6/3

Haru was sitting on the school rooftop tending to her garden as she usually did during her after school hours. She waited a few extra minutes hidden in the darkness of the stairwell while a group of second-years chatted, eventually leaving and deciding to meet up at one of their houses instead. She didn't reveal herself until she was positive their footsteps had faded down the hallway.

Recently she felt a bit strange when she visited the rooftop, ever since that girl had tried committing suicide. There was a melancholia in the air, a drastic shift from the tranquility that used to envelop her senses whenever she came up here. She didn't like change.

Her phone binged. A small smile lifted the corners of her lips as she checked her notification.

AKECHI: Hello, Haru. I hope you're doing well today. Sorry I've been so preoccupied with work. Would you like to accompany me somewhere later today?

Though she and Akechi had not seen each other since that whole mess with Sugimura - which he had thankfully not pried for information on - they had been texting almost everyday. A giddy feeling arose in Haru's heart every time she heard the little ding. No one else really messaged her at all and it was nice having someone to talk to for once.

HARU: Yes, of course. What did you have in mind?

She frowned immediately after sending the message, realizing that she hadn't even checked her calendar before responding. Was she that desperate?

After swiftly sliding her fingers across the screen to check the date, she was glad to find that there was nothing scheduled for her that night.

The last time she had seen Sugimura was the previous week; he wasn't in as much of a hurry to spend time with her after she had accidentally vomited all over his bed. Her father hadn't been happy at all but Haru was secretly very glad to sequester herself from him, if only for a short while.

Sugimura absolutely furious when he saw her newly shortened hair; he said she looked like a boy and she wasn't as pretty anymore. That was fine by her so long as he would quit bothering her for a while.

AKECHI: The famous painter Madarame has an exhibit in town that I wanted to take a look at. Are you interested in attending?

HARU: Yes! What time?

AKECHI: Is 5 okay?

AKECHI: Oh, I'm so sorry! I assumed we would take the subway, but I realize you might be uncomfortable with that.

Haru scrunched her face up in consideration.

Did she care if she rode the subway with Akechi-kun? No.

Did her father care if she rode the subway with Akechi-kun? Yes.

HARU: That won't be a problem.

Haru had walked over to the station all by herself after finishing up on the school rooftop around an hour later. She decided not to return home between gardening and meeting with Akechi, because if she were to do so there was a much greater chance of her whereabouts somehow finding their way to her father.

Akechi stood with his back pressed against a pillar rooted inside the subway station, looking as presentable as always with his school briefcase and nicely kept uniform. He met her gaze as she approached.

Haru bounded up to him energetically, a sweet smile on her face as they exchanged greetings.

"You cut your hair," Akechi noted with a nod.

"Oh, yes," she tugged mindlessly at the short auburn locks. "Nearly a month ago. I forgot you hadn't seen it yet."

"It looks good," Akechi assured her, quickly paying for the both of their tickets before she could get in a single word of protest. "Did you come straight from school?"

"Ah… yes," Haru admitted, glancing at the change he tucked into his wallet. She was surprised he had liked her haircut, considering her father had thrown a fit about it. "What about you?"

"No, I had to stop by the police station for some work duties," he responded coolly. "A partner of mine actually gifted me with two free tickets to this exhibit."

"Oh, really?" she asked as they boarded the train. "That's very nice of them."

"I believe it was a… birthday present of sorts." Akechi said casually, grabbing a spare seat and offering it to his friend.

Haru sat down, smoothing her skirt as it flared up slightly. "When is your birthday, Akechi-kun?"

"It was yesterday," he responded complacently, glancing out the window as the surroundings started zooming by.

She blinked, surprised by his apathetic expression. "It was your birthday yesterday?"

"Yes, it was," Akechi moved his gaze downwards to look at her. "I'm eighteen years old now."

Haru was speechless. It seems like words wouldn't form in her mouth for a few long minutes. "Y-you should have told me!" she stuttered. "Oh my gosh. I can't believe it was your birthday and I didn't even get you a gift… and now you're treating me, I…"

Akechi laughed, placing his hands in front of his chest in a playfully defensive position. "I apologize for not notifying you. Since I live alone, I guess I never really thought of my birthday as a... big deal?"

Haru's face flushed as she thought of what an entitled life she truly lived. Every year on her birthday she was treated to expensive gifts from all of her father's associates, every estranged family member that wished for a piece of her inheritance. She got to eat whatever she wanted, buy whatever she wanted, travel to wherever she wanted… not much different from her everyday life, but usually her father actually associated himself with her on that one specific day. In recent years her birthday was used as a scouting event for potential suitors, a chance to show off her youth and beauty and receive lavish presents in return. She grimaced.

"But really, you don't need to get me anything. That cash you left for me at the diner supplied my meals for almost two weeks." Akechi tried cracking a joke as they pulled up to their stop. He held out his hand to help Haru out of her seat, which she gladly accepted, though still a little flustered.

As they began walking in the direction of the art show the boy detective easily changed the subject. "Are you familiar with any of Madarame's work?"

Haru shook her head. "Not especially," she replied honestly. "But I do know of his one painting, the really famous one."

"Ah, the Sayuri," he said with a small grin. His eyes glazed over as he recalled the work of art inside of his own mind. "It's amazing, isn't it?"

"Yes, it really is," Haru agreed. Who didn't love that painting? It was certainly hard not to. The tender, loving gaze of the mysterious woman always made Haru think of her own mother, though she could never quite place why. Perhaps if Haru was any good at art herself, she could have one day created something of equal beauty.

