Chapter Text
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UA High School - Musutafu,
10:37 p.m.
Sitting at a table, someone or something can be seen, stressed or tired, with various papers spread across the table containing newspapers, reports, official documents, contracts…
The creature stops for a moment, takes a deep breath and looks at a phone, sighing and takes the object.
Scrolling through the applications, the creature clicks on the calling application, after the third tap the call is answered. The creature on the table has an expression that is more serious than stressed, but with a hint of amusement in it.
“ Nedzu, my dear friend, why are you calling me? Don't you think it's a little late, your visit is only supposed to be tomorrow, don't tell me you're canceling it... I thought you weren't like that! “ The voice on the phone speaks after answering, the last sentence is said with a malicious air compared to the rest of the speech.
“ No Mori, it's nothing like that, almost “ The creature, Nedzu, now identified, responds “ the visit is still scheduled, I just... I think we will have a more serious conversation than just catching up on matters. “
The voice on the other end, Mori, doesn't respond for a few seconds
“I see, do you want me to warn Fukuzawa and Taneda too? “
“No, we'll let them figure it out. “ laughs Nezu right after finishing speaking, Mori after a while joins him in laughing.
If anyone stopped and looked at the door of the school Principal's office, they would think he was going crazy. But people at school know better, he already went crazy a long time ago.
When the laughter stopped, there was an unsettling but not uncomfortable silence. Something strange for most people, just not for two crazy people.
“I can't wait for their reactions, I remember the last time we did this. It was wonderful! “ Says Mori.
“ Certainly, a very good moment to remember. “ The amused smile on his mouse face was something unsettling to see if you weren't used to it. “So, I’ll see you tomorrow Mori. Try not to make any more enemies for yourself! “
“ Fufufu Sometimes not creating enemies is the real challenge, Nezu! “ Mori hangs up the call after this speech, and the director drops the phone on the table.
The smile fading quickly, but his look of future amusement is threat enough.
“I completely agree with you on that, Mori. “
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Tea House - Yokohama,
02:15 p.m.
“It's good to see all of us here together again, just like when we were younger. “ A bald man speaks, wearing a whitish gray yukata.
“Yes, the only difference is that now we are all old. “ Another man in a yukata speaks, but his outfit is moss green with some golden stripes, and gray hair.
“ Please Fukuzawa, I think this is very visible, isn't it? “ A man in a doctor's coat responds, this one has black hair and purple eyes, known as Mori.
The man in the green yukata looks at Mori from the corner of his eyes, which narrowed at the comment, then noisily taking a sip of his tea.
Nedzu and the bald man look at that scene, disbelieving that these men are in their 40s and act like quarrelsome children but in control. He and the man in the whitish-gray yukata, Taneda, look at each other in annoyance, hating that they feel like candles in front of the couple, soon looking away at their drinks.
Taneda takes a deep breath and coughs, drawing the couple's attention. Who look at him and leave their games.
“ Even though Nezu and I think your relationship is cute, we don't like witnessing romantic affection while we're too sober. “ Says the head of SDUP, looking reproachfully at the men in front of him.
“Thank you Taneda! “ He thanks the Director, grateful that his friend knew that if he tried to stop them it would only encourage them to continue with their actions. “Now then tell me, how are your lives so far! Then I tell mine don't worry “Speaks Nezu, his last sentence being directed at Fukuzawa who looks at him at first with his mouth open but then closes it.
“As normal as it can be, we are in more peaceful times now. “ Mori begins “ I hope the world doesn't use my words against me. Elise warned that if anything like the times a year ago happened again, she doesn't care who is to blame. I would suffer from her wrath…”
After this comment, the other men (and a rat-man?) laughed quietly at the karma of their friend, who looks at them with betrayal.
“The agency recovered well after the events, and Ranpo and Poe finally came out! I didn't know how long their 'secret relationship' would last. “Fukuzawa comments
“For the World's Best Detective, he certainly doesn't know how to hide a relationship. “After this comment, friends burst into laughter.
“But seriously, these kids can say from the beginning that they were ‘rivals,’ but please! One of them spent 6 years writing a novel for the other. “Complains the gray-haired man “But they are good with each other, so I have nothing against their relationship. “
“Even if one of them is your beloved son? “Nezu teases his friend
Fukuzawa narrows his eyes at him, soon making the mammal raise his hands (paws?) in surrender.
