The Traveller was a strange person, a person full of mysteries and puzzles just waiting to be cracked open and solved. At the same time, they were so open as if they held no secret as they wore their feelings on their sleeves. The Traveller was a walking corundum and it excites Heizou.
Today was his birthday, he had taken the day off his detective work, a surprise from many who knew him. It was not the mystery of his work that he wanted to solve today but the ever changing puzzle of the Traveller that he wanted to see that day.
However, to ask that of the Traveller, he needed to offer something in return, an equivalent exchange one could say. They were not friends, acquaintances maybe, but they were not close enough to ask for something and expect nothing in return… Or perhaps the Traveller would, based on the rumours he had heard.
…At least, that was the plan until he received mail from the Traveller. They had given him a puzzle box, simple at a glance but when he actually tried to solve it, the mechanisms turned out to be far more complicated. There was a letter that came with his gift, a simple letter with only two words on it. 'Happy birthday!' it said.
Had he told the Traveller when his birthday was or was it something they had learned from one of his colleagues?
It was a well thought out gift, one that fitted him, embodied him. It was a gift that asked for nothing in return and it confused Heizou. This was not what equivalent exchange meant!
Perhaps he could get a gift for the Traveller… except then they might think they owed him a debt and this cycle of gifting would never come to an end. He could return the gift but then they might think he did not like the gift they had picked out for him. Perhaps he could cook something for the Traveller but it would be the same as getting a gift for them. This puzzle was far too difficult to solve compared to the hardest case he had ever worked on.
Was it a debt if he were to offer his services as a form for repayment in the future?
An idea came to mind and Heizou dashed into his office to procure some writing materials. His colleagues had been surprised to see him as he climbed through the open window to reach his desk and just as confused to see him leave immediately after grabbing a stack of empty papers, ink, and a brush.
Heizou sat down on the rooftop of the Tenryou Commission headquarters, the writing materials placed in a pile in front of him. He picked up a blank sheet of paper and began to write, only to crumple it and cast it aside when he realised it started to look like a case report instead of a letter. He started on another fresh sheet of paper, only to crumple it and cast it aside again when he realised he struck off too many lines until he had only half a paper left to write the letter. He eventually settled for something short and to the point, no need for flowery words, just put all of his thoughts and write everything down.
He remembered the wooden puzzle box, the same one in his pockets right now, the very one that the Traveller had gifted him for no reason other than it was his birthday.
Ooohh, it's a great day today.
You immediately understood what I meant, right?
A cycle of never ending gifts and giving, some people would love that, to be appreciated and to appreciate but that was something that confounded Heizou, confuses him. An unsolvable puzzle because he could not understand the logic behind it.
But I'm in such a delicate situation that I don't have the appetite for dinner. You see, I can't directly invite you as a guest, because you might think that I'm expecting a gift!
The Traveller was a friend, an acquaintance. They expect nothing in return and fundamentally, there was nothing wrong with it.
We just became friends, I don't want you to think that I'm someone who takes advantage of others' kindness.
An equivalent exchange is the best kind of relationship. For a gift of a puzzle, Heizou would offer his services free of charge to solve one in exchange… But there was nothing wrong in offering his services to solve two, right? Was it still an equivalent exchange? Or does it not matter because they were friends now, whether recent or not?
Oh! How about this: you help me with this dilemma of wanting to see you but being afraid of offending you, and I'll help you with a puzzle you want to solve.
If one puzzle isn't enough for you... Let's say two puzzles, because I would like you to gain from this exchange.
He could almost picture the confused expression on the Traveller's face, one of stunned confusion. Perhaps it was because they thought differently from him, their logic so different from his.
Hey now, don't just look stunned after reading this! You know where to find me.
Well, if they have questions or are in need of his services, he would always be here waiting for them.
A/N: I wrote this before doing the hangout so I apologise if he's out of character.