bakerstreet | dialogue prompt!

W-Well... you didn't directly, no. But you implied it when--

[ Why is he even trying to explain...!? He's sure Ouma knows what he said all too well, he's just messing with him to avoid that fact. Sighing softly, he calms himself down and just watches the platform as the train begins to pull up. It'll be a second before the doors can open and there are people still ahead... He has time. ]

Look. I'm not Keebo-kun so I can't exactly play it back for you from a recording, but... if we don't talk about it, I can't clear up whatever it is I said. Or whatever I did that... you're worried about.

[ ...Is Ouma even worried? Or is Saihara just assuming that on his own? Why exactly... did he think that? ]

That's assuming I'm actually worried about something. Maybe you're just projecting again?

[See? Does he look at all stressed out to you? Hell, does he ever? Kokichi certainly seems perfectly content right now, hanging off Shuichi's arm and smirking slightly with amusement at Shuichi's struggling.]

After all, what could Saihara-chan do to make me worried? Do you have an answer for that, Mr. Ultimate Detective?

[ The doors end up opening into the station right as that's said, diverting some of Saihara's attention from the exchange. Or is it just the doors? For a second, he feels torn, almost as if he's tying too hard to keep himself from looking back, nothing natural about the way his eyes forcibly dart anywhere else.

But they have to get moving and follow the crowd, so he hurries to guide Ouma into that. ]

I... don't know?

[ He's honest about that -- it sounds kind of like the nervous replies he's been forced to give before, when his classmates expected an early conclusion from him on some minor issue or other before he'd had time to do research or think. He offers a strained smile, and then... sorry Ouma, this might not be what you expect. ]

Ah, sorry. I can think a bit more about it later if you want, but for now... just stay close. Don't let go of me yet, alright?

[ He's saying that because they're about to get on the escalator that leads above, and well... once they're up there, they'd probably clear the crowd. Which means Ouma would have very good reason to pull apart. ]

Wouldn't dream of it!

[As they enter the crowd, however, his grip slides down Shuichi's arm to catch his hand instead. Just to better ensure they don't get separated, of course.]

And in the meantime, you can think really hard, okay? I believe in you!

[That kinda sounds a bit nonsensical when the subject at hand is "making sense of Kokichi's bullshit", but maybe that's just part of whatever game he's playing. Just giving away the answers is no fun. And he isn't interested in the kind of people that need to have their hand held through everything.]

What...? N-No, wait, that's not--

[ But it's honestly... his own fault. He'd figured Ouma could tell from his tone alone that there's something wrong, but come to think of it, it would be easy to miss when he was already stressed before. So he takes advantage of the escalator they're currently on, tugging slightly on his companion's hand to make sure they keep side by side.

Once they are, in the already narrow space that can barely accommodate them as is, he's the one to lean close this time. ]

Listen to me. I mean, promise me you won't look behind if you want to check, but... I'm pretty certain we're being tailed.

[ But... would someone like Ouma really not know? The thought does occur to him in the end, but by then it's too late; maybe in that case, it's he who just made a pointless move that might give them away. ]

[.....what.

His eyes stay where they are, locked on Shuichi. He's not amateur enough to look, no matter how curious he is. But just for a moment, the smile slips off Kokichi's face and he has that blank expression again as his mind works on overdrive.

Could it be a joke? But that's more Kokichi's kinda schtick. Shuichi does surprise him sometimes, but it just seems so unlikely, and given their activities just before heading to the train...

Quickly, he repairs his smile, the picture of a carefree teen.]

Wow, Saihara-chan, what are you saying?

[It's just loud enough to sound like his normal nonsense – trying to embarrass Shuichi maybe, given the sudden closeness. Nothing that would seem out of the ordinary to anyone watching that might overhear.

And keeping up with those appearances, he leans in even closer to whisper in Shuichi's ear. With his sly smirk and their held hands, it probably looks like something very different to any onlookers.]

And how long has that been going on, hmm?

[Normally, he'd have been quick to notice something like that. He's frankly horrified to think he might not have noticed, to the extent that he really does want to think Shuichi's fucking with him. But he obviously can't look – dangerous if it's true, and embarrassing if it's a lie. All he can do is play along as unconcerned as possible to avoid arousing suspicion or losing face, depending on what's true.

It's all Shuichi's fault. Kokichi would have noticed if anything was off if not for the fact that Shuichi eats up all his attention.]

