and turns, steadily makes his way out of frozen tires, across vastly gray mud, his pairs draw to a seemingly yellow tape that wraps half of the other side of the highway, a quick glance as Akechi rides off his curiosity
What a careless fellow, how did he fling himself off the highway’s bridge in a truck? I’m intrigued by why but wonder if I can accept street cases in my position…there’s hardly anything I can do after all.
“Siri, radio 997.5 please.”
The monitor flick to life as a pop song reaches its climax until another voice cheerily talks back and forth and a husky voice mechanically reads news that Akechi could buy from some street vendor
Hmm, maybe I should switch to a newsletter app? My subordinates read stuff on there anyway, it’s not like it’s 2010 anymore…well, Akira still buys it on some days, it’s okay, I don’t need to change.
[MORNING NEWS: AT ABOUT 4 AM, A ONE-MAN ACCIDENT OCCUR ON SHUTO EXPRESSWAY AT THE SPEED LIMIT SIGN, LAW ENFORCEMENT IS ON A RESCUE OF THE PERPETRATOR WHO FELL OFF THE SUSPENSION BRIDGE, ANY CIVILIAN WITH ANY INFORMATION PLEASE—]
“Huh, so quick already? Must be the uniqueness of this violation…”
Hope whatever work Akira’s doing won’t involve this street…
A sky ripple building of CIB sitting idly in a quiet corner, like a statue of some sort, suit-vested men trek inward confidently—not for a certain man, immobilized, aloof by the bank
Fuck…I did some shit yesterday…ugh, I should take off today—not like anyone needs me inside. The Commissioner certainly won’t.
“Don’t be a pussy…let’s go—yeah, let’s go in.”
“Uwah, pissy Cap blocking our way…excuse me…”
Quiet as the group behind him manage to mutter, snickering lines are visible as day or night where he didn’t rely on pupils, Akechi plasters his face, a ‘charming’ mask imbued on his lips
“No, it’s my line, I’m sorry.”
Their saturated brows froze as they too wryly return the courtesy, the fucking courtesy of not hitting someone, Akechi trek slowly behind them as his smile fell flat, whiten knuckles clamp his nail again like a kid he was back then
I endured for so long…those little bastards should just die—shit, maybe I should kill them first before doing any of that request? Ugh, heh I’m regretting? Way to go, genius…
“Is SIT Unit 2’s chief here?”
Akechi flinches as a voice he grew familiar with echoes through the hallway, a rounded stature man notices the detective as he pushes some paper onto a flustered rookie, swiftly or rather the avoidance of a crumple shoulder, she hands him the paper
“Um…Attorney Niijima asks for you, in the guest room, sir.”
Hold the other end of it, Akechi glanced at the girl who completely avoid his gaze, he shouldn't feel anything from her reaction, he shouldn’t care that the memories are rewritten now and forever, that smile will never appear on her trembling lips
“I’m…okay, got it, thanks Matsutaka-san.”
Her small head nipped behind the large bookcase as his heel turned, promises of joy, promises of his dearest one layering rudish slide somewhere in his eyes, the more his eyes draw the coldly sweet smile of that young man, surely, surely he will be fine, a smile ends up engulfs Akechi’s mind
“I don’t know if moving you to this section’s a right idea or not but…maybe sis was wrong after all.”
“Huh. What were you talking about?”
The brunette woman across his face sighs heavily as her legs tick with every spoken word.
“I’M SAYING—that deciding you in this division isn’t good at all, look at how torn up and creepy you’ve been, honestly, why the hell should I talk to you.”
“Then tell one of your subordinates to go in your stead, aren’t you their amazing senior officer Niijima-san?”
As his lashes close in humor, a sharp clank echoes in their enclosed room as Makoto furrows her eyelids, Akechi would like to add in an off-beat joke of his but knowing how hotheaded the woman was—his lips seal before he can utter a word
“You and your snick jokes…fine, fine, I can’t excuse having a bad day on you of all people, Haru still trying so hard for me…”
“You know, I’m a bit of a—’ psychiatrist ’, tell me your life for a change.”
“Shesh, I have a more relaxing time talking with Akira than you, did something here piss you off?”
His lips tweak as he leans back on the worn cushion, despite its flattened situation, thorns grew out of his teeth for some reason—not for some reason, he notices his deal, just a wry smile can’t convey his emotion
“...I see, I see sorry for picking a fight with you, what’re you here for?”
