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“What do you have there, Tototo?”
It was lunch hour, and Spitz was standing in front of his classroom, his head tilted in curiosity when he saw his best friend walking out with a small box clutched in his hands.
“Ah, this is just a birthday present for the kid next to my neighbour,” Toto said as they made their way toward the student lockers. He held the small box dearly, as if it were something precious. “I bought it online, but I forgot to change the delivery address to my home, so it arrived here this morning.”
A bright smile spread across his face at the thought of the cheeky kid. “Raita-kun wanted it so badly that I had to buy it for him. Too bad the one in the store was sold out, so I had to order it online.”
“How nice, big brother,” Spitz teased, nudging him lightly.
“Well, I do see him as my little brother. Being an only child can feel lonely sometimes,” Toto chuckled as he placed the box inside his locker and locked it shut.
“True. But you also get peace and quiet to study and some alone time. And speaking of study, how’s your criminology test?” Spitz said, stretching his arms as they walked closer to the school building. Then he glanced at Toto, who had lowered his head. “Hey… what’s wrong, Tototo?”
“I hope I can get a higher mark this time, but there were some questions I wasn’t confident about,” Toto admitted softly. “What if my grade never changes?”
“What do you mean, Tototo!?” Spitz exclaimed. “You did great—I saw it!!!” He cleared his throat dramatically. “Ahem… from outside the window, of course. You looked so focused and determined!!” He flashed a cheeky grin.
Toto sighed again, his gaze fixed on the ground. “…I really want to graduate and become a real detective.”
Spitz smiled and patted his friend’s shoulder reassuringly. “Don’t worry, Tototo. Everything is a chance. If you fail this time, you can try again next time. That’s what we call improvement. You’re not alone in this. You have me as your support.”
Toto gave him a small smile. “Thank you, Spitz…”
Though deep inside, he knew it felt like he was alone. Spitz was far more capable and much closer to getting a detective license than he was.
Still, Spitz was right. If he tried harder, maybe he could reach it too.
“We should hurry before people take all the food,” Spitz said, glancing at his watch. “I heard they’re serving pizza today!!”
“Right—”
Suddenly, someone bumped into Toto’s shoulder and smoothly grabbed his arm, dragging him backward. The moment was so sudden that Toto could only register a pair of striking blue eyes, clear and sharp like polished glass, staring straight into him before the grip loosened.
“Look up.”
That was all the stranger said before walking away without looking back.
Confused, Toto stared at the person’s retreating back when, in the next instant, a pot shattered loudly on the exact spot where he had been standing moments ago.
“Tototo!? Oh my god!” Spitz shouted, then turned upward and yelled, “Hey you! Be careful next time! You almost created a murder scene here!”
“I’m sorry!!! Is he okay!?” the student shouted back.
“Tototo, are you okay!? You’re not hurt, right!?” Spitz turned back to his friend, who was still processing what had just happened.
“No… I’m fine…?” Toto said, his voice barely audible.
“Yeah, he’s good!!!” Spitz shouted back at the student.
Toto couldn’t hear the rest of the conversation as chills ran down his spine. He stared in shock at the shattered pot on the ground. That was so close. He could have died there. If it wasn’t for…
“Spitz… who was that?”
“That student? Probably a junior,” Spitz said as he looked up at the window. The student had already gone back into the classroom.
“No, the guy who just saved me,” Toto said, pointing in the direction the stranger had gone.
“Ohhh, that’s Ron-kun. Kamonohashi Ron,” Spitz said.
“Wait, that’s Kamonohashi-san!?” Toto gasped as realization hit him. It would be a lie to say you didn’t know the name Kamonohashi Ron, the top student of BLUE, someone who could solve any kind of case, even the most mysterious ones. How could Toto not have recognized him? Probably because Ron always kept himself away from the public eye, spending most of his time alone.
“Comes and goes just like that,” Spitz nodded while looking in the direction Ron had disappeared. “That’s Kamonohashi Ron.”
“H-he’s so fast. How did he know the pot was about to hit me?” Toto said. Maybe it was because of his sharp senses or something.
“Maybe he saw it coming,” Spitz replied.
“What do you mean?”
“Uhh, what? I said nothing!” Spitz said quickly. Toto might not be the most observant person, but even a first year detective could tell that the laugh Spitz let out was fake. Toto could feel that Spitz was hiding something. After all, he was in the same class as the Kamonohashi Ron.