[ He does... pick up on that too. The first part is just a facade, isn't it? If anything, he's grateful to Ouma's acting since he wouldn't have managed to cover things up so well. It might be embarrassing and sure, it takes him a moment before he adjusts, but he plays along to the best he can. ]

H-Hey...! You're the one who said I could tell you anything...

[ Okay. More than just embarrassing; he somehow pulled it off, but if the ground could just open up and swallow him, he sure wishes it would do that now. There's no time for that to take over though, so he's quick to follow the example that Ouma set, lowering his voice to slip in a quiet line between just the two of them. ]

I only... really noticed it when I saw them by accident on the train. But if I had to guess, then it's probably since we left that place.

[ From his memory alone, he can trace it to one of the loiterers they'd caught sight of around the parlor, outside, since he'd paid quite a bit of attention to them. Granted, it was only because he didn't want Ouma to get in trouble, but still. It proves useful now that he did. He's pretty sure that the other must have at least seen them too, so if he finds a chance to just catch a reflection, he might confirm.

For that purpose, he waits patiently until they're upstairs, then makes certain to lead them as close to the windows of nearby stores as he can. ]

[They're on the same page, at least. Kokichi gives Shuichi's hand an approving squeeze as they wander closer to the storefronts, and he affects a wide grin.]

Hey, look, look!!

[With an excited air, he drags Shuichi closer to one of the storefront windows, pointing. It's an easy excuse to give him time to search the reflection of the scene behind them without having to do it on the move.

And, well. The store in question just so happens to be a jewelry store. So he tangles their fingers together and leans into Shuichi, gesturing without really looking at something on display. It probably passes for something a couple on a date might do. His voice drops low again, easy to miss in the chatter of passerby.]

Jeez, I didn't think Saihara-chan was the type to get into trouble like this.

[Meanwhile, he's busy mentally mapping out the rest of their route back to the school. It's not a terribly long walk, but long enough for something to happen, especially once they get away from these more public areas.

If he were on his own, he imagines he could find a way to give anyone tailing him the slip pretty easily. But he isn't sure if Shuichi could manage the same thing, and he's hardly about to leave his darling detective behind. Hmm...]

[ It's probably really weak and pathetic of him to be feeling like this, but... the truth is that Ouma's presence beside him helps. It gives him some sort of direction, and a strange sense of confidence that he's not alone... so he'll somehow be able to get through this. And at least, he doesn't have to fake his reaction when the other's fingers start lacing through his own, and his pulse quickens rapidly while his heart feels like jumping into his throat. ]

Ah, wh-what... exactly am I looking for!?

[ Because the first thing his eyes land on is a bunch of different rings and well, even thinking of this surface conversation as the act it is, that's too much too soon. No one would believe that two highschoolers would be looking at that sort of thing... he thinks. But by some ridiculous sort of irony, that makes the actually serious part of the whole situation seem much easier to deal with instead. There, he already knows the answer to what he needs to observe. ]

Well... while I can't say it's happened too often before, this sort of risk isn't actually all that rare.

[ When you're poking your nose into other people's business as a profession, there's always a chance that some of them might not take it well. Or even that, like in this case, they might be prepared. Of course, he has no proof that this person tailing them is related to the case just yet, but... No. There it is. ]

Hm... There's a wire from his pocket that seems to stick out. Because of that hat and the color of his clothes, I can't really tell where it goes, but I'm willing to bet he has somebody on the phone.

[ That's probably from an earphone concealed underneath. So they don't only need to lose this pursuer, but he's probably already aware of the route they'll be trying to go. Who knows if he couldn't have others just... waiting ahead? ]

[Kokichi snickers at Shuichi's obvious panic – at least it's over the stupid thing and not the real danger. And he's assuming the danger is real. He can see the guy Shuichi has noted, and he recognizes one of the loiterers from earlier. If Shuichi thinks the guy is coordinating with someone, then Kokichi's trusting that deduction.]

Jeez, what were you thinking of? [It probably says more about Shuichi that his brain jumped there first... Kokichi rolls his eyes, pointing at some randomly sparkly piece of jewelry.] Don't you think Harukawa-chan would love that? It's totally her style!

[It sounds innocuous enough, but Shuichi would know immediately that it's bullshit – both the idea of Maki being into any jewelry, and Kokichi giving a shit what she might like. But hopefully that means Shuichi can pick up that he's got something up his sleeve.]

Hold on, I wanna show her...

