~Switch Perspective~
I hear the doorbell again the next day. It's definitely my boyfriend here to pick me up, I can't wait to see him without bags under his eyes! I quickly open the door-
"Oh my god!"
The bags are somehow worse?! Also, his hair was messier than yesterday (it would look cute if we were in a better situation). "Did you not sleep well again??"
"Yea.. I didn't think it was that noticeable." he says as he rubs his eyes. I give him a pout, he ignored my wishes.
"Shuichi.. I thought you promised me you'd get rest today!"
"I'm sorry.." he says with a guilty tone. There's no way I could stay mad at him like that.. I give a frustrated sigh.
"It's okay. Make extra extra sure you get some sleep, okay?"
He nods his head as the two of us walk to school.
Could a case be bothering him this much? I believe in him and he should know it doesn't matter how long it takes as long as he solves it in the end. He doesn't need to stress over a case like this, even if he is the Ultimate Detective.
"Shuichi!" Momota yelled at the detective as soon as he walked in class. He flinched in surprise as he looked at him.
"W-Wha?"
"You didn't show up to training, bro!" Momota told him with a disappointed look. "It's okay, we just gotta do five hundred push ups today!"
"O-One hundred?" he stutters. His shoulders droop down upon hearing this information.
"..No." he said with a weirded out expression. Probably because Shuichi had said the incorrect number. "Five hundred. You good bro?"
"Ah, sorry.." he scratches the back of his head as he sits at his desk. He rests his head against the table and rests his eyes.
"He didn't get a lot of rest today." I tell Momota as I rub his hair out of his eyes. "Jeez, after what I told him yesterday.. I think he should go to the infirmary again. But.."
My boyfriend had already fallen to asleep. I didn't wanna wake him up and I didn't have the strength to carry him.
"Not enough time.." Momota sighed as he looked at the clock. 5 minutes before class.
Harukawa put her hand up. "I can carry him."
"Nah, he's my sidekick, so I got it!" he offered.
"I can do it." Oma said with a devilish smile. We immediately shook our heads, with his body could he even carry Shuichi? Even if he did have the strength, we didn't trust the Supreme leader with him; with that smile he was definitely planning something annoying. He would probably throw him into the toilet or something.
"Gonta can do it!" Gonta interjects as he stands up from his seat. "Gonta may not be smart boy, but Gonta wanna help Saihara in any way he can!"
The other three that offered their help shrugged and let out a 'Yea, Gonta can do it..'
"Thank you, Gonta!" I say with a smile. He gives a smile as he picks up the sleeping boy.
Suddenly, the hamstrings in his legs tighten up as he zooms out of the room. The sound barrier breaks as he runs out, the wind vibrations send Oma flying straight into Keebo. I give a look of worry.
Gonta really is terrifying.
"Well, at least he's gonna make it in time before class!" Momota laughed. Harukawa had a blank expression as always.
"My circuits.." Keebo moaned in pain.
"Phew! Thank god there was something to break my fall." Oma hops off of Keebo. He then squinted as he rubbed his behind. "Actually, it kinda hurt more than if I just landed on the floor."
"That's because you landed on a hunk of metal." Harukawa tried to pull her hair back behind her shoulders.
"Hey, Harukawa! You're the last person I expected to be robophobic!" Keebo yelled at the assassin from the ground as Iruma comes running at him.
"MOVE THE FUCK OUTTA THE WAY, I GOT YOU!" she brings out a huge toolbox from her.. Woman's pocket. I don't know how she fit it in there, but I wasn't gonna ask. Iruma hastily fixes up Keebo in a few minutes.
"Wow, Iruma! Thank you, your performance was quick as always!" Keebo says with glee.
"Heh, this shit's easy for a genius like me!" she puts her hands to her hips as she gives a smug smile.
Mr. Harada comes in the room with his usual demeanor. "Mr. Harada's here to start class.."
"Ehh, but I haven't made my daily joke about Keeboy yet!" Oma complains. The rest of us sigh as we take our seats, Oma was making things difficult again.
"Contrary to popular belief, I don't care." he points to Oma's desk with a blank expression.
"Finee!"
"Saihara and Gonta's not here? Well,-" he got cut off as Gonta came crashing through the door.
"Gonta so sorry he late!"
The papers Mr. Harada put on the desk were now scattered on the floor from the force of Gonta opening the door. He gives a bored look at his now scattered papers. "Well, it's okay. Saihara's not here?"
We shook our heads.
"Alright."
He begins lecture, not caring about the fallen papers.
