Fanfic
Player: masterofthepen
Subject: Naoto and Kanji, mentions of Rise (used with permission!)
Table: B [ Prompt Tables]
Prompt: 26. Writer's Choice (Rumors)
Naoto Shirogane was known throughout Inaba as “The Detective Prince,” a title which he fully deserved. Despite his age, Naoto had solved over 24 cases during his career. His intellectual prowess was rivaled only by his androgynous beauty. Because of this, nearly the entire female population of Yasogami High had fallen for the young detective.
Unfortunately, despite the voluminous amount of love notes shoved into his shoe locker everyday by desperate students, Naoto did not appear to show the least interest in pursuing a romantic relationship. It had become a sort of ritual where Naoto would open his locker, gather up the flood of love notes, and carefully slip them inside his school bag without a second glance. One would presume that he intended to read them in the comfort of his own home, but in reality, he took cruel pleasure in feeding the pretty notes to his shredder. One would think that the lack of a written response would be a sign of rejection, but these actions did nothing to diminish the passion of his admirers. Indeed, if you asked a random Naoto fangirl what she thought about the young detective, she'd most likely reply, “He's just perfect,” in a sort of dreamy tone.
But Naoto Shirogane was not perfect. One could say that he suffered from a singular fatal flaw: Naoto was not really a boy. In truth, the Detective Prince was female.
Well, at least most people would consider that a flaw. When Kanji Tatsumi learned of Naoto's true sex, he felt an overwhelming sense of relief. His first meeting with the young detective had triggered a number of awkward feelings regarding his own sexuality, but now that he knew Naoto was a girl, there was no need to feel ashamed of his feelings toward her.
Even so, Kanji still couldn't bring himself to muster up the courage to admit his feelings for Naoto. Not since elementary school had Kanji crushed on someone so hard. Somehow, he had to tell Naoto how he really felt, or else he would explode under the pressure of his pent up emotions.
Too bad midterms were right around the corner. The most dreaded period of any high school student's existence. Between trying to solve the case of the serial murders/kidnappings and his work at Tatsumi Textiles, Kanji had neglected to study at all. If he didn't get at least passing marks, he'd be held back a year. His academic record was already on shaky ground. He couldn't afford any distractions...
The group had assembled at the library for some much needed study time. The second years were huddled together at one table, chatting softly as Yosuke and Chie grumbled about the difficulty of the material. The first years were gathered at an adjacent table. Naoto sat between both Kanji and Rise, so that they could both see the problems she was working out for them.
“So, if you use the formula on page 182 here,” Naoto said, copying out the proofs in her small, neat handwriting, “then you can solve for x. Understand?”
“Oh, I get it now,” Rise said. “It's so much easier to understand when you explain it, Naoto-kun. Ever think of changing careers and becoming a teacher?” The former idol flashed Naoto a playful grin.
“Not particularly,” Naoto said flatly, eyes glued to her textbook.
Kanji rubbed his forehead in frustration while he copied the work from Naoto's notebook. “Math makes my brain hurt.” He could hear Yosuke snickering softly at him.
“Here, I'll show it to you again,” Naoto said, leaning over so that she could scribble in Kanji's textbook. “To solve for the square root of x, you must first...”
Kanji hardly heard a word of Naoto's explanation. He was too busy staring at her right hand as it flew across the page, leaving in its wake line after line of perfectly printed numbers. Her elbow nudged against his; if he just shifted his arm a little, he could brush against her fingers, claiming it was an accident...
The sound of his name snapped him out of his reverie. Naoto sounded annoyed.“Kanji-kun? Did you get that?”
He turned to meet her eyes, which were narrowed to blue slits, and felt his face grow hot. “Uh...”
She sighed in exasperation. “You had best pay attention. You don't want to go into your exams unprepared, do you? Or would you rather fail and have to repeat a year?”
“Ah, no!” He shook his head vigorously. “I-I'll try harder! I'm just... having some trouble keeping my focus for some reason...” Which had absolutely nothing to do with how close Naoto was sitting next to him. Nope. Not at all.
The young detective pushed away from the table. “Perhaps it's for the best that we take a short break. I need to use the restroom anyway.”
Rise stretched her arms above her head. “Good idea. We've been studying for two hours straight. My brain could definitely use the rest.”
“Let's take a thirty minute break.” Naoto closed her books and stood. “I'll be back shortly.”
“I, uh... need to stretch my legs for a bit,” Kanji said, getting up. “Mind if I walk with you?”
Naoto fixed him with a quizzical look. “All right...”
“Bring me back a soda while you're up,” Rise said, shooting Kanji a wink. “No rush. Take as long as you need.”
Yosuke turned in his seat and grinned at them both. “You kids be good now,” he said. Kanji glared at them both. Those two were always ragging on him. It seemed like the entire group was aware that Kanji was crushing on Naoto. Everyone except for Naoto herself.
