Mostly centered around the character Kenji Miyazawa
âSo those are the lilâ sheeps ya hoardinâ today?â the man designated Atsushi and KyĆko with a mouvement if his chin.
âTheyâre my colleges and friends,â replied Kenji with his usual smile.
âThatâs what I thoughtâŠâ
The manâs eyes were glowing of a menacing light over Atsushi and KyĆkoâs faces. His grim expression showed a hint of careful, considerate reflexion - Atsushi could only imagine his interlocutor was thinking of ways to torture them.
âListen!â Matsumoto voice echoes through the brick walls, and each of his subordinates jumped. âIf any of you nutheads tries to touch just a hair of those kids, Iâll personally drown ya in ya own blood!â
Confused and disappointed grows rose from the crowd surrounding them. Atsushi could only stare in disbelief at the sudden protection the chief promised, but said man was quick to give an explanation to his men.
âTrust, itâs better than any punch Smiley Face will throw at ya.â
âGlad to see weâre in the same page!â replied said Smiley Face.
KyĆko arched her brow. âMatsumotoâs scared of Kenji?â she whispered. But the weretiger would only nod along, a faint smile on his face. Despite the several armed criminals surrounding them, a feeling of safety, even confort washed over Atsushi. âIs this how it feels to be a sheep?â he asked himself, imagining a field of luxurious grass to eat endlessly.
Itâs only in a now way more relaxed situation that we can allow to go back in a time a little bit, and understand how this trio managed to found themselves in this situation.
Matsumoto was the leader of the Black Mold, a criminal group specialized in alcohol contraband. The name was given by the authorities, but got so popular it even stuck to the members themselves; just like black mold, the group was dangerous, toxic and, once it deemed a place confortable enough fo its needs, it was hard to get rid of. That already seemed like a good enough reason for the ADA to raise an eyebrow - but when rumours of a more serious crime rose, where Matsumoto was the only witness, the agency quickly sent a detective along.
To find the leader wasnât so hard, as most of the underground bars and taverns of the city were under the influence of the Black Mold. And, to help gather informations, the judicious choice of sending Kenji was made almost immediately. The innocent-looking sunshine of the agency versus a merciless criminal - yeah, sounded like a fair deal. As a way to ease his mind, and to Dazaiâs recommendation, Atsushi decided to follow; KyĆko, curious, did the same.
They were quick to be cornered by Matsumotoâs men, and Kenji only had to politely ask to be brought to the leader. Things were going oddly smoothly, as if the blondâs smile touched the brigands to their heart - but, truth be told, they were mostly curious to see how their chief would put such an imbecile back in his place.
Matsumoto sighed, sitting back on a wooden chair like there were dozen in a bar. A smell of alcohol lingered, and Atsushi was quick to notice gallons hidden behind a simple cloth.
âSo,â the man uttered. âWhaddya want?â âWeâre looking for informations about a particular case that happened a few days ago,â Kenji explained. âWe were hoping you could help us, Mr Matsumoto, but um⊠Could this discussion be a little more⊠private, please?â
Matsumoto was indeed accompanied by a dozen men, who all were studying with a hard gaze the three detectives. Atsushi would discreetly hide behind Kenji to avoid their mean look, while KyĆko was following the discussion with great curiosity. Each men had at least a gun to his belt, and a few also had pocket knifes theyâd use as toys and objects of bet.
After a brief thought, the leader nodded. âYa heard what he said. Scam off.â More disappointed grows rose, and Matsumotoâs reaction of yelling even harder only created a mass frenzy of big, buff men begging to stay and listen for a bit longer. But against their chief, they could do so much as walk away. Those criminals were obeying to the brutal jungle law, survival of the fittest, might makes right - call it whatever. The weakest obeys to the strongest; the goons were obeying to Matsumoto, and Matsumoto was obeying to⊠Kenji.
Innocent looking, sunshine of the agency Kenji.
âThis canât be right,â muttered KyĆko, hiding her disappointment as the men went away. Maybe she was hitching for a fight. â
Mind if I keep my guy Gabi along?â Beside Matsumoto was a slimmer figure, though everyone looked more slim in comparison to him. With as gaze as sharp as angry blades, the figure stared down the detectives. âHeâs my lil buddy, my associate⊠I hope you can⊠understand.â His tone was more of an order than a question, yet Kenji looked at his two colleges behind him.
âWell, uhâŠâ uttered Atsushi, hardly hiding his suprise.
âIâll keep an eye on him,â replied KyĆko, her hand tight around the handle of a weapon.
