Non-challenge: A Policeman's Tale (Day 54)
Title: A Policeman's Tale (Day 54)
Author: ytak
Word count: 1013
Rating (chapter): K+ (PG)
Rating (whole story): T (PG-13)
Comments: I'm trying to figure out the best way to finish up the last chapter but, otherwise, I'm done writing the story. :) I'm surprised at how fast I wrote the last seven chapters (seriously, I did it in about a week and a half). I'm a little bit at a loss at what to do since I've finished it.
Other chapters can be read through here or here.
Day 54
The work day did not start out badly for Takagi. This was despite the sheer amount of paperwork he had to fill out and file thanks to the case the day before thanks to yet another 'Conan Case.' After returning from the case, Takagi had overheard Megure talking to another inspector about the possibility if making a new set of forms for cases involving Mouri, Conan, the 'Detective Boys' or any combination above. Preferably something easier and less time consuming for the officers involved.
Of course, he'd want simplified forms. He's been in charge of more than a few cases with Conan-kun. And the paperwork is worse for an inspector, Takagi thought, filling out the last form quickly with a speed that only came from lots and lots of experience.
His mind kept drifting to dinner and with who. To his surprise, he was not feeling too stressed about it. That'll probably change, he thought.
It took only a moment to turn his mind back to finishing up the forms. He neatly organized them and left to turn them in.
--
Takagi was sweating and trying desperately not to bolt for the door. Someone heard that he was going out with Sato that night. That's not quite accurate but I guess it is close enough, he thought, striving not to make eye contact. I wonder where they heard it from?
He mentally shrugged. It did not really matter. If he were to put money on someone, it would be Yumi. All that mattered, though, was making it through the day unscathed.
When lunch finally rolled around, Takagi made a break for it and headed to one of the random little restaurants in the area that could only seat a few customers at a time. That'll stop too many of them from trying to hang around while I eat, he thought breaking apart a set of disposable chopsticks for his noodle bowl.
To his immense relief, no one followed him to the noodle stand. He was feeling a lot more relaxed by the time he returned to the station right before the end of the lunch break.
Unlike the morning, however, he was now getting looks of sympathy. Once, he caught the last bit of a conversation, "and with her mother!" causing the other officers to wince.
I don't know what's worse, the glares or the sympathy, he thought. Then another thought hit him. And Sato-san is off today. That means she's stuck with her mother. All day. I...don't think she's going to be too happy about being stuck with her mother all day. Images of how strained the dinner was going to be flitted through his head.
Swallowing, he realized that the decent start to the day was long gone and he simply hoped to make it through the rest of the workday without any stress.
His mood was not improved by Chiba's comment later in the afternoon. “You don't look very well, Takagi. You're kind of pale. You getting sick?” Chiba said as he passed Takagi's desk on the way to his own.
Takagi laughed nervously. “I have a...meeting, of sorts, after work today. I'm just feeling a little stressed about it.”
Chiba leaned in close and whispered, “So the rumor about you having dinner with Sato and her mother is true.”
Takagi gave a barely perceptible nod of his head. Chiba let out a low whistle. “You're stronger than I am. I'd probably be throwing up if I were you.”
“You're not helping,” Takagi muttered, picking at a file.
Chiba shrugged and walked back to his desk.
Takagi forced himself to focus on the task at hand, mainly the additional paperwork that somehow always managed to be missed for unusual cases (namely Mouri and Conan).
--
Tugging nervously at his collar, Takagi locked his car door and walked towards the apartment. I'm still outside and already feel out of my league! he thought, feeling overwhelmed by the place, even though he had been there before, because of what was about to happen.
He remembered Chiba's comment about throwing up and knew that Chiba had only been premature in the comment. I sure feel sick right now, Takagi mentally groaned.
A quick glance at his watch showed that he was still early. I need to calm down. Being this nervous won't impress anyone in the slightest. Using a few of those minutes, he walked around taking deep breaths. Feeling calmer, he ascended the stairs and walked to the apartment.
Cautiously, he pressed the buzzer. The door opened only a moment later to show an older woman who looked something like Sato.
She gave him a once over that impressed him. Seeing nothing that she could immediately object to, she asked civilly, “Are you Takagi-kun?”
Takagi smiled (in what he hoped was not strained) and confirmed that.
“Just let him in, mother!” Miwako yelled from further in.
Her mother winced a little at her daughter's behavior but did politely invite Takagi in.
--
It was hours later when the dinner finally ended. To Takagi's amazement, it had gone wonderfully. It had only ended because Miwako had to be at work the next day. Otherwise, Takagi suspected, it would have gone well on into the night. She had told him, “Even it you don't have work tomorrow, I do.”
Reluctantly, Takagi left the apartment. He felt far, far lighter than when he had gone in. I think I made a good impression, he hoped. If anything, her mother looked relieved. He sweat-dropped remembering the match-up her mother had tried with Shiratori. But I guess she's glad Miwako-san is actually dating. Er, I don't want to think of her reaction when she knows just how serious I am. She just might see me as a stepping stone for her daughter to go into bigger dating pools. The last thought cut through some of the good feelings but he realized that he would have time to get Miwako's mother to actually know him. It just might take awhile.