The two of them exited the library and began walking down the hall. The Detective Prince and the juvenile delinquent, side by side. It drew a few stares from some of the other students. Kanji could feel their curious eyes burning holes in his back, but Naoto seemed not to notice. Or maybe she just didn't care. He hazarded a sidelong glance, hoping she wouldn't notice.
Naoto walked with eyes forward, cool and confident. It was hard to believe that she was actually a girl. Every gesture, every movement, carried with it the mark of masculinity. Her hips didn't sway back and forth when she walked. She kept her shoulders squared and her head held high. Had she been living as a boy for so long that she didn't have to consciously think about the way she moved? The facade had certainly fooled everyone...
As they approached the boy's restroom, they noticed a small group of male students gathered near the entrance. One of the boys quickly approached Naoto.
“Hey, Naoto-kun,” the boy said. “Can I ask you a question?”
“All right, but make it quick.” For some reason, Naoto didn't seem surprised.
“See, I heard this from a friend of mine, who heard it from another guy who saw the Midnight Channel... And he said that you're really a girl, is that true?”
Naoto's expression remained impassive as she stared straight into the boy's eyes. “What do you think?”
This answer didn't satisfy the male student. He pressed further. “Well, are you, or not?”
“Is this an interrogation? Because if it is, I decline to answer any further questions.” Naoto brushed passed the student and was about to enter the restroom, but another student barred her way.
“Hey! Girls aren't allowed in there!”
Now Naoto was beginning to get annoyed. “I've been using the boy's restroom since I started this term and no one has given me any trouble before.”
“That's because we thought you were a boy!”
“Hey,” Kanji said, unable to sit back and watch this farce any longer. “Quit hassling Naoto, all right?”
The four students all turned toward Kanji, as if he had suddenly materialized out of thin air. They each gave him a guarded look.
“I-It's against the rules for a girl to be using the boy's restroom,” one of them said. “Besides, it's just... it's just weird, don't you think?”
“If Naoto-kun's really a boy,” another student said, “then he should have no problem proving it, right?” A wicked grin spread across his face. “Just feel you up a little and make sure all the parts are in the right place...”
Naoto made a noise of disgust. “I don't have to prove anything to you imbeciles.” Just as she was about to move past the boy, Kanji growled and stepped forward. Naoto paused and shot him a questioning look. The other students stepped back reflexivly.
“You know,” Kanji said, cracking his knuckles. “I bet Naoto here has more balls than the four of you put together... Now beat it!”
The apparent ringleader twitched. “Tch. Whatever. I've got better things to do.” He turned to leave and muttered, “Buncha queers...”
Kanji's nostrils flared in anger. “What did you say?”
The student froze, eyes wide in fear. “N-Nothing!”
“Like hell it was nothing!”
In a split-second. Kanji covered the short space between them and grabbed the student by the front of his uniform, lifting him bodily from the floor and slamming him against the nearest wall. Naoto and the others watched in horror, not knowing what to do.
“Say it again!” Kanji said. “Say it again, asshole. I dare you!”
“P-Put me down! Are you crazy?”
“Kanji-kun!” Naoto said, hurrying to his side. In her fear, her voice had taken on a slightly higher, more feminine register. She touched his shoulder. “Put him down! If a teacher catches you harassing a student, you could be expelled!”
Kanji's gaze shifted from the student struggling against his grip to Naoto's face. Her face was pinched in worry. Staring into the limpid depths of her eyes, there was no way he could refuse her request.
Growling, Kanji released his hold on the student. He pinned him against the wall with the most ferocious glare he could muster.
“You're lucky Naoto was here to stick up for you, punk,” Kanji said. “You'd better remember that, the next time you think about hassling him. Mess him with again, and I'll punch you in the teeth so hard, your dentist will feel it!” He raised his fist for emphasis. The student cringed for a moment, awaiting the impending blow. When none came, he quickly joined his fellows, who had been cowering across the hall.
“Lame...” one of the students said. “C'mon. Let's get out of here. I still have to study for that history exam.” The others grumbled and gave Kanji a wide berth as they retreated down the hall.
Naoto stared pointedly at her boots, eyes burning with barely restrained anger. “You didn't have to save me. I had everything under control.”
“S-sorry...” Kanji said. Clearly, this was not the reaction he had expected... or hoped for. “I was just tryin' to help...”
Naoto heaved a sigh. “It's not your fault.” The anger passed as quickly as it had blazed up. Her shoulders slumped, as if under the burden of a heavy weight. “It's become increasingly difficult to maintain a low profile with all these rumors flying around. It can be a bit frustrating at times.”
Kanji knew exactly what she meant. The Midnight Channel had televised his deepest, darkest secrets for all the world to see. But for some reason, it seemed that Naoto's exposure was the most traumatic: she'd worked so hard to pass herself off as a boy, and a few wild rumors were threatening to unravel the sterling reputation she'd earned for herself as the Detective Prince. Aside from a few pernicious students, like the ones they just ran into, most of the student body refused to believe that their darling boy detective was actually a girl.