âI think itâs fine, as long as we have our informations. Weâre only here to politely ask what we need and go back to the agency, remember?â Kenjiâs smile was the brightest light of this smelly room.
âYes.â Somehow, his optimism made both Atsushi and KyĆkoâs faces soften.
âItâs okay with us, Mr Matsumoto!â Kenjiâs bright expression faced back his interlocutor, causing him to burst out laughing. At his sides, this Gabi guy was pouring a red liquid into five glass cups. As his chief talked, he designated to the detectives places to sit. Before any could object, Kenji sat down with a grin, causing KyĆko and Atsushi to follow quietly. Glass cups were placed before them, filled with an odorant liquid shimmering under the light.
âLemme guess. Itâs about this murder everyone talks about, right? The big event?â
âYes! Weâd like if you could talk about what you saw that day, please.â
Kenji asked. KyĆko pulled out of the folds of her robe photos of said event. Between two buildings, a man was seen being dragged into the dark alley. Sadly, the image was too blurry to discern the identity of the wrongdoer. Matsumoto threw a look at the photos, crossing his arms.
âDunno what ya talking about.â
The young woman pulled more photos, taken in the same timeframe. This time, a figure similar to Matsumoto was obviously seen.
âCould you please tell us what you saw?â
âNo canât do. This couldâve been anyone. What ya heard was prolly rumours made to bother me. I have a lot of enemies, ya know.â
Atsushi threw a look at KyĆko. They both were sharing the same hint of doubt in the manâs words, but weâre waiting for Kenjiâs instructions. The blond stayed quiet, thinking. But it didnât take more than a minute before he nodded along.
âVery well, then! Thank you for having us. Letâs go, now.â
âWhat-?!â the two others exclaimed in a voice.
âAlready?â Matsumoto asked, feigning nonchalance. âWait. Smiley Face. Ya asked something outta me, so I gotta ask something outta ya, yâknow?â
Intrigued, Kenji tilted his head. âYes?â Deep down, Atsushi was already pulling out his hair is great desperation - but he only sighed quietly.
Matsumoto grabbed his glass, swirled it around the rims. âTry a sip. Itâs my private collection. Good stuff.â
âCâmon.â The manâs insistance was getting suspicious. âYa wonât get drunk over a sip. Just taste it. You tell me what ya think.â
âKenji wonât accept so easily, but how will he get out of this situation..?â Atsushi asked himself. He couldnât even think of a single strategy that he got his answer right if front of his eyes.
âHmm. Not bad.â
In a loud smack, Kenji put his glass down.
His now empty glass.
Pulling his hair out wasnât a strong enough way to demonstrate Atsushiâs desperation. KyĆko too seemed shocked, her eyes wide before this demonstration of⊠strength? Or naivety? Hard to tell. And Matsumoto laughed even more, surprised too.
âSo, how is it?â he asked. âMaybe ya lil sheeps could try a sip too, no?â Kenji managing to drink the whole thing of this beverage - what was it anyways? - left some sense of ease with the two other detectives. Atsushi reached for his glass, but Kenji grabbed his hand before.
âItâs pretty sour, I donât think youâll like it, Atsushi.â KyĆko flinched, staring down at her own glass. âSour?â A sour taste usually meant a meal going bad, or a poison mixed to the beverage. Atsushi understood, and felt his blood freeze as he threw a worried look over Kenji. âWe should leave,â she added.
âAre you okay, Kenji?â whispered Atsushi. The blond didnât reply, nodding faintly as he was examining the contents of a front pocket on his overalls. To add to Atsushiâs growing frustration, Matsumoto, arms crossed and smug look, was cackling to himself.
âDonât tell me ya donât like my special drinkâŠâ
âYou poisoned Kenji?!â Atsushi screamed. He was ready to pounce at the man, fangs and claws already shining under the dim light.
âWait.â Matsumotoâs face softened in an expression of pure confusion. âWhaddya mean, poison?â
Atsushi took a step closer to the criminal, ready to puch the lights out of him, when his noticed what seemed like genuine perplexity in Matsumoto's face. KyĆko sighed and demonstrated. She pushed the glass, spilling its content on the wooden table. After a few seconds, foams formed where the liquid and the wood met. âItâs poisoned.â
âGuh? How? It was fine this morninâ! I drank from it-!â
And a faint click echoed in the room.
