CHAPTER FIFTEEN – CONVENIENCE STORE CONVERSATIONS
Somehow, as Great Gozu had declared, it seemed only natural that Hope's Peak Academy would be covered by reporters and journalists alike where the country's Ultimate-driven future was concerned. With prodigious prowess and bright futures being honed in the crucible of education, there would be no doubt that people from all walks of life would want to witness just how high the Ultimates of the school can reach. After all, all of the alumni at Hope's Peak had already moved on to storied careers, contributing to society in a myriad of ways, giving humanity that proverbial sense of hope for a better tomorrow that Jin Kirigiri and his colleagues believed in so much.
As he did sit-ups in the dim atmosphere of his room, Ryoma had to wonder just what kind of media craze might be waiting once reporters caught wind of his presence and demonstration of tennis come evaluation day. He remembered all too well the weeks of his trial and incarceration; backed up by other figures in the same criminal underworld that he had tangled with, his crimes had been broadcast across the country and, to some extent, even the world, painting him as a murderer who had targeted his benefactors in a rage after prospects for future matches and glory had been taken from him. Mainstream media proved to be a powerful tool indeed, crucifying him for his crimes and even going so far as to dig up what they paraded as sordid details of his personal life. Ryoma watched and listened through what little news he could get from TV reports and newspapers as fans shunned his name and sports institutions pretended like he never existed, eager to wash their hands of him lest they get caught in the media crossfire. Condemned, ridiculed and disowned, he endured his fall from grace with only seething rage and resentment, until the gravity of what happened to his family and Isabella ate up what anger he had left. And now, at this point in his life, Ryoma could only wonder where he was.
He finished his sit-ups and went over to the bathroom to wash his face. The chill in his room bit deep through his sweat-soaked torso, enticing him with the notion of a hot bath. Today had been a rest day for him and Kirumi, both with their gym workouts and his tennis practice, but Ryoma knew that working out in private was better than letting Great Gozu's revelation stew in his mind through the silence of inactivity. Kirumi had not said much about the matter, busy as she was, and there was no doubt that she was avoiding anything about it that might get to him. Ryoma felt thankful for that, though he also found himself wondering if it was good to talk about it with her all the same.
I just need to get my mind on something else, he mused. It's easier to manage, thanks to her help. That means something. As always, there were things that he could not thank Kirumi enough for, and Ryoma could not help but wonder how he would have approached the evaluations at September if he had not spent the past few weeks with the Ultimate Maid's companionship and help.
After a quick bath and a fresh change of clothes, Ryoma decided to wander around. With most classes already done, more students were in the corridors, hanging out on hallway benches or lingering in their emptying classrooms. He spotted Tsumugi at a nearby staircase, where she was talking cheerfully with Rantaro, Korekiyo and Angie. His classmates greeted him with varying degrees of warmth and familiarity, and Rantaro tried to invite him to join them. Ryoma brushed the invitation off politely, but assured them all the same that he would be seeing them at dinner. Soon, the Reserve Course began to crop up as well, their black uniforms outnumbering the brown-clad Ultimates. Still wearing his usual prison garb and leather jacket, Ryoma knew that he stuck out even more like a sore thumb, though part of him marveled at the idea that he seemed to be getting used to it. Gradually, his mind shifted further away from Great Gozu's revelation, and the feel of it assured him that walking around had been the right decision.
His wanderings soon brought him to the main building's convenience store, where a good number of students were buying refreshments and eating at small tables set up inside. Ryoma watched them wander through the short aisles flanked by shelves laden with basic snacks like potato chips, cookies, simple pastries, and cans and bottles of various beverages. The sight of them soon had him wandering inside, his eyes sweeping through the shelves. Where buying food and other necessities was concerned, Hope's Peak Academy gave its Ultimates a monthly allowance to spend, supplied by the school's sponsors in the government and in the business sector. It was something that Ryoma had little use for other than buying the barest of necessities, a lifestyle that he had become inextricably entwined with in prison. However, there was some other use that it gave, the reason why he even went inside the store in the first place.
