A/N: Hi! I'm sorry I haven't updated in a bit, I've been very busy. School and Such! I know I don't reply to reviews and stuff and I'm sorry about that but I'm literally just very lazy. Here's some stuff you can learn about me! I run awkward-akutagawa on tumblr, I write a twitter au over there that is my own original content and this fic is cross-posted on ao3 under the same name.

If you play BSD mayoi (Eng), my code is: 794414069580

Most of the chatter after Kunikida's apology was mindless, just pointing out things that had happened and questioning the Black Lizards and Higuchi. Kyouka had joined in, now hovering near Dazai and occasionally asking him questions about his time in the Port Mafia. Dazai didn't give much away, only explaining that he was higher ranked than her.

Atsushi sat with Kenji and Kunikida as Kenji cheerfully gave Kunikida some things he had noticed while fighting the Black Lizard.

Ranpo chugged his ramune cheerfully and asked for more as Yosano swatted at him, telling him that it was bad for his health and he obliged, crossing his arms and sticking out his tongue at her.

It was peaceful.

Maddie rolls her eyes, "Let's go," She says her voice brisk and everyone obeyed, heading back to their seats.

The office is a wreck. Atsushi gazes around the agency. We were attacked. But we fought them off with little effort. I suppose we are a force to be reckoned with.

"No shit, Atsushi," Ranpo says, "We can't be around for this long without being really strong,"

Atsushi rubs the back of his neck, embarrassed. "Yea…"

Kyouka nods, "The Port Mafia does not like the Agency because they are so difficult to destroy."

"Good," scoffs Kunikida, "I don't think I want to be liked by the Port Mafia."

The agency were quickly and effectively cleaning the room with practiced ease. All were working hard, except Ranpo who swirls his ramune, making his marble clink the sides of the bottle.

Atsushi eyes him.

"OOHHH," Dazai sings, "Atsushi, do you have something to tell us?"

Ranpo looks at Atsushi as the man in question burns with heat and embarrassment.

"Uhhh."

Dazai laughs, " It's ok, Atsushi, no need to be embarrassed about it."

He winks, "I thought Ranpo was annoying at first too," Dazai mutters into Atsushi's ear as the tiger-boy gets redder and redder.

Ranpo hands the bottle to a nearby secretary, "Haruno can you take the marble out of this bottle for me?"

Haruno nods pleasantly, "Of course!"

"He wants the marble?" Atsushi questions.

"Of course!" Ranpo says, swinging his arms, almost whacking a thoroughly wet Kenji in the face.

Kenji's sweet smile doesn't change as he mutters something inaudible into Ranpo's ear which makes the detective scoot several inches away from the farm-boy.

Haruno used a small mallet to break open the bottle and handed Ranpo the marble.

"Will this do Ranpo?" She asks, as he smiles.

"Yes," he says gazing at the marble, "Marbles are great, aren't they?"

"They sure are!" Haruno beams.

Atsushi moves over to Kunikida, "Isn't Ranpo going to help?"

"Why would I do that?" Ranpo argues as the ADA watches him, "A good detective doesn't need to get his hands dirty to help others."

Yosano sighs, "It might do you some good to get some experience, Ranpo."

Her face twists mockingly, "Maybe you can actually learn to take the train."

She bursts into laughter as Ranpo shouts half-hearted threats at her. Kyouka watches in confusion.

Kunikida hums with confusion.

"Kunikida!"Atsushi says, but get interrupted by Ranpo jumping off his desk.

"I need to go work on a case!"

Kunikida doesn't look up, "Ah, you are assisting with a case today?"

Ranpo simply laughs, "The police around here can't do a thing without me. It's cause my "Ultra Deduction" is the strongest ability in the agency, NO, the whole country! It's no wonder everyone depends on me!"

As on-screen Ranpo talks, Atsushi remembers a conversation he had with Dazai…

"Oh no.."

He grabs Dazai's sleeve and tugs hard. Dazai turns his warm gaze to Atsushi, who mutters quickly.

"What if the show shows our conversation about Ranpo?"

Dazai cocks his head to the side, "That could be an issue," He looks at Ranpo's beaming face, "If he loses confidence.."

Atsushi swallows thickly, trying not to think about the consequences of the Agency's detective losing his spark.

"Oh no."

"We are counting on you, Ranpo!" Kunikida says nicely. Atsushi narrows his eyes furiously.

"As long as you get that although you are a detective agency, your skills are mediocre at best." Ranpo snarks, "The only reason we function at all is cause of 'Ultra Deduction."

