HERE IT IS @sappy-detective HOPE YOU LIKE IT
-Also if Shuichi feels like being irritated and less patient than usual it's because I was almost done and the thing erased itself so I had to rewrite it all x(
Shuichi was nervous. Which was, for those who knew him well, a fact thay wasn't exactly surprising. Still, he would like to think that here it was understandable.
His uncle had dragged him into one of those charity galas, where everyone was pretending to be but a humble person wishing to help. Where everything was a sham, and where the amount of money being thrown in those were enough to make the detective dizzy.
But unfortunately they didn't had a choice. After the Tragedy, numerous corporations got back together, or others emerged from the ground through... questionnable means. And Future Foundation finally made the Ministry of Justice bend to their will to get those groups investigated. But who would take care of such a heavy task? Take a guess...
Needless to say, his uncle's agency had been extremely busy these past few months. Not only that, but the fact that he was now recognized as the Ultimate Detective pratically pushed him to also be considered the Kirigiris' legacy's successor (why him?!)
But even after the Ministry of Justice agreed to help, in reality they didn't really intervene much. His uncle and himself were still denied the authority to investigate, and it was seriously becoming a problem, as they were hitting dead ends after dead ends because of being denied access to valuable informations.
And that was why they were here this evening. This charity gala was the best option for them to be able to approach the only person capable of giving this authority on so many cases and against corporations.
The Minister of Justice himself, Ken Saito.
Since he will be of attendance, that was why Shuichi was in a suit that his uncle gave him. -which was seriously itching his neck too...- He nervously reajust the collar at that.
He didn't even had his hat with him, he had to leave it at the agency (but by god did he wanted to have it right now. There were too many people, too much lights and too many eyes to avoid.) so he avoided eye contact as best as he could. Letting his uncle do the talking and following him close.
At first it wasn't much. Mundane talking, false politeness and the hypocrisy of the upper classes. You know, the usual in such an event...
That was until the minister arrived.
Immediatly, a crowd started to appear around him, as everyone was trying to greet him, or ask something, or try to get a favor... Nothing surprising really. It was always better to be on the side of the person who's literally responsable for every cases in Japan after all. But...
"Shuichi. his uncle said. I'm going to try and talk to the minister. You stay here, I'll be right back."
"What? But I want to help-" he frowned.
"I know, but be honest with me Shuichi. Do you really think you will be alright in a crowd like this? upon seeing the amount of people he grimaced and his uncle chuckled. I thought so. he pat his head. Why don't you help yourself with the food here in the meantime? I'll try to be quick."
After that, he left in the direction of the crowd. And since his nephew didn't have much to do and was invited to do so... Well he went towards the buffet.
The music was starting to hurt his head also, so getting away wasn't that bad.
Anyway, the detective was looking at all those hors-d'œuvres with a frown. They all just looked needlessly complicated and he was hungry.
"If I were you, I'd try the ones with cheese!"
He was about to just mumbled a thank you and go on his merry way when he realized...
Wait a minute, I know that voice.
At that, he turned around so quickly he almost dropped his plate.
"K-Kokichi?!"
"Oh, did I scare you that bad? Oopsie! I didn't mean to! he chuckled. Or maybe I wanted to see you jump out of your skin! Who knows. I'm a liar after all!"
It was. The Ultimate Supreme Leader (whatever that means) was right in front of him, his hands behind his head and a grin on his face.
That wouldn't be surprising if they were at the Academy. That wouldn't be surprising if Kokichi wasn't wearing a suit himself (but he was using his scarf as a tie he noticed. Also were those purple socks?) and he wasn't looking as if being of attendance in a gala was a mundane thing to do every day.
"W-Wha- How- What are you doing here?!" he managed to sputtered.
"Hm? he cocked his head to the side. Is Shuichi telling me that I have no rights to be here? That I should be kicked out? So mean! Are you going to call security on me? How could you?!" he whinned, starting to tear up.
Saihara winced and nervously glanced around. He knew that crocodile tears were coming and that if it was like at the Academy, it would create quite a scene. Which would be uh, bad in a place like this.
