The Observation of Trifles
Rated M for some adult language and situations.
"You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of trifles."
- Sherlock Holmes, "The Boscombe Valley Mystery" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1891)
Their First Vow
Future Foundation Headquarters, Japan
They stood in front of the empty docks, far from prying ears, the crashing waves gleaming beneath the bright morning sun.
Motoko Naegi took a deep breath. "Okay. So... explain this fucking nonsense to me again."
"There are... complexities to the matter." Kyoko Kirigiri stared out at the horizon, her arms crossed. A network of dark purple veins marked the side of her pale face, a physical reminder of the NG poisoning she'd just barely survived. "Ostensibly, it's to support the official cover story for the Final Killing Game. If the attack came from forces external to the Foundation, like the Remnants of Despair... the public would naturally expect for those managing our intelligence network to be punished after not detecting the threat. With Yukizome dead, and the board reluctant to disclose that we employed a mole at such a high level..." She shrugged.
Naegi took a moment to process that information. "... let me make sure I've got this straight. They've decided to use you as a scapegoat for something they know didn't even happen."
"That would be an accurate summation, yes."
He rubbed his hands over his face. "You've got to kidding me..."
"There's more to it than that, of course." Kirigiri pushed back her pale hair. "My impression is that the stakeholders are using this opportunity to purge the leadership of Hope's Peak alumni. They've likely concluded that anyone who was even slightly proximal to Enoshima represents a possible security risk. Given recent events, it's not hard to see why."
Makoto rolled his eyes. "Sure. Because that's not victim blaming at all or anything."
She smirked a little. "In general, while the board still seems willing to employ Ultimate Talents... it appears that they intend for control to pass into more... 'normal' hands. Even Togami's only being allowed to stay on because of his resources, and he's likely to be sidelined from any major decisions."
"And you're just accepting this?"
She turned away from him. "... I see little point in fighting their decision. The last thing the Foundation needs at this juncture is a protracted struggle for power. And besides - they could be right. Perhaps Hope's Peak has done enough damage to the world, and it's past time the rest of humanity takes charge..."
"And in any case... my motives are hardly unselfish." Kirigiri gave him a hollow smile. "In all honesty, I have missed investigative work. And while I do not regret my time here in the slightest... I would be lying if I said I've not been struggling with boredom for quite some time now."
Yeah, well, if that's the case, Makoto thought, then why do you look so miserable? He bit his tongue, though, and let his voice go soft. "So... I guess that's it then, huh? You've made up your mind?"
Kirigiri shifted her eyes away from him. "... yes."
Makoto nodded slowly. "Okay. If that's what you want."
She couldn't meet his gaze.
"Besides... it's not like I'm in any place to judge," Makoto added casually. "I just quit myself."
There was a brief pause.
Kirigiri's head shot up, her eyes wide. "You what?!"
"I quit." Makoto tried to repress a grin and failed. "Sent in my resignation letter an hour ago. And yeah, I know - kind of a dick move on my part. Probably should've given them two weeks notice and all. Just couldn't be helped..."
Kirigiri turned and marched over to him, her back ramrod straight. She slapped Makoto across the face. "... ow," he muttered. Okay, maybe not quite the way he'd imagined this conversation going...
"You idiot," Kirigiri growled icily. "What were you thinking? What about your promise to Munakata?! Your plans for the Academy?!"
Makoto shrugged. "It's not like I gave him a timeline or anything, right? And besides - sounds to me like anything Hope's Peak-related is gonna be a non-starter around here for a while."
"The Foundation needs you," Kyoko insisted. "The world needs you here. And you're going to throw that all away for - what? Some stupid gesture of defiance?!"
"You've got that wrong!"
"Then what could you possibly -"
"Back when you were in that coma, I made a promise to myself, all right?!" Makoto stuck out his jaw. "I told myself that if you ever woke up, I was never gonna take my eyes off you again!"
Kyoko froze.
"... which - okay - sounds kind of creepy and controlling, now that I've heard it said out loud," he added hastily. "I am totally willing to pull that back some. The main thing is... wherever you are, that's where I want to be from now on. Okay? Either watching your back or by your side." He coughed. "If... you know. If that's okay with you and everything."
She stared at him. "Naegi..."
"And besides... I kinda like the sound of this detective thing." Makoto gave her a lopsided smile. "You remember all the stuff we had to let go, right? All the crimes and abuses we had to ignore so we could focus on the bigger picture. It'd be nice to do something about that, now that things are a little more stable, you know? That's a way to spread hope, too..."
For the first time in recent memory, Kirigiri seemed to be at a complete loss for words. She opened her mouth, then closed it, her eyes swelling with what might have been the start of tears.
"So... what do you say?" Makota grinned and offered her his hand, pinky extended. "Partners?"
AUTHOR'S NOTES
So I'm obviously ignoring that "several months later" title that pops up in the epilogue of Side: Hope. Well, that, or just creatively reinterpretating the definition of "several." (I mean, that could mean anything, right? Could be six months, could be twenty-four...)
For once, I actually have a completed piece on my hands. I'll be posting a (fairly short) chapter every night from tonight (December 7, 2018) on, schedule permitting, for a total of nine parts.
Like what you've read here? Consider sending me a tip via That One Site That Must Not Be Named! Page at (patrick minus ick plus eon) dot com slash philopoemen.