Haruno simply smiles, "It sure is wonderful! Who would've thought there was an ability that lets a person understand exactly what happened in a situation?"

Kunikida agrees, "It is the ideal ability for anyone in the agency, or really ever to have."

"Naturally," Ranpo says cheekily.

"I'm glad you all appreciate my ability and it's power," Ranpo says as Tanizaki rolls his eyes behind him.

Naomi pipes up, "Yes! Your ability is truly one of a kind,"

Ranpo laughs, "It is isn't it!"

Atsushi and Dazai give each other a glance that Kunikida doesn't miss.

"What are you two planning?" He asks as Atsushi nervously replies.

"Dazai explained Ranpo's 'ability' to me after he solved this case."

Kunikida registers this with a blink.

"Oh god."

The look on Atsushi's face as the ADA praise Ranpo is very uncomfortable, but he swallows his pride and goes back to cleaning.

"Kid," says Kunikida, grabbing Atsushi's arm, "Go with Ranpo. Don't worry about cleaning, we will handle it. You can go by train."

"I'm his assistant today?" asks Atsushi, "Am I ready for this responsibility?"

"Of course you are Atsushi," Naomi says, laughing, "You've done a great job in this agency so far!"

Atsushi laughs awkwardly, "Thank you Naomi."

Dazai simply smiles to himself.

Ranpo laughs, "Don't be silly."

Atsushi's annoyed expression deepens as Ranpo continues, "I'm not a second-rate detective who needs an assistant."

"Then why should I-"

Ranpo wags his finger at him, "I don't know how to take the train."

"Why don't you know how to take the train?" Atsushi asks Ranpo, who shrugs.

"I never saw the point to it." answered Ranpo with a shrug, "It's not relevant to my time."

"Yes," replies Atsushi, "But don't you want to be an effective human being."

"Not really."

Atsushi doesn't know what to say to that so he just shuts his mouth.

The title of the episode flashes by, "Murder on D Street."

The scene shows Atsushi sitting across from Ranpo, who stares at the marble.

"Ooh.." Ranpo smiles at his marble,

Atsushi regards him, ' I was surprised at how much Ranpo didn't know. He couldn't even buy a ticket or use a ticket gate or where the platforms where… I bet he's useless without his ability..'

"Hey!" shouts Ranpo, offended on his own behalf.

Tanizaki laughs, "You need more social awareness, Ranpo. I bet lots of people think that about you!"

Ranpo rolls his eyes, "I'm going to use that to my advantage."

"Sure," says Tanizaki, "If you can remember."

Atsushi had to grab Ranpo to stop him from going crazy on Tanizaki.

The scene cuts to a group of policemen with an older one in front, looking furious, "You are late.."

Ranpo chuckles, "Who are you? Where's Yasui?"

The policeman sighs, "I'm Minoura.. Yasui's successor. My department is handling this case. Go home.."

"He's a bitch," Ranpo informed them.

Dazai chuckled into his hand while Kunikida snorted next to him.

"I only speak the truth," Ranpo said to them, with a smile.

Ranpo sounds even more amused than before, "Don't be stupid. These kinds of cases ar always handled by a great detectives like me. Everyone knows that."

Minoura smirks at Ranpo, "Not for today. One of my officers died."

" I didn't know it was a officer," Yosano said, "That almost makes it worse.."

"It does," Ranpo says, "It means that not even the police are safe."

Yosano nodded, "That will build up fear if it was a chain murder case. It was lucky that it wasn't."

Ranpo falls silent and his always-present smile disappears for a bit. Atsushi peers over Ranpo's shoulder, "What?"

He stares at the wet body of a young woman, covered in blood. Ranpo, standing besides him, takes off his hat, "A woman…"

Another police officer speaks up, "Her body was discovered floating in the river this morning." He seems oddly quiet.

"That's Sugimoto!" Dazai says, "The guy who killed her."

The ADA members who hadn't been there leaned forwards to watch Sugimoto, hoping to catch what Ranpo had seen.

"I'm seeing him from a whole new perspective," murmurs Atsushi to Dazai who nods.

"It's odd to re see these scenes knowing how it ends," Dazai says, 'But it won't be that way for long."

Minoura sighs and looks at him, "Three bullets to the chest. We don't know when or where, and we can't find any casings."

Ranpo adjusts his stance, "Got any leads?"

Minoura's face says it all, Ranpo's grin widens, "You have nothing!"

"What is this odd man's issue with Ranpo?" Kyouka asked Atsushi with confusion in her voice.

