Chapter Text
I frown as I tap my foot in front of my laptop impatiently. Nothing, not one bit is coming to me. The dreaded writers block has hit me like a tsunami. Before this book that I’m carefully typing thinking back to the days I met them. I was in a bad place after my mother was viciously murdered with no sign of the murderer. I felt like I could have helped the investigation better but cutting open your own flesh and blood is different from cutting open the people you barely know. I couldn’t help but blame myself for the reason the killer was never caught.
I glanced over to my old book of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle which I’ve been digging through with fatigue and vigor to find that wonderment and will to write that I received when I first read the adventures. Sadly, I couldn’t find it so I was left alone in my own office with nothing to write for.
I glance over to my satchel, besides my forensic notes and a few things for protection, for I’ve been told I’m unusually paranoid. I say to that I have good reason to be paranoid. Either way I shut down my laptop and placed it in my bag before grabbing it and heading outside my old apartment.
It was a cold winter day this December of 2025, but I shrugged off the cold and pulled my white coat closer to my chest. The coffee shop was just down the street, so it was honestly no worries to get back into a warm area. I looked both ways before crossing the street opening the small shops door causing the little bell to ring at the top of the door.
Teruteru the owner of the fine establishment gave me a welcoming smile and wave.
“Would you look at that. It’s our star customer Hajime Hinata. I have to say your addiction to coffee and my delicious home-made treats are the only things keeping us afloat.”
I rolled my eyes and laugh lightheartedly, “Haha very funny, but I drink an average amount of coffee every day.”
Teruteru shakes his head, “The average number is one cup a day, not 20 on irregular intervals throughout the week,” He replies with only fun banter no malice intended.
I smile and walk over to the counter, “Oh? So already know the drill.”
“Swiss coffee with two pumps of cream? It hasn’t changed since when my good old mama ran this shop before me.”
I smile wistfully when I hear the other talk about my mother. Both our mothers were close friends since my family use to live a few doors down before the accident. I really missed her. She raised me alone my dad was missing, and she explained that it was because of a one-night stand. Neither her nor my father were expecting her to get pregnant. My mother decided not to tell him for he was high up in the government and for some reason he was adamant about not having a child for one reason or another. Sometimes there’s holes in the protection no matter how good. My mother thought he was in something with the government that wanted to use his children for something, but honestly no one can tell if she was just telling me so epic story to make me feel special about my past, or if it was all actually true.
I wait patiently for my coffee setting up my laptop near a side window as I glanced out into the snowy wonderland of London’s streets. I saw the tightly covered people racing to their destination or singing merry carols on their way to get some charity donations. It looked straight out of something out of a well-drawn postcard. Though I could not help that something about the picture was wrong. I squint and lean into the glass looking for what was different before jumping when Teruteru placed his hand on my cold shoulder.
“Oh Jesus! You were so quiet. You could scare someone like that,” I laugh away my initial fear and looked back out the window again. Whatever was bothering me before was long gone now.
“My apologies Hinata, but I have to get you your coffee somehow,” He places the coffee and a small freshly baked pastry next to my laptop. I look up at him in surprise.
He chuckles light heartedly, “Both are on the house. I know how much you’ve been struggling since your mother died a few weeks ago. She was really a wonderful woman.”
I nod a little and pick the piece off the danish plopping it into my mouth, “Compared to her other family she was something special. My grandparents and aunts and uncles were just trailer park residents, but my mom. She really made a name for herself as an actress and singer.”
“I’ve never seen a musical without her be as good as anything she’s been in. Just her presence alone made every performance a masterpiece.”
I laugh a bit and nods, “I remember when she had to take me to work and your mom helped her review lines while we ran around backstage of the Royal Opera House somehow climbing up the rafters without getting caught.”
He smiles, “Good times. I should get back to work now Hinata. I have a long day ahead of me. Good luck on your novel.”
I smile and wave, “Good luck to you as well,” I say before turning back to my blank word screen.
I felt like I was sitting there for hours. Nothing but a single document with the words, “Something strange is afoot.” It felt right, but that alone didn’t make a story after all. What about the characters? The mystery? The suspects? The setting? None of these have even crossed my mind, or well they have except I failed to find a good fit for any of them.
I chew on the end of my tablet pen not sure how to go about this. It was empty in the coffee shop and Teruteru glances at me with a sad look in his eyes. Closing time of course. I sigh and put everything away before saying my farewells before walking out of the shop.
Snow hits the tip of my nose as I shake it away. The feeling that something was wrong had hit me again. I glance around a bit rushed pushing hair out of my face and pulled the coat tighter on me similar to how I was arriving to the coffee shop.
I run over to my apartment and wait patiently for the elevator to come down and take me up to my room. Nothing felt out of the ordinary when I was in the apartments, but the paranoia from outside was still clouding my mind.
