A bit of a random idea this was. Thought it was cool concept, feels nice to be working on this again.
"Junko!"
"Junko-chan!"
The ruffling upstairs became more frantic, as it seems someone just realised they're out of time.
"Damn it!" She cursed loudly while scavenging for a hair tie for her pony tail. Her hair accessories box's contents were mostly spewed out on the bed, in a desperate plight to find what she was looking for.
"Have you seen my flower hair tie?" She called down the stairs.
"No! Just use the ribbons I gave you." Her ears perked up, at the mention of one of her more valuable hair decorations. While it may seem like an afterthought for most people, it was valuable beyond belief; it was handed down to her by her mother.
"I can't wear those; it's not a special occasion!" Her mother shrugged, not wondering what the problem was.
"Just imagine every occasion as a special occasion, see justification." She was practical to the end, almost to a fault some people say. The teenager sighed, she really didn't have time and she didn't want to hold up her auntie any longer.
"Fine I'll wear them." She took the blue and silver ribbons and carefully tied her cobalt blue hair in a neat ponytail.
"…And done…" She said as she gave a quick look in the mirror. She wore a white polo shirt with tracksuit bottoms, complete for a casual day out. She checked to see if her hair was alright before flicking her hair over her shoulder and strutting out of the room. She was met at the bottom of the stairs which what only could be an exasperated smile.
"Glad to see you're finally down, you know you couldn't keep her waiting forever."
"Yes mother..." Junko said blandly. Naoto leaned against the doorframe of the living room casually, her foot taping rhythmically against the floor in patience. She herself was sporting a simple blue blouse and pair boot-cut jeans. Her hair tied in a small ponytail. Junko's expression brought a smile to Naoto as she looked on at her daughter.
Junko couldn't have made her any more proud to be a mother. She had the same slim frame as her mother did at her age with the height to go with it too. But her face wasn't as sharp as the head of the Shirogane estate; her eyes weren't as calculating, but mixed in with the same warmth that was contained in her father's. She still had very tomboyish tendencies as her mom but not to the same extent like her mother's teenage years. Her blue hair was a shaded mix of Naoto's Navy and Souji's silver. It was long, straight and flowed gracefully down her back.
Every time Naoto looked at her she could see her post school mid university years staring back at her. It always brought a smile to the sleuth no matter what mood she's in.
"By the way, where is Dad? He didn't tell me where he was going."
"He took Yuu-kun fishing again; the weather was good enough to go apparently." Junko sighed as her auntie poked her head through the door.
"What is his obsession with fishing, it's almost like he's training Yuu from a young age…" She said with a mild frown.
"Trust me he's been obsessed with it since before we started dating." Naoto sighed replicating her daughter bringing a small laugh from a waiting Nanako at the door.
"And considering how Yuu-kun, is like he'll grow up enjoying it like his father."
"Are you day dreaming Mum?" Naoto shook her head.
"No, reminiscing."
"Anyway I should go; I don't want to hold up Auntie Nanako any longer than I have too."
"Don't worry we have all the time in the world." Her Auntie reassured but Junko shook her head.
"No no, you are taking me shopping, the least I can do is be on time." Nanako wearing a bright yellow sundress shot her a sweet smile before looking at the sleuth.
"Anything else big sis?" She asked, referring to the long time affectionate name she had used since Naoto's teenage years.
"No, as long as Junko has her watch then it's fine."
"Something important about it?"
"It's-"
"My mum would prefer to know where I am at all times…" Junko turned to her with a sigh. "She tends to be a bit paranoid."
Naoto scoffed.
"Working in the crime investigation industry does that to you. I've had too many near misses to take the chance. Sorry Junko." Naoto told her, voice a deadpan tone.
"Well it's not like I'll fall through a TV or something..."
The two women traded glances and then laughed nervously at the joke leaving the teen confused.
"What?"
"Nothing…" Naoto shrugged off hoping to change the subject.
"Yeah, well we'll get going. Send Big Bro and Yuuta-kun my love; hopefully I'll see them when we get back." Nanako wrapped up, now urgent to leave the house.
Naoto nodded and gave her sister-in-law(ish) a smile of gratitude.
"Just try to bring her back as she left." Nanako laughed while Junko gave an exasperated sigh.
"Mum…"
"Will do, I wouldn't hear the end of it from Big Bro if I didn't." Naoto grinned knowing what her husband is like.
"Take care you two; phone me if you need anything."
"Yeah!" they said unison before the door closed abruptly cutting off the communication between the three. Naoto took another look at the door before pushing herself up from the wall she was leaning against. Looking around she gave one more huff before putting her hands on her hips.
"A couple more errands to do then I'll go see them."
It only took another hour until Naoto was done with some of the laundry left over from a recent trip she had and filing the evaluation documents before sending them to the estate for post investigation assessment. She smiled at her handy work, happy to see that she got it out of the way quicker than expected. With that she put on her spring jacket, her trademark hat and her bag filled with candles and flowers and set off out the house with a muted thump from the door hitting the frame.