“The Division remains the same, paperwork and paperwork. “ Sighs the head of SDUP “ I think that's the bad part of working for the government “ he mutters to no one in particular, just another complaint.
“And that's also why I don't get involved in HPSC or Government matters! They are a pain in the ass. “ Nezu retorts in response to Taneda’s last comment.
“But everything is fine at school, the only problem is that bunch of criminals who call themselves the ‘League of Villains’. What a horrible, dull and boring name! “
“Seriously, ‘League of Villains’? People are becoming less and less creative. “Mori grumbles
“I'm glad school is going well, Nezu. But what do these criminals have to do? “Fukuzawa speaks, it seems that the detective’s senses are heightened!
The Division Chief and ADA President look at Mori and Nezu, just checking to make sure they aren't hiding anything, but it's clear they are hiding something. It's Mori and Nezu! Please.
Sighing, Fukuzawa asks “This is a mission for us, isn't it? “
“I don't think it's specifically for us, but for our workers, Fukuzawa” Taneda responds.
Looking at the other two men, the men in yukata say “Spill. “
“Okay, okay, we'll talk! You don't know how much fun you're missing! “ Says Mori with a sneer. “Now it's up to you Nezu, the mission is yours. “
“ Are you seriously leaving me in this alone!? I thought we were friends! “ Nezu hisses through his teeth at the man in front of him.
“ Well “ The director takes a deep breath “ There is half-baked information I got from my contacts in the criminal underworld, that this league is run by the notorious supervillain ‘All For One’. No confirmation, but all the information we have about these criminals points to him. “
“I'm almost certain that the heroes of the world can deal with them, but to end this threat a war would start. “ The air seemed to become more tense and serious with this possibility hanging in the air “ And I also know that the barrier cannot be crossed or destroyed by any of the peculiarities. But a war could cause panic among the people of Yokohama, not to mention dealing with everyone else would be a pain in the ass. “
“I care about the people outside of Yokohama, I really do! But their black and white vision will be their undoing one day. “ The mammal sighs tiredly “ And I'd rather the ruin be when I'm retired and living here in Yokohama again. “
Nedzu looks up from the table the four of them share – when did he look at it? – and looks at the three men.
" That's why. I need your help, so you've already paid off those debts from when we were young! “
Sighing Fukuzawa, says “Just from that last comment I know we have no option. Do you want to schedule a professional meeting for later? Preferably at night. “
The other men (and rat) nod, soon returning to the 'meeting of friends/companions/brothers' atmosphere, and forgetting the subject, preferring to leave it for later in the night.
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SDUP headquarters - Yokohama,
09:40 p.m.
The meeting room of the Special Division for Unusual Powers is being used by three men at the moment. Waiting for the last one to start the meeting.
Huffing in exhaustion, Taneda says “I feel like this is going to give me a bad headache. “
“ And, in fact, isn't almost everything that gives you headaches, Taneda? “ Fukuzawa teases, something unusual from the man – but not rare.
“Look who's speaking, the President who calls his workers his children! “ Taneda retorts
The two now look at each other with a passion of newly renewed fury, if they weren't in a professional meeting they would be strangling each other at the moment.
“Stop wanting to kill yourself, even Elise isn’t that childish. And she wears the form of a child! “ Says a black-haired man wearing a black suit, black coat and a type of red fabric thrown from his shoulders to the front of his body, Mori. “But speaking of another part, it's been a while since we've seen Nezu in human form, has he aged? “
“Talking about me thinking I wouldn’t know? “Speaks Nezu, entering the room through the door. But when the men looked there, they didn't see a rat, but a man of approximately 1.75, wearing a three-piece suit - white dress shirt, red tie and a black vest over them, and black pants - with sneakers orange that looked totally out of place with the rest of the clothes. A scar that runs from his right cheek to just above his right eyebrow, straight white hair that has obviously been combed back with gel, and, dark gray eyes that seem to hold as many secrets as their bearer can uncover.
The man, Nezu, leaves the door and closes it. When he sits down at the table he deposits two files on it, looking at the other men in the room “So, shall we begin? “ He says with a smile on his face. There's no way he's aged.
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Akutagawa House - Yokohama,
11:22 p.m.
Somewhere, two young adults feel each other shudder. As if people were talking about them at that moment. Maybe it's just paranoia, yeah, it's paranoia.
Or maybe it's not paranoia, who knows?