"This is going nowhere," Kuroko starts, rubbing her temples with her right hand's fingers. "God, i need sleep." She murmurs under her breath, stiffling yet another yawn that morning.
Uiharu herself isn't any better. Her eyes hadn't left her computer monitor since last night. She yawned yet again. "I think we should call in sick for school... The-yawn-re's no point in going now..." Kuroko hummed in acknowledgement.
The twin tailed girl looks down at her coffee mug. She was sure she'd grown an immunity towards cafeine, because no matter how much she drinks anything remotely energetic, all she'd get is a rapid heartbeat and somehow still feel fatigued.
Kuroko's forehead slammed against her desk. "I'm telling you, this case is going nowhere..." Meanwhile, Uiharu rubs her eyes, trying to stay awake as she continues to pour over the information on her computer screen. The bright light of the screen illuminates her tired face, casting deep shadows beneath her eyes. She reaches for her own mug of tea, taking a sip and wincing at the room temperature water. She held in a whimper at the thought of having to get up and reheat it.
Kuroko raises her head up and groans, massaging her temples with both hands now. "I don't know why we're even bothering with this case. It's not like it's anything special. Just some random esper who didn't get his morning coffee."
Uiharu nods in agreement, her eyes never leaving the screen. "Probably leveled that vending machine from frustration..."
Kuroko let out a snort, "Yeah, probably. Or maybe he just tripped and accidentally activated his power." She stood up from her chair, her bones popping in protest from being seated for too long. "Want another tea? Or will it be coffee this time?"
Uiharu nodded her head. "Tea please." Kuroko moves to the small kitchenette area in the Anti-Skills' office, her footsteps heavy against the cold, hard floor. She retrieves a fresh cup from the cabinet, along with a tea bag and hot water from the kettle. Carefully, she pours the steaming water into the cup, watching as the tea bag sways back and forth, releasing its fragrant contents into the water.
While here, she could hear some voices down at the lieutenant's office. Everyone's inside there when she passed by the room, they seem to be eagerly listening to a phone call. Kuroko's curiosity piqued, she moved closer to the door to catch a glimpse of what was happening inside. She saw the temporary lieutenant, Tessou Tsuzuri, leaving the phone flat on the table on loud speaker. The atmosphere appears to be a hint of joy and excitement, as the other Anti-Skills members chat amongst themselves, buzzing with energy.
Tessou Tsuzuri, a kind looking woman, was the current lieutenant on their office. The previous one, Yomikawa Aiho was hospitalised a few years back. The reasons of which, Kuroko and Uiharu didn't know of. Up until last year, they didn't even know she was in the hospital, even though Kuroko knew of the older woman due to her connection to a certain albino boy.
Her eyes softens at the thought of him. She wonders what he was doing and if he was okay. He'd gone missing, and one of the reasons she'd joined this particular office was because of a certain case that was dedicated into finding him. Again, there was supposed to be a lead last year before ultimately shut off due to outside interference.
She hated it.
The joyous atmosphere here both calms and irritates her for some reason. "So he'll be there this noon?" Tsuzuri asks at the phone. The responding voice was unknown to her, but it sounds like another woman. "At captain's hospital ward, alright! You should've told us this early on, Yoshikawa!"
Kuroko left it at that when the coffee maker beeps, signaling that it has finished brewing. She pours herself a cup, inhaling the strong aroma of the coffee. She takes a sip, feeling the warmth spread through her body. Even if she gets nothing from drinking coffees now, she at least enjoys the warmth and comfort it brings. She brings the other mug over to Uiharu, who gratefully takes a sip. Uiharu's eyes light up in surprise as she tastes the hot tea, the warmth spreading through her body. She lets out a content sigh, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten.
Kuroko takes a seat next to Uiharu, looking at the photos at her table. She then glances at Uiharu once again. "So any idea who this guy is?"
