Work Text:
Reiji sighed, ‘It’s better if those two find out from me than by snooping around themselves and interrogating Arata when he comes back…’ is what he tells himself when he explains what happened the past two days.
“….” of course, his two colleagues didn’t expect such a thing to happen and are speechless for a moment.
Arata got stabbed two days ago because of the rumors surrounding him, just got back from the hospital, and was already working when he shouldn’t have to.
“Arata…he’s OK, right?” Theo asks, concerned for his friend.
“…He’s shaken…and probably just wants to forget it ever happened,” Reiji sighs, shaking his head.
“Is there any progress on finding the guy who did this?” Kyouichi grits his teeth, clenching his fist. He’ll make the guy who hurt his friend pay.
“No. Let the police handle it, OK?” Reiji answers, putting a firm hand on his colleague’s shoulder, “What we can do right now is support Arata, alright?”
“…yeah. You’re right,” Kyouichi unclenches his fists, sighing and rubbing his forehead.
“Still…why didn’t Arata tell us? We’re his friends! Doesn’t he trust us?” Theo asks, a bit angrily.
"I...doubt he can trust anyone right now...Humans or Anothers." Reiji says, feeling very tired.
He then calls Arata to check in on him, and see if he’s OK. Meanwhile, Theo and Kyouichi work on their current case…and see if any more clues about who stabbed their friend pop up in the process.
Meanwhile…
Chigusa Kenji and Tamao Katsumi were in their car, on the way to Chiyoda Ward. Currently, they were on the case of Miyako Arata’s assault two days ago.
“Miyako-kun… He's a good kid. I've no idea why anyone would want to kill him..." Chigusa sighs, shaking his head.
"Rumors are rumors," is all Tamao had to say on the matter.
Yokoyama-san, of course, let them take one of their leads on the case, his words for them as follows, "Tell Kanoichi Satoru...that he's a person of interest in an assault case."
When they find Kanoichi Satoru along with Shimizu Shota, they greet him.
“Kanoichi Satoru?"
Kanoichi nods, "Yes? What can I do for you, officers?"
"Where were you around X PM, two days ago?" Chigusa asks.
Kanoichi blinks, "...I was at work. My colleagues can confirm this. What's this about?"
Tamao says, "A colleague of yours, Miyako Arata was stabbed two days ago. Not by an Another, but by a person."
Shimizu was speechless, of course. This surprised Kanoichi as he would expect this kind of thing from an Another usually, but a person?
Shimizu asks, "Is...he OK?"
Chigusa sighs, "...Alive, yes. Fine... Of course not, but he's stubbornly still going to work."
Kanoichi sighs, "That fool..."
"The perpetrator had a scar over the eyebrow," Tamao informs them.
"Am I a suspect?" Kanoichi asks.
"No...you're a person of interest."
"...I see."
"I heard your work relationship with Miyako-san is...complicated," Chigusa smiles.
"Understatement..." Shimizu couldn’t help but comment.
"I suggest we talk over at the station tomorrow."
"...I understand," Kanoichi nods, agreeing.
After the officers left, Shimizu asks, “Did you do it?”
“No…I wouldn’t stoop that low. Someone may have disguised themselves as me, for all we know,” Kanoichi sighs, feeling a headache coming on.
“I just…hope Miyako-san’s OK…” Shimizu mutters, lowering his head.
‘As much as Miyako Arata frustrates me…he doesn’t deserve death,’ Kanoichi thinks to himself before they go back to work.
At Shinjuku Park…
Kohaku was discussing with the tengu, trying to find out who hurt his Arata…but no such luck. They didn’t know much at all other than what that fairy told them.
Sighing, Kohaku goes home with Yuki, a bit disappointed.
“Even so…whoever hurt Arata will pay…” Kohaku growls, scaring Yuki a bit as they fly home.
Back at the Shinjuku Ward Office…
Arata had just gotten back.
Theo and Kyouichi greeted him normally, asking how it went. Reiji just stares at him, trying to see if he somehow aggravated his wound.
