Reunion 2: Day 1 – A: Hot Ramen

So it seems some people got that vibe, huh. Well, you got me, lol

Also, I tend to revise, that's why the first chapter looks a bit different. Bad habit, I know.

Naoto Shirogane, the Detective Prince, had returned to Inaba. For yet unknown reasons, she had texted Kanji Tatsumi to tell him, rather vaguely, that she was coming back. Now having arrived back, Kanji and Teddie must deal with an unexpected visit from an old friend!

And, well, the former wasn't taking it too well. Having harbored a long time crush for the small, boyish (never mind that for work, she was a man) detective, Kanji had to deal with seeing his crush for the first time in over a year, and the first thing he did when she appeared was… flash her a stupid expression when he tried to smile. Like that of a red, swollen puffer fish. And seeing that Naoto did glance at him briefly, she probably chose to ignore his goofy expression out of goodwill or sympathy, since Teddie was laughing over it.

Kanji wondered sometimes if there was something out there, like some higher force or something, destined to make him look like an idiot.

'Damnit Kanji! You blew it!' he screamed in his own head. Naoto had just returned to Inaba, a place where she had some of her most treasured memories, and he had to act like a complete idiot in front of her! That wasn't going to look too good on his image. Kanji let go of Teddie, quickly stretched his face off from his 'puffer fish cosplay' half-smile, and just put on a small, neutral gaze. He then looked at Naoto, surprisingly without a blush, and now that he was able to get a good look at her, he could definitely say that she didn't look a day above 16, like back in 2011. In fact, her short stature seemed to have not even grown an inch. She definitely didn't look 18, for sure.

Her features were still androgynous, and serious. No real development since then, she was still the hardboiled detective with a cute side to her, but just a little older, well, statistic-wise, and with new experiences. Kanji even wondered if she had any stories she was willing to share. If she wanted an ear to listen, he was there. But she was never one to be a storyteller.

He was caught by surprise when Naoto glanced at him, "Is something the matter, Kanji-kun?" she asked in a straightforward manner. Her dark eyes, usually so focused and intense, and could bore right into your soul and see the workings of your mind in them, were actually quite beautiful if you looked into them. Despite not using makeup and such, she still did have slightly feminine eyes.

Flustered, Kanji backed a step, and felt a lump in his throat form. He had no idea what he could say, nor could he read Naoto's mind (like he could anyways). Didn't help that she was such an enigma sometimes! "Nothin's the matter," he responded back to the pint-sized detective, as he took another step back, obviously out of his league with the conversation. 'Oh god, Teddie, do something!'

Naoto watched in slight confusion. Kanji was never this flustered or so she remembered, but she never really tried to notice. It was hard enough for her, with her social skills… lacking, to put it that way, to make friends, and not have to endure the crushing loneliness she felt before she had gone to Inaba, where it was only her, her grandfather and Yakushiji, and to fill the void, helping her grandfather solve cases and acting as his trusty kid sidekick.

While she was empathic and could sympathize with people, she was professional about relationships, and tried to separate work and relationships as far as possible. To get into a further relationship with someone, to the point where it interferes with life as a detective, was unprofessional and could lead to weakness, so her crime fiction novels and stories she heard told her.

After all, who's to say you could get on the wrong side of someone, for example, a crime lord, and he could use your loved ones as a way to pressure you to drop your case against him?

Nevertheless, she was thinking about work again, and she was meant to relax and let her body and soul heal up. She was a natural workaholic after all, but her growth throughout the last two years told her that sometimes, she just needed to wind down.

Of course, this now lead to the awkward glances she shared with Kanji. She looked neutral, but she could see sweat drenching his face, and his face shaking. "Do you have a fever?"

Kanji almost screamed out. Now he really had done it! Oh, if something out there was looking out for him, then something better interfere! The atmosphere was more like a bubble between the two: it would break easily with a little bit of force, but no one seemed to be willing to pop it.

And as if his prayers were answered, Teddie, apparently unaware of the atmosphere between the two, walked towards Naoto, and flicked his thumb past his mouth, as sparkles almost seemed to form around him. His bright blue eyes shone, and his features lit up into an almost angelic smile. He was laying on the charm thick and heavy, even if the androgynous detective wasn't going to fall for it too easily, more like never, "Say there, Nao-chan~ we have so much to talk about~ I don't want to miss a single word~"

Oh, typical Teddie. Even with the body of a beautiful bishonen boy, he had the mind of a hormonal child. Not exactly taken by surprise, Naoto lowered her head, hiding her eyes with her cap, but her lips visibly turned to a small smile, slightly amused by Teddie's attitude. "Once again, two years haven't changed my mind. I'm afraid I cannot cooperate with you, Teddie-san."

Somewhat crestfallen, Teddie let his head drop in failure, "Bear-y sad…" he muttered in failure. He comically couldn't even gather the strength to lift his head up in his despair.

Naoto then tipped her cap, and straightened out her body, "I think we have done enough fooling around, though."

Hearing that, Teddie seemed to jump up and visibly gasp, "Right! I've got so much to show you around here, Nao-chan! This place is still great!"