“...the illegal information case resolved a lot on your behalf of capturing the main herring guy but about how another team handled it instead…Sis will try to convince Commissioner for Unit 2 to regain this case.”
Her palm tangles loosely as her bright apple is still as shiny as he met her before, the thorn pokes his tongue as it bleeds, sickening taste easing Akechi’s lung
“You know you should talk to Ritou-kun instead of me right? I don’t care how well you capture Tokyo CIB’s internal conflict but I’m…”
His fingers shape around his temple as it flicks with effect from the man’s mouth, the chief detective snicker at his talking mate’s boiling lips as her sigh sharp on touch
“Listen, you think I wasn't involved in your trial 5 years ago?! I’m not doing it because I felt guilty for leaving you alone as a past teammate, anyone should have a chance of repenting! And that includes you.”
“Didn’t Sae-san take it upon herself to deal with me? You are just jumping on my case like always, I’m not your sibling Makoto.”
“...FUCK! do I have to bring a psychiatrist or Akira so you can talk NORMALLY?!”
Her fist shook the glass table as shadowy eyes sneer through the panel, his rusty ones flick at hordes of them as they disperse as fast as they come, the woman clawed at the end of her twig as Makoto look down his ever-composed figure
“Sorry for shouting at you, just try to hang out with the guys here…you don’t have the privilege of Masayoshi Shido anymore.”
“Keh—! Thanks for the advice, Officer Niijima.”
“...That’s the locker for your dead relative’s inheritance, do whatever you want.”
His lips hang as the door shut behind her crooked back, now that he notices, her face was more grunty than usual, it could contribute to her growing responsibilities as Akechi stares at the little yellow note unless it was a disgusting handwrite
What do you want me to do with this?
Retirement?
Like a plea for me to get the fuck out of here?
I can give this to Akira when I die, he still has life before him, he should have this much money to do what he wants.
Ah, maybe I should take off soon, the moving company should arrive at his apartment already.
With a vague string on his leg, Akechi hops out of the guest room warrant staring sea of people as he strides, plucks out his phone, hopes and whatnot fill his heart
“Hello? Is this Akiyama’s Moving? About our schedule—”
“Oh, Akechi-san! Sir, the host in the apartment complex hasn’t answered his phone or his house for a couple of hours now! Was there anything we’re not clear about?”
“Ah, about my companion, he has a very flexible schedule so you guys can call me ahead, is there any paper I need to sign?”
Mutters mixed with shouts clutter the other sides as a voice shouts into his ear, faintly, Akechi can hear siren blares as his brows twitch
“HEY! You’re his friend, right? That tenant hasn't gone home since yesterday, you know where he went aren’t you?!”
I swear, is this cloudy day especially bad for women?
“As I said, ma’am, Kurusu-kun have stayed overnight—”
“Now we’re talking, you go over here an’ explain with these cops! What’s with these search warrant shit—”
“Yes, yes, I’ll be there-”
His finger flicks off the call as rumbling strands gnaw his thought, the detective sprang up from his chair and picks up his pace, a young man stops dead on his track
“Hum? Where are you going, Captain?”
“Handle my private business. Please take care of things for me, Ritou-kun.”
“Ah, going on a date in this busy time? Got it, chief, just enjoy your thing~”
The young man smeared a nice smile as Akechi nodded swiftly, the meaning, the action, the smile they bare—Akechi laughed at the thought of his silly ex-teammate
Ex-teammate? Hah, that’s not funny, people don’t want to couple with a criminal Makoto…I know I won’t.
As he leaves his confine, the stain that he shed at that gate where dead souls eat it, Akechi glances at it as his heels are more steady than before, under the evening sun, Akechi surges a smirk.
Immediately spotting tumbling crowd, his car caught their attention as a dark-haired men come up to Akechi, despite their suggestively tense situation, the man pop up a cheerful greet
“Hello, detective! Are you here for the runaway too?”
The drown hit-and-die got wanted?
“No…I’m here for other business.”
“Hey! Young lad, come ‘ere an’ explain!”
“Umm, please calm down, ma’am, I can leave for now…”
Afar as Akechi can vaguely recognize, senile-looking lady grunt at the detective with young missy tears profusely as he nods at the woman who shut her mouth quickly
“Good evening, ma’am, I’m sorry for the inconvenience but my housemate is currently out of touch if there’s anything…”
“Ya deaf?! Your ‘housemate’ makin’ trouble for the folks! Get those cops outta ‘ere!”
