Yandere Cafe

    There was a small chuckle, and Akira moved past them and to the vending machine, pulling out a few more coins in order to get something for him and his friends. There was a small whisper of “Sorry, Morgana.” that was almost inaudible, but what was more audible was a meowing sound from somewhere nearby. Yet the raven seemed to pay it no mind, only smiling a little bit as he put in the coins one by one, and got different flavors. Two grape, a strawberry, and lemon-lime.

    Once he was done, he grabbed one of the grapes at the bottom, somehow knowing which was which without even looking. Use the third eye responsibly? What was Igor thinking? Now that his orders were done, he handed them the soda with that same charming smile as he introduced himself, “Akira Kurusu, nice to meet you as well. Just make sure to wait a bit for the soda to settle before opening it.” There was a light of humor in his voice, before he turned around to get the other drinks.

    “I have to go meet up with some friends, but I’m staying in a cafe in Yongen-Jayo if you’d like to pay back the uniform in money from coffee.” It was mostly a joke, but he also had a feeling that his caretaker would actually make him work for the money to get a new blazer if needed.

A few days later, and would you know it, there was Haru with their map application on their phone as they wandered the streets of Yongen-Jayo. To be fair, Yanon did tell them not to go alone, not because of Akira, but simply because it was their first time in that part of the city, but they insisted.

Maybe they’ll bring a friend next time, but they didn’t want much of a crowd this time. 

Once they finally found their way to the small cafe, they couldn’t help a relieved smile as they knocked on the wooden frame of the door once before entering. It may have been unnecessary for a public establishment, but it was force of habit more than anything.

“Good afternoon!” The greeting is out their mouth before they know it as they make their way to a barstool in the admittingly domestic styled cafe. This place must be really nice to relax in after work..

Somehow, the brunet’s smile seems especially radient when their purple eyes meet those of the person they ran into a few days ago, it’s yet again something that can’t be helped.

    Gladly taking the handkerchief, the raven attempted to wipe and dab at the large dark spot on his uniform, visible despite it being black. It was sticky and cold, which was one of the worst feelings he could have before going into a Palace, but at least it would be fine when they when they actually went in. Hopefully…

    Akira simply hummed and the other’s long explanation, but nodded to show he understood. Maybe he didn’t do it much himself, at least out loud, but he understood the feeling of messing up something small and easy. No matter what his friends said, he wasn’t perfect.

    “Ah, right. I’ll go change into my gym uniform, but let me buy you another soda first.” Always generous and charming, just as any Kurusu. He swore he could even here Morgana murmur in his bag about taking some tips from his ever so gentlemanly ways. He rummaged through one of his uniform pockets to find a yen coin, pulling one out to show he did indeed have plenty of the funds to buy them a simple soda.

    “Is that alright?”

The student waited patiently until Akira spoke, idly picking at their backpack’s straps. When the raven spoke up, however, the burnet seemed to positively beam. 

“Oh, you don’t have to! But it’d be nice, if you’re offering and all! I can’t very well refuse a gift, especially if it’s in shape of grape soda, haha!” The laugh couldn’t be helped as their attention shifted to Akira completely. See, they were right! Not everyone with a stain on their name has to be a bad person! Well, at least not to everyone, or at least on purpose.

There were so many options..

              a response immediately popped into his head the moment the other started talking—yes, that’s very concerning. however, there are systems in place for exactly this sort of situation. i’m very sorry about your friends, but it’s important to follow proper procedure, otherwise you could jeopardize the entire case. and so on, and so forth. the usual platitudes to quell the concerns of those far too involved for their own good. however, something about the other’s request managed to catch akechi’s attention before he had an opportunity to express as much.

              someone… needed him. needed him, specifically him. it was foolish to agree to the request for that reason alone, and yet the detective found himself replying before he even had a moment to consider what he was getting himself into.

               ❝ … my, that does sound like quite the tricky situation. ❞ his tone practically oozed sympathy, and akechi found himself changing his expression to reflect that. ❝ alright then. i have to admit, you caught me at a good time; i don’t have any prior obligations to attend to right now. ❞ he shot the stranger his most reassuring smile. ❝ i’ll see what i can do. is there anything else you can tell me about it? ❞

His heart was slowly being put at ease then. Yes, he might have been merely using these events as a reason to approach someone he admired, or just a person in general. Yes, anyone would do, indeed, but why go for ANYONE when you can go for the best? For someone you’d never be granted the chance to normally. Someone who could help him find out what happened to his friends as well. It was almost too ideal, truth be told.

“I’m so glad..” The words escaped him before much thought was put into what he’ll say, but they were true. Yanon then took a breath, recalling the information he has.

“Uhm.. It seems most of the cases involve students from Suisho and their families. Parents, siblings and alike. They disappear without a trace, and haven’t been heard from yet in any way. Most of the disappearances seem to happen in evening, after class so we agreed to return home in groups as we thought that would be safer.” His tone yet again grows heavy.

    Well, it was just supposed to be a small trip to the vending machines. The team needed more items if they wanted to go into the castle tomorrow, Morgana had said that. He figured that sodas would be refreshing and energizing with caffeine, and might have other effects in that weird world. If toy guns can be real, then drinks could restore health or something, right?

    What didn’t happen was just that.

    He had just been starting to like the uniform, when suddenly grape soda had been spilled and stained on the blazer from someone unlucky enough to run into him. It had all happened so fast, and now he was left a bit flustered as soda seeped into his clothes and the offender… Didn’t run away at the sight of him.