Naoto looked up to the blue, cloud free sky, and her expression seemed to grow slightly lighter, her small shoulders sagging, "Yes, I'm sure it'll be… I look forward to this. What happened to the others? Rise-san I am aware of, but the rest?"

Kanji and Teddie suddenly made choking sounds, and they looked away from each other and Naoto, scratching their heads and looking really out of their element. "Well, Yuki-chan is still here, in the inn… she told us she's hard at work with reservations though. Chie-chan is also becoming a police officer, she didn't say whenever she'd have a day off schedule, though…."

"Yeah. Yu-sensei as you know is in university," Kanji continued, "and Yosuke's on family vacation."

Upon hearing that, Naoto's lips were a thin line. She was disappointed, but her mature way of looking into things and her experience told her that she shouldn't have been surprised. And at least there were Teddie and Kanji.

"I see. As long as there are a few of you around, then we're still together."

She smiled to herself. To think now she was being the optimist. And had she looked a little to her left, she would see Kanji's face so red, it's possible there was steam coming out of it.

"Then let's go!" Teddie turned his back to the two, and began to sing a song off Risette's latest album as he strode out with an exaggerative step.

After having calmed himself down and letting his face cool off, Kanji then saw that Naoto was still holding her suitcase, and he frowned. While Naoto was the type to say she was fine and refuse help unless she really needed it (or she trusted you: the thought was enough to make Kanji's cheeks go red again), maybe he'd ask her to see how she felt about his idea. In a rare showing of courtesy, Kanji actually asked, "Hey, Naoto, want me ta carry your case?"

Naoto turned her head over to Kanji, and then over to her suitcase. "It's not as if I'm struggling to hold this," she demonstrated this by slightly pulling the case up, then letting it down, but a faint smile crossed her lips, indeed heartened by Kanji's thoughtfulness, "but if you wish."

She passed him the suitcase, and Kanji received it. It seemed Naoto didn't travel light, nor did she travel heavy. It just might be him, but it seemed she travelled with just the right amount of weight.

He glanced at the brown case, and thought of what might be in there. Considering Naoto's crossdressing habits, did she wear panties, or even… male cotton briefs? Feeling himself glowing red like a tomato and a building pressure in his nose at these perverted thoughts, Kanji whipped his eyes away from the case, and back to Naoto, who was glancing at a watch. It didn't look like the one she wore in 2011, it seemed to be a little more… gadget-y. He had to say something quick to get them out of here!

As if it were a sign, his stomach then grumbled. He cocked a grin, what great timing!

"Hey, Naoto-sempai, ya hungry? Was thinking we could go grab somethin' to eat."

Now that he mentioned it, Naoto could feel her stomach groan too. She had only a light breakfast early this morning before going on the train, so she had plenty of room for an early lunch. She nodded.

"I'd like that."

Day 1, 10:30AM

Soon after departing from the train station, the three had found a small ramen outlet in town, and quickly sat down. After ordering their ramen, the three sat down on stools, with Kanji on the left side, Naoto in the center, and Teddie on the right. But even then, it seemed none of them were up for speaking, with Teddie failing to spark up conservation about TV programs… luckily enough, their food soon arrived. That was what started the conversation.

"So what brings you back to Inaba, Nao-chan~?" Teddie was the first to break the ice, as the three readied to eat their ramen.

Naoto gave a cool glance over to Teddie, as she picked up some noodles with her chopsticks, "It is quite simple, really. Last week, my grandfather told me that I needed to take a break from detective work and studying. I protested, but he was insistent. He felt I should enjoy a week off while I'm still young. So I decided that I would come here. It is quiet, and I have friends here. It is a shame about the others being so busy."

Kanji smiled at that, before slurping down some noodles, "Hafta agree with him there. Even ace detectives need R&R."

And yet, he put his right arm up in hopes that the crimson starting to color his cheeks couldn't be seen. Why did she have to say 'friends' like that? Considering it was her saying that, it made him feel giddy in the stomach, like he had butterflies in them. God forbid if Naoto ever noticed.

However, the simple explanation was not enough for Teddie, who sadly stuck his lower lip out, "Aw man, I thought it'd be something bear-y exciting like a crime! And we could bear your partners! It'd be like Sherlock Holmes and Watson all over again!"

It seemed that touched something of a nerve in Naoto, who almost seemed to grimace. She had been too aware of her experiences as a detective in Inaba, the knowledge that she'd be thrown away once the case was solved, and often being seen as a kid who tried too hard. She pushed those thoughts out of her head though, "I'm afraid detective work is not what the modern movies make it look like. I can tell you now I have thrown no punches or have foreseen what physical attacks my enemies would use next."

"Sounds totally badass on paper though," mentioned Kanji. Really, looking at Naoto even through the baggy, dense clothing, he could tell she wasn't particularly strong in terms of physical strength. She had a small build, and no muscle definition. Granted, she could still probably punch out Yosuke. Now that guy looked weak, and deserved all the beatdowns he could get for being such a cocksure asshole.

