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The man had quite the collection, that was without doubt. Honestly, it seemed like he was at fault for always buying out something she wanted—with the sheer degree of books hiding away in this sad little room.
Perhaps that was a bit too harsh…
She looked remorsefully over to him, still sleeping, as if she was expecting he heard her thoughts. Ridiculous, obviously, but… Naoto couldn't help but feel like that sometimes.
It was the 25th of December, and the young girl had just spent a night with the man who stole her heart—the result of an investigation into Yu Narukami getting Naoto dragged into a nonsensical ride of ridiculous concepts and feeling something she'd never felt before. Love, as it were. For the man she was investigating. Normally the detective is the seducer in the stories she’s read, but subversions of the tropes seem to be her style now.
The sheets shuffled once more, and the sheen of someone's silver locks caught the detective’s eye.
“Senpai?” She rose to her feet and stepped slightly closer.
“...Morning.” He groaned in response, rubbing the sleep away with the thenar of his palm.
While it was difficult to tell through the natural state of his recently awakened voice, there seemed to be a hint of confusion buried away.
“A-Are you alright?” Far too strong far too early in the morning, a fact she noted very fast when Narukami chuckled at her over-the-top concern.
“I'm just waking up,” his eyes opened properly at last, “surprised you didn't leave already.”
“Oh.” Not only had she not left, she didn't even put her hat on. As much as she'd typically deny the reason behind that, it was probably best to be honest. “I… wanted to be here when you woke up. I wanted to see how you would react…”
Her wish was granted by a smile that quickly grew on the boy’s face.
“Seeing you first thing in the morning is a good omen, that's for sure.”
She'd almost forgotten his hair wasn't the only silver part of him. It's no wonder someone so slick can get Naoto searing red so quickly.
“That makes me happy.” Naoto breathed a sigh of relief, stepping back as Yu finally got to his feet…
“Aren't you worried about my uncle, though?”
…And she sucked the breath right back in after realising the factor she'd failed to consider.
“...I-I, uh… he won't…?” The words she wanted were right there, but something blocked them from coming out.
“He's not like Yosuke. Or Teddie.” Narukami responded, as if reading her mind. “I doubt he'll expect anything extreme.”
“I'll take your word for it…” A chill ran down her spine at the thought of it. The extent of last night was sleeping in each other's arms, but Naoto knows all too well the bear wouldn't take that for an answer.
She was lost so deep in her anxieties, she almost missed her senpai leaving the room.
The two plodded down the stairs, Naoto in tow of Narukami, and sure enough they were spotted almost instantly. The silver haired boy reached the bottom first, it wasn't until the detective timidly hid behind his much taller frame that anyone really noticed.
“Mornin’...” Dojima stopped mid sentence to lean for a look behind his nephew. “...Naoto?”
“Hello…” She did her best to sound more confident, but it still came out as a mediocre croak.
“What are you doing here?” In classic Dojima fashion the interrogation began almost instantly, albeit with enough of a warm smile and slight laugh to make it far less imposing.
“Dad?” Nanako’s voice rounded the corner as she turned down the TV. “Who are you talking to?”
The older detective looked over to his daughter, then back to his junior. Though it took some effort to move past Narukami, she did it anyway and puffed her chest out to begin her rebuttal.
“Y-Your nephew invited me to discuss… discuss something,” her instincts almost went to the case they already closed earlier this month, “I didn't want to turn down so… I had to… stay the night.”
Dojima did not believe a word of that. One sly look at Narukami was all it took for Naoto to get the message and shrink back into the nervous mess she was inside.
“You little punk.” The man shook his head with an amused quality. “If you're gonna invite girls around, tell me next time. I feel bad having only made coffee for the three of us.”
“My bad.” Yu chuckled back as he scratched his head.
“O-Oh, it's—it’s not his fault, I insisted he keep quiet, s-sorry!” Though she quickly jumped in to take the blame, Dojima knew them both well enough to see through it.
“I remember you!” Nanako pointed right at Naoto. “You were always next to big bro when he visited me.”
Thank god, she didn't see the hand holding…
“Oh, and when I told you about the invisible ink!”