Uiharu shakes her head, her eyes never leaving the computer screen. "No, there's no information regarding him. No name, no schools, no pictures, nothing. Not a single record." She scrolls through the files, her fingers flying over the mouse. "It's like he's popped up out of nowhere."
Kuroko hums in acknowledgement, taking another sip of her coffee. Her eyes setting on the screen.
The person's back was facing them. There were three CCTVs near the area but none directly facing the vending machine, as the area was a secluded place often used by hooligans and rowdy teenagers. The only footage they had of the perpetrator was from a distance, making it difficult to make out any distinguishing features. The only thing they knew for sure was that the person was male, around the age of 12 - 14 or younger.
The vending machine itself was a decoy, they had disposed of the original machine and replace it with theirs and add in a camera in said machine. Because any CCTVs they installed there would be broken immediately, making it difficult for their investigation towards the group of hooligans, also known as Skill-Out.
The damage done to the vending machine was significant; the glass front was shattered, and the internal mechanisms were bent and twisted beyond repair. It was clear that a significant amount of force had been used to cause such destruction.. But how it was done was what has them wondering, as it was done without any external forces. It was purely internal. It wasn't normal how it's bent and the only way it could be done is either Telekinesis or gravity manipulation.
There weren't that many powerful Telekinesis users in the city. With only 3 being Level 4s, and all of said espers were confirmed to be at school during said time.
As for any gravity based users, however, there were even less of them. There's only 4 known users in the database, and the most powerful the city's ever had was a Level 3.
Kuroko nods in understanding, her gaze shifting between the damaged vending machine and the vague, distant figure on the CCTV footage. She takes another sip of her coffee, her mind racing as she tries to piece together the puzzle before her.
The person's hair was long and appears to be bleached, as it was unnaturally white. There was a moment where his face could have shown, but couldn't be seen due to the length of his hair and him looking down. It's as if he'd expected it. They knew he's 12 - 14 years old, the only distinguishing features he has was how skinny he is, the colour of his hair and his esper ability.
She can think of one person with that kind of appearance. It was the only person she knew who would fit such criterias. But his esper ability, she doesn't remember ever hearing it from him.
Kuroko sighed. "Looks like we'll be doing a lot of legwork."
Just then, everyone comes out of Tsuzuri's office. The two preteens were approached by the lieutenant herself. "We'll be visiting Captain at the hospital later this noon. There's a special guest coming over. Wanna come?"
"No thanks. We've got a lot to do here." Kuroko points at the computer monitor. Uiharu nods in response.
Tsuzuri frowned a little. "He's… a level 5, y'know?"
"Level 5s are cool and all, but no thanks. We haven't made any progress since last night, and Uiharu plans on searching into the database all over again. They should update the datas by now."
Their superior sighed before nodding in understanding. "Well, alright then. I don't want to spoil the surprise, but I assure you, you'll want to be there. We'll be back before night falls, please lock the front doors before leaving and come there when you can. Oh, and try not to push yourself too hard, okay?" Tessou Tsuzuri gives them a knowing smile before turning around and walking back into her office. Kuroko watches as she closes the door behind her, leaving the two of them alone once again.
Kuroko turns back to the computer screen, her gaze lingering on the blurry figure in the CCTV footage. "So, have you found where he's heading right after? If not, we're really gonna have to go through hundreds of profiles."
The girl nods, stretching her back, popping a few bones or two. "Yeah, he's gone to an apartment complex. I looked it up and it's called Family Side."
The twin tailed girl pauses for a few seconds. She's been there before. She hummed after a moment of silence. "Well, let's get started then."
8
The girl slides the door open, excusing herself in before closing it back. Her teacher waved at her, the girl approached the older woman.
"What is it, did I do something wrong?" She asks, little Misaka appears to be frowning. Yoshikawa shakes her head, dismissing the girl's worry as she focuses on writing something on the paper at her desk, most likely grading said paper.
There was a large pile of papers on her desk, she appears to be busy with it. Misaka looks around, the faculties are busy with teachers alike, be it talking or writing on a paper.
