Gift Fic for nekobot01 [2/2]
PART ONE
They come back to the same bathroom afterwards, Jun taking one or two precious minutes from their short break to wash his hands and refresh his face. Ohno still keeps himself in the distance behind and Jun smiles, having an idea.
"Is your offer still actual?"
Unexpectedly, Ohno blushes and fidgets a bit, but nods earnestly. "Any way you like..."
Jun chuckles, maybe because of the awkwardness of their advances or possibly of the image of Ohno struggling earlier to take a sit on the chair in his huge costume, that is still fresh in his mind. He presses teeth to his bottom lip before requesting. “Please me then.”
Ohno approaches him very shyly and doesn’t touch Jun without his specific permission, just pins him slightly to the sink from behind. It only makes the other giggle though. “It feels just weird with those outfits. Just look in the mirror, it looks like the Santa likes his reindeers a bit too much.”
“Not all the reindeers. Only this handsome one with big nose,” Ohno clarifies as he tries to press his hips to Jun’s butt, but it only ends with his plushie round costume jabbing Jun’s back. Yet it miraculously makes Jun breathless.
“It’s not going to work,” Jun says, holding back a moan, because his front is pushed into the sink thanks to Ohno’s advances, and though it’s harsh and causing him mostly discomfort, it also feels so good. “And why aren’t you even trying to kiss me? It’s not like we never did it before, yet it feels even more awkward than the first time,” he points out, but despite it there is no trace of frustration in his voice.
Ohno fixes his mistake and mouths Jun’s nape, making the other release a tiny noise. He doesn’t admit that it’s because they have broken up and now making advances on each other is simply complicated. But he also yearns for it too much to risk to ruin Jun’s mood to call off whatever they are doing right now, which might indeed end up in nothing, because they can’t hump in those costumes that are in the way and they don’t have really any time left for this either. It doesn’t prevent him from enjoying tremendously to kiss Jun’s neck, where his pleasant smell is the strongest, and making the other shiver in their clumsy embrace.
Just when his ex-lover breaths a “more” and “I want you so much,” right near his sensitive ears the door to the bathroom opens. They don’t even have time to jump away from each other, but still try to just three heartbeats too late.
What first breaks the silence is a tiny, muffled meow. Jun then gets enough courage to look in the direction of the entrance and sees Aiba with a very silly face expression. “That’s awkward,” he says, feeling like in that song about a kid who catches mum kissing Santa Claus, and he turns away to look at Ohno instead, who also seems embarrassed, but to Jun’s frustration clearly less than him.
“I came, because Sho-chan said you need someone to change with you…” Aiba struggles, with tiny blush on his cheeks and Jun is too flustered to notice how unusual he is behaving, usually he wouldn’t be sparing them any dirty jokes or nosy questions and cheeky smiles.
“Oh, thanks,” Jun says, still avoiding to look at him.
“But I guess I’m disturbing you… Maybe I will go help Sho-chan instead after all?” he proposes and steps backwards to exit the bathroom. Jun would have stopped him if not for finding it difficult to walk in his current state so he just calls after him “Wait!”
Thankfully, Aiba stays outside the door, and besides the sight of him and the tiny kitten, a christmas song is the first thing that reaches their senses when they step out of their small moment alone and back to the mall.
“You’re together again?” Aiba asks, barely looking at them. “I didn’t know.”
Jun wants to deny it, but finds no words for it. Suddenly all the reasons he had for finishing their relationship seem irrelevant now, with Ohno close, though as irresponsible and silly as before. “I’m not sure…” he answers honestly, but it doesn’t put off the person at his side at all, who smiles as dearly as before.
Aiba tries a smile towards them, despite not feeling cheerful and looking like he wants to ask something. In the end he resigns, just watching them silently. He doesn’t wait long to witness more of their affection, with Ohno even giving a peck to Jun’s Santa’s beard right after it was put back in place.
He excuses himself declaring that Sho just called, needing backup, and leaves them alone. As he walks towards their office, protecting his small pet that is trying to play with the long, loose ends of his woolen cap, he wonders if he was wrong all along about the feelings sprouting between Nino and Jun.
***
It snows the next morning when they all gather almost on time, snowflakes melting the moment they met the glass and turning into rills of water dribbling down the windows. Some stay for a bit longer, stuck to the surface, before dispersing slowly, which is a clear indication that the weather will grow only colder. Furball, still lacking any other name, seem to be particularly interested in the sight so Aiba helps it up on the window sill, at the same time arranging some spot between a pot and stack of old papers, which didn’t fit into the shelves.
“Nino is still missing and no one seems to have heard of him,” Sho tells the team seriously. Today, everyone is certain something is very wrong.
“I have gone to check up on him yesterday evening, but no one opened the door. He doesn’t pick up any call either,” Aiba shares, worry written all over his face.
“Yes, I also tried without any better result. Now his phone seems to be out of range,” Sho continues. “It might mean his battery ran out or… many other things,” he concludes, not even wanting to go into detail, considering all the options he was thinking about before falling asleep last night.
There's a pause after his words that extends hopelessly into longer string of seconds.
“I… think I will go and search for him,” Aiba first breaks up under the tension and hurries out of the office, not minding the protests from his companions.
Sho sits down and sighs slightly. “Please, let’s not panic. I will ask for help from police station immediately. It seems Nino is missing for 40 hours already and we have no clues what he could have been doing before he disappeared.”
“Should we skip the work at the mall today? To help with the search,” Jun asks, growing concerned too.
“If we don’t get any information after lunch time, I think I might need your help indeed. I will contact you then,“ Sho nods, weighing all the options.
“Should we go after Aiba…?” Jun wonders, looking in the direction of the door.
Sho shakes his head. “I think we just need to let Aiba some time alone.”
***
Sho is left by himself in the office, not really knowing for a moment where to start, should he try to trace down Nino or to continue the search for missing gifts. Already yesterday at night, when he couldn't sleep, he started to investigate a bit, but reached nothing conclusive.
The only thing that comes to his mind that could be related to Nino's disappearance is his worry when he looks at the calendar on the wall, with a picture of hot springs above the date numbers.
He knows that the time around Christmas is important to Nino and why, though he never knew too many details. All he is certain of is his chief's warning to keep an eye on him and not to allow him on too many out of office missions. But Sho has investigated on it a bit by himself, just never read all the story, out of respect for Nino. He never felt brave enough to talk with Nino about that before.
The more time passes without any message from their team member, the more sure he gets that it must be it.
Then a tiny bell at the door rings softly and Sho hears the steps approaching. "A client?" he wonders in his thoughts. "Why at this busy time?"
But when he turns around he gets even more surprised by the familiar face. "Yokoyama?"
Yoko nods instead of his greeting and quickly admits. "I got worried after your call, to be honest. So I dropped by on my way out of station."
"I see. Please sit down." Sho slightly hurries to the part of the office where they usually welcome clients, though the couch didn't see any for a month already. "It's rare for you to come here..."
Yoko turns his eyes a bit away, but takes the place. He is still wearing his outdoor jacket, clearly not intending to stay for long. "I got worried, because you didn't drop by since yesterday," he clarifies, playing with his hands. Sho smiles slightly, wondering if Yoko just admitted he misses him.
Like to hide or chase away his embarrassment, Yoko starts to talk a lot. "I already organized two searching parties, one for your team member, the other for the gifts. I left only one officer at the station and I will change him through the day. Whenever I get any new informations, I will let you know asap. Do you have anything new on the case of the missing presents?"
“Not much,” Sho admits seriously, suddenly getting up and talking while he goes to his desk to get the papers. “I looked through the files you gave me. No matter how many times I check through them and compare with actual places, it doesn’t make sense. The supposed car and its partial numbers belong to the car rental place, as we investigated with Aiba yesterday. The thing is, it wasn’t used this week at all. So unless the rental car place is the culprit themselves or are working together with the thief, I would say it’s a false lead. I really doubt there is a bigger scheme going on here, though I might be wrong of course. But from what I know it was your station’s original idea to make those charity bags?” Sho asks for confirmation and Yoko nods, then he gives him the papers. “It’s the security camera’s images from in front of your station. I would say they got modified. But it’s just my hunch, because it’s Nino who is usually responsible for checking stuff like that. And he isn’t here,” he pauses. “Whoever it was really did a lot of work for just stealing gifts for kids, that’s for sure…” Sho concludes.
Yoko nods, skimming through the papers now in his hands. “That’s the thing, exactly. All of this is just too random and too fishy.”
“I think your first idea is indeed the most likely,” Sho nods.
“But then would we be able to get the gifts back?” Yoko wonders out loud. “Can you think of something in case of emergency?” he peeks at Sho expectantly, which clearly makes the other sheepish.
“I will try to make Jun and Ohno fetch something from the shopping hall, in the worst case… after all the management of that place is inclined towards our agency, since we help them a lot in cases of stolen things.” Sho leaves out the detail that in such case Jun and Ohno won’t get paid, but receive some cheap gifts instead. He doesn’t even want to think of their end of the year’s financial balance.
Yoko smiles apologetically. “Sorry for adding troubles for you.”
“It’s fine,” Sho assures him, despite some of his nagging rational arguments telling him against. “I want to help the kids too. I remember the action of gathering gifts from last year, it was so touching. I don’t think I would be able to sleep well at night either if we don’t manage something to make them happy again this year”
“I actually have a different idea for next Christmas,” Yoko shares. “I came up with it when I was searching for emergency ways in case we won’t find the presents.” Upon Sho’s curious gaze he explains further. “There are Christmas events organized by some institutions and entertainment spots. If we could for example gather money during the whole year and get the tickets for that, wouldn’t it be even better? Gifts then would be included in the event. Well, the problem is that those tickets are already sold out this year.”
“Sounds like a great idea,” Sho says with a smile. “I think it’s worth trying for next time.”
Yoko smiles lightly and rubs his nose, like he struggles with something. “I also checked what you asked me to,” he changes the topic. “But before I say what I found out, let me say this first. I really didn’t appreciate that morning call. It was still dark outside. I know you’re worried over your team member, but really have some consideration.” Yoko scolds him and is feeling better the moment he notices that Sho looks like he is really remorseful. Sho decides not to tell him it wasn’t so dark anymore, but Yoko wouldn’t listen. He suspects he thought it’s dark because of his heavy curtains he always puts down when going to sleep, but doesn’t say it outloud either.
