Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Beika city has an astonishingly high crime rate, this was a well known fact among all citizens. Despite this fact, you'd never really considered yourself at risk. You lived a normal life, just like any other teenager.

Until you woke up to a pair of corpses in your home.

"So, Kudo, how're things with Ran? Ya know, after the whole London thing?"
Conan sighs as he adjusts his backpack, skeptical as to why Heiji thought it necessary to walk him to school. He's not actually a child.
"Well, it's not like we've made much progress considering-"
Just as he's gesturing to his shrunken body, a scream pierces through the air. The boys look to each other in agreement before running towards the source of the sound.

You run out the front door, fearing the killer might still be inside the house. Yelling for help, you nearly crash into two boys running towards you. Unable to form anything coherent beyond "Help", you point towards the upper window with a blood-soaked hand. When did that happen? You have no clue, everything right now is a blur.

Conan runs into the house, leaving Heiji to stay with you. Whether you're a witness or the culprit, it's important they monitor you. Seeing how shaken you are, Heiji grabs you by the shoulders.
"Hey, listen ta me. You're going to be alright. Yer safe. Can ya tell me what's goin' on?"
You stare at him with wide eyes, his words taking a while to process in your mind.
"I- I woke up, my parents, they- I- they-"
"Slow down, slow down, breathe. Take yer time."
It takes several minutes to return your breathing to a normal rate, but you manage to slow it down.
"I... I woke up, and I went into the hall, and my parents were... They were laying there. Covered in- in blood, and I... I don't really know what happened then. I ran out here, but it's all blurry..."

Conan runs up the stairs to find a two corpses in the hallway, one splayed out across the floor and the other slouched against the wall. He pulls out his phone and calls the police, before snapping some photos of the scene. The cause of death seems to be straightforward, stab wounds on both bodies with a bloody kitchen knife close by. Conan does a quick search of the house to see if there are any signs of a break-in, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

Police sirens can be heard as you sit on the front porch, still shaking from what's happened. Officers come and go, multiple people pulling you aside for questions, and you feel like a puppet moving without purpose or emotion. The boys who first arrived are busy inside the house, and the police seem to suspect you. You can't blame them, really, considering the circumstances. There's nobody else who lives here, and your hands are soaked in blood. All logic points to you. Maybe you really did do it, what if you went into a rage and lost all memory of it?
"That kinda thing only happens in movies. Besides, we know yer not the killer."
You turn to see the teenage boy who you first spoke to, and you realize you've been muttering your thoughts out loud.
"But... The evidence..."
He sits down next to you, baseball cap casting a shadow over his already dark skin.
"A piece of evidence doesn't tell the whole story, ya gotta look at things beyond just what they seem ta be."
A faint feeling of hope returns to you, along with a desire to keep moving forward.
"...You seem pretty smart for someone my age."
The boy gives you a cheeky smile, adjusting his hat.
"Well, yer lookin at the best detective in the west after all, Heiji Hattori!"
As egotistical as it sounds, somehow you believe he just might live up to the title.

Several long hours pass before the true killer is found. It was apparently your aunt, who blamed your mother for stealing her boyfriend. You watch as she's arrested and taken away in a police cruiser, though you don't feel at ease. A sense of dread still hangs in the air, and now you're all alone.

Ran had called Conan after he hadn't shown up to class, and rushed to the scene the moment she heard about the situation. How this boy manages to attract so much trouble, she'll never understand. When she approaches the house, she notices the lonely teenager sitting on the front porch, visibly shaken up.
"Conan, who's that? Are they doing okay?"
The boy shrugs, keeping his distance from you.
"I doubt it, considering their parents were just murdered this morning..."
Ran gasps in shock, glancing back at you sitting all alone on the steps.
"And you're just standing here doing nothing?! Heiji, go comfort them!"
Heiji turns to her, surprised and almost offended.
"Why's it hafta be me?!"
Ran gives him a scowl, placing her hands on her hips in disapproval.
"Because you should have some sympathy! Plus, Conan and I need to get home for an appointment."
Before he can protest, she's dragging Conan away.