Mostly something that has to do with papers.
After finishing that very same paper, Yoshikawa sighed and placed it on top of another smaller pile. "Ne, Misaka-chan."
The little girl turned her gaze back to Yoshikawa, her frown replaced with a look of curiosity. "Yes, Yoshikawa-sensei?" she asked, tilting her head slightly to the side.
Yoshikawa smiled warmly at the young girl. "What do you think of Hirano? Y'know, the level 5?"
The girl raises an eyebrow at that. She scrunched up her nose, thinking for a moment before answering. "He's rude and scary. Everyone's scared of him. And he's always by himself during lunch."
Yoshikawa nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Yes, he can come off as intimidating, but I assure you he's a good kid. He's just had a rough upbringing and has trouble connecting with others."
Yoshikawa then smiles at her, leaning down slightly at the little girl. "Could you do me a favour, Misaka-chan?" Yoshikawa's gaze was soft and gentle as she looked down at Misaka, her eyes filled with a sense of warmth and kindness.
The little girl nodded eagerly, her frown now replaced with a small smile. "Of course, Yoshikawa-sensei. Anything for you."
Yoshikawa let out a small chuckle, before continuing. "I was wondering if you could try and befriend Hirano."
The girl blinked at that. "Why? Wasn't it him who threatens murder anyone who attempts to even talk at him?" Misaka asked, her eyes wide with surprise. Yoshikawa chuckled again, shaking her head.
"No, no, nothing like that. Hirano-kun is just a misunderstood boy. He doesn't mean any harm, he's just being the way he thinks he's supposed to be - aloof and unapproachable. But I believe that if someone were to reach out to him, to show him that not everyone is out to get him, then perhaps he would open up. And I think you, Misaka-chan, would be the perfect person to do that."
Misaka looked at Yoshikawa, her expression uncertain. "But why me? You've seen what he can do right? I'm only a Level 3."
Yoshikawa smiled warmly at Misaka, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "That's precisely why, Misaka-chan. You're not a threat to him. You're not trying to get close to him for any kind of gain or advantage. Not to mention, you're quite the popular child. You seen with him would make others more willing to approach him as well."
Misaka considered Yoshikawa's words for a moment, her frown returning as she thought about the challenges of befriending a Level 5. "But what if he doesn't want to be friends? What if he hurts me?"
Yoshikawa merely ruffles the little girl's hair. "He won't." The older woman sounds so confident, as if she knows something Misaka doesn't. "But if he does, you just run away and call for help, okay? And besides, I'll be keeping an eye on you both. I trust you can do this, Misaka-chan. I believe in you."
Misaka hesitates for a moment longer, before nodding slowly. "O-okay, I'll try."
"Great! Let's go."
Yoshikawa gently holds onto the girl's small hands, leading her out of the place. When leaving the room, Yoshikawa asks. "Do you have your lunchbox with you?"
The girl shakes her head. "No, it's in the class."
Yoshikawa nods, walking besides the girl with her hand in hers. Yoshikawa leads Misaka back to their classroom, her grip on the little girl's hand soft and reassuring. The hallway is filled with the sounds of students chattering and laughing, the air thick with the smell of lunch being prepared in the cafeteria.
Upon entering the classroom, Misaka quickly locates her lunchbox, which is tucked away in her bag leaning against her desk. She retrieves it, giving it a small shake to check if it's still sealed properly. The lunchbox is a simple, rectangular metal container, with a vibrant picture of a certain green mascot plastered on the front.
Yoshikawa watches as Misaka checks her lunchbox before jogging her way back to her homeroom teacher. "I forgot to ask. How am I supposed to approach this Hirano kid?"
"You say he's always alone at lunch, right?" The girl nods. Yoshikawa smiles warmly at Misaka, her eyes full of encouragement. "Just approach him calmly and politely, and ask if you can sit with him. It's as simple as that. And don't forget to offer him some of your lunch, it's a great way to break the ice."
