Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Danganronpa.
Chapter 23:
The Ultimate Mission
He was flying. He was actually in the air right now, flying like a bird. The best part was that he didn't have to do anything but sit back and enjoy the ride.
Just how could technology be this amazing!?
It was clear that this was quite an experience for Naruto, to be riding one of these so-called jet planes. It was almost surreal. Naruto had once joked about wanting to walk on air, but in this dimension people had already made that a reality!
Well, sort of. It wasn't walking per se. But it was close enough.
At first, Naruto had to hold on to his seat for dear life as the jet took off from the runaway of the so-called airport. He had been caught off guard by the jet's speed if he was being honest. It was definitely much faster than any of the cars he had ridden. And then, to suddenly be in the air like a bird soaring through the sky, with the clouds showing through his window.
It almost made him cry.
'Jets are awesome!'
He wanted to fanboy more about the machine he was in, but sadly he had to come back to reality as the girl from before came walking up to him with a food cart in tow. Naruto still had many questions about her, but he hadn't been able to ask her anything before he was rushed on board.
Fuhito had been kind enough to give him some parting words before takeoff.
"Don't screw this up, boy. And stay out of my granddaughter's way. Understood?"
That man was just a bundle of joy, wasn't he? Naruto couldn't see how he and the headmaster were related at all. Maybe he shouldn't be thinking that, though. It wasn't like he knew the headmaster all that well to make any sort of character judgement on him.
Anyway, that was a topic for another time. Maid first, old man later.
"I hope everything is to your liking, Uzumaki-sama." The girl, Kirumi, bowed as she stopped next to his seat. She placed a tea cup on his tray table, followed by a slice of a delicious looking cake. "If you need anything, don't be afraid to ask. I am ready to serve."
That just made Naruto nervous. He wasn't used to this type of treatment. There was no one on board but the two of them and the pilots, so it definitely felt like he was getting special treatment or something.
"No, I'm good. I'm just sort of confused about what you said before, about being my aid. Did I hear that right?"
What was that about? The headmaster hadn't mentioned anything about it. Naruto didn't like to be surprised like this, especially on an important mission like this.
Folding her hands across her stomach, Kirumi smiled. "Yes. To be more specific, I am your personal maid during the duration of your mission. Not to worry, I will make sure to not slow you down. I've already been informed of your task, and I am ready to help with whatever you need."
That….only left Naruto with more questions than answers.
"Who hired you?"
Cause it sure as hell wasn't him.
"Oh, I see." Kirumi seemed to understand his confusion now. "It seems the headmaster did not inform you of me. He must have been pressed for time."
Yeah, that much should have been obvious. It concerned his daughter, so it wasn't like Naruto could blame the man. But still. Some details would have been nice.
Nodding, Kirumi said, "Then I believe another introduction is in order, to better explain the situation."
That would be helpful.
"I am Tojo Kirumi. I was hired to serve Akira-sama around ten months ago. In case you weren't aware, Akira-sama is the one who hired Kirigiri-sama to solve the murder of his son and prove his children's innocence. However, given recent events, he wanted more insurance on this job. To make sure everything goes smoothly. That is why I am here."
If Naruto had anymore pride, then he would be insulted that his employer didn't trust him to handle this by himself. But really, that was the least of his concerns right now. And it wasn't like he was working directly under him either. He was here because the headmaster wanted him to be.
"So you're a maid?"
And she was going to help him? How exactly?
Kirumi sensed his confusion, but her face didn't budge. "Yes. I am well-versed in all types of combat, if it should come to that. But that is not the reason why Akira-sama wanted me to join you."
Oh?
"I believe he can explain it better than I can."
The so-called maid retrieved a phone from her pocket and placed it on the tray table. It was already making a call.
"He wanted to speak to you," Kirumi said. "This is as good a time as any I suppose."
Naruto wasn't able to respond as a moment later the call was answered.
"Good afternoon. Am I right to assume I'm speaking to Uzumaki Naruto?"
The phone was on speaker mode. The voice was that of a man's. Definitely older.
So this was Kirumi's boss, eh?
"Yeah. That's me."
"Excellent. I apologize for how sudden all of this is. But considering everything that has happened, I am sure you can understand."
Yeah, Naruto did.
"My name is Akira Hayama. I am the man who hired the Kirigiri family to investigate the murder of my son. I wish our talk was under different circumstances, but life has a way of making things complicated."
Naruto already knew the man's name. Akira Hayama. A self-made entrepreneur was the simplest way of describing him. The headmaster had explained to the blond how the man had risen from his very poor roots to become one of the wealthiest men in all of Japan. He owned all sorts of businesses, both in the country and abroad. And it was because of all that wealth that he was now in a bind.
"I'm not sure how much the headmaster filled you in, but I would like to clarify one thing. No matter what their detective says, I am confident that none of my other children are involved in this murder. I have made many enemies of the year. It is more likely that one of them is trying to get back at me."
