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"It's okay, I promise," Ranpo said as he smiled weakly, even though he was great at hiding his true feelings, he couldn't help expressing such sadness, Poe would find out at one time or another.
"Oh, so is that it?" There was a short pause and no answer. "I think it's okay then..." Poe was still showing concern even though he tried to look relieved. "Can I go to the agency? I finished writing something for you and it's kind of boring when you're not around..."
"Dazai ?! What are you doing?! Sorry, Poe-kun, I need to—" Before finishing the sentence, Ranpo ended the video call.
Then Poe just stared at the melancholy computer screen, he knew there was something wrong, Ranpo wasn't even at the agency, he seemed to be acting as usual, but something left him with a bitter taste in his mouth.
He got out of bed, it was three in the afternoon, he had woken up a while ago, he was just putting some ideas in order before he started writing, but he realized he missed Ranpo. The teasing, the jokes, the smile… it was like something was missing. He couldn't write anymore, Ranpo's weak smile was hammering his poor head, of course he couldn't read Ranpo as easily as Ranpo did, but Poe was still an incredible detective.
The sound of the clock on the table was hellish, he couldn't stand hearing the hours go by anymore, he wasn't being productive, nothing he wrote made sense, it was just a few phrases of longing that dyed the sheet.
He lay down on the table, on top of messy papers and freshly dried ink. He felt he needed to do something, he didn't know what, but his heart would not settle if he remained still.
When he got up again, it was only an hour later, but it felt like years. He changed clothes, put Karl on his shoulder and left the house. The air of the westernized city was somewhat reminiscent of his homeland, it was easy to adapt, but as soon as he hears another language he remembers that he is on the other side of the world, it would be lonely if the man wasn't used to the damn loneliness, Karl always it made him forget the feeling, and now Ranpo helped too.
He did not connect much with people, especially after losing to his rival, he became even more isolated, it was the time when his imagination could finally break free, his feelings were on edge, both hatred and admiration battled within him. He had already published several books and was still looking forward to publishing more, but he only felt recognized when Ranpo asked about his mysteries and always asked for more. And before he knew it, his hatred was gone.
Poe lives at the wealthiest part of the city, a beautiful and safe neighborhood. He stopped at an artisan candy store, it was a little expensive, but very prestigious, not only by the public, but also the great detective Ranpo Edogawa! Remembering his voice made Poe's heart squeeze hard, it has been a while since he felt his presence, much less animation.
He bought some sweets, Ranpo's favorites. He learned how to taste sweets, before he barely thought about it, but everything suddenly seemed tastier.
Finally he arrived at his destination, Ranpo's house, he is nervous, he was not invited and he did not even warn that he would go, deep down he knew that he had already discovered that he would come.
Ranpo lives with Fukuzawa, it is a medium-sized house, Japanese style, there is a mini garden near the giant wooden gate, it was a rare sight there, he stopped for a few seconds to appreciate the beauty of the place. When he was going to press the bell, Ranpo left in his tanuki pajamas from the gate, he opened a smile of relief: "I had no proof that you would come, since I didn't even call you here..." He took a deep breath. "But I'm glad you came..."
When Poe heard those words, his face could not hide the happiness he felt, for a minute he even forgot what he was doing there, but when he came back to reality, his concern returned: "I ... know there is something wrong." He spoke in a voice so low that he didn't even know if the other man could hear him. "So I couldn't help it ..." Silence and awkwardness take over the air for a while. "I brought some sweets... can I come in?"
"Ah!" Ranpo woke up to reality. "Of course!"
He opened the door and made room for Poe to enter, the man used to the Western world was even more impressed when he saw the inside, there was a small stone path to the entrance, well-trimmed grass around it with a small shishi-odoshi on top. He took off his shoes before entering, imitating Ranpo.
"If I got the tatami dirty again, I'm sure Fukuzawa would kill me." Ranpo spoke with a certain fear in his voice. "You can sit right there, Fukuzawa went to a super-important-government-meeting and he won't be back anytime soon, his words."
The mood of melancholy was noticeable, but Poe couldn't quite figure out where it came from, obviously from Ranpo, who was settling down to sit in his zabuton in front of the small table, left the beautiful package of sweets on the table and imitated Ranpo again.
"They are wagashis, the ones you asked for that day and said you liked... there's also have ramune if you want..." Poe sighed. "I hope it cheers you up..."
Ranpo started to laugh, as he always did, loudly and with an intonation of superiority: "Cheer me up? But I'm already very excited! Ah, what's with that long face! Did you bring any new mysteries to me?"
But all Poe did was to remain serious, without even smiling, he was determined to help his beloved... friend: "I will not fall for it, Ranpo-kun..."
"Ah?” Ranpo made an incredulous expression, as if Poe had discovered his deepest secret, but soon returned to his previous state. "I... I knew that the first detective who impressed me would not believe in such a fake mask." Finally, he let the melancholy show on his face. "But if I'm okay ... everything is going to be okay, isn't it?"
Without thinking, Poe hugs Ranpo tightly, as if he doesn't want to leave so soon: "Poe-kun?!"
Ranpo's words brought him to reality and immediately released him, flushed, it was not like him to show physical affection, especially in such an impulsive way: "A-Ah! Excuse! I-It was kind of automatic...!"
"It's okay…" He smiled slightly. "I think that's what I needed."
A sense of relief comes from the writer's chest: "It's just that... hiding feelings and pretending everything is fine works for a while, we managed to deceive one or two people, sometimes even everyone... in the end we turned into a time bomb." He paused. "Ah! It's not like I'm sure what you're feeling, I-I just…” He took one of the candies and ate it.
"Wow! Who knew Poe-kun was so mature!" He turned his attention back to his friend, but with the voice of someone with a lighter heart, who would have thought he would be understood one day. So many years hiding his darkest thoughts and feelings, in order to be discovered in a bad week, he finally understood what other people felt when he unveiled them. His loneliness seemed to have evaporated with Poe's presence and words. "But thanks for coming."
"You are welcome..." His chest seemed to explode and he wasn't sure if his face showed it, but he felt the same heat up. The great Ranpo Edogawa thanking him?! It was like a dream!
"Anyway, let's stop messing around!" He laid his head on Poe's lap. "What do you have for me today!"
Karl lay on top of Ranpo's belly, everyone seemed perfectly aligned for a good mystery story. The mood was more cheerful, the afternoon sun came into the room. And then Poe took out his notebook and began: "The mental features discoursed of as the analytical, are, in them-selves, but little susceptible of analysis..."