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Herlock, ever the empathetic, had dragged a certain sailor to the cabin Ryunosuke was in. He and Susato are quietly talking at the table. At least Herlock hadn’t walked in on them sobbing like last time.
The detective was simply bored, and wanted something to do. So, he chose to talk with the only other people he remotely knew. (As in, every other person he approached rejected him). Hosonaga was simply dragged with him. He wasn’t in the greatest of moods.
Susato and Herlock are the only two really engaging in whatever conversation they were having. Ryunosuke made a comment every now and then, and meanwhile, Hosonaga was nodding every five seconds, pretending to pay attention to what the others are saying. He wasn’t.
Ryunosuke notices, and speaks up. “Ahm, inspector, are you okay…?” He nearly coughs up a lung at his name being mentioned. He hastily wipes his blood off with a handkerchief and clears his throat. “I’m quite alright, Naruhodo.” Ryunosuke frowns. “Are you sure? You have been zoning out this entire conversation.”
“Oh. Ahm.”
He clears his throat once more. “Sorry, I’ve just been tired today. I can’t really pay much attention…—” He runs his thumb against his ring.
Herlock sits up straight, a grin on his face. “Aha!” The other three look over at him, confused.
“I’ve got you now, inspector! It is time for Herlock Sholmes's Logic and Reasoning Spectacular!" Susato and Ryunosuke look very confused, glancing back and forth at the other two. Hosonaga just looks nervous. Susato speaks up. “Ahm, Mr Sholmes—“
She gets interrupted, as he points at Hosonaga.
“You’ve seen quite down in the dumps as of late, inspector. Not to mention, you’re coughing twice as often. Such a sad look on your face, almost longing.”
On cue, Hosonaga coughs once again.
“Not to mention, you’ve been zoning out this entire conversation, as my dear boy just mentioned. As if, you’re too deep into your mind to focus on anything else.”
Herlock stands up to walk over to the other side of him.
“Anything anyone says will cause you ache instead. As if… a reminder.”
Hosonaga tenses up, but stays silent.
“A reminder to something… or rather, someone.” He grabs Hosonaga’s hand, showing his ring to the group. A certain ring, on his left hand, and his ring finger.
“Perhaps, someone so very special to you. Of course, if said person was so special, you’d miss them… but, in this case, something is different.”
He lets go of his hand.
“I conclude that you and said person didn’t end off well before you entered the ship. A fight, perhaps? That, I’m unsure of.”
Hosonaga is very uncomfortable now, but Herlock is too deep into the thrill, and doesn’t notice. With a dramatic spin, he reveals the conclusion of his deduction.
“You, my friend, most terribly miss your wife.”
Ryunosuke and Susato sit in silence, their eyes widened. On the other hand, Hosonaga just looks sad. “So? How’d I…” He pauses, finally noticing his expression. “…do.”
Hosonaga lets out a sigh. “You were… somewhat correct. Though, it wasn’t really much of a fight. My mission was out of nowhere, and had to leave right away. I’m more or less… disappointed in myself.”
Herlock scratches his neck, realizing his mistakes. As in, getting the deduction wrong, and doing the deduction in its entirety.
“Though, the main thing is… I don’t have a wife.”
“Then… the ring?” Ryunosuke asks. He’s used to correcting Herlock’s deductions, but everything lines up.
“I have a husband.” He says, awkwardly.
All three of them gasp slightly. “…what?!”
Hosonaga nods. “Ah… yes…” Susato is the first to get over the shock of it all, smiling softly. “What’s his name?” “…Kogoro.” He replies.
Susato gives him a reassuring tug on the sleeve. “You clearly love him, so I’m sure it will be alright! It wasn’t under your control, after all!” Hosonaga blinks. “…thank you?”
Herlock wants to get swallowed by the floor…
But, Hosonaga feels a little bit happier than before.