Wow. He just came out and said it so quickly. He was desperate. Naruto could tell that much. Unfortunately, the blond didn't have any strong opinions on this. For one thing, he had no idea what clues the headmaster's daughter had been able to discover during her investigation. Nor did he know the personalities of Hayama's children. He was totally out of the loop here.
"I believe the headmaster hired you under different pretenses. However, I want to make use of your services as well. That is why I wanted to speak to you now. Not to worry, I am certain this won't conflict with your original mission."
Is that so? Well, Naruto was no gambling man, but he already had a pretty good idea what the man wanted from him.
"Uzumaki-san, I want you to carry out your own personal investigation while you're here. I want you to prove my children's innocence."
There it was. The cherry on top of this mess of a cake.
"I hope you have no problems with this?"
Problems? Naruto had plenty of problems, and he wasn't afraid to voice them.
"I'm not a detective, you know. And this Kirigiri girl is apparently one of the best. If she thinks one of your children is involved, then….."
What could he do about it? This wasn't Naruto's territory. Sure, he could be sneaky when he wanted to be. But espionage? That was more of Jiraiya's thing. Naruto had never bothered to learn the more subtle arts of a shinobi.
But maybe he could expand on that now?
Hayama spoke again.
"I know how this makes me look, Uzumaki-san. You're free to think of me as a foolish old man if you want. Believe me, I already think of myself as such. But I still want to have faith in my children. To hope. I want to believe that they haven't fallen so low."
Hope, huh. What a double edged sword that was.
Naruto wasn't judging the man. Not in the slightest. He was merely a doting father. He had already lost one child. He didn't want to lose another.
Still, common sense told Naruto that accepting the man's mission was pretty stupid. It was basically already confirmed that one of his other children was behind this. The bombing was all the proof that Naruto needed, personally. It showed that the headmaster's daughter was on the right track. Someone was feeling pressured, and they wanted her out.
Naruto couldn't turn down the request, though. Not if he wanted to keep his peace of mind intact.
"I can't make you any promises, but I'll still do my best, gramps."
Naruto could almost see the relief flooding through the phone.
"I see. You have my thanks, Uzumaki-san. You've made a foolish old man very happy."
Hm.
"Now then. I will leave Kirumi to fill you in on the rest. She is the one person I trust the most right now. I hope to meet you soon, Uzumaki-san. Until tonight."
The call then ended, and Kirumi retrieved the phone before pocketing it again.
"You have my thanks as well, Uzumaki-sama," she said as she bowed again. "My master is under much stress from these recent events. Your acceptance has given him enough hope to continue forward."
Yeah, but was that really a good thing? Even if he did look into the case, would anything really change? By giving him this extra hope, wasn't Naruto only making things worse when it was snatched away from him?
Naruto didn't really know the answers to these questions to be honest. Maybe by the end of this mission he would. But as of this moment, he was just as ignorant as everyone else involved.
The private jet continued on its way.
It took the private jet a couple of more hours before reaching its destination. And even then, Naruto's journey wasn't finished just yet.
"An island?"
Naruto didn't bother to hide his surprise as he now sat in a black SUV with Kirumi next to him. The car had already been waiting for them after they landed. They were in the southern part of the country apparently. Kyushu to be exact. That's what this area was called anyway.
"Yes. Akira-sama owns a private island just off the coast," Kirumi explained, her hands placed gently on her lap. "It's not very far really. But the only way to get to it is by boat. Of course, we can't have you arriving through the main entrance. We'll use one of the smaller docks on the far side of the island. This will help with your cover."
Naruto wasn't looking forward to that.
"A butler…."
That was meant to be his cover during his stay on the island.
Kirumi raised an eyebrow. "Do you have a problem with this?"
Of course he did! Being a butler wasn't exactly one of Naruto's dreams or anything. It was practically one of the worst jobs out there!
…..no disrespect to any butler currently reading this.
Naruto brushed it off. "Whatever. Just tell me about this party again."
Ah, yes. The whole reason they were even going to this private island in the first place.
Kirumi wanted to voice her concern about his disdain toward the butler profession, but she kept her mind focused on the mission.
"It's an annual event. Akira-sama hosts a party for all his friends and associates to come together once a year. You could almost say it's for networking."
Yeah, Naruto had already seen something similar with Fuyuhiko's clan.
"Originally, Akira-sama was supposed to announce his main successor during this year's party, as he feels like he might not make it to next year." The way she said that so casually…..weird. "His son's murder was just bad timing."
Bad timing? Not the way he would have phrased it, but okay.
Naruto crossed his arms and looked out the window. The city they were in didn't have the huge skyscrapers like where Hope's Peak was. It made Naruto feel more at ease. This setting was far more familiar to him.
Now if he only wasn't in a car.