As they entered the exhibit and browsed along the wide array of alluring paintings, a steady conversation was maintained. Haru couldn't help but notice the large number of students musing over specific pieces, sketchbooks in their arms as they drew inspiration. The passion-filled smiles that stretched her lips as they gazed upon the various works of art.

Most of them would probably move onwards to study art in college and become famous painters like Madarame. Or, maybe not famous, but at least happy doing what they loved for the rest of their lives. What bright futures lay ahead for them, while in her own field of vision Haru could only see a dim glow.

"Akechi-kun?" Haru said softly, catching her friend's attention. He turned to her attentively as she continued, "Have you taken an interest in any colleges yet?"

He laughed sheepishly. "My classmates are always asking me about that, actually. To tell you the truth, I haven't had much time with all the work I've been doing on my current case… but I'm confident in my ability to study police and detective work wherever it is I want to go."

Haru nodded languidly as she listened to him. Of course... Akechi would be able to do whatever he wanted. He didn't even really need to go to college if he didn't want to. His presence in the media and stellar accomplishments as a detective were likely enough requirements to get him through the important years to follow.

"What about you?" he asked, returning the question as a polite gesture.

"Oh, I'm…" Haru looked away in embarrassment. "I'm not going to attend college."

"Do you have problems in school, Haru? I could tutor you, if you'd like." Akechi was as helpful as always, not even skipping a single beat as he offered his own resources to her freely.

Haru shook her head. "It's not that, it's… well, um…" She felt stupid for not realizing that the question would surely be flipped on her. It was far too mortifying to admit in front of her one friend that her destiny was to become a wealthy housewife, and no greater schooling was really required for that. It wasn't that she didn't want to attend college, but simply that Sugimura and her father's desires outweighed hers by tons.

Even if she were to go to college, what would be the point? She would never have a say in any part of Okumura foods; Sugimura would become the CEO after her father.

"Haru?"

"Oh, I apologize, Akechi-kun." Haru said with a sad sigh. "I kind of spaced out there..."

She raised her gaze to give Akechi an awkward smile, only to see that he was staring intently at something behind her. She flinched at a short tap on her shoulder.

When she turned around, Haru was met with a crisp white suit that she knew all too well. "I - Sugimura-san? What are you doing here?" She didn't mean for it to come out so rudely, but the words tumbled out of her mouth practically against her own will.

"I could be asking you the same thing," Sugimura fired back, a menacing glint in his eyes. He's angry, Haru noted. "And with another man, no less. Please enlighten me, Haru, because this is really not looking good for you right now."

She gulped. Her fiance had still yet to entirely forgive her for that incident in his bedroom - as well as her surprise haircut - and this was an unusually compromising situation she now found herself in. Her lips parted, but no sound came out.

Akechi stepped forward. "My name is Goro Akechi," he introduced himself, his signature pleasant smile and charming aroma practically appearing out of thin air. "I'm a detective, and Haru is my apprentice." Haru's eyes virtually bulged out of her head at that broad statement.

"Apprentice?" Sugimura scoffed. "I hate to be the one to break it to you, but behind that pretty face there's not much else. You'd be better off finding someone with a little more substance."

Akechi shook his head. "Haru has proven herself to be very useful in my investigations concerning the Phantom Thieves and mental shutdown cases."

Sugimura rose a single eyebrow, looking over to the girl in question. He wasn't convinced nor skeptical, lingering somewhere in between as his eyes slithered over her expression. "You surround yourself with the strangest hobbies, my dear, you know that? Gardening and detective work, hm?"

My dear. The words burned her ears.

Her fiance stepped forward to move closer to her, placing a cold hand against her cheek in a feigned act of affection. "My father is interested in purchasing one of these paintings as our wedding gift. I was just going to speak with the artist about prices," he glanced around, as if Ichiryusai Madarame would appear the moment his presence was demanded from him. Sugimura then returned his attention to Haru, a smirk tugging at his lips. "I believe we'll be going out to dinner sometime later this week. I'll see you then, Haru. We can talk more then about your new apprenticeship."

He left with a certain level of haughtiness, straightening his suit as he walked into a connecting room. As the door closed, Haru let out a breath she had no idea she had been holding.

"Um, thank you, Akechi-kun," she cleared her throat. "I'm really sorry about that…"

"You have nothing to apologize for," Akechi brushed off her apology. "You're... engaged to that man?"

She winced at the sternness lacing his words. Was he mad at her?

"Yes," Haru responded, evading his gaze. "I know he can be a little… um…" her mouth went dry. What was the word she was looking for? Mean? Terrible? Dreadful?

"I hope I haven't caused you any trouble. Is he the type to… take his frustrations out on you, if provoked?" Akechi asked carefully.

"Um…" Haru was quiet as she thought about her answer to his thinly veiled question of whether or not Sugimura would beat her later on out of jealousy. If we lived together, then..."You don't have to worry about me. I'm fine."

It was hard to tell if the boy detective accepted her response. He placed a gloved hand against his chin in contemplation. "Still, I'm not quite sure that he bought what I said." Akechi mused. "That could certainly prove to be a problem later on."

Haru furrowed her eyebrows. "How so?"

"Well, if he were to ever find out about another one of our friendly outings, he probably wouldn't take it as lightly unless he really became convinced that you're my apprentice." Akechi explained.

"So what do we do?"

Akechi gave her the most innocent grin she had ever laid eyes upon. "Convince him."