Chapter 12
After towel folding, Gumi and Kaito had been called to stage setup and had made their way directly to it. Upon arriving there were quite a few familiar faces that she had not seen in a while. Miki waved to her beckoning them to come over to her and Mikuo. She made her way over.
"Hey gumi! Guess what you'll never believe I'm working the same shift as Mikuo, isn't that great!" Miki squealed, shaking her.
"Um, yeah." Gumi said sounding happy for her but feeling awfully sorry for Mikuo. Suddenly Mikuo tapped her shoulder and pulled her aside a good distance away from the others, hushing his tone.
"Gumi, I think I have an idea of how we can solve this." She resisted the urge to look back, she didn't want to seem suspicious. Mikuo took out the sliver of paper, she had forgotten she still had that.
"See I took a look at this yesterday night. It has writing on it, only a little bit but if we do some research we might be able to find out what book this belongs too and then…"
Gumi almost jumped at him with delight, but settled for arching her eyebrows.
"We find our culprit."
"Bingo." He winked, unfolding the paper.
"What's written on it?" She asked, standing up on her toes trying to peer at the paper, Mikuo was quite a bit taller than her.
"Well, the last few letters on it spell out u.n.e." Doubt suddenly sunk her balloon.
"There could be so many books that end with that…"
"Hey its another lead isn't it?" He was at least right about that bit, and did have a point but searching for that book could take days; Weeks even.
"It's alright all books ending with 'une' were only released a little while ago. Also it just so happens that the library here is also the book store." He smirked, reveling in his sentence of brilliance.
"So then we just have to go check out who signed out or bought any of those books." Gumi said, staring puzzled by her friend but she knew enough to grasp it.
"Yeah." Her balloon was floating again seemingly unharmed by the doubt she felt earlier.
"So how soon can we go?" She asked rather impatiently.
"As soon as we can." Both nodded to each other aware of their plans for later.
"You guys are going somewhere?" Miki cut in. "No fair we are supposed to hang out in a group." She complained attempting the puppy look with Mikuo.
"Your so annoying." A familiar arrogant voice called in the background. It was Galaco.
"Can't you see these two are a couple leave them be. They don't want you around." Miki stood there looking extremely hurt and for a minute Gumi actually felt…she stopped herself there. What was she just about to say?
"Mikuo…Gumi is…that true?" She asked glancing back and fourth between the two. Both couldn't think of anything to say. Thankfully that truthful silence didn't happen, because a pink haired woman came over and pulled Galaco into a hug.
"Don't bully these people Galaco you don't understand their relationship."
"Luka!" Galaco screamed jumping and throwing her arms around her. Luka let go of Galaco, standing up straight to address Gumi, Miki and Mikuo. She pulled her long pinkalicious curls off the shoulder of her blindly white blazer. Perfectly fitted, hugging all the right places. Gumi noticed the shimmering of the gold cuffs, as she bent over and adjusted her navy blue skirt. Her long legs and shiny black heels grabbed everyone's attention. Especially male attention.
"I'm Luka." She smiled shaking Gumi's hand followed by the others. Miki refused the handshake when she got to her, obviously jealous.
"I'm Gumi this is Mikuo and that's Miki." Gumi said, introducing all her friends.
"Nice to meet you Gumi." Luka smiled, extending her hand again. Again she shook it.
Gumi glanced up at Mikuo who to her surprise wasn't gawking at her. He actually seemed fundamentally uninterested. Galaco broke the handshakes.
"Dont touch my Luka! She is a wonderful idol and isn't to be sullied by the likes of you all. You-you commoners!"
"Galaco!" Luka yelled at her turning and scolding her on how to be polite before sending her off in the other direction. Then she focused her attention back on them.
"I'm so sorry about that. She has a lot of pride but she really is a sweet kid deep down."
"Deep down? Where? In the depths of her core?" Mikuo said, Luka giggled.
"Guess you could say that." She smiled at him flirtatiously, blinking her eyes checking him out.
"Look I may be an idol but I'm really down to earth. If you need someone to talk to I give pretty good advice." She seemed down to earth but her whole world was obviously up in the clouds.