Her screech deafens the people including Akechi as he glances at the smiley-looking man, his smile croaking as a sigh escapes his lips
“Well, if you’re Kurusu Akira’s acquaintance, we have some questions to ask, please follow me.”
“I see…can I talk to her a little bit?”
The young lass startles as he points at her, Akechi fumbles a few cash as his head shakes, brows wrinkled
“Ah, um, okay, please consider our service again…”
As her figure timidly disappear, inside him never feels like acknowledging a single thought, it's putrid eating his beating heart as two men circle to the back of Akira’s complex, there, a slouching man and seemingly the officer’s partner look up at Akechi
“Hey~Yukkun, did you get any information?”
His brows immediately furrow at his jest but attempt to swallow for whatever reason as he mutters loudly enough
“Kumoi-san still said he’s here to visit his ex, nothing much—good day to you, Detective Akechi.”
His ex?...No, it couldn’t be, it’s too stupid
“Ah, yes. Was there anything you two—wanted to ask me about?”
“Welp, you can go now Kumoi-san, good day~”
The smiley detective turns a good nod as the strange man drag his feet but not before his pair lock on Akechi, his heels step back instinctively as Kumoi slithers away, the detective stares at his back as a cough directed at him
“He’s quite a gloomy guy, feels like he’s gonna eat my food if I don’t look y’know~”
“Well, at least you guys already ate lunch, haven't you?
“Hahah~ You right, you right! We're gonna grab one after this so, Akechi-san, you don’t happen to know some naughty thing, right?”
What?
His partner steps up as his unfeeling pupils glare at Akechi, somehow ticking a nerve in the chief detective as his left palm fumble with a tie
“What Detective Asa said was, do you have any contact with our current hit-and-run Kurusu Akira? A traffic violation isn’t a big case, but running away from law enforcement put him on our list.”
“...Isn’t he deep down the lake? Aren’t the Metropolis fishing him up, why bother assigning you two fester people’s houses?”
Fuck, fuck, fucking—so that was Akira? Is he okay? Shit, what if these useless assholes aren’t capable of doing just that?
“Not exactly we did that, recent residency points us to this complex where he lives, and the sea crew is working hard to find the perpetrator…”
Asa raises his palm at his partner’s face as his tongue halt, a slightly visible vein crops on his neck as Akechi scoffs
“Sorry, sorry, Yukkun dated someone there so forgive him, we just need to know if you have had any contact with Kurusu-kun last 4 hours, kinda hurry to turn ‘im in.”
“Ah well, if that’s all you want then I’m just in the dark like you two.”
“ —Hm, Akechi-san doesn't happen to be in cahoots with Kumoi-san to protect him, no?”
His nose crunch as a smirk naturally blooms on Akechi’s lips, his little partner lunges a glare at the chief detective as Asa holds the boy back
“Hey, isn’t this just a traffic accident? Kurusu-san didn’t happen to hit some prominent figures in police forces, yes? So what it is now, SIT Unit 3’s member.”
“Detective Akechi, your rudeness is unwarranted in this interrogation—!”
“SHUT UP!”
The older-looking detective shouted at his partner as he coils back, Akechi didn’t even feel a slight surprise toward this coworker of him, after all, there was something serious only CIB knows—frankly, never Akechi Goro as he laugh at himself
“Sirs, we can’t argue here, what if someone overheard our conversation, this is Unit 3’s signature but I prefer a more professional setting.”
“I see—! Well, seems like your princely ass didn’t know stuff beyond this shit so we bid you goodbye~”
Asa wore his smile carelessly as his partner shoot a dagger at Akechi, his neck craning as a sigh evaporate into a seething cloud
Ah~God, zap those bitches to ashes please~!...As if, what the hell are they polite for? That old hag and a creepy dude?
“Hah. Cops still have this teledrama?”
“Kumoi-san...! Are you here for something?”
Kumoi mouthing his laugh as his finger curls into each other, quirks Akechi’s brows as the man’s eyes glint
“My heart, my heart’s somewhere here, you know he is right?”
“...Beats me, as if I’ll tell you where he is.”
Shit, was he Akira’s ex? Fuck, don’t give in Goro…calm down.
“Is that so.”
Kumoi steps closer
“Is that so.”
The strange man inch in as the detective furrowed his brows
“Is that so.”
“Kumoi-san, I have something that can put you to sleep so you know what to do right?”
“Where’s my heart, then.”
