Chapter Text
“Chug! Chug! Chug!”
“You got this, Naoto! Woo!”
“I don't know if this is such a good idea, I mean–”
“Enough!”
The students went silent at the detective’s command.
“...I’ll do it.”
An eruption of hollering and astonishment filled the room.
What the hell have I gotten myself into?
“Why don't you join us?” the black-haired upperclassman offered.
“You're asking me to stay?”
Naoto Shirogane was taken aback. It was surprising enough to run into anyone familiar in this nightclub she'd arbitrarily chosen to inspect during the school’s trip. Even more of a surprise, this was the same gang of students Naoto had secretly been observing all year in possible connection to the mysterious murders in Inaba. For them to invite her, unsolicited, to spend time with them all together, was a chance that–
“Yeah!”
A bubbly voice shook the detective from her train of thought.
“We haven't really had the chance to talk to you since you transferred to our school. But you're free now, aren't you?” the pigtailed girl inquired with an earnest friendliness that surprised Naoto. “Besides, I was really curious to ask how a boy our age got to become some big-shot detective. What do you say?”
Naoto hesitated, clearly mulling it over.
“...Very well, if you insist,” the detective answered, much to the delight of her fellow students. “Is there somewhere all of you are heading towards?”
“Right here!” the pigtailed girl emphasized with a sense of pride. “Back in my showbiz days, my team and I would swing by this club whenever we were in town. The food and service are amazing! And don't any of you worry about paying a dime; management owes me quite a few favors after my last time here. Follow me!”
With that, the gaggle of students made their way up the nightclub stairs with Naoto trailing and making her assessments of each individual.
Leading the way was Rise Kujikawa, a former pop idol and current first-year at Yasogami High. Despite a prior life of celebrity, Naoto observed throughout the last several months that the pigtailed girl seemed surprisingly down-to-earth. Also of note was her reported sudden disappearance from Inaba for two weeks in the summer.
Directly following Rise were two more girls, Chie Satonaka and Yukiko Amagi, two second-years also attending Yasogami High. With short brown hair and sporty attire, Chie’s tomboyish flair contrasted sharply with Yukiko’s long black hair and traditionally feminine demeanor. Naoto admittedly knew little of Chie, but the detective was well aware that Yukiko’s family ran the inn where the first Inaba murder occurred. And similar to Rise, Yukiko was also reported missing for roughly two weeks earlier in the year.
Behind the three girls walked an odd and flamboyantly dressed blond boy by the name of “Teddie” from what Naoto had gathered. Arriving some time in the summer, Teddie’s mere existence was a total mystery. Despite the detective’s sleuthing into each member of this group of teenagers, Naoto had learned absolutely nothing about the blond boy. No school attendance, no birth records, no family connections, nothing at all. The only thing known about Teddie was his employment at the local Junes Supermarket, where he seemed to be a popular point of amusement for the local shoppers when in his stuffed bear costume.
After him walked two more boys, second-year Yosuke Hanamura and first-year Kanji Tatsumi. While the juvenile Yosuke dressed and held himself like any well-behaved teenage boy, Kanji’s image was of anything but that. With spiky dyed-blond hair, face piercings, and a muscular frame that towered over most adults, the first-year often oozed intimidation. Yet, any time spent around the punk seemed to show the opposite; Kanji Tatsumi actually appeared quite considerate. He was honestly quite gentle with the local elderly and children, even despite his occasional fistfights with local gangs. And as with Rise and Yukiko, Kanji also was reported missing for two weeks earlier in the year.
Rounding out the teens, walking at the tail of the group was Yu Narukami, a second-year. With silver hair and height rivaled only by Kanji, Yu was by far the most interesting (and suspicious) to the detective Naoto. Transferring to the town just before the murders in Inaba, residing with his uncle who happened to also be a respected local detective, and clearly leading this group that included so many briefly disappeared individuals, the silver-haired boy had a laundry list of potential ties to the current strange happenings in Inaba.
Yu Narukami was Suspect #1 for Naoto. The detective would be lying to herself if she thought he himself was behind any murders or disappearances, but with no other leads and an ever-impatient department of policeman peers, the sleuth was growing desperate.
There must be some connection to this group and what’s been going on. Adolescent social gatherings like this are the last thing I'm familiar with, but I'll do whatever it takes to get some answers. I have to make this count.
As Naoto steeled her resolve, the herd of teens made their way up the stairs and down the carpeted hallways of the nightclub’s upper floor.
“Let's see, 2B…2C…2A, yes!” Rise exclaimed. “Ladies and gentlemen, I present you with the Party Suite!”