"Stages ready!" Kaito called from a distance, Luka waved before trotting over. Soon enough she was up on the stage singing her heart out. Her voice was astonishing, and harmonic. If that's the sound you needed to become an idol Gumi was far from it.
She didn't even know how to sing really, and so she didn't. All of Lukas singing notes were in perfect harmony with the guitar she was playing.
After Luka was done singing, she sat down in a chair. Taking a few sips from her water bottle.
"See that! Luka has a beautiful voice." Galaco bragged like she was the one who had just sung.
"S-she's not the only one!" Miki yelled nearly deafening Gumi there was a strange sense of deja-vu.
"Then why don't we all show we can sing." Teto suggested butting in. Miku blushed in the corner agreeing with the contest. Then one by one they all agreed until only Gumi was left.
"Uh, I guess." Not like she had a choice but to say yes. Obviously she couldn't say no.
Then all the guys grabbed seats, soon even Meiko was present infront of them. Over by the door Gumi spotted Len. Wasn't he the one that left earlier? Galaco waved to him cheerfully motioning him over to a front view. From that Gumi inferred that those two had plans.
Until it was their turn all girls were instructed to sit in the crowd. First up was Luka, singing a song called "Just be friends."
Second up was the ever so arrogant Galaco singing a song called "Galaxias." complete with dancing, which was surprisingly entertaining to watch. It was her new hit single. Even in her singing she still had that proud sassiness.
Above her head on the stage screen was her music video playing. Galaco managed to pull of every move flawlessly, Rubbing it in afterwards. Galaco then strode off and selected songs for Miki, Miku, and Gumi to sing.
Miki was first which was a new experience for Gumi, she had never heard Miki sing ever. Unfortunately Miki really could sing and good too. Before allowing her on stage they changed her outfit. It fit her personality, and so did the song it was called "Miki Miki Romantic night."
Miku was next and she sang a song called "Hirari, Hirari." It fit her and she played the piano all by herself for the song.
She might have been mistaken but the song had a hint of sadness behind it, she probably was. Still every note she sang flowed out smoothly, this sad song didn't go with her personality but she pulled it off.
After Miku, Teto sang a song she had written herself called "Confront! You look so cool." Finally Gumi was up.
Galaco had picked her song which already wasn't a good sign. She had done well with everyone else's, so there was a small bit of hope. However, Galaco didn't seem to like her or anybody that wasn't a star. Though she didn't seem like the type to deliberately choose bad songs just so she could further prove their incompetence.
Mikuo waited patiently in the crowd as Gumi disappeared to back stage. Soon enough she emerged again, in a school uniform holding a guitar. She looked good in it.
The music started and Gumi began to sing a song called "My unrequited feelings for you." She actually liked it up on stage. She felt powerful and got quite into it the more she sang. It was quite easy to sing with the words infront of her. She didn't play the guitar though, didn't know how. She did fake it though.
When the song was nearing it's end Gumi finished strong, milking the last note for all it was worth. Then she stepped down off the stage. Mikuo got up from his seat and walked over to her. Clapping with everyone over her performance. Then he leaned in, again hushing his tone.
"Um…do you think we can get to where we have to go now?" Her trance was broken.
"Yeah! I'm sorry I completely forgot" He laughed.
"It's fine. Hey, you did great up there." He smiled.
"Thanks." She mumbled heading back stage to change. She couldn't help but feel like he was watching as she walked away. Which was flattering for some reason.
"What do you mean your not allowed to give out that information!?" She yelled slamming her hands down on the library counter.
"I'm sorry Miss but we aren't allowed to." The old man repeated himself for about the tenth time.
She was ready to scream at him again. This crusty old man had no idea what they needed it for. Incoherent of the fact that they were trying to solve a crime here.
"If we don't get that information then we won't be able to catch a criminal!" She yelled again gripping the counter. Mikuo moved her aside.
"I'm sorry for my friends rude behaviour, but we really do need to see the check out list sir." The old man looked up at him and scowled.
"Nobody is seeing this list any time soon so you can cut out the act pretty boy." That really pulled the trigger.
He reached over the counter and grabbed the man by his shirt.
"Look! Were not asking you to solve world hunger here! Just show us the damn list!" He yelled violently shaking the old man. This time she had to stop him.