Misaka nods, taking a deep breath to steady her nerves as they make their way down the stairs once more.
The cafeteria was bustling with activity when they arrived. The smell of food was overwhelming, a mix of fried meat, vegetables, and sweet desserts. Long tables filled the room, each one filled with students chattering and laughing as they ate their lunches.
Yoshikawa scanned the room before spotting Hirano sitting by himself at a table in the corner. She pointed him out to Misaka, who nodded nervously before making her way towards him.
The little girl could feel the gaze of her teacher at the back of her head. She stood stool across him by the table, he didn't seem to notice her, busy picking at his rice as he stares blankly at the table. Misaka takes a deep breath, mustering up her courage, and clears her throat softly to get his attention. Hirano slowly turns his head upwards to look at her, his expression stoic and unreadable.
Misaka gives him a small, hesitant smile. "Hi," she greets, her voice soft and gentle. She clutches her lunchbox tightly in her hands, her heart pounding in her chest. She can feel her palms growing sweaty, but she tries her best to keep her expression calm and collected.
The boy, Hirano simply stares at her for a moment before blinking. "What'd you want?" Hirano's voice is monotonous, devoid of any emotion or inflection. It sends a shiver down Misaka's spine, but she remains resolute and determined to follow through with her teacher's request.
She takes a deep breath before responding. "I-I was wondering if I could take a seat with you...?" Hirano raises an eyebrow at her request, his expression still unreadable. He appears have wanted to protest but his eyes caught onto someone. She turned around and Notices Yoshikawa waving at them. Hirano clicked his tongue.
"Whatever, brat." She takes a deep breath and sits down across from him, placing her lunchbox on the table.
Misaka takes a moment to gather her thoughts and calm her racing heart before she speaks up. "So, um, what are you having for lunch?"
He eyes her with a rather incredulous look before going back for his rice. He takes a mouthful, chewing slowly as he surveys Misaka from head to toe. After a while, he finally answers. "Rice and curry."
Misaka nods, taking a quick glance at her own lunchbox. "I brought some fried rice and chicken nuggets today." She opens her lunchbox, revealing the steaming hot food contained within. Academy City technology truly are fascinating. "Would you like some?"
"No." His answer was blatant and straightforward, leaving no room for misinterpretation. Hirano's tone remained monotonous, as if the thought of accepting food from a stranger did not interest him in the slightest. He took another bite of his curry, chewing slowly before swallowing, continuously glaring irritatedly past her.
Misaka, undeterred by his response, took a small portion of her chicken and placed it on a separate plate before pushing it gently towards Hirano.
His eyes snapped back to her, staring at the plate of chicken as if it were a foreign object. After a moment of tense silence, he let out a sigh, reaching out and took a piece, bringing it to his mouth and chewing slowly. Misaka watched him, her heart pounding in her chest as she waited for his verdict.
"Is your ear not working or something?" To her surprise, Hirano's expression didn't change as he ate, but he did seem to relax slightly in his chair.
Hirano's words did catch Misaka off guard though. She blinks in confusion. "What do you mean?" she asks, tilting her head to the side.
"I said, it's not bad." Hirano's tone is still monotonous, but there's a hint of sarcasm in his voice. "The chicken, it's pretty good."
Misaka's face lights up at Hirano's words, a small smile playing on her lips. "Really?" she asks, sounding genuinely surprised. "I'm glad you like it."
Hirano merely hummed in response, continuing to eat the chicken. He seemed to be more comfortable now, his posture less tense and his gaze less intense.
Misaka, feeling more at ease, began to eat her own lunch as well. She took small bites of her fried rice, savoring the flavor as she chewed. The sound of their eating filled the air, accompanied by the background noise of the bustling cafeteria.
Suddenly, she thought of something. "How'd you become a level 5?" Hirano stops chewing and looks up at Misaka, his expression unreadable. After a moment of silence, he answers,
"I was born with it."