The former idol opened the lavish door, and the students’ eyes widened in awe. Disco balls, bright LED lights, red leather upholstery; it was dizzying to the entire group (save for Rise of course). A further scan of the room found some points of interest: short glass tables covered in hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, a wall-mounted flatscreen TV, and a silver suitcase sitting against a couch.
Most notably, at the back of the room appeared to be a fully-stocked bar with a makeshift paper sign taped to its front.
“Help yourself. Everything’s on the house,” Chie read to the group.
“I wonder,” Yosuke thought aloud. “There’s no way they would– hey Teddie put that down!”
By the time the words had left Yosuke’s lips, the tiny blond had already gulped down every drop of one of the colorful drinks that sat on the club room tables.
“Whoa, that was yummy! I don’t know what was in that but it smelled like straw-beary so I knew I’d like it! It was a little tingly, but in a good way!”
Kanji eyed the remaining drinks on the glass tables before decisively taking a sip of one himself.
“Oh yeah,” the punk reported. “There's definitely booze in these.”
“That means it’s party time!” Rise cheered as Teddie joined in on the excitement. Yukiko and Chie exchanged incredulous looks, while Yu and Kanji struck up a conversation about fruity drinks. Yosuke, however, was visibly distraught.
“You idiots, we literally have a cop with us!”
The young man’s words pierced the air; every eye in the room shot open as each of the teens stood there in silent realization. Naoto scanned the faces of her peers, only to find that everyone was staring in her direction.
Normally I’d immediately contact a local precinct and report what is maybe the most blatant case of a business serving alcohol to minors, but…
“While I have worked with local law enforcement, I myself am officially a detective, not a ‘cop.’ More importantly,” the sleuth answered, chewing her lip for just a second before finishing. “My involvement with the police ended earlier this month. What happens here is none of my concern.”
While Rise and Teddie doubled their celebratory cheers, the rest of the gang did little to hide their stunned expressions at the detective’s uncharacteristic reply.
While it hurts to so falsely undermine my own authority, these students must know something about what’s happening in Inaba. I need them to drop their guards around me if I’m going to have any chance at them finally sharing any information. Besides, I can always report this establishment another day.
“Maybe you’re not as uptight as I thought, little guy,” jeered Yosuke before joining his friends who had now taken a seat on the couches that lined the side wall. Naoto rolled her eyes but nonetheless took a seat as well, intentionally on the last of the sectional couches, with just herself and the group’s leader. She and Yu observed the fellow students and their varied behaviors in the situation.
While Rise and Teddie took to the drinks with reckless abandon, the others were a bit slower to enjoy the refreshments. Kanji and Chie headed straight for the snacks and expressed little desire for alcohol; being responsibly exposed by parental figures years prior left the two indifferent to teenage drinking’s novelty. Yosuke himself was similarly educated throughout his youth as the son of a liquor store family, but he was also a teenage boy easily swayed by his peers. Though he didn’t exactly love the taste, seeing a cute former idol enjoying herself led Yosuke to nurse a cocktail of his own.
As for Yukiko, well…
“O-Okay Teddie, hear me out. Instead of Agidyne, I’ll call it AMAGIdyne! Do you get it?! *snort* Because my name!”
Ever the dutiful best friend, Chie quickly put down her miniature sausages to rush to Yukiko’s side.
“Hey there, that’s sure some gibberish you're saying! Wow you’ve already had two of these? Maybe we wanna slow down, you know, maybe not repeat that one night at your inn?”
Naoto cocked her head to the side before quietly remarking to Yu. “Isn’t Yukiko usually pretty reserved? Or is she always like this?”
The young man turned to Naoto with a similarly curious look, shrugging his shoulders.
“I mean sure, she’s a bit more relaxed with us than someone might expect, but this,” Yu pointed, gesturing at the black-haired girl nearly falling off the couch. “This is something else entirely.”
Before Naoto could reply, the young man continued.
“Oh and by the way, don’t feel the need to act any certain way around us. Whether you want to cut loose or to just stay out of any shenanigans altogether, don’t let us sway you either way. We’re just happy you’re here to actually hang out with us for once; it feels like we’ve only really ever seen you in passing.”
The detective blinked.
“Thank you, I appreciate that.”
But if I’m to fit in with them and gain their trust, what should I be doing? Do I pretend to lose myself to fit in with Rise and Yukiko? Or should I appear authentic, refraining as might be expected of me? Maybe the correct approach lies somewhere between the extremes, enough to be believable while still somewhat taking part for camaraderie’s sake.
