A/N: This oneshot is my contribution to Day Seven: Free Day, and takes place before "Mokubo's First Words!" Please read, review, and enjoy!
The Ultimate Detective and The Ultimate Hope Gaiden: Momoharu Week 2022!
Day Seven: Free Day!
"Thanks for taking Kiki out for Halloween, Maki." Kyoko smiled appreciatively at the former assassin as the ex-detective cradled her eleven-month-old son in her arms. "Normally, one of us would take her trick-or-treating, but I have to take care of Moku while Makoto handles the trick-or-treaters."
Maki nodded at her employer, glancing at the lavender-haired woman's Miko uniform. "It's fine, besides, I take care of a child every day. What's one more?"
Kaito grinned sheepishly, dressed in his Buzz Lightyear costume as he rubbed the back of his helmet. Dressed in her Lady Camilla costume, Maki shook her head, smiling in amusement.
"So, where is the lucky girl, anyway?" Kaito pondered. "And what's she dressed up as this year?"
"Coming, Mister Kaito!"
Everyone turned as Kiki ran up to her babysitters, dressed up in a black witch's robe and hat, as well as a short red skirt. Her father followed close behind her, a pair of fake white dog ears attached to his head as he wore a red robe tied with a matching obi.
"You look really beautiful as a vampire, Miss Maki!"
Kiki grinned before smirking at Kaito. "The idiot wanted me to dress up as Sailor Moon, but I put my foot down at something so colorful."
Makoto smiled in amusement, flashing back to when Kyoko wore a Sailor costume during their high school days. "Well, you still look nice in your costume, Maki." Makoto's smile only grew when Maki averted her gaze, puffing her cheeks. "Anyway, just have her back at a reasonable hour, okay?"
"Of course." Maki nodded before Kiki turned to hug her parents.
"Bye Mom, bye Dad, bye Moku. I'll see you guys later!"
"Goodbye, Kiki." Kyoko giggled.
"Have fun trick-or-treating!"
"I will! Alright, let's go, Miss Maki! Mister Kaito!"
"To infinity and beyond!" Kaito cheered as he and Kiki raced out the door.
Maki rolled her eyes before she nodded at her employers. "I'll make sure those two don't get into too much trouble. See you later."
With that, she turned and followed out the door, leaving Makoto and Kyoko alone in their manor.
"Trick-or-treat!"
"Kiki?!"
"Tsumugi!" Kiki cheered as the two friends hugged each other. Maki and Kaito smiled at the two kids before Kiki asked with a furrowed brow, "Why aren't you out trick-or-treating?"
"Oh, I just wanted to make more costumes today, so I volunteered to help hand out candy instead. I was in the middle of changing out of a costume when you rang the bell." As Kiki sweatdropped, Tsumugi's gaze wandered to Maki and Kaito. "Who are those two? They're not your parents."
Kiki shook her head, explaining "These are my baby sitters. They're taking me trick or treating while Mom takes care of my little brother."
"…Maki Harukawa." Maki hesitantly greeted as Kaito grinned.
"Name's Kaito Momota, Luminary of the Stars!"
Tsumugi nodded, smiling as she complimented, "You all have nice costumes, especially you, Kiki! Are you dressed up as any particular witch, or just a generic one?"
Kiki grinned as she boasted proudly, "I'm dressed up as Himiko Yumeno!"
Tsumugi cocked her head, obviously confused. "Hmm…I've never heard of that character. Is she from an anime? A manga? A movie?"
"Ano…no…she's a mage that played at a birthday party before we met."
Tsumugi turned as pale as a sheet, murmuring under her breath "You mean…you're…cosplaying as a…non-ficitonal character…?"
I don't know if I'd call it cosplaying…
Tsumugi scowled, pointing at her friend with an angry finger. "Cosplaying as a non-fictional character is completely unforgivable! Cosplay is supposed to be showing your love for fictional characters!"
"But…it's just a Halloween costume, Tsumugi…" Kiki smiled awkwardly, trying to appease her passionate friend.
To her relief, Tsumugi took a deep breath, her anger softening into regret. "Sorry, I just get really passionate about this stuff…"
I know, we've been classmates for over a year, Tsumugi…
"We should probably get you back home." Maki advised, interrupting their conversation. "I promised your parents I'd get you home at a reasonable hour."
"Yeah, Maki Roll's right. We need to head back, Kiki." Kaito concurred with a hesitant nod.
A look of slight disappointment on her face, Kiki sighed. "Okay, well, I'll see you at school, Tsumugi-"
"Wait!" Kiki furrowed her brow in curiosity as Tsumugi explained, "Before you go home, you've got to check out the Haunted House attraction!"
"Attraction…?" Mako wondered as Kaito suddenly turned pale.
"…Haunted House…?"
Tsumugi nodded. "Yeah, it just popped up a few houses away, down that way." Tsumugi pointed down the road. "I haven't been there myself, but I heard it's gotten good reviews since it appeared."