Immediately after class ends, I go to the infirmary to check up on Shuichi. Soda wasn't here so I guess he got better and I assume Tsumiki was busy somewhere else. I walk inside and he was peacefully resting in a bed. Pretty surprising, Gonta was pretty rough when carrying him. I let out a sigh in relief, although I trusted Gonta I was a little worried if he knew where the infirmary even was. I sit down on a stool and look at my boyfriend. I'm definitely making sure after piano lessons he gets proper rest.
"Yo." I scream in fear as I look at who said that. It was Amami!
I let out an exhausted laugh. "Oh, sorry, you scared me!"
"Dang, I thought I had a calm voice myself." he chuckled as he took a seat next to me. "Is Saihara okay?"
"Yea, he is. When'd you two get so close?"
"Ah, uh.. Well, I just wanna make sure a fellow classmate is okay, you know?" he says with a gentle laugh.
"That's nice of you." I smile at him. "I'm gonna scold him later for going against my wishes." I say with a pout.
"Saihara's got it pretty tough then, huh?"
"Maybe. But I lecture him because I care." I laugh as I look at my sleeping boyfriend. "He's done so much for me, so I don't want him overexerting himself."
Amami takes a while to respond. "You're a pretty good girlfriend."
"Thanks, I know." I agree with a nod.
The two of us shared another laugh. "Since Shuichi is resting, you wanna play some songs for me? Of course, only if you want to."
"Um.. I guess." I shrug. "First, let me eat lunch with my friends!"
"Alright." he smiles at me as I leave the room. I walk to the class to start lunch. I had only around 20 minutes to eat but it's a good thing that I haven't packed a lot. Shuichi and I usually fed each other our lunches so I've made a habit of not packing a lot..
I hope he gets the rest he needs tomorrow.
After lunch, I headed to my talent development room. An entire hour to spend developing our talent, though most use it as more free time. If I wasn't such a piano freak, I'm sure I would've abused this system. By the time I get there, I see Amami waiting for me.
"Hey, Amami!" I wave to him.
"Hey."
"Why do you wanna listen to my playing so bad recently?" I giggle as I open the door.
"Well, I've missed out for the past couple of years so.." he lets out a calm smile. "Also um.. The last thing I said to you?"
Ah yea.. The last thing he had said was awfully offensive. I glare at him as I remember what he said.
"I was lying about before, though." he says with a nervous look. "I just said those things so you'd move on from me easier and forget about me, you know?"
I sigh. "Well, I can't imagine you saying those things to me so I thought so.." I say as I walk over to the piano. Those words still hurt though, even if I knew that it had been a lie. If I hadn't met Shuichi, I probably wouldn't have gotten over my guilt of being such a piano freak. I've learned to accept it because of him and he doesn't even know it.
I really hope he gets the rest he needs..
I'm so worried about his health, I want to be there for him like he's been there for me. As soon as school ends, I'm running to the infirmary and I'm gonna force him to take better care of himself!
As I decide my plan for the day, I let out a smile to Amami. "It's okay, but in exchange you gotta listen to my playing and compliment me!"
"Well, I don't see a problem with that." he chuckles. He leans against the door as I sit at the piano and begin playing. This time, I'd definitely hear the bell!
I didn't hear the bell.
Amami and I were forced to run to class again, fortunately we made it just in time but we were both out of breath again.
"The two of you again? That's kindaa weird!" Oma says with a cheeky smile. I brush it off.
"Amami has been watching me play piano and we keep getting distracted.." I say as I drag myself to my seat.
"Oh, okay then!" Oma says with a snicker. "Just making sure you don't cheat or anything."
"I wouldn't do something like that!" I yell at him.
"Yea, I'm not like that either. I don't really have time for high school relationships anyways." Amami crosses his arms.
"J-Jeez.. I'm just making sure Saihara doesn't get his heart broken or anything.. I'm just being caring towards a friend! How could you be so meannn?!?!!" he cried out.
"You already know Akamatsu isn't like that!" Momota yelled out with a fist clenched. I appreciate him backing me up.
"Yes, Akamatsu is innocent and NTR is completely out of her character!" Shirogane agrees. Though, I didn't know what one of those words meant but I'm sure she's backing me up!
"Yea, I guess you guys are right. I totally forgot!" Oma let out his signature grin as he put his hands behind his head. Mr. Harada then walks in and begins his boring lecture.
As soon as class ends, I speedwalk into the infirmary. I bumped into someone as I try to walk in and hit the floor.
"Ow, ow.." I rub my forehead as I get up. I look down at the Ultimate Nurse revealing her delicates to me..
