Archive of Our Own ^beta

On the weekend that preceded his departure, Mikotoba invited Kazuma to his hotel room, so they could speak with each other in private.

Kazuma could already guess the main topic of that conversation, which only made him more reluctant to start it. It wouldn’t be easy, but he couldn’t keep avoiding it, especially knowing it could be their last chance to be on their own before Mikotoba’s return to Japan.

He walked inside, taking a seat in one of the chairs while Mikotoba pulled another one, sitting in front of him. Neither of them said a word for a long while. Kazuma kept his eyes low, unable to meet the gaze of that man he quietly came to consider like a father: Mikotoba had done so much for him, and Kazuma had repaid his kindness in the worst way possible.

Mikotoba was the one to first break the silence, briefly clearing his throat. “How are you dealing with everything?”

His tone was nothing but kind and concerned. Kazuma’s chest tightened. “I’m doing well.”

“There’s no need to put up a tough facade. It must have been a shock to you as well.”

He was referring to Jigoku, of course… Out of everything, that was still the most difficult part to accept: how a man who seemed so friendly and trustworthy was capable of betraying those closest to him with no apparent remorse.

“It was,” said Kazuma, “but at least we’ve put an end to all this.”

Mikotoba stayed silent for a moment, looking at Kazuma, who kept his gaze low.

“Kazuma…” he said, finally. “Won’t you come back with us?”

Kazuma knew that question was coming. He shook his head. “I can’t go back to Japan like this. There’s much I still need to do here.”

“You’ve done enough already.”

His paternal tone made Kazuma feel a sudden urge to cry. He held it back, raising his head, finally meeting Mikotoba’s gaze. “I’m sorry, but I can’t. Not like this.” He struggled briefly with the words. “I wouldn’t be at peace with myself if I did.”

“You know that no one blames you for what happened, don’t you?”

Kazuma forced a reassuring smile. “That’s not the reason… I’m just not ready yet. I still have much to learn, and if I gave up on this chance I’d regret it for the rest of my life.”

Mikotoba observed him for a while, clearly unhappy with the answer despite his calm face. Finally, he nodded. “You have a home waiting for you if you change your mind.”

“Thank you for your kindness.” Kazuma politely bowed his head. “I won’t forget it.”

“Just don’t push yourself too far,” said Mikotoba. “Give yourself time to deal with everything.”

“I will.”

Despite Mikotoba’s considerate words, Kazuma knew he was disappointed. And who wouldn’t be? He gave Kazuma a place to stay, paid for his education, treated him as something close to a son… Only for Kazuma to throw it all away for the sake of his revenge. Even looking that man in the eyes was painful now.

Neither of them tried to continue that conversation. After a long minute of silence, Mikotoba stood up, offering him a smile.

“I won’t take more of your time,” he said. “But, if you change your mind…”

“I’ll let you know.” Kazuma made an effort to return the smile. “Thank you, Mr. Mikotoba.”

Mikotoba nodded. They left the hotel together, and as soon as they reached outside, Mikotoba stopped, facing him once again.

“Won’t you accompany me to Sholmes’ place?” asked Mikotoba. “Susato will be happy to spend some time with you before our departure. Naruhodo as well.”

The suggestion was enough to make his stomach turn. “I apologize, but I have other matters I must attend to. Please, send them my regards.”

That wasn’t true, of course. Kazuma had nothing but his apprenticeship in London—no family, no friends, no place to go other than his tiny apartment. But spending time with Mikotoba, Susato, and Ryunosuke as if nothing had happened… He just couldn’t do that.

Judging by Mikotoba’s expression, he could see through his lies. Instead of mentioning it, however, he placed a hand on Kazuma’s shoulder, briefly squeezing it.

“Take care of yourself,” he said.

Kazuma nodded. “You too.”

Then, without another word, they parted ways.

Kazuma asked himself many times during the following days if he should go see his friends off, or if it would only make the situation awkward. In the end, he was glad he chose to go: now, at least, he felt that everything was fine between him and Ryunosuke. His friend had many reasons to resent him, but, unsurprisingly, he was too kind for that.

When Kazuma handed him Karuma, it was like a promise that he would be not only a better prosecutor, but a better man when they met again. Those goodbyes were bittersweet, but helped make Kazuma’s goal clearer in his mind.

After watching the ship sail away, however, the situation finally started to sink in: he was alone in London. By his own choice, of course, but still… He hadn’t realized the weight of it until those closest to him were out of his reach.

He made his way back to his apartment, still thinking about it. Until then, even if things were bad, at least he knew Ryunosuke and Susato were no more than a short cab trip away from him. Without them, London felt too big… Unwelcoming, just like when he first arrived there, without any memory of who he was. The thought made his chest tighten, and he quickly tried to push it out of his mind.

