A/N: This chapter is my contribution for Saimatsu Week 2022 Day One, and it takes place before "Kiki and Shuichi Go to College!" Please read, review, and enjoy!
The Ultimate Detective and The Ultimate Hope Gaiden: Saimatsu Week 2022!
Day One: Pregame!
"Aren't you bringing any of your detective gear with you to college, Shuichi?" Kaede asked as she filled one of the cardboard boxes with assorted games.
Shuichi smiled awkwardly, shaking his head. "Ah, no." He denied, stacking his folded clothes in his suitcase. "I'm majoring in Criminal Justice, not Detective Work. There's not much reason for me to bring anything related to the trade with me."
"Still, think about it!" Kaede exclaimed excitedly. "You and Kiki are probably gonna be the only professional detectives attending your college! You guys could start your own little detective agency on campus!"
Shuichi laughed at the absurdity of the fantasy Kaede had concocted. "Kaede, I know we got training from my uncle and Kyoko Naegi, but we're not professional detectives. We never even registered with the Detective Library."
"Your uncle is though, right?" Kaede pressed. "Did you ever tell me what his rank is? I…kinda forgot if we ever talked about it before."
"Ah, well…technically, yes, he did register when it rebuilt after the Tragedy." Shuichi nodded. "He never told me his full rank, but he did say he didn't have a particular specialization, so it must have started with the number zero."
"Your uncle's office deals with runaways, right?" Kaede asked.
"Runaways, inheritance disputes, small cases that the DSC doesn't deem important enough to give their own category. My uncle never really cared about rising up through the ranks. He just wanted to help people however he could, so that's why he started the small, private firm and never tried to expand it. I think it keeps him down to earth and relatable. Even though neither of us will reach the caliber of the Naegis, I think my uncle's policies are good ones…and they're ones I've strived to emulate."
"That's why you and Kiki enjoyed working with your uncle, right? Kiki's told me how much fun she's had working with you in that office."
Shuichi laughed, his cheeks turning pink. "Yeah…she's a really good detective in her own right, once she's in an environment that compliments her strengths. Of course, she's not the same kind of detective as her mother's was…but if Mrs. Naegi's words are true…" Shuichi grimaced. "…Then it's a good thing that Kiki's a different kind of detective than what the Kirigiri creed called for."
"The Kirigiri Creed?" Kaede tilted her head curiously.
Shuichi nodded. "I've only heard bits and pieced from Mrs. Naegi during the time I was training under her tutelage, but basically, in order to become an efficient investigator, her grandfather trained her to hide her emotions. It…was an effective training theory. Kiki's great-grandfather did help create the DSC, and Mrs. Naegi was the Ultimate Detective…but I'm not sure we would have made such great detective partners if she followed the same creed her mother was taught."
Kaede smirked teasingly as she closed the box. "She's become really important to you, hasn't she, Shuichi? I don't think I've ever seen you have enough games to pack a whole box full before you attended Hope's Peak."
Shuichi smiled awkwardly. "Yeah…she…got me into these. We often played them together with Tsumugi and Gonta after we were done studying…and sometimes Kirumi if Kiki could get her way." Shuichi shook his head, musing, "Honestly…I don't know what we did to deserve having a friend like her. She's really changed us for the better." He looked up at Kaede's grin, his brow furrowing in confusion. "What are you…?"
"Shuichi, I know a crush when I see one, and lemme tell you…you've got it bad for Miss Naegi!"
Shuichi sighed in annoyance, shutting his suitcase with a rather loud click. "Kaede, we already get enough teasing from Tsumugi. Please don't go teasing us about a nonexistent crush every time you see us."
"Denial is more than just a river in Egypt, Shuichi." Kaede giggled. "When you talked about her, you got that same, awestruck look in your eyes that you did when you talked to me. You know, when we still dated?"
"Kaede, please!" Shuichi begged. "Please, just drop it!"
Kaede frowned apologetically, realizing she had taken her teasing too far. "Sorry, I didn't mean to make you upset. I just…look, you're my ex, Shuichi. Even though I don't love you romantically anymore, you're still really important to me. And Kiki's come to grow on me, too. She'd have to after traveling to France just to interrogate me."
