"I understand," Pucci said monotonously.
The young detective was called in by the World Detective Organization and stood in the middle of a large, dark office in the building's headquarters. Earlier in the day, she received a message: "There is an important task that you, Pucci Lavmin, must cooperate with other Master Detectives to solve. Further details will be disclosed once you arrive at the WDO headquarters. We will discuss it there." The sender was 'Unknown,' however, she was meticulous enough to infer it wasn't forged. Furthermore, Pucci had never disclosed her phone number to anyone except her higher-ups in the business, so no one besides the WDO could contact her for that reason.
"Very good." A man who faced Pucci sitting on the opposite side of the table spoke. Because of the lack of lighting in the office, however, the detective could only make out his silhouette. Not that it mattered to her. He turned to the side, opened a drawer, and placed a small paper slip on the top of the desk before facing forward again and waving for Pucci to retrieve it.
Pucci closed the distance between herself and the desk directly in front of her without hesitation and grabbed a small, white ticket. It read that she would be boarding the 'Amaterasu Express' to 'Kanai Ward' four days from today. She'd heard of Amaterasu Corporation before, but because of their low profile, she didn't have extensive knowledge and as a result, thought little of it.
"Let me be very clear Pucci Lavmin, this mission is to uncover 'Kanai Ward's Ultimate Secret' and hence, is of the highest importance, and it is imperative that you see it succeeded, am I understood?" He sternly continued.
"Yes, I will not fail. What am I requested to do in the four days prior to when the locomotive arrives?" Pucci asked.
The man waved his hand dismissively. "You only need to ensure you're prepared, I expect great results from you, Miss Lavmin."
"Understood, I will now take my leave." Pucci continued without pause. She accepted the role and spoke in such invariableness, it was as if Pucci was requested to simply walk down the street instead of a potentially life-threatening mission to a place she had never gone to. But as Pucci stepped out of the room and closed the door behind her, she was clearly unshaken by the meeting.
As the girl walked back down the way she'd come from, Pucci looked at the ticket in her hand again. There was nothing suspicious about it, but unexplainably to the detective; she felt a sinking feeling inside herself, a feeling of dread. "My brain must be overthinking the situation," Pucci mumbled as she slipped it safely into her pocket. To suppress the emotions, she instead thought about what belongings to take with her on this trip; but the moment she stepped back outside, her thought was interrupted by raindrops that fell against her forehead. Pucci looked up at the sky. It was both dark and cloudy and immediately she could tell she wasn't going to be able to walk back without getting a cold, or at minimum, drenched from the oncoming storm. Normally, that wasn't a problem for her, but with an important mission ahead of her, she couldn't risk becoming ill right before the trip.
Pucci sighed, there was nothing to be done. she'd have to look for a place nearby to stay for the night. As the rain began to intensify, she lowered her head to remain inconspicuous and glanced around her surroundings as she walked in search of a hotel or motel. Fortunately, it didn't take long. She only had to walk one block forward before she found a hotel to stay at, and she had more than enough income from feverishly solving previous mysteries she could afford a night. Unfortunately though, she was already soaked from the now torrential downpour by that point. The detective opened the door and stepped in, but as she did, Pucci bumped into another girl her size, who held a portable console.
"Excuse me." The girl said without even looking up as she continued to click the buttons on her console. The girl's body was mostly shielding it from the rain, but Pucci guessed that even if it hadn't, she probably would've kept playing regardless. The girl, without looking up, moved to the side and tried to walk past Pucci, though even from here, she could see the girl shivering from the cold rain water.
Normally, Pucci wouldn't have paid any mind and merely walked past. She'd come across all kinds of people during her time working as a detective, and someone so carefree, such that she was clearly oblivious to her own body temperature let alone the storm outside, was hardly worth her attention. Yet, the girl had still caught her eye. Perhaps, it was because of the gamer's obliviousness that she wanted to stop her. "It is raining outside," Pucci informed, which finally made the other female look up from her game, even if temporarily. "It is clear you're cold, and it is highly probable inflammation will build in your brain if you head outside which will cause fatigue and nausea. I humbly advise you to stay inside until it passes."
"Oh…" The girl said as she finally fully looked up from her console, pressing the pause button instinctively. "I see. I hadn't realized." She turned to face the girl, and their eyes met for a brief moment, before she then turned to look at the hotel, and silently went inside.