"Ahh!" Tsumiki screams with a blush. I give out a straight face as I casually put her skirt down to not reveal anymore to the world. "I'm so sorry, you saw something so profane!" she cries as I pull her up to her feet.
"It's okay, it was an accident. Plus, we're both girls so it's okay!" I let out a comforting smile.
"O-Okay.. What are you doing here by the way..?" she asks me.
"I'm just checking up on Shuichi!"
"Oh okay! But nobody is there.." She taps her fingers together as she looks to the side.
"What?" I tilt my head, confused of what she was saying. Why wouldn't Shuichi be there?
"A-Ah, maybe I'm just so blind that I didn't see him.. It's probably my fault!"
I look inside and she was right. "No.. It's not your fault. He really isn't there." My mood instantly gets crushed. Did he already leave? Why didn't he wait for me?
I glance out the window and see him tiredly walking the front door. I immediately run out, waving to Tsumiki as I try to catch up to the boy.
~Perspective Change~
I awake, my head feels much better than earlier.. Crap, I probably missed all of school again!! I fumble for my phone and I'm right, it was already 3:17. But when'd I get here?
I check out my surroundings and I've almost gotten used to the white beds and the bundles of medicine in the cabinets. Kaede must've carried me.. She really is a sweet girlfriend.
Or maybe Momota carried me. Then he's a real one.
It didn't matter, that wasn't the biggest of my concerns right now. The 32 notifications on my phone however..
He opened up the messages, all from Kazama. He was freaking out that I hadn't solved the case yet. I understand that he wants to find the culprit but does how impatient could somebody get?
...
I angrily type back a response.
You: Please, I will message you as soon as I can. I still have to balance out schoolwork and I'm trying out my best.
Kazama: Ok, my apologies. I didn't think it'd take so long for the Ultimate Detective to solve a case like this.
Kazama: You know the police are probably being lax right now because of your appearance? Don't even try to make the excuse that no one else solved it. The only reason they haven't solved it is because they think you can solve it.
Kazama: I believe in you too, you just need to focus. Perhaps you're getting distracted from other work.
Kazama: I apologize for my rudeness. Just thought you deserve to know, I don't sugarcoat anything.
Kazama: I really do believe in your abilities, if not, I would have chosen someone else.
Kazama: Just show me what part of you is an Ultimate because I have not seen it yet.
...
He's right, if I was really the Ultimate Detective I'd be done by now.. What is wrong with me, why was it taking me so long?? It's not even that I was distracted, I just can't.
I just needed clues. I just needed to get down and focus on the case. I grab my stuff as I stand up from the bed, I got my rest but now it was time for me to work.
But I'm gonna leave without Kaede..
I'm sorry.
I close my eyes as I leave the infirmary filled with guilt. Any more time I spend not on this case, the worse I'll feel.
I walk out of the school, alone for the first time. I didn't really like the feeling so I started speedwalking so I can get out of there. I needed to reach the agency as soon as possible anyways.
As I'm speedwalking, I hear the footsteps of someone running. I wonder what's got them riled up.
"Shuichi!!!!!!" a familiar feminine voice yells to me. I stop as I look at the source of the noise.
"A-Ah, Kaede?!" She was running full speed towards me, and I instinctively dodge her. She lets out a pant as she stops right in front of me. She gives an angry pout.
"Where are you going without me?" she says as she catches her breath. She looks angrier than usual then gives an apologetic look. "I mean! ... It's okay, but why didn't you tell me first?"
I have a look of regret as I look away. "I'm sorry.. I just needed to get to work, my uncle was calling me in." I lied. "I was gonna text you as soon as I got there, though!"
"But you couldn't have waited for me..?" she says with a sad look, almost making me want to cry. I dig my nails into my hand as I look away and hide my eyes under my bangs.
"Sorry.."
"It's okay, Shuichi." she sighs.
I take a good look at the blonde girl. She had a sad expression as she looked to her side. It's to be expected as I left her alone at school without even telling her.
I've been messing up everything recently.
"It's not your fault if your uncle was calling you in.. But, does that mean?"
I let out a guilty sigh. "Yea, I probably can't come to piano lessons again. E-Everything will go back to normal once I can solve this case though!" I reassure her to make her feel better.
"Okay. I'm glad you weren't mad at me or anything.."
"Huh, why would I be mad?" I asked her.
"I don't know, probably me being overly anxious." she lets out an awkward laugh. "Anyways, can you walk me home?" she asked with a shy smile as if she was asking something out of line. Of course I wouldn't refuse that..
I nod my head as we start walking again. The walk back is more awkward than it usually is. I upset her off by leaving her there.. I'm so stupid, I probably could've sent at least sent a text.