Atsushi smirked, 'I bet he's jealous," He smiled as Ranpo whipped his head around as he heard Atsushi's compliment.

Kenji laughed, "Ranpo is too attention hungry."

"A truer statement has never been said," Naomi sighed.

"Which is all the more reason we can't leave this in the hands of untrained detectives," Minoura scoffs.

"Sir!" shouts a police officer, Minoura turns around.

"We've got someone in the net!" the police shout, watching a net lift slowly up from the river. Atsushi turns away from Ranpo and Minoura, "What's happening over there?"

"What is happening over there?" Tanizaki asks Atsushi, who just glares at Dazai, "What do you think?"

Kenji claps his hands, "Dazai is being stupid again."

"Absolutely," Atsushi agrees, ignoring Dazai's whine of protest.

A polite looking officer answers him, "We set up a net to make sure no evidence washes away."

"IT'S A BODY!" comes a shout and everyone runs over to see.

"A second victim?" Atsushi asks.

Kunikida eyes Dazai's beaming face, "Seriously? No qualms about our reputation?"

Dazaai shrugged his shoulders and laughed while Yosano sighed, "Do you really expect otherwise at this point, Kunikida?"

"Of course not."

The crane lifts up slowly to reveal….

"Hello Atsushi! Fancy seeing you here!"

Dazai hangs upside-down in front of Atsushi with a beaming smile on his face.

"Were...you trying to drown yourself again?" Atsushi says awkwardly as the police stare stunned.

"Honestly Atsushi," sighs Dazai, "Do you expect any different from me at this point?"

Atsushi wish he could smack Dazai in the face without it being considered rude.

"Why do you want to die so much anyways?" Kenji cocks his head.

Dazai's eyes grow cold, almost evil, "I do not really know.."

Everyone stared at him as he fell silent, staring at the floor. Fukuzawa adjusted his seat and spoke, "It does not matter why Dazai feels this way. He is valued here, we shouldn't question it."

Kyouka watched Dazai closely, her blue eyes stormy, Very odd, Does he regret, like I do?

"Oh come on," Dazai sounds very annoyed, "Solo suicide is so last year. I understand now. If I should die then I should do it with a beautiful woman. A lover's suicide! Music to my ears, The idea of dying alone is very depressing, Don't you think? I'm on the lookout for a woman who would like to die with me."

Atsushi blinks nervously, "Then, how did you end up like this?"

"That is a simple one!" Dazai laughs, "I was just floating in the river!"

"Right…" Atsushi drawls, unconcerned.

Dazai seems to realize Atsushi is in front of him, "What are you doing here, Atsushi?"

"This is why you should be at every briefing," Tanizaki says annoyed, "That way you would've known that we sent Ranpo and Atsushi to go investigate."

Dazai rolls his eyes, "Where's the fun in that?"

Kenji claps his hands, "I do like having fun!"

"Sometimes disobeying is the most fun!" Dazai says dreamily.

Kenji bumps up and down in his seat, "THAT DOES SOUND FUN!"

"NO," shouted Kunikida, "NO CORRUPTING THE YOUTH!"

Kyouka punched the couch, "CORRUPT THE YOUTH!"

"NNOOO," Kunikida's voice grew more desperate as Dazai's smile grew at the rebellion of the youth.

Atsushi buried himself in his hands, "Why me?"

"We are here on a case," informs Atsushi.

Dazai cocks his head, "A case? What kind?"

The scene cuts to Dazai screaming hysterically, "W-what? A beautiful woman like this? Her life is gone.."

He waves his arms, "It's so tragic, she could have at least died with me!"

Atsushi rolls his eyes and Minoura looks at Ranpo, "Who is this?"

"A colleague," Ranpo sounds unconcerned, "He does this a lot."

Dazai clutches his chest, "RANPO YOU WOUND ME!"

Ranpo rolled his eyes, "Get over it Dazai. We all bully you"

"That's true," Yosano stroked her hair out of her face.

"Literally everyone does," Naomi nodded in agreement.

"AUGGH!" Dazai fell back off the tower, "YOU ALL!"

"Someone get me out of here," squeaked Atsushi.

Dazai jumps to his feet, "Never fear, my dead love! Our detective extraordinaire will reveal your mystery! Isn't that correct, Ranpo?"

Ranpo breathes heavily, "I still haven't been asked to do so."

"Huh?" asks Dazai, "What do you mean?"

Ranpo points to Minoura, "Ask him."

Minoura is barely fazed by Ranpo's finger-pointing, "We don't need detectives. The fact is that my officers are properly trained and far more capable than any private detective."