Even though his legs froze, the glare he gives off isn’t much better than Yukkun ones, despite that, it bulges its veins and screeched at Akechi wildly
“I don’t keep him captive, you would know, no?”
“Stop.”
His back straps straight as a slightly bruised pair looms over the chief detective’s stature, still, a single thought regains Akechi’s composure as a thin metal thrust between him and the man.
“Let’s talk civilize, Kumoi-san, I advise you not to move closer.”
“...Sure”
Akechi was very confident of his height, also because it’s staggeringly close to Akira, a sense of contentment fills him until this moment—the detective chills in a sense of uncanniness, an unthinkable one overlapping his logic as he mutters
“You have quite a huge presence…”
There’s no way he likes bigger men right—you have to stop that, Goro, stop that.
“Since small, no one liked me. Only him, he isn't scared.”
What? That’s pretty stupid, not like anyone gonna feel intimidated by you forever, are you gonna obsess with them too? —Hah, what am I thinking, people always scared of the monster
“So what? Being big doesn’t mean you’re capable of hurting others. Well, it’s more logical if you take advantage of him.”
Under his resin strands, biting metals sneering down on an object, or a plant, Akechi claws at his knee calmly, the more he thinks about things beneath the mask, the stains just keep coming
“I’m—not harming my heart, these hands are not for that. Misunderstanding. He misunderstands what happened.”
“Oh really? What he thought was true turned out to be...wrong?”
“...I don’t need to tell you, I have to find my heart.”
The giant gets on his leg as Akechi coughs loudly, signaling his attention, Kumoi, however, glare behind his back—it does make Akechi thinks how strange this situation was, the cornering affection, their ‘love’, the detective smirks at his own ill-will
“Are you going to get back with him? After what you did to him?”
Steel cold, the giant man’s shadow cast all over Akechi, like in fiction he read, ‘touch the monster and it will eat you’, he keep his smile and lamented his impulse
“YOU…Did yOu touch my heart? My only sun? MY-”
“Strychnine and you asked for it.”
Flashing red simmering at the tip of Akechi’s face as the shadow engulfs every fire around, like a hunter toward the beast, a syringe grazes his adam’s apple as Akechi cranes his head at the wolf
“This isn’t some fiction you can escape without consequences, anything you do will cause your life—your abuses, your stalking, you’re lucky I’m stabbing you with this thing.”
“I…! Don’t, I didn’t hurt him—you don’t get it-!”
Yeah right, like I believe you
“Get away from me...Kumoi-san”
The detective smacks his fist away as the syringe slips into his pocket easily like he said, even though he has every opportunity to defeat the beast, ' a hero ’ that Akechi never became, a virtue never existed in him in the first place—a shining scenery of a cold limbo flashes through his eyes
Jail…jail, huh, oh yeah—gonna ask them for Akira.
“Hey, Kimura, the hit-and-die guy got secured yet?”
‘Huh? Yeah, they got him. Drown near Yamaguchi, insane shit I tell you.’
“Heh. Okay, okay, whatever insane shit that guy got, he’s safe now, right? What hospital?”
‘Uhh, hol’ up, Saitama Central Hospital? Yep. Do you need something? Ain’t another unit handle him?’
“I’m going to visit him informally, that’s it.”
‘I don’t know, man, unit 4 ain’t gonna let ya.’
“Hah…well, I’ll think about how to deal with them.”
There should be someone I can talk to normally…besides Matsutaka.
He sighs, and again, even though nothing has been solved, twilight shone upon him like a cockroach.
And here I was, foolishly buying a cake—
Pulling out a cooly boxed sweet, even though it evokes appetite, the thought of it wring the box out of his hand, stamp one more, second more as light flickering, snickering at his rampant
Shit, why the hell am I like this? No one is going to see me after all…SHIT!
“...Just stop it, stop it, I’m already a mess…”
Please be safe Akira…please.
Tears stroll repeatedly, endlessly as fingers claws for a speck of warmth—flashing, numbing, drying, freeing, melting, nothingness
nothing
nothing
Ah fuck it all, why do I have to endure it, why am I this fucking miserable…
The man crawls up as his palm pushes a small door near his bathroom, dragging out cleaning utensils as he stood still, slowly sweeping the blood that he shed
Shit…my hands fuckin’ sore, think. There are side dishes, I gotta eat that or else it’s gonna rot
“Rotting cabbage won’t kill a grown man…maybe spoiled milk?”