“Always next to him, huh…?” She could feel him giving the side-eye.
“A—Ahem!” With a clearing of the throat, she put a stop to that line of questioning. “I'm happy to see you in good health again, Nanako-chan.”
“Thank you!” The beaming smile was enough to get her father’s attention away from the elephant in the room.
“Oh—you staying a little longer? I can make coffee.”
She was intending on leaving but… spending some more time with Narukami doesn't sound like a bad way to start the day.
“There's no need. I can handle it myself.”
“Not in this house, I'm afraid.” Her modesty was quickly shown up.
“...Just let him do it for you.” Yu appeared behind her (or rather, he walked there while Naoto was getting all flustered), and wrapped an arm around her back. “He's really serious about doing that.”
“Okay, then… be my guest.”
He quickly lay down his newspaper and got to work.
“You like it strong, right?” He asked, rolling up his sleeves. It's just coffee…
Nevermind that, though. Naoto nodded despite the statement being incorrect. She tolerated strong coffee, but it wasn't her favourite. It's just… well, her image only comes down when alone with Narukami.
“Put a little sugar in it.” Her boyfriend spoke up.
“Hm?” Dojima looked back at them as they sat at the table.
“Sugar. Just… a small bit.” Naoto said it this time. That little push is all it took to get the truth out of her.
They were mostly silent while the coffee was being brewed. The only noises were Nanako's show and the stifled giggles between the lovebirds as they came to terms with the situation. Dojima set a mug down in front of her.
“Tell me if it's too strong. …Or too sweet.”
“Thank you, Dojima-dono.” She cupped the thing in both hands. It's quite large…
“Tch. So formal.” The man laughed as he sat back down, picking his newspaper up but with noticeably less enthusiasm towards it.
“So… What's the story?” He asked after a brief moment of silence.
“Pardon?”
“Well, I just didn't take you two for the types to end up together.” Dojima's nervousness was building. “I-I’m not being too nosy, am I?”
“It's fine.” Narukami responded fast. Looks like he was expecting that question. “It's, uh… a strange story, that's for sure.”
Strange doesn't quite cut it. At least, depending where you start. With Narukami explaining it, he'd probably start at meeting Yakushiji in the shopping district. But for Naoto? Embarrassing as it is, she'd have to tell the whole story.
Starting from when the team got caught watching Kanji from afar.
She remembered it quite well, even if she wasn't a part of it. Walking away, hearing the boy yell, and then seeing a few people get chased off. Her mind thought nothing of it at first, but one of them did stand out.
A relatively tall boy with silver hair. While the others looked scared beyond belief, he looked more as if he was leaving out of obligation rather than fear.
Strange.
It ran through her head, but she ignored it. At least, she did for a couple days.
Her hypothesis proved to be true when Kanji went missing just a couple days later. The way the victims kept disappearing after being on TV… it had to be that. But the pattern is all she knew. Finding the victim would prove an even greater challenge.
And it seemed she wasn't the only one trying to, either.
When recalling the disappearance of Yukiko Amagi, Naoto remembered the girl was first found in Junes. With that in mind, she began investigating the premises with a keen eye. Asking staff turned up very little, and a close look at the layout left much to be desired—what could she possibly be looking for?
As all hope began to seem lost, she felt someone approaching. With a twist of her head, her eyes landed on something… familiar. That silver hair, the strong air around him, the calm expression on his face; it was undoubtedly the blur she'd seen when leaving Kanji after the first bout of questioning.
“Excuse me?” He asked in a way both relaxed and clearly desperate.
“...Is there something you need?” Trying to analyse him was pointless, she felt. He wasn't quite as obvious as most others.
“You’ve been… around here a bit, huh?”
An odd remark. It stood out, yet at the same time felt entirely natural.
“Many people from around the town come and meet here.” Naoto chose to entertain him. Her intuition felt sparked by this boy. “It’s a very convenient location, isn't it?”
“Yeah, that sounds about right.” He paused, as if analysing her back. “Say, I swear I've seen you hanging around that textile place in the shopping district. Is there… something going on there? I pass by it often, but…”
A slick manoeuvre from this stranger. Admirable… but it wouldn't get past Naoto.