Author: ytak
Word count: 1013
Rating (chapter): K+ (PG)
Rating (whole story): T (PG-13)
Comments: I'm trying to figure out the best way to finish up the last chapter but, otherwise, I'm done writing the story. :) I'm surprised at how fast I wrote the last seven chapters (seriously, I did it in about a week and a half). I'm a little bit at a loss at what to do since I've finished it.
Other chapters can be read through here or here.
Day 54
The work day did not start out badly for Takagi. This was despite the sheer amount of paperwork he had to fill out and file thanks to the case the day before thanks to yet another 'Conan Case.' After returning from the case, Takagi had overheard Megure talking to another inspector about the possibility if making a new set of forms for cases involving Mouri, Conan, the 'Detective Boys' or any combination above. Preferably something easier and less time consuming for the officers involved.
Of course, he'd want simplified forms. He's been in charge of more than a few cases with Conan-kun. And the paperwork is worse for an inspector, Takagi thought, filling out the last form quickly with a speed that only came from lots and lots of experience.
His mind kept drifting to dinner and with who. To his surprise, he was not feeling too stressed about it. That'll probably change, he thought.
It took only a moment to turn his mind back to finishing up the forms. He neatly organized them and left to turn them in.
--
Takagi was sweating and trying desperately not to bolt for the door. Someone heard that he was going out with Sato that night. That's not quite accurate but I guess it is close enough, he thought, striving not to make eye contact. I wonder where they heard it from?
He mentally shrugged. It did not really matter. If he were to put money on someone, it would be Yumi. All that mattered, though, was making it through the day unscathed.
When lunch finally rolled around, Takagi made a break for it and headed to one of the random little restaurants in the area that could only seat a few customers at a time. That'll stop too many of them from trying to hang around while I eat, he thought breaking apart a set of disposable chopsticks for his noodle bowl.
To his immense relief, no one followed him to the noodle stand. He was feeling a lot more relaxed by the time he returned to the station right before the end of the lunch break.
Unlike the morning, however, he was now getting looks of sympathy. Once, he caught the last bit of a conversation, "and with her mother!" causing the other officers to wince.
I don't know what's worse, the glares or the sympathy, he thought. Then another thought hit him. And Sato-san is off today. That means she's stuck with her mother. All day. I...don't think she's going to be too happy about being stuck with her mother all day. Images of how strained the dinner was going to be flitted through his head.
Swallowing, he realized that the decent start to the day was long gone and he simply hoped to make it through the rest of the workday without any stress.
His mood was not improved by Chiba's comment later in the afternoon. “You don't look very well, Takagi. You're kind of pale. You getting sick?” Chiba said as he passed Takagi's desk on the way to his own.
Takagi laughed nervously. “I have a...meeting, of sorts, after work today. I'm just feeling a little stressed about it.”
Chiba leaned in close and whispered, “So the rumor about you having dinner with Sato and her mother is true.”
Takagi gave a barely perceptible nod of his head. Chiba let out a low whistle. “You're stronger than I am. I'd probably be throwing up if I were you.”
“You're not helping,” Takagi muttered, picking at a file.
Chiba shrugged and walked back to his desk.
Takagi forced himself to focus on the task at hand, mainly the additional paperwork that somehow always managed to be missed for unusual cases (namely Mouri and Conan).
--
Tugging nervously at his collar, Takagi locked his car door and walked towards the apartment. I'm still outside and already feel out of my league! he thought, feeling overwhelmed by the place, even though he had been there before, because of what was about to happen.
He remembered Chiba's comment about throwing up and knew that Chiba had only been premature in the comment. I sure feel sick right now, Takagi mentally groaned.
A quick glance at his watch showed that he was still early. I need to calm down. Being this nervous won't impress anyone in the slightest. Using a few of those minutes, he walked around taking deep breaths. Feeling calmer, he ascended the stairs and walked to the apartment.
Cautiously, he pressed the buzzer. The door opened only a moment later to show an older woman who looked something like Sato.
She gave him a once over that impressed him. Seeing nothing that she could immediately object to, she asked civilly, “Are you Takagi-kun?”
Takagi smiled (in what he hoped was not strained) and confirmed that.
“Just let him in, mother!” Miwako yelled from further in.
Her mother winced a little at her daughter's behavior but did politely invite Takagi in.
--
It was hours later when the dinner finally ended. To Takagi's amazement, it had gone wonderfully. It had only ended because Miwako had to be at work the next day. Otherwise, Takagi suspected, it would have gone well on into the night. She had told him, “Even it you don't have work tomorrow, I do.”
Reluctantly, Takagi left the apartment. He felt far, far lighter than when he had gone in. I think I made a good impression, he hoped. If anything, her mother looked relieved. He sweat-dropped remembering the match-up her mother had tried with Shiratori. But I guess she's glad Miwako-san is actually dating. Er, I don't want to think of her reaction when she knows just how serious I am. She just might see me as a stepping stone for her daughter to go into bigger dating pools. The last thought cut through some of the good feelings but he realized that he would have time to get Miwako's mother to actually know him. It just might take awhile.