What am I? Deranged? Useless fuck talking to himself…
Walls and glasses, couches that look disgusting, Akechi opens every door in his house as he halts at the room where ‘he’ sleeps, creaking open, faintly but surely, daybreak brush his nostrils slyly like his wide smirk
Am I delusional? Comparing someone’s smile to a literal sun…limerence?
Upon reaching the clock table, a diary-like notebook pop into his vision, it sleeps quietly until someone notices as his finger trace through pages, idyllically
Ah, he had something like this back when we were young…a full year in Shibuya, Morgana—that stupid cat, heh, he’s living better right? What is this, November 6th?
[I can’t do it anymore, everything in this neighborhood—I get it now, why am I so stupid at that time…I just want to escape, Mom, and Dad, you have never cared for me, so why? Why are you crying when I went back? Why don’t you call me when the news appears? Why’re you caring for me, now? What do you want from me? Sojiro-san stupid government inheritance? Is this why you sent me there? Why did I date Hishina? Why am I empty? Why’s he like that? Why did they touch me? Why can’t I run?
Why do I still remember our promise?
I don’t have answers
I have to go back to Shibuya, go back to where it all began.]
Sakura-san’s money? What is this…? Who’s Hishina?
He flip another one, blank, and another one as it went on endlessly white—a damping black caught his eyes as he turn over it, trembling hands, the man shut the notebook quivering
“Shit, isn’t this his diary? Dammit—!”
I have to forget it all…forget it, forget it, forget it.
Words still pour as he prays, puddling black etch his tongue as thorn plummeting his wilting lung, but despite all that, emptiness no longer resides in him—should he be happy? From reading his secret? No matter, nothing matters, the sight of Akira brimming Akechi’s heart.
…No, I shouldn’t forget it, maybe if I plan my words like before, things will go smoothly—yeah! Let’s see…
Noises sounded outside the door as his phone clattered against the glass table, an unnamed address reflected in his eyes as Akechi hovered between buttons
What if it's him? But it’s 9 pm, why the heck would he answer my request now?
“ugh…Yes? This is Detective Akechi Goro.”
‘Detective? Seriously? Haha, good evening officer~’
His lashes blink as he glances at the front door, and slowly settles himself, his eyes rigidly glaring to his left where something important was heavily guarded, part of him felt relieved but the tension was already in his control
“Yes, you too, seems like this mister over here stole Detective Pham's identity, may I ask why?”
‘Oh? Sorry, sorry, I just wanna ask for his phone lil’ but bastard so cunning, almost tell the police on me!’
So it was Pham’s phone after all…sounds like him alright, at least I just have to change my address later
“My apologies for my coworker’s witted ways, is there—a problem you have with our department?”
A distorted cackle echoes Akechi’s hearing as his nose winces, his finger press another button as he let the speaker on
‘What ya mean ‘our department’? Ya dumb or something? Ah, I get it, nothing in this shit matters to you, right? —Aight, just wanna ask for our carry boy, where’s he?’
Why does everyone think I know some super deep shit? Don’t tell me, fucking Ritou rat me out?!...No, it’s a coincidence, Kumoi doesn’t relate to the cops—at least I hope so.
“I remember our CIB doesn’t own a delivery company so you can bring your problem to customer service? They may know more than ol’ me.”
‘....Ah~here it is, our charming detective prince, isn’t it? Some years ago, you were quite a hot shit. How’s the revenue money, mister celebrity—shoot, forgot about your beef with the court, your home had ta kick ya out hah~?’
Not a former fan. Doesn’t sound like a fanatic either. This person knows the basics of what happened in the news…that’s a given, I guess.
“Seems quite desperate to call a justice system ‘home’, mister. How would you like to know, your carry boy I mean.”
‘Bitch~! Woah gotta tell my folks about this later, an ex-celebrity!... You don’t actually know anything, do you?’
“...Yep, wrong number, nice to talk to you, and keep doing your work.”
Fucking bitch, what the hell does he know.
The detective shut his ‘not’ delightful call as his throat grunted, slumped at his knee, Akechi breathe in a deafening void as he sighs, his finger taps and swiping listlessly
Hope Sanai-san sees this…in case she doesn't, Imma take this into my hand.
“Hm? That’s fast.”
| What? Is the intruder in your house?? |
|No, that’s not it.|
|Can you dispatch a small team and go to the branch headquarter? I think Pham-san might need some help.|
|Ah, keep this a secret, please?|
| What do you mean?! Ambushing an officer’s a big deal!!! I will ask Niijima-san to take you on this mission. |
|Can you not do it? I’m feeling pretty scared after that phone call…|
| Huh? |
| Okay, stay safe Akechi-san. |
Akechi turns off the phone as he sprang up, quickly pulling out a revolver from his cupboard as the detective trudges out.