Suddenly, the ever-bubbly Rise seemed to teleport just in front of Naoto.
“Yeah! We’re like so happy you’re here Naoto! I never got to ask how you got to be such a cool detective guy!”
Naoto quickly scanned Rise’s half-empty cocktail as well as the empty glass where the former idol had been sitting.
That's no small amount for a girl Rise’s size in such short time.
“Oh there’s not much of a story there. I come from a long family line of investigators, and I’d already taken a liking to such things in my younger days. I began with small local cases and slowly worked my way up until I was assisting with a major police investigation in my area. From there, it wasn’t long until I’d made a bit of a reputation for myself, though lately it has seemed to manifest itself in more of a last ditch effort for law enforcement rather than a respected first option,” Naoto sighed.
“But still!” Rise retorted. “They call you the Detective Prince and everything, even though you’re so small and so young! You’ve like, been on TV and stuff!”
Naoto took just a half-second to inhale before responding.
“I believe we are the same age, Rise. And you have also been on TV, no?”
The former idol gasped. “Oh my god you’re SO right! That’s craaazy, the both of us on TV! Actually, we’ve almost all been on TV, right guys? Because like the news and the Midnight–”
Yosuke nearly spit out his drink as he began coughing, while Yu quickly stood up to interrupt Rise.
“Hey there, you’ve had quite a bit to drink already! Have you had any water or food with that? Don’t want you getting any headaches or anything.”
As the leader helped a giggly Rise back to her seat, Naoto reflected on what had just happened.
I’ve long suspected that the disappearances of these students had some correlation to their respective appearances on local news TV; the reaction to Rise’s comment seems to corroborate that. In their current states, Yukiko and Rise appear to be the most likely to let slip something I’m not meant to hear. At the rate they’re going, though, I’m inclined to think they won’t be speaking clearly much longer. Maybe I should pry at the leader…
As time passed in the club suite, the cocktails that had once littered the tables grew sparse. Teddie, Yukiko, and Rise laid lazily on the couches after decimating the majority of the fruity beverages, while the rest of the students eventually dabbled with a glass or two each, save for Naoto.
“C’monnn Naoto!” Teddie piped up. “I can see you haven't even tried any; at least have a sip! It’s bear-y delicious!”
Yu turned to Naoto, still sitting beside him.
“Don't mind him, and seriously don't feel obligated.”
Ever the considerate one, aren't you? But still, Teddie has a point; it's become apparent that I've been sitting out.
“Sure, why not? Could you please hand me a glass?”
Yu raised an eyebrow as he acquiesced, handing the detective one of the few remaining cocktails. Without hesitation, she began drinking.
And drinking.
And drinking.
“Whoa, look at him go!” spoke a surprised Yosuke.
As Naoto finally pulled the glass away from her lips, she was surprised to find she'd nearly finished the entire thing.
I guess I was pretty thirsty. Still though, I've tried some wines with my grandpa, but these drinks are much more dangerous. Whatever sugary strawberry flavor they use really hides the liquor; I can see now how some of them drank so many.
“Not half bad,” the sleuth remarked to her audience, garnering some cheers and nods in approval.
While Naoto slowly finished the remainder of her mixed drink, the gang found themselves reminiscing stories of school trips past and present. With each mention of some inside joke or nonsensical moniker, Yu was quick to quietly give the detective some clarifying commentary so as for her to not feel left out. Though she never put personal stake in her relationships outside of work, it was nice to feel like a normal teenager for once.
“Ooh!” blurted out Rise in a voice likely louder than she'd intended. “Only o-one drink left, I call dibs!”
“I don't think so, you've had enough for now.” scolded Kanji firmly. “Besides, you don't wanna make yourself sick.”
As the former idol crossed her arms in reluctant agreement, Yosuke offered the last drink around the room. Teddie and Yukiko raised their hands but were quickly shot down by their peers. Chie and Kanji politely declined, and Yosuke himself was still halfway through his current glass.
“Oh, you two both have empty glasses, how about I just split it between you two?”
Before Naoto could concoct a strategic response to the situation, Yu simply nodded and let Yosuke pour the remaining drink into each of their respective glasses.
It wouldn't have hurt my chances if Yu had some more to drink, though this will have to do.
The two of them respectively sipped to the bottoms of their glasses, and stories continued of the gang’s misadventures with the school. As Kanji was halfway through his account of the Morooka Waterfall incident, Yukiko stood up suddenly.
“Rise! I don't need a bathroom right away, but I will need it in exactly one minute.”