Heiji sits down next to you, unsure of where to start.
"So... How ya holding up?"
You shrug in response, blankly staring across the street.
"Dunno. It's just starting to sink in that I'm alone now, and I don't really know where to go from here."
Heiji shifts uncomfortably, not used to dealing with conversations like this.
"I don't even think I can stay here anymore after what's happened, but it's not like I have anywhere else to go. All my family is either dead or in prison now."
At that moment, Heiji speaks before he thinks.

"Why dont'cha crash at my place for a bit?"

Why did he say that? Heiji has no clue. Regardless, he couldn't just take back his offer, so he called his parents and asked if it was alright for you to stay. Although he was hoping they'd say no and spare him the embarrassment of going through with this stupid idea, they unfortunately welcomed you with open arms. Thus, here you are, unpacking a suitcase in the room across the hall. Heiji picks up his phone, dialing Conan's number.
"Hello?"
"Kudo I messed up big time"
Conan pauses as he assesses Heiji's tone of voice, suspicious of what could have happened.
"...What do you mean, are you in trouble?"
"No, but also yes? Ya know that fella from this morning? Well, ya see, I kinda invited them to stay at my place but they actually agreed to it, what do I do?!"
He nearly throws his phone at Conan's laughter, but patiently waits for him to finish mocking him.
"Dude, that's entirely your problem. Figure it out yourself, Great Detective."
When the other hangs up on him, Heiji groans and falls back on his bed.
"Damn..."

You stare at the blank ceiling, unable to sleep despite the long train ride and even longer day. The Hattoris were kind enough to let you stay here, but you didn't want to intrude on their lives. As a result, you stayed in your room for the rest of the day. Your mind is constantly running with thoughts of what comes next, but you honestly have no idea where to start. You'll have to get a job to pay rent, you refuse to stay here without giving anything in return. Though, you don't know where you'll even find a job, considering you have no connections here in Osaka. Deciding you may as well do something instead of just laying here, you pull out your laptop.

The following morning, Mrs. Hattori lightly knocks on your door.
"Pardon me, dear, would ya like some breakfast?" You close your laptop and open the door, your stomach definitely in need of food.
"Thank you very much, Mrs. Hattori, that would be wonderful."
It doesn't take a detective to figure out you haven't slept at all, but she doesn't say anything about it.

You're relieved to find yourself alone for breakfast, as you really didn't want to intrude on the family's mealtime. After eating the strangely large — and delicious — meal, you insist on washing the dishes.
"My, you're such a darlin! Heiji never does anythin ta help around here, ya know!"
Her sweet tone makes you feel bashful, a welcome distraction from the uneasiness that's been lingering.

Chapter Text

It took a while to get the paperwork in order, but you managed to transfer to a local school fairly soon after moving in with the Hattoris. Unsurprisingly, you were assigned to Heiji's class to "help you adjust", whatever that meant. One thing you weren't expecting, however, was the amount of catching up you had to do on school work.

You rest your head on the desk with a drawn out groan, arms drooping at your sides.
"What kind of curriculum do they have here in Osaka?! My head hurts..."
Heiji huffs impatiently, earning a glare from the girl beside him. Kazuha is quite possibly the sweetest girl you've ever met, despite how she treats her friend.
"Dont'cha worry, you'll catch up in no time! Right, Heiji?"
The last bit was more of a warning than a question. Judging by the nervous gulp that follows, the message is well recieved.
"Y-yeah..."

Even though he seems to be quite reluctant to talk to you, Heiji has done a lot to help you in the past week. Well, at least when he's not running into trouble at every corner.

This time, trouble takes the form of a sudden attack in the library during your study session. In the time it takes for your already tired brain to process what's going on, Heiji has taken control over the situation and is barking orders.
"Call an ambulance and da cops! You, lock all exits and don' let anyone in or out!"
You pull out your phone and do as he says, assessing and explaining the situation. A librarian was stabbed in the staff room while on break, and is bleeding from the abdomen. Heiji is performing first aid, the victim is losing a lot of blood but the wound doesn't seem to be fatal. Nobody's entered or exited the building since the scream was heard, so the culprit is likely still in the library somewhere.