Ranpo grins in an almost maniac way, "Is that so?"

"Bad move on that guy's part," Kunikida says, "Ranpo's going to destroy him."

"He did," Atsushi says, lifting up his head, "It was honestly pretty awesome."

Ranpo's face flushed at that, "Thank you Atsushi."

He adjusts his hand and points at the nice officer from earlier, "You there! What's your name?"

He salutes clumsily, "I'm Officer Sugimoto. The dead woman was my superior, Yamagiwa."

"Ok, Sugimoto," Ranpo grins, "Solve this case in 60 seconds."

"WHAT!" shrieks Sugimoto, shocked.

"A bit odd of a question to ask," observed Kunikida, "Now that you know he killed her."

"In hindsight it is a bit ironic," Dazai scratched his head.

Ranpo sighed, "I already knew it was him when I asked him. So it is not ironic, merely funny!"

"And how did you deduce that?" Yosano smiles, knowing full well he won't tell her.

"WONT TELL YOU!" Ranpo throws his arms up, dumping his ramune on Kenji again.

Ranpo beams a Minoura, "I can do it in less. If he is superior to me, then he should be able to."

Minoura remains silent.

Ranpo stares at Sugimoto, "Let's hear it!"

Sugimoto flips out, pulling his hair, "Isn't 60 seconds a bit short?"

"50 left!" sings Ranpi causing Sugimoto to panic even more.

Atsushi watched Sugimoto with pity, 'I would've reacted like that too."

"I bet Atsushi would've been great under this pressure," Kyouka said softly while Atsushi burned his face in his hands again, "N-not really Kyouka."

Dazai gazed at Kyouka, whose face remained flat but a small smile on her face reminded him of himself.

Oh Akutagawa, you crazy Rabid Dog. I bet you wanted to make her just like I would've wanted you too.

I don't want that anymore.

Dazai just sighs.

"OH I KNOW! Yamagiwa was investigating a political corruption case and the Port Mafia activities. The mafia kill people just like this when they retaliate. Perhaps Yamagiwa got too close to someth-"

Dazai's voice grows very serious, "No."

They all look at him, "The retaliation of the Port Mafia is very specific, like a calling card. They make the traitor bite down on a stone step and stomp on their jaw, shattering it. Then they roll over the victim and shoot three bullets into their chest."

Atsushi fights the urge to vomit..

The ADA looks over at Dazai.

"I'm assuming you know this because of your background," Kunikida makes some notes.

Dazai's gaze goes cold, "It was so brutal.."

The room fall silent once again.

"I'll regret it for the rest of my life," Dazai breathes.

Fukuzawa smiles. That's what he had hoped for.

"Well.. that is true.." Sugimoto is cut off by Dazai, "This is similar, but not exact. Which means.."

Minoura sighs, "The killer was trying to frame the Port Mafia."

"How can they fire two more bullets into a person.. Just to hide their tracks.." Sugimoto murmurs.

"THERE!" Atsushi stands up and points, "That's what gave him away to Dazai!"

Yosano cracks her neck, "An odd choice of words, Sugimoto. It will be your downfall," She raised her knife with a smirk.

Kyouka squints, "He is a very bad liar. He is too nervous. You can see the sweat."

The ADA glances at her in surprise, she shrugs, "My executive taught me to pay attention to detail."

"TIME'S UP!' shouts Ranpo, giving Sugimoto a heart attack.

Ranpo patted Sugimoto on the shoulder with pity, "Too bad guess you have some ways to go before you reach my level."

"At the very least," Ranpo turns on Minoura with a smirk, "You've proved that your subordinates aren't all superior to me."

"And don't you forget it!" Ranpo laughed, as Kenji gave him a hard slap on the back.

Ranpo choked on his ramune and Kenji leaned over and whispered in his ear, "Stop spilling your ramune on me."

Ranpo moved away from Kenji, nervously.

Minoura rolls his eyes, "Cut the crap! You talk on and on about deduction and good detectives, but you read too much pulp fiction."

"A case should be solved through investigation and interviews," Minoura says, clearly irritated.

"WHA?" Ranpo exagerates his movement, "When are you going to realize it? A great detective doesn't "do" investigations! My ability, Ultra Deduction can instantly figure out the killer as wells as how and when the murder was committed."

Atsushi leaned over to Dazai, "I still don't think we should finish this episode, Ranpo will be crushed."

Dazai sighed, "I know but we can't."

He glances at Maddie who glares back, "She won't let us."

Atsushi makes an annoyed sound but glances worriedly at Ranpo, who sits and talks, blissfully ignorant.