Pucci walked behind her until they both arrived at the main lobby of the hotel. The moment they entered, the gamer walked to one of the chairs available and sat herself down before she unpaused her game. Pucci though, naturally, stepped to the front desk before a lady looked up and greeted her with a smile.
"Welcome to 'Reinkōdo Hoteru'! Have you made a reservation online?"
"No," Pucci answered as she slid her hands into her pockets. "I would like to book a room for one night."
"Certainly!" The receptionist looked back at the screen of her computer before she nodded back toward the detective. "We have one room available which will cost 13,426 yen, how would you like to pay?"
Pucci was silent as her hands dug into her pockets. It seemed that in her hurry to arrive on time for the WDO's meeting, she'd forgotten her wallet at home. It was unlike her to forget such a thing, but also unfortunate that the day she'd left it at home, was also the day there would be a heavy rainstorm. "It seems that I have left my wallet at my residence. As there is a heavy storm outside, may I stay here until it passes?"
"Unfortunately, the lobby only accommodates people who are checked in." It might have been hotel regulation, but how cruel as well.
"Very well, I apologize for the intrusion." The uniformity in Pucci's voice remained unchanged despite the news, as she turned around, and started again for the door.
"I have money." The girl with the game said as Pucci was about to leave. Her eyes never left her game, the quiet sounds of said game echoing through the room.
The detective stopped herself just before she pulled the door back open and turned her head to look at the girl. Initially, Pucci believed the comment was a throwaway, meant to mock her for forgetting herself; but as she watched the girl stand back onto her feet and walk back toward her, her face instead became one of confusion.
"I can pay for the room, if you let me stay with you." The girl said, never once losing focus on the game. "At least until the storm passes."
"Stay...with me?" Pucci asked. Because of her greater sense of security as a detective, the only explanation for why a girl she'd met less than five minutes ago was helping her is because she wanted to endanger her. Pucci's expression tightened as she studied her face. But after a few seconds, Pucci didn't see an ulterior motive, so her eyes then moved to her attire, where there didn't appear to be any weapons anywhere unless she was going to bludgeon her with the console in her hands. She couldn't detect any maliciousness, but that only accentuated her confusion. She couldn't understand it. "Why would you do that for me?"
"Because it's more convenient that way." Chiaki answered simply. "I don't really care either way, I just figured it would be easier. Plus, I was planning on getting one anyway if they don't allow us to stay in the lobby otherwise. If that makes you uncomfortable, you don't have to. It was just a suggestion."
Pucci considered her options. She turned her head to the side and looked back outside at the storm, which clearly wasn't going to end anytime soon. If she left, her options were to either find another place that would accommodate people from outside to stay inside for hours, or to walk home, which would certainly result in her becoming sick. Neither sounded appealing to the detective, so she turned back toward the gamer again. Though Pucci carried skepticism, the entire reason that she'd come into the hotel was to get a room for herself. As it was now being offered to her, it'd be contradictory if she walked back outside now, so instead, her expression softened as she nodded in agreement. "Very well, I shall agree to share a room with you."
The girl nodded, her face not twisting into any sort of readable expression, and the two walked back up the desk. "My name is Chiaki. Chiaki Nanami." She said flatly as she paid for the room, and the two headed towards the elevator.
"Chiaki...Nanami..." Pucci repeated as she followed her. The detective was certain today was their first meeting, yet the gamer's name carried an impalpable feeling of familiarity. Certainly, she would dwell on the thought, but for now, as the two girls waited for the elevator, Pucci continued to stare in an attempt to study Chiaki further which proved difficult due to a lack of expressiveness; quite like herself.
"Please don't stare at me." Chiaki said as the doors opened, and the two began walking to their room, with Pucci being the one to hold their two electronic key cards.
"My hippocampus detected familiarity after hearing your name, I merely thought if I looked at you, I would be able to extract that memory and remember." Pucci responded flatly. "Does it bother you? I apologize if I made you uncomfortable." The girls stopped in front of their room's door a moment afterward. The detective looked down at the blank card in her hand before she scanned it next to the card reader. A moment later, the door unlocked, opened, and the two stepped inside before it closed behind them.