"Give it up Mikuo he's not going to budge." Letting go of the man, he sighed feeling defeated.
"We can't just give up this is the only lead we have." He groaned running his fingers through his hair frustrated, he had worked hard for the lead too. Gumi smiled.
"Not anymore." Pointing her finger at to the librarian he had grabbed earlier. Right there in the chair the old man had passed out, obviously earlier had terrified him. Enough to pass out after being dropped back into a chair.
There were some screams behind them and a woman threatened to call the police. Staring horrified that an old man had just received elder abuse right infront of her. So they booked it.
A few blocks later she slowed her pace and pulled aside to an alleyway. Jogging to a stop beside Mikuo leaning over panting heavily. Her legs a little stiff from running so long at such a speed.
Everything was just so frustrating! The second lead they had, was being denied to them. Even though she had explained exactly what it was for. Maybe people just didn't take too kindly to investigations without a permit.
What else could she do though? The police certainty weren't getting anywhere and she wasn't about to risk the "was it legal or not to, not only go into but actually take something from a crime scene" thing.
Again their investigation was going nowhere and it wasn't going too if they didn't get that list. Sighing she stood back up, suddenly though she was pinned under Mikuo up against the wall, her breath caught in her throat.
"Mikuo what are-" He placed a hand over her mouth before she could finish, looking out onto the street. Running past them was a police squad lead by the librarian that had been temporarily unconscious earlier. Screaming at them to find the two hooligans that had terrorized his library.
Looking into his eyes Mikuo had all his attention on the street, yet still just enough on her that she wasn't squished and she felt protected. Those brilliant eyes of his weren't focused on her. She bit her lip what was she thinking?
He was close too close for her own comfort, but it wasn't necessarily uncomfortable. He smelt nice as weird as that sounds he did. His cologne wasn't strong, but it was a scent she could get lost in. One that was really, him.
She bit harder, sending a quick pain to her nerve system, and her thoughts changed. She had basically grown up with him after all so it wasn't too weird.
For a second her face felt warm and she realized she was blushing, the pain wasn't working. That into account she pulled her hood over and hid her face.
Mikuo obviously misunderstood this action because he also pulled his hood up. She assumed that he thought she was disguising herself, which was partially true.
She was on the wall for what seemed like an eternity and actually longer than necessary, but then again it didn't feel long enough. Since Mikuo hadn't let up off of her until he was sure every last cop had gone by. She shook her head what exactly was she thinking about...then again there was never really one assigned topic when it came to her thoughts.
This was her friend, childhood friend to be specific. He was only looking out for her nothing else. She repeated this in her head, locking out everything else.
When Mikuo was sure, he moved off her staring directly at her.
"You alright?" He asked pulling off his hood.
"Yeah." She held her hood down over her face as far as it could go as she talked.
"Just a little um..warm is all."
"Lucky, I'm freezing." He said taking a step out of the alley looking back waiting for her. Him being cold was true she had felt it on the wall.
He was warm for the most part but his hands were especially cold. So on her walk over she took one. Immediately feeling Mikuo's eyes on her questionably as she did, however he didn't let go either.
"Don't take this the wrong way, I'm just trying to warm you up and I sorta owe you for back there." She meant to say it proudly but it came out more like nervous gibberish.
"I know." He smiled and instantly she let go quickening her step feeling embarrassed for even mentioning it when he hadn't taken it the wrong way.
Mikuo's pace felt like it had slowed behind her when she had let go.
"My hand is still cold." He complained from behind.
"Too bad…" She shot back. Still he reached out and took her hand smiling down at her when she didn't pull away.
The blushing had subsided but she was still gonna keep her hood down, just to be safe. Examining the area ahead before they made a mad dash to the intersection out of the area, continuing on their way back.
When they reached the intersection, the only one left to cross before they got back to the hotel he tugged her hand.
"Gumi I feel really uneasy." Mikuo said staring at the ground.
"Why?"
"It's just that you saw Len earlier right," she nodded "If they got Rin wouldn't they want to get Len too? That's how criminals think right? He's a loose end. Even if he didn't really see anything."
She turned around to face him.
"How does that make him a loose end? Len is just-" But she was cut off by the familiar catastrophic crashing metal sound behind them.