Misaka's eyes widen in surprise. "Really?" she asks, her voice low. "That must've been reeeeaaaaaaally nice! Being a Level 5 is so awesome! I wish I was one too." She couldn't help but let out a small sigh of envy. It must be nice to have such a powerful ability, to be able to do things that others could only dream of.
Hirano's movements stopped. His expression looked tired, almost as if he was offended by her words. "It's a curse." Hirano's response takes Misaka by surprise.
She furrows her brows, confused by his words. "A curse?" she echoes, tilting her head to the side. "But why? Having a powerful ability like that would be so cool!"
Hirano lets out a humorless laugh, his tone gone back to monotonous. "You have no idea." He went silent after that, his stares now blank. He appears to be occupied by his thoughts. She tried speaking to him again, but she couldn't even get a reaction from the older boy. Misaka sighs softly, glancing down at her lunch and picking at her food. She couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. She had hoped that her attempt to make friends with Hirano would go a little bit better than this.
Yet, she couldn't deny that she was also curious about his words. A curse, he had said. She couldn't imagine what it would be like to have a powerful ability and yet consider it a curse.
Then again, she wasn't the one who has cool powers. Maybe having abilities as powerful as the Level 5s would mean that there were greater expectations placed upon them. Perhaps it came with a lot of responsibility and pressure, something that she herself couldn't relate to.
As she pondered upon these thoughts, Yoshikawa approached their table, a warm smile on her face. "How are you two doing?" she asked, her eyes flicking between Misaka and Hirano.
Misaka glanced up at the older woman, nodding whilst nibbling on a piece of chicken. "We're doing fine, Yoshikawa-sensei." She noticed that Hirano had finished eating his lunch and seemed to have zoned out again, his gaze fixed on some distant point. She wondered what could possibly be going on in his mind.
Yoshikawa sat down next to Misaka, her eyes following the younger girl's gaze to Hirano before suddenly the boy rises from his seat, startling both Misaka and Yoshikawa. He picks up his tray and makes his way to the trash can without a word, dumping the contents before turning around and heading towards the exit.
Misaka watches him go, a feeling of disappointment washing over her. She had hoped to continue their conversation and maybe learn more about him, but it seemed like she would have to try again another day.
"Sorry." Surprisingly, it was Yoshikawa Sensei who spoke up, apologizing for the boy's unsavory attitude "He gets like that sometimes. I think he just gets overwhelmed with social situations."
Misaka shook her head. "I think it's something about what I said. He says that being a Level 5 is a curse." The woman's face burrows at that, her eyes softens. "I don't get it." Misaka adds.
"Let's just say... that his mother was in a coma because of it." Yoshikawa's words hang heavy in the air, and Misaka's eyes widen in shock. She had not expected that answer. "Well, more like his adopted mother, but you get the point."
Her homeroom teacher stated it as if trying to lighten the mood, but Misaka could see the sadness in her eyes. She couldn't imagine what it must be like to have someone you care about be in a coma, much less because of something that you possess.
Misaka lowered her gaze to her lunchbox, feeling a little guilty for her earlier words. She didn't know the full story, and yet she had judged him based on her own biases. "S-sorry..." She murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. She didn't know what else to say, but she felt like she needed to apologize for her thoughtlessness.
Yoshikawa Sensei placed a comforting hand on Misaka's shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. "No need to apologize, Misaka-chan," she said, her voice soft. "I'm sure he knows you didn't mean any harm."
"B-but he'd look so angry..." Misaka's voice trailed off, and she looked up at Yoshikawa Sensei with a worried expression on her face. She didn't want Hirano to think that she was mocking him or his situation.
Yoshikawa Sensei smiled warmly at Misaka, her eyes filled with understanding. "Don't worry too much about it," she said. "He's not as scary as he looks, I promise. Just give him some time to open up. He's been through a lot, and it takes him a while to trust people. He was wary of me as well the first time around."