“Don't worry about it,” Kanji said, trying to sound cheerful. “This'll all blow over in a few weeks. That's how it goes. So just ignore those idiots, okay?”
Naoto simply nodded and disappeared inside the restroom. Kanji leaned against the wall near the entrance, arms folded over his chest. Another group of students passed by and paused in their chatter when they saw Kanji standing outside the restroom. A tense moment of silence passed between them.
“What're you lookin' at?” Kanji asked. The girls squeaked and shrank back. The boy they were walking with muttered something about using the restroom on the third floor, and the group hurried down the hall. Kanji scratched at his head. Even when he wasn't trying to be intimidating, everyone acted like they were walking on eggshells around him. It had been the same with Souji and the others, too. After they had rescued him from the TV world and invited him to join their group, there had been some tense moments between them. The school campout on the mountain sprang to mind...
But all that was behind him now. He'd made friends. Real friends. People who wouldn't take one look at him and automatically think the worst of him. And Naoto... Though she'd only recently joined their group, Kanji had met her several months before then. He felt a special kinship with the young detective. They had both been lonely children who craved acceptance from their peers, but were denied it because they was labeled as “different.” Naoto's Shadow had said, “You don't know me. You don't know anything about me!” But Kanji did know. He knew better than anyone else...
At that moment, Naoto exited the restroom and started when she noticed Kanji leaning against the wall.
“Were you... waiting for me this whole time?” she said.
“Huh? I, um...” Kanji wracked his brains for some sort of excuse. But it was so hard to think when Naoto was staring at him with those intensely blue eyes. “Well, it's not like I got anything better to do.”
She blinked in confusion. “Okay...”
“A-anyway, Rise asked me to get her a soda, so...”
“Oh, that's right.” Naoto's face had resumed its customary neutral expression. “I'm feeling a bit thirsty myself. Let's go find a vending machine.”
The two made their way to the nearest vending machine. The difference in their height was always made painfully apparent when they walked side by side. Even with her good posture, the top of Naoto's head only just barely cleared Kanji's shoulder. And that was while she was wearing six centimeter heels. Yosuke had actually mistaken her for a middle school student when they'd first met, since her short stature only emphasized her youthful appearance. She was so small, Kanji could easily pick her up and carry her around like she weighed nothing.
Kanji risked another sidelong glance. Naoto's short hair peeked out from under her hat. Dark and glossy, it reminded him of a raven's wing. Kanji longed to reach out and touch it; run his fingers through those silken locks. And her skin. So soft and smooth, just begging to be touched. Lips that glistened with a moist sheen. And those luminous eyes, the color of the ocean's depths. Mysterious. Secretive. When Naoto stared at him, it was like she could see right through him...
And suddenly, Kanji realized that Naoto was staring at him. “What?”
“Ah! N-Nothing!” Kanji whipped his head around so fast that he nearly pulled a muscle in his neck. He wasn't able to see the look of confusion on Naoto's face. If he had, his brain probably would have shut down from the sheer amount of cuteness involved. Naoto could be downright adorable... when she wasn't trying so hard to be a serious adult.
Kanji mentally cursed himself. Dammit, why did she have to be so fucking cute? Every time he looked at her, he had to fight a mad impulse to just grab her by the shoulders and pull her into a fierce embrace. Although Naoto put up a tough front, he'd seen her at her most vulnerable. He wanted so much to shelter that fragile side of her, to embrace it and protect it. To hold her close and banish her loneliness.
Even after having seen Naoto in her most deperate state, Kanji still couldn't bring himself to tear down the invisible wall that she put up to keep others at bay. And it hurt. It hurt so much. Like a vice had been clamped down on his heart and was slowly being squeezed closed. If only he could find the right words to express how he really felt toward her. If only he could somehow make her understand... Then maybe she might return his affections.
Naoto stood in front of the vending machine, pondering her choices.
“Hurry it up already,” Kanji said. “There's only seven flavors to choose from.”
“Don't rush me.” She sighed. “I wish they sold iced tea, too. I don't really feel like having something sweet right now.”
“Well, this is all they've got, so just pick something already.”
Naoto shoved a coin into the slot and waited for the machine to dispense her soda. The machine whirred and rattled, but nothing came out. Frowning, Naoto pressed the button several times.
“Damn. It ate my change.”
“Ah, the sonovabitch is acting up again...” Kanji said. “Let me handle this. Uh, you might wanna step back a bit.”
She did so, and stood with her head tilted to one side, wondering what Kanji was planning to do. Taking a deep breath, Kanji stepped back a pace, his right leg sliding back slightly, then swiftly kicked at the machine with the heel of his boot. Naoto gasped in shock and listened to the horrible rattle as the vending machine coughed up two sodas. She looked back down the hall, she if she expected the entire faculty to come down on their heads for vandalizing school property.
Kanji laughed as he pulled the sodas out. “All right! Freebie!” He tossed one to Naoto. She caught it awkwardly, still in shock at that stunning display of force.
“Was that really necessary?” she said. Well, at least the machine hadn't suffered any noticeable damage...
