Why did I always get so distracted when I was around Izuru? This has never happened to me before. Not in my life, not on the countless missions I went on before Hope's Peak. I had tried to explain my behavior with nervousness, but there are some obvious flaws with that argument, especially due to my conversation in Monomart today. Originally, I dispelled the most apparent notion out of sheer disbelief, but at this point, it was becoming more and more like the only possibility.

I was falling in love with Izuru Kamukura. Or, at least, that's what I thought.

I never knew how love felt, so I couldn't be absolutely certain. But from what I've heard, and read, that seemed like the case. Of course, it would happen on my most important mission, too...

I clenched my fists again. Izuru's a criminal! He killed all those people during the Tragedy, right? He deserves to be captured and brought to justice. I needed to set aside everything else and focus on my mission!

But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't completely motivate myself to continue. I didn't even know what I wanted anymore... I wasn't even sure what about Izuru was different from everyone else I've been investigating, to get me to feel this way...

I sat there staring off into the rain unattentive for a couple minutes, then I decided to get up and leave. I'd just walk around for a bit. Hopefully, something would happen. Because otherwise, I didn't know what I'd do. So, I walked outside under the overhang and opened my umbrella. I turned over to the man with the broom and nodded. He tipped his cap at me, and then I was on my way, back into the continuous wetness and mist that was today.

I decided that I'd take the scenic route back to observe a new area of the city. It looked very similar to everything else, to be honest. Nothing in this city was really different. It seemed the same dull life swallowed everyone who lived here.

Except for us. And them. We're trying to make an impact on this world, to make everything better. And they're trying to make it worse. This is why I have to stop Izuru. No matter what. No matter how 'in love' I am with him; if I even am, anyways.

I continued walking and after a couple minutes, I got to the suburban area. Houses lined up next to each other, as far as the eye could see, in alternating colors of white and black. Luckily, I lived in a more, unique area down the road. I'd have to walk a bit further to actually see it, though.

As i walked, cars in every hue between black and white whizzed past. Their bright red lights that were turned on due to the weather stared deep into my soul as a certain bear's eye once did. One car in particular sped up as it was passing me. Being attentive, this time, I took two steps to the side, and the splash from the puddle in the street didn't even come close. I smirked a bit at that, foiling another plot. If only investigations were that easy…

Eventually I made it back to my house. It was a one-story, light pink colored house. It didn't look like much. Indeed, it wasn't much; it was just different enough for Izuru to notice. The Foundation owned this whole block. Makoto's light blue house was to the left of mine, and Byakuya's light yellow house was to the right. The Foundation had enough room for the rest of us, too, but Byakuya's consistent nagging forced them to move Toko to the other side of town. Aoi volunteered to move as well to keep her company… And honestly, Hiro never cared where he lived.

It was no use reminiscing in the rain. I should get inside. As I approached my door, something attached to it fluttered in the wind. Upon further inspection, it was a note taped to the door. A look of apathy appeared on my face, but as the wind grew stronger, I snatched the note off the door so it wouldn't blow away. To be honest, it was exactly what I was looking for.

If you're looking for a lead,

I'll be at the Striped Bear tonight.

At 6pm. I have a reservation for two.

Don't be late, Kyoko.

-Izuru

What? Was he... asking me out? That's the weirdest way I'd expect to be asked out on a date. Then again, Izuru wasn't a typical guy. I took out my phone to check the time…

It's already 5pm? I should really hurry. I rushed inside my house, closing my umbrella and dropping it inside the doorway. I ran into the bathroom, making sure the weather didn't dirty my clothes. As I was looking myself over, a thought crossed my mind.

Wait… Did I just call this a date? I'm not even sure if Izuru likes me, or if it's just-

Seriously? I clapped my hands against my face.

I'm forgetting that he's my enemy. That I'm supposed to catch him.

I looked at myself in the mirror. My face got red at my previous thought, and seeing my face turn red in the mirror made it even redder. I absolutely hated the situation I was in. It didn't make any sense...

Ugh… I should just go. My clothes were fine. With the rain, changing wasn't really worth it, either. I grabbed my umbrella and walked outside again. The Striped Bear was within walking distance, and I should be early.

I began wondering why Izuru was doing this... Was his life truly that boring, that he'd endanger himself? If that was the case, then I'd wonder why he was still with Despair if he deemed it boring...

The second option was that he specifically wanted to see me. Which almost felt like... he was enabling me...

Hm, I'd have to ask him tonight.

After walking for a bit, I suddenly remembered that I forgot something. How could I be so naive?

I hurriedly went to pick up what I forgot. Maybe I wouldn't be as early as I expected… Izuru would see it as too forward to come early, right?-

Stop thinking like that! My mind seemed more and more like a complete mess these days...

The Striped Bear… I saw the restaurant only fifty feet away. The top half of Monokuma's face was sitting above the door, with his patented laughter face. The room was striped black and white; in stark contrast to the red, lush carpets I could see from the large, clear windows.

I looked at my watch.

5:55pm.

Hm. Not bad…

I walked into the restaurant. A tall, bald man in a typical waiter's outfit was standing behind a counter near the entrance.

"Ah, you must be Kyoko."

"Huh?" I was surprised that they knew who I was.

"Yes, you have a reservation. It's right-"

A chef appeared from the double doors that, I assumed, went to the kitchen. He motioned for the waiter to enter. The waiter nodded, and then turned.