I finally step inside of the elevator and tap my foot to the calming elevator music of the apartment. Humming softly with a tired yawn. I shuffle out of the elevator and walk over to my room. I fiddle with my keys for a moment only to realize that the door was unlocked. Slowly I readied my pepper spray and swung the door open stepping inside.
I tried the light, but it didn’t turn on. From the look of it someone unscrewed the bulb. My breath hitches as I go over to the light fixture and reach for the bulb. There is something behind me. They move quick and pull my arms keeping them tightly around my back and use their hand to cover my mouth. I struggle my yells coming out muffled and unheard. I dropped my spray on the floor sometime before. Whoever was holding me was strong. They lifted me off the ground and threw me onto my bed quickly binding everything. I couldn’t even see who it was because they blindfolded me as well.
I try to get the ropes lose, but it was tight and making indents into my arms. That’s when I heard the door open. A man was yelling at my captor. I hear the window open and the sound of a laugh and a drop. I hear footsteps come near me. They lift me up and ungag me.
“Hello?” I say when my lips are free.
“You know for the descendant of a Doctor and a former forensic scientist I thought you might last longer,” The voice was soft, a hint of a wispy crazy feeling to it. When I heard it, my heart skipped a beat. At that moment I didn’t know why.
“Huh? What are you talking about-“ I was cut off by someone who was untying my arms.
“Leave him alone Nagito, no one could have gotten him ready for this shit.” Another male voice responded to the one called Nagito.
Nagito chuckled as I feel someone cup my cheek before untying the blindfold on my face, “He’s going to be my future partner and our future teammate. Shouldn’t I be able to judge if he’s a good fit?”
For some reason I wanted the others gentle touch to stay on my cheek forever. I wince as I glance up at the boy who was a bit to close for comfort. He was an albino boy with blue grey eyes that was wearing a fine green coat pants and hat with red vest and accents. I scoot away from him when the other two behind me finally get my hands free. I rub my wrists and stare curiously at the trio of my savors. There was a young lady with pink hair and matching eyes wearing a long black maid get up and a boy with hot pink hair in an oil covered shirt tucked into baggy pants and chain. The boy had a shark like grin as he stares at Hajime.
“You’re Hajime Hinata, Yes?” The girl asked in her tired soft voice.
I could only respond with a nod.
“Perfect! I had my doubts before, but I’m glad to know you’re the right one. You’re a forensic scientist, right? Or well were… Well, we need you help to solve a murder Hinata. Are you in?” The albino boy said with a knowing smile.
“Wait- Hold on… I was almost kidnapped and none of you are going to tell me what’s up with that?” I say squeezing my fingers on the bridge of my nose annoyed to say the least.
“I expect it’s a robber who you walked in on. Nothing to worry about. I’ll pay for you to change your lock,” Nagito waved my concerns off, though I knew he was only doing that to make me stop asking.
“Okay… You need me to solve a murder… What kind of murder? Why me?”
“For many reasons, my dear Hinata, but mostly for your skills as a scientist.”
I pause for a moment thinking of the pros and cons of the proposition. They really don’t give you time to think. I glance over to my bag where my idle laptop was resting. I needed inspiration… so I’ve been blessed with it.
“Fine. I’ll help, but who are you people anyways?” I raise my eyebrow glancing at the three.
“I’m Chiaki Nanami, local maid but part of the governments D.S.N.D.N.T. Pronounced descendant, I’m the technology girl, and do most of the searching and paperwork.”
“What does descendant mean anyways?”
“Easy one that is! It stands for Detectives Solving New Disturbing Naughtiness Team,” The shark toothed boy answered.
“That’s a dumb name,” I say bluntly.
“That is so true, but since when was the government ever good at anagrams?”
“I suppose you’re right about that,” I sigh rubbing my forehead.
“I’m Souda Kazuichi, local mechanic and the one who drives these freaks around. Oh! I also deal with cooperation with the authorities.”
Nagito pushed Souda out of the way to introduce himself, “I’m Nagito Komaeda, head detective. I do all the smart shit.”
I glanced at all three of them. They seemed coordinated and worked together just fine, so what did they need me for?
“What am I here for then?” I say tilting my head.
“You are here to examine the bodies for us as a trusted source in case the police won’t cooperate or fail at their jobs, also we need an outside thought and perspective. Think you can do that Hinata Hajime~?” My name rolled off the others lips like hot butter. I cover my mouth to hide my blush and sigh nodding.
“Perfect! Let’s go then Hinata! The game is already a foot!” Nagito grabs my hand and pulls me along to what I would soon find out was the crime scene.
Little did I know that this was a new beginning of my new life as a government worker and detective.