“Anyway,” Yoko continues. “I checked the security cameras. It seems that Nino left around 1:30 PM. I didn’t find him on any footage of the places you told me about, but I asked at other stations. One police officer seem to have spotted him in Yokohama later that afternoon. I find it odd that he remembered about it, I guess Nino tried to attract attention to himself on purpose.”
“You mean he did it, because he expected he might get in troubles?” Sho asks, surprised.
“That would be my guess indeed,” Yoko confirms. “And if you allow me to share more of my speculations, I would say it’s related to the thing I keep a track of for you. After all I doubt it’s a coincidence, it’s 24th tomorrow and I bet my lunch it’s the reason.”
“You must be really certain if you bet food on it, which you would never do,” Sho muses over it, but gets serious and seems to have decided on something. “Fine, I guess I should bet on that too.”
But when he gets up to retrieve his hidden investigation folders in his own computer he notices they’re gone. If Sho needed any reason now then he got a definitive one. Nino broke into his password-protected files and discovered all the secrets inside them.
“I have copies of them,” Yoko reassures him as he sneaks behind Sho and his computer.
“I’m so stupid. I should have checked this possibility from the start,” Sho says, frowning and feeling so, so disappointed in himself.
“That’s true,” Yoko says bluntly, but still places a comforting hand on Sho’s sloping shoulder. “But we will fix this and it will be fine. I don’t really want to butt in, but maybe it’s time for you to talk with him about this. It’s becoming ridiculous, with you avoiding the topic and yet keeping a regular track of that case.”
“I just hope he is fine and won’t disappear for good… like his family did,” Sho admits quietly and though Yoko can relate to his feeling, he still gets irritated over it.
“Get a hold of yourself,” he scolds Sho, by turning the other around on his office chair (which is easy thanks to the attached wheels) and making him face Yoko. “It’s not like you to get down like that. You have to help him, now that we have a definitive lead. He needs you.”
Sho nods. “Thanks,” and while his heart still beats fast and painfully, it also feels like it sends the adrenaline through his numb body, fueling him with energy. “Now we have places we can check,” he hurries to get up and to follow Yoko towards the police station.
“Don’t worry, I already sent some searching parties to those places,” Yoko said with a proud smile, already taking out his phone to increase the number of people he sent there. “Just in case.”
Sho couldn’t be any more grateful to him, but he would have to repay him later, because now he has to find Nino.
***
This afternoon Jun and Ohno aren’t so lucky anymore and they’re back to advertising on the outside, that with the snow constantly falling that makes it even worse than the first day. There are christmas songs playing through the outdoor speakers, like the management is trying to show their support with it. It doesn’t work on Jun at all.
“I’ve heard this song fifty times yesterday,” he grimaces and moves impatiently over hearing “Last Christmas” again. “I can’t imagine how regular workers can stand it if I have enough already after 3 days.”
“It’s not that bad.” Ohno tries to soften the situation, which already in itself is really rare thing. “I barely notice them anymore.”
“You’re lucky you don’t mind.” Jun sighs and fumes some more towards the potential clients. Ohno might not mind the constant musical tortures done to his ears, but he for sure notices Jun’s unusual high level of annoyance and restlessness.
“You’re worried,” he points out the obvious.
“Of course I am, aren’t you?” Jun retorts almost accusingly, but he reflects back fast, feeling guilty for his outburst. “Sorry, I know you are too. It’s just getting too much to me.”
Ohno doesn’t answer right away, but soon proposes. “Maybe it would be better if you join with the search?”
Jun turns to him surprised and finds himself truly considering that option. “But, would it be fine? You will be left alone here then.”
“I will work for both of us,” Ohno assures him and despite Jun’s worry he finds himself actually trusting Ohno on that. He knows that when he really wants it he can do just about anything.
“Thank you, Oh-chan. I will treat you to something later,” Jun promises, his face lightening up a little and that alone makes Ohno happier too. He watches Jun run away from him, promising Ohno that he will scold Nino for all of them the moment he finds him.
***
Aiba finds himself under Nino’s door for the third time today. For some reason he keeps on returning to this place, though he stopped expecting to find his friend here.
He drops by Nino’s flat often, on their free days, but sometimes also on the working ones. Many times they have played together some games, like Mario, till late night hours. Aiba knows Nino for many long years already, almost forever, and he feels like he knows everything about him. Yet he slept yesterday like usually, thinking it’s just Nino’s sulkier day and he will find a message in the morning asking him to come over to play together. Nino sometimes had such days and despite Aiba worrying every single time, he seemed to also take for granted that his friend always returns back to them no matter how bad of a breakdown he has. That’s why he always makes sure to cheer him up and be extra spoiling towards him.
This time he isn’t so lucky and he already misses the tiny, cramped multifunctional room on the other side of this door, filled with games, some mangas Aiba likes to borrow a lot and a small bed; but even more he misses the person who usually lives there.
After another series of knocking and calling for Nino he finally walks away, looking all the time behind himself like Nino could step out of his room at any moment.
As he walks through the afternoon’s streets filled with little people and little decorations, but also more snow, he regrets not taking Furball along, at least it could play with the snow and not only watch it fall. He also realized too late he has no idea where to search for Nino, because the only spots Nino seems to visit is the office, his own flat and Akihabara for second-hand games. He visited the last one too, just in case, of course not finding him there but he used the opportunity to buy a game or two to give him on Christmas Eve. Even now as he walks into a shopping street he can’t stop thinking of Nino as he watches the shops’ windows. He sees all sorts of stuff on the displays, from christmas luxurious ornaments and house decorations to presents ideas. It all looks pretty and mostly interesting, but it only reminds him how much he struggled few years ago to buy something special for Nino; something that wouldn’t be a game nor a food coupon, neither a gift he would put in the back of his wardrobe and forget about. He tried many things, like cool and funny t-shirts or merchandise from video games like figurines and plushies, but many of them ended up hidden somewhere. Only souvenirs had sometimes the luck to be left in the sight, though their everyday presence seemed easily overlooked.
Two years ago he tried to buy Nino something different that could express the feelings he has for his friend. Of course that failed too and Aiba in the end gave him something handmade with a note including his confession. He got gently rejected. The last Christmas Eve was really awkward thanks to it, but it has gone fine, mostly thanks to Nino’s efforts to keep it cheerful and to celebrate Aiba’s birthday to the fullest. Aiba suspected that Nino was trying so hard, because he still wanted to make it up to Aiba for not celebrating with him this one time in the past. But it was fine, Aiba thought, because they seemed to be okay.
This year though Nino might not be there again tomorrow.
Feeling worse when looking at all those christmas-related things that only remind him of the fear and worries right now, he heads away toward the neighborhood streets of their office. Should he go back and help the others with work? He feels guilty for running away on his own, but still being filled with so many emotions he isn’t ready yet to apologize for his silly behaviour. Instead he goes to the playground nearby, but not the one outside their office windows, not to be seen.
Sitting down he sighs and shoves his cold hands inside the jacket’s pockets, because it seems he forgot his gloves, he starts to drown in even heavier thoughts.
He considers confessing to Nino on Christmas to have been a mistake, though he clearly didn’t think this way before. Nino hates Christmas Eve and it would be a lie to say it doesn’t make Aiba sad, after all that day is his own special day. Aiba knows the reason behind it, but he was naive enough to think he can change the way Nino associates this particular time of the year with only painful memories. He couldn’t, and now he only hopes he didn’t make it only worse.
He understood why he made his mistake, even if too late not to make it happen in the first place. Nino was always trying to act okay, like he got over it and his memories didn’t linger behind his eyes all the time. Aiba fell for it and only later realized that Nino simply was closing himself from him, spending his own bad days alone. Paradoxically enough, he only admitted them to him after Aiba’s mistake. At times, it makes him wonder if he didn’t make his bad days only more common and heavier than they were before.
He wishes second year in a row to take back his decision, but at the same time he doesn’t want it at all. It makes his eyes tearful just thinking about it and feeling really selfish, like the second worst person in the world.
Blinking his tears away he looks around and that’s when he sees some kids playing. He focuses on them to distract himself and accidentally overhears their talk, which makes his mouth fall open in surprise. Did he just hear it right? He gets up to question the kids, disbelieving in his own luck and the way fate works in its own sneaky ways.
***
Nino hates Christmas. It wasn't always this way and actually what he dislikes the most about it is Christmas Eve.
He was always spending his Christmas at home, the day itself not any different from most of the others. Sure, there was a tree in the corner of the main room and mom cooked some nicer meal than usually, calling it "Christmas dinner” and occasionally few decorations appeared around the house, but that was it. He still spent more of that day playing his games.
But in the last year of his junior high school, he returned home like always on 24th only to find it empty. It didn't mean just that he was alone and other members were out. The whole flat was bare, no furniture, no clothes, not even his games, there was simply nothing besides the floor. His home had never felt so vast before.
Thankfully he could confirm there was also no blood or other freaky stuff, but it didn't calm him down at all when he realized he couldn't even get in contact with his parents and sisters. He got out to report it to the police and to search around the flat, like in hopes this was just an example of a really bad idea for a christmas surprise, when he noticed fire and smoke originating in his building. In his home.
They found nothing in the traces of fire and his whole family got signed off as missing and he suddenly ended up alone in the world.
He shut himself off from the rest of people and for some time he avoided mostly everyone. Aiba's family was very concerned for him and took him under their roof. Aiba was his childhood friend and they always played together on Christmas eve, right after dinner with their respective families, because it was Aiba's birthday. But that one day Nino didn't contact Aiba like he promised he would and kinda disappeared himself for the next two days. They found out later he spent those nights in one of the internet cafes in the centre of the city.
Even though many years passed since that time, Nino could never really forget. It's no wonder and he still tries to trace back to them. Last Christmases he thought he would give it a break and that maybe he can celebrate it like any other day at least and it succeeded, he even had some fun with his friends, but this time for some reason he couldn't.