That faint feeling of loneliness didn’t go away during the next few days, and Kazuma started to get used to it. His work in Barok’s office helped him keep his mind busy, the problem was when he was alone in his apartment, with too much free time in his hands. He bought a few books, but didn’t take long to realize he couldn’t focus on any of them. Even taking an evening walk proved to be more of a hassle than anything else, given the suspicious stares he attracted.

He didn’t belong in that place. Many times, he wondered if he made the right choice by staying there. If he had listened to Mikotoba, he would be with them on that ship, sailing back to his homeland. Kazuma knew, logically, that he made the right choice by staying in London, but… would he be happier if he hadn’t?

Not that it mattered, now that they had already left. Besides, he had given up on a happy life when he decided to follow his revenge to the bitter end. It shouldn’t be different now… He had a goal, and would do anything to reach it.

He left the office at the usual time that day. Barok stayed behind to finish some paperwork, something that was common enough to bother Kazuma: he was almost obsessed with work, to the point of it, sometimes, affecting his health. During his nameless apprentice days, Kazuma always paid attention to it, making sure that Barok was eating properly and getting enough rest. But now…

It wasn’t that simple. Kazuma could say he didn’t care, but, if that was true, he wouldn’t think about it as much as he did. Of course, those were still Barok’s choices, and maybe he was better keeping himself busy than thinking about his departed brother. Still, if Kazuma had any say on the matter, that man would take better care of himself.

“Oh, if it isn’t Mr. Asogi!”

That loud, cheerful voice startled Kazuma, who turned his face to see the great detective Herlock Sholmes there, leaning against the wall, an amused grin on his face.

“What a pleasant surprise to meet you here,” added Sholmes.

Kazuma furrowed his brow. “I don’t see why… I work here.”

“Why, of course!” Sholmes laughed. “Forgive my brief lapse of memory.”

Kazuma simply observed him in silence. He still didn’t know how to deal with that detective: Sholmes seemed to be a good person, and had helped them uncover the truth of the Professor case… But he was also one of the main reasons why Kazuma spent long months of his life lost, without a single penny, living off his hard labor on merchant ships. While he didn’t hate the man, Kazuma would be lying if he said there wasn’t at least some resentment still left in his chest.

“Do you wish to speak with Lord van Zieks?” Kazuma asked in a polite tone, gesturing toward the door behind him. “He’s in the office.”

“In a moment,” said Sholmes. “First, there is something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about. Would you mind sparing me a minute or two?”

“Sure, go ahead.”

Sholmes smiled, taking a step in his direction. “As you already know, Mr. Naruhodo and Miss Susato lived in my attic during their stay in London. Since they left back to Japan, the place is once again unoccupied.”

Kazuma couldn’t tell where the detective was going with that. “And…?”

“It crossed my mind that, as a student, your financial situation isn’t much different from your friend’s when he first arrived.” Sholmes made an emphatic pause. “And, since the place is depressingly quiet now, it would be a brilliant solution for our problems if you chose to move in.”

Kazuma could hardly believe that Herlock Sholmes’ place would ever be quiet, but…

Only then did that last part sink in. He stared at Sholmes for a while, unsure if it had been a joke or not. Sholmes looked back at him, waiting for an answer—apparently, it hadn’t.

“Why are you offering me this?” asked Kazuma. “As you said, I don’t have much money at my disposal.”

“That makes little difference to me, my dear boy,” said Sholmes. “You see, my esteemed partner sees you as his own son.”

Kazuma lowered his gaze, his heart heavy. “You mean Mr. Mikotoba, right?”

“Of course! As his partner and good friend, I couldn’t possibly allow his child to stay in an unfamiliar country without offering him a safe and comfortable place to stay.”

Many things crossed Kazuma’s mind. It was true that Mikotoba and Sholmes were close friends, but to just take a stranger into his apartment like that… The idea left Kazuma uncomfortable. There should be something else to it, something that he was missing. But what was it? And, more importantly: could he even trust that man?

Instead, the words that left his mouth were unexpected even to himself. “I’m not Mr. Mikotoba’s real son.”

As true as that was, saying it aloud wasn’t pleasant. He wasn’t and would never be a real part of the Mikotoba family, but… they were also the closest he still had to one.

“Of course you are,” said Sholmes in a patient tone. “As much as Iris is my daughter.”

“Ah…” Kazuma had forgotten about that detail. An unpleasant warmth covered his face and ears. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to say—”

“Of course you didn’t,” Sholmes interrupted him. “So, don’t even consider apologizing.”