“You just gotta show the old clunker who's boss, that's all.” Kanji popped the tab on the can and chugged half its contents in one breath. He belched. “Ah! That hit the spot.”
Naoto remained silent and popped the tab on her can. She sipped at it slowly. Her eyes remained downcast, as if deep in thought.
“Hey, Naoto? Is something wrong?”
“Huh?” She raised her head. “Oh. Nothing. I was just thinking about going up to the roof, that's all.”
“M-Mind if I come with...?”
She turned away, already headed for the stairs. “If you want.”
Kanji stared at Naoto's back, and felt a small knot twist in his stomach. Something felt off about her. Was she still upset about what those boys had said early? Or was she mad because he had intervened on her behalf? Whatever the reason, he didn't like seeing Naoto look so morose. Kanji followed the petite girl at a safe distance, fearing that his presence might annoy her if he stayed too close.
The air was cool outside. It had rained that morning, and the sky was the color of slate. A thick expanse of clouds blotted out the sun. By evening, the clouds would disperse. Sunny skies were predicted for tomorrow.
There were a few students huddled together and eating bento boxes. All of them girls. They immediately turned their attention toward Naoto as soon as she opened the door and began whispering excitedly among themselves. Naoto picked a spot as far from the group as possible and sat down, holding her soda between her knees. Kanji sat nearby, trying not to crowd her personal space.
The silence stretched taught between them as they sipped at their drinks. It made Kanji uncomfortable. He wished Naoto would say something.
As they sat together, Kanji found himself listening to the conversation between the gaggle of giggly girls. In their excitement, they forgot to keep their voices down.
“Hey,” a girl with short brown hair said, “have you noticed how Naoto-kun seems to be hanging around Kanji Tatsumi a lot lately? You know, the first year from class three?”
“Oh! You mean the juvenile delinquent, huh?” said a girl with red hair clips. “I heard that he was in a biker gang.”
“He's so scary! Why would Naoto-kun hang around with someone like that?”
“Isn't it obvious? Naoto-kun's a detective, right? He's probably just keeping tabs on Tatsumi. To make sure that he doesn't misbehave.”
One of the girls squealed in delight. “Naoto-kun's so cool! Protecting Yasogami High's reputation by getting rid of the criminal elements. Tatsumi won't dare make a move, not with the Detective Prince on the case!”
Another girl started flapping her hands excitedly. “Oh my gosh! Did any of you watch the Midnight Channel last time?”
“Uh-uh. I can't stay up that late. Besides, isn't that just a rumor?”
“It's totally true! One of my friends watches it all the time, and she said she saw Naoto-kun on it!”
“Really?” said the girl with short brown hair. “I'm so jealous! Maybe I should start watching the Midnight Channel now...”
“I heard about that too! Everyone keeps saying that Naoto-kun turned out to be a girl on that program.”
A collective gasp. Red hair clips said, “No way! I refuse to believe it!”
“I bet you anything it's a rumor started by some boy who's jealous of Naoto-kun's popularity.”
“Maybe it was started by Tatsumi, for all we know...”
The girls glanced furtively at the first year students. Kanji glared back at them. The girls squeaked and lowered their voices as they whispered frantically to each other.
Naoto chuckled softly. “We certainly make quite a pair, don't we?”
“Huh?” Kanji wasn't sure how to answer that very loaded question.
Naoto leaned back and stared at the clouds scudding across the sky. “I wonder, what would those girls think if they knew the truth about our relationship?”
“Relationship...?” Kanji's heart pounded in his chest. Was this the moment he had long awaited for? Was Naoto about to confess her love for him, finally?
“The Detective Prince and the Delinquint Terror of Yasogami High, fighting together for a common goal.” A wry smile curled Naoto's lips. “I never imagined I'd be working with someone quite like you, Kanji-kun. For the first time since I began investigating this case, I feel like I finally stand a chance at making some real progress. And it's all thanks to you and the others, especially Souji-senpai.”
“Oh.” Kanji's brows furrowed as he tried desperately to hide his disappointment. “Y-yeah. You've been a great addition to the team, you know? Now that we've got a real detective on the case, there ain't no way we can lose.”
Naoto preened a bit. Kanji grinned. All she ever wanted was a little recognition for her abilities. He could understand why she'd been so frustrated working with the police force. Well, their loss for throwing away such a brilliant young mind. At least Souji and the rest of the team would make good use of it.
She stood and tossed her empty soda can into a nearby trashcan. “Well, I'm going to head back. We still have some time left before the library closes.”
Study? Oh. Right. Damn. “What's the point? I'm just gonna bomb anyway.”
“What sort of attitude is that?” Naoto said with a chuckle. “You should have a little more confidence in your abilities. With a few more study sessions under your belt, you'll earn passing marks easily.”
A small smile spread across Kanji's face. “Well, if you believe in me, Naoto-kun, then I guess I should believe in me, too.”
“That's the spirit. Now, come on. Let's head back. And don't forget to bring Rise a soda."