And that's how he have ended up here, in this dark place smelling of old fur. Also today seems he is not alone anymore. He sighs, lighting up one of the remaining matches he hid earlier in case of emergency in his shoe, to look closer at the person. First thing he notices is that the person is wearing white and red, clearly a Santa outfit under the coat.
****
Jun visited the office first when chasing Nino, but found no one there. He searched for any clues to go after, to use time for something useful when awaiting Sho to call him back.
That's when a bell at the door rang softly and a girl entered the office, asking for help in finding her brother. She introduced herself as Ninomiya and for a moment Jun cracked a smile, joking inwardly that maybe it's Nino's real name. Then he frowned, realizing that maybe indeed it is, because he doesn't know his full name. It wasn't strange in itself, they could introduce themselves to the team in whatever way they wanted and Nino might not know MatsuJun's full name either; though some of them didn't mind and that's why Jun knows Ohno's first and last name.
He asked the girl for the contact informations and she promised to come back some other day with any possible resources on her brother. She claimed not to have any photo and didn't explain much on how they lost contact with each other.
Jun made a mental note to report it as fast as possible to Sho.
***
Nino shakes the Santa Claus awake and first thing he hears from him is a slightly painful moan, but he doesn't give up till he opens his eyes.
"Is that you, J?" he asks frowning in the limited range of light the match is offering him. "It's hard to tell, because of your cosplay outfit."
"It's MatsuJun, not J!" is the first thing Jun says, because Santa Claus clothes or not, he still has his dignity and wants to be called his preferred way.
"What's wrong with J?" Nino asks. "It's not like I'm calling you Jun-pon or anything so chill out."
Jun quickly sits up and kicks Nino's leg in revenge. "I search for you for long hours and you repay me with your snarks?"
"Ouch," Nino says. "It was just an expression of affection, geez. I guess you show yours with kicks instead, I wonder which one of us is worse in that case," he asks with a shadow of smile playing on his lips as he massages his hurt leg.
Jun doesn't comment on that part and somehow represses his urge to punish him for vanishing and making all of them worry. "You deserve worse, but for now I'm glad you seem fine. But... where are we?"
Nino smirks then, though remains unnervingly calm. "I hoped you could tell me about this, since you somehow managed to find me here"
"Well..." Jun starts, massaging his head and grimacing a bit in pain. "I think I followed to that address I got from a girl... and then I got hit on my head and don't remember anything after that."
"Classic fail," Nino comments. "My deduction skills tell me we're in some basement that has no proper ventilation nor windows, which would explain lack of light and stale air. It's visited once in a while though, because it doesn't lack oxygen, possibly they leave the door wide open sometimes for the air to move here. If we're lucky they will come here before we starve to death," he concludes cheerfully.
"Wait, are we kidnapped?" Jun tries to put all the pieces together.
"And what do you think, Sherlock?" Nino asks back instead and Jun can swear he looks forward to see Jun's angry expression when he pushes his luck like that.
"We don't seem to be tied..." he shares his observation. "Nor have our movements restricted in any other way."
"Brilliant observation," Nino compliments him.
Jun chooses to ignore that provocation. "But you say we're locked and suggest that whoever's basement is that, they aren't aware that people are here?"
"Bingo," Nino nods. "And let me share you how I came to that conclusion. First of all, no one seems to be interested in our well-being and so far I didn't receive any food and neither anyone has checked whether I'm still here and alive. That's why I think whoever knocked us unconscious simply abandoned us here to buy themselves some time. Maybe they even hope we might be dead if circumstances are favourable," he explains, then pauses for a moment and Jun is sure he makes it only to tease him with dramatic tension. "Second of all I might be wrong."
Jun expects him to say something more, but nothing comes after that. "That's all?" he asks to check.
"You can't expect more from Watson. He can't overshine his smart friend," Nino chuckles. Jun tries his best not to smack him over the head and just rolls his eyes.
"Why are you here in the first place?" Jun asks him soon after. "I mean, why did you disappear?"
"I didn't mean to disappear..." Nino explains hesitantly, frowning a bit, like he realizes it indeed must have felt this way to their companions. Almost instantly he thinks of Aiba who must be worried sick by now and it makes Nino's heart squeeze painfully. "I only found out about informations that Sho kept a secret from me all this time," he sighs, knowing it's no use trying to hush the whole matter. "About my parents" he adds. "You might not know, but one day when I was a teen I came back home to see that my family disappeared. Since then I still didn't find them."
Jun's mouth hangs a bit open at the revelation and Nino leaves him some time to come to terms with the new piece of knowledge. "I'm sorry to hear that," Jun says awkwardly, not really knowing what to say and he hopes he won't at least say anything unintentionally unpleasant.
“Okay, enough of the small talk," Nino ends the topic and turns to Jun. "Do you happen to have anything helpful on you? Oh please tell me you're hiding some lock-picking wonder inside that shady costume."
Jun double-checks just in case, but doesn't find anything helpful so he shakes his head.
"Damn, and I spent almost all the matches when searching through this room and I still didn't find anything besides mountain of cat food and tons of boxes."
"Why didn't you take something with you on your solo investigation trip then? You didn't come prepared?" Jun shows his teeth in a smile.
"Just for your information and future reference, I did. But I guess they found everything besides the matches. Or well, maybe they did find the matches too, but decided it's funny to leave them. I suspect they might have a wicked sense of humour."
"Or maybe it's just you with the wicked humour," Jun points out.
Nino turns to him. "You seem in shockingly good mood despite being locked in a basement. I wouldn't have suspected that of you."
"I guess I'm just too relieved that I finally found you" Jun says, as he relaxes his sitting position a bit and leans on the wall. "Besides, I was with a police officer and he isn't here. I think that means he didn't get kidnapped and so saw everything. We might be rescued pretty soon."
Nino likes Jun's smile and almost doesn't break his hopes, but only almost. "Sorry to tell you that, but I think we're kept in a completely different place than the one we were trying to investigate."
Jun frowns. "And on what basis you suggest that?"
"Just a hunch."
*
Some hours later Sho reaches the spot that Yoko directed him to on the phone. Here Jun was seen for the last time. The police officer accompanying him noticed someone attacking Jun from behind and sent an emergency signal to Yoko's team, but this moment was enough for Jun and his attacker to vanish. No hint was left behind.
Sho goes inside the building with the address from the files saved on Yoko's computer and knocks on the door. No one answers, so he checks the door handle which actually opens. What he sees inside is just an empty flat.
**
After many struggles and tries to attract anyone's attention Jun and Nino give up and just sit close to the door.
"It seems really pointless, but let's not give up," Jun decides.
"Okay, but you're responsible for that. I actually didn't eat for almost two days and shouting is tiring me out," Nino states matter-of-factly.
Jun looks sympathetically at him and nods. "I will do that."
Soon they lose the track of time and Jun just to say goodbye to the awkward silence asks more questions and hears out more details of Nino's life story.
He also shares his own, somehow feeling nostalgic as well. "You asked me why I left the journal editor job, even though I liked it. I actually felt satisfied enough working there. But there were some times when I wished I could really help the people I was writing about, instead of just reporting their stories to the world," he says with a smile. "One day I met a detective who told me many informations, but also lots of stories about investigations. It sounded exciting and also difficult, but I guess I got touched by all the feelings of resolvement it brought. And I think I really wanted to be part of this whole process..."
"Sounds exactly like Sho's reason to join the agency," Nino points out.
"It was actually because of Sho. That detective I mentioned was him," Jun clarifies. "I thought you knew that."
"Might have slipped my mind," Nino smirks.
"You were already in the agency when Sho joined?" Jun asks curiously. "I don't remember seeing you then."
"I joined after Sho. Matsuko took me in..." ...literally from the streets, he finishes in his mind. It was the moment of his life when Aiba took over his family's restaurant and Nino had more time to himself, and spent his days investigating on his own. "I mostly got in troubles before that and starved myself a lot, since I was poor and didn't have a proper job. He also didn't have much resources so I guess he had even more money troubles thanks to me. You know how he eats rice mixed with egg straight from the rice cooker? I used to share such meal with him for most of the week in the first years. It's surprisingly tasty though," he shrugs. "Then he trained me and let me join the agency."
He doesn't mention he also let him join only if he stopped his escapades and stayed in the office, promising that when they have a plan they will investigate his parents’ disappearance. Sometimes, waiting was just too much though.
"It was 5 years ago. After me Aiba joined the agency, leaving his family restaurant in hands of his older sibling. To be honest, I think he just was worried for me." Then he turns to Jun, "And you arrived, two years ago with Ohno following you like a puppy."
"I still wonder why he joined the detective agency. He never comes on time and seems not to be really interested in detective work." Jun laughs. "He even asked us what a detective is doing.”
"He was always strange," Nino agrees.
"Look who's talking," Jun points back at Nino, but the other doesn't follow his lead.
"Why did you break up with him?" he asks, even though it makes Jun fall silent. "Oh come on, I was always curious."
"Busybody," Jun complains. "Well, I guess it's because we're not really compatible. He spends his whole time with his family and wouldn't introduce me to them. Even on Christmas Eve he claims he won't come, because they have a family tradition of competing in Wii at home on that day."
"Now I will really be a busybody, but I guess I deserve it after I caught you two making out in our office, I think it was already a year ago," he says and looks in Jun's direction, snarking a little at his embarrassed face. "You should just propose some other day to spend with him and make your own special lovey-dovey date or something. It's not fair to end things without trying? Gosh, I can't believe I'm giving you love advice, this air must have corrupted my brain."
Jun doesn't answer right away, looking confused at Nino, like he wonders why is the other even considering that, but finally shifts his eyes away. "I will think about that."
The moment the door finally opens and a light blinds them, someone's voice reaches their ears and they instinctively shield each other. "Koichi-san, it wasn't ghost voices after all! I would say they're quite human and hugging at the moment. But one is even more surprising, did you kidnap a Santa Claus by chance and didn't tell me?"
The person helps them out and they step into a shop that turns out to be a cat cafe. There is at least a dozen of cats running freely around them and the two people propose them something hot to drink.
“We’re in Osaka,” they answer their question in kansai dialect. “Why were you in our basement? You wanted to steal our cat food?”
Nino quickly confirmed by asking about more things that they thought Nino and Jun are just lost customers, who stepped into restricted area and ended up getting locked in their storage room.