“Alright.”

Sholmes smiled, giving him a light tap on the shoulder. “Just give it some thought. Our flat isn’t too far from here, so it should make your daily journey to work a quite brief one.”

“I see…”

“Either way,” Sholmes continued, “you should visit us sometime. I assure you, my daughter’s baking is quite delightful. 221B on Baker Street, in case you forgot.”

All that friendliness was still a little off-putting, but Kazuma chose not to question it. “Thank you for the invitation.” He politely bowed his head. “I’ll consider it.”

“Excellent!” Sholmes grinned, tipping his hat with his finger. “I have some business to attend to now, but feel free to visit me and Iris when you have the chance.”

Kazuma watched as Sholmes left, walking past the door to Barok’s office, to his surprise. Could it be that he went there just to talk to him? Kazuma didn’t know how to feel about that. Yes, Sholmes had been of great help before, but the man was still a stranger to him… The only reason he had to trust him was because Mikotoba did as well.

But Mikotoba also trusted Jigoku, didn’t he?

He knew it was unfair to compare a seemingly well-intended detective to a murderer, but, after everything that happened, it was difficult not to. If someone so close to him was capable of manipulating and betraying him like that, why wouldn’t someone he barely knew do the same?

It would be a lie to say that the proposal wasn’t tempting, though… Ever since he started living on his own, it became too easy for him to get lost in dark thoughts—no one will see, no one will know, no one will care. With another person around, maybe it would be easier to keep that persistent voice quiet.

He wished Ryunosuke was there… It would be nice to talk about it with someone he knew he could trust with his life. Besides, Ryunosuke had lived with Sholmes for an entire year… Hearing his opinion would certainly help ease his doubts.

The thought that Ryunosuke and Susato had lived in Sholmes’ attic for so long stayed in his mind. They were already on their way back to Japan, but part of Kazuma liked the idea of being in a place that meant so much to them—as if he could be closer to them by doing so.

He sighed, slightly annoyed at himself. No, he shouldn’t decide something like that over such a sentimental reason… Nothing good would come from allowing himself to get carried away. Things weren’t that good now, but they could be worse if he placed his trust in the wrong person again.

Kazuma focused on that thought, trying not to let his loneliness influence his good sense. He could deal with things on his own… He just needed some time to adjust to his new life.

Sholmes’ proposal stayed at the back of his mind for the following days. The more time he passed feeling miserable in his tiny apartment, the more tempting it all felt. He could just… pay them a visit, like Sholmes himself suggested. Give the place a look… It shouldn’t hurt, right?

Kazuma groaned to himself. Sholmes and his daughter knew nothing about him… Sholmes probably expected him to be kind and reliable like Mikotoba, and would be disappointed as soon as he realized how far from reality those expectations were. What if he agreed to that proposal, and then they suddenly decided they didn’t want him around? Where was he supposed to go?

Barok had said before that he could always go to his residence if he needed… Truth was, part of him missed being there. No more than a month before, he still considered that mansion his home—the one place where he felt safe in that unfamiliar country. But now, spending a single night in it had been enough to leave him restless. Things between them had gotten much better since they managed to open up a little to each other, and yet, Kazuma still feared that being so close to Barok could bring the worst out of him once again.

Despite everything, he was better by himself.

Kazuma tried not to think about that anymore as he made his way to work. Other than the usual paperwork, he had to investigate a crime scene that afternoon; unfortunately, his assigned partner was Gina Lestrade. Things were still tense between them—not surprising, given how attached that girl was to Tobias Gregson.

He couldn’t deny that the constant reminder of that man bothered him. From helping incriminate his father to how Kazuma got so close to killing him… He had nothing but bad memories related to Gregson. And Gina never stopped talking about him—on purpose, it seemed.

“If the boss was here, we’d be done by now,” she muttered during that investigation.

Kazuma gritted his teeth: she always acted as if Gregson had been a righteous and flawless man. Every single time, it brought their final exchange to Kazuma’s mind: how remorseless he seemed about everything he did.

Ignore it… Just ignore it…

He couldn’t ignore it.

“If he was still alive,” he retorted in a dry tone, “he would be in jail.”

Gina glared at him. “Watch how you talk about him.”

Kazuma sighed, irritated. “Can’t we just do our job?”

Gina didn’t answer, turning away from Kazuma. A few seconds later, however, she faced him again. “Look, I wouldn’t be here if I had any choice.”

“And what makes you think I’m any different?”

She didn’t answer, pressing her lips into a thin line. Great… I’ve managed to make her angrier. He tried to change the subject before things escalated even more.

“Anyway,” he said, “did you find anything else?”