“You're asking if anything seemed strange when I spoke to Kanji-kun, yes?” It was clear as day what the boy was getting at. There's no way he was snooping around the textile shop coincidentally only to come questioning Naoto when the boy went missing.
It was so odd. From that simple interaction, this boy had shown all the affinities of a great detective in the making—an unexpected potential somewhere inside him, eager to come out. Above all else, though… he also had shown a connection to the case. Someone with a sharp wit, confident attitude, and some involvement with the recent disappearances? Call it foolish, but her interest was well and truly piqued.
“Hmm. Very well.”
She told him the boy seemed to have a complex, and left it at that.
Lo and behold: Kanji reappeared the next morning. Where was he found? Junes, of course.
She couldn't take her mind off of the silver haired boy since then. She'd watch from afar as he and his friends gathered at the Junes courtyard. She'd keep an ear out for any gossip surrounding a certain tall transfer student. It was an obsession… and one she couldn't escape.
When Mitsuo Kubo was declared the prime suspect for all the crimes, she fought back against the station with whatever hypothesis she could. They ignored her. Calling her a child. It was immature of her to storm away like that, but she couldn't help herself. Before she knew it, Naoto had wound up at the table where the investigation team gathered. Why? She didn't know. But she ran her mouth at them before getting scolded by the idol among their ranks. Saying that the detective was playing a “game”.
When they finally arrested the boy, they let Naoto go. The police shut the case and said all was done and dusted. An ending she was hardly satisfied with. It felt more and more like she was getting sucked in, and there was no way out. Sleepless nights were spent clawing for another lead. For something else to pop up and let her investigate… and eventually a plan came to mind.
She called it a game to them. As the group sat around their table trying to think of their next move, Naoto lashed out and made them seem like children. Then the idol, Rise Kujikawa, swiftly reminded her that the only childish one there that day was her.
And Naoto couldn't accept that.
One idea sprung to her mind. One sole hope to not only catch their culprit, but also prove herself.
This is not a game. Games are for children.
“Good evening, and welcome to Niteline’s special Nitewatch Report.” The announcer spoke so easily and naturally. A feeling the girl begged she could channel—knowing exactly what this will lead to.
“A suspect in the murders in Inaba was safely arrested recently, but what few people know is that the mastermind who brought him to justice was a high school detective. Tonight's report will focus on this Detective Prince, Naoto Shirogane, whose handsome looks are sweeping the nation. Thanks for being on the show.”
“No, no, the pleasure is all mine.” She just had to beg that they would be watching. That the investigation team would recognise the danger she's in. All there was to do now… was voice her thoughts.
“I'd hesitate to say that the matter is ‘cleared up,’ as such.” The fear that contorted her stomach slowly sank deeper, “It's true that our suspect was behind Mr. Morooka's unfortunate death, but when I cast my eye over the case as a whole, I detect a few things that seem out of place.”
“Oh… Like what?” She could tell the man was playing it up.
“Unfortunately, I cannot divulge details at this time, but this matter claimed the lives of three people. Hence, I believe even the smallest inconsistency must be investigated.”
The presenter rambled and rambled, but the important part was done. Naoto had appeared, and she'd cleared her mind of one thing. A growing dread now took its place.
She found them the next day. This would be her one chance to confront them, before her plan springs into full effect. One last check to make sure she wasn't about to dive head first into death.
They spoke about the interview Naoto had done last night. That was a good sign.
“Good morning.” She made her presence clear. “I've been waiting for you all. There's something I needed to discuss with you regarding the case.”
“Discuss? Dude, we'll be late if we talk too long…” Yosuke nearly brushed her off the moment she spoke. “Hey, where's your uniform?”
“Could you please indulge my current theory on the matter?” It wouldn't get to her head. She's not a child.
The team looked between each other momentarily.
“What is it…?”
Naoto put it plain and simple, but made sure to mention the pattern. That people who appear on TV get targeted.
“...Haven't you all come to the same conclusion?”