She liked the gingerbread cookies, he thought. Or was it the biscotti cookies? Ryoma frowned to himself, his mind weighing between the packs that he had taken from the shelves. Kirumi had spoken with nothing but appreciation and warmth about the simple snacks that he sometimes gave her as gifts, but he had made it a point to try and pick out which among them she liked best based on how she had spoken of them. By this time, there were minor details that he liked to think he had nailed down. Green tea was Kirumi's favorite, with jasmine being her go-to variant for her post-workout meals, but she was also partial to drinking cappuccino or espresso during cold mornings. Wheat biscuits formed a significant part of her healthy snacking, while custard bread counted as one of her secret favorites. Ryoma had picked out these snacks for her during his subsequent gift-giving instances, and it always pleased him to see how happy Kirumi was when she received them. With a shrug, he decided to buy both cookie types, making a mental note to mix them in with some espresso and tea.
As Ryoma was about to make his way to the counter, another familiar face surprised him. Without the presence of Kaito, Maki or Kaede flanking him, Shuichi looked rather apprehensive as he looked over the shelves a short distance away. It was the first time that Ryoma had seen him alone outside of class, and he was still contemplating on whether to approach when Shuichi looked around and spotted him.
"Oh, hello there, Ryoma!" said the Ultimate Detective with a small smile. "Didn't think I'd see you here."
"I could say the same." Knowing that there was no point in ducking out now, Ryoma walked over to him. "All alone, eh?"
"Ah, yes, I went here by myself," Shuichi stated. "I was going to buy, er . . . something."
Ryoma nodded, taking note of his nervousness. "That makes two of us. Figured I'd spend some time wandering around before dinnertime, since I don't really have much else to do."
"So you're not exercising for today, huh?"
"Yeah, it's a rest day of sorts. Did some simple routines at my room just to pass the time, but that's about it. How about you? I've seen you with Kaito and Maki a few times at the gym before."
"Oh, Kaito had to take a break for today. He said that he wasn't feeling too good. Maki wandered off. I thought she might like to continue the workout, but she said that she'd take care of other things first."
"I see. I hope Kaito gets better, then."
"Y-Yeah, I hope so too. . ." Shuichi looked around, the obvious introvert in him trying to forestall any lull in their chat lest it seem rude. Ryoma would not have minded if he just up and left, but still, he felt that it was equally impolite to be the one to cut the conversation off instead of him.
He glanced over at the nearby tables in the store, noticing a few of them that were still unoccupied. He turned back to Shuichi and asked, "Wanna sit and chat some more for a bit? I have no idea what to do after this, and I feel like talking's gonna do me some good. If you've got somewhere else to go, though, that's fine."
Shuichi straightened up timidly, but he gave Ryoma another smile nonetheless. "That's okay with me. I've got a bit of time to spare too. Besides, I don't think we've ever gotten to talk outside of class before."
"Yes, that's right."
"B-But if you don't mind, ah . . . can I have just a few more minutes to buy what I'm looking for? I, um . . . I'm still picking something out."
"Yeah, no problem. Take your time."
Nodding gratefully, Shuichi turned back to the shelves while Ryoma idled by, glancing around in case he spotted something else that he could buy for Kirumi. He was about to consider purchasing a small pack of apple-flavored candies when Shuichi spoke up again.
"H-Hey, Ryoma?"
Ryoma turned towards him. "What?"
Shuichi shifted anxiously, and Ryoma soon saw that he was holding a small box of strawberry cream puffs. "Do you think girls love these?" the Ultimate Detective asked in a reluctant tone, shaking the box a little. "I mean, m-maybe they'd find it good because it's strawberry and all."
His surprise deepening, Ryoma raised an eyebrow. "I don't think I'm the person you should be asking about that," he said with blunt amusement.