Gina lowered her gaze, crossing her arms. “I’m on it.”

They focused on their work once again, without saying another word. There wasn’t much left to do at the crime scene: it had been a fight between two drunk men, and there were a few reliable witnesses. A simple, straightforward case with no room for twists.

“We’re done here,” said Gina. “You can leave now.”

“Right.”

Kazuma did as she said, leaving the building. He sighed, relieved to finally be free of that heavy tension. Working with Gina was exhausting… Not that he made things much easier, but it was hard not to think of those terrible events when she was around—and the last thing he wanted was to think about them.

But still, he had told himself he wouldn’t argue with her again. It wasn’t like he couldn’t understand how she felt after everything he went through… He knew how difficult it was to get rid of that idealized mental image of someone close to you—and, unlike Jigoku, Gregson had been good to her until the very end.

He lowered his head, bringing a hand to his face. I messed up again… Sometimes, he felt like he was trapped in an endless cycle of understanding what he was doing wrong, and then repeating the same mistakes anyway; and, every time the cycle repeated itself, it felt much more difficult to break it.

I want to go home…

However, the closest thing he had to a “home” was a two-month trip by sea away. His best friend, the two people he still considered a family… They were all out of his reach.

He couldn’t go back yet… Kazuma promised Ryunosuke he would be a proper prosecutor when they met again. As he was now, he couldn’t even look at his friend’s face.

Sometimes, though, he wished he could just stop. It would be nice if he could lose his memories again… That way, he wouldn’t need to worry about—

Kazuma cut that line of thought short, furious at himself for even thinking about it. He walked the rest of the trajectory to Barok’s office while actively trying to silence any thoughts that came to his mind, without any patience for his own bullshit. He walked inside the office, going straight to his desk, ready to write his report on the investigation so he could finally be done with that long day.

“Is something wrong?”

Barok’s voice made him realize that he had just walked past him without a single glance.

“Ah, no…” Kazuma looked at him over his shoulder. “My apologies, sir. I was distracted.”

Barok nodded, and the lack of insistence on that subject made Kazuma relax. He turned his attention back to the report he should be writing, not allowing his feelings to get in the way of his habitual diligence. When he was finished, he handed the report to Barok, who took it from his hands without even glancing at it; instead, he observed Kazuma with a concerned look.

“What’s the matter?” asked Barok.

Kazuma averted his gaze, his stomach turning at the question. “Nothing.”

“Did something happen?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“Are you sure? You can talk to me if—”

Kazuma inhaled sharply, glaring at Barok. “I said I’m fine!”

His words were loud, cutting. Barok simply looked at him, and there seemed to be some disappointment in his expression. “Very well.”

Kazuma took a step back, ashamed of himself. Yelling at Barok was the last thing he wanted to do. He was doing whatever he could to stop acting like that, and wanted to believe that his efforts were making some difference… But there were times when that ugly, resentful side of him became much stronger, especially during bad days like that one.

“I’m sorry,” he said in a lower voice. “But there really is nothing wrong.”

Barok didn’t answer for a long while, keeping his gaze low. “I see.” A brief pause. “Thank you for your hard work. You may go home for today.”

His expression was the same as usual, but something in his voice weighed in Kazuma’s chest. It didn’t feel right to leave like that… Should he apologize again? No… Even if he did, it would sound hollow if he kept making the same mistakes. It was just a matter of time until Barok got tired of his outbursts, and Kazuma wouldn’t even have the right to blame him for it.

So, Kazuma simply left the office without another word. Instead of going back to his apartment, however, he walked in the opposite direction, keeping his head low so he couldn’t see the stares.

Honestly, he was tired. Of being alone, of feeling depressed, of hurting others… But whenever he thought things would finally start to get better, suddenly he saw himself at rock bottom again. He had to do something about all that… The question was what? If trying hard was enough, then for how long would he have to keep trying before something changed? Mikotoba said he should give himself time… But how much time would it still take? Was there anything else he should be doing? What was he still missing?

He thought and thought about it, but no answers came. Instead, those thoughts from earlier returned to his mind: Sholmes’ proposition, and his invitation for Kazuma to pay him and his daughter a visit one of those days.

Kazuma didn’t know if going there would make any difference, or even if it wouldn’t make things worse. But he dreaded the idea of returning to his empty apartment, and Sholmes had been the one who offered it in the first place. So, maybe… Maybe it wouldn’t be a problem if he just…

Before his fears could stop him, Kazuma changed directions, walking toward Baker Street. As he approached it, his legs felt heavier, but he kept going until he finally reached the 221B apartment. For a few seconds, he just stayed there, staring at the closed door with a racing heart.

Is this really a good idea?

