Before Akane picked up the Dare Box, Kagari had pushed himself between her and the cube with a wide smile.
"Glad to see you're eager, Akane-chan, but we need to go over some of the important rules," he announced.
He earned frowns from both of the female players.
"Firstly, and the most obvious rule: don't tell anyone we're playing this game," Kagari began, counting the points off his fingers. "Second rule: another player must always be in sight to witness your dare, unless it wouldn't count. The final rule: be funny."
"The third rule doesn't seem very well explained," Akane muttered.
"What's the point of playing a game when you're not being funny?" Kagari retorted. "Anyway, let's do this. Inspector, here ya go."
Akane felt the Dare Box being pushed into her hands. She fumbled to press the correct face to display her first dare. Kagari excitedly hovered over her shoulder to read what it would be.
In a colleague's work schedule, write in the 10am slot: see how I look in tights. 5 points.
5 extra points if it is a male
5 more if he is your boss
"Whaat. You're already getting a head start!" Kagari exasperated. "No fair!"
Akane frowned a little. "Isn't everyone's computer password locked though? I don't see how I'll be able to access anyone's work schedule without hacking."
She was responded with a shrug of the shoulders.
"You're an Inspector, aren't you? Though I can't say for Gino-san, you have access to go through Kou-chan's computer for the bonus 5 points," he suggested with a sly smile. "No wait, why am I helping a rival! Let me get my dare, Akane-chan."
The cube was passed over in his waiting hands, and he quickly jabbed its surface so it will flash its new dare.
Send e-mails to your colleagues of what you are doing all day. 3 points.
A toothy grin stretched across Kagari's face.
"This is cake," he exclaimed and tossed the Dare Box back onto his desk. He peered over at Yayoi who had began to shuffle through some new files on her desk. "Hey, you haven't had your dare yet, right?"
The cube was tossed towards her and she caught it without looking up from her paperwork. She thumbed over the surface and read out loud the new message.
Include the word 'juice' in every sentence. 1 point.
"Looks like you got a warm-up dare," Kagari chuckled. "Isn't today the deadline for that Case 39 report? Can't wait to see how you manage in front of Gino-san!"
Yayoi said nothing and continued looking through the files.
As Akane sat down and began her own work, she started to wonder who she should sent her message to. Fortunately, the non-player male colleagues were likely to pass it as a joke and never bring it up again. That still didn't make it any less awkward. She sat there with her head in her hands for a few seconds and finally made a decision.
"I guess I'll use his."
With a sigh, she used her Inspector Pass to log into the Enforcer's system and opened up his day planner. She hastily typed in see 'how I look in tights' in his 10am slot and quickly closed the screen. Still, she wondered if it would be considered cheating if she left the office when he logs into his computer.
As if reading her mind, Kagari swiveled around on his chair to face her direction.
"I hope you're not going to be a spoil-sport, Akane-chan," he tutted.
"I wasn't-"
"I'm a latent criminal remember? I'm supposed to know how to be sly," he reminded her. "Don't disappoint me, Inspector!"
Akane decided that Kagari was having too much fun.
Yo! This is Hound 4. If anyone wants me, I'll be in the bathroom. It isn't a Number 2 so don't hesitate to find me.
Ginoza frowned at the email and deleted it before second thought. Kagari was probably just being bored today. The Inspector returned to skimming through the report he was handed in but was already circling certain paragraphs with a red pen.
He glanced up from his table. "Kunizuka, I believe you made an error in your report," he called out to her. "You muddled up some of the districts labelled here."
He held out the report, expecting it to be taken back and corrected straight away.
"I'll fix it after I buy some juice," she stated. She was already halfway through breaking a code in a separate hacker case which she was hoping to get out of the way by lunch hour.
"I'd much rather you fix it now."
"Juice first."
Ginoza raised an eyebrow. "You're not even getting up to buy it."
"I'll buy the juice later."
"Kunizuka, just finish the report."
"I'll need my juice though."
"Why do you keep talking about juice?"
She tore her eyes away from her monitor and fixed a blank stare at him. "Do you have anything against juice?"
"No, I don't. You just seem a little off today," Ginoza replied briskly.
"We are not talking about me, we are talking about juice. Why are you against me saying the word 'juice?' Has 'juice' been tabooed?"
"It's not. I'm just-"
"Then leave my juice out of it."
"I have nothing against juice!"
"Whatever you say, Inspector juice-hater."
Ginoza was in loss of words.
Abruptly, a new email flooded the screen of his computer.
Hound 4 here again! If you guys haven't noticed I've just got back from the bathroom. It was a Number 2 after all.
Ginoza deleted the email and pinched the bridge of his nose. He wearily glanced towards Kagari's desk where the orange-haired culprit was innocently playing on his game console. Ginoza usually tried to not get involved with the Enforcers during their break time since they all needed time-out from each other but the idiot was getting involved in his (I mean, everyone's) work.
"Inspector Tsunemori," he abruptly said. "I have the folder you wanted. Please take what you want from it."
With a nod, she heaved a heavy folder from Ginoza's desk and started sifting through it. She found it uncomfortable doing it whilst on her chair because of her height, so she ended up standing whilst leafing through the pages.
About then, Kougami and Masaoka finally arrived.
A few morning greetings went round before the two sat down and logged into their own computers.
Hound 4 calling in. I definitely saw Kou-chan checking out Akane-chan.
Ginoza rolled his eyes and left the office to get some fresh air. It was only 10am and he felt tired.
Kagari watched him leave with a huge, toothy grin. He was, as Akane would put it, having too much fun. Seeing now his morning shift had finally began, he finally opened up his schedule for the day, which made the grin slowly fall.
His 10am slot had 'see me in tights' typed into it.
'Sheesh, Akane-chan. That's just boring,' he thought.
Then he paused.
"Wait, what? Then why did Kou-chan..."
Said Enforcer was typing away like it was no one's business. There wasn't even a pause when Kagari had sent round the emails.
This is Hound 4! I'm being serious! Kou-chan was checking out Akane-chan! Kunicchi, you'd vouch, right? Oh man this is such a cheap drama.
Everyone was able to hear Shion laughing from the Analysis Department.
Yayoi swatted Kagari on the head with her rolled-up report.
Kougami's furious typing didn't skip a beat.
Hound 4 reporting abuse. Gino-san, even you gotta admit Kunicchi hits me way to often.
Aaand Hound 4 is back! I'm eating lunch with Akane-chan. Bet all of you are jealous!
Hound 4 reporting abuse again! Kunicchi upgraded to using my dart board! It's brand new as well! Tomorrow, she'll be using a chair for sure.
Hey guys, Hound 4 leaving for a bit. I have to do some field work with Gino-san. He sure isn't looking too happy.
Scratch that. He's looking really bad now. Maybe the apple juice I gave him was too sour.
Seriously, something is up with Gino-san.
Kagari. Shut up.
-Ginoza
By the way, Kagari, I was sure Kougami was staring at Inspector Ginoza, not Tsunemori- I bet my juice on it.
-Kunizuka
Kunizuka Yayoi- 1 point
Shuusei Kagari- 3 points
Tsunemori Akane- 10 points
What have I done. You can all shoot me now.
(I've been actually staring at this chapter for a couple of days and decided 'screw this, let's upload')
And thank-you for all the reviews! I will be replying to them, I promise. Another thank-you to AppleStrudel47 for coming up with the juice dare. More suggested dares will feature soon. (If there is a soon)
Pie.