Yosuke looked as if he were going to speak again, but suddenly was waved down by their leader. By the silver haired boy named Yu Narukami.
“Yeah, we did.”
Not only was he adept at questioning, but he knew when to give in. The boy could give Naoto a few pointers, and she hated that.
“Then, allow me to state my point.” But it wouldn't get to her head. She's not a child. Naoto had to press on, tell them her suspicions.
“You thought one of us was the killer!?” The girl in green seemed outraged. “You can't be serious!”
It wouldn't get to her head. She's not a child.
“This was a prior theory, since discarded.” Keeping a cool head was vital. Naoto had to stay calm or they might not get the point.
“Further action will be necessary to obtain some sort of decisive evidence.”
“Further action…? What do you mean?” Chie responded again, more confused than frustrated.
It wouldn't get to her. She's not a child.
“Well, whatever the outcome… the evidence should come to light.”
As Naoto walked by them, her eyes fell upon the idol in the back.
“…You said something interesting to me not long ago.”
“Hey, where are you going?” Yosuke shouted out as the detective walked by. It was impossible to discern what emotion that was supposed to be. Whether it was concern or something else.
And it got to her. Because she is still a child.
“This is not a game for me either…”
A day passed. It was getting late. A bottle of caffeine pills was clutched in her hand.
Don't be afraid, don't be afraid…
Ding!
The doorbell rang out. Yakushiji hadn't left as far as she knew. And her grandfather was fast asleep. Without a second thought she downed a few pills. The energy settled in her after a little time, and Naoto inched towards the front door.
Her knees were shaking. Her mind was numb. Her body felt heavy and light all at once.
Stop being afraid!
She pushed the door open, and no one was there. A sigh escaped her mouth and she turned around.
Before being grabbed and having a wet cloth pulled over her mouth—and it wasn't soaked with water, that was for sure.
The caffeine fought hard against whatever drug doused that cloth. Her brain phased in and out of consciousness as shock and adrenaline froze and inflamed her. Before she knew it, Naoto was already in a sack.
Head spinning, palms sweating, body burning within—she was afraid. Terrified. At the very least: conscious. The way her captor panted heavily as if he were the one in peril was all that reached her ears. The feeling of his coarse shoulder beating against her spine was all she could feel. The waterfalls of her own sweat mixing with that of every other who'd been thrown into this bag was all she could smell.
Then a thump. She was out of the bag.
Somewhere entirely different… with someone she recognised.
…Me?
Confronting herself has to have been one of the most discomforting things she'd ever done. Having to speak with that child and explain again and again how it simply wasn't her. Or rather, how she didn't want to recognise it was her.
“Naoto!” Kanji's voice pierced the air.
“No! No, no, don't go!” Her Shadow’s crocodile tears stained the floor.
“Naoto-kun…” Yukiko groaned, all too aware of what was happening.
So much of it became a blur in the panic. All that ever came to mind was her Shadow. What it said.
“These childish gestures are no mere affectation… They're the truth.”
“I wanna be a grown-up… I wanna be a big boy right now… Then they'll see who I am…"
“I… I want a reason for me to stay…”
“That's enough.” She just wanted it to stop talking. To stop saying all this in front of them. In front of him. “I can find my own reason for living…”
“Hah… I'm telling you that's impossible.”
It wouldn't get to her.
“You are but a child. How can you change that essential truth?”
It wouldn't get to her.
“S-Stop it…!”
She could feel her ego cracking. Her confidence melting away.
“At your core, you admire the sort of ‘strong’ and ‘cool’ men who populate detective fiction.”
It would not get to her.
“But in trying to emulate them, you must know that in truth, you're nothing of the sort—you're a child.”
She can't let it get to her. Not after all this.
All she needed was it to be quiet on one thing…
“…’Naoto’ Shirogane.”
Her body froze. Her mind went more panicked than it did when she was being kidnapped.
“Stop it!”
If it kept going, her fate would be worse than death. Her fate would be humiliation. Would be suffering and being laughed at because she took the only path the world gave her.
Yet a Shadow has no respect for its creator.