“Ghosts get mischievous around here, so I guess they shut the door close after you. You’re lucky we found you,” the person called Tsuyoshi explains.
Few hours later, they meet with others finally, Aiba running to glomp Nino and cry on his shoulder. “I thought you didn’t want to see me anymore! Because of what I said on Christmas!”
Nino is more bewildered than anything as he points out, “It was two years ago, why would I suddenly feel this way now?”
“I don’t know!” Aiba wails. “But I’m glad if it’s not because of me…”
“Of course it’s not” Nino says with an awkward smile and ignores Jun’s inquiring and curious gazes. There is no way he would tell him that story, he will take it with him to the grave… unless Aiba will share it to him, in which case he might consider killing Aiba and burying his corpse in some forest.
He almost forgets to scold Sho who has a very pitiful, sheepish expression on his face. Oh well, he would have to talk with him about his newly found stalking tendencies sometime later.
***
On the morning of Christmas Eve, Sho arrives first again and decorates a medium high christmas tree they set up on one of the desks. He is just about to hang on another ornament when his cellphone rings “White Christmas” melody, indicating a call.
“Yes?” he answers in a hurry.
“Sho-chan, help me to bring the kotatsu from my parents place to the office!” sounds Aiba’s cheerful voice.
“Wait, isn’t your parents home in Chiba?” he asks mesmerized. “It will take at least an hour to reach there!”
“We’ll be fine!” Aiba chirps impatiently and Sho takes a look at the clock. Indeed, if they go now they might return at the lunch time, and he seriously ponders over it. Finally he agrees and hurries out of the office.
Next person who comes to the office is Ohno, a bit surprised to be the first one, but then he notices the half-finished christmas tree and ornaments lying in tiny boxes around and decides to do the rest by himself. That’s when Jun finds him half an hour later and his eyes grow wide behind his slightly steamed glasses at the sight.
“It must be a Christmas miracle for you to be the first person in the morning,” he comments teasingly and Ohno makes a funny, meaning to be sulky, face.
“It probably is indeed, I’m even before MatsuJun,” he agrees. “But someone was here before, since the ornaments were opened and few placed on the tree.”
They decorate the tree together before Nino arrives. He helps with few decorations, before starting his computer and dedicating his attention to the screen completely, and Jun doesn’t spare him a comment on that. “Already missed your virtual world?”
“Terribly,” Nino confirms with a tiny smile directed towards his screen.
Around noon Aiba and Sho are back, trying to fit the kotatsu through the office door, barely making it. Soon after Ohno leaves to get on time for his family christmas dinner back at home.
“Like always,” Jun comments dryly, but still smiles to him when saying goodbye and exchanging christmas wishes; it was a custom they picked up in last year and Jun mostly related it to the western movies, nevertheless, it was nice.
They spend the rest of the afternoon sitting under the kotatsu, eating and lazing around with christmas songs in the background. It was Sho who brought some cds to listen and despite Jun’s protests that he heard enough of such through the last days already, he mercifully allows him to play one or two; after all it is Christmas Eve, so being nice to others is a given.
Their chief arrives later, with huge wishes and alcohol and stays for a while.
“Nino, I missed you so much. Don’t worry me like that anymore!” she scolds him and hugs him tight, making all the air from his lungs squeezed away and Nino barely manages to voice he also missed them all. “I must be too old for this job already. I should give my position to one of you. How about giving it to Ohno?”
“He isn’t even here! And he doesn’t work properly,” Jun protests, frowning upon the strange idea.
“But you call him “leader” sometimes, right? I think it fits, I think I will give it to Ohno and become your supervisor instead. And I want to open my own bar,” Matsuko explains, finally allowing Nino to breath, as he pats her back in a try to return the attention he was given.
“That was meant as a joke…” Jun protests further, wondering if chief wants to open a gay bar, but the topic gets dropped soon and they just drink their way through the first evening hour. Matsuko then leaves to spend some time with her friends, leaving them back some bottles and not all of them empty.
It turns out it wasn’t their last guest visit that day though, when the office door opens again and a couple of guys enters with a loud “Merry Christmas!” with Yoko in the lead.
“I thought you would celebrate on your own this year,” Sho points out, surprised.
“We did. But we already ran out of alcohol and just got drunk, so we figured we could as well come here,” Yoko explains sloppily. “Oh, and I wanted to do this too,” he says and makes a countdown, after which a collective cheer of “Happy Birthday Aiba-kun!” proceeds, making the birthday boy’s eyes sparkle with happiness.
Sho still doesn’t miss that all of them are wearing their casual clothes though. “We’re just getting drunk here too,” he teases.
“That’s alright,” Yoko then squeezes himself into the empty angle at the kotatsu he finds and complains “There is not enough room for all of us.”
“You didn’t exactly come announced,” Sho retorts, amused.
Yoko ignores his comment and just looks around. “What’s with all those candles?” he asks, seeing them put in every corner and all around. “Isn’t there too many?”
Sho pouts. “I just tried to make a cozy atmosphere,” but all he manages is to make Yoko smirk. Still, Yoko is the first one to later doze off while secretly appreciating their warmth and scent later.
“Let’s play a game! Those who lose will have to leave the kotatsu!” Aiba proposes excited and not many dare to object the will of the birthday person. So they end up picking a bottle and playing one of the oldest games in the world.
“You are aware we’re all guys and it will only get awkward?” Yoko asks just to check, but Aiba only laughs him off.
After few spins and first dares and drunk kisses, Yoko starts to fidget a bit, then declares, “This is gross, I’m too little drunk for this,” and he gulps more.
Nino observes Aiba’s happy, flushed cheeks and he can’t help but remember how it used to be in the past. The first talks and doubts Aiba shared with Nino about discovering his sexual identity and him feeling confused and denying the possibility he might not mind falling for a boy. Nino listened to him surprisingly focused and told him it’s alright to have bi tendencies. He himself doesn’t really remember having any problems like that around the issue, what mattered was how close he felt to the potential lover and the gender came second, or at least that’s how it felt to him back then.
In the middle of the game Jun asks curiously. “I never heard about the case with the missing presents, did you even solve it?”
“We did!” Subaru confirmed a bit too loud.
“Just like Yokoyama suspected, it was the inside job,” Sho starts to explain, while Jun supports his cheek on his hand, like preparing himself for a long story. “The report of the police officer witnessing some people going away by car with the bags was fishy and turned out to be false. The presents were still hidden inside the police station and the person responsible for this was no one other than the supposed witness.”
Yoko nods, narrowing his eyes. “That Ryo guy, he joined us only last week and I found him suspicious from the start. Turns out he is some kind of fortuneteller, doing some scam job. Too bad we can’t arrest him for that.” he adds regretfully. “I sent out all my men to search in the city, leaving him to keep an eye at the station on purpose. Then I waited to catch him in the act when he would try to bring the presents out of the police station. He finally admitted he was working for someone, but didn’t want to admit for who. Seems someone came to him with such odd request.”
“But the kids in the orphanage got their presents, so it’s a happy end,” Sho concludes, relieved that they don’t have to sacrifice Jun and Ohno’s salary for emergency gifts.
“There was one odd thing though,” Subaru butts in. “We also found extra tiny bags along the ones that were missing. And they were signed with a piece of paper saying ‘for the police officers’. There were small handmade gifts inside. It’s like a Santa came to us to reward us for the hard work,” he nods seriously.
“I actually found out how that happened and who came to request help from the fortuneteller. It was kids from the orphanage!” Aiba shows off a tiny bit. “I found the kids nearby talking about making presents for the police officers in return for their kindness. But when I asked them they said they never requested for the gifts to be hidden away nor to scare the police a little.”
“Well, they wouldn’t really admit, if they meant it as a christmas prank or not,” Yoko points out. “I wouldn’t either in their place.”
“Good job,” Jun congratulates Aiba, making the latter burst with joy. “So the police got tricked by little kids in the end?” he teases.
“But still, why did they ask for help from some random fortuneteller? Don’t you find it strange?” Sho asks, frowning like suddenly struck with the thought.
“I heard he is popular with the kids. Helps them a lot even in things that don’t include supernatural phenomena.” Yoko shares what he found out when talking with the children in the orphanage. “I bet he takes money for this, that swindler.”
“He can’t really take much money from the kids who don’t even own it in the first place, especially those at the orphanage,” Sho opposes him though. “But maybe you should indeed keep an eye on him,” he agrees in the end.
While their exchange goes on, Aiba hands something to Nino under the kotatsu table. He peeks at it curiously, seeing a small present with the card saying the same thing as two years ago. He smiles despite himself. He borrows a pen from the nearest table and scribbles on the card for his own present to Aiba “Thank you, but you should find someone better next year,” and finds Aiba’s leg, then hands under the table to give it to him. After reading the note he smiles shyly, but shakes his head. Just moments later, he sends him a worried look though and Nino doesn’t have to be a mindreader to know why, after all the years he spent with his friend. “I don’t mind,” he mouths to him and it seems to calm Aiba down.
They don’t talk about Nino’s disappearance case openly, though Subaru at one point asks about it in very bold and indelicate way. Nino tells him he was spirited away, which earns him more time not to answer honestly, because Subaru gets too busy considering the possibility.
His small investigations ended up in nothing. He followed the lead of some names that might have been involved into the incident back in his middle school days, that’s how he found that address in Yokohama, but before he could even see the flat he had already lost his consciousness and woke up locked in that dark basement. He can’t even count how many times before similiar stuff has happened, either getting himself into troubles, waking up abandoned in the park, on the corridor of his own building (he always changes flats whenever it happens) or just not finding anything. It’s like a white hole and all the informations regarding the matter are erased automatically. Still, he thinks that this cat cafe in Osaka was a bit odd and he will investigate its background soon. If he is lucky enough he might come upon something. He also needs to make sure for Sho to cooperate instead of hiding stuff from him.
But he also wonders if he will ever get any closer to the truth.
Also what Jun told him today also caught his attention. Supposedly one of his sisters was looking for him, leaving an address under which Jun later “found” Nino. He can’t say whether it was really his family member just by Jun’s vague description, but one is certain for sure: without her help Jun wouldn’t find the place. He hopes that whoever she was that she will come back to their office again, though he finds it not very likely, for whatever reason. Maybe he simply stopped believing in his luck anymore.