You grab a blank notebook from your bag, originally intended for working through tricky math questions. Not wanting to forget any details, you write down the time you heard the scream — 3:48, you'd been frequently checking the time out of boredom — along with even the smallest things that seem out of place. You'd heard on a documentary at some point that the most important evidence is often a collection small inconsistencies.

The victim is quickly taken to a hospital, the police arriving soon after. You start to feel a familiar sense of dread in the air, so you make your way to wherever Heiji is.
"Found anything?"
He barely glances up at you, baseball cap now turned forward as he thinks.
"Nah, not much. Seems da killer panicked and took the weapon with 'em, probably dumped it somewhere..."
You add this to your collection of observations, which Heiji takes note of.
"Whatcha got there? Takin' notes so ya can be like me someday?"
Part of you wants to smack the cocky grin off his face, but you know that this really isn't the time for that. Instead, you shift your eyes to the side and hand him the book.
"No, I just thought that maybe you could use some help... Just keeping track of things."
He looks over you with something you can't quite place, but you can tell he's picking you apart one way or another. Feeling self conscious under his attentive stare, you snatch the book back from his hands.
"Anyways! You have some investigating to do, detective. Use that brain of yours, mine is tired from studying."

Yeah, like you were actually studying...

Heiji grumbles to himself as he walks down the hall, knowing damn well you spent the last hour looking at anything but the textbook. However, given the situation that just popped up, maybe that was a good thing. Based on the few things he read in the short time he held your notes, you'd noticed a lot of things that he hadn't.

For starters, most of the staff had been busy figuring something out at the front desk. It drew your attention because it was funny to see one person look at the computer, get confused, call another person over, only for them to do the same thing and repeat the cycle. Whatever it was, it took five workers to sort it out. By the time the problem was resolved, the attack was taking place a floor above. That gave five out of seven workers an alibi.

The two of you went around and questioned the people who were present at the time of the attack. Most of the library's visitors were in an open area and could vouch for each other, save for a couple of college students and office workers in more secluded areas. Between those without alibis, three individuals had the opportunity to commit the crime.

The first is a college student with multiple piercings, having a stereotypical "punk" vibe. He was sitting on the upper floor with wireless headphones on. Nobody had seen him during the time of the attack, and he was close to the staff room where it had happened.
"I told ya, I was crammin' for an exam! I had my headphones blastin', I didn't hear nothin!"

The second is a young woman in office attire, who claims to have been on the way to the library café when the attack occurred. She says she left her briefcase at her table, but it was gone when she went back to grab it. Nobody could confirm her whereabouts until after the commotion settled down.

The final suspect is a drab looking lady in her forties, who says she was browsing through romance novels when the librarian was attacked. The romance section isn't far from the scene of the crime, but she claims to have a bad hip.

Heiji flips through the notes you took, checking to see if there's any connection he may have missed. Seeing as you're not as experienced with this kind of thing, you decide to wander around the library and see if you can find something. As you walk along the second floor, you notice one of the windows isn't latched closed.

That's odd...

You approach the window and peer outside, overlooking the dumpster out back. Laying atop the garbage bags is a leather briefcase, and you recall the office worker mentioning hers was missing.

Taking a photo with your phone for proof, you run back to where Heiji is. Not wanting to cause a scene or give away any information to the suspects, you lean in close and whisper in her ear.
"I found the lady's briefcase, I think it was tossed outside from the second floor window."
You discreetly show him the picture on your phone, to which he grins. The two of you run to the back door of the library, explaining the situation to the officer guarding the exit. He lets you through, and Heiji retrieves the briefcase with gloves. You wonder if he had the gloves on hand or if he picked them up somewhere, but with how often he runs into situations like this, it's more likely he came prepared.