But to his surprise, even though Kokichi had tears in his eyes he wasn't screaming. Or doing anything other than pouting actually. The detective blinked.
"Wha-"
"What? Did you really think I would be stupid enough to cause a scene in a place like this? he looked at his palm in disinterest, crocodile tears nowhere to be seen. Pleaaaaaase Shuichi give me some credits! I'm not an idiot like the Astronaut!"
...Right. He forgot that the other teen could be serious sometimes. But it happened so rarely he's still surprised to see that side of Ouma's personnality.
"Alright... he frowned. But you still didn't answer my question. What are you doing here?"
"Oh that? he grinned, putting his hands behind his head again. What can I say, I have powerful minions! They can even let me in a place like this. Lucky me right?"
The detective sighed and mentally put that in the "unanwsered" part of his mind. Because that had to be a lie. However the other wasn't done.
"Buuuuut... what about you? he put a finger on his chin. What are you doing here Shuichi? Because that's not the kind of place you like to be at." well he wasn't wrong.
"I had to accompagny my uncle to get investigation authority from the minister of justice." he answered, trying to keep it brief.
"Oh yeeeeeeeah right. So you don't get kicked out of your investigation." he said with disinterest, looking at his palm as if it wasn't a matter of the upmost importance.
"Y-Yeah. we keep hitting dead ends because we don't have the authority-"
"Weeeeeeeell seems to me like getting to talk to Kenny is going to be a bit hard you know?" he said, pointing at the crowd.
Shuichi winced. He couldn't even make his uncle in all of this mess.
"I-I know. It looks like it will be impossible tonight..." he sighed.
"If Kaito heard you he would have punched you for saying that. he again looked at his palm in disinterest. Hmmm... he put a finger on his chin again, thoughtful. I mean I could get you a one-on-one with my minion, but what can you give me in return Shuichi?"
The detective almost tripped at the statement.
"K-Kokichi you are not implying that you have contacts with the Minister of Justice." he sputtered, not even daring to say "under you" as the thought alone was too preposterous to be true.
But instead of just laughing it off as usual and saying "yep it's a lie!" the leader merely shrugged.
"Hmmm? Is Shuichi not believing me? So mean. he scoffed. Buuuuuuut since he oh so generously asked for my help, I guess I can bring you Kenny for a little talk! You'll owe me big for this one though. Bu-byyyyyye!"
Before the detective could even try to aligne a coherent sentence, the other waved and disappeared in the crowd, leaving a very confused Shuichi who was wondering what the hell just happened behind. _______________________________________
Not so long afterwards his uncle had returned. And Saihara didn't need him to talk to guess that from his expression, it did not go well.
"Sorry Shuichi... I couldn't get a word to him." he sighed.
"I-It's not your fault Uncle... There's a lot of people tonight." he tried, looking at the still crowd around the minister.
"That's for sure. But let's not give up. he tried a smile. Let's wait to see if we have an opening alright?" from his tone he wasn't even convincing himself, but Shuichi nodded.
"Alright..."
"Now come on, you went to the buffet right? Show this old man around, I'm starving!"
He quickly obliged, forgetting in the process that he ever met Ouma here of all places. He merely followed his uncle to get some food while they eat together and discuss detective work. (Not in front of possible suspects though. There were a lot of wealthy people here, including people from the corporations they were investigating, so they needed to keep a low profile.)
The evening passed quietly after that. Not much they could do, only checking from time to time if there were less people around the minister. There wasn't. If anything, as time went by it seems that more people where coming. It seems like tonight was not the day they would be able to speak to the minister... But if not tonight, then when?
However, Shuichi's thoughts came to a halt when his phone buzzed in his pocket. He shot a confused looked to answer his uncle's curious one before taking his phone out.
It was... private messages from Kokichi.
Kokichi: all done :p
Kokichi: if you want to have your talk, go outside and turn left
Kokichi: also you owe me a big favor now >:)
A frown. Wasn't that taking the joke too far?