Searing nightwind chills every bone as joint startle at swaying shadows, his lips grits as the second pass, and the detective glance at his laying metal, evident of his planning thoughts
That dude… couldn’t have talked about Akira…no, he can’t involve in these shit now
Forking streets bore its pupil into the moving vehicle, counting every rolling tire staining its grayish fur—his palm lunge the gear lever to its edge as lightning tore down his wasting sighs
Hurry up…Sanai and her team should hold that group already…
As he pullover to a side, a figure of a woman crouch while holding a shotgun in both palms, his palm reach out as Akechi notices her face, sharply speared at a distance—Akechi swiftly dodge to the ground as rumbling rain sounded on their white-blue car, the woman attempts a point-blank as her back slightly tremble
Shit…that guy may have noticed the police beforehand…! No—they already predict my next action…
‘Sanai-san…how’s the situation?’
‘I’m glad you’re alright, Akechi-san. The terrorist group that called themselves ‘The Anti’ leader threw bullets at our force. No one was harmed but I think we need an assault team, only our unit isn’t enough.’
‘Yes, I apologize for my miscalculation…but I will ambush them from the back, don’t let anyone follow me.’
Sanai stared horridly at him as her head nod reluctantly, her hand signing another member as they nod, pulling out a megaphone
<THIS IS THE MPD, PLEASE LET US HAVE A WAY TO COMMUNICATE! IF YOU HAVE THE DESIRE TO MAKE, TAKE THE SPEAKER.>
The detective slips away at Sanai’s distraction as he circles around to the hospital’s backdoor, figures appear in his sight as Akechi hide behind hind walls—the metal aim at a head and another, two cut strings, the detective sprint ascend
Fuck…he knows people try ‘round here? Sanai makes a good call, this can be their deathbed.
Relief at the clean sight of the stair, his revolver shooks as Akechi clean out the magazine—clicky plops alert the detective as he ran inside an emergency door, swift sigh as he trek along darkened hallway
30…no, 60 people were in this hospital including suspected patients, seems like they lure the people to the top floor
Screeching slips in his hearing as Akechi crawl under the benches, worn shoes walks steadily unlike the situation they had here, his brows furrow at its tranquilness as if it's their first time exploring such a view
A fucking psycho…Alright, let’s see if a bullet in your leg sounds cool.
“Hishinaaa! Where~are you? Hide n’ seek at your age ain’t cute, sonny, don’t you dare play tricks on me.”
Hishina? Isn’t that Akira’s ex? What’s she doing here? Fuck, if she comes here to rescue Akira—it sounds stupid that you think you can help.
Its muzzle tilt as his eyes wince, mixed sweats elevate his breath as finger grip its trigger—Instead of a worn platform in his sight, dilated pupil glare vehemently
“HEY. Yer ain’t Hishina, whatcha doing?”
Darkened machinery point at him as Akechi pull himself out, slowly, his hand raises as the detective skim the man in front
Shit, I almost shot the guy…why isn’t the light working? It’s hard to see things as it is
“Oi, yer a rat or something? Ah, the fucking light aight? Hah, so how ‘bout it.”
“...Are you the one who calls me?”
“Hah? Wait, yer are really just here to sacrifice yerself?”
Akechi cranes his head as the ominous voice grows confused, sighs relievingly, his throat coughs as he lowers his arm
“Ah, I would like to not do that, Minata-sensei calls me to fix their breaker but the elevator kinda goes wanky earlier—is it the generator?”
Metal shoves on his temple as his hand elevates again, his tongue slightly ticks as the man sneers
“What generator? Dunno shit, yer tryna scotch-free outta here?”
So he has some brain…I have to walk carefully…
“Generators are basically spare electricity so if it has some problem, that’s why they call someone like me y’know? I can’t get out until my work is done.”
“Huh, yer right I guess…welp, lead the way, machine boy.”
Pressed forward by a sort of shotgun, Akechi reluctantly drag with a detonator behind him as his palm graze the metal handle, swiftly, an explosion pulled the man’s attention
FUck…!