“Oh shoot, yeeeeah they're like kinda weird up here on the second floor. If you go back to the stairs, then hang a left along the hallway til the star sign, then– Let's just all go together, it'll be fun! Who needs to go?”
Yu stepped forward.
“It'd probably be best if we all went together right now whether everyone needs to or not. We don't want anyone to end up lost and wandering alone up here, especially without Rise, the one whose connections got us here in the first place.”
“Smart thinkin’ partner! Alright Kanji, can you get Teddie on your back?”
It was then that Naoto noticed the blond had been uncharacteristically silent with his eyes closed, presumably unconscious for a short while.
“No problem; little guy is like ninety pounds soaking wet. I got him easy!”
As everyone else made their way out of the suite, Naoto herself stood up, sparking a sudden realization.
Wait what is this feeling, is it the alcohol? That's impossible! I didn't even have two drinks…but then why do I suddenly feel unsteady? I guess I've only ever had sips of weaker liquors here and there but still. Okay. I clearly have my full mental capability, and I have all my physical motor skills unimpaired if I just focus. All I have to–
*thunk*
The sound of Naoto Shirogane’s shin colliding with a glass table.The sensation was sobering, something Naoto might have appreciated had she not been in excruciating pain. Suddenly remembering her surroundings, the detective looked up to thankfully see almost the entire squad of teenagers already outside the open door and walking away, none the wiser.
That is, except for Yu Narukami, standing in the doorway with a hand over his mouth.
“You, uh, alright there Naoto?”
The two made their way down the upper floor hallway, slowly catching up to the rest of their caravan.
“My leg will recover quickly. My dignity, on the other hand…”
“Happens to the best of us. You didn't hear it from me, but my uncle nearly broke his wrist a month ago tripping over a chair after a handful of drinks.”
“Detective Dojima? He told us at the station it was from a scuffle with a mugger in an alleyway.”
“Oh that did happen, the same week too I think,” Yu explained. “But he didn't hurt his hand then. Muggers are nothing compared to sake and wood flooring.”
The absurdity of it all; the respected Ryotaro Dojima escaping a fistfight unscathed, just to need bandages from a drunken fall in his own home. Maybe it was due to her current affected state, but Naoto couldn't help but chuckle to herself.
“But again!” Yu reiterated. “You didn't hear it from me; only me and little Nanako know about that!”
And now myself as well. Hm.
The detective gave the young man a soft smirk before gesturing a zipper shutting over her mouth. The leader nodded with a smile of his own.
The two caught up to the gang just as they’d made their way to the restroom entrances. Hurriedly, Yukiko and Rise ran into the ladies’ room with Chie nonchalantly in tow. As for the rest of the students, they all filed into the otherwise unoccupied men’s bathroom. Having been disguising herself as male for several years, Naoto was entirely used to the occasional trips to men’s rooms, and this time was no different.
“Hey Teddie, c’mon you gotta wake up! Can' t have you pissin’ yourself later, you hear?”
Kanji had propped the boy against the bathroom wall and was doing everything in his power to rouse him. Having just finished his business, Yosuke walked over to aid the efforts.
“Let's try this,” he whispered, gesturing to the sinks. Naoto watched in amusement as the two hooligans cupped as much cold water into their palms as could fit before waddling over and simultaneously splashing the sleeping Teddie.
“Ack! Ladies please, one at a time!!”
As the boys continued their shenanigans, Naoto entered a nearby stall to use the bathroom and, more importantly, strategize.
While I imagine we’ll be here plenty longer, we are out of those strawberry cocktails. I was hoping with a touch more intoxication that Yu or the others might leak some more information about the case, but that one remark by Rise seems to have put them on alert. I need them to either drink more or to trust me more, and while they've all been surprisingly welcoming to me, I don't have the luxury of time spent on rapport. I've got to think of something.
As the gang met up outside the respective restrooms and headed back to the suite, Teddie turned to his friends with a mischievous grin.
“I had an idea for something we've gotta try!” the boy explained. “But I have to check something first.”
With that, the blond sprinted ahead to get to the suite first, with the herd of students leisurely making their way back. While some time had passed since the night began, Rise and Yukiko were still definitely under the influence, with the rest of the flock feeling a buzz to varying degrees.
As they all made it back to the room, immediately they felt a different air in the room.
“Teddie, how'd you get the TV on? And what's with that box next to you?”
“It's time for…”
Naoto raised her brow in similar confusion before the realization hit.
Oh no.
“BEARY-OKE!”
“Huh? What's that?”
“Kanji you idiot, he means karaoke.”
“Karaoke?!”
Karaoke.