Subject: Naoto and Kanji, mentions of Rise (used with permission!)
Table: B [ Prompt Tables]
Prompt: 26. Writer's Choice (Rumors)
Naoto Shirogane was known throughout Inaba as “The Detective Prince,” a title which he fully deserved. Despite his age, Naoto had solved over 24 cases during his career. His intellectual prowess was rivaled only by his androgynous beauty. Because of this, nearly the entire female population of Yasogami High had fallen for the young detective.
Unfortunately, despite the voluminous amount of love notes shoved into his shoe locker everyday by desperate students, Naoto did not appear to show the least interest in pursuing a romantic relationship. It had become a sort of ritual where Naoto would open his locker, gather up the flood of love notes, and carefully slip them inside his school bag without a second glance. One would presume that he intended to read them in the comfort of his own home, but in reality, he took cruel pleasure in feeding the pretty notes to his shredder. One would think that the lack of a written response would be a sign of rejection, but these actions did nothing to diminish the passion of his admirers. Indeed, if you asked a random Naoto fangirl what she thought about the young detective, she'd most likely reply, “He's just perfect,” in a sort of dreamy tone.
But Naoto Shirogane was not perfect. One could say that he suffered from a singular fatal flaw: Naoto was not really a boy. In truth, the Detective Prince was female.
Well, at least most people would consider that a flaw. When Kanji Tatsumi learned of Naoto's true sex, he felt an overwhelming sense of relief. His first meeting with the young detective had triggered a number of awkward feelings regarding his own sexuality, but now that he knew Naoto was a girl, there was no need to feel ashamed of his feelings toward her.
Even so, Kanji still couldn't bring himself to muster up the courage to admit his feelings for Naoto. Not since elementary school had Kanji crushed on someone so hard. Somehow, he had to tell Naoto how he really felt, or else he would explode under the pressure of his pent up emotions.
Too bad midterms were right around the corner. The most dreaded period of any high school student's existence. Between trying to solve the case of the serial murders/kidnappings and his work at Tatsumi Textiles, Kanji had neglected to study at all. If he didn't get at least passing marks, he'd be held back a year. His academic record was already on shaky ground. He couldn't afford any distractions...
The group had assembled at the library for some much needed study time. The second years were huddled together at one table, chatting softly as Yosuke and Chie grumbled about the difficulty of the material. The first years were gathered at an adjacent table. Naoto sat between both Kanji and Rise, so that they could both see the problems she was working out for them.
“So, if you use the formula on page 182 here,” Naoto said, copying out the proofs in her small, neat handwriting, “then you can solve for x. Understand?”
“Oh, I get it now,” Rise said. “It's so much easier to understand when you explain it, Naoto-kun. Ever think of changing careers and becoming a teacher?” The former idol flashed Naoto a playful grin.
“Not particularly,” Naoto said flatly, eyes glued to her textbook.
Kanji rubbed his forehead in frustration while he copied the work from Naoto's notebook. “Math makes my brain hurt.” He could hear Yosuke snickering softly at him.
“Here, I'll show it to you again,” Naoto said, leaning over so that she could scribble in Kanji's textbook. “To solve for the square root of x, you must first...”
Kanji hardly heard a word of Naoto's explanation. He was too busy staring at her right hand as it flew across the page, leaving in its wake line after line of perfectly printed numbers. Her elbow nudged against his; if he just shifted his arm a little, he could brush against her fingers, claiming it was an accident...
The sound of his name snapped him out of his reverie. Naoto sounded annoyed.“Kanji-kun? Did you get that?”
He turned to meet her eyes, which were narrowed to blue slits, and felt his face grow hot. “Uh...”
She sighed in exasperation. “You had best pay attention. You don't want to go into your exams unprepared, do you? Or would you rather fail and have to repeat a year?”
“Ah, no!” He shook his head vigorously. “I-I'll try harder! I'm just... having some trouble keeping my focus for some reason...” Which had absolutely nothing to do with how close Naoto was sitting next to him. Nope. Not at all.
The young detective pushed away from the table. “Perhaps it's for the best that we take a short break. I need to use the restroom anyway.”
Rise stretched her arms above her head. “Good idea. We've been studying for two hours straight. My brain could definitely use the rest.”
“Let's take a thirty minute break.” Naoto closed her books and stood. “I'll be back shortly.”
“I, uh... need to stretch my legs for a bit,” Kanji said, getting up. “Mind if I walk with you?”
Naoto fixed him with a quizzical look. “All right...”
“Bring me back a soda while you're up,” Rise said, shooting Kanji a wink. “No rush. Take as long as you need.”
Yosuke turned in his seat and grinned at them both. “You kids be good now,” he said. Kanji glared at them both. Those two were always ragging on him. It seemed like the entire group was aware that Kanji was crushing on Naoto. Everyone except for Naoto herself.