“Wait, what…?” Naoto heard Yosuke behind her. “Did he… Did I hear that right!?”
“H-He's not a guy!?” Kanji joined his shock.
“I won't throw a tantrum…” Through hazed vision and laboured breaths she insisted it. “That accomplishes nothing…!”
“Hahahaha! How often I've heard those words from the adults.”
“‘Throwing a tantrum won't solve anything, Naoto-kun,’ and other such bilge!”
“They made you cry, didn't they?”
“Yet here you are, mimicking those same men.”
Naoto clutched her head. She clutched her heart. She clutched whatever remained of her facade, begging for it to stay together.
“You throw a tantrum, but it fails to change the situation a single bit… I can quite understand the feeling.”
“After all… I am you.”
She didn't even think before shouting back.
“That's not true!!”
Naoto remembers a battle raging. Steel clashing with steel. But the girl was occupied with writhing in agony almost the whole time. Empty thoughts stewing in her mind.
“Ngh…” Eventually, the world came back. “Where am I…?”
Naoto faced herself that day. She let go of her facade and she found new friends. Alongside that… she also found a new feeling. As she gave up on denying the Shadow, her eyes laid upon the man who sparked such an intense investigation. The way he smiled at her ever so softly. The way his eyes glinted with silent joy to see her stop being so reclusive. Even after all that obsession, all that abrasion… he had come for her. He had come just as she wished. At the time, it felt like some passing warmth in her chest; something merely fleeting. But…
Dojima spitting coffee into his mug dragged the girl to the present.
“You jumped in front of a knife?!”
“It wasn't a real one.” Narukami reassured his uncle.
“And?! What if it was?!”
“You'll never guess who scolded him the exact same way.” Naoto rejoined the conversation, fearing they'd notice how she spaced out all the while. “But… it's thanks to that I r-realised something…”
It wasn't quite as intense as her spin on things, but the story was still embarrassing to recall.
“...I told her why I did it.” Yu turned his eyes to the blushing detective. “Because I love her.”
“Did she become a tomato then as well?”
“I-I’m not th-that red, am I…?” She desperately tried to cover her face.
“...She ran away almost instantly after.” He chuckled as his gaze swivelled back again to Dojima.
“Oh, man.” The man was clearly fighting the urge to laugh. “You're really something, huh? I never managed to get a reaction like that.”
“Well… i-it's my first time being in love, I-I wasn't sure how to react!”
Suddenly on the defensive, as per usual.
“First time? Wow, you're more than something!” Dojima at least seemed proud of his nephew. Almost like he'd entirely forgotten about the ‘diving in front of a knife’ thing.
The doorbell suddenly rang through the house.
“I'll get that.” The senior detective didn't hesitate to stand up, leaving the two teens with Nanako.
The door slid open in its usual clunky manner.
“Hey, Dojima-san!”
Yu and Naoto instantly ducked into cover the moment they heard that voice.
“O-Oh, Rise-san and uh… Kanji!” Dojima sounded panicked—a very foreboding sign indeed.
“Did Yu-senpai go anywhere?” The idol spoke in her typical high-energy voice. “We’re all planning something and it just doesn't feel right to do it without him…”
“O-Oh, Yu? He, uh…”
Naoto held her breath, ready for the truth to come out.
“He left earlier, didn't say where to though.”
A barely convincing lie, but at least he was trying.
“So he ain't here? Cool.” Kanji sounded eager to get going.
“What about Naoto…?” Rise brought her up clearly just to pull the boy back.
“Wha—why would he know where Naoto is?!”
“Uh, he worked with her? Use your brain!”
“I-I’ve got no idea, sorry.” Dojima was laughing with nerves.
“...Really?” The uncharacteristically sharp Rise was starting to come out now.
“Yeah! Y-Yeah.” The man cleared his throat. “Sorry I've got, uh, work to do! Hope you find them!”
Dojima came back in, biting his lip.
“...Coulda gone smoother.”
“It's fine.” Naoto comforted him, drinking the last of her coffee. “If anything, it's a sign we should be leaving.”
“Hm? Oh, yeah.” He swiftly went to clean up after them. “Have fun today, you hear?”