"Why doesn't he just cancel the party?"
Kirumi closed her eyes. "He almost did. However, he came to the conclusion that he could use the party as bait, a perfect trap to lure out his son's killer if you will. With so many people around, it could embolden the criminal and make him slip up."
Maybe. Or it could make things even more complicated. If something did happen, the number of suspects would only go up.
'I hope this detective girl is good.'
Or they might just be in for a tough time.
The island was beautiful. Exotic even. The mansion that towered from the center was impressive, if not overbearing. Naruto wasn't one to care about stuff like that, so his opinion was definitely unpopular. Nevertheless, even he could admit that the mansion did look amazing.
Just as Kirumi had said, they took a boat to one of the smaller docks on the far end of the island where employees and supplies made their way through. The boat was a familiar means of transportation for the blond, so there was that.
"The guests will start arriving tonight," Kirumi told him as the two got closer to the mansion. The teens weren't so alone this time, however. Many other staff members had arrived on the island with them. It was the final group which was scheduled to work during the party, as opposed to the normal staff who were already on site. This would further help solidify Naruto's cover in case someone decided to look into him.
"The party lasts three days. Some choose to stay on the island while others have hotels on the mainland. It's up to the individual."
Naruto was only half-listening to her. The other half of his attention was on the other employees with them. It was probably a long shot, but could one of them be working with the killer? He couldn't rule out that possibility. Hayama had already confessed that the only person he trusted was Kirumi, which really only made this whole thing even more pointless.
'That's just admitting that you think your children are guilty, gramps.'
The man probably wasn't aware of it. Or if he was, he was trying not to think about it.
Such a complicated father.
It didn't take long for the group to arrive at the mansion. It was even more impressive looking now that Naruto was this close to it. It had five floors and stretched out pretty widely. According to Kirumi, there were close to a hundred rooms in the mansion.
What a waste of space.
His sour opinion aside, this was going to be his "home" for the next several days. Maybe even longer, depending on whether or not they caught the killer by the time the party ended.
"Right this way, Uzumaki-sama."
Kirumi ushered him away from the other employees. He was going to be staying on the second floor, right in the middle of the employee wing where all the staff members slept. These rooms were small and nothing compared to the actual guest rooms, but Naruto was content with that. He was far more comfortable with a room this size than the one he had in Tengan's house, that's for sure.
"I hope everything will be to your liking," Kirumi said as she showed him inside the room. "We tried to make it as comfortable as possible. But as you know, for your cover-"
"It's alright." Naruto dropped his bags on the floor as he took a look around. A twin size bed, a small table next to the only window in the room, a drawer next to the bed, and a closet on the opposite end.
It was more than enough.
"I can make do with this."
Kirumi smiled. "I understand. I appreciate your adaptability."
Adaptability? Did she think he was a rich boy or something?
Well, whatever. He could clear that misunderstanding later. For now, Naruto had other questions for the girl.
"Is the detective girl coming to the party as well?"
She should be, otherwise he wouldn't be here right now. But just in case.
"Yes. Kirigiri-sama will be attending the party as well. But unlike you, she's been welcomed as a guest."
Yikes. Way to rub that one in.
"Well, that's good." Naruto sat on the bed and was surprised by how comfortable it was. He could almost melt right then and there.
'Man, she wasn't kidding.'
The other beds probably weren't this soft and squishy. It was something meant only for him, to make his stay more "comfortable."
How nice.
"If I may ask." Kirumi frowned somewhat. "You are here to guard Kirigiri-sama, are you not?"
Already figured that one out? Or had the headmaster told them?
"Yeah, why?"
"I was just curious. I've only met her a couple of times, but I didn't think she would be the kind of person to need a bodyguard."
Naruto sweatdropped at this. 'Yeah, the headmaster said something similar before.'
If she did find out about his purpose here, it probably wouldn't end well for him. He could already picture the girl glaring at him in disdain after knowing. She probably had the same eyes as her father.
How eerie.
"Well, the headmaster thinks it's needed. You know about the bombing, don't you?"
"I do. But it was to my understanding that Kirigiri-sama had taken precautions against such an event. That's why the attempt failed."
Oh? Now Naruto wanted to hear what those precautions were exactly, but unless he asked the girl herself…..
Better not worry about that for now.
Naruto shrugged. "What can I say? He asked me to do it, so here I am."
Kirumi stared at him for a moment or two, which only made Naruto a little uncomfortable.
"Is something wrong? I don't have something on my face, do I?"
"No, no. It's nothing like that," she quickly replied. "I'm just….having a hard time pinning you down, Uzumaki-sama."
What the hell did that mean?
"You seem more easygoing than I had imagined," Kirumi said, answering his unasked question. "A lot more approachable as well."
Oh.
Naruto still didn't get it. "Was I supposed to be a monster or something?"