Shuichi drew back as if he had been doused with cold water. "Ah, I suppose you're right. . ." he muttered shamefacedly, glancing down at the box with a conflicted look in his warm grey eyes. "S-Sorry about that. I just figured that you might have an idea, and since I'm anything but an expert about stuff like this . . ."
"It's fine. No need to apologize," said Ryoma, feeling slightly self-conscious about his own words as he realized that he had been in a similar predicament with Kirumi before. In spite of Shuichi's feigned innocence with his query, Ryoma could tell that he was almost as self-conscious as he was where gift-giving was concerned. "You know the world's getting even stranger when you ask a dangerous convict about strawberry cream puffs," he added in an attempt to lighten his previous bluntness.
Thankfully, Shuichi laughed a little at the quip, and ostensibly ignored the reference to his criminal status. "I hope it wasn't too awkward. I only have Kaito or Maki to ask about this. Kaito might let something slip, and Maki . . . well, you know how she is. That's why I figured that it'd be best for me to go at it alone."
"I understand the feeling." Ryoma heaved a sigh, pondering as he looked at the box of cream puffs, not intending to sound insincere with his reply. "It depends on the girl, I guess. Strawberry's a safe choice if you're going for desserts. It can be ice cream, pastries or cakes, and it'd still turn out fine. Of course, I'm not speaking for those who don't like strawberries, but if you had to pick, I'd say those cream puffs will do."
"I see," said Shuichi. "It was either these or some bean buns. I figured that maybe Kaede would like the strawberry cream puffs better, a-and—"
At that, his words screeched to a halt, and Ryoma watched as his face turned red from the realization that he had just dropped Kaede's name. Still, it was anything but a huge surprise for Ryoma, given that he did not have to guess too hard to know who the cream puffs or the bean buns were for. Shuichi, meanwhile, pulled his cap low over his eyes and turned away.
"It's fine. There's no need to hide, and nothing to be embarrassed about," Ryoma told him. "We're . . . We're in the same boat, basically," he added in an attempt to reassure Shuichi by coming clean with his own motives.
That made Shuichi look upon him again. "W-We are?"
"Yeah. I mean, do you honestly think I'm buying these for myself?" Ryoma deadpanned, indicating the snacks that were cradled in his left arm. Shuichi looked at them as if he was seeing them plainly for the first time. For a moment, he looked as if he wanted to smile, but seemed to think the better of it.
"The tea could be for you," the Ultimate Detective pointed out tentatively.
Ryoma grunted with amusement. "Maybe, but not this time. All this is for Kirumi."
The Ultimate Detective seemed no different from the rest of the class who had their own private notions about his bond with Kirumi, but surprise registered on his features nonetheless. Even Ryoma himself felt astonished at how easily he had divulged his own intentions. Then again, he knew that it was bound to be just as obvious as Shuichi's status with Kaede was. He expected Shuichi to ask, to prod further and perhaps find out more about his relationship with Kirumi that no one else in Class 80-A knew.
When Shuichi said nothing, Ryoma nodded at the box in his hands. "Get those for Kaede. I have a feeling that she'll love them. If she doesn't, well . . . at least you tried, right?"
The Ultimate Detective looked at the cream puffs and sighed. "Okay, I'll take your word for it," he conceded.
By the time Shuichi was done, more of the tables in the convenience store had been vacated, giving them enough space to continue their chat. Out of courtesy, Shuichi offered to buy some snacks for the two of them, though all Ryoma would accept was a simple can of soda. Together, the two of them paid for their purchases, which now included a box of chocolate Pocky for Kaede and the apple candies that Ryoma had been perusing for Kirumi.
"Here you go. I hope lemon's an okay flavor for you," said Shuichi, handing him a can as he sat down across the table from him.
Ryoma took the can with a nod. "That should work out just fine. Thanks, I owe you one."
