Chapter Text
The government assigned Kunikida of the Armed Detective Agency and Ayatsuji Yukito from the Special Division for Unusual Powers to work together to solve a unique case. Ayatsuji is required to meet Kunikida at the Agency since they barely know eachother. In the noon, Ayatsuji walks over to the Agency with the case file and barged in. Kunikida was startled and surprised. He didnt expect Ayatsuji to reach here so quickly and barged in so aggressively. At least he's on time unlike Dazai, Kunikida's work colleague.
Ayatsuji:" Are you Kunikida Doppo? I believe that the government assigned us to work on a case together."
Ayatsuji says as he takes a drag from his pipe and puffs out the smoke.
Kunikida:" Yes, I am indeed Kunikida Doppo. I believe the case file is with you, yes?"
Ayatsuji nods as he walks over to the table then slides it across the table to Kunikida. He then settles down his pipe on the table to speak to Kunikida.
Ayatsuji:" Yes, the government ordered my chief and your Agency's president to let us work together for this case. I also have your government file which gives me more information about you. ...It seems that you are twenty-two, right?
Kunikida:" Yes, indeed I am. Why, what's wrong?"
Ayatsuji:" You sure? ..you don't look like it. You seem to look more like in the late twenties rather than early."
Kunikida raised his eyebrows in confusion wondering if he should take it as an insult or not. Kunikida sighed in mild irritation before sitting down then gestures Ayatsuji to sit. After sitting down, Kunikida take the case file to look through it. Ayatsuji looks around the room with a bored expression before picking up his pipe once again to take a long drag. While doing so, he looks at Kunikida with slight interest.
Ayatsuji's inner thoughts:" What is this man of ideals doing in the Armed Detective Agency? ..he seems interesting. His personality in general is interesting. ...hm..I wonder if we would talk again after this case."
A few moment of silence later, Kunikida looks back up to speak. Ayatsuji also snaps of his trance and his thoughts about Kunikida.
Kunikida:" So, Mister Yukito how would you theory on this case based on the clues you have gathered?"
Ayatsuji:" well this murder took part in a hotel. And the two victims are two foreign young man and a young woman. They do not have any connections at all."
Kunikida:" ... Well, it says here that the victims' bodies are found in the same room."
Ayatsuji:" Sure that the file says that, but, they are not friends nor family. They did not interact with eachother at all either. We checked the CCTV footage."
Kunikida:" Well, that is certainly strange.."
Kunikida looks through the file once more then spots that the two victims' room each have a pretty, ball-jointed doll. Judging by the design and details, it's well made..and probably expensive. Kunikida then leans forward on the table to show Ayatsuji the pictures.
Kunikida:" Mister Yukito, are these dolls related? I have rarely see these type of dolls...have you seen them before?"
Ayatsuji:" Yes, I have. I have a huge collection in my basement. Infact, I carry one with me."
Kunikida:" Really? ...you like ball-jointed dolls that much..?"
Ayatsuji:" Yes, I do."
Kunikida seems surprised and shocked. He never knew a man like Ayatsuji would like dolls like these.
Ayatsuji:" ...Why? What's wrong with liking these type of dolls? Are you judging me?
Ayatsuji says with a hint of anger as he got defensive about his liking.
Kunikida:" ...No, I'm not judging you. ..just unexpected."
Ayatsuji sighs in relief then chuckled slightly before taking another drag from his pipe and puffs the smoke out. The two detective started to work on the case together in the office. In the evening, Kunikida and Ayatsuji are still working, trying to figure out if the two dolls are related or not. Time flies as it's getting late, Kunikida is tired and he needs to follow his schedule.
Kunikida:" I think that's enough for today. We can continue tomorrow if you wish."
Ayatsuji looks up to Kunikida while stretching his arms and legs. After a few moments, Ayatsuji replies in a monotone voice.
Ayatsuji:" Alright, that is fine by me. I'll get going too."
Kunikida:" It's raining outside..wait here, I'll get you an umbrella."
Ayatsuji:" ...If you insist so, I will gladly take it."
Kunikida quickly gets up to get him an umbrella. In the mean time, Ayatsuji gets up to look around the Agency's office since earlier he did not have the chance to. A few minutes later, Kunikida came back with the umbrella for Ayatsuji.
Kunikida:" Here you go. Please watch your step once outside, don't slip. We can't have you injured now can we?"
