"Why? Why did they do that? She didn't deserve it. How dare you do that to her, you sick bastard. And after she went out of her way to help you."

"There. It's done. It's okay, they deserved it. Isn't that right, Senpai?"

"Augh!" A loud growl came from the small speaker. "I can't believe I have to be gone this weekend. Are you gonna be all right without me, Naruhodou-kun?"

"Calm down," I said with a smile. "I'll be fine. You just focus on your-" I tried to remember the word. "-ceremony thing."

"You'd better not have any exciting mysteries without me!"

I laughed.

"I can't make any promises. You know how crazy our lives are. Well, I'll see you in a week, Mayoi-chan. Bye."

"See you later."

A beep went from my small phone.

I'm Naruhodou Ryuuichi, I'm a fairly experienced defense lawyer. The girl I'd been speaking to was Ayasato Mayoi, a teenager who's my friend and assistant, and also like a little sister to me.

She normally lives with me in our office, but that weekend she'd been summoned to her home village for some type of spirit ritual. To this day I still don't understand it completely, maybe I should've asked her more about it before she suddenly had to catch the train. She didn't even have time to tell me about it before she ran to the station, only able to tell me about it on the phone.

While it was somewhat peaceful without Mayoi-chan in the same room as me, not having to listen to her excitedly yell at the TV screen over some annoying cartoon, it was also a bit boring, being by myself in this large and empty office.

Looking around my then peaceful quarters, I let out a sigh that didn't really reflect any emotion.

I opened the window to welcome in some fresh air, letting in a thick piece of paper that seemed to be stuck in between the window's edge and the wall next to it.

(That's weird,) I thought. (How'd that get in there?)

I picked up the paper and curiously turned it over, seeing there was writing on it with alien handwriting.

("You're Naruhodou Ryuuichi-san, aren't you? We need your help. Murders have been recurring frequently in my home town, Teiryo. I've heard from a reliable source that you've solved several cases before in the past, so I beg of you to come over to Teiryo and help me. I'm afraid I can't give you my name, but maybe I might if I see you here.")

I didn't quite know what to think when I read the letter. Not only was I confused as to how someone managed to stick a note in the window to my two story office, I was curious as to who they were, why they couldn't tell me their name, and what was the meaning behind these murders.

It's true, I have solved several cases before in my career, but I think they misunderstood. I only investigate to defend my client to help prove them innocent, I don't investigate unless I have someone to defend.

Still, I was intrigued.

(Looks like I found something to keep my mind off Mayoi-chan.)

After about an hour of flying on a plane, I reached Teiryo, a small and quaint little town that didn't seem to be populated of too many people.

(Everyone seems happy and carefree,) I noticed. (Not like they're living in a place where murders happen often.)

The town was so small it was easy to notice a bride and a groom running out of a Church into a limo from the side walk. It was hard not to smile at the happiness on the newly found couple's faces.

Watching them drive off made me reflect on the topic of romance. I'd always wanted to get married myself, but the one girl I had a crush on sadly passed away. Mayoi-chan's younger cousin, Harumi-chan, thinks her cousin and I would make an "adorable" pairing. I love Mayoi-chan, but I could never see us as anything more than friends. Plus, she's a little young for me.

(Hmm,) I thought. (Settling down.)

[Would be awesome]

Would be interfering

(You know, that actually wouldn't be such a bad idea.)

A streak of red and silver flashed before my eyes. I stopped in my tracks, my gut tightening and a warmth spreading across my cheeks.

The door in front of me swung open, hitting me in the face. I held my nose and took a step back, letting out a cry of pain. Coming from behind the door, no doubt from hearing my cry, was a man who resembled the red and silver that made me stop and get hit, with a face I'd recognize anywhere.

"Mitsurugi?"

"Naruhodou?"

Though I recognized his appearance and his usual deep voice as my old friend, I doubted it was really him. Because judging by his slight smile and the way his eyes lit up, he looked happy to see me.

"Oh, thank goodness," he whispered to himself, and then slightly louder, "Do me a favor, play dead."

He stepped forward and punched me where the door had landed, knocking my skull against the sidewalk.

"Would you wait, attorney-san!?" From behind my eyelids, I heard a voice that was hard to distinguish between feminine and masculine. "I'm just asking for a little-"

"Oh my gosh!" Mitsurugi cried as I felt him hold my head. "Someone's unconscious! Did I do that when I slammed open the door!?" He whispered in my ear, "Play dead or I'll kill you."

(Yup, that's definitely Mitsurugi.)

I felt him lift me up on his back.

"Perhaps we can do this some other time, I have to get this man to a hospital. Well, have a good day."

He sounded rushed, and desperate to evacuate the situation. After a few seconds, I opened my eyes and turned around to see whoever he was fleeing from wasn't pursuing us. I looked forward to see he was indeed carrying me on his back. I sat up slightly, holding myself up on his shoulders.

"You know," I said, "why do I see you everywhere I go?"

Mitsurugi stood up straight, knocking the back of my head against the ground again.

"I should be asking you that," he said. "It's almost like you're stalking me. What're you even doing here?"

I slowly stood up, rubbing my head in pain.

"I got a letter from someone," I said as I handed him the paper. "They said they had a mystery for me."

He took it from me, and pulled out another paper, looking back and forth at them.

"It seems someone wants us both to work on this case." He looked up at me, a familiar challenging smirk on his lips, and his eyes slightly narrowed. "But it says nothing about me solving it before you do."

I felt my face take on a similar expression.

"Is that a challenge?"

"Maybe."

"You're being so immature"

["Sounds like fun."]

"You know what? That sounds like fun, Mitsurugi."

My silver haired rival walked behind me, still smiling.

"You know, I'd hate to leave you like this while I have such a major lead."

"Major lead? How long have you been here?"

"Almost the whole day," he replied with a bit of pride in his voice. "It would get pretty boring if you weren't at least one lead away, so I'll go ahead and give you a hint. All of the murders have something to do with a girl named Savuru Drou."

Without saying anything else, I heard him walk away from me. Keeping my head forward, I walked straight ahead.

It was a complicated relationship of ours, me and Mitsurugi. Little did I know then that by accepting his challenge, I was about to complicate it even further.

(Savuru Drou,) I thought to myself. (All right. I'll find her and question her. See if you can solve this case before me, Mitsurugi Reiji!)

A/N: Phew. Finally got this down on paper. Everything just seemed to flow out naturally, I have the entire thing planned. Okay, now, I'd better answer some questions that I can already tell people are gonna ask... Like, why am I using the Japanese names? Because I prefer the Japanese translation to this series. That is all. And why did I take out Mayoi? I like her, I really do, buuut I couldn't think of what she'd do in this story, so I had to take her out. What is Teiryo? It's a random town I made up. Hey, it's better than any of the crap the English translation threw in. What are those brackets? I'm going to be telling this somewhat to how the games are, so I'll be having two options on screen, and the option in brackets is the option I'm selecting. So, what will happen in this mystery? What will complicate Ryuuichi and Reiji's relationship? Tune in next time, suckers!