IC || FIRST CASE || VIDEO

[incriminating]

Uhh, hello?

[The video feed is on, but all that is visible is a mess of dark hair and an earlobe. He's shouting, not speaking to the communicator but to the village.]

Can someone tell me where I am? Geez, this is what I get for letting my boss take me out for drinks my first night here. This is Inaba, right?

[With a sigh, he pulls the

Comments

[ video ]

[junesoholic]

[ ... Wait, that's a voice she recognizes. And a face she recognizes, later on in the feed. One she has seen in Demeleier before, but it had been a long time ago, and..

He doesn't really seem to recognize the village now? Nanako doesn't really get it, but she feels somewhat happy to see him here again. If not just because it's another face from back home.

... Oh, wait! She should probably help him, shouldn't she. His whole post seemed rather derpy. ]

U-um, Adachi-san..? Can you hear me?

[ video ] 1/3

[incriminating]

[He'd anticipated this. Poor little lonely Nanako-chan...of course she'd respond to his broadcast. Even here in a magical, storybook place like this, for all the socialization she received from the residents, she would still cling to any connection to her father. He pitied her, really. He’d never forget the first time he’d visited the Dojima residence and was met with that pathetic expression of hers. A kid like this would never have any self-confidence growing up. Not that Adachi would complain about that! Because, after all…]

[ video ] 2/3

[incriminating]

[The insecure ones were ripe for the picking.]

[ video ] done

[incriminating]

[His crunching footsteps stop as he pauses to listen.] H-huh? Hello? [Hey, the voice sounded kinda muffled! What if…? Almost as if just realizing it, he takes out the communicator and states at the screen in shock. There’s a little girl there! Where the heck did she come from?] Whoa! Uh, hi there. Geez, this cell phone is fancy! Does everyone on the force get one? Can you, uh, can you see me too? [He gives her a small, tentative wave before self-consciously dropping his free hand.]

[He suddenly frowns.] Hey...how'd you know my name?

[ video ] dangit ash stop being awesome

[junesoholic]

[ At first her expression still seems rather hopeful - even happy in a way, really. But as Adachi talks on and on Nanako's expression slowly but surely drops. Especially when he arrives at the end and even Nanako herself can realise that he doesn't even recognize her, even though they had talked plenty of times back home, and even months ago in this place.

Just like Aaron, who had come back and hadn't remembered her either. So maybe Adachi was a little bit like that as well?

Either way, disappointed is probably still an understatement for the look on her face. There's a little bit of awkwardness too. ]

O-oh.. Um.. It's a long story.. [ Seriously, she's a seven year old kid. How can she even start explaining this? ]

[ video ] 1/3 jfjfdkslf;;;;;;;;;;;;

[incriminating]

[Even if he hadn’t been looking for it, it would have been difficult to miss the change in Nanako’s demeanor. Behind his mask, he studies her and idly wonders about the tragic similarities between her and her father. Even now, in his mind’s eye, he can picture the familiar scene all too easily - Dojima-san seated at his desk, lost deep in thought, gazing at the photograph of his late wife with the same quiet grief. And he, this man’s partner, frozen in the doorway by this vulnerability, unable to intrude on this rare, private moment.]

[ video ]

[incriminating]

[What an idiot Dojima was.]

[ video ]

[incriminating]

Long story? You’re kidding me. Okay, whatever they told you about me, it’s exaggerated. Where’d you hear it from, kid? You know someone on the police force here?

[ video ] SEE THERE YOU'RE DOING IT AGAIN..

[junesoholic]

[ There's a silence, a very hesitant and uncertain silence as if she doesn't know what exactly to say. When she speaks up again she sounds rather weak. ]

... My dad is on the police force back home. [ It's all she says, even though it won't help him much further in this place or answer all of his questions. But it's all she can say now she's suddenly confronted with this situation. ]

[video] sobbing;;

[incriminating]

Eh? [Adachi peers at the video feed curiously.] What do you mean, "back home?" You not from around here, kid?

[video] don't sob when I'm praising you, man,

[junesoholic]

I'm from Inaba.. But.. this isn't Inaba. [ She's speaking a bit slowly, almost hesitant. ] We were all taken away from home.

[video] o(｡＾～＾｡)

[incriminating]

Whoa! A kidnapping? Wow, on my first day too! Wait till I tell the boys back home. Alright, little girl, I need you to describe to me everything you know! Don't worry; it'll all be okay. I'll take care of it!

[video] ... t-that thing is so cute..

[junesoholic]

T-this isn't something the police could solve.. I think..

It's.. really far away from home, you see.

[video] ๑('ω'๑)ツ rawrf rawrf!

[incriminating]

I bet it isn't as far away as you think! Kids can never judge distances.

[video] GFDFHKJGDFJ I SQUEED OUT LOUD LIKE A LITTLE KID OMG..

[junesoholic]

N-no, it's.. really, really far. This isn't even Japan..

[video] Jelle...you ARE a little kid (at least at heart lol) <3

[incriminating]

[Adachi is beginning to suspect that you're playing a game of make believe with him, Nanako! He smiles indulgently.]

Ohh, I think I get it now! Did an evil spirit capture you, little girl? Are you trapped in a tower? [/in which Adachi butchers every fairytale known.]