“Eh, I’m supposed to kiss someone in this room? But it’s all guys around,” Yoko whines when the bottle’s end points to him. Others already look very eager to offer him a punishment and Yoko doesn’t even want to know what that could be, so he searches for any sort of way out. Then he notices the tiny cat trying to play and break an ornament hanging on the lowest branches of the tree, but couldn’t even reach it without standing on it’s two tiny legs and almost toppling over.
He smiles and reaches toward the pet and kisses it on the nose. “It counts, right? Since Furball is the part of the team,” he excuses himself, happy to find a way to get out of the uncomfortable situation.
“Okay, this time it counts, but next time you won’t have the same luck,” Subaru promises him, but Yoko has his hopes that they will get bored and finish the game before his next turn comes. He searches already for any other game idea around to propose to the others.
Still it’s his turn and he spins the bottle obediently. It points at Jun this time and Yoko declares vengefully (though later in the evening he doesn’t even mind anything anymore) “You have to kiss someone in this room. But make it not me.”
Jun doesn’t back away, only keeps his glasses in place as he stands up. “Still, I request a handicap. So far, you all used some, so I think I have a right for one too” he says, because last time the fate made the bottle choose him, Nino told him to wear the Santa Claus outfit again. Jun obliged and now sits in the same Santa costume he had on himself when working in the mall, because he still didn’t have the time to return it back. He never planned to run around the city in it, but when he tried to get inside the changing room he found it closed shut and despite trying to find any manager, no one could tell him where is the person with the keys. So instead of wasting time, he grabbed then his jacket, which was left in on the hangers outside the room and only removed his fake beard before sprinting into the streets. Now honestly he got so used to the outfit that he finds he doesn’t mind it at all anymore.
“Everyone, close your eyes,” Jun request and despite the protests they finally do, leaving him some margin of privacy. They will miss out on the show and it’s just how Jun wants it.
After making sure everyone has their eyes closed he looks only on one person, sitting a bit away, but not enough for Jun not to reach him if he leans on the kotatsu table. He pecks his lips lightly and Nino feels it, his heart skipping a beat. From that moment on, it does it every time he looks at Jun that night.
“How can we know if you really kissed anyone this way?” Yasu protests and Jun only confirms with a cheeky smile that he indeed did what he was supposed to, and other people’s frustrations for not seeing aren’t his problem.
He doesn’t peek on Nino anymore, but he hopes the other will keep it a christmas secret and he doesn’t need to hear the other’s opinion to know that he would find it awfully sappy, because so does Jun.
It was, after all, not meant to be repeated, though both of them feel like the blush will stay on their faces forever. Maybe even until next Christmas.
They come back to the same bathroom afterwards, Jun taking one or two precious minutes from their short break to wash his hands and refresh his face. Ohno still keeps himself in the distance behind and Jun smiles, having an idea.
"Is your offer still actual?"
Unexpectedly, Ohno blushes and fidgets a bit, but nods earnestly. "Any way you like..."
Jun chuckles, maybe because of the awkwardness of their advances or possibly of the image of Ohno struggling earlier to take a sit on the chair in his huge costume, that is still fresh in his mind. He presses teeth to his bottom lip before requesting. “Please me then.”
Ohno approaches him very shyly and doesn’t touch Jun without his specific permission, just pins him slightly to the sink from behind. It only makes the other giggle though. “It feels just weird with those outfits. Just look in the mirror, it looks like the Santa likes his reindeers a bit too much.”
“Not all the reindeers. Only this handsome one with big nose,” Ohno clarifies as he tries to press his hips to Jun’s butt, but it only ends with his plushie round costume jabbing Jun’s back. Yet it miraculously makes Jun breathless.
“It’s not going to work,” Jun says, holding back a moan, because his front is pushed into the sink thanks to Ohno’s advances, and though it’s harsh and causing him mostly discomfort, it also feels so good. “And why aren’t you even trying to kiss me? It’s not like we never did it before, yet it feels even more awkward than the first time,” he points out, but despite it there is no trace of frustration in his voice.
Ohno fixes his mistake and mouths Jun’s nape, making the other release a tiny noise. He doesn’t admit that it’s because they have broken up and now making advances on each other is simply complicated. But he also yearns for it too much to risk to ruin Jun’s mood to call off whatever they are doing right now, which might indeed end up in nothing, because they can’t hump in those costumes that are in the way and they don’t have really any time left for this either. It doesn’t prevent him from enjoying tremendously to kiss Jun’s neck, where his pleasant smell is the strongest, and making the other shiver in their clumsy embrace.
Just when his ex-lover breaths a “more” and “I want you so much,” right near his sensitive ears the door to the bathroom opens. They don’t even have time to jump away from each other, but still try to just three heartbeats too late.
What first breaks the silence is a tiny, muffled meow. Jun then gets enough courage to look in the direction of the entrance and sees Aiba with a very silly face expression. “That’s awkward,” he says, feeling like in that song about a kid who catches mum kissing Santa Claus, and he turns away to look at Ohno instead, who also seems embarrassed, but to Jun’s frustration clearly less than him.
“I came, because Sho-chan said you need someone to change with you…” Aiba struggles, with tiny blush on his cheeks and Jun is too flustered to notice how unusual he is behaving, usually he wouldn’t be sparing them any dirty jokes or nosy questions and cheeky smiles.
“Oh, thanks,” Jun says, still avoiding to look at him.
“But I guess I’m disturbing you… Maybe I will go help Sho-chan instead after all?” he proposes and steps backwards to exit the bathroom. Jun would have stopped him if not for finding it difficult to walk in his current state so he just calls after him “Wait!”
Thankfully, Aiba stays outside the door, and besides the sight of him and the tiny kitten, a christmas song is the first thing that reaches their senses when they step out of their small moment alone and back to the mall.
“You’re together again?” Aiba asks, barely looking at them. “I didn’t know.”
Jun wants to deny it, but finds no words for it. Suddenly all the reasons he had for finishing their relationship seem irrelevant now, with Ohno close, though as irresponsible and silly as before. “I’m not sure…” he answers honestly, but it doesn’t put off the person at his side at all, who smiles as dearly as before.
Aiba tries a smile towards them, despite not feeling cheerful and looking like he wants to ask something. In the end he resigns, just watching them silently. He doesn’t wait long to witness more of their affection, with Ohno even giving a peck to Jun’s Santa’s beard right after it was put back in place.
He excuses himself declaring that Sho just called, needing backup, and leaves them alone. As he walks towards their office, protecting his small pet that is trying to play with the long, loose ends of his woolen cap, he wonders if he was wrong all along about the feelings sprouting between Nino and Jun.
***
It snows the next morning when they all gather almost on time, snowflakes melting the moment they met the glass and turning into rills of water dribbling down the windows. Some stay for a bit longer, stuck to the surface, before dispersing slowly, which is a clear indication that the weather will grow only colder. Furball, still lacking any other name, seem to be particularly interested in the sight so Aiba helps it up on the window sill, at the same time arranging some spot between a pot and stack of old papers, which didn’t fit into the shelves.
“Nino is still missing and no one seems to have heard of him,” Sho tells the team seriously. Today, everyone is certain something is very wrong.
“I have gone to check up on him yesterday evening, but no one opened the door. He doesn’t pick up any call either,” Aiba shares, worry written all over his face.
“Yes, I also tried without any better result. Now his phone seems to be out of range,” Sho continues. “It might mean his battery ran out or… many other things,” he concludes, not even wanting to go into detail, considering all the options he was thinking about before falling asleep last night.
There's a pause after his words that extends hopelessly into longer string of seconds.
“I… think I will go and search for him,” Aiba first breaks up under the tension and hurries out of the office, not minding the protests from his companions.
Sho sits down and sighs slightly. “Please, let’s not panic. I will ask for help from police station immediately. It seems Nino is missing for 40 hours already and we have no clues what he could have been doing before he disappeared.”
“Should we skip the work at the mall today? To help with the search,” Jun asks, growing concerned too.
“If we don’t get any information after lunch time, I think I might need your help indeed. I will contact you then,“ Sho nods, weighing all the options.
“Should we go after Aiba…?” Jun wonders, looking in the direction of the door.
Sho shakes his head. “I think we just need to let Aiba some time alone.”
***
Sho is left by himself in the office, not really knowing for a moment where to start, should he try to trace down Nino or to continue the search for missing gifts. Already yesterday at night, when he couldn't sleep, he started to investigate a bit, but reached nothing conclusive.
The only thing that comes to his mind that could be related to Nino's disappearance is his worry when he looks at the calendar on the wall, with a picture of hot springs above the date numbers.
He knows that the time around Christmas is important to Nino and why, though he never knew too many details. All he is certain of is his chief's warning to keep an eye on him and not to allow him on too many out of office missions. But Sho has investigated on it a bit by himself, just never read all the story, out of respect for Nino. He never felt brave enough to talk with Nino about that before.
The more time passes without any message from their team member, the more sure he gets that it must be it.
Then a tiny bell at the door rings softly and Sho hears the steps approaching. "A client?" he wonders in his thoughts. "Why at this busy time?"
But when he turns around he gets even more surprised by the familiar face. "Yokoyama?"
Yoko nods instead of his greeting and quickly admits. "I got worried after your call, to be honest. So I dropped by on my way out of station."
"I see. Please sit down." Sho slightly hurries to the part of the office where they usually welcome clients, though the couch didn't see any for a month already. "It's rare for you to come here..."
Yoko turns his eyes a bit away, but takes the place. He is still wearing his outdoor jacket, clearly not intending to stay for long. "I got worried, because you didn't drop by since yesterday," he clarifies, playing with his hands. Sho smiles slightly, wondering if Yoko just admitted he misses him.
Like to hide or chase away his embarrassment, Yoko starts to talk a lot. "I already organized two searching parties, one for your team member, the other for the gifts. I left only one officer at the station and I will change him through the day. Whenever I get any new informations, I will let you know asap. Do you have anything new on the case of the missing presents?"
