#aico

“This event is called the Labyrinth of Midnight and Mars Tournament. Unlike the annual Arena Tournament, this event is made from complex illusions and various puzzles per round.

Once the tournament begins, players will be paired randomly with another. You will then be split into two teams: DUSK and DAWN. These teams will be in separate sides of the labyrinth, right up until the end.

These teams have the pairs battle against each other in game rounds, both sides with a different type of challenge. First to complete their challenge wins!

Here’s how this works in the real world. There’s going to be polls deciding who will finish first, but pairs still get the opportunity to enact the scene all the same. However, you do not have to join in on the role-playing to participate in the event.

At the end of the tournament, the pairs remaining, one from team DUSK and one from team DAWN, get to decide what type of competition to play. (If it is combat, this will be done through the almighty Discord.)

Aaand players will enter by filling out this form.”

Lou sighed, clearing her voice. “Was that simplified enough for you?”

“Uh,” Aico deadpanned, “You lost me.”

“Do not worry,” Shinobu smiled, stepping out into the balcony, the words transferring into balls of light that he spread out into the sky. “It is only they who have to understand. You can just sit back.”

“Yeah, but it’s still nice to understand,” Aico pouted.

“Hey,” Lou smiled, putting a hand on Aico’s shoulder, “How about you do the honors?”

“The honors?” She scoffed, “What do I say, ‘LET THE GAMES BEGIN’— oh shit-“

“ Ah— “ Shinichi replies awkwardly. He catches a glimpse of her bare shoulder on his way of averting his stare and by God , his face turn pink with embarrassment. Nervously, his fingers curl around the white-and-gold wrapping paper, making a muffled crunching sound that draws her attention back to the package.

She can’t help feeling a little sting of remorse.

If that’s what she thinks it is —and, oh , Kudo can be oblivious to a fault sometimes, but excessive, uncalled-for gallantry has always been his worst flaw— then it’d be most unkind of her to turn down such an act of good faith, wouldn’t it?

She sighs. “Can I brush my teeth first, at least?” She gestures for him to follow her inside, “Have you yet?”

“Of course I have!” He says indignantly.

“Mhm…” She hums dismissively, “Then help yourself to some coffee. And while you’re at it, be a darling and make some for me too, will you?”

Before he has any chance to object, she gracefully vanishes into her bedroom, leaving him in the semi-darkness of the living room. The sun takes its sweet time coming out, and the pale orange sky lingers a few more minutes before it turns white gold. He thinks of the countless sunrises he’d witnessed the past few weeks, of the numbness of his fingers and how much he —

Shinichi sighs. Coffee seems like a good idea.

.

-x-

.

She practically throws the small box into his lap, “Merry Christmas to you too.” The scientist says, smiling softly when he almost jolts off the sofa .

“ Ah, you —” Like a moron, he chokes on his own words while reaching for the creased package at his side of the table. Oh, damn. He should have bought a present box. Now it looks dumb and unthoughtful next to her perfectly wrapped gift. His heart falls to his stomach, and he seriously feels like he’s about to die of embarrassment. Why, oh, why did he ever think this was a good idea? And sprinting to her house at the break of dawn, making such a fuss for such an insignificant—

“Come on, open it.”

“Um, I… I only have this for you.”

She smirks, looking at the mangled wrapping with fondness. “Nice handwork.”

“Shut up.”

He tears the wrapping paper off and pulls the lid of the box open. A pair of dark grey mittens lay on top of white tissue paper.

“Thought you might need them.” She says with a lopsided smile. “Your hands look like crap.”

Well, next time she should try pricking her hands with sticks for three weeks and see how they look.

“Gee, thanks.” He grumbles, annoyed yet touched that she would notice. “Aren’t you gonna open yours?”

She complies for once, and he grows visibly anxious as her fingers rip off the paper. Her lips curl into a tentative smile as she unwraps a red scarf from the package. “Hmm… this better be Fusae.”

Shinichi rolls his eyes back in exasperation, “Don’t you have like three million of those already?” He pauses, watching fondly as her fingers toy with the soft fabric. He takes a deep breath. “It’s not Fusae, I’m afraid. It’s hand-made… by me.”

A pause.

“You?”

“Y-Yes.”

“And you’re expecting me to wear this in public?” The strawberry blonde teases.

“Alright. Give it back.” The flustered boy fumes, trying to fetch the scarf.

“ Kudo— I’m joking!” Shiho dodges and chuckles, both amused and touched at his earnest. So much that she can’t bring herself to torture him anymore. She wraps the scarf around her neck— it’s soft and warm and smells of him, and she wouldn’t exchange that for anything. She wouldn’t change him for the world. “It’s great. It even is my favorite color.”

“You really… are not cute at all.” The resigned detective admits, shaking his head with a sense of defeat. “But yes, I was hoping —if it’s not too below your royal highness , of course— that you would wear it out sometime.”

She tilts her head, side glancing at the snow-covered streets outside her window. “ Sometime … like now?”

“ Now? ”

Shiho gets up, prompting him to follow, “There’s a breakfast place two blocks from here. I’m starving.”

And even though he’s literally sleep deprived and emotionally exhausted, the prospect of spending Christmas Day with the elusive scientist for the first time is extremely tempting. Moreover, he is also starving.

“Eh, are you asking me on a date now, Haibara?” Shinichi jokes, his chest light with humor.

“Bring your mittens,” Shiho ignores him, which prompts the grin on his face to widen up. “It’s cold outside.”