The detective rifts as his dripping palm pulls his heavy legs, slamming himself into a nearby door as his vision twinkled
He…didn’t have that much sensitivity in a nocturnal setting huh…shit, that just sounds lucky to me-I have to make a plan, just walking—
Grenade fireworks startle Akechi as the ceiling above him trickles in fear, unconscious gasping as he grinds his head to the door
…There’s nothing…how, no, no way, he should chase me to this hallway…there’s no way…
His heel squeaked as Akechi flung open, even dull quietness crawled on his nape but the detective forces his shaking legs, ‘forward’, a lexeme stringing the lone man on his mission
Reception…there should be a patient’s records…it’s not here.
What?
How…ah, those bastards took it…
His back chills as words of a certain man ring his ears, screeches that he ignores, swaying diamonds that crushed in front of him—drilled with adrenaline, metal implanted into his palms
They fucking trick me…! Shit, that guy let me go just because?! Dammit!
Echoing clicks, Akechi ran on cement stairs as end on end, his gun aim behind his footsteps as his eyes quivered
What’s happening to me…calm down, this isn’t me…calm the fuck down.
“Maybe I should call Sanai…”
Artificial blue flickers as signal brims his skull, his phone droop as the detective tries to smooth the creasing on his clothes—uselessly
“No one…nothing…no clue…”
Also the possibility of ‘him’ trailing after me…I guess I have to get it together.
Hop on another pair of stairs, gritting lung slowly let itself loose at least, Akechi was clinging to whatever he can to remain
I forgot…these situations are just stressful back in the day, well, this was better—hah, just one mistake and they thought I’m ‘up to it again’
A pristine object caught his eyes as its content paced his legs, slightly poking at a dot, he glance to its door as Akechi sprinted ascend
Detention Floor…detention floor…here it is!
Kick open the heavy lock, a figure froze the detective’s eyes as his gun raises, blemished throat hopes for relief, his voice cracked
“Hey, ugh–you there, drop your gun.”
Black shadow turns his head as their head tilted, rigidly, whatever machinery they held, lowered as a husk flow the air
“Detective… Why were you here?”
How the hell did this bitch know my title…
“Show me your hand.”
Sluggishly, as if they don’t want to follow his command, the man step forward as Akechi flash his phone’s light, his brows creased
“What are you doing here?! This isn’t a safe place!”
“...That’s why I asked you. Why are you here, go back to your team.”
Tch-! What’s with this guy—
His pair widen as Akechi straightens his view, still, rums pupils are drawn to its hellish saw, the detective calms his quivering lips as the man flicks his gaze down
“Lucky for you. And your measly bullets. This many men won’t handle it.”
And you kill them with a dagger?! How the…no, it couldn’t be.
“Kumoi-san, are you a hired hitman? Quite unusual for someone like you to be in this hospital…unless you’re looking for someone?”
Kumoi turns his mountainous back at Akechi as his lips mumble, as he trudges away, the detective leaves speechless, unlike a growing desert in his mind, a delicate unknown unveil before him
Am I seriously losing to this guy? Who am I kidding…we cared for the same guy…
“This is not me doing for you but I’ll help you in any way I can, Kumoi-san.”
He matches his pace with his friend as Akechi adds a flash of a smile, acceptingly grimacing, the detective found a like-minded guy.
Surely I was always on edge in my younger days, the comfort of another being—doesn’t beat being alone…
‘Did you meet a big guy on your way here, if I may ask?’
‘No. Used a rope to climb stairs. You?’
Oh, so he’s not as unsociable as I thought
‘Normal person method…as you can guess, a detective like me doesn’t have gear like you.’
Skim around their hallway, scattered blood and fleshes as Akechi glance at the ‘supposed’ perpetrator
Who am I to judge…this is just me in Metaverse, the same old.
‘Not gear as you thought. Just a rope nearby.’
‘Haha, a wild-way hitman, huh? First time seeing it.’
‘You. You know Akira?’
He can sense the nervousness in Kumoi’s query as if he has thought of it, masking with his curtness, the detective smirk
‘Yes, you can say we were old friends way back…not to the point of dating, I might say.’
Shield behind a hind wall, sharp pupils drew on his face ever so meticulously as his gaze disconnects
‘My heart. He, he talks about his adventure. Many. You too, he told me he really missed you.’
The detective crane up to Kumoi as his brows trembles, shudder, Akechi lowers his head as his palm grips the metal inside
‘...I see, thanks for that Kumoi-san.’
Kumoi-san…he isn’t what I thought at all, and to think, I was so angry when Akira cries…
‘Let’s get you to meet Akira soon.’