"You don't have to use such fancy language, you know." She said as she sat down, then, after a pause, fell back onto the bed with a satisfied sigh. "Comfy." Meanwhile, thunder could be heard from outside as rain pounded the window.
Pucci walked to the chair across from the bed. She first reached up and took off her headphones wrapped around her neck and placed it on the top of the table, then slipped her jacket off and put it against the chair. Finally, she checked if the ticket was still in her pocket, and after Pucci confirmed it was, she stepped back and sat next to Chiaki. "Indeed, it is very comfortable in this room."
"So…who are you? I introduced myself but you haven't yet." Chiaki asked as she wiggled around on the comfy bed.
"Introduce...myself..." Pucci repeated. It was like she was in a trance-like state at first. "I rarely have had the need to introduce myself, but you have helped me, and I know your name, so you do have a right to know. You may call me Pucci Lavmin, I am a Master Detective trusted with bureaucratic investigations."
"Master…Detective." Chiaki rolled the words around on her tongue. "I believe one of my lowerclassmen is working towards joining your organization." She said, then had a realization. "Ah, I'm a student at Hope's Peak Academy."
"Hope's Peak Academy?" For the first time since they'd started talking, Pucci's tone and expression had finally broken its perpetually blank, monotonous state. The surprise was clear in both her face and voice. "A student at Hope's Peak...I see...from my research, the school admits only students with exemplary talents, do I have that correct?"
"Yes. I am admitted as the 'Ultimate Gamer'." Chiaki explained. "It's really just a title, though."
Pucci shook her head dismissively. "A title should still be recognized for its worth, just as I am a Master Detective, that is still an impressive talent you inherently possess." She paused. "Ah, I apologize, I did not mean to lecture."
"It's fine." Chiaki said, and after that, a silence overcame the room. Neither of them spoke, leaving the only sound to be the rain and thunder outside.
"Perhaps this may be presumptuous of me to ask," the detective started again, breaking the silence. "But do you know any information about Kanai Ward?" It was certainly an odd question out of nowhere, but as Chiaki was a student from Hope's Peak, despite her talent, she had to have been studious in nature. Perhaps she may know information Pucci doesn't, but even if it's not related to her investigation, it would still assist her in the betterment of her preparations in four days.
"I've never heard of it." The gamer answered after only a moment of thought. "I don't often pay attention to the world at large if it doesn't directly concern me."
"I see..." Pucci responded flatly again, unsurprised, but still somewhat disappointed all the same. Though the detective had extensive knowledge, she knew little about Kanai Ward as well. The WDO had rejected all requests for Pucci to conduct investigations in the city, and any searches online of the location turned up with limited, unuseful results. Now, she was being dispatched without prior notice, and with other Master Detectives to boot. She must've done a bad job of hiding her dissatisfaction with the scenario at hand though, because Pucci's constant, distant gaze and the extended silence within the room attracted Chiaki's curiosity.
"Is that where you're going?" She asked. "Kanai Ward? I'm assuming it's a mission, right?"
Pucci nodded in confirmation. "I will be boarding a train in a few days. My work requires me to erratically travel to different locations, and recently I was dispatched to Kanai Ward. I was also assigned other Master Detectives, however, I prefer to work alone so my forte can be used to the greatest effect. As such, the probability of a lengthy investigation is high."
"Oh, I see." Chiaki said. She paused for a few seconds, before speaking again. "I was visiting some family here, and was on my way to the train when the storm hit us." Another pause. "Do Master Detectives always work alone? Or is that a choice? Because the Ultimate Detective I know, he likes to work with others and get help whenever he can."
"The receptiveness of a Master Detective to receiving assistance will be dependent upon the mission assigned. Objectively, cooperation is a double-edged blade. What is achievable by one person is limited, but if the cooperating party does not share the same ideals, that will cause greater trouble for each individual, and lower their effectiveness and proficiency to less than if the singular person had simply chosen to work alone. That is what I, Pucci, believe." The detective answered. "My forte requires me to maintain concentration to be used, that is why my preference is to work alone."
"Forte?" Chiaki inquired, finally pausing her game to look up at Pucci. When their eyes met, the detective was surprised by how the gamer's gaze was somehow soft…yet determined at the same time.