Before Toto could say anything more, Spitz grabbed his arm. “No time to lose, Tototo! Our pizza is on the line!”
With that, the question remained unanswered as Spitz dragged him quickly toward the cafeteria.
The sun was almost setting as Toto walked across the bridge in front of the school. He hummed softly to himself while glancing down at the present in his hands, already thinking that he should stop by a store to buy some wrapping paper and a ribbon.
The surroundings were quiet, accompanied only by a gentle breeze brushing past him. Usually, Spitz would be walking by his side, but today he was alone. It was not that he often stayed late, but he had been called in by his instructor regarding his recent test. Toto sighed as the memory of that conversation
“Isshiki.” A paper was placed directly in front of him. Knowing exactly what it was, Toto could only lower his gaze in shame. “Four out of ten. You misunderstood several criminology questions, especially the ones about motive analysis and evidence interpretation. Your answers focused too much on emotion instead of logical deduction. If you want to graduate, you need to focus more on observation, reasoning, and criminal psychology. Are you sure you still want to become a detective?”
It was not the first time Toto had heard that question, and he knew it would not be the last. Each time it was asked, his chest felt tight, as if something heavy was pressing down on him. He studied harder than most, stayed up later than most, and yet the results never seemed to reflect his effort. Sometimes, late at night, he found himself wondering the same thing.
Did he really want to become a detective?
He already knew the answer. Ever since he was little, he had known what he wanted to be. As a child, he used to admire detectives who protected people, who uncovered the truth and brought light to places filled with fear. That admiration slowly turned into a dream, then into a promise he made to himself. Becoming a detective was exactly what he wanted. The question was whether he was truly good enough for it.
Toto slowed his steps and eventually stopped near the side of the bridge. He rested his hands on the railing and stared down at the river below. The water reflected the orange sky, rippling gently as the evening breeze passed over its surface. Everything looked calm, almost unreal, compared to the storm of thoughts inside his head.
But why?
Why could he not be good enough?
Why was it so hard to achieve what he wanted?
Was he really not capable of becoming a detective?
Should he just give up and go back to his grandmother’s house?
Grandma would probably scold him.
Before Toto could sink any further into his thoughts, his uniform collar was suddenly yanked from behind with enough force to make him stumble backward and fall onto the ground. The box slipped from his hands and skidded away.
“Wha-what the—” Toto looked up in confusion at the person who had grabbed him. Clear blue eyes, sharp and striking. Toto blinked in shock as recognition set in. They were the same eyes that had saved him earlier that day.
“K-Kamonohashi-san???”
Toto’s eyes widened as he finally got a clear look at his face. Ron was standing right there, not walking away this time. And just as the rumors around the school said, Kamonohashi Ron really was strikingly good looking.
Toto shook his head vigorously. Why was he even thinking about that at a time like this?
The important thing was why Ron was here, looking at him with a disapproving expression and breathing slightly hard, as if he had rushed over.
“Are you stupid?”
The words hit him like a knife. What a nice thing to say to someone.
“I… huh?” Not knowing how to respond, Toto could only stare at him in confusion.
“Trying to commit suicide right in front of BLUE. Are you stupid, or do you just want to create chaos so everyone will remember your name?” Ron said coldly as he crouched down in front of him.
Toto could barely focus. Their faces were only inches apart. When his mind finally caught up to Ron’s words, he practically combusted.
“Commit sui— what? I would never!” Toto waved his hands frantically, shaking his head with all his strength. “My grandma would somehow revive me just to kill me herself if I ever tried something like that!”
Ron stared at him, as if weighing whether to believe him. After a moment, he stood up and turned his gaze toward the BLUE building.
“Normally, I do not care about other people’s lives,” Ron said. “But whatever you are going through right now will not last forever. Trying again can lead to a different result, whether it turns out the way you want or not. But giving up is irreversible. Once you stop moving forward, there is no way back.”
Toto looked up at him, stunned. His chest felt tight, and his throat burned as if something unspoken was lodged there. He did not know why, but Ron’s words felt heavier than any lecture he had ever received.
Ron cast him one last glance before turning to walk past him.