He rang the doorbell before he could change his mind, and no more than a few seconds later the door was opened by a familiar small girl with pink hair.

“Ah, it’s you!” Iris offered him a wide smile, then glanced inside the apartment. “Daddy! Kazie is here!”

Kazie…? It was strange to be called by such a friendly nickname, especially by a girl he barely knew. But Kazuma didn’t try to stop her—he had upset enough people that day, and wasn’t about to do the same to a child.

Instants later, Sholmes appeared behind his daughter, with an equally welcoming smile. “Oh, Mr. Asogi. What a surprise! Please, come in!”

Kazuma did as he said. “I’m sorry for coming so suddenly.”

“There is no need to apologize!” Sholmes gestured toward his couch. “Take a seat. Iris, dear, could you make us some tea?”

“Of course!”

Kazuma raised his hand. “Ah, you don’t need to—”

But Sholmes silenced him with a gesture. “So, is there something you wish to discuss?”

“Actually, yes.”

“Is it about the proposition I made a few days ago?”

“Yes…” He hesitated. “Is your attic still available?”

Sholmes’ expression brightened. “Why, of course!” He brought a hand to his chin, humming to himself. “I had the feeling you would end up agreeing.”

“Detective’s instinct?”

“No, a father’s one.”

Kazuma widened his eyes, taken off-guard by the answer. His surprised reaction made Sholmes laugh.

“Forgive me…” said Sholmes. “I couldn’t help but tease Mikotoba’s dear child.”

Kazuma simply looked at him for a while, unsure of what to say. I wonder if Susato went through the same when she moved in…

The silly thought was enough to help him relax a little. Yes, Susato had lived there for months… She was fond of Sholmes, and so was Ryunosuke. And, long before that, the detective had shared that apartment with Mikotoba for years.

“Any idea of when you’re moving?” Sholmes’ voice brought him back to the present.

“I didn’t really think about it,” Kazuma admitted. “To be honest, I came here on a whim.”

“Fair enough.” Sholmes thought for a moment. “If that’s the case, would you like to spend the night here? To see if it is of your liking.”

“Won’t that be a problem?”

“My dear boy…” Sholmes grinned. “If it was a problem, I wouldn’t have suggested that you moved in to begin with.”

Oh… true. Thankfully, though, Sholmes didn’t give Kazuma enough time to feel embarrassed by his words.

“Speaking of which,” he continued, “do you need help with moving? In case you decide to stay.”

“No, I don’t have many personal belongings.”

“The opposite from your friend Naruhodo, I must say. The place feels quite empty without his many trinkets filling the shelves.”

That did sound like Ryunosuke… He had this ability to fill any flat surface with anything he could put his hands on. Kazuma smiled to himself. “I can imagine it…”

Sholmes nodded. “Hopefully, you’ll bring some life back to the place.”

His words brought a bittersweet feeling to Kazuma’s chest: he wasn’t the only one who missed those two, it seemed.

“Can I take a look around?” he asked.

“Go ahead.” Sholmes gestured upstairs. “Iris will bring you tea as soon as it’s done.”

“Alright.”

He stood up, walking upstairs. The desk and shelves were mostly empty now, but Kazuma could imagine how they looked weeks before: messy and covered in trinkets, to the point you wondered how anyone could work surrounded by such chaos.

Unlike Ryunosuke, Susato had always been organized, so her desk was certainly the complete opposite, with only what she needed at hand, and the rest carefully resting on those shelves, or inside her wardrobe. Maybe a few small ornaments, but nothing too distracting, or that got in her way.

Imagining their daily lives there was amusing. How many times had Susato scolded Ryunosuke for losing something important on his own desk, or for appearing one day with a dozen more trinkets to add to his collection?

He walked to the bedroom that once belonged to Ryunosuke, then sat on the bed, looking around. It was smaller than his current place, but… cozier. Could he imagine himself living there, though? Sholmes had said something about bringing life back to the place, but no matter what he did, he would never be like Ryunosuke and Susato.

Kazuma could feel the doubts starting to creep into his mind again, but before they could take a hold of his thoughts, the sound of light steps caught his attention. In a moment, Iris entered the room, carrying a tray with two teacups on it.

“Kazie?” she said. “I brought your tea.”

“Thank you.”

He took one of the teacups, watching as Iris placed the tray on the bedside table, taking the other cup for herself. She sat by his side on the bed, offering him a smile.

“So?” she asked. “Did you like it?”

“It’s a nice place,” said Kazuma. “Much better than the one I’m staying at.”

“Good to know! Does that mean you’re moving in?”

Kazuma didn’t answer immediately, the thought still leaving him conflicted. “Doesn’t it bother you that I’m staying in their place?”