That's right, she did do that… Shuichi recalled. She really is a good friend for doing that…the best…
"My point is…I just want you two to be happy. That smile you had when we dated…I just…thought that she was the one to make you smile like that again." She sighed, relenting, "But if you insist, I won't bring it up anymore." Shuichi sighed in relief before Kaede noted, "Thogh I am surprised you two aren't helping each other pack, considering you're gonna be going to the same school together."
"She's got her whole family to help her out, including her mother, who trained abroad in Europe. I think she's got packing covered." Shuichi remarked before smiling gratefully at Kaede. "Thanks for helping me out, Kaede. It's good to have the help of someone who's already had the experience of moving away for school."
Kaede nodded with a smile. "Happy to help, Shuichi. Though I am surprised you asked me for help. I may not have any plans to travel abroad for now, but I figured your aunt and uncle would have been helping you pack."
"Ah, well, I figured since you were in Japan again, it'd be a good opportunity to catch up. Speaking of which, what are your plans, now that you've finished music school?"
"Well…" Kaede hummed, her melodic tune reminding Shuichi of why he fell for her when they were kids. "I was thinking…maybe I'd go on tour. You know, travel from prefecture to prefecture, make audiences around Japan smile from my melodies on the piano? That sounds like a dream come true!" Kaede giggled sheepishly. "It…probably sounds like a silly dream, doesn't it?"
Shuichi shook his head. "No, that sounds like an amazing dream, Kaede. I'll be sure to come see your show when you start it!"
"Thanks, Shuichi. It means a lot to me. Make sure to bring all of your friends, too, okay? I wanna see all their smiles during my recitals."
Shuichi laughed. "Sure, we'll all come!" A thought came to the young detective-in-training. "By the way…have you met anyone special in your life?"
Kaede pouted, crossing her arms over her breasts. "No fair, Saihara-kun!" Seeing Shuichi's rare, teasing grin, Kaede sighed and caved. "She really has brought you out of your shell, hasn't she?" Before Shuichi could say anything, Kaede agreed "Alright, but there's not much to tell."
Shuichi raised a brow, curious about Kaede's answer. "What do you mean? I'm sure lots of French guys must have been falling head over heel for you!"
Kaede giggled. "Thanks, Shuichi. It's not that I didn't have my suitors, but…" Kaede shyly fiddled with a music pin in her hair. "Like…how do I put this? I may not be crushing on you anymore…but that doesn't mean you didn't leave an impact on my life."
"Kaede…"
"You…you really set a standard for my tastes in men, Shuichi. I didn't wanna settle for the first French smooth-talker to ask me out, you know? I wanted someone who was kind, compassionate, determined…you know…like you, but…not so stubborn when it comes to not having faith in yourself."
"Kaede…" Shuichi bit his lip, hesitating before he asked the question on his mind. "Did you…ever regret…our breakup?"
Kaede bit her lip, trying to collect her thoughts. "…Sometimes…Sometimes I wondered if I made the right choice. I really am sorry I never told you the truth that day. I really did just want you to be happy, and I thought it would be with someone other than me."
Shuichi nodded. "I know that now, Kaede. And…I don't know if it was because of your breakup…but I really have changed for the better. I do have some more faith in myself, at least. I was able to help out Kiki when she needed it. All in all, I think I turned out okay. And I know someday…we'll find someone we can share our hearts with."
Kaede smiled before she drew the stunned Shuichi into a hug. "Thanks, Shuichi. I needed to hear that."
"Ah…no problem…though we should probably finish packing…"
Smiling sheepishly, Kaede released him before turning to the box she just sealed. "Okay, I just sealed up your box of games. I'll pack up your books now too, okay?"
Shuichi smiled, turning back to the suitcase. Once he unlocked it, he opened it and continued to put away his clothes.
Kiki may be important to me as my friend…but Kaede's really important to me, too. I really want to see her dream come true, even if standing at her side as she accomplishes it is no longer a reality.
