(A/N: I don’t own anything from this franchise. Respectful ownership belongs to Metric for this song and Kafka Asagiri for this manga).

Don't say yes if you can't say no

Victim of the system, say it isn't so

Squatted on the doorstep, swollen on the blow

Leaving without you, can't say no

Nothing gets past Ranpo’s keen, chartreuse irises.

So, when his line of sight grazed over Atsushi’s form the next time the other placed the stacked of papers onto his desk with an awkward smile on his lips and a pure sparkle of curiosity pooling around his amethyst eyes, he’s quick to dismissed him as a lanky male with an airheaded disposition and a terrible person who can’t say no to other people even if he doesn’t want to do it.

A doormat with no self-preservation.

Atsushi’s existence wasn’t worth thinking about so he focused on other things.

Even when the other was kidnapped back then he didn’t hold back on his own opinion of questioning the agency’s want of saving him when it’s Atsushi’s fault for falling into that kind of situation in the first place.

Because of his stupid kindness. Naivete. And didn’t have an ounce of self-regard for himself.

Even if Fukuzawa had persuaded him successfully back then to rescue the young lad, a twinge of acerbity pooled within him as he complied with his team’s wishes and successfully rescued him with his great assistance.

Ranpo had tried to dismiss it and paid attention to other important variables of their mission even though numerous emotions had arisen within him which had his mind and heart swam into pools of confoundment.

Halfway starts with happiness for me Halfway house, lost kitten in the street Hit me where it hurts, I'm coming home to lose Kitten on the catwalk, high-heeled shoes

Boarding on the train was a pain in the ass.

There were a lot of things that needed to be considered which always made Ranpo’s mind came into a screeching halt when processing more important information inside his head.

But most of all he hated it when he had to stare at the railway map at the train station like it was an object consisted of alien language.

For all his cleverness and intelligence, he had a terrible spatial awareness when it came to directions.

Most of the time he loathed some missions that required for him to take on the train.

“Ranpo-san…?” Atsushi’s hesitant voice in the background reached his line of hearing and halted his thoughts and concentration.

“Yeah?” He asked noncommittally.

“I already bought some train tickets so we’re good to go…” The other’s voice faltered slightly at the end which caught Ranpo’s attention and turned around to face him.

Ranpo saw the look of hesitation and slight embarrassment coloring the other’s face but what caught more of his attention was the other holding a bottle of—

“Ramune?” He voiced out.

“Oh. Uh, yeah. I figured that you might be bored and probably thirsty from the heat and waiting for too long because of the long lines at the booth. So, this one’s for you Ranpo-san but I’m not sure if you’d want a drink like this—.”

“Open it and give it to me.” Ranpo cut him off lightly.

Atushi blinked at him owlishly before complying to his words and twisted the cap off from the lid. The soft, sizzling sound of the soda permeated his ears as soon as Atsushi opened it and handed it to him.

Ranpo took it in silence and drank from its contents. As the other was mostly self-conscious around him to notice anything else, one of his eyes opened slightly and let his dazzling emerald orbs bored right through the other’s soul.

He guessed that lost kittens had an interesting side after all.

No more hard-headed Saturdays They got it, they want it, they give it away Tell me one thing you would never do I was looking for a hooker when I found you

Ranpo was used to it by now.

The incompetence and inefficiency of the police in this place was something that irked him in the past but he grew mostly out of it and regarded them with a cold indifference and distaste.

But this was one of those days that his backhanded comments and smart aleck remarks had made Ranpo landed himself in hot waters with one of the police officers.

He didn’t look like it but he had a basic knowledge of self-defense techniques from Fukuzawa himself which wasn’t to be trifled either as he was trained by a previous assassin.

Besides Ranpo view the other people who resorted to violence as a retaliation as a lower being than himself as he found them dull and lacking in sharpness in thinking that fists could solve everything.

Ranpo was ready to block out the other’s officer’s incoming fists when someone blocked it already much to his brief surprise.

His eyes grew wide for a moment as he stared at Atsushi’s paws effectively caught the other’s fist and blocked his attack.

“I’d appreciate it if we don’t resort to violence sir. Especially not hitting on Ranpo-san who’s currently lending his hand and skill as a detective in solving this case.” Atsushi’s firm voice rang out.

It was rare to see and hear Atsushi being like that.

He knew that he got some hidden claws but it’s usually overshadowed by his meekness and insecure behavior most of the time.

“Tch. Whatever. Don’t think that both of you are some hotshots just because your talented people.” The officer sneered as he withdrew his fists and walked away grumbling to himself.

And just like that.

Everything went back to normal.

You've got my eyes, you've got my eyes You'll never be mine, ah, but you've got my eyes

“I can defend myself earlier.” Ranpo’s casual voice shattered the deafening silence as they’re both walked back to the train station after Ranpo solved the case at the pier.

Orangey hues spread out through the sky as the sun was already setting down in the late afternoon.

“I know Ranpo-san… But deducing something from a complicated crime such as this in just less than a few minutes is a great talent itself even greater than my own honestly… And people such as the police officers should learn to respect and appreciate that…” Atsushi paused and looked at him with a serenely downcast expression on his face, a fragile yet smile of understanding marring his features.

It made Ranpo paused gazed at him with a brief expression of being taken aback for a few seconds.

And that’s when Ranpo knew.

Atsushi was one of the genuinely accepting and selfless people he had met in his lifetime.

When you lie, I cover it up When you hide, I cover it up When you cry, I cover it up When you come undone, I cover it up

Ranpo had realized his initial lukewarm reception towards him.

Because he saw his younger self in him.

Naïve. Accepting. Kind.

It disgusted him.

But he was more disgusted at himself.

He had turned into some jaded, cynical being disguised in the faux sweetness of his confectionaries and quick remarks to other people.

Emotions hadn’t been his strong suit and Ranpo knew that his sharp tongue and disposition with other people had always got him into trouble rather out of it.

But an unknown, niggling feeling within him had urged to take a good look at Atsushi and pay more attention to him.

And his intrigue grew with each moment passed them by.

So pent-up, I was coming home to you Happy in the nighttime, howlin' at the moon Sippin' on a cocktail, drinking in the loo There's something about you I hold on to

Days trickled by that turned into weeks.

They both found themselves in being partnered often in missions together.

Mostly because aside Atsushi being too kind in refusing tasks and partners being assigned to him, he was one of the few people who possessed a genuine patience that can rival a saint when it came to dealing with Ranpo’s fractious personality.

Their silence inside the train rides slowly turned into occasional small talks: mostly with Ranpo commenting idly on his observations about other people and ranting about everything else. Until it turned into a two-way street of conversation between the two of them.

Ranpo found out even with their stark differences, they have oblique similarities.

They’re fiercely protective of people they care about even if it’s in the form of different entire beings.

Opinions of the people they greatly respected and admire about were both important to them.

When the train ride was over, Ranpo had looked over the horizon where the sun was setting peacefully.

A maelstrom of emotions was awakening within him as he stayed longer by Atsushi side.

And he didn’t want it to end.

When you lie, I cover it up When you hide, I cover it up When you cry, I cover it up When you're blind, I cover it up