"Oh, my apologies. I'll be right with you."

The man turned around and walked into the double doors.

I looked around at the restaurant. The chairs were lined with gold, and they seemed to have the same lush red material on the cushions. The tablecloths were half black and half white. Most of the tables were full, with people talking and eating. I forget the last time I was in a place like this…

As my eyes wandered more, they approached a man with dark hair almost touching the ground, sitting by himself, with an empty seat across from him. There were two candles on the table. I started walking over; surely that was my seat.

Izuru was wearing a nicer black suit than usual. He had a clean white shirt on, and over it was a tie with a continuous array of Monokumas in varying positions. That night-black hair of his was combed nicely. And his pale face stood out, as it always did. I almost swooned, but I controlled myself.

I was getting increasingly nervous as I approached the chair. Why was I getting nervous?

Why was I even here, again? Was it to catch Izuru, or because I wanted to eat dinner with him?

Well, I should be wary either way... And I could learn valuable information about his hideout just by talking to him...

I looked at Izuru. He was looking back, a smirk slowly growing on his face. I could almost feel my face turning red, but hopefully that didn't actually happen.

Izuru started the conversation as soon as I took my seat, in front of the white side of the tablecloth. I'm sure the tablecloth was placed that way on purpose, for added effect.

"I see you've received my note."

"Yes. You were lucky I saw it in time."

"There was no 'luck'. I knew you left your house because you took the umbrella."

"What if I didn't get back until after 6?"

"Then I'd remove the note and try again tomorrow."

"What if I didn't leave my house tomorrow?"

"Then, you'd be explicitly avoiding me. And we both know that's completely uncharacteristic of you. You are trying to catch me, after all."

Yes. Izuru was right, possibly in more ways than one...

"That is true."

As I looked into Izuru's eyes, awkwardness ensued. We sat there in silence for a couple seconds until the waiter from before brought out two steaming plates of steak. The steaks were a juicy reddish-brown, moist from being served immediately after they finished cooking. The waiter placed the two plates in front of us. I could now see a heaping pile of mashed potatoes smothered in gravy next to some hearty broccoli. My mouth watered at the sight. It was quite unfortunate that I wouldn't eat it.

"Excuse me, waiter. Could you take this away? I'm not in the mood for this meal."

"Ah, b-but Miss! Are you sure?"

"Yes. I am certain."

Just as the waiter was reaching for my plate, Izuru spoke up.

"Waiter, box up my plate for Kyoko. I'll take care of hers."

"O-oh, yes, sir."

The waiter grabbed Izuru's plate of steak and went back to the cooking area behind the double doors. Izuru moved my plate in front of him and started eating.

"Cautious as ever, I see. You would pass up such a meal?"

"Being a detective, I need to keep myself in perfect condition."

I pulled out a container of salad from my backpack and placed it in front of me, what I went out of my way to get before I came here. It was the only way that I could control what I ate. Not knowing Izuru's intentions, that food could have been poisoned. But it seemed like it wasn't, as he was literally eating the plate meant for me. I'm sure he did that on purpose, though... Maybe killing me wasn't the point… Maybe he really thinks that everything else is boring... So maybe...

"Your condition seems fine enough. You look good."

Did he just compliment me? I wasn't expecting that, so my answer wasn't optimal.

"Please. I look the same as I always do."

After a short pause, Izuru responded, "Your point?"

...Oh, I get what he's saying. That I always look good. Very funny, Izuru…

Well, I guess it was my turn, now...

"...Thank you. As do you."

Izuru stared into my eyes for a couple seconds, and then finally responded.

"Thanks."

Thaaaat, was probably the wrong thing to say… Either way, that's enough small talk. Combining what he just said with the fact that he didn't poison my food, there was something I needed to find out. Catching him could wait, for now. Besides, my handcuffs, and anything else I could do, could not reach Izuru from where I was...

"Izuru."

"Yes?" He looked up at me from his food.

"Why are you doing this?"

"Because I like eating steak." Izuru said as he took another bite of the steak. The more he ate, the more I wished I'd actually accepted my plate.

I ignored his joking response and continued. I had to know...

"Why are you spending so much time with me, if you know I want to catch you?"

Izuru's face seemed to grow slightly more serious.

"Everything else is boring... So I decided to play a little game. I'd give you a head start, and we'd see which side wins. Hope, or Despair. It's nice to feel challenged again."

Something in me felt he wasn't telling the whole truth.

"I see… Is that all?"

Izuru took another bite of his steak, which was rather annoying considering it took him so long in between bites to speak. Compared to the salad I had, it put the burden of conversation more on me. Which was exactly what I didn't want…

He looked like he was about to say something, though. His face seemed to turn more serious, or was it… strained? He calmly swallowed whatever steak he just ate, and chuckled a bit. Instantly afterwards, the smirk on his face disappeared.

"You're a detective, right? You should figure that out yourself."

Izuru leaned forward and looked at me intently. I stared into his deep, red eyes. His face was expressionless; he did not display the same intriguing grin as before. Yet, his face was intriguing in a different way. The strain I noticed earlier became more evident. It seemed he was going through something difficult as well. But was it… the same thing? Was he feeling the same conflicting feeling that I was? My face must have displayed some look of understanding or relaxation, because Izuru nodded and spoke up again.