“K-Kamonohashi-san, wait!” Toto scrambled to his feet and stopped him. He fiddled awkwardly with the hem of his uniform as Ron turned around. Then Toto bowed deeply, a full ninety degrees. “About earlier, I want to thank you. For saving my life. And just now, I really had no intention of doing anything like killing myself. I was just… thinking about my future.” His voice dropped to a mumble at the end.
From the shadow cast by the sunset on the ground, Toto saw Ron slowly step closer. He did not lift his head until he felt something solid tap gently against his head. When he looked up, Ron was holding the present box that had slipped from his hands earlier.
“The future is unpredictable,” Ron said. His voice was no longer as cold as before, though it carried a strange weight. “And whatever will happen, will happen anyway. You won’t know what or when, but it will happen. Paths change, outcomes shift, and people reach places they never expected. What matters is that you keep moving forward long enough to see it.”
“Kamonohashi-san…”
“Focus on the present instead. If you focus too much on the future, you might lose something,” Ron said as he handed the present back to Toto. “That kid will never talk to you again if he finds out you lost his keychain.” With that, Ron turned and walked away.
Only to froze halfway.
“How…”
Ron held his breath. He already knew what was coming. What a careless mistake.
“How did you know it’s a keychain?” Toto asked.
“I… I could tell by the weight. It’s very light,” Ron replied without turning around.
“That’s impossible. There are many things that are light and could fit in this box, but you got it right,” Toto said as he stepped closer to him.
“For someone like you, you’re surprisingly sharp,” Ron muttered under his breath.
“It can’t just be a coincidence, right?” Toto finally stood in front of him, his eyes filled with curiosity. Ron knew that if he lied again, Toto would not believe him.
“This is why I don’t get close to people,” Ron sighed. “What if it really is a coincidence?”
“I don’t trust you.”
Ron had expected that answer. At least he tried.
“Are you perhaps a mind reader, Kamonohashi-san?” Toto asked carefully. “You can tell me. I can keep your secrets.”
“I’m not,” Ron replied flatly. “And is it really a secret if almost half the school already knows about it?”
“Wait, what?” Toto was taken aback. Were there more rumors about Kamonohashi Ron that he had missed?
“Plenty, but we’re not here for that,” Ron said. “And you really should stop mumbling your thoughts out loud.”
Toto immediately covered his mouth, embarrassment flooding his face as heat rushed to his cheeks.
“I’ll say this once. Whether you believe it or not is up to you,” Ron said seriously. “And before anything else, I want you to promise you will never tell anyone about this. It’s already hard enough getting people to shut up. I’m only telling you this because the more you know, the fewer questions you’ll ask.”
Toto nodded silently and stepped closer when Ron motioned for him to do so.
Ron leaned in and whispered into Toto’s ear.
“I’m a superman.”
“BAHAHAHAHA!”
Spitz laughed so hard that he slammed his hand against the table several times. They were sitting at a picnic table behind the building when Toto told him what had happened the day before. “He said that? Gosh, I should have been there. And don’t tell me you actually believed him.”
Toto, who had his head resting on the lunch table, slowly raised it. A deep pout was clearly visible on his flushed face. “Of course not!!”
Spitz paused mid laughter and gave him a look. Making Toto glanced away slightly. “Okay, maybe at first. Until he called me a pure idiot and walked away.”
It took another minute before Spitz finally calmed down. “Alright, alright, don’t look at me like it’s my fault. I wasn’t even there.”
Toto huffed and took a bite of his bread.
“But I can tell you the truth.”
Toto shot him a suspicious glance. “If you’re going to start joking around like him too, just save it.”
“Hey, come on,” Spitz said with a snicker. “He probably knew you would eventually figure it out if he started messing with you.”
“Yeah, as if he can see the future,” Toto rolled his eyes while chewing on his bread.
“He can.”
Toto stopped chewing. He looked at Spitz carefully, searching for any sign of teasing. But Spitz only gave him a small smile. Serious. Honest.
“He… can?”
Spitz hummed as he reached for his carton of milk. “Ron-kun wasn’t lying when he said half of the school knows. There are no rumors because Ron made it clear. If anyone wants him to read their future, they have to promise not to tell anyone or spread anything. Otherwise, it would be a hassle for him to deal with people nonstop.”
“What the? Like some kind of secret service?” Toto muttered.