Misaka nodded slowly, taking in Yoshikawa Sensei's words. He'd been rude when they'd first bumped back on that street. And she hated him for it. Now that she knows why he was so on edge, she could understand his actions better. She still didn't like that he'd acted that way, but she could forgive him for it. Yoshikawa Sensei patted Misaka's shoulder before getting up from her seat. "I have to get going, Misaka-chan. Don't let Hirano's behavior bring you down, okay? Keep trying, and I'm sure you'll become good friends." With that, she got up and walked away, leaving Misaka alone at the table.
Misaka sat there for a moment, lost in thought. She looked down at her half-eaten lunch, her appetite gone.
As Kuroko and Uiharu begin their investigation, they immerse themselves in the world of Judgment, the student-run law enforcement agency of Academy City. The two girls are determined to unravel the mystery of the vandalism incident, but they quickly realize that it won't be an easy task.
They don't have the means of entering the apartment complex. So they're stuck outside under the blazing 9am sun, with Kuroko arguing with the receptionist of Family Side about gaining access to the building. The middle-aged woman, dressed in a stuffy uniform, refuses to let them in without a proper warrant or reason. The two of them are still trainees, so they don't really have any means of identification. Those things were usually done by their superiors, and they hadn't anticipated needing them for this particular investigation.
Meanwhile, Uiharu sits on a bench a few feet away, fanning herself with a pamphlet she picked up from the entrance. Summer is approaching, making the already humid and hot weather of Academy City even more unbearable. Uiharu's clothes are sticking to her skin, making her feel uncomfortable. She glances at Kuroko, who is still in a heated argument with the receptionist, and lets out a sigh. Kuroko's eyes flash with determination as she continues to argue with the receptionist, her voice steady and unyielding. "We just need to speak with one of the residents. It won't take long, I assure you." She tries to appeal to the woman's sense of duty, hoping that she'll understand the urgency of the situation.
But the receptionist remains unmoved, her expression stern as she shakes her head. "Kid, I'm telling you, I can't let you in. That would be a breach of privacy. Plus you don't have a warrant. Now shoo before I call the security." She crosses her arms and leans back in her chair, effectively ending the conversation. Kuroko's shoulders slump in defeat, realizing that they won't be able to gain access to the building without any further information.
Kuroko let out a deep sigh as she sat right next Uiharu. "Looks like we're at a dead end," Kuroko says, running a hand through her hair. "We don't have any evidence to support our suspicions, and without a warrant, we can't get inside that building."
Uiharu nods in agreement, her face flushed from the heat. "Maybe we should try a different approach," she suggests.
"Like what?"
The girl smiles. "I could always crack on their security system." The girl's innocent smile almost made those words sound just as if she were suggesting they play a game or have a picnic. But Kuroko knew better. Uiharu's skills in hacking and bypassing security systems were well-known within the office. The girl was an absolute prodigy when it comes to computers. If anyone could get them inside the apartment complex, it was her.
However, Kuroko couldn't help but feel a pang of unease. "Should we not ask for permission from the Lieutenant first?" she suggests, knowing that Uiharu's actions, while impressive, were not exactly legal. They were still law enforcement officers, after all, and they had to follow the rules.
Uiharu nods, looking thoughtful for a moment. "Yeah, you're right," she says. "We don't want to get into trouble with the higher-ups." So they walked back for the office.
Back at the office, Tsuzuri merely tilts her head. Refusing the request, handing them search warrants instead. "I understand your eagerness, girls, but we must follow proper procedure," Tsuzuri explains, her tone gentle but firm, handing them the papers. "Please try not to hack and break into the system without proper authorization. It can lead to serious consequences."
With the warrants in hand, they head back to the Family Side apartment complex, ready to finally gain access and continue their investigation.
As they approach the receptionist's desk, Kuroko presents the warrant with a wicked smile. "We have a papers to search this building." The receptionist's stern expression remains unimpressed as she takes the warrant from Kuroko, scanning it quickly before nodding in acceptance.
