It was early morning in Yokohama and Doppo Kunikida was getting ready while simultaneously following his all important schedule.
"Good, everything is perfect." he said, very satisfied. "If nothing goes wrong, then I should be able to finish everything on the schedule in record time." He told himself as he grabbed his things and headed out the door to the train station to get to work.
He got to the train station and waited for his usual train when he got a phone call. "Your phone is ringing!" It said loudly in Dazai's voice which pissed him off immediately, Kunikida grinded his teeth. He took a deep breath and exhaled, answering the call. "What is it, Dazai?"
"Hi, Kunikida-kun~" the suicide manaic greeted cheerfully. "Since you're you, I'll get straight to the point. The reason I called you is because I wanted to let you know that I'm going to be leaving work a little early today."
"What for?"
"I made plans to spend time with Chuuya."
"What?! You're ditching work to hang out with your girlfriend?!"
"Pretty much, yeah." Dazai smirked over the phone, one Kunikida could definitely feel through the phone. "Well, I'll leave all the assignments on your desk so bye!"
"Dazai don't hang up the…" Kunikida started to say as he hung up the phone. "He hung up the phone! Just great!" He seized in anger.
"Excuse me, miss," A shady looking man asked a beautiful woman. The woman had long dark auburn hair tied into a braid that went over her shoulder, her black eyes and ruby red lips. She was wearing a blue blouse and a long black skirt that had a chain around it. Her nails were painted blue as well and had a no nonsense look on her face.
"Yes, may I help you sir?" she asked him, and looked at her watch. "I have about 45 seconds until my train arrives, so please make this quick." she looked at him with a deadpan expression on her face. "What do you need from me?"
"I know this is sudden, but perhaps you could accompany me to-"
"I will have to decline." she held her hand. "I am on a tight schedule and cannot afford to stray from it at this time. You will have to ask someone. Now, please excuse me." she began to walk away.
"Hey, listen here, you stuck up bitch." he harshly grabbed her arm.
"Let go of me!" she demanded, her neutral expression cracking as she tried to pull her arm back but he held strong.
The man started to pull her away when someone grabbed the wrist of his other arm and twisted it behind his back.
"Aah!" he released her.
"It's very rude to bother a lady." Kunikida said as he held the man in place. "Are you alright?" he asked her.
"Y-Yes." she replied, rubbing her arm. "Thank you very much."
"It's not in my schedule, but I can take the time to make sure this one is taken care of by the proper authorities." the glasses wearing said more to himself.
"Do you need my name for any statements? I would like to corporate in any way I can." She told Kunikida. "Though I will miss my train if I stick around, would you like my number, oh dear I am afraid I haven't told you my name." She told Kunikida and handed him her business card.
He took it in his hands and saw her name. "Haruno Enomoto."
"Thank you again for your help, mister…."
"Oh, Doppo Kunikida."
"Kunikida-san…" she repeated. "Is there a way I can repay you for your help?"
"That won't be necessary." Kunikida told her. "I'll be satisfied knowing you're okay."
"O-Oh…" she blinked at him. "I see." And gave a small smile. "Well, if you need any help with this investigation please let me know, I would prefer you calling me between 6am-9am before my work begins and 5pm-11pm, those hours work best for me, but if you leave a message I will call you back."
"Thank you for the instructions, I appreciate your cooperation." He told her as she walked to her train.
"Likewise, Kunikida." Haruno smiled to herself and went to her train.
"All right, let's go, you." Kunikida said to the man he was still holding, dragging him to the nearest officer.
Haruno stopped for a moment and looked back at the glasses wearer. She gave a smile and laughed lightly to herself before she boarded her train.
(Later that evening)
"Ugh, stupid Dazai." Kunikida groaned after he was finally done with him. "Because of him, I had to finish later than what I wanted." He said and was slightly slamming his keyboard in anger. "Making me behind schedule!" He yelled loudly and he looked at the clock and saw it was 5pm, and remembered what Haruno told him her hours were. "I should call her and make sure her statement is in order." Kunikida got out his phone to call Haruno who was clocking out at her own job.
Ring ring.
Haruno's phone buzzed and saw a number she didn't recognize. "Hello? This is Haruno speaking,"
"Yes, Miss Enomoto, this is Doppo Kunikida from this morning. I'm not disturbing you, am I?"
"Oh, no, I actually just finished the last of my work. Did you call about my statement?"
"That's correct. I just wanted to make sure everything was in order."
"Of course, it is best to do a follow-up. However, would it be possible for us to do it in person, I like to go out and unwind a bit after an especially long, hard day."
"That should be just fine." Kunikida said. "Would a bar or something similar be alright."
