Chapter 7
Akira was worried about Kujikawa-san, from the tofu shop. (he swore she seemed familiar, but he couldn’t figure out how. His friends on the gymnastics team told him to figure it out himself, while they giggled away.) She had gotten kidnapped, and when he vented to Igor, Marie, and Lavenza, Igor only said something about the Lovers arcana, which he supposed would be her card once it was activated, Marie wrote with him a little, which helped, and Lavenza told him not to worry about it. By then, Firefly was approaching the room, so he had to leave through another door. While he was wandering around town, he bumped into somebody, sending them flat on their bottoms.
“Are you okay? I’m really sorry.”
The blue-haired stranger replied, helping him up.
“No, it was my fault. I’m fine.”
Akira looked at him. Something was off. He was a blank card, but there was something else, too.
“Mister, are you a girl?” he whispered.
“Wha-”
“It’s okay, I like to dress as a girl sometimes too! You look really convincing, though. Can you help me with it?”
“I- sure. How did you figure me out?”
“You yelped when I crashed into you. And there’s something about the way you carry yourself, too. Do you want to be called a boy?”
The blank card smiled.
“No, I prefer they/them. What about you?”
“I’m still a boy, but it’s fun to pretend and dress up sometimes. Why are you a boy?”
“I’m a detective, Naoto Shirogane. Though, for figuring out my secret you can call me by my first name. Girls are less respected as detectives, so I pretend to be a boy. Please don’t tell anyone else.”
“I won’t. Still, that’s not fair! It’s not like you chose to be a girl. Can you help me look more like a girl when I want to, Naoto-san?”
The young detective smiled.
“Of course, but please, no honorifics. Will you help me change my body language? I also haven’t learned your name.”
“I’m Akira Kurusu, 12 years old. How old are you?”
“I’m a first year in high school.”
“Wow, so young and cool!” He picked up a paper off of the ground. “Is this one of your cases?”
“It’s a riddle I can’t solve.”
Akira read it.
“It seems like the culprit would be the 2nd guy. He doesn’t have any shoes in the picture.”
“What?” They took the paper, and read it over again. “That makes so much sense! Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He bowed with extra flourish.
“Can I ask your opinion for other riddles?”
“Sure. My parents aren’t home yet, so if you wanna help me look more like a girl, we can go to my house. You can bring your hardest riddles!”
“That would be nice.”
“Come with me, then!”
“Say, Akira-kun, do you happen to know Kanji Tatsumi?”
“Kanji-kun? Yeah, why do you ask?”
“How is he? I haven’t had a chance to check on him.”
“He seems fine. He found friends, which I’m happy about. I was afraid everybody would ignore him because he’s a punk, or because he likes working at the textile shop.”
“I see. Who are his new friends?”
“So far, it’s Kiki-chan, oh, sorry, I meant Yukiko-chan, her friend who’s always at the inn, and Hanamura-san. I’ve seen a gray-haired highschooler with them too, but I don’t know him.”
“I see. Will you indulge me in one more question?”
“Sure!”
“How are you so familiar with Yukiko Amagi and Kanji Tatsumi?”
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Amagi Inn.
“Hello, how may I help you?”
“Oh, uh, one of your guests ordered Duo? I’m delivering for my dad.”
“How sweet! Do you know what room it is?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Alright, then, go on ahead.”
After he finished delivering it, he found a book on the street. It was one the ones from his mom’s shop, and one of his favorite series.
“Excuse me, I think that’s mine.”
Akira yelped and jumped, turning around swiftly. It was a high schooler with straight black hair, and a red headband. He calmed his adrenaline and instincts telling him to run.
“Oh! Ummm, I’m so sorry! I just found it lying on the street, and I noticed it was from my mom’s bookstore, plus it’s one of my favorite series, and I just-”
“Oh no, it’s okay! I didn’t mean to upset you, and oh, I’ve cut you off. Did you say that was from your mother’s store?”
“Yeah, but I’m at the Inn for my dad.”
“Oh! Are you the Aragakis’ child?”
“At your service, Miss?”
“What a fine young gentleman, I am Yukiko Amagi.”
“And I am Akira.”
“Well, thank you for your service here, whatever it may be, Akira-kun. Please, tell your mother I might be a new regular.”
“Inn would be my pleasure, Amagi-san.”
At this the Amagi heiress started cracking up, letting loud laughter ring through the town.
“Ahahahahhahh! Inn instead of it! AHAHHAHAHA!”
At this Akira let himself laugh with her.
After they recovered, he gave her the book.
“Oh, it’s been a while since I’ve laughed like that, sorry. But please, call me Yukiko.”
“No it’s okay, I had fun, even though my jaw hurts.”
The girl threatened to crack up again.
“Please, come back whenever, and tell me more jokes. I’ll look for you at the bookstore.”
“Bye!”
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Tatsumi Textiles.
Akira knew he was supposed to be looking for a new dress to surprise his mom, but he couldn’t help it. When he entered the store, there was a slightly scary punk behind the counter. The punk looked surprised when he simply waved a hello instead of making a comment or displaying fear.
Well, Akira thought, he could never measure up to Aunt Mitsuru on a bad day.
Anyway, instead of walking up to the counter to request a dress, a small blue butterfly plushie caught his eye. He wanted to give it to Lavenza, but no. He was here for his mom. A dress for his mom.
“That one catch your eye? Kanji Tatsumi. You are?”
Crap, he had been staring too long!
“Akira Kurusu. It reminds me of something a friend would like, but I’m actually here about a dress for my mom. Er, but, do you know who made it?”
“I did.” Kanji braced himself for ridicule. Instead, the boy’s eyes lit up.
“Really! That's so cool! Can you teach me, Tatsumi-san?”
“Er, uhh, don’t call me that. Tatsumi-san’s my ma. And are you sure you’re okay with that?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Ahem. Well, let’s see about that dress.”
“Oh, yeah! I was thinking something like this!”
After he took the order, Kanji replied.
“So, about that plushie. You really wanna learn?”
“Yeah! Could you teach me to knit too?”
“Course. Say, would you like to come back every Wednesday?”
“I’d love to, Kanji-sensei!”
“Please don’t.”
“Awww, just joking.”
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As Naoto watched the boy continue walking, they marveled on what a nice friend they’d found.