Pucci opened her mouth to answer, but for a brief moment, the words lodged in the detective's throat at the sight. Until this point, she hadn't gotten a chance to take a close look at Chiaki's face, but the parallel between the gamer's soft gaze yet convicted expression; emotions she'd previously seen only on other Master Detectives and few ones at that in the past, despite not being a detective herself, made Pucci subconsciously stare again. However, it was only momentarily as she snapped herself out of it almost right afterward. "What was that?" Pucci thought, confused how she was able to lose herself so easily. For now though, she only answered. "Ah, right, my forensic forte, 'Audial Aptitude,' gives me the ability to detect whispers, footsteps and heartbeats from even far away. No one is safe to speak of their secrets when I, Pucci, am around."
"So…you have superhuman hearing?" She asked, suddenly seeming much more interested. "Would you say that's similar to an Ultimate Talent? Either way, that's fascinating. Is it constant, or can you control it?"
"I would not call it similar to what Hope's Peak considers Ultimate Talents. Based upon my position as a Master Detective, logically my colleagues and I may be classified as Ultimate Detectives, however each of us also possesses our own unique fortes, are we classified by our role as a detective, or our forte?" Pucci questioned. "My ability to hear sounds from a long distance can be controlled, however, it requires I focus all my efforts on only listening at the moment. I only use it when necessary, constantly listening in on all sounds, tends to lead to a sensation of my physical boundaries within reality dissolving away."
"Right, I imagine hearing everything at once at that degree would make things unbearable. Like this storm, for instance." Chiaki turned to look out at it, then back at Pucci. "How long do you think it'll last? Do you think it will be overnight? Because…" She glanced down at the single bed they had.
Pucci turned her head to look at the electronic clock at the side of the bed. The time was already 9:47PM, and the storm outside still showed no signs of stopping. "It is likely that this storm will last all night. That means…" Her voice faded. Rarely had Pucci ever been touched by another, and if she shared a bed with Chiaki, that would be the first time in her life she'd slept with another person. A bright blush spread across the detective's face as she stared at Chiaki, then looked down at her lap.
"I can…sleep on the chair, if you want the bed." Chiaki said, a similar blush creeping onto her own face. She wasn't sure what it was but…something about sleeping in the same bed as this girl made her feel…hot.
Pucci quickly shook her head. "No! Y-you're the one who rented this room for the night, if anyone is sleeping on the chair, it will be me!" Pucci exclaimed. "Be-besides! I'm not opposed…to…sharing…" If Chiaki weren't warm and embarrassed, the fact Pucci had placed so much emotion into words alone would've startled her. After Pucci had finished speaking though, the Ultimate Gamer, unexplainably, felt even warmer.
"I-I see." Chiaki said, and rubbed her face, finding it heated. "M-maybe we should try for a different dialogue option…" She accidentally said aloud.
"A…different dialogue option?" Pucci questioned, "What does…that mean?"
"H-huh?!" Chiaki exclaimed, and then shook her head. "N-no, I mean, I…ahem…what I meant is, maybe we should talk about something else." She dug into her bag and pulled out two spare controllers. "W-would you like to play? I can connect it to the TV!"
Pucci stared at the controller in wonder. In truth, she also hadn't played video games before. Certainly, it was trivia that would greatly disappoint Chiaki if she knew; but the girl also had no qualms about trying it. After all, if Pucci never got the chance to experience gaming for herself, she also wouldn't know if she'd enjoy it or not. Not only could it be a first experience for her, but it was also a way to both pass the time and help the detective regain composure from her currently flustered state. And so, she took a controller from Chiaki's hands, then sat next to her and asked, "What games...do you enjoy playing?"
"All." Chiaki answered simply.
Perhaps it shouldn't have come as a surprise to Pucci, she was speaking to the 'Ultimate Gamer' after all. Still, as the detective was new to video games herself, she'd silently hoped Chiaki would pick out a game for them to play herself. However, moments after she had turned on the television, the gamer looked toward Pucci with clear intent to allow her to decide instead. It made sense, as Chiaki enjoyed all games of all genres, and she wanted a game they'd both enjoy together. "Do you…possess any mystery games at this time?" Predictable that a detective's first thought would be about mystery, even when it comes to gaming, but simplicity certainly wasn't a flaw.
"Yes, I do…though they aren't really multiplayer…unless you weren't really wanting to play multiplayer from the start..." Chiaki said, looking a bit disappointed.