“It went fine. Just a lot of running is all,” Arata smiles, trying to be normal.
Honestly… Arata did aggravate his wound but told them he was fine when asked. He wasn’t. It hurt and ached, but he forced himself to power through it until he got back to the office.
Kyouichi and Theo looked at each other before nodding.
“Arata…we know what happened two days ago,” Theo starts.
Arata flinches, “I…” he looks at Reiji, who sighs.
“It’s better than having them interrogate you,” Reiji says, playing with a cigarette.
“It’s OK…just calm down,” Kyouichi tries to assure his friend.
Arata takes a deep breath and nods.
“Just…you can trust us, you know,” Theo smiles.
“I…know, but…” Arata glances away from them, fear in his eyes.
“We’ll protect you, OK?” Reiji assures, patting Arata’s head.
The reassuring weight ruffling his hair made Arata feel a little better. Smiling, Arata nods, “OK…”
“Uh…Arata, you’re bleeding!” Theo exclaims.
Looking at his abdomen, Arata sees that he’s indeed bleeding through his shirt. Arata puts pressure on his wound, getting pale before passing out.
Reiji caught him, holding him up as he puts pressure on the wound, Kyouichi calling the ambulance. Theo was freaking out, of course.
When Arata woke up in the hospital again, his colleagues, Kohaku, and Yuki were sitting around his bed.
“Never do that again,” Theo glares.
“Un,” Arata nods, very sorry for worrying them.
“You ripped your stitches…you should take it easy for a few weeks at home,” Kyouichi sighs.
“No!” Arata’s outburst startled them. He sulks, “I…don’t want to be stuck at home.”
Sighing, Reiji says, “…fine. You can continue going to work,” Arata smiles at this, “But! NO fieldwork for you. You have to catch up on your paperwork, anyway.”
“Hai!” Arata nods, smiling.
Kyouichi and Theo sweat-drop at the very fact that Arata would prefer paperwork over staying home.
A few weeks pass…
Arata’s all healed up and going to work as usual. The police’s investigation into his assault has come to a halt though. No new leads, but it’s still an open investigation.
"Here," Theo gave him a red charm.
"What's this?" Arata blinks, curious about it.
Theo smiles, "A custom made protection charm. It can make a barrier, react to any malicious intent within a five-meter radius, and purify any curses you pick up."
"What? But I don't pick up any curses!" Arata exclaims.
"...well...just keep it. It'll protect you," Kyouichi smiles as does Reiji. They all know that Arata’s practically a trouble magnet, so it’s better safe than sorry.
"If you say so..." Arata sighs as he puts the charm in his jacket pocket.
Later, he doesn’t regret ever getting that charm.
Omake:
When Matsuno Izumi was informed of Arata’s incident, of course, she was livid.
“Why didn’t he tell me?!” she cries angrily.
Chigusa just shakes his head, being serious for once as he presents his psycho-analysis of Miyako Arata, "I've seen his type before... so troublesome and stressful,” he comments before continuing.
“He...is too nice for his own good, and doesn't see much value in himself. A dense idiot when it comes to his own feelings...probably hasn't even thought about romance...and is the type to take a hit for a total stranger. He cares more for other people than himself, doesn't want to be a bother...and honestly doesn't know who to trust at this point. Not that I blame him.”
Then he asks, “Tell me... are you strong enough to protect him?"
That shocked her speechless, if only because the detective’s right. That is what her childhood friend is like…she just couldn’t see it. “I…”
Sighing, Chigusa walks away, already knowing the answer. She can’t protect him. She’s too weak to.
In the car, Tamao comments, “That was harsh…”
“It’s just the truth. The truth hurts sometimes,” Chigusa sighs.
Omake 2:
At home…
Arata curls up with Kohaku, who’s in coyote form, and Yuki, muttering in his sleep, “So fluffy…”
Kohaku huffs, “Goodnight Arata…”
“Goodnight, Kohaku. Goodnight Yuki.”
“Goodnight Arata,” Yuki yawns as they all fall asleep.