“Loud and clear.” Yu responded before resting a hand on Naoto’s shoulder. “Practically guaranteed when you're around, right?”
“S-Stop it…” Her cheeks flushed red again as she pushed his hand off with a chuckle.
“Why the hell are we—”
“Shh!” Rise silenced him instantly.
“Dojima-san said he wasn't there! Why’re you so insistent that he is?” Kanji was just exasperated, frankly. Being around Rise could do that to someone.
“Are you kidding?” The girl stared at him with judgmental eyes. “He was clearly making it up! Did you not see him glancing back?”
“If by glancin’ you mean turnin’ his whole head around, yeah.”
“So why are you not suspicious of him?!”
“M-Maybe he was just checkin’ on Nanako-chan…?”
The boy scratched his head.
“Ohhhh, I get it.” That tone was one to be feared. That extended syllable, the sly quality…
“It's because he turned his head while talking about Naoto, huh?”
“Wh—!” Kanji's eyes went as wide as dinner plates. “H-Hey! That! No!”
“Yeah!” The girl insisted.
“W-W-Well don't pretend that's not your reason, too!”
“I'm making it quite obvious, I think!”
It was practically some unwritten rule of the world that leaving these two alone would lead to some kind of disagreement. It was only sometimes they got quite like this, however.
“You seriously think Senpai would go for her?!”
“No! Well… maybe! I don't know, I need confirmation!”
“Hah! Even if he would, there's no way she'd agree! Naoto turns down everyone!”
“Sounding a little warbly in the voice there Moronji, you scared or something?”
The front door slammed open.
“Shh!” Rise hissed once again.
The two stepped out one by one.
“Looks clear to me.” Yu smirked back at the detective.
“I'll take your word for it.” She replied, despite still looking around herself, clearly not taking his word for it.
“I told you!” The idol hissed to the brute beside her. Not that he acknowledged it. There was clearly something quite stressful on his mind…
“W-We should split up before going.” Naoto tapped her senpai’s arm. “They might get suspicious if we show up at the same time.”
“Leave it to the detective to come up with a plan like that.”
“Don't pretend you weren't already thinking the same thing.”
The two laughed lightly before falling silent.
“Wh-What are they doin’...?” Kanji finally spoke.
“I don't know… and I don't like it.”
“U-Um…” There was something on the girl's mind.
“Naoto?” It was enough to get Yu to move in closer.
Another moment of silence passed, then the detective made her move. With shaky hands, she grabbed her boyfriend’s collar, stood on her tiptoes, and left a light peck on his lips.
“...I love you.” She muttered, looking down at her feet.
“...I love you, too.” Narukami didn't hesitate to respond, running his fingers over his lips.
“...Oh my god.” Rise uttered under her breath.
“...Aw, dammit.” Kanji echoed a very similar feeling.
There was no denying what they saw. Indeed, that was their two respective crushes deeply in love.
The silence was now theirs to behold.
“...”
“...”
“We should get back to the others."
“What abou—”
“WE SHOULD GET BACK TO THE OTHERS!!”
The table was lively, though notably without much from Rise or Kanji.
“What's up with you two?” Chie looked at them quite flatly. “You're usually, like… the loudest here.”
“Did something happen?” Naoto asked.
“No.” Rise responded in an instant.
“You sure?” Narukami asked.
“Yeah.” Kanji responded in an instant.
“...Yeeeaaah, okay.” Yosuke quickly went back to the topic at hand. “So, what are we gonna do? I mean, for Nanako-chan?”
“Oooh!” Yukiko perked up quite suddenly. “Why don't we bake a cake?”
“Woah, hey!” Yet the boy wasted no time getting his guard up. “Are you trying to send Nanako back to the hospital?”
Planning was about as smooth as usual. The cake was indeed made, and a party was very much had. Though a few things stood out to the keen observer.
Naoto and Yu were always together,
Naoto and Yu were always talking to one another,
Naoto and Yu were constantly making eyes at
each other,
But not to forget…
Kanji and Rise were constantly at the other’s throat.
Why could that possibly be?