The two of them exited the library and began walking down the hall. The Detective Prince and the juvenile delinquent, side by side. It drew a few stares from some of the other students. Kanji could feel their curious eyes burning holes in his back, but Naoto seemed not to notice. Or maybe she just didn't care. He hazarded a sidelong glance, hoping she wouldn't notice.
Naoto walked with eyes forward, cool and confident. It was hard to believe that she was actually a girl. Every gesture, every movement, carried with it the mark of masculinity. Her hips didn't sway back and forth when she walked. She kept her shoulders squared and her head held high. Had she been living as a boy for so long that she didn't have to consciously think about the way she moved? The facade had certainly fooled everyone...
As they approached the boy's restroom, they noticed a small group of male students gathered near the entrance. One of the boys quickly approached Naoto.
“Hey, Naoto-kun,” the boy said. “Can I ask you a question?”
“All right, but make it quick.” For some reason, Naoto didn't seem surprised.
“See, I heard this from a friend of mine, who heard it from another guy who saw the Midnight Channel... And he said that you're really a girl, is that true?”
Naoto's expression remained impassive as she stared straight into the boy's eyes. “What do you think?”
This answer didn't satisfy the male student. He pressed further. “Well, are you, or not?”
“Is this an interrogation? Because if it is, I decline to answer any further questions.” Naoto brushed passed the student and was about to enter the restroom, but another student barred her way.
“Hey! Girls aren't allowed in there!”
Now Naoto was beginning to get annoyed. “I've been using the boy's restroom since I started this term and no one has given me any trouble before.”
“That's because we thought you were a boy!”
“Hey,” Kanji said, unable to sit back and watch this farce any longer. “Quit hassling Naoto, all right?”
The four students all turned toward Kanji, as if he had suddenly materialized out of thin air. They each gave him a guarded look.
“I-It's against the rules for a girl to be using the boy's restroom,” one of them said. “Besides, it's just... it's just weird, don't you think?”
“If Naoto-kun's really a boy,” another student said, “then he should have no problem proving it, right?” A wicked grin spread across his face. “Just feel you up a little and make sure all the parts are in the right place...”
Naoto made a noise of disgust. “I don't have to prove anything to you imbeciles.” Just as she was about to move past the boy, Kanji growled and stepped forward. Naoto paused and shot him a questioning look. The other students stepped back reflexivly.
“You know,” Kanji said, cracking his knuckles. “I bet Naoto here has more balls than the four of you put together... Now beat it!”
The apparent ringleader twitched. “Tch. Whatever. I've got better things to do.” He turned to leave and muttered, “Buncha queers...”
Kanji's nostrils flared in anger. “What did you say?”
The student froze, eyes wide in fear. “N-Nothing!”
“Like hell it was nothing!”
In a split-second. Kanji covered the short space between them and grabbed the student by the front of his uniform, lifting him bodily from the floor and slamming him against the nearest wall. Naoto and the others watched in horror, not knowing what to do.
“Say it again!” Kanji said. “Say it again, asshole. I dare you!”
“P-Put me down! Are you crazy?”
“Kanji-kun!” Naoto said, hurrying to his side. In her fear, her voice had taken on a slightly higher, more feminine register. She touched his shoulder. “Put him down! If a teacher catches you harassing a student, you could be expelled!”
Kanji's gaze shifted from the student struggling against his grip to Naoto's face. Her face was pinched in worry. Staring into the limpid depths of her eyes, there was no way he could refuse her request.
Growling, Kanji released his hold on the student. He pinned him against the wall with the most ferocious glare he could muster.
“You're lucky Naoto was here to stick up for you, punk,” Kanji said. “You'd better remember that, the next time you think about hassling him. Mess him with again, and I'll punch you in the teeth so hard, your dentist will feel it!” He raised his fist for emphasis. The student cringed for a moment, awaiting the impending blow. When none came, he quickly joined his fellows, who had been cowering across the hall.
“Lame...” one of the students said. “C'mon. Let's get out of here. I still have to study for that history exam.” The others grumbled and gave Kanji a wide berth as they retreated down the hall.
Naoto stared pointedly at her boots, eyes burning with barely restrained anger. “You didn't have to save me. I had everything under control.”
“S-sorry...” Kanji said. Clearly, this was not the reaction he had expected... or hoped for. “I was just tryin' to help...”
Naoto heaved a sigh. “It's not your fault.” The anger passed as quickly as it had blazed up. Her shoulders slumped, as if under the burden of a heavy weight. “It's become increasingly difficult to maintain a low profile with all these rumors flying around. It can be a bit frustrating at times.”
Kanji knew exactly what she meant. The Midnight Channel had televised his deepest, darkest secrets for all the world to see. But for some reason, it seemed that Naoto's exposure was the most traumatic: she'd worked so hard to pass herself off as a boy, and a few wild rumors were threatening to unravel the sterling reputation she'd earned for herself as the Detective Prince. Aside from a few pernicious students, like the ones they just ran into, most of the student body refused to believe that their darling boy detective was actually a girl.