“Not much,” Sho admits seriously, suddenly getting up and talking while he goes to his desk to get the papers. “I looked through the files you gave me. No matter how many times I check through them and compare with actual places, it doesn’t make sense. The supposed car and its partial numbers belong to the car rental place, as we investigated with Aiba yesterday. The thing is, it wasn’t used this week at all. So unless the rental car place is the culprit themselves or are working together with the thief, I would say it’s a false lead. I really doubt there is a bigger scheme going on here, though I might be wrong of course. But from what I know it was your station’s original idea to make those charity bags?” Sho asks for confirmation and Yoko nods, then he gives him the papers. “It’s the security camera’s images from in front of your station. I would say they got modified. But it’s just my hunch, because it’s Nino who is usually responsible for checking stuff like that. And he isn’t here,” he pauses. “Whoever it was really did a lot of work for just stealing gifts for kids, that’s for sure…” Sho concludes.
Yoko nods, skimming through the papers now in his hands. “That’s the thing, exactly. All of this is just too random and too fishy.”
“I think your first idea is indeed the most likely,” Sho nods.
“But then would we be able to get the gifts back?” Yoko wonders out loud. “Can you think of something in case of emergency?” he peeks at Sho expectantly, which clearly makes the other sheepish.
“I will try to make Jun and Ohno fetch something from the shopping hall, in the worst case… after all the management of that place is inclined towards our agency, since we help them a lot in cases of stolen things.” Sho leaves out the detail that in such case Jun and Ohno won’t get paid, but receive some cheap gifts instead. He doesn’t even want to think of their end of the year’s financial balance.
Yoko smiles apologetically. “Sorry for adding troubles for you.”
“It’s fine,” Sho assures him, despite some of his nagging rational arguments telling him against. “I want to help the kids too. I remember the action of gathering gifts from last year, it was so touching. I don’t think I would be able to sleep well at night either if we don’t manage something to make them happy again this year”
“I actually have a different idea for next Christmas,” Yoko shares. “I came up with it when I was searching for emergency ways in case we won’t find the presents.” Upon Sho’s curious gaze he explains further. “There are Christmas events organized by some institutions and entertainment spots. If we could for example gather money during the whole year and get the tickets for that, wouldn’t it be even better? Gifts then would be included in the event. Well, the problem is that those tickets are already sold out this year.”
“Sounds like a great idea,” Sho says with a smile. “I think it’s worth trying for next time.”
Yoko smiles lightly and rubs his nose, like he struggles with something. “I also checked what you asked me to,” he changes the topic. “But before I say what I found out, let me say this first. I really didn’t appreciate that morning call. It was still dark outside. I know you’re worried over your team member, but really have some consideration.” Yoko scolds him and is feeling better the moment he notices that Sho looks like he is really remorseful. Sho decides not to tell him it wasn’t so dark anymore, but Yoko wouldn’t listen. He suspects he thought it’s dark because of his heavy curtains he always puts down when going to sleep, but doesn’t say it outloud either.
“Anyway,” Yoko continues. “I checked the security cameras. It seems that Nino left around 1:30 PM. I didn’t find him on any footage of the places you told me about, but I asked at other stations. One police officer seem to have spotted him in Yokohama later that afternoon. I find it odd that he remembered about it, I guess Nino tried to attract attention to himself on purpose.”
“You mean he did it, because he expected he might get in troubles?” Sho asks, surprised.
“That would be my guess indeed,” Yoko confirms. “And if you allow me to share more of my speculations, I would say it’s related to the thing I keep a track of for you. After all I doubt it’s a coincidence, it’s 24th tomorrow and I bet my lunch it’s the reason.”
“You must be really certain if you bet food on it, which you would never do,” Sho muses over it, but gets serious and seems to have decided on something. “Fine, I guess I should bet on that too.”
But when he gets up to retrieve his hidden investigation folders in his own computer he notices they’re gone. If Sho needed any reason now then he got a definitive one. Nino broke into his password-protected files and discovered all the secrets inside them.
“I have copies of them,” Yoko reassures him as he sneaks behind Sho and his computer.
“I’m so stupid. I should have checked this possibility from the start,” Sho says, frowning and feeling so, so disappointed in himself.
“That’s true,” Yoko says bluntly, but still places a comforting hand on Sho’s sloping shoulder. “But we will fix this and it will be fine. I don’t really want to butt in, but maybe it’s time for you to talk with him about this. It’s becoming ridiculous, with you avoiding the topic and yet keeping a regular track of that case.”
“I just hope he is fine and won’t disappear for good… like his family did,” Sho admits quietly and though Yoko can relate to his feeling, he still gets irritated over it.
“Get a hold of yourself,” he scolds Sho, by turning the other around on his office chair (which is easy thanks to the attached wheels) and making him face Yoko. “It’s not like you to get down like that. You have to help him, now that we have a definitive lead. He needs you.”
Sho nods. “Thanks,” and while his heart still beats fast and painfully, it also feels like it sends the adrenaline through his numb body, fueling him with energy. “Now we have places we can check,” he hurries to get up and to follow Yoko towards the police station.
“Don’t worry, I already sent some searching parties to those places,” Yoko said with a proud smile, already taking out his phone to increase the number of people he sent there. “Just in case.”
Sho couldn’t be any more grateful to him, but he would have to repay him later, because now he has to find Nino.
***
This afternoon Jun and Ohno aren’t so lucky anymore and they’re back to advertising on the outside, that with the snow constantly falling that makes it even worse than the first day. There are christmas songs playing through the outdoor speakers, like the management is trying to show their support with it. It doesn’t work on Jun at all.
“I’ve heard this song fifty times yesterday,” he grimaces and moves impatiently over hearing “Last Christmas” again. “I can’t imagine how regular workers can stand it if I have enough already after 3 days.”
“It’s not that bad.” Ohno tries to soften the situation, which already in itself is really rare thing. “I barely notice them anymore.”
“You’re lucky you don’t mind.” Jun sighs and fumes some more towards the potential clients. Ohno might not mind the constant musical tortures done to his ears, but he for sure notices Jun’s unusual high level of annoyance and restlessness.
“You’re worried,” he points out the obvious.
“Of course I am, aren’t you?” Jun retorts almost accusingly, but he reflects back fast, feeling guilty for his outburst. “Sorry, I know you are too. It’s just getting too much to me.”
Ohno doesn’t answer right away, but soon proposes. “Maybe it would be better if you join with the search?”
Jun turns to him surprised and finds himself truly considering that option. “But, would it be fine? You will be left alone here then.”
“I will work for both of us,” Ohno assures him and despite Jun’s worry he finds himself actually trusting Ohno on that. He knows that when he really wants it he can do just about anything.
“Thank you, Oh-chan. I will treat you to something later,” Jun promises, his face lightening up a little and that alone makes Ohno happier too. He watches Jun run away from him, promising Ohno that he will scold Nino for all of them the moment he finds him.
***
Aiba finds himself under Nino’s door for the third time today. For some reason he keeps on returning to this place, though he stopped expecting to find his friend here.
He drops by Nino’s flat often, on their free days, but sometimes also on the working ones. Many times they have played together some games, like Mario, till late night hours. Aiba knows Nino for many long years already, almost forever, and he feels like he knows everything about him. Yet he slept yesterday like usually, thinking it’s just Nino’s sulkier day and he will find a message in the morning asking him to come over to play together. Nino sometimes had such days and despite Aiba worrying every single time, he seemed to also take for granted that his friend always returns back to them no matter how bad of a breakdown he has. That’s why he always makes sure to cheer him up and be extra spoiling towards him.
This time he isn’t so lucky and he already misses the tiny, cramped multifunctional room on the other side of this door, filled with games, some mangas Aiba likes to borrow a lot and a small bed; but even more he misses the person who usually lives there.
After another series of knocking and calling for Nino he finally walks away, looking all the time behind himself like Nino could step out of his room at any moment.
As he walks through the afternoon’s streets filled with little people and little decorations, but also more snow, he regrets not taking Furball along, at least it could play with the snow and not only watch it fall. He also realized too late he has no idea where to search for Nino, because the only spots Nino seems to visit is the office, his own flat and Akihabara for second-hand games. He visited the last one too, just in case, of course not finding him there but he used the opportunity to buy a game or two to give him on Christmas Eve. Even now as he walks into a shopping street he can’t stop thinking of Nino as he watches the shops’ windows. He sees all sorts of stuff on the displays, from christmas luxurious ornaments and house decorations to presents ideas. It all looks pretty and mostly interesting, but it only reminds him how much he struggled few years ago to buy something special for Nino; something that wouldn’t be a game nor a food coupon, neither a gift he would put in the back of his wardrobe and forget about. He tried many things, like cool and funny t-shirts or merchandise from video games like figurines and plushies, but many of them ended up hidden somewhere. Only souvenirs had sometimes the luck to be left in the sight, though their everyday presence seemed easily overlooked.
Two years ago he tried to buy Nino something different that could express the feelings he has for his friend. Of course that failed too and Aiba in the end gave him something handmade with a note including his confession. He got gently rejected. The last Christmas Eve was really awkward thanks to it, but it has gone fine, mostly thanks to Nino’s efforts to keep it cheerful and to celebrate Aiba’s birthday to the fullest. Aiba suspected that Nino was trying so hard, because he still wanted to make it up to Aiba for not celebrating with him this one time in the past. But it was fine, Aiba thought, because they seemed to be okay.
This year though Nino might not be there again tomorrow.
Feeling worse when looking at all those christmas-related things that only remind him of the fear and worries right now, he heads away toward the neighborhood streets of their office. Should he go back and help the others with work? He feels guilty for running away on his own, but still being filled with so many emotions he isn’t ready yet to apologize for his silly behaviour. Instead he goes to the playground nearby, but not the one outside their office windows, not to be seen.
Sitting down he sighs and shoves his cold hands inside the jacket’s pockets, because it seems he forgot his gloves, he starts to drown in even heavier thoughts.
He considers confessing to Nino on Christmas to have been a mistake, though he clearly didn’t think this way before. Nino hates Christmas Eve and it would be a lie to say it doesn’t make Aiba sad, after all that day is his own special day. Aiba knows the reason behind it, but he was naive enough to think he can change the way Nino associates this particular time of the year with only painful memories. He couldn’t, and now he only hopes he didn’t make it only worse.