"It's nothing," said Shuichi, grinning. He opened up the bag of potato chips and the can of soda that he had bought for himself, and began to eat with Ryoma in silence. Ryoma waited for him to speak, but the Ultimate Detective seemed cautious about starting any conversation. Regardless, he cast a few glances at him, looking as if there was something that he wanted to say but could not bring himself to utter it out loud. Ryoma already had an idea on what he might want to ask him, and he wondered if it was his aloof nature that was stopping Shuichi from saying anything.
"You know that you're free to speak, right?" he told the Ultimate Detective. "I didn't invite you here just to make you feel left out, y'know?"
Shuichi snapped to attention. "Ah, y-yes, sorry about that," he said with a nervous laugh. "I'm just at a loss on what to say, t-that's all."
Ryoma paused for a second. "Sorry, didn't mean to sound like I was reprimanding you for it. I just don't want you feeling like you can't talk to me properly. Feel free to say something. I don't mind."
When Shuichi still hesitated, he went on. "You'd probably wanna hear how I took down those mobsters, right?"
"W-What made you say that?" asked Shuichi, startled.
"It's what most people tend to care about. Then again, the only people I've talked to before I came to Hope's Peak are just inmates and guards. Kirumi was the first one who was different, though I hope she won't be the last."
"I see. . ." Shuichi looked away, pondering. "Well, I won't deny that I'm interested in what happened with you and those yakuza in Shikoku. That was one case that my uncle was really interested in, and I read about it after your . . . y-your arrest."
Ryoma nodded. He gripped his can of soda tighter as a grim feeling welled up in him. He could almost see the headlines and news reports in his mind's eye all over again, and the law enforcers and trials as well. Again, he could only imagine what would happen come September.
"Well, the perp is right here before you," he proffered. "Ask away, Mr. Detective."
Reluctantly, Shuichi shook his head. "I . . . I don't think I should," he said. "It's more personal than anything I deserve to hear."
"Why not?" asked Ryoma. "As a detective, whatever interest you have for my case is more than valid."
"But I'm not here as a detective on duty, right?" For a moment, the nervousness in Shuichi's features vanished, and his grey eyes were filled with serious sympathy. "If I'm going to ask, I'd want to do so as a friend."
Ryoma regarded him closely for a moment. Part of him wanted to press on, if only to address any curiosity Shuichi might be feeling. Instead, he found himself smiling rather amusedly. "That sounds like something Kirumi has said before. Has she been talking to you and Kaede about me?"
The seriousness on Shuichi's façade faded somewhat, replaced by an apologetic look. "No, I haven't really gotten the chance to speak to her much, honestly. And I don't think she'd share stuff about you without your knowledge."
Ryoma nodded. "That's true. She's definitely that kind of person. Whatever the case, I'm thankful that you'd choose to ask me as an acquaintance."
"Of course, Ryoma," said Shuichi. "To be honest, it's not just that which I'm curious to hear about from you. When I heard that you're practicing tennis again, and after our activity at the field the other day, when you and Kirumi dueled in the hundred-yard dash . . . I'd be lying if I said I'm not curious about your tennis background too."
Ryoma grunted. "You and Kaito both, I'm sure. I'm not the same player I used to be, but I've got to get back in shape for the evaluations on September. Even so, it's gonna take me a bit more time before I get comfortable enough to speak about returning to tennis like this, in light of what happened to me. Back then, I only had busybodies to deal with. People who wanted to hear my story just so they can remind me how stupid I am for throwing my life away." He took out a candy cigarette from his pocket and chewed on it grimly. "Prison was like that. They used it as a way to break me, among other things—and a number of times, I think it did. And now my mind just thinks that anyone who recognizes me as an athlete will want to know about my crime. Of course, the truth ain't exactly like that, and I shouldn't assume on other people's behalf. I'm glad that I managed to start changing that with Kirumi, but with you and the rest, I've still got a ways to go, I think."