Chuckling softly, Kirumi shook her head. "Not exactly. However, when the headmaster described you to us, he said you were a hardened warrior. One not to be underestimated. I mean no offense, but I'm having a hard time agreeing with that description."
Well, offense taken.
Nah, just kidding.
"I don't know what to tell you. Maybe I'm just hiding a monster behind this mask."
Kirumi pursed her lips at this. She felt like the blond was making more than just a little joke, but she let it slide.
"I'm sure you want to get some rest before the party begins. There is just one last thing I have to give you."
Oh?
Naruto watched the so-called maid pull out a thick file from the drawer next to the bed.
"We had this arranged for you. It's a complete list of all the guests coming tonight. It also includes information on Akira-sama's children."
Wow. They weren't messing around, were they?
"I thought gramps didn't think his kids were involved?" Naruto questioned as he took the file from Kirumi's hands. It weighed quite a bit.
"It was my suggestion," she answered with a slight bow. "I felt it was necessary that you had a complete picture. It's why I also made sure to include whatever information Kirigiri-sama has given us so far. Now you will know what we know. It will be easier for us to be on the same page. To my delight, Akira-sama agreed."
It was nice to see that the girl could reach the man. Naruto definitely appreciated this, even if it meant that he had to read. But after being in this world for a month now, he was pretty much used to reading. He wasn't a fan per se. He just understood how important information was.
"Thanks. I'll make sure to go through it by tonight."
Kirumi smiled. "Wonderful. I will leave you to it then. I will come to get you when the time is ready. Oh, and your uniform is in the closet. I made sure to prepare you three separate uniforms. Just in case. Don't want to be caught unprepared."
She was really considerate, wasn't she? If Naruto didn't know any better, he would almost call her the ultimate maid. Or something.
With one final bow, Kirumi stepped out of the room and closed the door behind her. This left Naruto all alone with his thoughts, and the large file just waiting to be read through.
Standing up, Naruto approached the window to his room. He didn't know if Lady Luck was smiling down on him or what, but he had a pretty good view of the main pathway that led to the mansion from the docks from here.
'Maybe Nagito's luck is starting to rub off on me.'
Lucky him.
'Well, no reason to just sit around.'
It was time to do some exploring. Then, he had some reading to do.
It didn't take Naruto too long to get acquainted with his new surroundings. The island was much smaller than he'd first thought.
The main structure was the mansion, obviously. But there was a smaller building near the docks where he had arrived. It was some sort of boathouse apparently. Naruto had managed to spot several different boats inside, and other similar crafts. Probably gramps' personal collection.
The main dock was much bigger and fancier than the smaller ones. It was also where the only security on the island was stationed. Normally, this wouldn't be a problem. However, given recent events, Naruto was sure Hayama would have wanted more security at least.
'He's taking too many chances.'
Or maybe it was just went back to his distrust of everyone around him. Maybe he couldn't trust a larger security force in fear that the culprit could bribe them somehow.
Naruto couldn't be sure unless he asked the man directly, but that would have to wait. His main priority here was the headmaster's daughter. There were several ways he could go about this, but he still wasn't sure which one to pick. Maybe after he saw her he could be more sure of himself.
Moving on. Other than the docks, there weren't any additional buildings Naruto could find. And past the man-made buildings, there was the forest that made up most of the island. The mansion was practically surrounded by it. It was the perfect cover Naruto could use to move around, but it would also provide many avenues of escape to any intruder.
Talk about troublesome.
After his exploration, Naruto used up the rest of his time reading the file Kirumi had given him to get better acquainted with the guests that were showing up later tonight. It was a long list. Around fifty or so people were showing up, not including Hayama and his family.
This wasn't the full list, though. Not to Naruto anyway. As mentioned earlier, the blond was anticipating the possibility that maybe some of the staff were in on this. To what extent, he couldn't say. Nor could he imagine just who would be in on it. It all depended on what kind of ploy the mastermind intended to use.
'I feel so smart.'
Shikamaru would be proud of him, wouldn't he? Here he was, actively trying to anticipate what the enemy might do.
Even so, Naruto wasn't sure that he was covering all the bases here. Maybe there was something he was missing, something he wasn't thinking of. This sort of thing really wasn't up his alley, after all. But hey, never too late to learn, right?
Good thing he worked better under pressure. And he had a feeling this was going to be a really stressful situation.
"No, no. You have it all wrong. This button goes here. And your necktie is all wrong. You can't go out looking like this."
Naruto really wanted to die right now.
Kirumi seemed amused. "You can't have that expression on your face. You'll scare the guests. It's unbecoming of a proper butler."
He wasn't a butler, though.
Just as he thought, putting on the clown outfit that was supposed to be his uniform was a pain. Naruto felt like he was cramped while wearing the stupid thing. Not only that, but no matter how hard he tried, he always got something wrong with it. It took Kirumi helping him to finally look "presentable." Whatever that meant.