Ayatsuji smirked slightly before walking out to walk home. After Ayatsuji left, Kunikida went to bed. While laying in his bed, he continues to try and link the case and the dolls together.
Kunikida's inner thoughts:" Hm..are those dolls linked maybe?"
As he continues to think, he recalled the CCTV camera's footage that Ayatsuji showed him. He stood up and reached for his glasses and then his phone to check it again. He saw that while the two victims were waiting for their turn to check in the hotel, one of the workers in the background carrying a big bag...and something was dangling outside of the bag. The shape of the object was one of a doll's hand. Kunikida's brain clicked with a possible answer. Now, he just needs a closer look of the man with the hat that was blocking the man's face. But for now, he will go to sleep and in the morning, he will tell this new information to his case partner, Ayatsuji.
Early in the morning, Kunikida got up and get ready for the day..while Ayatsuji is still sleeping in his comfy bed. After eating breakfast, Kunikida dialed Ayatsuji's phone number to inform what he noticed in the footage last night before going to sleep. Ayatsuji reluctantly woke up groaning and answered his phone grumpily.
Ayatsuji:" What is it, Kunikida..? This better be important."
Kunikida:" Well, last night I rewatch the footage you gave me. Then I spotted that one of the workers in the background was carrying a big bag while walking out of the staff room. But then, I also noticed that a doll's hand was poking out out of the bag."
Ayatsuji:" Oh really? ...very well. We will meet at the hotel and find the employee then."
Kunikida:' Noted, I will be there shortly."
Ayatsuji hung up the phone then got out of his bed quickly to get dressed. Kunikida walks into the office and sees...Dazai annoying Atsushi as always. Kunikida sighed before saying-
Kunikida:" Dazai! Get back to work, this instant. I won't be in the Agency today. Do NOT cause any trouble."
Dazai:" Mister Kunikida, don't be such a buzzkill!!"
Atsushi:" Uhh Dazai-san, I think it's best if you get back to wo-"
Dazai:"Pass!! I'm gonna think of new ways to commit suicide. Or find a beautiful lady that is willing to commit a double suicide me!"
Kunikida:" Atsushi, go get Dazai to work before he taste my wrath once I come back to find without any of his work done. Understood?"
Atsushi:" Wha?!- Okay...understood.."
Kunikida leaves the Agency then Atsushi got Tanizaki to help him into getting Dazai to work. Ayatsuji was already waiting for Kunikida at the hotel where the murder took place. Once Kunikida walked in, he sees Ayatsuji smoking with his pipe when there's CLEARLY a sign that says "No smoking Allowed." Oh, the irony.
Kunikida:" ...Do you not see the "no smoking" sign, Mister Yukito?"
He said as he walked closer him.
Ayatsuji:"...Yes, I did. Does it look like i care what sign says? No."
Kunikida frowns slightly and sighs in mild irritation. He does not want to argue with such an arrogant person.
Kunikida:" Alright, fine. We should ask the hotel manager to gather all the hotel workers here so that we find the murderer quicker. What do you say?"
Ayatsuji nods then he goes off the find the manager. After a few minutes, all the workers including the manager had gather in the hotel lobby together for investigation. After some time, it drops down to three suspects left. The suspects are the janitor, luggage boy and the receptionist. Ayatsuji and Kunikida decided to rewatch the camera footage again. It is not the receptionist since it's a lady but the footage shows a burnett man with medium length hair..
Ayatsuji: "The receptionist lady, you are no longer a suspect. You are free to continue your work."
The receptionist bowed as a thanks before heading back behind the counter to welcome and check in tourists.
Kunikida: "This leaves leaves us with the janitor and the luggage boy as the suspects.."
Ayatsuji: "Well, we can take them back to the police station and into the interrogation room. Now."
He said with a bit of irritation. Kunikida nods as he handcuffs the two suspects just incase any of them tries to do anything. After locking it to make the handcuffs secure, Kunikida took them to the car. Back at the police station, Ayatsuji and Kunikida each put the janitor and the luggage boy into different rooms. Ayatsuji and Kunikida first went to interrogate the luggage boy.
Ayatsuji: "Well, tell us what were you doing when the murder took place."
Ayatsuji said as he took out his pipe, preparing to take a drag from it...he noticed something off about the luggage boy.
The luggage boy looked panicked and worried. This raised the suspicion in the eyes of Ayatsuji. But for Kunikida, he suspected that he just might be worried because he's maybe innocent and he got dragged into this chaos.