The briefcase is brought inside, and the three suspects are the only people remaining in the building aside from the investigators. Heiji asks the office worker for the code to open her case, and it's quickly unlocked. When the briefcase is opened up, the contents reveal a women's coat and a kitchen knife, both smeared with blood.

The office lady screams in shock, her face pale. She nearly falls over, but you manage to help her stay on her feet. The punk guy points a finger at her, yelling.
"You attacked 'er! Ya stabbed dat poor librarian and left 'er ta bleed!"
If not for the officers holding the man back, you swear he would've lunged at the woman. Luckily, Heiji calms him down.
"I don' think so. Da knife doesn't have any prints, an' yet there's blood all over it. If da culprit was careful 'nuff ta wipe their prints, why not wipe off all da blood? More likely, dis ain't the real weapon."
The older woman clutches her purse angrily.
"What else could've been used to stab that girl?! We're in a library, darn it! Don't tell me she was sliced by a book!"
Heiji grins knowingly in satisfaction, and you feel nervous even though you yourself are innocent.
"Not a book... But a bookmark."
She scoffs at that, but you notice her grip tighten.
"That's ridiculous, you can't suggest something like that without proof!"
One of the staff's phones start to ring, leaving Heiji looking smug.
"My bet is that it's in yer purse there, but I'm sure dat librarian ya stabbed can give a pretty convincing testimony now day she's awake. Ain't dat right?"
He turns to the man who answered the phone, who nods with slight disbelief.
"Yeah... The hospital just called, they say she's in stable condition and should make a full recovery."
Everyone turns to the now sweating lady, who looks around for some kind of support. Soon she realizes there's no escape, and hands over her purse.

She'd sharpened a metal bookmark after the librarian dumped her son, and tried to threaten her into getting back together with him. When the girl refused, she stabbed her.
"Always somethin' ta do with romance, huh..."
Heiji turns his cap back around, having solved the crime.
"So, whaddya say we call it quits fer today? Don't really feel like studyin' after all a' dat..."
You let out a sigh of relief.
"Oh, thank god, neither do I. Let's just go home before something crazy happens again."
Picking up your notebook, you notice a new bit of writing at the bottom of the page.

Nice work, newbie

Chapter Text

As much as you try to give the Hattori family their space, you keep getting roped further and further into their lives. At this point you're taking part in family dinners and shopping trips, and you're starting to feel like a member of the family. Even Heiji is starting to act more casual around you, treating you in a similar way to Kazuha.

A cell phone rings, and you glance up from your laptop to yell for its owner.
"Heiji, phone!"
He comes walking out of his room, running a hand through his bedhead-ridden hair.
"Yeah, yeah, I can hear it myself ya know..."
Picking up the phone with a yawn, he starts talking to whoever is on the other side.
"Eh? You got a case? I'll be right over!"
Heiji's expression has quickly gone from tired to excited as he runs off to get ready to go out. You close your laptop and get ready to go out yourself, knowing that he's most likely going to get himself into trouble.

Kazuha had told you about some of his cases in which he'd been in varying degrees of danger, and you now know that he's incredibly reckless when it comes to solving crimes. Just the other day he came home all scratched up, having chased a criminal through a patch of bushes. Not wanting him to end up in the hospital, you figure it's best to just keep an eye on him before he gets himself hurt.

The case is a few kilometers away, so you'll have to drive there.
"Yer comin' too? 'Kay then, hop on."
Heiji tosses you a helmet as he mounts a motorcycle, figuring you probably just want a change of scenery. After all, it's been over a week since you moved in and you haven't been out much. It takes you a while to climb onto the motorcycle, clearly not used to riding one. Seeing your hesitation as the bike revvs up, he decides to joke with you a bit.
"What, ya scared or somethin'?"
He feels you grab onto him as soon as the bike starts moving, which he would normally tease you for. However, he finds it hard to do so when you're clinging on so tightly that there's no room between the two of you.