"Yes, that will do nicely." she replied. "I actually have a place in mind if it's not too far out of your way. They serve a lovely Seared Tataki Bonito which I will be more than happy to treat you too for your help this morning,"
"You really don't have to do that Miss. Enomoto."
"Oh I know I don't have to, but I want to. I will be there in exactly 35 minutes and in the booth in the far right corner." She told him. "I'll message you the directions."
"Very well, I will be there as soon as I can."
"Wonderful." she smiled. "I look forward to seeing you again, Mr. Kunikida."
"You are well, Miss Enomoto." he said.
They both hung up and she texted him the directions to where the bar was.
(Later, at the agreed upon bar)
"Miss Enomoto."
"Oh, Mr. Kunikida, so glad you could make it." Haruno said.
"Thank you." Kunikida took a seat across from her. "And I appreciate your punctuality."
Haruno smiled. "Thank you, I make sure to always be on time for anything, big or small. I also took the liberty of ordering something for us to eat, they said it should be ready in 20 minutes and this is very accurate in its timing. If you would like to order any drinks please feel free too," She handed him a drink menu. "And please dont feel pressure to order something inexpensive because I am a woman."
Kunikida blinked in surprise at her forwardness, which he really liked that she wasn't beating around the bush. "Alright, since you're insisting." He took the menu from her to look at the drink menu.
Haruno pulled out a notebook and was writing a few things in it, and his eyes widened at her notebook. "An artisan notebook,"
"Hm, yes, I prefer notebooks made well by someone who has mastered their craft. It's beautiful seeing their talents and hard work brought to life, isn't it?"
"Yes, I agreed, it's very nice. I do appreciate things that have been made well."
"Exactly." she said. "And I'm just writing some things down."
"Oh, really? I tend to make that a habit as well." he said, "I write my ideals in mine."
"Ideals? How interesting, if you'd like to talk about them I would be more than happy to listen. I can tell you're very passionate about it." Haruno smiled at him, causing Kunikida to blush a bit at her expression changing for the first time.
He coughed a bit and the two began to talk about their jobs and hobbies. And then their food came.
"Kunikida, I have something to ask you." Haruno asked the detective. "And I would appreciate it if you heard me out."
"Of course." He told her.
"I would like to ask you to be my lover."
"Pardon me?" his face became blank from the shock of the request.
"N-Now I know this is very sudden." Haruno said. "And I apologize for springing this on you, but please let me explain. You might find this silly, but I actually have this list I've made. It's basically a list of qualities I'm looking for in a man I want to be with."
"List of qualities?"
"I know it must be ridiculous." she sighed and nodded. "And I might be setting some of my standards too high, but… I think you might be the one who meets those qualities." she told him.
"Me?"
"Yes." she nodded. "Allow me to show you." she flipped to a page in her notebook and showed him.
"My, this is quite a list." Kunikida remarked as he looked through.
"I'm quite specific in the type of man I want." Haruno said. "And after you helped me today at the train station, I really think you might be what I want. Or, at least, I want to go out with you to be positive."
"I see…"
"You must find me strange." she said, looking down. "I understand, I tend to unnerve some people with my forwardness. I apologize for putting you in this position."
Kunikida said nothing as he looked at her. Then he pulled out his notebook, flipped to a certain page, and held it out for her to see.
"This is…" Haruno looked over the page, her eyes widening slightly.
"A list of qualities I'm looking for in a woman." he told her. "58 qualities to be precise. I would like to meet a woman who meets all of them. Read number 58 if you'd like."
Haruno took the notebook. "Above all else the woman I end up with must be forward and direct, she must know what she'd like and not take no… for an answer." Haruno read allowed and felt her heart rate increase. "I see… well I know I can be that last one for you, so if you'd like, I'd like to officially ask you out on a date, Mr. Kunikida." Haruno handed him back his notebook and opened it and wrote in it.
"I'd be delighted," He blushed a bit but felt happy as well. "Are your weekends as busy as your weekdays? Because this Saturday I am free for lunch at 11:15am to 12pm before I have to meet a client at 12:15pm with my partner for work."
Haruno stood up straighter and looked into his eyes. "Yes, I am free this Saturday, lucky for me I get one saturday a month off completely and would be happy to spend it with you. I look forward to getting to know."
"And I you, Miss Enomoto."
"This is sudden as well, and it might be too early, but would it be okay if we call each other by our first names?" she asked, blushing a little. "I know it's a rather intimate thing, but…"
"I think that would be just fine. Miss Haruno."
She looked at him and smiled. "Yes, Mr. Doppo. I cannot wait. And thank you for showing me your notebook, I must say your handwriting is impeccable." She winked at him and felt like she had finally found a man she could spend the rest of her life with.
Happy Holidays everyone! I hope you enjoyed the story _magatsuizanagi it was so fun to write.