Stupid uniform. He would burn the damn thing if he could.
Kirumi sighed and tapped him on the shoulder. "I believe I said you should fix that face of yours."
How the hell was he meant to do that!? He only had one face.
"I thought so at first, but you really do look like a delinquent. And are those birthmarks on your cheeks? How odd."
Naruto's eyebrow twitched. "You're suddenly becoming more rude towards me."
Was that a good thing?
"Ah." Kirumi folded her arms in front of her. The two teens were making their way down to the main room where the guests would be arriving. "My apologies. I meant no disrespect. But since you're meant to act like a servant of this household, I need to make sure you're ready."
Yeah, yeah. Proper image and all that. Whatever.
"Let's just get this over with," Naruto said under his breath.
Kirumi had one final question to ask. "Did you read over the guest list that I gave you?"
"Yeah. It was helpful. I think I remember everyone that will be coming."
"Excellent. Then let us begin."
Indeed. Let the party begin.
'I could never make it as a rich person.'
That's all that was running through Naruto's mind as he stood next to Kirumi in the main room of the mansion in the first floor. Behind them was a large staircase that led up to the second floor. The whole room had been decorated, with wine and other snacks ready to be served at a moment's notice. There was a band playing as well. Only it wasn't like Ibuki's music. It was more toned down and very…..artsy.
Was that even the right word to use? Naruto didn't know, but he was using it.
Hayama was nowhere to be seen. Kirumi said it was because he always liked to make his entrance last, after all his guests had settled in.
Talk about being dramatic.
And so, it was the guests who showed up first. Names and photos that Naruto had seen on that file all came trickling in. They were all in suits and dresses. Probably more expensive than what any employee was making here tonight.
Kirumi made sure to greet all the guests while Naruto stood back. He was only interested in one person right now. Sure enough, she came walking inside last. She moved fast and quiet, almost like she was a phantom of some kind. If it weren't for the fact that he was looking out for her, Naruto was sure he wouldn't have seen her.
Kirigiri Kyoko. The headmaster's daughter. She had purple eyes and a pale complexion. She wore her long lavender hair down with a single braid on her left side, tied with a black ribbon. She wore a dark purple collared jacket over a zipped up long-sleeved white blouse, a black short skirt, and heeled knee-high purple boots. Naruto also noticed the black studded gloves over her hands.
'So that's her.'
Honestly, she was not what Naruto had been expecting. She looked far too…...serene for what he had been picturing. There was no mistaking that cold presence, though. She might have a pretty face, but Naruto wasn't going to let his guard down around her.
'Oh crap.'
The blond had to instantly shift his gaze away from her when her eyes drifted to his direction.
'She could tell I was looking at her?'
How scary. She definitely had good awareness about the area around her alright. She was similar to Peko in that regard, although the latter was a swordswoman so it was more understandable to him.
'Better be more careful.'
If he wanted to maintain his cover, then he couldn't afford too many more slip-ups like that.
When Kirumi finished greeting all the guests, several figures started to emerge from the second floor. They walked down the staircase and into the main room where the party was to be hosted. Among them was none other than Akira Hayama.
The man of the hour was finally here.
He looked just as Naruto had imagined. Tall, with gray hair and warm brown eyes. His face was covered in wrinkles. He was in a fitting khaki-colored suit. Among all he walked with a cane, probably due to the noticeable limp in his step.
He had four other people around him. Three were definitely his children. Two were women, older than even Fuyuhiko's mom. The third was a man. The two daughters were in dresses fitting to the occasion, while the son wore a dark suit. He was the only to have the same eyes as his father, only his didn't carry the same warmth.
The final person with them appeared to be another maid, only she was older than Kirumi. Maybe in her mid-twenties if Naruto had to guess. She had short dark hair with similar colored eyes. Her expression was even more stern than Kirumi's, an impressive feat in a way.
"I apologize for the wait." Hayama addressed his guests all at once. It was only for a split second, but Naruto caught the pointed look the man threw his way. "It's getting harder and harder for me to move these days."
"There is no need to put on such a front with us, Hayama." A blond man spoke up. While every guest here was more than likely filthy rich or had powerful connections of sorts, this man in particular seemed to carry both.
Naruto was able to recognize him of course. Just like the others, his name and picture had been on the guest list. Naruto couldn't remember the man's full name, but his last name…..it was Togami, wasn't it? Yeah, something like that.
"We're quite aware how wary you must be given recent events." The man shot Kyoko a glance. "I hope you find the one responsible for all of this."
"As do I, Togami-san. As do I." Hayama then smiled. "But we're not here to fret over such things. This is a party, after all. Please don't let the night be ruined at my expense."
There were some murmurs from the other guests, but in the end they seemed to take Hayama's advice and carry on with the evening.