Although it really doesn't take long to get to your destination, you feel as though the ride lasts for hours. When the bike comes to an eventual stop, you hear the voice of a young boy. He begins to explain the situation to Heiji, before pausing and looking the two of you up and down. Under his uncomfortably analytical gaze, you realize your arms are still wrapped firmly around Heiji's waist. Suddenly aware of how it may look, you pry yourself away from him, quickly getting off the motorcycle. Conan clears his throat a little too loudly to be considered unintentional, returning his focus to his friend.
"—Anyways, it would seem as though the victim..."
He goes on to explain a long list of details, before leading you both to the scene of the crime.

While you may not be a detective genius like Heiji, you must admit that you enjoy being a part of the process. Noting down all the details, piecing together the bigger picture, it's really quite satisfying. As such, you find yourself once again keeping track of clues in your spiral notebook.
"Yer right 'bout this one, it seems near impossible... Guess ya couldn't figure it out, so ya had ta call yer genius friend for help, eh?"
The look Heiji recieves from the boy can only be described as snarky and unamused. It's the kind of expression more commonly seen on people your age, not grade schoolers.
"Har, har. I'm assuming that means you haven't figured out the murder weapon?"
The tension between the two is quite funny to witness, considering Heiji seems to have a genuine rivalry going with a seven year old. After much back and forth between the two, they seem to come to a conclusion. In unison, as though a lightbulb had suddenly illuminated, they go running off in a certain direction.
"Aha! I knew it, there are traces of melted plastic here, the killer must have used a sharpened piece of plastic, then chemically dissolved it using acetone to dispose of any prints!"
You stand in silence for a moment, surprised to hear such a deduction from a child.
"...You seem pretty smart for a kid."
Conan's eyes widen, having not registered your presence.
"I, uh, learned it in science class!"
Your eyes narrow at the boy, knowing full well that chemical reactions like that aren't taught in elementary school. It's odd, but you shrug it off as some gifted kid thing.

Heiji and Conan gather evidence, you take note of everything, and it isn't long before the killer is caught.
"Hey, Conan, what were ya doin' here in Osaka anyway? I don't see Ran or dat bumbling detective anywhere."
The kid tells him something you aren't able to hear, a serious expression on his face. Whatever it is, it clearly worries Heiji.
"Really? Here?!" Conan shushes him, nodding in your direction. You cross your arms, a little annoyed at being left out of the conversation.
"If you guys are done here, why don't we go grab something to eat instead of gossiping?"

The three of you end up going to an okonomiyaki restaurant nearby, and you're amazed at how good it tastes. Heiji seems proud of himself when you comment on the flavour, as though he were the one to actually cook it. It seems Osakans take a lot of pride in their local culture, based on his frequent bragging about the region. Conan seems to be used to his behaviour, nodding along while he eats. A young girl soon enters the restaurant, walking straight towards him with an intimidating stare that contrasts her age.
"We're leaving. Come on."
Not giving the boy a chance to speak, she drags him by the collar of his jacket. You turn to Heiji, considerably confused about what just happened.
"Who was she?"
Heiji shrugs, not knowing much himself about the girl.
"One a' Conan's friends, she lives with Professor Agasa."

With the kid gone, you and Heiji think of ways to spend the day. It's only a little past noon, so there's plenty of time to do stuff before you head home. You pay for the meal before heading back to where the motorcycle was parked. Now that you know what to expect, riding it doesn't seem quite as daunting. In fact, you almost feel relaxed as you drive along, enjoying the passing scenery. Weeping willow trees line the street on one side, casting shade over a stretch of grass. Even through the visor of your helmet, the sight of the lime-green branches drifting in the wind is beautiful.
"Ya know, the aquarium ain't far from here! Wanna check it out?"