Ranpo gestures wildly, "I can also make the killer confess and all the evidence."

Ranpo's bright green eyes dance with laughter as he glances at Minoura with a smirk, "I am gifted after all."

Minoura responds flatly, "Given my line of work, I am aware of the gifted people. But if you have such a convenient ability, why do I still have a job?"

Ranpo points a finger at Minoura, "Now your'e asking the right questions!"

The ADA chuckled as a whole at that, but Kyouka tilts her head, "Those detectives are not very good at their jobs are they?"

This cause another round of laughter which Kyouka glows in.

Minoura's face goes from slightly annoyed to full on rage, "You bastard!"

Blinking with shock, Ranpo moves backwards as Dazai jumps in front of him.

Dazai waves his hands apologetically, "Ranpo is always like this!"

"After all!" Ranpo says, a title card appearing next to him, "My motto is, All's well that ends well for me!"

Atsushi watches, even more confused and irritated, his title card showing his motto, "What's better than being alive?"

Dazai watches them both amused, his card reading, "Have a cheerful and energetic suicide!"

"Why is your motto that Atsushi?" Kenji asks, "Mine is a very happy one! It does you benefit to be happy!"

"Hmm," Atsushi thought about it, "I guess that makes sense."

"My personal motto is 'Hurt people who hurt you, but be kind if people are kind to you.," Yosano smiled.

"Mine is "Don't touch my sister." Tanizaki says murderously.

"Charming," Dazai grinned.

"Alright," Minoura agrees, "Since you seem to love you ability so much, let's see it!"

"OH?" Grins Ranpo, "Are you asking me to take the case? You should've just asked me from the beginning!"

Minoura's face shows that he's not convinced, "You have too much confidence about this difficult case, despite there being almost zero evidence. Do you need me to count to sixty?"

He's clearly mocking Ranpo, who just grins, "I won't need that long.."

"I had basically figured it out at this point!" Ranpo told them with a smirk, "I just needed my ability to put all the pieces together."

Kunikida sighed as he looked at Ranpo sadly.

You're so much smarter than that.

Dazai and Atsushi watch from the sidelines, Dazai grins, "Watch closely Atsushi. This is the ability at the center of the Agency. Once he puts on those glasses.."

Ranpo grabs the glasses out of his pocket as Dazai continues narrating, "Ranpo's Ultra Deduction activates."

Atsushi watches in absolute amazement, Ranpo's ability reveals the truth of a case. Does such a gift truly exist?

As Ranpo activates his ability, Dazai's face is shown behind him, his brown eyes narrowed.

Ranpo's title card for Ultra Deduction pops up, breaking apart. After the light around him stops, he takes a breath

Ranpo must have a title to fool the audience into thinking he has an ability. Dazai realized. But we all know he doesn't and that's why my face was shown.

Ranpo now believes he has an ability just like all of us.

This might not end well.

Everyone stares at him as he begins to speak, "I see."

Minoura scoffs, "I see, my ass. Do you really know who the killer is?"

"Of course!" Agrees Ranpo, pointing a finger, "It was you."

"That's right," Ranpo's eye glitters, "The killer is… Sergent Sugimoto!"

The man in question balks at the accusation, "W-what?"

"R-ranpo?" Asks Atsushi.

He is interrupted by a laugh from Minoura, "Sugimoto is my subordinate, He wouldn't."

"He did," Ranpo confirms

Minoura continues protesting, "Why would the killer stay around after they murdered someone?"

"That's the stupidest question I've ever heard." Yosano says angrily, "Why would a killer not stick around?"

Atsushi sighed, "Why wouldn't they leave? It is a crime they committed? They should run away."

"Most killers like to stick around, either to destroy evidence or to see their handiwork." Ranpo says calmly.

"It's why the Port Mafia is so odd, they never seem hung up about their deaths." Kenji says.

Kyouka and Dazai both get quiet, He has no idea.

"He wants to stay close to the case, because he is the killer," Ranpo says with a smile, "and I can prove it!"

Ranpo turns to Sugimoto, "Give me your gun."

"W-what?" Sugimoto protests, "I can't give my gun to a civilian!"

Ranpo sighs, "I was hoping you'd have a point."

"That just makes it look worse," points out Tanizaki, "He looks more guilty now."

"And he knows it!" Ranpo says joyously, "And that's why he's even more nervous!"

"The perfect crime is hard to commit," Kunikida says, "It'd be weird if there was no evidence."

Ranpo laughed, "There is always evidence."

