"We have no idea what you're talking about, Mistress Naoto." Yuzuru and Airi spoke in perfect unison, unfazed by the death glare their charge was directing at them.
Naoto kept her arms firmly at her sides, trying to maintain a sense of decorum despite her anger. "You spread a baseless, slanderous rumor that Yu was being unfaithful to me in an attempt to turn me against him and call off our relationship. I know my Grampa very well, and while I understand that he wishes to have a hand in my future, I am just as certain that he did not instruct you to sabotage my bond with Yu. So I hope the two of you have a very good explanation for your actions." Her heart pounded with rage at the thought that employees of her grandfather would sink to such actions, while their blank expressions did nothing to ease that anger.
Yuzuru met her eyes stoically, questioning, "Out of curiosity, Mistress Naoto, what makes you think we are responsible for such a thing? We may be your bodyguards, but we are also students at Yasogami High ourselves. Do you truly believe we have the free time to spread rumors with the workload our classes give us?"
"Yes, in fact. A reliable source identified the two of you as the ones responsible for originating this slander - their description of you made it perfectly clear." The detective's blue-gray eyes swept over the twins, their gazes returning in green.
This time it was Airi who responded, her voice completely innocent. "How are you certain he was describing us? We don't appear very different from the average first-year student; we even recolored our hair so we would draw less attention to you, Mistress Naoto, as we are well aware that you don't enjoy being the center of attention." She pulled a stray curl back behind her ear, her formerly deep red tresses having been dyed an ordinary black along with her brother's.
"You weren't identified by your hair. You are the only students at Yasogami High - indeed, the only residents of Inaba - that I have seen with green eyes. Now I have the task of dispelling this rumor you've put into circulation and saving Yu's reputation." Just as Naoto was about to turn and leave, Yuzuru spoke once more, his words piercing right to her heart.
"If such a rumor is so easily believed, what does that say of popular opinion regarding Narukami-san? A man with such a reputation that accusations as serious as infidelity are accepted without question is a poor match for the heiress of the illustrious Shirogane family. Master Kazuhiko is correct to desire that the two of you are kept apart - prolonged association with a common thug such as he will only damage your prestige, Mistress Naoto."
Naoto froze. The logic she'd just been subjected to was so wrong on so many levels that her detective's mind had difficulty processing it. She slowly turned to face the twins again, her entire being subsumed in what could only be called a tranquil fury. "That is enough." She stated in a quiet voice that seemed to chill the very air as she spoke. "You do not know Yu. You have never met him, save when you attempted to provoke a physical confrontation. You have no call to speak of him in such a manner!" Her normal composure quickly broke down as her volume rose in equal measure. "You have grossly overstepped your boundaries! I am fortunate that Grampa has returned to the estate by this time, as I will be paying him a visit with a demand that the two of you be released from any service to the Shirogane family!" She wheeled around and stormed off to her room, intending to plan her visit to the Shirogane estate.
"Brother, you may have gone too far. If not for Mistress Naoto's rigid discipline, the two of us may have ended this conversation staring down the barrel of her revolver. And if we are released from the Shirogane family's service, the Wakui line itself may die out. Our livelihood is built on mercenary work such as this; if word gets out that our contract is terminated with one we owe a debt to, our chances of receiving any further contracts will drop dramatically. It will be the end." Airi spoke softly, her voice trembling ever so slightly.
Yuzuru shook his head. "This may yet work to our advantage. Once Mistress Naoto has finalized her plans to depart, we will act - and this time, there will be no one to reveal our plan. This turn of events may, in fact, prove to be the key to achieving our objective without the use of our most desperate option. All shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well." The barest hint of a smile touched the impassive young man's lips, incontrovertible proof that he was pleased.
It had been a tiring week for Yu and the rest of the Investigation Team save Naoto. In addition to the rumor that the young detective had been cheating on him, an even more prevalent one accused him of doing the same. The glares he received from passers-by stung, as even though Kanji had informed him of the conversation he'd had with Naoto, the majority of Inaba didn't know - and the rumor mill was in fine form.
"Yu-kun, please cheer up. This rumor will pass like every other one, and we're all doing our best to make sure it goes quicker. So, please…" Yukiko watched her friend stare down at the Junes food court table, trying to ease his pain. She'd never been in a romantic relationship, so she couldn't imagine how being the subject of such gossip had to hurt, but she knew it couldn't be easy to be accused of betraying the one person you love most. Add to the fact that Naoto was no longer responding to any of Yu's texts or calls, and she knew he was suffering greatly.
Before the team leader could reply, Yosuke approached and muttered, "C'mon, partner, you're stronger than this. Rumors aren't everything, and there's gotta be a good reason Naoto-kun's not answering her phone." Taking a good look at Yu, he continued to comment in a worried tone. "Damn, I've never seen you so down…"
"Well, duh. I mean, think of how you'd feel if half the town was saying you cheated on me. And we've only been dating for a couple months - it's been close to a year since Yu-kun and Naoto-kun got together. I can't even imagine how he must feel." Chie seemed to suddenly appear beside Yosuke, startling him for a moment.
Less than a second later, Teddie did the same thing. "Sensei and Nao-chan were so close, but it's like she's pushing him away. I can kind of understand how Sensei feels; before I came over to this side, I was always worried that you'd all leave me behind and throw me away. I know you didn't, but I bet that's how Sensei feels about Nao-chan now. He's still in love with her, so he's not getting mad, but it still hurts him."
"Teddie, don't do that! Seriously, how do you manage to just show up out of nowhere like that?! And don't give me that 'ninja' crap you said last time!" Yosuke glanced back to Yu, who seemed not to have even noticed him shouting.