[He digs his phone back out, pointing it at the display and snapping a picture. Just to maintain appearances, of course. Humming contentedly, he quickly opens his texts, scrolling for a particular conversation. As close as they are, Shuichi can probably catch a glimpse of some of the names. His own is at the top as the most recent, of course (and with that little heart tagged on the end that Kokichi hadn't mentioned), but there are a few other potentially familiar names in there. Amami-chan, Whore Pig...

The group chat he opens, however, is populated with contacts labeled only with a single emoticon each. His calm, happy expression never slips as he rapidly types in their location and pickup asap!!!]

[ It's... a really ugly necklace, with a pendant shaped like an eagle and a giant green stone in its claws. Not only can he not imagine Harukawa enjoying it at all, she'd probably think of murdering whoever suggested it with the object itself; it's certainly large and pointy enough that he's pretty certain she'd find a way. Despite the situation and fully against himself (sorry Harukawa-san), he finds that he's laughing a little before he knows.

Crap. He still has to say something out loud that will work with that or they'll stop making sense. ]

I-I mean... if you think so? It's just... so ridiculous-looking it feels more like you're bullying her.

[ He's getting the hang of this...? He's never been awfully bad at adapting, it's true, but he can't in full conscience give the credit for it to himself; it's something he was only able to do thanks to Ouma's quick thinking and perfect pitch. But in other words, yes -- by this point he can guess that there's something else going on.

With the pretense of only taking a look at the photo the other took, he peeks in over Ouma's shoulder to give himself a few clues. So of course, he ends up seeing it all -- his name with the heart, but... ignoring that, since it doesn't feel like the best time to be bringing it up. He has to admit he'd been wondering if Ouma even had anyone else from their class, but it's good to see that he does. And lastly, there's... ]

Pickup...?

[ He echoes it quietly, barely a murmur across his lips. But it's clear enough that he hardly needs it spelled out, it's more just a focused note to himself. ]

Ah. Over there.

[ He might not know who, but if somebody's really coming all this way for them, he doesn't need to be any genius at deduction to guess the means. In this spot, it can only be a vehicle of some sort, so what he directs them at is the shelter of a bus stop ahead, past a few more stores. It's the most sensibly inconspicuous place to wait by the side of the street without seeming strange, and besides, if the pieces end up aligning well... They could even use the crowd and then time things with the bus itself to completely mask where they went.

There might be no reliable way to convey all those thoughts right now, but somehow... he finds he trusts Ouma to understand on his own. ]

[Don't distract him by being cute, motherfucker. That's how they got into this mess in the first place.]

What? I would never tease Harukawa-chan! I like her so much! And, y'know, I don't have a death wish.

[He doesn't add anything further to the group chat, but before he pockets his phone again, Shuichi can catch a glimpse of a flurry of replies coming in from the other contacts. Whatever it is, Kokichi seems to trust they'll work things out.

The phone goes away, and he follows Shuichi's line of sight to the bus stop.]

Oh, there it is! Good job, Saihara-chan!

[Yes, catching the bus was clearly the plan all along. Kokichi directs them back into the flow of foot traffic to head over that way. It's a good time of day for this, at least – the bus stop has a number of other people waiting there already, likely mostly commuters on their way home. Better to stay around others for now. He doubts whoever their stalker is would just jump them in front of bystanders.]

Edited 2021-02-05 06:47 (UTC)

[ To be honest, this stop doesn't even... have a bus that would go to their school, but the person behind them shouldn't know that. So as they walk around the people in the back, he pretends to be checking the schedule displayed on the digital screen above. It gives him a good look at the shelter itself at least; the walls are just made of laminated glass, like most constructs of this sort, so they wouldn't hide much from sight. But that's exactly what might give their unidentified stranger a sense of overconfident security, too.

The two on the sides have been covered in posters of some kind, advertising an upcoming concert at a club nearby. Along with the flow of the crowd itself when it's time, those should serve them for cover well enough. Which also means, they're going to keep close, but not just there yet so that they won't draw attention to that fact. ]

...Sorry. I'm a little tired, so do you mind if we stop on that bench?

[ There's a seat over there, which someone had just freed up and that nobody seems to be taking just yet. It's in a perfect spot by the corner instead, right around the bend from the posters but still on a background of clear glass. From there, they shouldn't have any issue with switching from one to the other at just the drop of a hat.

And if his prediction is correct, it should bait their pursuer and keep them exactly on the side they want; after all, why would they switch from a vantage where they can see them so well? Listen, Ouma may be pulling the strings of their escape, but that doesn't mean he'll just let himself be useless and not play a part. ]

[At Shuichi's request, Kokichi just hurries them forward, rushing to snag the seat before someone else does. He plops himself down and drags Shuichi to sit beside him.]