"Are you detectives just talk?" Minoura glowers.

"If we examine that gun and come up empty," Ranpo teases, "Then I really will be a dumbass running my mouth."

This is enough to prompt Minoura to agree to Ranpo's demand, "Sugimoto, show him your gun."

Sugimoto tries to protest and Minoura gets even angrier, "If we can disprove him, he'll shut up and go home. We can't waste time. Show him your gun."

Sugimoto remains silent, pissing off Minoura even more.

"He can't get out of this easily," Yosano sighs, "Thirty yen says he fires his gun."

"I'll take that bet," Tanizaki says, "Fifty yen says he tries to!"

"Can we not bet on this?" Kunikida growls, "We don't really get the best paychecks anyways."

"Nonsense!" Tanizaki beams, " It's all good fun!"

Kunikida goes bad to writing. I live with a bunch of morons.

"Hey, what's the matter?"

Ranpo answers, "Even in Yokohama, it's not easy to get spare ammo, even harder if the firearm is government-issued."

His confidence gets Minoura even more worried, "Sugimoto?!"

"He's thinking," Ranpo says calmly, "If we see his gun, then we will see the three bullets he used to shoot her are missing from his gun."

Sugimoto swallows hard and Minoura shouts, "SUGIMOTO! SHOW US YOUR GUN!"

Sugimoto's face remains clouded and he's shaking a bit, He reaches for his gun.

"Yes, " Yosano bangs her hands on the table, "FIRE!"

"NO DON'T" Tanizaki says with a chant of his own.

As the two of them bang tables, Kenji starts banging his table followed by Kyouka, who doesn't bang for any reason except the fact that the others are doing it,

Bunch of idiots, Kunikida thinks.

"Not good," mutters Dazai right as Sugimoto aims at Ranpo.

He shoves Atsushi towards Sugimoto, "Atsushi! GO!"

Atsushi slams into Sugimoto, knocking him to the floor. Atsushi quickly jumps on top of the policeman, pinning him to the floor as the police make their arrest.

"YAY!" Tanizaki jeers, "Thank you Atsushi!"

"I didn't do anything," Atsushi mumbles, "Dazai did."

"You just won me fifty yen from Yosano so I think not!" Tanizaki grins as Yosano pulls the yen out of her purse and hands it over.

Atsushi continues squeaking that he wasn't very useful while Kyouka pats him on the back.

"You did good Atsushi!" She tells him.

"Let me go!"

"Running away will not help," Ranpo says, " The murder took place early yesterday morning, in the abandoned shipyard about 140 meters upstream from here."

"H-how.." Asks Sugimoto, but Ranpo leans down and continues, "If we go there, we can find your footprints, and the bloodstains you couldn't clean."

Sugimoto repeats his question, "H-how? Nobody could've known."

"He admitted it!" Ranpo says waving his arms, "He's a s good as a criminal now!"

"He already was a criminal when he shot her. This doesn't change anything." Kunikida sighs, "A criminal is still a criminal."

"UNLESS ITS ME OR KYOUKA! R-R-R-RIGHT KUNIKID-D-DA," sang Dazai, "YOU LOVE US!"

"I love Kyouka but not you."

Kyouka's face flushed a bit after that, "Thank you Kunikida."

Minoura is more subdued after this, just telling the other policeman to go to the station.

The scene changes to Sugimoto in an interrogation room with Minoura and Ranpo, "I didn't intend to shoot her."

He takes a breath and begins his story, "She was going after a certain politician for corruption. What they didn't predict was she actually found evidence of a major Diet member's crime. However the Diet member was smart and used a mole inside the police."

"And that was you," Ranpo says cheerily.

"It sucks to know that there are corrupt people in the police force." Dazai sighed, "It makes the Mafia's job way easier. That way they can get info from people who are weak enough."

"Weak enough?" Asks Kyouka.

"To be seduced," said Dazai, "The Port Mafia is intoxicating but people join it for so many reasons. Normally for selfish purposes, but sometimes people have a noble purpose."

"Noble purpose?" Kunikida snarls, "Who the hell joins for a noble purpose?"

"Akutagawa did, in a way."

Dazai closes his mouth after that bombshell ad closes his eyes.

"WHAT!"

"Akutagawa?" Atsushi says, "How?"

Dazai smiles, "You'll have to see."

Kyouka blinks hard. Noble purpose..

Sugimoto flinches, but nods. "I'd always wanted to be a police officer. After failing the exam three times, I grew depressed, then he reached out to me, asking me if I'd do anything to become a cop. I joined the police force with the guy's help. I followed his orders in return."