He understood why he made his mistake, even if too late not to make it happen in the first place. Nino was always trying to act okay, like he got over it and his memories didn’t linger behind his eyes all the time. Aiba fell for it and only later realized that Nino simply was closing himself from him, spending his own bad days alone. Paradoxically enough, he only admitted them to him after Aiba’s mistake. At times, it makes him wonder if he didn’t make his bad days only more common and heavier than they were before.
He wishes second year in a row to take back his decision, but at the same time he doesn’t want it at all. It makes his eyes tearful just thinking about it and feeling really selfish, like the second worst person in the world.
Blinking his tears away he looks around and that’s when he sees some kids playing. He focuses on them to distract himself and accidentally overhears their talk, which makes his mouth fall open in surprise. Did he just hear it right? He gets up to question the kids, disbelieving in his own luck and the way fate works in its own sneaky ways.
***
Nino hates Christmas. It wasn't always this way and actually what he dislikes the most about it is Christmas Eve.
He was always spending his Christmas at home, the day itself not any different from most of the others. Sure, there was a tree in the corner of the main room and mom cooked some nicer meal than usually, calling it "Christmas dinner” and occasionally few decorations appeared around the house, but that was it. He still spent more of that day playing his games.
But in the last year of his junior high school, he returned home like always on 24th only to find it empty. It didn't mean just that he was alone and other members were out. The whole flat was bare, no furniture, no clothes, not even his games, there was simply nothing besides the floor. His home had never felt so vast before.
Thankfully he could confirm there was also no blood or other freaky stuff, but it didn't calm him down at all when he realized he couldn't even get in contact with his parents and sisters. He got out to report it to the police and to search around the flat, like in hopes this was just an example of a really bad idea for a christmas surprise, when he noticed fire and smoke originating in his building. In his home.
They found nothing in the traces of fire and his whole family got signed off as missing and he suddenly ended up alone in the world.
He shut himself off from the rest of people and for some time he avoided mostly everyone. Aiba's family was very concerned for him and took him under their roof. Aiba was his childhood friend and they always played together on Christmas eve, right after dinner with their respective families, because it was Aiba's birthday. But that one day Nino didn't contact Aiba like he promised he would and kinda disappeared himself for the next two days. They found out later he spent those nights in one of the internet cafes in the centre of the city.
Even though many years passed since that time, Nino could never really forget. It's no wonder and he still tries to trace back to them. Last Christmases he thought he would give it a break and that maybe he can celebrate it like any other day at least and it succeeded, he even had some fun with his friends, but this time for some reason he couldn't.
And that's how he have ended up here, in this dark place smelling of old fur. Also today seems he is not alone anymore. He sighs, lighting up one of the remaining matches he hid earlier in case of emergency in his shoe, to look closer at the person. First thing he notices is that the person is wearing white and red, clearly a Santa outfit under the coat.
****
Jun visited the office first when chasing Nino, but found no one there. He searched for any clues to go after, to use time for something useful when awaiting Sho to call him back.
That's when a bell at the door rang softly and a girl entered the office, asking for help in finding her brother. She introduced herself as Ninomiya and for a moment Jun cracked a smile, joking inwardly that maybe it's Nino's real name. Then he frowned, realizing that maybe indeed it is, because he doesn't know his full name. It wasn't strange in itself, they could introduce themselves to the team in whatever way they wanted and Nino might not know MatsuJun's full name either; though some of them didn't mind and that's why Jun knows Ohno's first and last name.
He asked the girl for the contact informations and she promised to come back some other day with any possible resources on her brother. She claimed not to have any photo and didn't explain much on how they lost contact with each other.
Jun made a mental note to report it as fast as possible to Sho.
***
Nino shakes the Santa Claus awake and first thing he hears from him is a slightly painful moan, but he doesn't give up till he opens his eyes.
"Is that you, J?" he asks frowning in the limited range of light the match is offering him. "It's hard to tell, because of your cosplay outfit."
"It's MatsuJun, not J!" is the first thing Jun says, because Santa Claus clothes or not, he still has his dignity and wants to be called his preferred way.
"What's wrong with J?" Nino asks. "It's not like I'm calling you Jun-pon or anything so chill out."
Jun quickly sits up and kicks Nino's leg in revenge. "I search for you for long hours and you repay me with your snarks?"
"Ouch," Nino says. "It was just an expression of affection, geez. I guess you show yours with kicks instead, I wonder which one of us is worse in that case," he asks with a shadow of smile playing on his lips as he massages his hurt leg.
Jun doesn't comment on that part and somehow represses his urge to punish him for vanishing and making all of them worry. "You deserve worse, but for now I'm glad you seem fine. But... where are we?"
Nino smirks then, though remains unnervingly calm. "I hoped you could tell me about this, since you somehow managed to find me here"
"Well..." Jun starts, massaging his head and grimacing a bit in pain. "I think I followed to that address I got from a girl... and then I got hit on my head and don't remember anything after that."
"Classic fail," Nino comments. "My deduction skills tell me we're in some basement that has no proper ventilation nor windows, which would explain lack of light and stale air. It's visited once in a while though, because it doesn't lack oxygen, possibly they leave the door wide open sometimes for the air to move here. If we're lucky they will come here before we starve to death," he concludes cheerfully.
"Wait, are we kidnapped?" Jun tries to put all the pieces together.
"And what do you think, Sherlock?" Nino asks back instead and Jun can swear he looks forward to see Jun's angry expression when he pushes his luck like that.
"We don't seem to be tied..." he shares his observation. "Nor have our movements restricted in any other way."
"Brilliant observation," Nino compliments him.
Jun chooses to ignore that provocation. "But you say we're locked and suggest that whoever's basement is that, they aren't aware that people are here?"
"Bingo," Nino nods. "And let me share you how I came to that conclusion. First of all, no one seems to be interested in our well-being and so far I didn't receive any food and neither anyone has checked whether I'm still here and alive. That's why I think whoever knocked us unconscious simply abandoned us here to buy themselves some time. Maybe they even hope we might be dead if circumstances are favourable," he explains, then pauses for a moment and Jun is sure he makes it only to tease him with dramatic tension. "Second of all I might be wrong."
Jun expects him to say something more, but nothing comes after that. "That's all?" he asks to check.
"You can't expect more from Watson. He can't overshine his smart friend," Nino chuckles. Jun tries his best not to smack him over the head and just rolls his eyes.
"Why are you here in the first place?" Jun asks him soon after. "I mean, why did you disappear?"
"I didn't mean to disappear..." Nino explains hesitantly, frowning a bit, like he realizes it indeed must have felt this way to their companions. Almost instantly he thinks of Aiba who must be worried sick by now and it makes Nino's heart squeeze painfully. "I only found out about informations that Sho kept a secret from me all this time," he sighs, knowing it's no use trying to hush the whole matter. "About my parents" he adds. "You might not know, but one day when I was a teen I came back home to see that my family disappeared. Since then I still didn't find them."
Jun's mouth hangs a bit open at the revelation and Nino leaves him some time to come to terms with the new piece of knowledge. "I'm sorry to hear that," Jun says awkwardly, not really knowing what to say and he hopes he won't at least say anything unintentionally unpleasant.
“Okay, enough of the small talk," Nino ends the topic and turns to Jun. "Do you happen to have anything helpful on you? Oh please tell me you're hiding some lock-picking wonder inside that shady costume."
Jun double-checks just in case, but doesn't find anything helpful so he shakes his head.
"Damn, and I spent almost all the matches when searching through this room and I still didn't find anything besides mountain of cat food and tons of boxes."
"Why didn't you take something with you on your solo investigation trip then? You didn't come prepared?" Jun shows his teeth in a smile.
"Just for your information and future reference, I did. But I guess they found everything besides the matches. Or well, maybe they did find the matches too, but decided it's funny to leave them. I suspect they might have a wicked sense of humour."
"Or maybe it's just you with the wicked humour," Jun points out.
Nino turns to him. "You seem in shockingly good mood despite being locked in a basement. I wouldn't have suspected that of you."
"I guess I'm just too relieved that I finally found you" Jun says, as he relaxes his sitting position a bit and leans on the wall. "Besides, I was with a police officer and he isn't here. I think that means he didn't get kidnapped and so saw everything. We might be rescued pretty soon."
Nino likes Jun's smile and almost doesn't break his hopes, but only almost. "Sorry to tell you that, but I think we're kept in a completely different place than the one we were trying to investigate."
Jun frowns. "And on what basis you suggest that?"
"Just a hunch."
*
Some hours later Sho reaches the spot that Yoko directed him to on the phone. Here Jun was seen for the last time. The police officer accompanying him noticed someone attacking Jun from behind and sent an emergency signal to Yoko's team, but this moment was enough for Jun and his attacker to vanish. No hint was left behind.
Sho goes inside the building with the address from the files saved on Yoko's computer and knocks on the door. No one answers, so he checks the door handle which actually opens. What he sees inside is just an empty flat.
**
After many struggles and tries to attract anyone's attention Jun and Nino give up and just sit close to the door.
"It seems really pointless, but let's not give up," Jun decides.
"Okay, but you're responsible for that. I actually didn't eat for almost two days and shouting is tiring me out," Nino states matter-of-factly.
Jun looks sympathetically at him and nods. "I will do that."
Soon they lose the track of time and Jun just to say goodbye to the awkward silence asks more questions and hears out more details of Nino's life story.
He also shares his own, somehow feeling nostalgic as well. "You asked me why I left the journal editor job, even though I liked it. I actually felt satisfied enough working there. But there were some times when I wished I could really help the people I was writing about, instead of just reporting their stories to the world," he says with a smile. "One day I met a detective who told me many informations, but also lots of stories about investigations. It sounded exciting and also difficult, but I guess I got touched by all the feelings of resolvement it brought. And I think I really wanted to be part of this whole process..."
"Sounds exactly like Sho's reason to join the agency," Nino points out.
"It was actually because of Sho. That detective I mentioned was him," Jun clarifies. "I thought you knew that."
"Might have slipped my mind," Nino smirks.
"You were already in the agency when Sho joined?" Jun asks curiously. "I don't remember seeing you then."