Kaiyukan aquarium is one of Osaka's most famous attractions, particularly popular due to the whale sharks residing there. It's not Heiji's first time coming here, having been dragged along by Kazuha many times before, but he still enjoys the place quite a bit. The charm of first experiencing it for himself may have worn off, but the wonder and excitement in your eyes as you first step into the building? Well, he's got to admit, it's pretty contagious. Heiji leans against the handrail as he watches you go from tank to tank, investigating each and every animal within. Every now and then, you call him over to come and see something you find interesting. This time, it's a pair of sea lions playing with floating toys.
"Look at them! They're so sleek and agile, smart too!"
Your hands are pressed against the glass as you stare at them in amazement, just like a kid on a field trip.
"You know, they kind of remind me of you, Heiji!"
The bright smile that accompanies this statement catches him off guard.
"Eh? What makes ya say that?"
Eyes glued to the animals, smile still plastered on your face, you don't elaborate any further. Instead, Heiji is left to overthink what you may have meant. Was it a compliment? An insult? He's not sure. Regardless, you seem happy, so he figures it isn't necessary to worry too much about it.

While you've been enjoying every exhibit so far, a smile on your face the entire time, none of them impact you quite as much as the Pacific Ocean tank. It illuminates the room with an enchanting blue glow, the light dancing in your eyes as you gaze in wonder. Heiji can't help but stare at your expression, looking as though you're seeing the universe laid out before you. He doesn't hear anything but the sound of your calm breathing, blocking out the world around you despite barely being audible. Time seems to stand still, the two of you sharing in this beautiful moment. You turn to face Heiji, locking eyes with him for what seems like an eternity. Neither you nor him say a word, the silence too delicate to risk breaking.

The fragile moment is shattered by the wailing of a child. It snaps you and Heiji out of your shared trance, causing you both to quickly shift your focus back to the water. In an attempt to clear away the now awkward air, you pull out your phone to check the time.
"Wow, I didn't realize two hours had already gone by!"
You head to the gift shop, where you spend another thirty minutes combing through all of the merchandise. Even though the prices are skewed way too high, you're drawn in by a pair of sea lion keychains. They're the kind that couples usually get, so they come as a set, but you really can't resist buying it.
"Whaddya need two charms for?"
Heiji judges you at the checkout, to which you respond somewhat petulantly.
"The number of sea lion keychains I wish to purchase is none of your business."
Countering your childish behaviour, he snatches one of the charms from your hand.
"Well ya used my money to buy 'em, so it actually is my business!"
This back and forth continues as you make your way to the parking lot, squabbling like children over the keychains. Eventually, you wind up splitting the pair with Heiji. In the back of your mind you're reminded that these were designed for couples, but the pettiness of the argument overshadows that bit of information.

The ride home takes a while, due to Heiji missing several turns. You comment on his errors — a bit of payback for the teasing you often endure by his hand — to which he threatens to make you walk the rest of the way.
"It's hard ta focus on the road when yer tryna suffocate me!"
"Well, excuse me for not wanting to fall off!"
There isn't usually this much bickering between the two of you, even if it is just light-hearted banter. It's difficult to tell why exactly you feel more compelled to play into his games today, but you suppose it's just because you're starting to get used to his personality.

When you get home, you pull out your deduction book. Even if it isn't a mystery, you want to write down the things you experienced throughout the day. Who knows, maybe it'll turn into evidence for a case someday?

Chapter Text

"Mum, dad, I'm home!"

A child calls out to a silent house.

"Hello?"

Your eyes fly open, heart pumping in your chest. Frantically searching your surroundings, you find yourself in the Hattoris guest room. Calming your heart, you grip tightly to the blankets to ground yourself in reality. Nightmares have been plaguing you every night, and a week full of restless nights has begun to take a toll on your body. Shuffling out of the covers, you decide to get yourself a glass of water; It'll be a while before you manage to get back to sleep.

The cool water soothes your dehydration, but the uneasiness brought about by your dream still lingers. Letting out a tired sigh, you hang your head with your arms braced on the kitchen counter.
"Woah, you look like shit."
You barely tilt your head to glance at Heiji, difficult to make out his figure in the dark. He's right, you're definitely a mess at the moment.
"Just needed some water."
Even though you can't see his face clearly, you can feel the doubt in his gaze. There's no point in trying to pretend you're alright, but you're honestly just way too tired to be open about your issues. You go to head back to your room, walking past Heiji in silence.