“Kinda. And no one dares to spread his secret anyway,” Spitz said as he bit down on the straw. “Because he knows. He always knows.”
“Like… right now?”
“Like right now,” Spitz replied, glancing up at the building.
Toto followed his gaze. His eyes met Ron’s through a nearby window. Ron was standing there, looking down at them with an expressionless yet knowing look, as if he had expected this exact moment. Then he turned and walked away.
A shiver ran down Toto’s spine.
Ron could see the future.
He could see everyone’s.
He could see Toto’s.
“So you knew about the keychain because you saw Raita kun’s future of him receiving the box!” Toto said as he stood beside Ron, who was busy organizing things inside his locker.
“I met him at the bookstore down the street,” Ron muttered. “That energetic kid did everything except quiet down.” The memory surfaced clearly, Raita running around with his favorite comic clutched in his hands, eyes shining with excitement.
“That’s Raita kun for you,” Toto chuckled, then hesitantly glancing at Ron. “So… how long have you had this… power?”
“Just say you want me to see yours,” Ron replied as he closed his locker.
“Oh. You already know I was about to ask that?”
“No,” Ron said calmly as he turned to face him. “But it’s written all over your face.”
“I’m sorry,” Toto said quickly, covering his face. “I was trying to be polite…”
“I’m already used to it,” Ron shrugged. “People come to peek at their future and leave, whether they’re satisfied or not.”
“That’s so wrong,” Toto frowned.
“No need to deny it. I get it,” Ron replied. “If I were in your shoes, I’d be curious about my future too.” He stepped past Toto, only to stop when Toto reached out and grabbed his arm.
“No. What they do to you is wrong,” Toto said firmly. “You’re not some object, like a crystal ball people use whenever they want. You’re a human. You have feelings.” He took a breath, then looked straight at Ron, his gaze earnest and unwavering. “I really am curious about my future. That part is true. But using you like that isn’t what I want.” He hesitated, then added softly, “I was hoping to be your friend. If you’ll allow me.”
Ron stared at him in silence. His sharp eyes searched Toto’s face, as if trying to peel apart truth and intention, the moment stretching longer than Toto expected.
“And even if you don’t believe me, that’s okay,” Toto continued, his voice growing quieter. “Just… if you ever feel burdened by all those requests, tell me. You can lean on me if you want. O-only if you want to, of course…” He looked away, embarrassed.
The silence that followed made Toto painfully aware of every word he had just said. Heat crept up his face as regret settled in. Ron probably thought he was being overly dramatic. Still, Toto meant every word. He truly wanted to be Ron’s friend, and he hoped Ron understood that.
Then he heard a soft laugh.
Toto froze, eyes widening in surprise as he looked back at Ron. This was nothing like the cold, distant Kamonohashi Ron he had heard rumors about.
“Saying all that to someone who doesn’t even know your name,” Ron said, a small smile tugging at his lips, “shouldn’t you feel at least a little embarrassed?”
Reality snapped back into place. Toto flustered instantly. How could he forget that? “I’m so sorry! I’m Isshiki Totomaru! Please feel free to call me whatever you like!”
Ron hummed in thought. “Toto.”
“Huh?”
“I’ll call you Toto,” Ron said. “And you’ll call me Ron.” With that, he turned and walked away.
“Ron?” Toto blinked, then called after him. “H-hey, does that mean we’re friends?”
He only received a casual wave in response, Ron never turning back.
Toto smiled to himself.
Under his breath, he whispered, “Nice to meet you, Ron.”
Ever since that day, Toto had been spending a lot of time with Ron. They studied together, ate lunch together, and even walked home side by side. Even Spitz started to feel jealous of their sudden closeness, whining nonstop about Ron stealing his best friend away. Ron, of course, ignored him completely, which only earned even more complaining.
And yet, Ron still had not told Toto his future.
Toto had asked him more than once, even if it was just a tiny glimpse. But Ron always turned him down. Still, Toto often saw other students approaching Ron, asking him to read their futures, and Ron always went with them.
It felt unfair.
After that, Toto stopped bringing up Ron’s power altogether. Somehow, whenever he was with Ron, it did not feel right to talk about it. He simply enjoyed being around him as he was.
“Is it true about the rumor that you’re a descendant of Holmes?” Toto asked, his eyes shining brightly with excitement, almost sparkling as he leaned forward.