“Don’t be silly! Even if you weren’t here, the room would still be empty.”

“That’s true…”

Iris observed him, her smile fading a little. “Is something wrong?”

“No, everything’s fine.”

She watched him for a while longer, then let out a small sigh. “You’re just like Runo, you know?”

The comment caught him by surprise. “How so?”

“You’re both bad at hiding how you feel.”

Kazuma lowered his head. Was he that easy to read? But Iris’ words carried no judgment, on the contrary: from what little Kazuma knew about her relationship with his friends, her feelings were probably not much different from his own.

“I just miss them,” he said.

“Me too.” Iris smiled sadly. “When Runo and Susie were still around, it felt like we were all a family. It’s hard to get used to how quiet it is without them.”

Kazuma wished he knew what to say, but no words came to his mind. But Iris didn’t seem to need comfort, soon continuing.

“They talked a lot about you, you know?” She made a small pause. “They really like you… And that’s why they were so worried about going back without you.”

His heart felt heavy. “Were they?”

Iris nodded. “Doctor Mickey said you never ask for help, even when you need it.” A slight grin took her lips. “That’s why daddy and I were so happy when you appeared today. And I’m sure the others will be happy when they hear about it too.”

Kazuma stayed silent. To think that, after everything that happened, they still cared so much about him…

Iris observed him for a while, before asking in a low voice. “You’re staying, aren’t you?”

Kazuma offered her a slight smile. “I think so.”

Her expression immediately brightened. “That’s great news!” Then, her gaze fell upon his cup of tea. “Oh, we forgot about the tea! We should drink it before it gets cold!”

The sudden change in the subject made Kazuma chuckle. Iris took a sip from her cup, and Kazuma did the same. It was good… Not only that, but it seemed to warm up his entire body. For the following minute, they simply drank in silence, then Iris looked at him, seeming curious.

“Can I ask you something?” she said.

“Sure.”

“Why did you decide to stay here in London?” Iris hesitated. “Don’t you feel lonely without them?”

“A little,” he admitted. “But I want to become a prosecutor, and Lord van Zieks agreed to teach me everything he knows.”

“Oh, that’s right… You work with Mr. Reaper, don’t you?” She brought a hand to her lips, adding in a lower voice. “I don’t think I should call him by this name anymore, though…” She shook her head, as if it could help that old nickname go away. “Anyway, do you two get along?”

“We…” Kazuma stopped, thinking better about that response. “He’s a kind man. And he’s always looking after me.”

Iris nodded. “I thought so. He looks scary at first, but he seems to be kind, deep down.”

Kazuma couldn’t hold back a slight smile. “That’s true.” A thought crossed his mind. “Has he come to visit you since that day?”

“Only once…” Iris looked away, slightly puffing her cheeks. “But he only stayed for a few minutes. I thought daddy was joking when he said Mr. Barry is shy, but it seems that he was right.”

Mr. Barry… She was quick to come up with those cute nicknames, wasn’t she? Kazuma’s amusement soon gave place to a slight concern. He wasn’t surprised to hear that Barok hadn’t been visiting his niece, given how complicated the situation was. Yet, he hoped for the contrary: being with his family after living alone for so long would be good for him.

“Maybe I’ll invite him over sometime, then,” he said.

“Oh, that would be lovely!” Iris considered it for a moment. “But tell him to stay for longer this time.”

“Alright, I won’t let him leave for at least an hour.”

The answer made Iris laugh. “It’s good to know that I can count on you! Oh, this reminds me…” She leaned in his direction with a sparkle in her eyes. “I must show you some nice places here in London. We can invite daddy to come along too!”

Kazuma was caught off-guard by her apparent enthusiasm. “You don’t need to…”

“Come on, Kazie…” Iris pouted. “Don’t spoil the fun!”

He laughed, gesturing in apology. “Sorry, sorry… It does sound fun.”

“Of course!” She raised her hand, pointing at nowhere in particular—a habit that made her look like her father. “We’ll give you a proper tour of London! Just wait and see!”

Kazuma agreed. It had been a long while since he last had a proper conversation with someone, and even more one that didn’t involve those terrible events that still haunted him. Funny how much a ten-year-old had managed to brighten his day just by… being there. Sholmes had been like that too, in a way: they hadn’t talked as much yet, but his cheerful attitude was strangely comforting.

Maybe Kazuma was being foolish by trusting that man, or maybe not… What mattered was that, at that moment, he felt better than he had in many days.

His night in Sholmes’ attic was almost as pleasant as that afternoon: no tossing and turning, no nightmares… And, even if those things had been just a coincidence, meeting Sholmes and Iris in the living room when he walked downstairs made his morning much livelier than usual.