All the while, Shuichi listened with an earnest expression. And though Ryoma could sense his professed curiosity growing, the Ultimate Detective hid it well. "I understand," he said when Ryoma was done. "Don't worry, I'm not going to ask anything that you won't be comfortable with. And we can always talk about it some other time if you're not up for it now."
Ryoma toasted him with his soda can. "Thanks for that. I appreciate it."
Their conversation took a lighter turn after that. Only small talk surfaced between the two of them, but Ryoma would not have had it any other way. Still adjusting to the feeling of speaking to someone new, going at his own pace was the viable option, and he felt grateful that Shuichi respected that.
After a while, Shuichi took a look at the snacks he had bought for Kaede earlier. "These should be enough, right? I might overdo it if I buy more. And besides, there's no telling if Kaede will even like these."
"I'm sure she'd appreciate any gift from you," Ryoma remarked. "You two are already pretty close, after all."
Shuichi turned pink again. "Y-You noticed that too, huh?"
"Me and everyone else," said Ryoma with a chuckle as he took another sip of soda. "There's nothing wrong with it, though. Just play it cool."
"I hope I can," said Shuichi, nibbling at a potato chip. "I mean, I've been given gifts before, but this would be the first time I'm doing the giving. . ."
"Given gifts? From work?" asked Ryoma.
"You can say that," said Shuichi with a brief laugh. "It was back in middle school, when I was still training at my uncle's office. I helped a classmate out with her lost pet, and she gave me some chocolate for Valentine's Day in return."
". . . That's an odd thing to give in return for detective work," Ryoma remarked.
"It was okay with me," said Shuichi with a smile. "I was happy to be of use to someone, and thrilled that I got to finish my first case successfully, even if it was technically an unofficial one. It really helped me start my detective career."
"That's good, then. Your uncle should be really proud of you, especially now that you've been chosen as the Ultimate Detective."
At that, Shuichi suddenly fell silent, his smile fading. He looked away uncomfortably, avoiding Ryoma's stare, and for a moment Ryoma wondered if he had offended him in some way. "What is it?" he asked.
Shuichi hesitated. "Well, the thing is . . . I'm not the only Ultimate Detective around here."
Ryoma raised his eyebrows. "What do you mean?"
"Class 78 also has an Ultimate Detective," replied Shuichi quietly. "Kyoko Kirigiri, the headmaster's daughter. I . . . I met her during the gym assembly a while back."
Somehow, the last thing that Ryoma had expected was for Jin Kirigiri to have a child studying in the same school he ran, but it was not exactly a distant notion. As he mulled on the thought, Ryoma soon imagined that he understood where the headmaster's almost fatherly nature came from, even when dealing with criminals and murderers.
"It's rather odd that the school would have two Ultimates with the same talent, but maybe it happens occasionally," he said.
"Yeah, we've also heard that there are two Ultimate Lucky Students," Shuichi went on. "One of them is Kyoko's classmate, Makoto Naegi. He mentioned that he was picked under, ah . . . weird circumstances. The other Ultimate Lucky Student is Nagito Komaeda, who went through a similar process when he was scouted. Kaede and I thought they were just 'lucky picks' from the Reserve Course who were promoted to the Main Course through a lottery, but apparently it's more . . . complex than that."
Ryoma remembered Nagito Komaeda well enough, even with just one encounter. Tall, lanky, with a crown of wavy white hair and pale skin that made him seem like a ghost, Nagito was gushing with praise and reverence for him and the others, fawning over them with compliments like a star-struck fan. "Maybe the case between these two Ultimate Lucky Students is just the same with you and the headmaster's daughter. I'm guessing that the school couldn't decide based on pure talent alone about who gets to be enrolled, so they decided to keep you four."
"Yeah, maybe that's what happened." But even as he spoke, Shuichi did not look too convinced.
"What's wrong?" Ryoma asked.