"Senpai… Dammit! Wish I could find whoever's spreadin' these damn rumors around and beat an apology outta 'em! Senpai's always been so strong, but half the town's got him on their shit list 'cause of this!" Kanji's approach was heralded by his loud voice and the sound of his fist hammering into a nearby table. None of them had ever seen their fearless leader so vulnerable, and it both saddened and scared them to see that it was possible.
An awkward silence persisted before the ringing of a cell phone cut through the air. Yu instantly reached for his own phone, only to realize it was Yukiko's when the raven-haired girl withdrew it from her pocket. "Oh, it's Rise-chan. Give me just a moment." She accepted the call, and immediately a blast of tearful, half-coherent words could be heard. Yukiko quickly withdrew to save her friends the auditory assault and began trying to calm the idol down. "What's the matter? Did something happen? Naoto-kun - I'm sorry, Naoto-kun said what? Why wouldn't she tell the rest of us? And Yu-kun - please don't cry, Rise-chan! I'll pass on the message, so you should get some rest. I'll call you back later to make sure you're feeling better." Flipping her phone closed, the Amagi Inn's manager-to-be turned to her friends with a grave expression.
"Yukiko… What happened?" Chie asked hesitantly. They'd all heard Naoto's name mentioned, and judging by Rise's breakdown and Yukiko's expression it wasn't good news.
"A-Apparently Naoto-kun called Rise-chan after her rehearsal and wanted her to pass on a message to Yu-kun. She's returned to the Shirogane estate… to prepare for her engagement."
All sound seemed to instantly cease, the entire team stunned into silence. Then Yu moved, gripping the edge of the table unconsciously with enough force to splinter the wood. "She stopped contacting me, she left Inaba without saying anything… Dammit, I can't believe this is happening! Did she think I was going to start my own personal war or something? Why didn't she tell me?!" Lurching to his feet, he waved away his friends' concerned gestures and muttered, "I have to go… Have to figure out what I'm going to do now."
The others had no choice but to watch him leave, his movements slow and heavy, as if his entire body had been turned to lead. "How could Naoto-kun do this…?" Chie asked, beginning to tear up.
"This isn't like her at all. She loved Yu, it was obvious, so why…?"
A loud smash on the table interrupted Yosuke's musing, causing everyone to turn toward Kanji. "We ain't seein' the whole picture here." For the most hotheaded member of the team, he was surprisingly calm. "This ain't like Naoto at all. I'm not too smart, but I bet I know her best outta all of us but Rise and Senpai, and this ain't somethin' she'd do. Someone's screwin' with Senpai and probably Naoto, and we gotta do somethin' about it! Remember what they kept sayin' while we were chasin' after Adachi and that Izanami? They always talked about 'reachin' out to the truth.' And now it's our turn to do it so we can stop this shit from goin' even wilder!" He pounded the table again for emphasis, veins standing out in his neck and temples.
There was another silence before Yukiko spoke up, declaring, "Kanji-kun's right! Someone's trying to interfere in Yu-kun's and Naoto-kun's relationship, and we can't let that happen! They're both our friends and they've always been there for us; now it's our turn!"
"Yeah, you're right! It's no murder case, but this is just as important! We've all gotten too close to each other to let this tear us apart! Whoever's behind this is getting a hundred kicks to the face - if they're lucky!"
Yosuke nodded strongly. "You said it, Chie! I'm not letting anyone get away with hurting my partner like this. It's time for us to take the lead!"
"Rrrrrawr! This time I'll be the one to help Sensei out! Let's find whoever's responsible for this and stuff them with the Junes salad bar!" Everyone looked at Teddie with shock at his unconventional punishment, at least until Yukiko burst into one of her trademark laughing fits.
Yosuke bopped Teddie right between his bear ears, snapping, "Don't be dissing your employer like that! ...not that I can argue with you, but still!"
"So we're going to help get Yu-kun and Naoto-kun back together, right? Let's do it!" The Investigation Team had fought deluded kidnappers, nihilistic serial murderers and two divine beings; their bonds were too strong to be broken by something like this.
And there would be hell to pay when they found their culprit.
"Your talent for mimicry is astounding, Sister. If I closed my eyes, I would have thought Mistress Naoto herself had been speaking." Yuzuru's lips were curved into that faint smile as Airi put down the phone, massaging her throat.
One cough later, Airi complained, "Ugh, I need to rest for a bit before I do that again. Mistress Naoto's voice is very distinctive, and mimicking her perfectly is an incredible strain."
Yuzuru passed his twin a warm drink he'd prepared for just such strain, commenting, "Further mimicry may be unnecessary. Your impersonation of Mistress Naoto was flawless, and Kujikawa-san will be convinced she was speaking to our lady herself - after all, we did use her cell phone. Her rage has been most fortuitous, that she would forget such a crucial item for our plan in her haste to leave and have us dismissed. Once she has passed the message on to Narukami, the so-called 'unbreakable bond' between him and Mistress Naoto will be severed, and she will be free to fulfill her role as the successor to the Shirogane name. A perfect victory for Master Kazuhiko, all without us having to dirty our hands."
"You're quite the tactician, Brother. This is a level of mental acumen I would expect from Master Kazuhiko himself. We must simply wait until Mistress Naoto has been married, and then our debt to the Shirogane will be fulfilled." Airi slowly sipped her drink, letting the warmth soothe her sore throat as she sat in one of the chairs scattered around Naoto's apartment, a satisfied smile on her lips.