Kik iturned to Kaito and Maki, asking "Can we check it out? Please, Mister Kaito, Miss Maki…?"
Kaito bit his lip, not eager about visiting a haunted house, but not wanting to disappoint the excited girl either. To his dread, Maki sighed and nodded her head.
"Since it's close by, I guess there's no problem. As long as we're in and out."
"Y-Yeah…s-sure…" Kaito muttered.
"Yay! Thanks for the tip, Tsumugi! I'll tell you all about it at school!" Kiki promised, waving at her friend.
"Bye, Kiki!"
With that, Kiki followed Maki down the sidewalk, both of them oblivious to the shivering Kaito tailing closely behind them.
Kaito nearly jumped as the doors slammed behind him, barely keeping silent. Maki rolled her eyes as she glanced at his obvious nervousness.
"Don't be so scared, you idiot. The doors are probably timed to do that."
"Are you scared of haunted houses, Mister Kaito?" Kiki asked curiously.
Afraid of his brave, heroic image being shattered, Kaito forced himself to steel his nerves. "N-No way, I'm not afraid! There's no such thing as haunted houses!"
"Alright, then let's explore this haunted house!" Kiki cheered as she walked ahead.
"…Want me to hold your hand…?" Maki offered, seeing the nervous pursing of Kaito's lips.
"No way, like I said, I'm to afraid of this place! I can handle this silly attraction, or my name's not Kaito Momota, Luminary of the Stars!" Kaito boasted, though his fear still bled in his voice.
Maki rolled her eyes as Kaito charged ahead, his legs slightly shaking with each step. "…Idiot…" She muttered as she followed them. "…There's no shame in being afraid…"
Kaito's eyes darted around the halls, the dim lighting in the hallways barely illuminating the cobwebs hanging from the walls. "Geez, this place is dusty…"
"…That's the point, idiot…" Maki sighed. "It's supposed to make it even creepier if it doesn't look clean and tidy."
"Oh, so that's why there's cobwebs everywhere." Kiki realized. "Are there spiders here too?"
"Real spiders? Probably not." Maki shook her head, causing Kaito to sigh in relief. "It would be quite the pain to keep track of them all, let alone make sure they're in place whenever people come in. At most, I can imagine some fake spiders hanging from the ceiling to sell the illusion." As if on cue, an obviously fake, plastic spider dropped from the ceiling, hanging from a fake webline. "…My point exactly."
"Wow! That's so cool, right Mr. Kaito?"
Struggling to keep his teeth from chattering, Kaito stammered "Uh, y-yeah, I g-guess so…"
Maki shook her head before she suggested, "Let's just keep moving, alright? We gotta get through this haunted house so we can get you home at a reasonable hour."
"G-Good idea…" Kaito stammered, following the two girls and hoping for a speedy exit.
"WAAAAAAAAAHHH! GHOOOOSSSTTT!"
Kaito finally screamed, unable to restrain his shriek of terror as a white, cardboard ghost popped out from one of the walls. Kiki jumped in surprise, then turned to see Kaito clinging to Maki for dear life.
"Mister Kaito, you're shaking like a leaf." The young girl pointed out.
For once, the would-be astronaut had no retort, instead whimpering in fear. Maki sighed, shaking her head as Kiki patted her back.
"…Still wanna claim you're not afraid, Kaito?"
Stubborn as ever, Kaito kept silent, though his whimpering betrayed his true feelings. "…Come on, Kiki, let's get out of this haunted house, already. Kaito's probably gonna have a heart attack if we stay in here much longer."
"There, there, it's alright, Mister Kaito." Kiki cooed, patting him on the back as they made their way through the haunted house.
"Hey pumpkin!" Makoto greeted as Kiki and Maki entered the living room. "Did you have fun with Miss Maki and Mister Kaito?"
"You bet!" Kiki proudly held up her filled bucket. "We got a ton of candy, and we even went into a haunted house?"
"A haunted house? Did you get scared at all?"
Kiki shook her head. "Nope, some of it made me surprised, but I wasn't scared. Mister Kaito was more scared than I was!"
Maki sighed, explaining "The poor idiot's still completely petrified. We had to leave him in the car."
Makoto frowned in worry. "Is he gonna be okay?"
"He'll be fine by tomorrow. Once he gets a good night's sleep, he'll be as good as new."
Makoto nodded, smiling in relief. "Alright, that's good news. Okay Kiki, say good night to Miss Maki before we go see your mother and Moku."
Kiki turned towards her babysitter, briefly embracing the former assassin. "Good night, Miss Maki. Thanks for taking me trick-or-treating!"
Maki briefly returned the hug before they separated. "We did as well. Alright, I'd better get the idiot into bed. Good night."
Makoto and Kiki waved as Maki walked out the living room, her mind drifting to the petrified young man in her car.