Shuichi shook his head. "I'm just feeling a bit insecure," he said quietly. "When I talked to Kyoko, she was so . . . different from me. It was the first time that I spoke to a detective who was around my age, and yet already accomplished. She's . . . She's better than me, I think."
Ryoma observed the Ultimate Detective in silence. Shuichi's introversion was no secret, any more than his obvious closeness with Kaede was, but he had not expected him to admit to such insecurities quite openly to someone he had not spoken to much before.
"What made you think she's better than you?"
Shuichi shrugged. "She holds herself up in such a professional manner, and I can tell that she's more of a seasoned detective than I am. If she was a few years older, she'd fit in perfectly at my uncle's firm. Compared to her, I'm just . . ." He gestured feebly with his hands, as if trying to convey what he was trying to say with actions for emphasis. "When I got that letter telling me that I've been accepted as a student here, I didn't want to believe it at first, but I convinced myself that maybe it's truly real. But after meeting Kyoko, it made me realize why . . . why I might not be cut out for this."
Ryoma leaned back against his seat as he took a sip of soda. "Is this a case of nerves? Second thoughts about your capabilities?"
"M-Maybe. I don't know. . ."
Ryoma regarded the Ultimate Detective shrewdly. "Then I guess there's something that changed the way you work as a detective."
Shuichi looked up. "What made you say that?"
"I can see it in you." Ryoma took out another candy cigarette. "Don't worry. I'm not gonna ask if it's too much to tell."
"Ah, well . . ." At that, Shuichi sat up straighter, trying to compose himself in front of him. Ryoma knew that he had struck home, though the last thing he wanted was to repay Shuichi's respect for his privacy by putting him on the spot in a way that he would not be comfortable with. Instead of pressuring him with more words, he waited instead, ready to fall back in case he had overstepped any boundaries.
When Shuichi spoke again, his tone was somber, but he pressed on regardless. "There was this one case I handled at my uncle's firm—my first murder case, to be exact. I used to just work minor stuff, like infidelity cases or background checks, and I stumbled across this one by pure chance. A man was murdered in his own home, beaten to death with a piece of rebar with no signs of forced entry. When we found out that the police were too busy to find leads, I decided to work on it, see if I could help. Eventually, I figured out the suspect's identity in a couple of days, and with the help of the police, we tracked him down and arrested him. They started calling me 'the boy detective' for it, and that's one of the reasons why I was scouted."
"Sounds like quite an achievement at a young age," said Ryoma.
Shuichi sighed, pulling the brim of his cap lower. "Yes, but . . . I don't know if it was a good thing that I solved the case."
"What do you mean?"
"I was there during the arrest. I led the police to the man's house and helped them serve the warrant. The look on the man's face when we caught him . . . I can still see it, even now. He was just staring at me like he hated me more than anything else in the world." At that, Shuichi wrung his hands together, as if he was physically cringing from the memory he was recounting. "I only found out afterwards that the victim was a cruel ex-husband who drove his wife to suicide after years of abuse. His brother-in-law was the suspect. When people got wind of the murder, they said that the victim deserved it for what he did, and that the suspect did what he had to do. But I led the police to him. Of course he'd hate me. He killed someone, but he had a good reason for it, one that anyone would sympathize with. I was so focused on catching him and closing the stupid case that I failed to even deduce the possible motives first. In the end, I sided with the bad guy, and ended up ruining the good guy's life. What kind of detective would do that?" Shuichi shook his head in dejection. "I haven't taken on any murder cases since then, even if my uncle wants me to help on them. Every time I think I've got the courage to do so, I remember that stare that man gave me, those hateful eyes. . . I still help in the minor cases and the paperwork, b-but I don't know if I'm gonna be able to do this again."
He took a drink of soda and set down the can with trembling hands. "Someone like Kyoko would have no problems solving cases like this. That's why she'd make a great detective, more than I can say for myself. I . . . I'm nothing but an apprentice who's too scared to uncover the truth now."