    “Hey, it’s okay,” Akira interrupted, holding a hand up to stop them, “I’m not one to announce I’m coming around, you couldn’t have heard me.” It was almost weird how this student wasn’t running at the sight of the new delinquent in school. Maybe this could be his chance to prove the rumors wrong…

The reassurance was definitely some help to their nerves, Haru was slowly starting to calm down as they finally took hold of the handkerchief they’ve been looking for. Holding it out to Akira, they offered a small apologetic bow.

Rumoured delinquent or not, he was still someone they owed a proper apology to. And possibly a dry cleaning payment, oh god-

“Of course, but still, I can’t help it much.. I get kind of nervous when I mess up small things like this, you know? It’s like when you curse over a slight misstep sometimes because it’s such a small mistake and you know it’s not really your fault but it kind of is. That kind of feeling, you know?”

Kindness brings kindness, as their mother always said.

Their musings are cut short soon enough as they take hold of the can of grape flavoured soda from the vending machine once it lands to the bottom with a thump. Turning around to be on their way, they make the beginner’s mistake.

Opening the can soon after it was dropped in the machine.

Now, if only it was just them that the drink spilled on.

Sadly, an unlucky person passing by was subjected to the wet and sticky outcome of the mistake they made, and they couldn’t help panicking slightly as they started quickly digging through their backpack for a handkerchief.

“I’m SO sorry- I should have been more careful, oh god- It won’t stain, right? That’s your uniform of all things and it’s the middle of the work week and I-”

The rest ended up as just progressively more nervous mumbling, but it couldn’t be helped.

But there is one thing that never fails to cheer her up. Boys. The prettier the better, and the one in front of her seemed just like the perfect score, as far as she was concerned. Yes, it’s indeed just the type she likes from the looks of it.

And so she finds herself walking closer with the standard charming smile, a small sway to her hips and eyes on the prize. It’s a familiar game.

“Sorry, is this seat taken?” That’s a normal enough question during the lunch period, and a good way to assure closeness if he agreed. A fool-proof plan.

Yes, indeed. He is an angel of death, after all. A weapon that would bring down the judgement of those above him with the blade of the knife or the bullet of a gun. And it just so happens that someone deemed it fitting to eliminate a certain business taking place in the school he was currently attending.

Of course, this job asked for subtlety, and that precisely was why he was here now, approaching what would be his target with his usual empty expression.

“Dereko, sorry to bother you right now, but the teachers asked me to hand these out to everyone.” Of course, there he was with his teachers’ pet front as he holds out a single sheet of paper with an empty form.

“We were planning a festivity for the holiday season due to numerous requests, so the teachers wanted to let everyone make a suggestion or two, cue the form. If you have any questions, I’ll be here to help you out.”

It seems the gesture is genuine and harmless enough but.. Only time will tell.

just his luck…

             fame was something of a double edged sword; the neglected child in him that desperately clung to the barest scraps of attention practically drank it up, but ultimately the disadvantages were also numerous. overzealous fans, a lack of privacy, a magnifying glass perpetually suspended over the most minute mistakes were only the beginning of akechi’s troubles… and being recognized the one time he finally found himself with the barest scraps of freedom merely served as the cherry on top of the various inconveniences that plagued his day to day life.

              the look he regarded the stranger with betrayed none of his annoyance, however; putting on a pleasant, affable persona was second nature to him, and the brunet pulled it off flawlessly. ( evidently years of rigorous practice paid off. ) ❝ oh—? yes, that would be me. ❞

              admittedly, there was a tiny part of him that couldn’t help but feel curious about what the other had to say. why the concern? akechi blinked, putting on a very deliberately quizzical expression— some would have even called it cute; the effect was intentional. ❝ how can i help you? ❞

That expression was cute, oh god, he looked even more like the prince the media described in person. But! Now was not the time to muse about Goro’s beauty, no, no, Yanon came here with an objective. A freshly made up one, but an objective no less. And so, he proceeds with the worried tone, almost hushed, really, as if it’s a subjet that demands secrecy.

“Well, you see.. In the eastern part of the city, something.. strange has been going on. Disappearances have been massively reported for a long while but there is no trace left of them. Really, the police is losing all hope! They started rejecting these cases, thinking them to be mere pranks as it’s often children that  allegedly go missing.” His tone drops some, then. A desperation starts creeping into his tone, truly a picture of distress.

“It’s no lie, though! A fair number of my friends has gone missing, but no one believed my reports due to the hopelessness of the cases. So I was hoping.. That maybe..” He grows quiet, as if scared to ask, the pink eyes looking to the ground for the time being.

Regardless, any attention the youth had to direct at the colourful and cheery pamphlets vanished in a blink as his eyes opened wide, his jaw slightly agape.

No way! This had to be some kind of dream, right? That COULDN'T be THE Goro Akechi who's been all over the news and magazines lately! Oh, he felt like Lady Luck herself winked at him today, except she took the shape of the charming detective prince to do so. This could both be an experience and a story to tell afterwards, but how to start an interaction..

Running into him was out of question, so maybe.. He could try a regular approach, of course, but he had just the thing in mind.

"Excuse me, Akechi-san! That's the name, correct? I have something to ask, if you don't mind!" With a somewhat panicked if not worried tone he spoke as he walked closer. It would make him seem less like a fan, if anything.