Pucci shook her head, it would be the height of selfishness if she made Chiaki watch when she was the one who offered. "Please pick out any multiplayer horror game for the both of us." That was curious to Chiaki, she didn't strike her as the kind of person to enjoy horror, but if it was what she wanted, the gamer was delighted to oblige.
Once she had picked out a game, one where one of them would be a killer hunting the other while the 'victim' tried to finish tasks around the map, with then alternating roles every round, the game began. Chiaki immediately showed her talent by, while playing as the killer first, managing to locate Pucci and almost immediately take down half her health before the girl barely got away.
Though being a detective doesn't entirely equate to proficiency in gaming, due to her history of being assigned undercover missions, many of which required stealth; Pucci believed she'd picked areas that hid herself well. She was wrong. It was a simple task to Chiaki who found her again, and this time managed to kill the other girl's character. "Ah…it appears I have lost…" Pucci solemnly said, but was impressed again, this time of Chiaki's clear expertise.
"You did better than I was expecting, to be honest." Chiaki admitted. "Now it's your turn to be the killer."
"Very well." Pucci's hands gripped tighter around the controller as the game began again. Determination within the girl built up, a feeling that she didn't want to lose, which could also mean she was beginning to have fun with the hobby. Indeed, though the new round lasted longer, it was only by a slight amount as this time, the detective had come out victorious. Her lips broke into a smile. "You are indeed skilled, your title is well-earned and deserved, Miss Nanami."
"Thank you, but you're also doing a great job yourself." Chiaki said with a smile. The detective had actually been able to find Chiaki no matter where she did, and while Chiaki did come close with her tasks, she'd been beaten. "Wanna play more? Or something else?"
Pucci looked down at her controller, then again at the screen in front of her. "I would...like to play another. But it is not because I am not entertained, merely because I would like to explore, and play other games you possess at this time." Finally, she looked back toward Chiaki. "Is my request appropriate for you?"
"You don't have to use such pretty language, you know." Chiaki repeated as she closed the game and searched for another. Her eyes landed on a kart racing game, something that was pretty easy to pick up, so she selected it and started. "This should work. It's an easy game to learn."
Pucci's eyes slid down. Chiaki had mentioned her somewhat erratic speech once, before they'd entered the hotel room, though the detective didn't acknowledge it previously. Now that they'd become better acquainted though, Pucci considered it. It also helped that she respected her more, now she knew Chiaki was a student enrolled at Hope's Peak. "I apologize," Pucci began again. "Formality had been how I, Pu-!" She paused. "How I've…always spoken."
Chiaki smiled as she started the game, a pure, bright smile. "First, you pick your character."
Once Pucci's eyes returned to the screen again, she was taken aback. Naturally, Chiaki had unlocked every character in the game, so the first thought Pucci had was the number of options available. Following the initial surprise, Pucci moved her cursor to a character who wore a sleeveless pink dress, bright red vest, but notably a large, pink cap with white circles. Simply, she found her cute. Once Pucci made her decision, she patiently waited for Chiaki to pick her own respective character.
Chiaki picked her own as well, a small character with baby-like features, and they started. She held the controller up to explain the basic controls, as well as how to drift in the game, which would give you a speed boost if you did it right. She also explained what the various items could do, and once Pucci confirmed she was ready, the two started.
Unsurprisingly, even after being taught the controls; the race started badly for Pucci as she, a moment after, fell to last place. But that didn't last long, in the following minutes, she quickly caught up and worked her way up the ranks. Eleven, ten, nine, Pucci eventually worked her way to second place, only to Chiaki. "Playing games truly is fun," Pucci commented with a smile of her own.
"They're…always more fun with a second player." Chiaki said softly, and glanced at the other girl.
Pucci turned her head to look at Chiaki again. Though the gamer wasn't looking at her when the detective did and it was only for a brief time, she could still see Pucci out of the corner of her eye. As the girls continued to play, she spoke again. "Chiaki?"
"Yes?"
Pucci thought for a moment how to phrase what she wanted to say, but managed to formulate the sentence eventually. "I apologize if it's late for me to say this…thank you for helping me, Chiaki. I am very grateful for your kindness." Pucci very rarely had the need to thank anyone due to her consistency of, as mentioned prior, working alone. But as soon as she'd finished, her body was flooded with warmth as she retained her smile.
