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Chiharu and Chuuya were sent out with the grocery list, and enough money to buy everything and then some. The two teens made their way to a small shop which they already knew would have everything on the list. It wasn’t a very complicated place, with only a few aisles, and almost no one around.
“I’ll get everything we need from this aisle, you go to the one beside it and get whatever we need from it,” Chuuya mumbled, handing his brother the other copy of the list.
“Alright…” Chiharu was a bit reluctant to leave his side, but knew it would make it faster to get home.
Walking away, he went to the other aisle and started picking up the things they’d need, using his ability to make them lighter. He still held them, just so people wouldn’t know about his ability. It didn’t take long for him to grab everything, and return to the aisle he’d left Chuuya in.
Only for his brother to not be there.
He returned to the other aisle to see if Chuuya had gone there to find him. Yet it was empty. Quickly, he checked the other two aisles in the store, and still he wasn’t anywhere to be seen. Trying to not panic, Chiharu reasoned with himself, and thought maybe his brother went to the bathroom briefly.
So, he knocked on the door to the bathroom near the back of the store, and got no answer. Seeing that he hadn’t found his brother, and didn’t know where to go to look for him, he sat on the floor and the tears started pouring. He was hoping his brother would come looking for him, but he didn’t know where he was or if he’d forgotten they’d gone out together.
Chuuya was carrying the money, and could have purchased what he got and left. That scared him even more, and he curled up in a ball, shaking and crying. He just wanted his brother, and to go home. For a few minutes, he was sitting there crying, when someone tapped him on the shoulder.
Looking up, Chiharu hoped to see his brother, but instead it was a man in a suit, seeming concerned, “Are you alright?”
He shook his head, “I can’t find my brother, and don’t know where to even look.”
“I could help you, but afterwards, could you tell me if you have seen who I am looking for?” the stranger asked.
“I guess…?” Chiharu hesitated, not sure if his parents would mind.
The man smiled, “Amazing, tell me what your brother looks like, and I’ll keep an eye out for him.”
Surprised at the forwardness of the statement, it takes him a moment to answer, “Just like me, but his hair is grown out a little longer. We’re identical twins.”
“Alright, I shall keep an eye out for him. Do you wish to stay here, or would you like to leave and go look for him?” he asks, giving Chiharu an inquisitive look.
“I’m not sure, I’ve never had to do this before…” there was a hint of uncertainty to his voice.
Nodding in understanding, he sat down beside him, “Then we shall stay here. How about I show you the pictures of the people I am looking for while we wait?”
Chiharu shrugged, “Can I know your name first?”
“I am Adam, the world’s first android. I wish to be a detective, and run my own all android detective agency,” Adam explained, it got a laugh out of the teen beside him.
“I should tell you my name, I’m Nakahara Chiharu, but most people just referred to me by my forename. My brother, Chuuya and I go to a nearby high school,” he told him, giving a soft smile, his tears had stopped falling.
Having given his name to the teen, Adam pulled out the two pictures of who he was looking for. The photos were nearly nine years old, but he assumed, since they would only be in their thirties now, that they would still be recognizable. He handed over the pictures, and waited for a response from Chiharu.
The second the teen saw the photos, he felt the urge to run. The man beside him was looking for his parents, and he didn’t know if they would be arrested or killed if the android detective got to meet them. Chiharu tried to control his expression, so it wouldn’t be obvious that he was now frightened.
“So, have you seen them?” Adam asked, after giving him a few minutes.
Luckily for Chiharu, Chuuya showed up at that exact minute, “Chiharu! There you are, I didn’t know where you were.”
He stood up, dropping the photos, which Adam caught, “I tried to go back to the aisle you were in when I went to grab the stuff from the other aisle, but you weren’t there. So I looked in every aisle for you, but you weren’t there.”
“I’m so sorry, I thought I saw that shitty Mackerel outside, and got distracted,” Chuuya apologized, hugging his brother tightly, before whispering in his ear, “Who is that guy? Do I need to fight him?”
“He’s apparently a detective, but he showed me who he’s looking for, and it’s our parents,” Chiharu whispered back, not wanting the detective to know that he was aware of the people in the photo.
Adam was rather curious of the teenagers in front of him, wondering who the shitty Mackerel was. Since it seemed like an insult for someone they knew. He also hadn’t had his question answered, and would like one, even if it was that the teen didn’t know.
“Hello, have you seen either of these people?” Adam asked, having gotten up and walked over to stand beside the teens.
“Why are you asking?” Chuuya asked in return, distrustful of the detective.
He didn’t hesitate to answer, “They are rogue agents from France who disappeared while on a mission nine years ago. I have been tasked to find out what happened, and where they are now.”
Still not wanting to tell him, until he knew his full intentions, he questioned him further, “What’ll you do when you find them?”
“Find out why they did not come back, although I was only ordered to do that much. As long as they aren’t spreading government secrets, I will leave,” Adam answered, completely truthful.
“I guess we can take you to them, but you’ve got to help us carry back the groceries we came here to get,” Chuuya demanded, getting a nod in response.
Gathering up everything they needed, the twins purchased the groceries. Starting the walk home, Adam in tow with bags in his hands. The twins had picked out a treat for themselves, knowing that was what the extra money was for, and Chuuya was snacking on his while walking.
When they got home, Chuuya opened the door, taking the bags Adam was carrying from him, and ordering him to stay put outside. The door was closed in his face, but he stood there patiently. Almost half an hour later, the door opened to reveal the two former spies. Inside, they’d been given the rundown on the strange man their kids had met while out grocery shopping.
Inviting him inside, he ended up sitting at the kitchen table. Chuuya and Chiharu left the room, their parents had told them they were to stay in their room until they were done speaking with Adam. Despite knowing their parents were in the mafia, they’d never been told much about their pasts before that.
Knowing they would be asking questions later, they decided to just hang out until they were allowed to go back downstairs.