An hour slowly passes by, and you're still no closer to getting back to sleep. You can vaguely make out the sound of the tv out in the living room, and considering there's nothing else to do, you go out to investigate. Sure enough, Heiji is laid on the couch, some detective show playing on a low enough volume to not wake anyone. Still, he mutes it when he spots your approaching silhouette.
"Sorry, did I have it too loud? Didn't mean ta wake ya..."
You wave away his concern, knowing you could barely hear it even while awake.
"No, you're fine, I was already up. What're you watching?"
He makes room for you to sit down, tossing one of the couch's numerous decorative cushions out of the way. The volume is restored to the TV, though it's still barely audible. Several minutes pass, your attention focused on the mediocre acting displayed on-screen. Heiji soon interrupts, not bothering to pause the show with how dull it is.
"I'm guessin' ya didn't get up at two in da mornin' just ta watch some crap tv?"
Yeah, you figured he'd bring that up at some point.
"Couldn't get to sleep, needed a distraction."
He hums in acknowledgement, having figured as much already.
"Nasty dream?"
"Yeah."
The two of you sit in the comfortable quiet, a certain level of understanding shared between you.
"Happen often?"
"...Every night."
Even without many words being said, the tension inside your mind starts to dissipate as you sit here with Heiji. The wall you'd built between you and your worries starts to crumble, setting loose emotions you'd rather not have to experience. Loneliness in the absence of your parents, the guilt that you could've done something to prevent their deaths... It's not long before your shoulders are shaking in an attempt to quell the tears. The TV is shut off, the faint light of the screen no longer illuminating the room. You vaguely feel the presence of warm contact on your shoulder, and you unconsciously lean into the comforting touch. The warmth surrounds your body, wrapping you securely in a blanket as tears stream silently down your face. The flood of emotions quickly exhausts you, soon pulling you into a much needed slumber.

Heiji's never been good at comforting people, but he can't just sit by and watch you slowly deteriorate. It's obvious you haven't been sleeping properly, and he can easily assume the reason has to do with the traumatic experience you went through only a week ago. So, when he hears you waking up with a startled gasp once again, he follows you out to the kitchen to check in on you. He hadn't intended for you to end up crying, nor did he intend to pull you into a hug to soothe your tears. Internally, he's yelling at himself for doing something so sappy. When he finds you've settled down, he thinks for a moment that he can get up and leave this embarrassing moment behind. However, it turns out the reason you're calm now is because you've fallen asleep. In his arms. There goes any chance of getting up...

"My, well if they ain't the sweetest darn picture I ever seen!"
Mrs. Hattori giggles to herself at the sight of the two teens curled up on the couch, glad to see you've finally gotten a good night's sleep. Walking lightly, so as to not disturb you, she goes to grab her camera. As a mother, it would be unforgivable for her to not record something this precious!

When you wake up to find yourself literally cuddling with Heiji, you feel like you may as well just die right then and there. The worst part is, you actually slept well for once. No nightmares, no tossing and turning, just peaceful, uninterrupted sleep. Your movement wakes Heiji, and upon making eye contact, a silent vow is made between the two of you: Never Speak of This. Ever.

You proceed with your morning routine as usual, putting together breakfast yourself since Mrs. Hattori is out for the day. You don't bother making a lunch, since you don't have school and will probably eat out. Heiji walks by the kitchen and grabs at a slice of bacon, popping it in his mouth without a second thought.
"Oi! Thief!"
The criminal shows no remorse, shrugging as he chews on his stolen goods. You feign a disappointed sigh and shake your head.
"Is this what passes as a detective these days?"
They're fighting words and you know it, but dammit, that was your bacon he stole.
"Oh, ya wanna fight, do ya? I'll show ya a real detective, jus' watch!"
You raise an eyebrow at him mockingly.
"Yeah? And what mystery do you intend to solve, oh great detective? Last I checked, there weren't any missing cats in the area."
Heiji steps in close, and you realize you may be going a bit far. His eyes are narrowed in an intimidating manner, causing you to feel slightly uneasy.
"Get yer bag, we're gonna go find a mystery ta solve."