Chiaki felt her cheeks warm at the words. "Y-you're quite welcome. I…um…if it's not too forward, I would like to call you…a new friend."
It shouldn't have come as much of a surprise, but the word 'friend' had indeed surprised Pucci so much she accidentally drove off the map. "A…friend?" Pucci gasped. She hadn't ever previously been closer to her colleagues than acquaintances, and so the idea that someone wanted to be her friend had startled the detective.
"Yes…" Chiaki said. "Wouldn't you agree we have reached that point?"
Pucci at first was silent due to her shock, but after she'd collected herself, "Forgive me for my surprise, you're the first who has wanted to call me a friend, but…" The girl then neglected the race and turned her attention entirely toward Chiaki. After studying her a final time, Pucci's smile, brighter than it had been previously, returned. "…I accept. I would be very happy to be your friend, Chiaki."
Chiaki looked back at the girl, and their eyes met once again. Chiaki studied the other girl. Where previously her eyes had been cold and robotic…now they were softer, warmer…human. Chiaki felt more heat flush into her cheeks as she cleared her throat. "L-let's keep playing."
"Ah, yes." Because of Pucci's blunder, she lost her place as runner-up and instead finished fourth. It was still respectable, at least, better than last place; and what she got in exchange, her first friend, was priceless.
"It's starting to get late." Chiaki said as she glanced at the clock. "I'm used to gaming late into the night, but if you want to go to bed, we can get settled."
"I am somewhat tired, so I would like to begin settling down." But as soon as she'd finished speaking, disappointment settled in. Because they'd only rented the hotel for one night, that would mean she and Chiaki would go their separate ways again in the morning. She tried not to let the emotion show on her face, however, as she gave the controller back to Chiaki and stood back up.
"Alright then…" Without even really thinking about what she was doing, Chiaki began to undo her top, making it a few buttons down, exposing her bra underneath before Pucci was able to say something.
"Chiaki, do you mind if I-!" Pucci started as she turned to face her. As soon as she did, however, any emotion the detective had of happiness or disappointment washed away, replaced by surprise and fluster as the gamer continued until every button was undone. "Chi...wha...what are you doing..?" A furious blush spread across Pucci's face as both her face and body heated up.
"I…oh…" Chiaki paused as she was removing her top, exposing almost her entire bra-clad chest to the girl before she slammed the outfit back over herself and turned around, her face red. "S-sorry…I kind of…did it without thinking." She mumbled to herself then, at a volume that she hadn't meant for Pucci to hear, but the girl did nonetheless. "Guess that means I can't sleep naked tonight…"
Both the detective's face and body heated up further as she looked down at herself and slid her hands together. She debated internally with herself, contemplating whether Pucci was meant to hear what her new friend said, but in her flustered state, she accidentally spoke the words in her mind. "She sleeps...like...like that...?" In a soft and quiet, yet high-pitched voice.
"A-AH! Y-you…heard that?" Chiaki asked.
Pucci bit down on her lip then nodded. No use in denying it when it was clear she did.
"Sorry. I do have pajamas to wear instead, so you do not need to worry. However…I will still need to get changed, as I'm assuming you do too." Chiaki said. "So perhaps we should keep our backs turned to one another as we do."
It hadn't crossed her mind that Pucci would need to get changed until now. But there were no pajamas for her to change into as Pucci brought herself, and only herself, to the conference. She thought she would've gone there and then straight home; but the downpour this evening had stopped that. Even if she had brought her bag, she wouldn't have placed her pajamas inside anyway. Fortunately, Pucci still wore her undergarments, but that didn't make it any less embarrassing. "O-oh! Um..!"
"What is it?" Chiaki asked, still holding her top closed, though her bra was still partially visible.
"I didn't...I didn't...bring my bag with me...so I don't have pajamas for tonight..." Typically, Pucci slept only in her undergarments on most nights; but she wouldn't be sure if Chiaki would've been comfortable with seeing her like that! After all, they only met two hours ago, not to mention Pucci herself was embarrassed to undress near another person.
The thought crossed her mind of Pucci stripping down to her undergarments to sleep, which seemed like a logical conclusion. That thought, however, for some reason, made Chiaki blush. "I-I see…well…I don't think I see another solution. Because sleeping in your normal attire like that…probably isn't a good idea."