She laughed to herself noticing that the family Subaru Impreza Wagon was still left in the drive way meaning Souji and Yuuta left the house without it. Not much of a surprise considering its how Souji is but leave it to him to make a mundane task like travelling a little harder than it should be.
'Especially with all of the fishing equipment...'
She sighed realising after she was done she could have the opportunity to pick them up and noting that the work car could still hold two adults and a child with the equipment with ease, she could go with that. With a shrug and a twirl of the keys she jumped in and pulled out of the drive way before shooting off to her destination.
The drive was short, but enough to sort out the thoughts she had in her head. She did this once every two months and it was almost like tradition. She occasionally took Yuu-kun when he was just a toddler but now, she didn't mind the privacy, it made this easier especially with how good Yuuta was at picking up other people's emotions.
'Just like his father.'
The Bentley Mulsanne pulled up at the Yasoinaba cemetery parking lot before being parked sensibly on the far side to give people easy access in and out of the area. She got out of the car and quickly went to the back to retrieve her bag and some flowers and bundled them into her arms. Spinning on her heel, she kicked the back seat shut before fumbling with the keys to lock it. After successfully hearing the small click and the red light beginning to flash, she gave herself a small smile in the side mirror before walking into the complex.
The walk was quiet, with the occasional footsteps of others passing in the distance and the whistling of the leaves in the wind. The deeper Naoto got amongst the tombstones, the tighter she held her bags and flowers. While it was only subconsciously, she could feel the stifling spiritual air that clung to the area.
After a few paces she got to a cornered off section, the same section that always sent a shiver down her spine, and turned any smile she had into a small frown.
She looked at the cosmic blue marble tombstones imprinted with the family emblem she stopped in front of. They were still as pristine in a condition as they were laid.
Matsuda Shirogane
Karen Shirogane
Koji & Shino Shirogane
She looked at the set of three before setting candles at each of them before pulling out a lighter from her back pocket and lit them carefully, making sure it didn't go out in the wind. She set down a small bouquet of assorted flowers at each tombstone before lowering her head to recite a small prayer.
"I hope you are all doing well?" She asked to the air and was replied with the wisp of the wind around her.
"Good, I just wanted to give you an updated on how we've been doing. The renovation to the Shirogane Estate is almost done. Now staff members will now have living quarters within estate, the place was too big for me and Souji so I hope you don't mind me making use of it like this, Yakushiji-san has had his work cut out looking over it. I must admit I've grown addicted to the small and humble home I'm used to with Souji-kun. Jun-chan and Yuu-kun seems happy with it but I do make sure there is enough space for everyone."
She took a deep breath to gather her thoughts. Even though she was hoping her relatives could hear her, it still made her nervous as she could feel their presence in the air.
"Yuu-kun is really growing up. He's almost the spitting image of his dad at a young age but he has my sharp eyes. I'm sure it scares some of the other children at his school. He's so hyper and all over the place, reminds me of myself when I was small..."
She trailed off, thoughts of the hyper active Yuuta running himself ragged in excitement constantly.
"Junko has matured so much lately. She's also gaining a love for technology. While she is not into law and criminal studies, she's definitely found an interest in the equipment me and Souji use. She's been more curious lately as the things I built as a child. She definitely has the Shirogane blood within her. It's so exciting to see my own daughter to take so much of an interest in things."
Her jacket flapped in the wind she enclosed her arms around herself. No matter how many times she did this, it never made this any easier.
"Souji is doing well; he's regarded as one of the best lecturers in his field of psychology in Japan and is always striving to be better. I think it's the ability to change what mask depending on the person makes it easy for him. He's also an amazing hand in and around the house. Also he's contribution to the Shirogane Estate has been second to none. He's still a little reckless though; it's getting harder to keep him in line."
She laughed as an image of Souji's goofy smile came into her vision. But she shook her head knowing that she should draw it to a close before she ended up breaking down. It was never fun when that happens
"I want to thank everyone here, without all of you as guidance, I would have never been able to grow up the detective or be able to be the confident person I am now. I was worried about so much but the fact you all believed in me made it so much easier. I wish you all continue to guide me in life. I will continue to lead the Shirogane name with honour and respect." She said holding back a tear.
She looked down to her feet, as her mind tried to find a way to say goodbye.
"I'll be back soon, please take care of each other..."
She took a second to compose herself.
"...Where ever you are."
She laid a white card on each respective tombstone carefully, placing it so the wind couldn't blow it away. She stood up, fixing her jacket and hat into place before giving a gentle nod. Making sure the bag was secure on her shoulder she turned to leave, only leaving the wind to keep her relatives company for now.
"I should go pick Souji and Yuu-kun now, I'm sure they wouldn't mind an easy trip back home."
She took one last look at the graves before walking off.
Please continue to bless and watch over us.
Naoto Shirogane-Seta
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