“Does it really matter?” Ron replied, his usual calm tone barely hiding a hint of amusement.
“Well… yes!” Toto exclaimed, bouncing slightly on his heels. “I mean, I’ve always loved mysteries! Ever since I was little, I would read detective stories under my blanket with a flashlight, staying up way past bedtime just to figure out the clues. I’d pretend my stuffed animals were suspects, and my notebook was full of evidence. I even tried to solve little ‘cases’ around the house, like finding who ate the last cookie or who hid my favorite book…” His hands gestured wildly as he rambled, completely caught up in his own story, eyes bright and animated.
Ron just watched silently, expression unreadable, but there was a faint glimmer of something softer in his gaze, a mix of curiosity and quiet admiration for Toto’s passion.
“Becoming a detective is what I want the most!” Toto finished, chest puffed out, eyes shining with determination.
Ron remained silent, letting Toto’s enthusiasm fill the space between them, only the faintest curve of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
A few weeks had passed since Toto met Ron and became his friend. Being friends with Ron came with unexpected benefits. Toto’s grades were slowly improving, proof of what happened when the top student of BLUE became your study partner. Toto could not stop smiling whenever he imagined himself finally earning his detective license.
“Ron!”
Ron turned toward the voice and saw Toto hurrying down the empty hallway toward him.
“You’re late,” Ron said as Toto stopped to catch his breath.
“I had cleaning duty,” Toto replied between huffs. “I knew you would wait for me,” he added with a cheeky smile.
“I was about to go home myself,” Ron hummed as they began walking together.
“Don’t you think it’s a bit lonely?” Toto asked. “Walking home alone.”
“Not really,” Ron replied. “I’ve always done everything alone. Fewer people is better.”
“Is that because of your… you know?” Toto asked carefully.
Ron nodded. “It’s a hassle to look at people normally when you’re me.”
Toto frowned slightly. “How does it work, if you don’t mind me asking? We barely talk about your power, and you never let me join when you see others’ futures.”
Ron glanced at him. “My eyes. I just need to make eye contact, and it happens.”
Toto blinked. That was it? It made sense, though it also sounded exhausting. Avoiding eye contact with everyone just to live normally. Maybe that was why people thought Ron was rude, because he talked without looking at them directly.
Wait.
“Doesn’t that include me too?” Toto blurted out, then froze. “Wait, no, I’m sorry. I was being ignorant.” He panicked and shut his eyes, suddenly aware of how many times he had looked straight into those blue eyes.
“It’s okay,” Ron said calmly. “I don’t mind if it’s you.”
“…Why?”
“Let’s just say looking at you puts my mind at ease.”
Toto felt the blood rush to his face. He quickly looked away, his heart beating faster than it should have. To distract himself, he asked the question that suddenly came to mind.
“And the pot? I mean, I didn’t… we didn’t make eye contact before it happened. So how did you know?”
“Oh, here.”
Toto felt his hand being lifted by Ron before something was placed into his palm.
Huh.
Brown sugar syrup… from the cafeteria?
“What…?” Toto stared at the packet like it had grown a head.
“This can also make me see them,” Ron explained. “Once my energy is fully charged because of this, I don’t need eye contact to see anything. That’s why I never drink it in public. It gets overwhelming when everything hits my head at once.” He paused. “I might still have had the effect at that time.”
“You saw that I was going to get hit by the pot and die?” Toto asked, terrified.
“Hm. More like I saw Spitz crying while holding his dear friend,” Ron nodded calmly.
Toto examined the packet carefully, even reading through the ingredients. Could he get the same power if he drank it? Probably not.
“How do you feel after you see the future?” Toto asked.
“It feels like I’m imagining something. I could only see five seconds into their future so there isn’t much,” Ron replied. “But if it gets too much, I become overwhelmed. I faint, get nosebleeds, sometimes even a high fever. That’s why I don’t like being close to people or staying in crowded places.”
“But that’s not your choice,” Toto said quietly. “You walking away from people isn’t because you want to. You had to do it, even if you didn’t want to.” His voice wavered, his chest tightening as the words left him.
Ron was taken aback for a moment, then slowly formed a small smile. “I guess so.”
Toto’s heart clenched. It felt unfair. Ron did not deserve this. Seeing the future was not a gift for him, but a curse that isolated him from everyone else. And yet, there was nothing Toto could do to change it.