Naruto looked around the room for a moment, trying to see if anything out of the ordinary caught his eye. But he was soon being pulled up the stairs by Kirumi who gave him a hard stare.
"We're going."
Naruto looked at her confused before he saw Hayama walking back up the stairs with his children in tow. Not just them, but Kyoko was with them as well.
Well then.
Naruto grinned.
"Lead the way."
"I don't understand this at all, father. Why exactly does this girl need to be here again?"
"You know why, Uzumi. The investigation is still ongoing."
"Yes, but what exactly does she need to investigate here? We're not the culprits. She should be out somewhere else, doing her job. Like we're paying her to."
"Kirigiri-san asked to join us tonight. She hasn't told me her reasoning, but I trust her judgement on the matter."
"Seems like a waste of money to me. If you had only let me hire someone more qualified, we would already have the answers we seek. Instead, we're letting this kid play detective. How distasteful."
No words were being minced. Naruto was amazed to see that Kyoko's face never once budged from its blank expression. If the insults being thrown her way were annoying her, she wasn't showing it.
"This is ridiculous." The one from before, Uzumi, huffed from where she sat on the table. The family, plus Kirumi and the other maid, Kyoko, and Naruto were all gathered in the dining hall of the second floor. It was, as you may call it, a family gathering of sorts.
Speaking of Uzumi, she appeared to be the older of the two sisters. She had shoulder-length dark brown hair and wore a blue dress.
"Like Hasashi says, if she hasn't produced any results, then it's obvious we're wasting our time here."
Kyoko, who stood near the door, closed her eyes for a moment. It was almost like she was trying to calm her nerves.
"If I may. I haven't been allowed to speak yet. Dismissing me without hearing what I have to say is rather foolish, don't you think?"
The brother, Hasashi, scowled. "Watch your tongue, girl. Remember who your betters are."
That wasn't even directed at him, but Naruto was already pissed off with this guy.
"I don't mean to speak out of turn." Unlike him, Kyoko kept her cool and reopened her eyes. "If you want to take me off the case, then you are free to do so. However, as a detective, I am obligated to share what I know with you. So that you may have a better chance at getting to the truth of this matter."
Sounded practical.
The other sister seemed amused. Her hair was a lighter brown and was much longer, reaching all the way to her lower back. She wore a deep red dress.
"So honorable. I guess it's some code you detectives have or something?"
Was she trying to tease Kyoko?
Hayama sighed and leaned back in his seat. He looked a lot more exhausted than he had when he was addressing his guests earlier. Looks like he couldn't hide behind his mask all the time.
"You have nothing to worry about, Kirigiri-san. You won't be fired. We are simply impatient to get this solved. I'm sure you can understand that."
Kyoko didn't comment on this. Rather, she moved on to what she really wanted to say.
"I believe I had already shared my suspicious with you all before, about my belief that the mastermind who had your family member killed was one of you. Well, my suspicious have only increased since then."
You could practically here a pin dropping in the room.
Hasashi's eyes hardened. "You dare accuse us again? You think one of us could have killed our little brother!?"
The anger was obvious.
Kyoko wasn't fazed. "The attack on my hotel room. I recognized the type of explosive that was used. There are only a few suppliers in all of Japan who could have arranged for something like that. From there, it wasn't difficult to trace where the money came from."
She didn't need to say anything else, but she did anyway.
"The Akira family. It was from one of your accounts. I'm sure no one but you four have access to it. It's also worth mentioning that only one of you would have anything to gain from my death. That doesn't include you, of course, Akira-san. You have no motive. Nothing to gain from killing your own child. But the rest of you…."
There, she stopped.
Naruto eyed the three siblings. Kyoko's words were pragmatic. Her logic was sound. If what she said was true, then it only further solidified Naruto's fears.
'I have nothing to investigate here.'
It wouldn't make a difference.
Hayama only smiled, though.
"That is certainly very interesting, Kirigiri-san. However, I am sad to say that your conclusion is incorrect. No one in this room is a cold-blooded killer. Of that, I can assure you."
There was a crack in Kyoko's mask at those words. Was it frustration? Or anger?
"My investigation-"
"You are definitely gifted," Hayama cut her off. "I am not doubting your skills. It just means that this mastermind is more crafty than we thought. They must be trying to lead you in the wrong direction. I'm sure if you retrace your steps, you'll find a clue that you missed the first time. It happens to the best of us, after all."
Hmm. Naruto really didn't know what to think about that.
"Now then." Rising from his seat, Hayama gave Kyoko another smile. "Continue your investigation. I'm sure the real truth will present itself soon. In the meantime, you are free to enjoy yourself tonight."
Kyoko kept quiet. Her face was impossible to read. For a moment, Naruto was sure she would raise another complaint. But instead, she merely gave the man a simple nod before leaving the room.
'How troublesome.'
That's all Naruto could say about this situation right now.