"Shuichi? Is everything alright?"
"O-Oh uh, yes. Sorry uncle I just... recieved a message I didn't expected."
"Kokichi? Isn't that one of your friend?" he asked after reading over his shoulder.
"He's not a friend. a pause. He's uh... an acquaintance? A classmate."
Truth be told Shuichi didn't even know what Ouma was asides from their class' troublemaker. Asides from Gonta and Miu nobody could pretend they knew him well enough to be called "friends".
However before his uncle could respond, he got another message.
Kokichi: don't leave me and Kenny wait Shuichi! >:(((((
He was really going for the extra mile with it... Knowing him, he probably should go otherwise the other will bother him until he break. He sighed.
"I'm sorry Uncle but I have to go... If I don't he will continue."
"Oh don't apologize Shuichi. Actually, I think it's a good idea for you to take some fresh air, away from... All of that. he motioned to the crowd... which had dispersed? but no minister to be seen. Come to think of it, I think I will follow you too. Besides, I'm curious to see one of your classmates! You almost never bring them, I will start thinking you made them up!"
He sputtered at that. Kaede and Kaito aren't made up!
"I-I have friends! he protested. But bringing them to the agency isn't really professionnal..."
"Shuichi, you're just an apprentice for now, I will never tell you anything about it not being professionnal! he laughed. Now come on, let's not make your classmate wait!"
The Ultimate didn't protested, and merely followed his uncle to the door.
Once they were out, the detective let a deep breath out. It felt good to have a bit of fresh air... Especially after being stuck in a heavy atmosphere like inside the building for so long.
"Now Shuichi, where did you said he was waiting for us again?"
"He said to turn left." he mumbled.
However Saihara didn't know what to do. Technically he knew what to expect, it was just a bad prank even if it was a bit much.
But his uncle wouldn't be that understanding... Let's just hope the leader wouldn't get in too much troubles pranking an actual detective.
He sighed and took the turn with his eyes closed. Let's get this over with...
Then he stopped dead in his tracks, surprising his uncle who also stopped behind him.
"Shuichi? What's wrong-" when he saw what Shuichi saw, his voice died.
There was Kokichi alright. But he was talking to someone-
To Ken Saito.
He was talking to the freaking Minister of Justice. Casually. As if it was normal.
...
WHAT?!
Now, let him and his uncle the time to bring their jaws back from the floor in front of that unbelievable scene please. Thank you. Was there something in the food at the party to cause hallucinations like these? Shuichi wasn't sure but it would be worthy to check...
Anyhow, the illusion wasn't broken when Kokichi finally noticed them. Instead it continued, while he waved at them with a bright grin. Which also make the minister (the actual one. WHAT-) turn towards them as well.
Okay this is fine. Everything is fine. His classmate is with one of the most powerful men of Japan. Everything is perfectly fine. And why did they looked so friendly towards each other?
"Theeeeere you are Shuichi, I thought you ditched us!"
Nope, the minister was still here. That... probably wasn't an illusion then. But then how-?
A possibility quickly crossed his mind and he frowned.
"Kokichi, please tell me you didn't kidnapped the minister."
At his words, his classmate's eyes widden almost comically. Before crossing his arms.
"Shuichi really thinks I would kidnap Kenny? So mean! I'm evil but not that evil you know? I have standards!"
"Ahem, young man. the minister smiled at him. I can assure you, no kidnapping were involved here. I came here of my own volition."
Well, Saihara just embarassed himself in front of the minister of justice, this is fine. Perfectly fine. He felt his cheeks burning furiously. In the meantime his uncle was completely confused in the background.
"But if that's the case Sir. suddenly said his uncle. With all due respect, what are you doing here with a teenager, even an Ultimate?"
Mister Saito smiled at that, and the leader grinned.
"What can I say, it is impossible to refuse a favor to your little leader over here." he said, putting a hand on said-leader's head who giggled.
Aaaand that's it. We lost Shuichi. His brain just refused to compute what Ken Saito said. And did. Because it was impossible.