Minoura, obviously angry, slams his hand onto the table, "Did you kill her as one of his dogs?"

"NO!" Shouts Sugimoto, "I was trying to warn her, I told her that she'd get herself killed if she didn't give up the evidence. But she.."

"He's sick," Kunikida says, "A criminal is a criminal. But," He adjusts his glasses, "He has reasoning."

"If you can call it that," Ranpo says, "Desperation for a job isn't a good excuse."

"I wouldn't go that far," Atsushi said, "Even when I was desperate."

"No sane person would, " Yosano sighs.

The scene displays a flashback of Sugimoto and Yamagiwa standing in the shipyard.

"He's taking this very seriously," Sugimots tells her, but she sighs, "Then I will take him seriously as well. I have talked to a prosecutor I know. I'm going to hand over the evidence."

He raises a gun at her to her shock.

"What did I tell you?" Yosano sighed, "No sane person."

"I suppose," Kenji says, "But in a way, he was trying to protect her."

"By harming her?" Naomi says, "That is not protection."

Kyouka nods, remembering Kouyou. Harming her is not protection.

"Hand over the evidence, please." Sugimoto says, "If I fail in this, he will call a hitman. Just stop here."

Yamagiwa remains calm, "Hand over the gun. You can't shoot me."

"That's right," says Sugimoto, "That's why.."

He raises the gun to his forehead, "I have another way to force you,"

"DON'T!" Shrieks Yamagiwa, running at him. She grabs the gun to pull it away from his head and he closes his eyes.

Bang.

"Oh my.."

The ADA watched in horror as the scene unfolded, "Oh.."

"It was bad hearing it described." Atsushi comments, "This is so much worse."

Ranpo was completely silent, I didn't think…

I was so correct.

The gun goes off. Sugimoto opens his eyes to see Yamagiwa has been shot. Her mouth moves but no sound comes out. She crashes to the floor.

"If you did nothing," Ranpo narrates, "You'd be convicted. In a panic you could only think of one person to go to. Irony at its finest. When you called the Diet member, he told you to fire two more shots into her chest to frame the Mafia. Then you put the body in a river to delay discovery."

"Where is the evidence Yamagiwa had," asks Minoura, "The Diet member is responsible for her death."

"What is the Diet?" Atsushi asks Dazai.

"An enemy," Dazai responds, "To both the ADA and the Mafia."

Tanizaki blinks, "We have an enemy in common?"

"Yes" Kunikida answers, "That's good, that means the Mafia will take care of it most likely."

Atsushi flinches hard at that idea.

"Hey Sugimoto," Ranpo says suddenly, the man in question looking at him.

"I can guess what her final words to you were." Ranpo slides over to Sugimoto and whispers in his ear…

"I'm sorry."

With that Sugimoto breaks, "You really see everything, don't you?" He says tears rolling down his face.

"Ranpo," Atsushi says sadly, "That was needlessly cruel."

"Does it look like I care?" Ranpo chewed on a chewy candy with a smirk.

Atsushi put his head between his legs, Reminds me of the emotional manipulation at the orphanage.

Dazai patted his hair with sympathy.

"The evidence is in my desk drawer."

Ranpo leads Atsushi and Dazai out of the police station but stops as Minoura thanks him for his work and apologizes for being mean.

"If you need me then feel free to ask," Ranpo says, "I'll give you a discount next time," which Minoura laughs at, "Sure."

Atsushi and Dazai follow Ranpo back the ADA, walking a bit behind him.

"Ranpo was really cool!" Atsushi ghushes to Dazai, "I had no idea he'd figured everything out! His ability sure is something!"

"Thank you Atsushi!" Ranpo says happily, "I'm glad you enjoyed my show!"

Atsushi nods, "You are welcome Ranpo!"

Dazai eyes Ranpo, He's not going to take this well at all.

Dazai gazes at Ranpo's back, "I could've figured out some of it."

"Some of?"

"The case!" Dazai replies, "About how Ranpo figured it out."

"Really now?" Ranpo raised an eyebrow, "Would you care to explain?"

Dazai giggled, "I'm about to!"

Atsushi looks confused, "But he said his ability lets him know instantly?"

"Oh yea!" Dazai grins, "You don't know yet! Ranpo isn't gifted at all."

"HHH?" Squeaks Atsushi.

The ADA turns to Ranpo, who is deathly quiet.

"Ranpo.." Yosano says, "A-are you ok?"

Ranpo breathed in, "Y-yea.."