“How was your night?” asked Sholmes.

“It was good,” said Kazuma.

“Good to hear.” Sholmes made a small pause. “So? Are you staying?”

Both Sholmes and Iris looked at him, awaiting his response. Kazuma smiled.

“If you’re really fine with it.”

“Of course we are!” said Iris. “Right, daddy?”

“Certainly, my dear.” Sholmes smiled at her, then looked back at Kazuma. “Are you sure you don’t need help with moving?”

“Yes. As I said, I don’t have many belongings.”

“Just leave the rest to me, then!” Iris grinned, then joined her hands in front of her chest. “I’ll make sure the place is sparkling clean before you come back!” She thought for a moment. “What’s your favorite color?”

That question was unexpected. “Red, I think.”

Iris nodded. “Perfect.”

Kazuma almost asked what she meant by that, but Sholmes soon spoke again, grabbing his attention.

“If there’s anything you need, be sure to let us know.”

“I will.” Kazuma bowed slightly to him. “Thank you.”

“There’s no need to be so formal,” said Sholmes. “Now, please, have some biscuits before you leave. Iris baked them especially for you.”

Kazuma left the apartment some time later, well-rested and with his stomach full. How weird… Not even the cold bothered him as much that morning.

The walk to Barok’s office was slightly shorter from Sholmes’ place, so, in a few minutes, he was already there. Before he could go inside, however, he was startled by a familiar voice.

“Oi, ‘Sogi.”

It was Gina. Kazuma’s humor soured a little as he turned to face her, bracing himself for a possible argument. “What is it?”

Gina stopped a few steps away from him, furrowing her brow. “What’s with that face? It ain’t like I’m here to pick a fight.”

“Why are you here, then?”

She lowered her head, taking a moment before speaking again. “I was kind of an ass yesterday, so… I thought it’d be nice to apologize.”

The answer caught him off guard. “Is that all?”

“Why?” She stared at him again. “You got a problem with that?”

“No, just…” Kazuma struggled briefly to find the words. “It’s fine. I wasn’t much better, either.”

“Yeah, but… After I thought about it, you ain’t wrong for being mad at him. I know the boss wouldn’t have done that if he knew it was wrong, but that creepy bloke lied to him… and made him do bad things.”

Kazuma nodded. “I can’t forgive Gregson for what he did… But I know he was kind to you.”

“Yeah. The boss did a lot for me, but… he did a lot of bad stuff too. And what he did to your dad… Stealing his ring and all that…” She lowered her voice. “It was really bad.”

Neither of them spoke for a while.

“I ain’t mad at you,” Gina continued. “I know that bloke with the black beard was the one who done it all. But…”

“I understand,” said Kazuma. “It’s still too recent.”

Gina nodded. She reached for her hat, briefly fidgeting with it. “Oi… You think we can, you know… That things can be fine?”

As surprised as he was to hear those words, they also made his chest feel a little lighter. “Well, we’re going to work together now, so… I don’t want things to be bad between us.”

“Same here.”

“Can we just… Agree that we’ll never see eye to eye when it comes to him?”

“Guess so.” Saying that, she turned around, starting to walk away. “Well, that’s all… See you later.”

Kazuma observed her as she sprinted out of view. That was a relief: he doubted they would ever get along, but at least they had reached a common accord—which was already a good improvement.

He opened the door, walking inside the office, seeing Barok already there, sitting by his desk. Their gazes met, and the guilt for what had happened the previous day immediately came back, but Kazuma couldn’t tell if it would be better to touch that subject or act as usual. Not wanting to make things worse by accident, he chose the latter.

“Good morning, Lord van Zieks.”

“Asogi…” Barok paused, as if considering something. “Can we talk for a minute?”

Those words seemed to freeze his blood. If Barok decided to end his apprenticeship now… What was he even supposed to do? Somehow, he managed to keep a straight face.

“Of course.”

He approached Barok, stopping in front of him, on the other side of his desk. Barok observed him for a moment before finally speaking.

“I wanted to apologize… I shouldn’t have pressured you like that yesterday.”

Kazuma’s immediate relief soon gave place to the guilt once again. “No… I know you were only concerned.” He averted his gaze, trying to find the right words. “Lord van Zieks… I’m really trying not to act like that anymore, but…”

Once again, the words failed him. Yet, Barok nodded in an understanding manner.

“I suppose I test your patience sometimes.”

That almost light-hearted remark helped Kazuma calm down. He offered Barok a slight smile. “A little. But I do the same to you, so… I think we’re even.” His smile faltered as he remembered his sharp words from the previous day. “I’m really sorry.”