Before Toto could say anything more, he noticed an unfamiliar figure standing nervously in front of one of the classrooms, fidgeting as if waiting for someone. The boy perked up the moment he saw them.
“Kamonohashi! There you are. I thought you already went home,” the boy said as he rushed over. “Help me. I want to confess to a girl. It’s Leah from Class Two. She’s the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. Can you help me see if we’ll end up together?”
Toto frowned and crossed his arms. The boy had not even said please.
Ron glanced at Toto. “You should go first, Toto.”
Toto did not want to leave. He wanted to stay, to make sure Ron would be okay. He was also curious about how Ron handled these requests. But he knew Ron would not start unless he did, so he nodded reluctantly and walked away.
The moment Toto reached the corner of the hallway, he stopped. Surely it was fine if he just took a quick peek, right?
He looked back and saw the guy still talking while Ron remained completely emotionless. A moment later, Ron simply held out his hand, as if asking for payment.
Toto was not surprised that Ron’s service required something in return. After all, Ron was still a student. He had to pay for rent and daily expenses somehow.
What Toto did not expect was the guy placing two packets of brown sugar syrup into Ron’s palm.
What kind of payment was that!?
Ron hummed softly as he slipped both packets into the pocket of his jacket.
And he actually accepted them.
“She said no,” Ron said flatly before walking past the devastated boy.
He was way too direct.
“Is there really no other way to change it?” the boy cried, desperately grabbing Ron’s arm. “We can change the future, right? Isn’t that what people always say?”
Toto was about to step in, but Ron spoke before he could.
“The choice is in your hands. It’s your own future. Do whatever you want,” Ron said coldly as he pulled his arm free. “But acting irrationally will not guarantee the future you want. Every action has consequences.” He paused, his gaze sharp. “The future is fragile. You can follow the flow, or you can take a risk that might change your life forever. Either way, you must be ready to accept the outcome.”
The boy collapsed to his knees, shoulders shaking, his head bowed low. After a long moment, he nodded silently, then stood and walked away.
Toto remained frozen where he stood. His chest felt tight, his thoughts tangled. Watching Ron like this felt different. Heavy. Real. This was not something to joke about or treat lightly.
“Toto?”
He flinched and snapped back to reality. Ron was standing in front of him, surprise clear in his eyes.
“Why didn’t you leave?”
“I… wanted to wait for you,” Toto mumbled.
Ron said nothing. He only nodded once.
Their walk was unusually quiet. Normally, Toto would chatter about anything and everything while Ron listened quietly, occasionally interjecting with a comment or a smile. But now, the only sounds were the faint scrape of their shoes against the floor and the soft echo of their footsteps in the empty hallway. The air between them felt heavy, almost fragile, as if even breathing too loudly would break it.
Toto kept his head lowered, watching his own steps. His mind was tangled with thoughts, swirling around the weight of what he had just seen and what Ron had said. He didn’t even notice how far behind he had fallen.
Ron slowed his pace and finally stopped, turning slightly to look back at Toto. The boy was lost in his own world, shoulders slumped, expression distant.
“Toto.”
…
“Toto.”
“H-huh? Yes?” Toto’s head snapped up immediately. “Sorry, I was just…”
Ron walked closer, his eyes softening. “What’s wrong?”
“What do you mean? I’m completely fine,” Toto said, forcing a smile. But Ron’s sharp eyes caught it immediately. The faint tremor at the corners of his lips, the tension in his posture.
“You were awfully quiet just now,” Ron said. “It doesn’t sound like you.”
Toto stared at him, his eyes a mixture of uncertainty and longing, reflecting the turmoil he felt inside. He clenched his fists at his sides, his knuckles white. “Ron… can I… can I be selfish just this once and ask you a question?”
Ron frowned at the unusual phrasing, but he nodded. Toto rarely asked permission for anything; his words carried weight. “What is it?”
Toto’s gaze drifted downward, his eyebrows knitting together in a deep frown. His gentle features were lined with hesitation, as if he were waging an internal battle over whether he should speak. At last, he closed his eyes tightly, gathering courage for what he wanted to ask.
“Will I ever… be a detective in the future?”