"Hey, um.. I'm sorry again."
"It's okay, really." she responds. "Just a little disappointed!" she teases.
"H-Hey!" I protest. She really sounded like my aunt there.
A smile returned on her face as she lets our a forced laugh. "Mhmm! So you better solve that case already so you can make it up to me already."
"..Okay." I say with a blush. Despite that line being so adorable, it felt hallow.
"Um.. By the way, are you free on Saturday?" Her smile faded as she gave me a close look, making me flinch.
"Huh? Why?"
"The whole class is thinking of hanging out with Oma again. I would love it if you were to come."
I stop to think about it. That really depends on if I solve the case or not by then. "That depends.. I'll see if I can go, but don't count on-"
She grabs my hand making me yelp in surprise and holds it tightly. "Please come." she looks into my eyes, her voice quavered as she talked. "Please."
"..I'll try to come." I say with a soft voice, looking away. She glares at me when she heard my response.
"Not even a definite 'yes'..? I'm just.. I'm just worried about you, because I know you're overexerting yourself to solve this case!" her smile finally breaks as tears flow down her face. I look at her in surprise, had she been holding this in? I can hear her voice thicken as she continues yelling, tears welling in her violet eyes that were usually so bright. "The whole day, I couldn't stop thinking about you! I didn't even focus in class, I was so worried! And when I got to the infirmary, you were gone?? I wanted to help you out but you were gone! Why are you keeping this to yourself?!"
"..That's because I don't need help!" I argue with a harsher tone than I intended. "I can do things myself! It's not that big of a deal! You don't need to worry about me.."
"Even if it's not a big deal, I want to help you! Are you saying you can't rely on me?!"
"Of course I can, I rely on you all the time!"
"Then why can't you rely on me right now?! Not only did you leave without me, you completely ignored my advice to get some rest!"
I look away, feeling guilty as ever.
"I really care about you, so it pains me to see you like this! Even now, your eyes are barely open!" I finally notice that my eyelids were struggling to stay open.. "When we've been walking to school recently, you're stumbling all over the place, you can barely hold a conversation with me! I already know you're struggling, so just come on Saturday so you can take a break!"
...
A final tear drops as she wipes it off. Her face was completely red. "I'm sorry for yelling at you.."
"It's okay, I should be the one apologizing.. You're right. I'll come on Saturday."
She places her hand on her elbow as she looks away. She probably felt guilty for yelling at me like that.
"And Kaede, it's okay. You were just being the caring person you are." I let out a forced smile. She didn't reciprocate it.
"Okay.." she still refused to look at me. The rest of the walk back was more awkward than before. There was no noise besides the clicking off our feet against the pavement.
When we arrived at her house, she muttered out a 'Bye.' before entering. She didn't look at me the entire way home.. I bit my lip to stop myself from crying.
I walked to the agency with a disarrayed feeling in my heart.
...
When I arrived, my uncle gave me a worried look. He probably noticed my swelled up eyes, thankfully he didn't ask about it. I set my notes on my desk as I review over everything.
If I can find at least one clue, then today will be a success. Please let me find anything; I want at least one piece of information to help lead me to the truth.
Despite my pleads, today was useless. I could barely even focus on the case because I felt so bad about Kaede. I hurt her in more ways than one, all over this stupid case. Why can't the police just help me out already?! Why is Kazama so worked up about a high school boy not solving a case?!
I slam my fist against the table in frustration. I winced in pain as my bare knuckle hits the wood, pissing me off even more. My anguish finally got out after being contained for so long as a tear falls to my desk. Everything has been so horrible recently, everyone is so disappointed in me just because I can't solve one case! Why do I have to do something like this in the first place?!
..Maybe I should call Kaede for help.
I stare at my phone and was about to dial her number but I stop my finger before the call button.
No.. It's no one's fault except my own. It's only due to my incapability to solve this case that I'm suffering right now. Plus, Kaede is probably mad at me right now. I would feel bad to rely on others because it's my own problem, I can fix it myself. Kazama trusted in me, so I can't give up. Of course I have to do this case, I had accepted it. I was the one who got into this mess so I have to get myself out.. It would be wrong to rely on anyone else.
A.N: tell me if its too edgy or OOC, I tried my hardest to not make it be like that.
By the way! I have two shorts (or three but the third one sucks lmao, I wrote it allll the way back in February) ready that I've written up because I won't be able to write for a few days (a few days is three days, I'm just being dramatic). So yea I'm probably gonna publish one every day over the weekend to make up for my late chapter this week, unless you want me to publish it all rn I don't really care LOL.