Who knew a slice of bacon could lead you to a bank robbery? You certainly didn't, and yet here you are, gun against your forehead as you tie up Heiji. While searching for a mystery in the heart of the city, a scream coincidentally rang out from a nearby building. Running straight towards the commotion, you were met with an organized group of thieves in the midst of closing up a bank. Considering they all were armed with guns, there wasn't much you could do to resist. And so, they forced you to tie up Heiji before laying on the ground. Apparently, they didn't see you as much of a threat, since they didn't have anyone tie you up. There were a few other bank patrons who were similarly unrestrained, most of them seeming an inch away from pissing their pants in fear. You can't help but feel insulted at being grouped in with them.

Most of the thieves are busy in the back of the bank, getting the manager to open the vault for them. This means there's only one guy guarding you, but he still has a pistol in his hands. If you can find a way to silence him, maybe Heiji can find a way out of here. You'd made sure to tie the ropes just loose enough that he could wriggle out with a bit of skill, without it being obvious that you'd done it on purpose. A thorough examination of the guard is the first step, to try and find any possible weaknesses or openings. Judging from the man's figure and posture, he seems to be on the younger side. Possibly a college student, definitely not used to this kind of situation if his shaking hands are anything to go by. A shared look between you and Heiji confirms he's gotten his hands free, so you take the chance to distract the guard.
"U-uh, excuse me sir..?"
He turns a shaking gun to face you, voice feigning confidence.
"What is it?! No playing games, or I'll shoot!"
You pull out the best acting you can muster, shaking slightly at the threat.
"N-no, please, don't! I'm not t-trying anything, I just w-wanted to know if- if I can take my medicine?"
The thief gives you a pointed look through his ski mask, prompting you to go on.
"You- you see, I'm diabetic, and- and if I don't take my meds in time- I- I could have a heart attack..!"
Thankfully, he seems to buy your performance.
"Fine! Where's your pillbox? Don't move a muscle, though!"
You look over to a line of bags, coincidentally located behind Heiji.
"It- it's over there, in the b-blue backpack..."
He gives you a warning look, cautiously walking towards the bags. As he crouches down to dig through the contents of the bag, Heiji carefully stands up. Silently, he sneaks behind the thief, before promptly tackling him and covering his mouth. He manages to kick the man's gun away from him, and tie him up with the rope he'd previously escaped from. Ripping the duct tape off of his own mouth, he slaps it over the thief's.

Having taken care of the thief that had been guarding the hostages, you now have to deal with the others currently in the vault. You and Heiji sneak towards the back, and spot the bank manager tied up just outside the vault. The rest of the thieves are still within, packing their bags with as many valuables as possible. A grin makes its way onto your face as you approach the vault door, which has swung to the outside. Slowly, you push it back into place. Once it's halfway closed, you slam it the rest of the way — trapping the robbers inside the vault. With a confident smile, you clap the dust off your hands.
"Well! I'd say I did pretty well, hmm, detective?"

The cops are quickly called, but Heiji can't stand the smug look on your face the entire time they ask witnesses what happened. Of course, you just had to take all the credit — even if you were technically responsible for distracting the guard and locking in the thieves. But even then, that's no excuse for how much you're rubbing it in his face! That stupid smirk, just because you stopped one bank heist.
"Quit lookin' so smug..."
Standing outside the bank, that persistent smile is still plastered on your face.
"Hmm? What's that? I couldn't hear you over the sound of my victory."
Heiji's already quite short temper snaps, raising his voice.
"I said—"
He tears his hat off his head, forcing it onto you in an attempt to cover your expression.
"—Wipe that smug look offa yer face!!"
Huffing and crossing his arms, he quite nearly stomps his feet like a child. You can't help but laugh at his outburst, adjusting his hat on your head to expose your bright smile. It's accompanied by genuine, happy laughter, like a cheerful melody. Heiji's irritation comes to a halt as he takes in the sight of you smiling joyously beneath his hat. Maybe he doesn't mind that look so much after all...