“Don't worry about it,” Kanji said, trying to sound cheerful. “This'll all blow over in a few weeks. That's how it goes. So just ignore those idiots, okay?”
Naoto simply nodded and disappeared inside the restroom. Kanji leaned against the wall near the entrance, arms folded over his chest. Another group of students passed by and paused in their chatter when they saw Kanji standing outside the restroom. A tense moment of silence passed between them.
“What're you lookin' at?” Kanji asked. The girls squeaked and shrank back. The boy they were walking with muttered something about using the restroom on the third floor, and the group hurried down the hall. Kanji scratched at his head. Even when he wasn't trying to be intimidating, everyone acted like they were walking on eggshells around him. It had been the same with Souji and the others, too. After they had rescued him from the TV world and invited him to join their group, there had been some tense moments between them. The school campout on the mountain sprang to mind...
But all that was behind him now. He'd made friends. Real friends. People who wouldn't take one look at him and automatically think the worst of him. And Naoto... Though she'd only recently joined their group, Kanji had met her several months before then. He felt a special kinship with the young detective. They had both been lonely children who craved acceptance from their peers, but were denied it because they was labeled as “different.” Naoto's Shadow had said, “You don't know me. You don't know anything about me!” But Kanji did know. He knew better than anyone else...
At that moment, Naoto exited the restroom and started when she noticed Kanji leaning against the wall.
“Were you... waiting for me this whole time?” she said.
“Huh? I, um...” Kanji wracked his brains for some sort of excuse. But it was so hard to think when Naoto was staring at him with those intensely blue eyes. “Well, it's not like I got anything better to do.”
She blinked in confusion. “Okay...”
“A-anyway, Rise asked me to get her a soda, so...”
“Oh, that's right.” Naoto's face had resumed its customary neutral expression. “I'm feeling a bit thirsty myself. Let's go find a vending machine.”
The two made their way to the nearest vending machine. The difference in their height was always made painfully apparent when they walked side by side. Even with her good posture, the top of Naoto's head only just barely cleared Kanji's shoulder. And that was while she was wearing six centimeter heels. Yosuke had actually mistaken her for a middle school student when they'd first met, since her short stature only emphasized her youthful appearance. She was so small, Kanji could easily pick her up and carry her around like she weighed nothing.
Kanji risked another sidelong glance. Naoto's short hair peeked out from under her hat. Dark and glossy, it reminded him of a raven's wing. Kanji longed to reach out and touch it; run his fingers through those silken locks. And her skin. So soft and smooth, just begging to be touched. Lips that glistened with a moist sheen. And those luminous eyes, the color of the ocean's depths. Mysterious. Secretive. When Naoto stared at him, it was like she could see right through him...
And suddenly, Kanji realized that Naoto was staring at him. “What?”
“Ah! N-Nothing!” Kanji whipped his head around so fast that he nearly pulled a muscle in his neck. He wasn't able to see the look of confusion on Naoto's face. If he had, his brain probably would have shut down from the sheer amount of cuteness involved. Naoto could be downright adorable... when she wasn't trying so hard to be a serious adult.
Kanji mentally cursed himself. Dammit, why did she have to be so fucking cute? Every time he looked at her, he had to fight a mad impulse to just grab her by the shoulders and pull her into a fierce embrace. Although Naoto put up a tough front, he'd seen her at her most vulnerable. He wanted so much to shelter that fragile side of her, to embrace it and protect it. To hold her close and banish her loneliness.
Even after having seen Naoto in her most deperate state, Kanji still couldn't bring himself to tear down the invisible wall that she put up to keep others at bay. And it hurt. It hurt so much. Like a vice had been clamped down on his heart and was slowly being squeezed closed. If only he could find the right words to express how he really felt toward her. If only he could somehow make her understand... Then maybe she might return his affections.
Naoto stood in front of the vending machine, pondering her choices.
“Hurry it up already,” Kanji said. “There's only seven flavors to choose from.”
“Don't rush me.” She sighed. “I wish they sold iced tea, too. I don't really feel like having something sweet right now.”
“Well, this is all they've got, so just pick something already.”
Naoto shoved a coin into the slot and waited for the machine to dispense her soda. The machine whirred and rattled, but nothing came out. Frowning, Naoto pressed the button several times.
“Damn. It ate my change.”
“Ah, the sonovabitch is acting up again...” Kanji said. “Let me handle this. Uh, you might wanna step back a bit.”
She did so, and stood with her head tilted to one side, wondering what Kanji was planning to do. Taking a deep breath, Kanji stepped back a pace, his right leg sliding back slightly, then swiftly kicked at the machine with the heel of his boot. Naoto gasped in shock and listened to the horrible rattle as the vending machine coughed up two sodas. She looked back down the hall, she if she expected the entire faculty to come down on their heads for vandalizing school property.
Kanji laughed as he pulled the sodas out. “All right! Freebie!” He tossed one to Naoto. She caught it awkwardly, still in shock at that stunning display of force.
“Was that really necessary?” she said. Well, at least the machine hadn't suffered any noticeable damage...