"The nerve of that girl." Hasashi was still scowling as he stood up as well. "Accusing us again. She's nothing but a fraud."
"Tell me about it." Uzumi was inspecting her nails with a bored expression. "That little girl is totally out of her league. I hope you come to your senses soon, father. There are better detectives out there."
"Eh, who cares about that?" The other sister stood up, looking excited. "Now that the boring stuff is out of the way, we can totally enjoy ourselves tonight!"
Her words made Hasashi grin. "Right. You always look for the positive in every situation, Yozuru. I really do admire that about you."
Yozuru giggled. "Oh, you flatter me."
Naruto found their conversation...to be in poor taste.
The blond also noticed the way Hayama was looking at them. There was no mistaking that look.
It was full of sadness and remorse.
This only further confused Naruto. 'What are you thinking, gramps?'
The look on the man's face was enough to make the blond reconsider his previous judgement. That is to say, whether or not he would really get involved with the investigation.
Naruto had his answer now.
"But before that, I do have a question on my mind." Uzumi's eyes bored into Naruto's skull. "Did you hire a new butler, father?"
So there now moving on to him, huh.
"I did. I decided the extra help was needed. To ease the burden on Kirumi and Sae," Hayama explained with ease. He had an incredible poker face.
'So Sae is the name of the other maid.' Naruto pocketed that information.
Hasashi studied the blond. "He does seem rather…..boorish, don't you think? Are you sure he's right for the job?"
Say what now!? Naruto had no idea what boorish meant, but he was sure it was an insult!
Kirumi shot him a hard look to make sure he wouldn't say anything stupid. Thankfully, Naruto was able to hold his temper in. Blowing his cover this early really wouldn't be cool.
"As long as he does a good job." Uzumi was already dismissive of him as she stood up. "Anyway, now that the so-called detective is dealt with, why don't we take Yozuru's suggestion and enjoy the party? I'm sure it's what our brother would have wanted."
Hasashi nodded in agreement. "Indeed. What do you say, father?"
"I suppose you're right." With Sae guiding him to the door, Hayama was able to limp his way out of the room. "We're still alive. We should enjoy ourselves while we still can."
Yozuru giggled into the sleeve of her dress. "How right you are, father."
Naruto watched them go, until it was only him and Kirumi left in the dining hall.
"They're an annoying bunch." Naruto said as he started to fiddle with his tie. "I'm surprised you can put up with them."
He would have punched them a long time ago.
Kirumi didn't have such thoughts. "It a maid's duty. They are my masters, so I must serve them. Without a master, a maid serves no purpose."
How robotic. And nostalgic.
"Suit yourself. But the butler life really isn't for me."
Kirumi frowned. "What are you planning?"
"That girl, Kyoko. I need to ask her some stuff."
"What are you saying?" Kirumi's face was disapproving. "Do you really think that's wise? And besides, if you disappear out of the blue like this, it can raise some suspicion."
"I'm sure you can come up with an excuse for me." Naruto was already removing his jacket as he made for one of the windows. "You're also serving me, remember? That means supporting me. So help me with this."
Kirumi looked conflicted for a moment before bowing.
"You're right. My mistake. I won't hesitate again."
Naruto felt like she was taking his words a bit too seriously. Probably that maid training. He should keep that in mind from now on. Saying the wrong thing could really bite him in the ass.
'I can think about that later.'
For now, he had a detective to sneak up on.
Kirigiri Kyoko wasn't like most girls. She didn't mean that in a good way either. Or maybe she did….?
Great. She was already confusing herself. Well, that was normal. When she was left alone with her personal thoughts, she always felt confused. If it didn't involve her work as a detective, she was practically like a new born fawn. Stumbling, unsure of herself and the world around her. Totally oblivious and easy to prey on.
How depressing was that?
It was the main reason why Kyoko never liked to spend much time getting her personal thoughts in order. It was all just so confusing. And besides, if it didn't deal with her detective work, what good was it? That's what her grandfather always told her anyway.
Detective first. Everything else second.
That sure wasn't doing her any favors right now.
'I don't get it.'
Kyoko stood outside in one of the balconies on the second floor, the night air being her only companion. Behind her was the glass door that led back inside the mansion, with said door surrounded by a bunch of smaller windows.
Kyoko wasn't the partying type, and she needed some peace and quiet to think things through. Not just that, but the people downstairs were all strangers to her. She had no reason to hang around where she wasn't welcomed. That isn't to say that she had any friends either. Associates sure. But friends?
Wait, no. Now wasn't the time for pointless thoughts. She still needed to figure out a way around the big problem she was facing. Namely, Hayama and his refusal to believe that one of his children was involved with this murder.
Technically speaking, it wasn't like Kyoko needed his approval. If she gathered enough evidence, she could still present her findings to the police. They could handle the arrest if need be. She might not get paid, but that was the least of her worries. As long as justice was carried out, she was satisfied.