The woman then hummed, pointing towards the elevator, "Elevator's that way. The resident you're looking for is on the 13th floor, room 276."
Kuroko and Uiharu make their way into the apartment complex, greeted by the cool air conditioning that provides a stark contrast to the oppressive heat outside. Kuroko and Uiharu waste no time in heading towards the elevator, their minds focused on the task at hand. As the elevator ascends to the 13th floor. They can't wait to finish this case. It had taken way too much time for something so simple.
Kuroko couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement as they approached the suspect's floor. This was what being a part of Judgment was all about - solving crime stuff and making Academy City a safer place for its inhabitants.
When they reach the 13th floor, the two girls make their way down the hallway, their footsteps echoing softly against the linoleum flooring. They reach room 276 and Kuroko knocks on the door, her heart pounding in her chest. After a few moments, nothing. Not a single sound was made.
She knocked again, this time a little louder. "This is Judgment. We'd like to ask some questions regarding a case we're working on," Kuroko calls out, her voice steady and authoritative. Uiharu stands beside her, her fingers crossed behind her back. They both know that this could be a crucial moment in their investigation.
After what feels like an eternity, there were still no sounds made. Annoyed, Kuroko banged her hands on the door, her irritation growing. "We won't leave until we get some answers. It's in your best interest to open the door," she says, her voice firm and unyielding.
Again, Kuroko banged. The result stays the same; nothing. She tried turning the doorknob, but it was locked. "It seems like he's not home," Uiharu observes, her tone laced with a hint of disappointment.
Kuroko hums in agreement, letting out a sigh. "Well, we can't exactly wait here all day," she says. Uiharu's head perked up. "Do it."
The girl visibly pumped her hand as she pulled her phone out. The door key was a keycard of some sort, if she recalls right. Last she went here was after Hirano's disappearance.
Thinking about her upperclassmen, wasn't his room also supposed to be on this floor?
"Done." Uiharu announces, holding up her phone with a triumphant smile. She had managed to bypass the lock on the door, and the door swings open with a soft click. Kuroko raises an eyebrow in surprise, impressed by Uiharu's abilities. She knew the girl was good, but she had never seen her in action before. At least outside of the office.
Together, they step inside the apartment, their eyes peeled for any clues that might shed some light on the case they were working on. The apartment was dimly lit, the only lighting it received was through the window. The air was stale, as if the apartment had not been aired out in days.
The living room was large, with a comfortable-looking couch facing a large, flat-screen television. A coffee table sat in front of the couch, empty of any objects and rather dusty. The walls were adorned with pictures.
All of which Kuroko recognized.
This was Hirano's old apartment. Kuroko's eyes widen in surprise as she takes in the surroundings of the apartment. She recognizes it as Hirano's old place, and she can't help but feel a sense of unease. Why would the person they're looking for be living in Hirano's old apartment?
She turns to Uiharu, who is inspecting the fridge. "This is Hirano's old place."
"Senpai?" The girl replies. Kuroko nods. "That can't be right… How'd you know?"
"Look at the pictures! If the place was occupied by a new tenant, why would they keep old pictures here?" Kuroko exclaims.
"Maybe a relative has been taking care of the place? This looks clean for something that has been left alone for 2 years Uiharu argues.
"Then why would the receptionist send us here? I've been here before and I don't recognise that woman. Surely she's never met Hirano before."
That's when Uiharu scrunched her face.
Indeed, why would they be sent here?
Were they being played?
Like how the higher-ups called off the case regarding his disappearance?
But all the leads go here.
Is this a threat…? To stop looking?
…
She doesn't know anymore.
Right now, Kuroko is just pissed off.
"Wait here." Kuroko strides back towards the elevator, heading straight for the lobby. It is true that the description she'd told the receptionist fits his appearance.