Ron froze at the question. It wasn’t the first time Toto had asked him, yet this time it pierced differently like there was an ache in the way Toto’s voice trembled, a hesitation that carried fear, hope, and vulnerability all at once. His eyes were tightly shut, his entire posture trembling with the weight of his own uncertainty.
“Could it be… the reason you’ve been turning down my requests this whole time is because of that?” Toto finally opened his eyes, meeting Ron’s gaze. “Because you know… you know how much I want to become a detective.”
“Toto—”
“I thought I’d made some progress. I thought I’d come so far… and yet it turns out I’m still at the starting line.” Toto muttered, more to himself than to Ron, his voice catching as he fought back the tears threatening to spill. His hands clenched his sleeves, pressing them against his face as he struggled to hold himself together.
“I’m sorry, Ron.” Toto wiped at his eyes with the fabric of his sleeves, trying to compose himself. “I hate that you have to use your power… and yet here I am, asking about mine. I’m such a hypocrite.” He lifted his gaze and forced a smile, red-rimmed eyes glistening. It was a fragile, bittersweet smile. One that tried to mask his fear and disappointment, but still shone with the earnest hope he felt in his chest.
Ron hated that look. It made his chest tighten with a weight he couldn’t ignore.
“I was just curious about that. Don’t worry! Let’s forget what just happened here.” Toto quickly brushed past him, attempting to leave the moment behind.
But Ron’s body acted on its own, stepping forward and grabbing Toto’s arm tightly. If he let go, he felt as though he would never see Toto again.
“Toto, listen to me!”
Toto struggled, trying to pull his arm away. “Let go, Ron… I don’t want you to see me like this.”
“Toto, you misunderstood—”
“There’s nothing to misunderstand, Ron. I get it… you’re worried about me because you saw my future—”
“I don’t see them, Toto!”
Toto froze mid-struggle and slowly turned to face Ron. The boy’s expression was desperate, his eyes wide and pained, the sharp edge of anguish barely contained behind the calm mask he usually wore.
“Your future…” Ron began, his voice soft yet trembling, fragile in a way that made it impossible to ignore. “I… I don’t see them…”
“What…?”
Toto could feel the hand on his arm trembling. Ron took a deep breath, his fingers tightening slightly around Toto’s sleeve. “It’s more to I can’t see them, Toto,” he admitted, his voice low and fragile. “Whenever I try… it just turns blank. I see nothing… nothing but your face.”
Toto froze, his heart skipping.
“It could be anything,” Ron continued, voice wavering, “and I’m afraid, Toto… You are very dear to me. I’m afraid of losing you.” His usual composed expression was gone, replaced by something raw and unguarded. A mixture of fear, longing, and something Toto had never seen before. His eyes were soft yet intense, glimmering with emotion that tugged at Toto’s chest. “The reason I didn’t tell you is because I didn’t know how. I was afraid… afraid you’d leave once you realized you gain nothing from me.”
“Ron…” Toto whispered, stepping closer. His hands rose gently, cupping Ron’s face and caressing the damp cheeks, tracing the edges as if grounding himself in the moment.
“I care about you so much, Toto. I’m… I’m so sorry. I should’ve just told you. But I didn’t… because I felt selfish and wanted to keeping you close,” Ron admitted, voice barely above a breath. His eyes were shimmering with unspoken emotion, and the tension in his shoulders revealed just how heavy his heart felt.
Toto felt his own chest tighten, a warmth spreading through him that mixed relief, love, and understanding. Without another word, he closed the distance and pulled Ron down into a hug, pressing his cheek against Ron’s chest, wrapping his arms tightly around him. Ron stiffened for a moment, then slowly melted into the embrace, letting himself be held. They both knew there was more to discuss, more to untangle, but for now, this closeness…this shared breath and quiet…was what they needed most. They stayed like that, letting the world fade around them.
The next day, Ron sat quietly alone on a picnic bench. A gentle breeze whispered through the trees, rustling leaves softly, carrying the faint scent of grass and warmth of the morning sun. The world felt calm, almost suspended, as he absently watched the school grounds awaken around him.
Suddenly, another figure approached and sat down beside him, holding two melon buns. Toto smiled, offering one to Ron.
Ron hesitated for a moment before taking it, his hand brushing against Toto’s. He stole a few glances at Toto, who seemed perfectly normal, calm and cheerful as always…as if yesterday had never happened.