There we go. Cozy?

[He has to take good care of his dear Saihara-chan, right?

In his pocket, his phone has stopped buzzing. He assumes that means something has been arranged, so all he can do is keep an eye out for someone familiar. For the moment, he just kicks his feet back and forth and nudges Shuichi's side, his voice low again.]

Well, this is way more exciting than I thought an outing with Saihara-chan would be.

Y-Yeah... Thanks.

[ The small, kind of sheepish smile that he gives with his response is on purpose to go with their act, but if he's being honest, he's really just feeling it too. Which is something he'd like to convey to the other somehow... but the only way he can think of right now is to squeeze his hand. That... just makes him acutely aware that their fingers are still intertwined.

Which also makes him think of a number of other things he's found out, but... he won't. Not right now. ]

...Hm?

[ Sorry Ouma, he ended up barely listening and he has to catch up. ]

Ah, I'm not sure you should look so happy about that. It's not a game, you know? We could really end up getting hurt.

[It's clear that Kokichi knows what he's doing. Either he has experience with this kind of situation, or at least with things similar enough that the experience is transferable. He perfectly maintains the guise of a teenager having a fun outing with a friend(?), keeping his cool even while his mind is working overtime.

He can't assume for sure who might be coming or when, but if he considers everyone's schedules, their likely locations, who has access to vehicles, etc...well, he can at least come up with a possible ETA.

They've just gotta make it that long. No problem.]

Wouldn't it look more suspicious if I didn't look happy?

[His voice is pitched low enough to not draw the attention of other people waiting for the bus, and he punctuates this with a cheery grin and a poke to Shuichi's cheek. Mind your expression, Saihara-chan. Don't forget you're being watched.

Not that the reminder is needed at the moment. As if he would miss that awkward little smile.]

Besides, you seem pretty happy yourself.

W-Well...

[ That flusters him more than it should, though at least in the context it doesn't look strange. He's been going along with the couple act Ouma chose for them for a while, so even with their conversation hushed down right now, there's still nothing suspicious or weird if he gets embarrassed from being teased or whatever else. Trust him, it's not like he isn't thinking tactically himself.

It's just... Maybe Ouma might find it easy to also mask his emotions along the way, but he... can't. Especially not while he's partly still figuring out what they are, or it's the first time he's thought about some of them. ]

That... might be true, but it's not like I'm happy about the situation itself.

[ He can't look Ouma in the eye right now, so his glance drifts off, catching him yet another much needed reflection of their problem stranger in the glass. He's settled as expected somewhere far enough behind, at exactly the kind of angle Saihara had hoped. ]

Ah... When we leave, the posters on the wall to your right should help cover us pretty well.

[ That takes precedence to just spilling out his feelings, at least. For a moment, he'd really looked like he would, but then practicality wins as always in the end. ]

[Oh? Oh? He's just focused on killing time at the moment, so he has attention to spare for that obvious attempt at redirection from Shuichi. His grin widens, taking on a hint of warmth that reads as a bit more genuine, and he pokes at Shuichi's face again.]

Ehh? Wait, go back a second. If you're not happy about this situation, then what are you happy about?

[Practicality can take a fucking hike for a bit, he wants to hear those guts spilling.]

[ You're fishing, Ouma-kun.

It's what he'd easily think to say, but for some reason or other those cutting words just... get stuck in his throat. It's true he'd be able to close the subject that way, but is that really what's for the best? Is that really... what he himself wants? ]

I just... I mean, it's not the situation but maybe... its results?

[ From the answer that ends up spilling out on its own from his lips, he has doubts that's the case. ]

As abnormal and dangerous as this is, it still helped us get closer, I think. There are things about you that I feel are important, but... if not for today, I might have never been able to figure them out.

[ screams internally

Logically, Kokichi knows it's nothing to get too excited over. Shuichi's just a nice, awkward nerd. Chances are he's just talking in a platonic sense. Of course he'd be happy about getting closer to a classmate he's struggled to bond with before.

But it still makes Kokichi stupidly happy to hear it. God, he's in way too deep for his own good.]

Saihara-chan's that happy about us getting closer, huh?

[Despite his inner turmoil, Kokichi's still quick to smirk, leaning into Shuichi's side and pulling their clasped hands to his chest teasingly. Being a little shit, he has to intentionally interpret it in whatever way would most embarrass Shuichi, even if he knows it's not like that.]