Atsushi felt a bullet brush just past the side of his forehead. Smoke from a gun disappeared quickly. A silencer muffled the sound of an explosion, but a firm grip was almost bending the weapon. Kenji, his hand closed on the gun, was pulling it towards himself - no, rather, he was pulling it away from Atsushi and KyĆko.
âHey⊠Letâs be careful manipulating guns, Mr GabiâŠâ the blond man had a hard gaze locked on him, whose fingers were still in the trigger. The sunshine now showed no signs of any innocence, no signs of mercy. By only twisting his grip on the gun, Kenji managed to force Gabiâs arm in a motion beyond physical capabilities. A loud snap of bones quickly followed, and the manâs reaction was, very understandably, to let go of the gun and scream as loud as the pain went.
âCareful with it, Mr Matsumoto.â Kenji gave back the gun with a smile - not that it could be used again, with the fresh mark of his fingers distorting the metal. Yet Matsumoto grabbed the remaining scrap before he started to yell cusses over Gabi.
âKenji, are you okay?â asked KyĆko. But the blond looked fine. âWhat about the poison?â continued Atsushi in a worried tone. Kenji frowned, perplexed. âWhat poison?â He had small, pale crumbs by the corner of his lips, and was sometime chewing on something.
âYa dingus! Ya poisoned the alcohol? Ya shot the kid?â
âBut..!â
âNo buts! Ya stupid!â
âMatsumoto, do you know just how much their head worth? I know at least seven dudes whoâd pay a solid amount of any of those stupid detectives!â
âWas I not clear enough when I said no touchin the kids?â
Noticing the detectives were staying quiet, Matsumoto looked at Kenji. A tense smile was painted on his face. âGimme just a moment to punch some reason into him.â Kenji nodded, leaving the two others baffled. âSo Matsumoto is scared of Kenji,â discreetly commented KyĆko. After all, with this demonstration of pure strength, who wouldnât be scared?
It was only when this Gabi guy was reduced to a carpet of whimpering pain and regrets that Matsumoto sat back down to his place, facing the agency with a grin.
Kenji produced out of his pocket a piece of waxed paper folded on itself. A small block of it was protected inside, and the blond quickly tore a sample to give to the criminal. âTry it! Its softness pairs well with the sourness of the alcohol.â Was anyone going to tell him the drink was not supposed to be sour?
As Matsumoto grabbed the piece of cheese to try, Kenji added with a smirk. âThis comes from my familyâs farm, in the countryside. Itâs a unique produce.â
The criminal tried paring the drink and the cheese, and was left pleasantly surprised. He nodded along Kenjiâs words as he explained how to properly coordinate alcohol profiles and cheese flavours, and the importance of locally sourcing his products - and legally, he dared to add, but no one was really sure Matsumoto payed attention to this part. KyĆko was hungrily staring at the snack.
âI like it!â the man smiled. âYa right, itâs pretty good together!â
âRight?â
âYa not bad at this! Maybe I should hire ya.â
âThank you, Mr Matsumoto, but I already have a job.â
âYouâre an honest fella! I like that. Imma be honest too. First of all, it wasn't a murder - it was an elimination.â
Matsumoto lowered his eyes to the photos, still on the table. He nodded softly; this cue, Atsushi pulled out a small noting pad and a pen. Kenji listened, a soft smile never leaving his face. A pure matter of luck made the criminal open up, it seemed. If Matsumoto never shared a drink, if Gabi never poisoned it, if Kenji didnât share advice and snacks - it was luck, right? Or maybe, just maybe it was something else that moved Matsumoto to honesty.
âNo matter your interlocutor, thereâs always a way to get what we need through kindness of heart.â
They were now outside, Atsushiâs notes full of precious informations and key elements. In the sun of a warm afternoon, the trio of detective was enjoying an air free of that strong alcohol sent.
âUm, hey⊠Thank you for saving me earlier, Kenji,â muttered Atsushi. âYou have really impressive reflexes.â
âItâs the least I can do. My duty is to protect you guys,â replied Kenji in a friendly nod.
âThat cheeseâŠâ Kyoko swallowed. âDo you have more I could try?â
âI have plenty back at the agency! Letâs try some while we work, friends!â
What a beautiful way to spend the rest of the afternoon. Atsushi smiled too, feeling safe, and confortable. Peacefully indulging in a simplistic innocence.
I am so normal about the livestream, right guys? ...guys?
Also (allow me to yap for a moment, right under the show more,)
I was drawing Sans when my grandma peeked, asked what I was drawing and I replied, "a skeleton using a hairbrush" and she laughed so much her stomach hurt and and yeah hehe.
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