“You just gotta show the old clunker who's boss, that's all.” Kanji popped the tab on the can and chugged half its contents in one breath. He belched. “Ah! That hit the spot.”
Naoto remained silent and popped the tab on her can. She sipped at it slowly. Her eyes remained downcast, as if deep in thought.
“Hey, Naoto? Is something wrong?”
“Huh?” She raised her head. “Oh. Nothing. I was just thinking about going up to the roof, that's all.”
“M-Mind if I come with...?”
She turned away, already headed for the stairs. “If you want.”
Kanji stared at Naoto's back, and felt a small knot twist in his stomach. Something felt off about her. Was she still upset about what those boys had said early? Or was she mad because he had intervened on her behalf? Whatever the reason, he didn't like seeing Naoto look so morose. Kanji followed the petite girl at a safe distance, fearing that his presence might annoy her if he stayed too close.
The air was cool outside. It had rained that morning, and the sky was the color of slate. A thick expanse of clouds blotted out the sun. By evening, the clouds would disperse. Sunny skies were predicted for tomorrow.
There were a few students huddled together and eating bento boxes. All of them girls. They immediately turned their attention toward Naoto as soon as she opened the door and began whispering excitedly among themselves. Naoto picked a spot as far from the group as possible and sat down, holding her soda between her knees. Kanji sat nearby, trying not to crowd her personal space.
The silence stretched taught between them as they sipped at their drinks. It made Kanji uncomfortable. He wished Naoto would say something.
As they sat together, Kanji found himself listening to the conversation between the gaggle of giggly girls. In their excitement, they forgot to keep their voices down.
“Hey,” a girl with short brown hair said, “have you noticed how Naoto-kun seems to be hanging around Kanji Tatsumi a lot lately? You know, the first year from class three?”
“Oh! You mean the juvenile delinquent, huh?” said a girl with red hair clips. “I heard that he was in a biker gang.”
“He's so scary! Why would Naoto-kun hang around with someone like that?”
“Isn't it obvious? Naoto-kun's a detective, right? He's probably just keeping tabs on Tatsumi. To make sure that he doesn't misbehave.”
One of the girls squealed in delight. “Naoto-kun's so cool! Protecting Yasogami High's reputation by getting rid of the criminal elements. Tatsumi won't dare make a move, not with the Detective Prince on the case!”
Another girl started flapping her hands excitedly. “Oh my gosh! Did any of you watch the Midnight Channel last time?”
“Uh-uh. I can't stay up that late. Besides, isn't that just a rumor?”
“It's totally true! One of my friends watches it all the time, and she said she saw Naoto-kun on it!”
“Really?” said the girl with short brown hair. “I'm so jealous! Maybe I should start watching the Midnight Channel now...”
“I heard about that too! Everyone keeps saying that Naoto-kun turned out to be a girl on that program.”
A collective gasp. Red hair clips said, “No way! I refuse to believe it!”
“I bet you anything it's a rumor started by some boy who's jealous of Naoto-kun's popularity.”
“Maybe it was started by Tatsumi, for all we know...”
The girls glanced furtively at the first year students. Kanji glared back at them. The girls squeaked and lowered their voices as they whispered frantically to each other.
Naoto chuckled softly. “We certainly make quite a pair, don't we?”
“Huh?” Kanji wasn't sure how to answer that very loaded question.
Naoto leaned back and stared at the clouds scudding across the sky. “I wonder, what would those girls think if they knew the truth about our relationship?”
“Relationship...?” Kanji's heart pounded in his chest. Was this the moment he had long awaited for? Was Naoto about to confess her love for him, finally?
“The Detective Prince and the Delinquint Terror of Yasogami High, fighting together for a common goal.” A wry smile curled Naoto's lips. “I never imagined I'd be working with someone quite like you, Kanji-kun. For the first time since I began investigating this case, I feel like I finally stand a chance at making some real progress. And it's all thanks to you and the others, especially Souji-senpai.”
“Oh.” Kanji's brows furrowed as he tried desperately to hide his disappointment. “Y-yeah. You've been a great addition to the team, you know? Now that we've got a real detective on the case, there ain't no way we can lose.”
Naoto preened a bit. Kanji grinned. All she ever wanted was a little recognition for her abilities. He could understand why she'd been so frustrated working with the police force. Well, their loss for throwing away such a brilliant young mind. At least Souji and the rest of the team would make good use of it.
She stood and tossed her empty soda can into a nearby trashcan. “Well, I'm going to head back. We still have some time left before the library closes.”
Study? Oh. Right. Damn. “What's the point? I'm just gonna bomb anyway.”
“What sort of attitude is that?” Naoto said with a chuckle. “You should have a little more confidence in your abilities. With a few more study sessions under your belt, you'll earn passing marks easily.”
A small smile spread across Kanji's face. “Well, if you believe in me, Naoto-kun, then I guess I should believe in me, too.”
“That's the spirit. Now, come on. Let's head back. And don't forget to bring Rise a soda."