'There's no way he's back. After all these years.' Kuroko thought to herself. She couldn't help but feel a sense of frustration and confusion as she approached the receptionist's desk.
The woman looked up, a questioning look on her face when she heard Kuroko's footsteps echoing through the quiet lobby. She slams the warrant down on the counter, her eyes blazing with anger. "Are you messing with me?! Who do you work for?!" she demands, her voice low and dangerous.
Surprise flickering across the receptionist's face for a moment before she masks it with a calm expression. "My employer." she says, her tone even.
Kuroko glared the hardest she's ever been. The woman, a high schooler from the looks of it, visibly flinches. "Look. The person you're looking for is gone, okay? I haven't seen him in days."
"Bullshit, he's been gone for years!" Kuroko snaps back, her frustration and confusion boiling over. She couldn't believe that the receptionist would lie to them like this. They had come all this way, and now it seemed like their efforts had been for nothing.
The receptionist sighs, her shoulders sagging slightly. "Look, I'm not lying. The boy you're looking for did come here a few days back. Look," She turned the monitor towards the girl.
On the screen, Kuroko can see grainy security footage of the suspect, who resembles a certain albino boy, entering the front entrance, the date going back a few days prior. The exact same date when they'd launch the investigation for the vending machine.
Kuroko's eyes widen in surprise as she takes in the footage. "B-but," Kuroko says, her voice barely above a whisper.
The receptionist gives a small nod, acknowledging Kuroko's confusion. "Haven't seen him since he first came. I was surprised too, y'know? His card says he last registered in 2001. The kid didn't come home in nearly 3 years."
Kuroko's mind races as she tries to make sense of the situation. 'Hirano's back.'
She takes a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. The last thing she wanted to do was to jump to conclusions. She looks back at the security footage, studying it intently. The figure in the video did resemble Hirano, but there were subtle differences that set him apart. Kuroko couldn't quite put her finger on it, but something was off.
He looked different. She wasn't sure but he looked skinnier. His hair was longer, covering his ear and obscuring the view of his right eye. His movements were also different, more rigid and stiff than she remembered. But the most striking difference was his expression. There was a cold, almost calculating look in his eyes that sent a shiver down Kuroko's spine.
"I see," Kuroko says, her voice barely above a whisper. She turns to the receptionist, her expression unreadable. "Thank you for your time." The receptionist nods, a look of understanding passing over her face.
Kuroko turns to leave, her mind still racing as she tries to make sense of the situation. She makes her way back to the elevator, her footsteps echoing through the quiet lobby. Uiharu is waiting for her, a worried look on her face.
The twin tailed girl doesn't know what to say. Uiharu stays quiet, giving Kuroko the space she needs to process the new information. Kuroko's mind is a whirlwind of thoughts, trying to reconcile the Hirano she knew with the figure in the security footage. For a while, they were quiet, until Kuroko's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Uiharu's voice.
"Kuroko-san, what do we do now?"
Yes. What should they do?
Right now, all Kuroko wants to do is see her white haired senior in person.
But... where?
Suddenly, she perked up. "Uiharu," She says, her voice wasn't as angry as before nor was it like its usual calm and mature. It was filled with a sense of urgency. "Did we know where he went right after going here?"
The girl with the crown of flowers on her head was surprised at the sudden change in her friend's tone, but she quickly regained her composure and shook her head. "N-not really, he got out later at night time. I-I didn't check any further because I thought we'd have everything we needed."
This is exactly why they're still trainees.
He hasn't come back in days. And from the looks of it, there's no reason for him to. The door to his room was left closed and there's nothing emotionally valuable here left for the taking aside from the pictures.
They need to take action and find him before he disappears once again. She can't bear the thought of losing him again.
"We need to find out where he went after leaving here," Kuroko says, her voice firm and determined. "Can you please access the city's surveillance cameras?"
He'd gone for another apartment not too far from here. They hurried out of the building before contacting the office to inform them of the entire thing.
we'll see if there's new shit next week!