Teddie's body was rigid. "My dream, crushed like a bear," was all he could speak, on the verge of being shattered.

Two years had yet to help Naoto's ability to read humor cues or even the atmosphere, it seemed. But Teddie's smile quickly returned, he knew just how to help the mood! "I know! Why don't we go for a walk?"

"I hope you won't take me to Junes and try to sell me items I wouldn't need." Naoto quipped. Both Kanji and Teddie winced at her reply, even if Kanji tried to hold back a laugh. Even if she had calmed down a lot, she still could be completely blind to the mystery that is people's feelings.

Teddie quickly recovered though, as he put the charm on again, "Haha, nonsense Nao-chan. I've got so much more than Junes~ I've got a lovely place for just the two of us~"

"- Wait, two?" cut in a reddening Kanji.

"And we can enjoy the sights and the scenery~"

Naoto nodded, she knew just what place the bear was referring to. While it was a pretty place now, not just pretty, beautiful, like an Eden, the last time she ended up there, she had to fight her friends in some kind of tournament. "Going back to the TV World isn't on my agenda."

What seemed like the sound of a mirror breaking could be heard in Teddie's mind. Not even two years of practice could help him 'score' like in the movies! And he had spent nights in the TV World, watching all the movies from a place they call, 'Hollywood', where the plots were all the same and the characters were barely any different, except for a few rare titles!

Maybe he should have watched the Japanese movies instead, instead of relying on mainstream scoring tips. Or he should have picked someone else other than trying his luck with the masculine Naoto again.

The near-comatose Teddie was slapped on the shoulder by Kanji, causing the effeminate boy to snap out of his stupor with a yelp.

"Man, that was a bear-y bad bear-perience."

Kanji only replied with a heated glare.

Soon, they finished. Their bowls were taken back, and now it was time to pay. Kanji looked over his shoulder to Teddie, who was buttering his lips with a handkerchief. "So, er, who's paying?" Kanji quizzed. He put his hand to his wallet, fully ready to pay (he saved up the money he earned from working in Tatsumi Textiles for occasions like this), but Teddie was crazy about free meals, so he better not make it too obvious.

Teddie grinned and patted his pockets, "I've got nothin' on me! Just some lint!" he even pulled his pockets inside out, revealing the lack of money. There was quite a lot of lint though. Teddie seemed proud of that, too.

Kanji's brows knitted and he grumbled, rather annoyed, no, really annoyed by the bear's mooching habits, "Damnit Teddie, you can't keep doin' this, with Naoto here! Don'cha have a job?"

The goofy boy nodded his head, with his usual cute smile, "Well my money is for the honies!" he said sincerely. Indeed, Teddie was still obsessed with 'scoring', and Kanji clenched his teeth together in anger.

Naoto had watched the scene unfold, Teddie was being his typical child-like, yet adorable self, and it seemed once again Kanji had been irritated by the young blonde boy. But she had been prepared, like she always tried to be, and her own hand began to duck towards her wallet, "It's fine. I'll pay if need be."

She began to retrieve a Yen note, but Kanji put his hands up, rather surprised at how diligent she was being.

"W-wha- no! You're the guest, Naoto! I'll pay!" he exclaimed. He quickly fished out his wallet, flicked through the notes (Math was not his strongest subject) and put down the money. One of the workers gave Kanji a small glare, as if he had taken one look at Kanji's pierced face, and assumed the teenager was not going to pay all because of his height, muscle and some metal stubs on his face.

As the exchange occurred, Naoto shimmied back on her seat, and watched. While she was the epitome of socially awkward, especially in large groups (lord knew how many times she felt left out, especially in childhood and later on, when working with the police), Kanji and Teddie managed to do alright, even if they had their own troubles and quirks about them too.

Once Kanji was done, Naoto stood up from her stool, and looked up at Kanji, given they were both standing now, she only managed to reach up to his neck. It was both Kanji's natural tall length and long legs, and Naoto's own shortness. She quickly spoke:

"It was a good lunch, Kanji-kun. I thank you for that. Perhaps, next time, you…."

Realizing what she was about to say, that it sounded like some stupid romance novel she would see littering the book shelves, the young detective tipped her hat down, and along with the light, managed to shade her face and her slightly red expression. She was almost about to say something that could give out the wrong impression, which didn't fit the no-nonsense, masculine reputation she had carved out for herself. Why was she so socially inept?

And just as well, Kanji almost choked in response, and his face began to glow red. He quickly twisted away, showing his back to her. His shoulders hunched up, and his lips quivered into a grimace, trying to hide the blush from Naoto. He may be a man who worked in textile, but he was still a man's man!

In their stupor, both Naoto and Kanji didn't realize they were both so very, very nervous.

Teddie, seeing all this, grinned cheekily; some feelings never change with the flow of time. Kanji had a long road ahead of him this week….

Day 1 – A: END

Reviews and feedback are always welcome! Say what you want to say! So far, the days will probably be put into two-parters, depending on how much happens. I split this chapter up because I'm mainly doing 2000-3000 word chapters, to get myself back into the writing game.