His classmate was lying... right?
This was all just an elaborate prank... right?
But why would the minister actually go with it? What would such a person, that is probably as rich as the Academy would gain from this? It didn't make any sense.
"I'm... sorry Sir but I think I misheard. What did you say?" his uncle was as shocked as him.
And in the meantime Ouma was just laughing in the background. Apparently the situation amused him a lot, which knowing the other teen is probably true.
"That's what you get for not believing me Shuichi! But I still did my end of the deal, you owe me a huge favor now! Also Kenny's kinda busy so hurry up and tell him what you need."
Right. Right they were at this gala for a reason, to get this damn investigating authority to be able to go further in their work. And his uncle didn't forget about that either, since he immediatly took the lead of the conversation with the minister.
In ten minutes they had a promise of getting the authority to investigate anyone they wanted, no matter how big the corporation, anywhere they needed, no matter the extraterritorial rights and the garantee to have the evidences they would gather protected.
While Kokichi was merely watching, a grin on his face and his hands behind his head.
"Is that all? the minister asked. Because I am afraid I have to return quickly..." he sighed.
"Urgh those old geezers are the worst. complained Kokichi. Can't leave you alone for a minute!"
"And yet you still asked to come." Ken Saito said with a raised eyebrow.
"Well duh, I couldn't let poor Shuichi complain about going nowhere with his investigation everyday! I'm evil, not heartless you know? he shrugged. Especially when my dear Kenny here have exactly what he need to finally stop sobbing about it!"
"I wasn't sobbing!" he protested.
Wait pause.
Did Ouma just admit that he came tonight just to help them -him-? What happened to the prankster that harassed -a bit too far by moment- Keebo?
"Besides my dear minion needed an excuse to have some fresh air from those jerks too."
"I can't deny that a bit of air did me a great good. he smiled and extended his hand to Shuichi's uncle. Well, since the little chief over there thought that my help was necessary, let me know if you need anything else. Or well, let him know, he will pass the message to me."
"I-Yes. Yes of course." seems like his uncle was just as shocked by the whole ordeal as he was.
"Well then, if you excuse me..."
He politely nodded before going back inside, leaving two detectives shocked and a leader snickering behind.
"Your faces are priceless! he laughed. I wish I had a camera to record that!"
"I- he shook his head. K-Kokichi, how?!"
"Sorry Shuichi! Noooooo telling! That's a super-duper secret. There's a reason why DICE never got arrested! a wink, then a pause. Aaaaaaand since this evening is so boring I don't see any reason to stick around! See you next time Shuichi, bu-byyyyyye!"
And just like that he was gone, sprinting until it was impossible to guess his form in the night.
When his uncle finally snapped from his shock to tell him they should go home, Saihara just nodded. But when they arrived there, other messages were waiting for him.
Kokichi: just tell me if you have any hard to crack cases! DICE will love to help
Kokichi: ...only if you join us tho! :p
Kokichi: and don't think i forgot about you owing me!
Kokichi: i want free grape panta for two months! or you could always join :>
The detective shook his head at that but couldn't help a small smile. He just prepared himself for the night, before sending a "I think I will just pay for your grape panta instead..." then went to sleep.
Well, seems like he knew what to do before coming back to classes Monday.
He'll need to ask for money to his uncle...
_______________________________________
To this day Shuichi still didn't know how the hell Kokichi got contacts with the Minister of Justice. (No he won't say working under him because it still feel too absurd to be true.) Because everytime he tried to bring the subject up, the other teen would just laugh and say "that's a leader's secret!" and refuse to elaborate, then change the topic. So Saihara had no choice but to drop the subject... If only the written document giving his uncle and himself the authority to investigate on his uncle's desk wasn't tickling his curiosity everytime he put his eyes on it.
When Kaede came to him exasperated, saying that Kokichi again lied about having one of her favorite musician in his organization, he couldn't help wondering if it had a part of truth in it...
If the Minister of Justice, why not a reknown pianist?
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