As he finished his story, he seemed to shrink against his seat. Ryoma regarded him with fresh eyes. Despite having a knack for seeing things beneath a person's façade, he had not expected the Ultimate Detective's demons to stem from this kind of experience. He soon found himself sympathizing with Shuichi, knowing all too well the feeling of seeing the ghosts of the past.
"You did what you needed to do," he told the Ultimate Detective. "Any self-respecting detective's priority is to solve a case and find the culprit. You didn't take sides. And as much as we'd like to think that the guy you put in jail didn't deserve it, the law doesn't work that way. He killed someone, regardless of what his motives were, and he must be punished for it."
Shuichi regarded him with a look of helplessness. "Maybe. I just feel sorry for the man and his relatives, the ones who knew just what kind of horrible person the victim was. I mean, they lost a loved one, and now they lose another because he's imprisoned for killing the one responsible for their loss." He heaved a sigh. "That's one other problem I have as a detective, I suppose. I'm too sensitive to how people feel, to the point where I might end up sympathizing with the bad guys, and hurting people who don't deserve it."
"Well, being sensitive to the plight of others is not a bad trait to have," said Ryoma. "That level of feeling helps you understand people better, so that you can find even more reason to give it your all when you help them. Some hardened people might say that it's a liability, but it never hurts to have more compassion. When you help people at your uncle's firm, you want to right the wrong that was inflicted on them, and give them the justice they need, however small or great it might be, right?"
"Y-Yeah, that's right."
"Then the world could use more people like you. Things might've been rocky for you at the start, but that doesn't mean your future endeavors are already meaningless. Don't let this case stop you from uncovering the truth in future ones. I say, just keep following this path, and stay true to your principles as a detective who upholds the law and helps victims. You're a smart person, and obviously skilled too, regardless of what you might think. You're no different from the headmaster's daughter. You're as much of an Ultimate Detective as she is."
Shuichi's eyes remained steeped in a dismal shadow beneath the brim of his cap, but Ryoma could easily glimpse the surprise in them. "That's . . . er, I don't know w-what to say," the Ultimate Detective stammered anxiously.
"That's alright," Ryoma told him. "Just stay the course. You've come this far, that counts for something. From here on out, you can only learn, do better, and pick yourself up from those setbacks." He grunted with amusement, shaking his head. "That's also something that I should keep telling myself, to be honest. It's not like me to be this encouraging, but I guess that's one of the things that this school can change in a person."
His momentary mirth encouraged Shuichi to smile, dispelling some of the somberness on his façade. "To tell you the truth, I'm used to having Kaede or Kaito giving me pep talks, so it's kind of a surprise to hear one coming from you," he said. "But even so, I really appreciate it. Thank you, Ryoma."
"It's nothing. We're all in the same boat here, so helping each other is better than just staying quiet, don't you think? Besides, I'd be doing Kirumi and her help a great disservice if I didn't put that into practice."
"That's nice to hear. Kirumi's been nothing but supportive to everyone, but I can tell she's even more helpful when it comes to you, and it's good to see what kind of effect she has on you."
Ryoma shot him a look. "Getting a little cheeky, eh?" he asked.
"Oh, n-not really!" said Shuichi hastily. "Sorry, I didn't mean for it to sound like that."
Holding onto the glare for a few more seconds for maximum effect, Ryoma chuckled. "It's fine. I understand."
At that moment, Shuichi froze up and looked away. Ryoma wondered for a brief second if he had ribbed him a little too much, but when a cheerful voice made him look around, the reason for Shuichi's sudden tension was explained.
Kaede was all smiles as she approached their table, holding a bottle of apple juice. "Hello! I didn't expect to see you two sitting here like this!"
"H-Hello, Kaede," said Shuichi with a nervous smile and a wave. He shifted on his seat, attempting to screen the snacks he had bought with a subtle nudge.