“Why are you still here?” Ron asked, his voice firmer than he felt.
“Hmm?” Toto turned toward him, a melon bun half in his mouth, his big doe eyes wide and innocent, clearly confused.
“I thought it was over for us,” Ron added quietly.
Toto blinked slowly, tearing the bun and chewing carefully, savoring it. Ron waited patiently, watching him until he finished.
“You… want us to be over?” Toto asked quietly. His gaze averted with cheeks faintly pink.
Ron panicked. “No!”
Seeing the rarest expression from the so-called cold and icy Kamonohashi Ron made Toto let out a soft laugh. “I don’t want us to be over either.”
“But your future—”
“You said it could be anything. So my future is still unpredictable. And whatever will happen, will happen anyway. You won’t know what or when, but it will happen,” Toto interrupted, turning to him with a teasing smile. “A dearest friend of mine once told me that.”
Ron’s eyes widened, his chest tightening, his heartbeat skipping in a way that made his usual composure crumble just a little. He had never seen Toto smile like this before. So carefree, so full of warmth, so alive.
“Last night… I made up my mind. I’ll continue whatever I’ve been doing without worrying about what will happen to my future. Just like you said before, I should focus on the present. If I dwell too much on the future, I might lose something… and I almost did,” Toto said, looking up at the sky. The day was gentle, sunlight spilling across the courtyard, the soft breeze carrying the scent of blooming flowers and warm earth. He turned back to Ron, his eyes soft, filled with a quiet affection. “I almost lost our friendship… I almost lost you.”
“And I won’t give up on becoming a detective,” Toto said firmly, his voice soft but full of resolve. “I’ll try again and again. And it’s not like BLUE is the only thing that can make me one… there are other paths, other kinds of detective work that don’t need BLUE’s recognition.”
He paused, his confidence easing into something gentler. “Right now, what I hope for the most is to spend my time with you and Spitz. And if I’m allowed to hope for a little more…” Toto looked away, cheeks faintly warm, a shy smile tugging at his lips. “I want to be there on your graduation day.”
Ron’s chest tightened, his heart thundering in his ribcage. Every word Toto spoke hit him like a pulse straight to his chest, making him ache in a way he couldn’t control.
“Toto… I feel like hugging you tightly and never letting go.”
Toto flustered, cheeks heating. “Not now! We’re in public!”
“You didn’t say that when you pulled me yesterday,” Ron teased gently.
“That’s because you were crying like a baby!” Toto snapped, tearing into his melon bun with exaggerated force, cheeks red. Ron only smiled softly, warm and fond. “Also… am I really the first person whose future you couldn’t see?”
Ron hummed, tearing his own melon bun. Well, Toto really wasn’t the first. Ron couldn’t see his own future, nor that of his parents. Probably because they were connected to his life.
But Toto was different. An outsider, yet someone incredibly dear to him for past few weeks.
Was there a connection between him and Toto?
“Hey, why are you ignoring me?” Toto nudged him for giving him a silent treatment.
But the moment Ron’s gaze met Toto’s, he saw something. Something he had never seen before.
“Hey Ron, are you—”
“—even listening to me? Amamiya-senpai will be coming soon with a new case. We should get off the bed and get dressed now… Hey, your hands—hands off! We don’t have time for this, Ron! Ro—”
“-on? Ron! Are you daydreaming or something??”
No… he wasn’t daydreaming.
What had just happened…
Was that not a glimpse of…?
If what he saw was right…
If what he saw was really what he thought it was…
Then… Toto
Toto would become his—
Ron’s melon buns slipped from his hands as his face heated instantly. His heart raced so fast he felt dizzy, replaying the moment over and over in his mind.
“Ron?? Your nose… it’s bleeding!!” Toto panicked, quickly pulling out his handkerchief and gently guiding Ron’s head to rest on his lap. His hands were careful, brushing back Ron’s hair as he pressed the cloth against the bleeding nose.
“Toto… Toto… let’s go with the flow,” Ron said eagerly, voice trembling slightly, eyes still glinting with the shock of what he’d just realized.
“How about we stop the bleeding first!?” Toto exclaimed, fingers still caressing Ron’s hair, heart pounding from both worry and… perhaps something more.
Ron smiled faintly through the handkerchief.
The feelings are mutual….