“I accept your apologies. In return… Could you give me an honest answer?”

“Sure.”

“Are you having those thoughts again?”

So, that was what he was worried about… Kazuma shouldn’t be surprised, considering what Barok himself had been through in the past.

“No,” said Kazuma. “But I’m still getting used to living here in London, and… It isn’t always easy.”

“I see.” Barok seemed hesitant to continue. “If it happens again, you can come to my place. Just, please, don’t go through it alone.”

“I won’t.” That seemed like a good chance to touch that subject. “Speaking of which, Mr. Herlock Sholmes offered me to live in his attic, now that it’s vacant again.”

Barok slightly widened his eyes. “That’s very considerate of him.”

Kazuma nodded. “I’ve accepted the offer. I don’t think living alone was doing me much good.”

“I wouldn’t mind if you stayed at my place.”

“Thank you,” said Kazuma. “But I think it’s better like this.”

“I understand.”

Kazuma considered ending the conversation there, but he still had something in his mind. “And, just so you know… She asked about you.”

“I see.” Barok pressed his lips into a line, taking a moment before speaking again. “And how is she?”

“She looks happy. Mr. Sholmes seems to be a caring father.”

“Have you talked to her?”

The thought of their conversation on the previous day warmed Kazuma’s chest. “Yes, she’s a sweet girl.”

“Indeed.” Barok hesitated for another second. “Do you know if there’s anything she needs?”

Kazuma looked at him, slightly furrowing his brow. “Why don’t you pay her a visit and see for yourself?”

Barok shook his head. “It would be odd for a stranger like myself to visit her without a good reason.”

“I thought so,” Kazuma shrugged lightly. “But you’re my mentor, and I live there now. So, if you ever need an excuse to come by and see her, now you have one.”

For a moment, Barok simply stared at him. “Why are you…?”

Kazuma thought he would appreciate having an excuse to visit Iris, so his reaction was slightly off-putting. “Did I say something strange?”

Barok seemed to consider it for a second. “No… I appreciate the thought. And I’m happy you found a good place to stay. Sholmes’ eccentricities may be tiring at times, but his character is unquestionable.” A brief pause. “He was a good father to my niece, and I believe he will be a good friend to you, as well.”

“I hope so.”

Neither of them seemed to know what to say after that, so Kazuma walked to his desk. Still, he was glad that things between him and Barok seemed to be fine, despite everything. So much had happened since they first met, but he couldn’t deny that he still cared about that man’s well-being.

And now, because of Iris, he had an entire new reason to.

Kazuma stopped by his old place to gather his belongings and sort things out with the landlord. Then, unable to fully ignore his excitement, he made his way to what should be his new place, at least for the near future. As soon as he arrived, Sholmes welcomed him with a friendly smile.

“You look in higher spirits today,” said Sholmes. “Am I right to assume you and our former Reaper have come to terms with each other?”

Kazuma stared at him. “How did you…?”

Sholmes grinned, bringing a finger to his forehead. “Great detective, my dear boy.”

“Oh, of course…” Kazuma chuckled, then brought a hand to his chin, thinking. “In a way, I guess. I don’t think it’s being easy for either of us to get used to each other.”

Sholmes nodded. “Give it time. You both have your minds full at the moment, but once you have enough time to properly face it all, I’m sure things will start to fall back into place.”

Those words brought something back to Kazuma’s mind. “Mr. Mikotoba said something similar before he left.”

“Did he, now?” Sholmes laughed, amused. “Well, great minds think alike. That’s why he’s my esteemed partner.”

There was so much fondness in Sholmes’ words that Kazuma couldn’t hold back a smile.

“Oh,” Sholmes continued, “dear Iris is making some renovations in your bedroom.” He gestured upstairs. “After you mentioned your lack of personal belongings, she searched the entire house for red items she could use as decoration… You should give it a look.”

So, that was the reason behind that sudden question… Those two really were a strange duo, doing so much for someone they barely knew. It made it difficult for Kazuma not to care about them as well.

“Alright…” Kazuma politely bowed in Sholmes’ direction. “Excuse me, then.”

To his surprise, Sholmes laughed again. “Don’t act so reserved, my dear boy.” He gestured around him. “This is your home now.”

His words caught Kazuma off-guard. Home… The last time he felt at home, his mother was still alive. Even while living in Mikotoba’s house, he had never allowed himself to feel like he belonged there. And Sholmes’ place… He couldn’t tell yet if he would ever come to see it as his home, but Sholmes and Iris were doing everything they could to make him feel welcome there, so… Maybe he should make an effort as well.

And maybe, given enough time, things would be fine once again.