Ryoma nodded back at her in greeting. "We ran into each other while I was buying some snacks. Figured that it'd be good to talk for a bit."
"That's nice to hear," said Kaede brightly. "I wish I got here sooner so I could join you. This feels loads better than listening to Miu making jokes about me." She shook her head as she glanced down at her body for a moment; Ryoma could already imagine Miu's vulgar jests ringing somewhere in the distance.
"By the way, Shuichi, Maki's looking for you at the courtyard near the gym," Kaede went on. "She told me that she wants to check on Kaito with you, I think."
"Ah, got it," said Shuichi, straightening up. "Kaito hasn't been answering my texts, so I hope he hasn't left his dorm room just yet."
"Wanna go together? I told Maki that I can accompany her if she wants, and she was fine with it. She might still be waiting at the courtyard."
At that, Ryoma stood up, drawing their eyes over to him. "I guess that means our conversation's done for today, Shuichi," he remarked. "I won't keep you two for long."
"Oh, are you leaving already, Ryoma?" Kaede looked slightly embarrassed as she exchanged glances with Shuichi. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt."
"No, it's fine," said Ryoma with a wave of his hand. "I need to be somewhere too."
Kaede still looked concerned. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah, don't worry about me," Ryoma assured her. "Besides, Maki's expecting you both, and it'd be rude to keep her waiting. I guess I'll just see you both at dinner."
"W-Well, alright," Kaede relented with a smile. "Feel free to do more stuff like this outside of class and mealtimes, Ryoma. Our class has its quirks, but I can assure you that everyone is friendly—er, in their own way, at least."
Ryoma had to chuckle at that, remembering the kind of friendliness that the likes of Miu, Tenko, Angie or Kokichi showed. "I'll keep that in mind, thanks."
Shuichi smiled. "Thanks for your time, Ryoma. A-And for your help earlier."
Kaede looked over at him. "Help? With what?" she asked curiously.
At that, Shuichi shifted on his seat, his eyes darting for a moment towards the snacks he had gotten. The Ultimate Pianist glanced over at them as well, though she looked none the wiser. Shuichi looked over to Ryoma with a desperate air on his face, as if imploring him wordlessly to help.
"I think you should tell her already, Mr. Detective," Ryoma said with a hint of amusement.
Shuichi's face immediately turned red, while Kaede's curiosity only deepened as she looked expectantly at Shuichi. Ryoma nodded at the Ultimate Detective for emphasis, and soon Shuichi relented with a sigh.
"I b-bought you . . . something . . ." he told Kaede shyly.
"Oh!" Kaede drew back in surprise, her own cheeks flushing. Before she could say anything else, Shuichi stood up, handed the bag of snacks over to her. Kaede looked through the bag, her lips crinkling into a small but thrilled smile while the Ultimate Detective hung back, shifting restlessly as he waited for a bombshell to drop. Ryoma watched the two of them in silence, and not without a hint of anticipation.
After a few more silent moments, Kaede turned over to Shuichi, her face brilliantly pink. ". . . H-How did you know I like strawberry cream puffs?" she asked.
His eyes widening, his mouth opening in slight shock, Shuichi glanced at Ryoma again. The Ultimate Tennis Pro simply tipped the brim of his beanie at him and walked off, an amused smirk crossing his face.
A/N: Getting this chapter out at last is a huge relief, to be honest. Apart from hitting a few snags in its writing, my laptop decided to go absolutely bonkers and deleted all of my games and some of my programs. I had to act quickly and back things up before the mishap affects my files and docs. Fortunately, they were unaffected and are now secure in case something like that ever happens again, but bringing everything back to normal took a while and just stressed me out majorly. Hopefully, the finished product makes for a good read for you guys. I have no idea how things would've turned out if my docs got nuked, and here's hoping things don't go nuts like that again. Stay safe, and happy reading!