Akechi blooms for the sake of his determination, however crushing it was, always he can’t be happy for anyone—thorns split into branches as it consumes his greed
…you’re being immature, Goro. To be able to move on, you have to–
Kumoi nod otherwise unless he didn’t care for bits of crumpling facet of another person—he too, only moving forward for his greed
We’re such selfish people, aren’t we?
As the night passes its purity, smoke envelops their sight as Akechi looks at Kumoi, seemingly expecting the outcome, their legs carrying thoughts and hopes as the bell blares its melody throughout daybreak.
[ GOOD MORNING, JAPAN. WE HAVE AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH OFFICER SANAI-SAN ABOUT TANAMI MILITARY HOSPITAL SITUATION. ]
[ EXCUSE ME, IS IT ANY UPDATE ABOUT CATCHING ‘THE ANTI’? WHAT IS YOUR RESOLUTION ABOUT THIS CASE? ]
{ WE INTEND TO GATHER ENOUGH CLUES TO FINALLY BRING THOSE TERRORISTS TO JUSTICE, TO THE HOSPITAL THAT ENDURE THE TRAGEDY, WE APOLOGIZE FOR YOUR MISSES.}
[ UM, SANAI-SAN? EXCUSE ME SANAI-SAN? ]
“Hah! She dodged the question, what a sly kid!”
The senile gentleman exclaims offishly as a red-haired woman sighs at her family’s careless action
“Sojiro…what if your back broke again? Don’t complain when it does.”
“No way-URGH!”
The woman sighs listlessly as she positions his pillows while her dad busy grunts pathetically, at last, he can mutter some words
“This—haizz…this is why you don’t date older guys, they become tiresome like me.”
Her face flicks at him, furrowing brows, her lips let out long sighs as her manicure finger smooths the edge of her nose
“Godammit, Sojiro…that was like ages ago! When are you gonna forget that!”
“When you find yourself a proper person, Futaba, your mom will be maddening if she knows too—”
Futaba springs up from her seat and catches her bag, stamps out with a bang as the impact echoes in the gentleman’s room
“Haizz…why’s she so mad about this, think of all the headaches when she brings back problems—!”
A knock startles Sojiro as he coughs a sign, the sliding door reveals a gently grinning man as Sojiro winces at him
“Who…?”
“I visited you yesterday, Sakura-san, haha.”
“Aahh—you huh, Akechi, what business do you want here?”
Bouquet settles on his bedside as his grin wilts, still, his gaze never rigid as he shakes his head
“Frankly, I was relieved of my position Sakura-san, I came just as Akechi Goro.”
The corner of his lips quips softly as Sojiro reaches out for the man’s shoulder, just like his words and voice, bring a warmth he can never decipher
“I see, I see, tell me when you have something fun, yeah?”
“Yes, thank you for taking care of Akira—Sojiro-san.”
“Why are you thanking me? Hah! You guys are still as troublesome as ever.”
Akechi pry his lips but as always he can’t think of anything to counter and the old man before he cackles joyfully
“Are you here asking me about Akira? Go on, amuse me.”
“Um, it’s not a question per se…it’s just, I’m thinking what I should say to him.”
Before, Sojiro would exclaim with some words to pass on this conversation as he did that to Akechi, this time, as he look up, a sight that didn’t belong on his face—no, it has changed, the man grits his lips
“That boy has been through a lot, he sent me some letters…it isn’t pretty, tells ya…Can you tell him not to bother visitin’ me?”
“Yes…yes, I will…”
“Huh. I didn’t know that same kid back then would bawlin’ like this!”
Akechi chuckles at Sojiro’s remarks, veiling his face clumsily as he bows before dragging his feet away as the man scoffs lightly.
“...These kids are too dramatic, haha.”
Lean heavily on the brutish wall, Akechi let out a breathless sigh as chestnut strands block his view, for some time, a thoughtless bubble fills his head as it pops by seconds pass—the door opens and the man immediately notices his loved one’s visitor
“Hello. Detective Akechi.”
“Good evening to you, Kumoi-san. I’m just a professor assistant now.”
“Akira. I think he would like to hear why. Your reason.”
“...Did you tell yours then, Kumoi-san?”
Musty clouds engulf his feelings as Kumoi turns away with a curt nod, he can’t exactly ask him why, because the thing between them—Akechi faces the door as his finger pushes the handle, and a fragile figure twirls his eyes towards him.