They all knew didn't they. They knew.. And they let me live that.

Atsushi smiles and moves over to Ranpo, and whispers to him, "This isn't the end of the conversation."

Ranpo looks back up at the screen.

"Ranpo is a rare ungifted Agency member!" Dazai informs him, "Although he believes that he is using an ability, he isn't. Also he's actually one of the older Agency members at about 26."

"Your'e kidding." Atsushi says, flatly.

"The reason why everyone at the Agency respects Ranpo is because we know Ultra Deduction isn't an ability," Dazai smiles fondly.

"W-what?" Ranpo says, his voice watery, "Y=you guys knew a-and respected me and…"

He trails off with a sob, but Atsushi rubs his back and smiles.

"yea.."

"We did."

"Today was the first time I saw it," Dazai explains to Atsushi, "When he was using his 'ability' I was actually pinching his hair."

He waves an arm, "My ability can cancel out another's. In a sense I'm anti-gifted, Since Ranpo could still operate, It means Ultra Deduction is not an ability."

"It's not?" Atsushi questions, "Then how'd he.."

"Pure logic!" Sings Dazai.

"But it took him no time at all?"

"That's Ranpo for you," says Yosano with a smile.

"Always smarter than everyone else," Kenji laughs.

The others chorus in their praises for Ranpo, who smiles and lets the water drip down.

"Thank you.."

Dazai shakes his head, "Actually it was rather obvious. Remember what he said?"

A flashback occurs showing Sugimoto, "Shooting two extra rounds into the body, just for that?"

Dazai shrugs, "How could he have known she died from the first bullet if there was no autopsy?"

"Dazai!" Ranpo beams through his tears, "You noticed it?"

"YEA!" Dazai said, "I learned from observation!"

"Ew" Naomi says, "Nerd bonding."

Both men stuck their tongues out at her, which caused more laughter.

"Cause he was the shooter," concludes Atsushi, "He also knew when it happened?"

Dazai nods, "The body was still in good condition, that says at most it was floating for a day. Also, even those yesterday was Tuesday, which is a work day, she had no makeup on. She must work late at night. And if the murder occurred in the morning, she wouldn't had the time to put on makeup."

"Dazai Is really clever," Atsushi says, "I didn't notice any these things."

Dazai smirks, "Mafia training at its finest. Also when I decided to join the ADA I studied up on detective work."

He shrugs, "Comes with training for me."

Ranpo smirked, "Mine's natural I suppose."

"But what about the crime scene and that she was threatened by him?" Atsushi asks curiously.

Dazai chuckles, "Ill admit, I don't know! Ranpo probably caught way more details than I can!"

Atsushi laughs with him, "That's even guessed her final words."

"Oh that," Dazai's face falls, "She was supposedly single, but she was wearing an expensive watch. It's not something a single woman whole buy for herself. Sugimoto was wearing the men's version of that watch."

"Then.. they were.."

Dazai continues, "She went to meet him early in the morning without makeup."

"They were dating," Atsushi realizes.

"That's the most brutal part of it," Ranpo says as the others gasp in horror, "They loved each other."

"And yet," said Kenji solemnly, "He still pointed a gun at her."

"That is true," Tanizaki replied, 'But his urge to protect her makes sense now."

"It's why he couldn't smash her jaw to make it look like the Mafia," points out Dazai, "He couldn't do it to her."

"The ability to see all that," Dazai says, "Would be par for the corse if it was an actual more. Nothing less. But Ranpo does it all with pure brains, he's solved dozens of cases. He's never been wrong, even with nothing to go off of."

As Atsushi begins to realize how much Ranpo does, the man in question shouts at him, "HEY GUIDE! I CANT FIND MY WAY BACK TO THE AGENCY ON MY OWN!"

As Ranpo sulks, Atsushi speaks, "I get it now."

Dazia cockshies head and Atsushi continues, "Why everyone respects Ranpo."

Dazai and Atsushi smile and Ranpo cluelessly beams back.

"All's well that ends well for me!"

After the episode ended they all looked at Ranpo, who had small tears on his face.

"I knew it." He told them, "I somehow knew it but.."

"I still think you are cool Ranpo!" Kyouka said suddenly, which caused Ranpo to break down into more hysterical sobbing.

"THANK YOU ANGEL CHILD!"

"A-angel," Kyouka wondered, looking up as Dazai ruffled her hair, "Angel."

Ranpo continued to sob hysterically, and Yosano sat next to him. She awkwardly patted his arm and he grabbed her and hugged her.

With an eye roll, she hugged him back as the ADA watched.