"But I..!" Pucci started, but bit her lip again to stop herself. She knew Chiaki was right, she had to do it; as the alternative was her sleeping fully clothed which would be both uncomfortable and stuffy for both girls. "I'll...change first..." The detective turned her body around and stepped into the restroom. There, she first undid and slipped off her belt at her waist, then her skirt, and finally her shirt. The sudden chill of being only in her bra and panties immediately made Pucci shiver as she picked up her clothes, hugged them to her chest, and stared at the closed door.
"Just wait in there and I'll change out here." She said as she removed her shirt then, after a moment of consideration, her bra. She let out a sigh of contentment as she was able to free her large breasts, even if just for a moment. After taking a second to appreciate it, she grabbed a white shirt and slipped it on over her bust, and undid her skirt, letting it drop to the floor. As she picked it up, she walked to the door. "Um…Pucci? Would you be fine if…I don't have any pants on? I'd still have my…p-panties on, but…"
"Th...that's fine..." Pucci answered. Though she was a detective, this was, funnily and strangely, one of the more difficult situations that the detective had found herself in. She took a few deep breaths and reassured herself it would be fine, it would only be for tonight, and Chiaki had helped her extensively since they'd met. Even if she was undeniably embarrassed, it would be better if a friend saw her than merely an acquaintance. Finally, the girl steeled herself, swung open the door, and stepped out, letting out a small exhale afterward.
"Y-you know I hadn't said I was ready yet." Chiaki said, and cleared her throat. "But it's fine." She looked up, and she froze at the sight of the girl. Clad in only her underwear, the sight of her made Chiaki feel…strange. Her cheeks flushed deeply, and she suddenly felt awkward, especially at her own state of dress. She found herself unable to stop staring at the girl's cute panties and bra, as well as her modest bust, a lot of cleavage of which was visible.
Now, it was Pucci's turn to clear her throat, and borrow the gamer's words from earlier in the day. "Pl...please don't stare..." The girl said as she shuffled in place.
"O-OH! I-I'm so sorry! It's just…you're…very pretty…" Chiaki said, then immediately regretted it as both their faces lit up.
Pucci brought her clothes up to her face in an attempt to hide her blush, even though both girls had seen each others' fluster several times today already. Though she said nothing in response, the girl felt happiness, which coincided with her embarrassment.
"A-anyway…we should get ready for bed." Chiaki said as she started pulling the blanket off the bed.
Pucci first walked back to the table where she set her clothes on the table, then neatly organized them so they hung over the side beside her headphones and jacket. Once she was finished, she looked back toward the bed where Chiaki had already laid on and walked until she stood next to the free side of the bed. Finally, after she took another deep breath; Pucci climbed onto the bed and slid herself next to Chiaki.
"I've…never slept with another person, so…" Chiaki tried to find the right words, "sorry if I…bump you."
"It is also my first night...sharing a bed with another person too..." Pucci admitted. After a moment of silence, she spoke again, "I don't believe...I've had so many first experiences and felt so happy in one day, before today..."
"You've…enjoyed the day?" Chiaki asked as she switched off the light. "I'm…happy."
In the darkness, it was difficult to tell Pucci's expression as she stared in silence at the ceiling, however, she answered with a voice so content, Chiaki was certain that she was smiling. "Yes Chiaki...thank you, I've truly enjoyed the time I spent with you."
"Then…maybe…it doesn't have to be a one time thing?" Chiaki suddenly suggested.
"Huh?" The detective, now confused, asked as she looked over.
"I…wouldn't mind seeing you again. Even after the storm clears." Chiaki said as she smiled up at the ceiling.
"I think...no, I know I would like that." Pucci answered before she too looked back at the ceiling. But as happy as she was, the detective knew it would only last for at most, three more days. To Pucci, it was a relief Chiaki couldn't make out her face in the dark, because she knew the sadness on her face would've been clearly evident.
"Well then. We can talk about it more in the morning." Chiaki said as she let out a hearty yawn. "Good night…Pucci." With that, the girl moved onto her side, and within minutes, she was asleep, her back to Pucci, leaving the only sound in the room to be the rain and thunder outside, which hadn't let up at all since they'd entered the hotel hours ago.
"Goodnight, Chiaki..." Pucci solemnly whispered before the girl closed her eyes, and finally drifted off into a deep, peaceful sleep.