Not only that, but there was also the bombing to consider. She had called in some old favors to track down the supplier. The explosive used had been near military grade, so it wasn't cheap. Only a few people could even attempt to get their hands on it, least of all sell it. It was a good thing Kyoko made sure to switch hotels at random intervals ever since she had gotten here. Not even Hayama knew this. She had only assured him that she had safeguards in place.
It had paid off.
As for the supplier, not even he knew who his buyer had been. It was all done electronically. At least it hadn't been a total dead end. Kyoko had been able to get one clue from the whole thing: the account used to pay the supplier. She was certain it was one of the Akira family's accounts. Only Hayama and his children had access to that account. The pieces were all there. However, if she was to go to the police with this, she would need more evidence. She wanted to make sure it was an open-and-shut case. For there to be no room for doubt. For the culprit to have nowhere to run.
Only then would she be satisfied. Because then not even the Akira's wealth could save them.
So the question now was this. What was she going to do? What was her next step here?
As Kyoko pondered this, she never noticed the figure dropping onto the balcony from the floor above her until after the fact.
"What-?" The girl quickly spun around. Her reaction time wasn't bad for someone who wasn't focused in combat. Her lack of training didn't stop her from attempting to kick the intruder, though.
Sadly for her, her kick was stopped before it could even reach its target, the person grabbing her by the ankle in one swift movement.
"Easy there. I'm not here to hurt you."
Kyoko fell back in an instant, pulling her leg back as she put some distance between herself and this new person.
"I was careless."
She would have been more prepared for a surprise attack. That said, she still had a chance of turning this situation around. If this led to the break she was looking for...
"Like I said, I'm not here to hurt you." The person stepped out of the shadows, revealing his fox-like mask to the girl. The rest of his strange getup only made Kyoko more wary.
"You expect me to believe you when you're dressed like that?"
It looked like this guy was planning on going to war or something. One thing Kyoko did notice was the spiky blond hair sticking out behind the mask. She made a mental note of that for later.
"Look, if I wanted you dead, I would have killed you already."
"How reassuring."
The blond's shoulders sagged a little. "Why are all the girls I meet always so stubborn?"
Kyoko wasn't amused. "If you're not here for me, then state your purpose."
The masked person tilted his head. "I didn't say I wasn't here for you. I just said I don't want to hurt you."
"Then what do you want from me?"
"Some answers. I want you to tell me everything you know about this case you're on."
Kyoko's eyes narrowed. "Of what concern is that to you?"
"Let's just say I was a friend of the victim."
That didn't placate Kyoko in the slightest. She had done a checkup on every person who was in close contact with Hayama's son. None of them came close to matching the description of the person standing before her, mask or no mask.
"If you're attempting to lie to me, you should do a better job at it."
Kyoko swore she heard the masked person mumble something, but because of the mask she was unable to read his lips.
How vexing.
"Look, just what do you want me to-"
The masked person suddenly lunged at her, and for a moment Kyoko was sure that she was going to be killed right then and there. It was only after he tackled her to the ground that she noticed the knife flying right where her head had been just a moment earlier, with glass shattering around them.
It didn't take her long to figure out where the knife came from. One single glance to the glass door was all the confirmation Kyoko needed. The person standing on the other side was just icing on the cake really.
The attacker, whom Kyoko recognized as one of the waiters for tonight's party, pulled out another set of knives from his sleeves. From the looks of it, this guy was no amateur.
A contracted assassin perhaps?
While Kyoko pondered the possibilities, the masked blond slouched over her had only one thing to say to all of this.
"Crap."
I return once more. Don't crucify me. I'm actually near death right now. Stupid cold. I swear, it's always this time of year where I always get sick over and over. I'm practically drained out of energy and motivation. I don't know how I was able to write this. I just hope it's not too bad. Although the tone is obviously more different than before. Consider it my attempt at my own little mystery! And I swear if one of you already has this all figured out, I will throw my laptop out the window. Trying to catch you guys off guard is like mission impossible.
And no, Byakuya will not be making an appearance. I only have his dad here as a cameo. Why? Well, in the initial draft of this, I did have Byakuya getting involved. It was going to be a foursome instead of a threesome. But then I decided that it would clutter things up too much, so I'm saving him for later. It would have been so fun to write, though. He and Naruto would hate each other's guts before being the best of friends the world has ever seen as they solved this mystery together….I'm a big Byakuya fan, okay. Come at me.
I was even considering Celeste at one point, but that idea quickly died.
There will be OC's, as you can tell. And I believe I mentioned this last time, but there will also be more action. I was sort of inspired by the Kirigiri novels if I'm being honest. Big fan of those.
Anyway, that's all I got. I was also going to include a big character friendship list/chart to fully flesh out and explain Naruto's relationships with his classmates, but that's going to have to wait for now.
Till next time.