Even in a situation like this...! Wow, I'm gonna swoon!

Ah... please don't?

[ That's just about the lamest answer he could give, he knows. But the puff of air that follows it from his lips as an almost-laugh is soft, and he feels more at ease than he'd thought. Everything seems warm, to the point he can't tell anymore. Is it Ouma beside him, or is it just their hands after holding them for this long? Or it's possible it's just his own pulse, quickened audibly in his chest. ]

To be honest, I'm more surprised that you couldn't tell.

[ Ouma's smart; surely he would have had an inkling by now that nobody who dislikes him was going to keep chasing him around, trying to figure out what his lies and games meant. And it's not like Saihara ever made it... a big secret how he felt? Sure, he probably got frustrated a lot and there might have been times he gave up, but... in the end, he always still came back. Because he did want to know more -- he still does, even now. ]

...No, never mind. I know you're only teasing me, but even so, this is something I'd like to talk to you about. Just... not now.

[ They have more important things to do. Or well, if not that, at least things that are more pressing in the sense of immediacy to attend. ]

[Does a detective enjoy the process of solving mysteries every single time? Is the pursuit of truth and understanding always a happy one? Do those who pursue it do it because they like to, or because they feel like they must? Is a fixation, arguably an obsession, the same thing as a friendship?

Kokichi is smart. But maybe Shuichi gives him too much credit. Sometimes it's possible to be too smart for one's own good. Sometimes the simple truth is easy to overlook when one is smart enough to consider all possibilities, and cautious enough to be prepared for the worst ones.

For the moment, though, it's easier to believe the more optimistic possibilities, at least a little bit. Shuichi doesn't smile often enough, but it's nice when he does.]

You must looove being teased, huh? If you're looking that happy about it, I mean. Maybe Iruma-chan was right? Maybe Saihara-chan really is a huge masochist!

[That's a possibility, too. But for now Kokichu is teasing, grinning up at Shuichi mischievously.]

Wh-What...?

[ That still gets him worked up again, so if Ouma was going for something to throw him off, he's succeeded. Freezing up, he feels himself almost bristling defensively in... what might have seemed more like protest, the way he intends, if only he didn't look so thrown off. ]

Don't just... draw conclusions like that on your own. I'm not happy about being teased!

[ Part of him knows, that was just Ouma looking to rile him up, and the fact he's reacting like this means he's let him. But... with the small part of his mind that can still feel calm beyond that, he still wonders. Was this deflection of some sort? And if so... then of what? As usual, the one thing that won't change about days spent with Ouma is they're exhausting and confusing no matter what, very often in more ways than one. And he doesn't even dislike it despite all that, so maybe the masochist claim is right. ]

Hey... Ouma-kun?

[ His voice with that is lower, a lot less on edge and more tinged with the exhaustion he actually feels. ]

Can you trust me for once? I won't ask you to do it at large, but at least in the current context, alright? Tell me what's going on.

[ What are they doing? To him it just looks like they're stalling for time, but... is that deduction right? If he knew for certain, he could probably think of something to help with that. ]

Hey, relax! There's no shame in it!

[Isn't he such a good, supportive friend? Kokichi smiles sweetly, lifting his free hand to pat Shuichi on the cheek.]

Ah...but I'm lying. I'm totally gonna kinkshame you if it's true.

[Whoops. Nevermind.

But he is just stalling, it's true. Kokichi hums idly, giving Shuichi a thoughtful look, and then the pat to Shuichi's cheek turns into a pinch.]

Aren't you the one that should know more? This is something to do with your project, riiight? I'm just saving you from whatever mess you've gotten yourself into, that's all.

I don't... mean that part. ...H-Hey!

[ His first impulse is to raise his own free hand and just briskly brush that off, but he realizes a second too late it might not... look good if he does. And this is how he ends up with his fingers only tentatively wrapped around Ouma's wrist, hesitant on how much pressure to apply. Damn it, that pinch hurts; he at least tugs enough to hopefully lessen that.

It's not like he doesn't have his theories about the case, or a couple of possible scenarios in mind for why exactly they're being pursued. That just doesn't help here with the situation at hand, but what would instead... ]

I mean, what are we doing right now? We're just buying time for whoever you called, correct?

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ohhhh the plot thickens 👀

the "plot" that i'm absolutely not winging, yes

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i love this i hope you know

aaaaaaaaaaaa

i also appreciate ur edit just to add sth gay

i appreciate your appreciation

i got no notif for this?? dw please

rude

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