"I joined after Sho. Matsuko took me in..." ...literally from the streets, he finishes in his mind. It was the moment of his life when Aiba took over his family's restaurant and Nino had more time to himself, and spent his days investigating on his own. "I mostly got in troubles before that and starved myself a lot, since I was poor and didn't have a proper job. He also didn't have much resources so I guess he had even more money troubles thanks to me. You know how he eats rice mixed with egg straight from the rice cooker? I used to share such meal with him for most of the week in the first years. It's surprisingly tasty though," he shrugs. "Then he trained me and let me join the agency."
He doesn't mention he also let him join only if he stopped his escapades and stayed in the office, promising that when they have a plan they will investigate his parents’ disappearance. Sometimes, waiting was just too much though.
"It was 5 years ago. After me Aiba joined the agency, leaving his family restaurant in hands of his older sibling. To be honest, I think he just was worried for me." Then he turns to Jun, "And you arrived, two years ago with Ohno following you like a puppy."
"I still wonder why he joined the detective agency. He never comes on time and seems not to be really interested in detective work." Jun laughs. "He even asked us what a detective is doing.”
"He was always strange," Nino agrees.
"Look who's talking," Jun points back at Nino, but the other doesn't follow his lead.
"Why did you break up with him?" he asks, even though it makes Jun fall silent. "Oh come on, I was always curious."
"Busybody," Jun complains. "Well, I guess it's because we're not really compatible. He spends his whole time with his family and wouldn't introduce me to them. Even on Christmas Eve he claims he won't come, because they have a family tradition of competing in Wii at home on that day."
"Now I will really be a busybody, but I guess I deserve it after I caught you two making out in our office, I think it was already a year ago," he says and looks in Jun's direction, snarking a little at his embarrassed face. "You should just propose some other day to spend with him and make your own special lovey-dovey date or something. It's not fair to end things without trying? Gosh, I can't believe I'm giving you love advice, this air must have corrupted my brain."
Jun doesn't answer right away, looking confused at Nino, like he wonders why is the other even considering that, but finally shifts his eyes away. "I will think about that."
The moment the door finally opens and a light blinds them, someone's voice reaches their ears and they instinctively shield each other. "Koichi-san, it wasn't ghost voices after all! I would say they're quite human and hugging at the moment. But one is even more surprising, did you kidnap a Santa Claus by chance and didn't tell me?"
The person helps them out and they step into a shop that turns out to be a cat cafe. There is at least a dozen of cats running freely around them and the two people propose them something hot to drink.
“We’re in Osaka,” they answer their question in kansai dialect. “Why were you in our basement? You wanted to steal our cat food?”
Nino quickly confirmed by asking about more things that they thought Nino and Jun are just lost customers, who stepped into restricted area and ended up getting locked in their storage room.
“Ghosts get mischievous around here, so I guess they shut the door close after you. You’re lucky we found you,” the person called Tsuyoshi explains.
Few hours later, they meet with others finally, Aiba running to glomp Nino and cry on his shoulder. “I thought you didn’t want to see me anymore! Because of what I said on Christmas!”
Nino is more bewildered than anything as he points out, “It was two years ago, why would I suddenly feel this way now?”
“I don’t know!” Aiba wails. “But I’m glad if it’s not because of me…”
“Of course it’s not” Nino says with an awkward smile and ignores Jun’s inquiring and curious gazes. There is no way he would tell him that story, he will take it with him to the grave… unless Aiba will share it to him, in which case he might consider killing Aiba and burying his corpse in some forest.
He almost forgets to scold Sho who has a very pitiful, sheepish expression on his face. Oh well, he would have to talk with him about his newly found stalking tendencies sometime later.
***
On the morning of Christmas Eve, Sho arrives first again and decorates a medium high christmas tree they set up on one of the desks. He is just about to hang on another ornament when his cellphone rings “White Christmas” melody, indicating a call.
“Yes?” he answers in a hurry.
“Sho-chan, help me to bring the kotatsu from my parents place to the office!” sounds Aiba’s cheerful voice.
“Wait, isn’t your parents home in Chiba?” he asks mesmerized. “It will take at least an hour to reach there!”
“We’ll be fine!” Aiba chirps impatiently and Sho takes a look at the clock. Indeed, if they go now they might return at the lunch time, and he seriously ponders over it. Finally he agrees and hurries out of the office.
Next person who comes to the office is Ohno, a bit surprised to be the first one, but then he notices the half-finished christmas tree and ornaments lying in tiny boxes around and decides to do the rest by himself. That’s when Jun finds him half an hour later and his eyes grow wide behind his slightly steamed glasses at the sight.
“It must be a Christmas miracle for you to be the first person in the morning,” he comments teasingly and Ohno makes a funny, meaning to be sulky, face.
“It probably is indeed, I’m even before MatsuJun,” he agrees. “But someone was here before, since the ornaments were opened and few placed on the tree.”
They decorate the tree together before Nino arrives. He helps with few decorations, before starting his computer and dedicating his attention to the screen completely, and Jun doesn’t spare him a comment on that. “Already missed your virtual world?”
“Terribly,” Nino confirms with a tiny smile directed towards his screen.
Around noon Aiba and Sho are back, trying to fit the kotatsu through the office door, barely making it. Soon after Ohno leaves to get on time for his family christmas dinner back at home.
“Like always,” Jun comments dryly, but still smiles to him when saying goodbye and exchanging christmas wishes; it was a custom they picked up in last year and Jun mostly related it to the western movies, nevertheless, it was nice.
They spend the rest of the afternoon sitting under the kotatsu, eating and lazing around with christmas songs in the background. It was Sho who brought some cds to listen and despite Jun’s protests that he heard enough of such through the last days already, he mercifully allows him to play one or two; after all it is Christmas Eve, so being nice to others is a given.
Their chief arrives later, with huge wishes and alcohol and stays for a while.
“Nino, I missed you so much. Don’t worry me like that anymore!” she scolds him and hugs him tight, making all the air from his lungs squeezed away and Nino barely manages to voice he also missed them all. “I must be too old for this job already. I should give my position to one of you. How about giving it to Ohno?”
“He isn’t even here! And he doesn’t work properly,” Jun protests, frowning upon the strange idea.
“But you call him “leader” sometimes, right? I think it fits, I think I will give it to Ohno and become your supervisor instead. And I want to open my own bar,” Matsuko explains, finally allowing Nino to breath, as he pats her back in a try to return the attention he was given.
“That was meant as a joke…” Jun protests further, wondering if chief wants to open a gay bar, but the topic gets dropped soon and they just drink their way through the first evening hour. Matsuko then leaves to spend some time with her friends, leaving them back some bottles and not all of them empty.
It turns out it wasn’t their last guest visit that day though, when the office door opens again and a couple of guys enters with a loud “Merry Christmas!” with Yoko in the lead.
“I thought you would celebrate on your own this year,” Sho points out, surprised.
“We did. But we already ran out of alcohol and just got drunk, so we figured we could as well come here,” Yoko explains sloppily. “Oh, and I wanted to do this too,” he says and makes a countdown, after which a collective cheer of “Happy Birthday Aiba-kun!” proceeds, making the birthday boy’s eyes sparkle with happiness.
Sho still doesn’t miss that all of them are wearing their casual clothes though. “We’re just getting drunk here too,” he teases.
“That’s alright,” Yoko then squeezes himself into the empty angle at the kotatsu he finds and complains “There is not enough room for all of us.”
“You didn’t exactly come announced,” Sho retorts, amused.
Yoko ignores his comment and just looks around. “What’s with all those candles?” he asks, seeing them put in every corner and all around. “Isn’t there too many?”
Sho pouts. “I just tried to make a cozy atmosphere,” but all he manages is to make Yoko smirk. Still, Yoko is the first one to later doze off while secretly appreciating their warmth and scent later.
“Let’s play a game! Those who lose will have to leave the kotatsu!” Aiba proposes excited and not many dare to object the will of the birthday person. So they end up picking a bottle and playing one of the oldest games in the world.
“You are aware we’re all guys and it will only get awkward?” Yoko asks just to check, but Aiba only laughs him off.
After few spins and first dares and drunk kisses, Yoko starts to fidget a bit, then declares, “This is gross, I’m too little drunk for this,” and he gulps more.
Nino observes Aiba’s happy, flushed cheeks and he can’t help but remember how it used to be in the past. The first talks and doubts Aiba shared with Nino about discovering his sexual identity and him feeling confused and denying the possibility he might not mind falling for a boy. Nino listened to him surprisingly focused and told him it’s alright to have bi tendencies. He himself doesn’t really remember having any problems like that around the issue, what mattered was how close he felt to the potential lover and the gender came second, or at least that’s how it felt to him back then.
In the middle of the game Jun asks curiously. “I never heard about the case with the missing presents, did you even solve it?”
“We did!” Subaru confirmed a bit too loud.
“Just like Yokoyama suspected, it was the inside job,” Sho starts to explain, while Jun supports his cheek on his hand, like preparing himself for a long story. “The report of the police officer witnessing some people going away by car with the bags was fishy and turned out to be false. The presents were still hidden inside the police station and the person responsible for this was no one other than the supposed witness.”
Yoko nods, narrowing his eyes. “That Ryo guy, he joined us only last week and I found him suspicious from the start. Turns out he is some kind of fortuneteller, doing some scam job. Too bad we can’t arrest him for that.” he adds regretfully. “I sent out all my men to search in the city, leaving him to keep an eye at the station on purpose. Then I waited to catch him in the act when he would try to bring the presents out of the police station. He finally admitted he was working for someone, but didn’t want to admit for who. Seems someone came to him with such odd request.”
“But the kids in the orphanage got their presents, so it’s a happy end,” Sho concludes, relieved that they don’t have to sacrifice Jun and Ohno’s salary for emergency gifts.
“There was one odd thing though,” Subaru butts in. “We also found extra tiny bags along the ones that were missing. And they were signed with a piece of paper saying ‘for the police officers’. There were small handmade gifts inside. It’s like a Santa came to us to reward us for the hard work,” he nods seriously.
“I actually found out how that happened and who came to request help from the fortuneteller. It was kids from the orphanage!” Aiba shows off a tiny bit. “I found the kids nearby talking about making presents for the police officers in return for their kindness. But when I asked them they said they never requested for the gifts to be hidden away nor to scare the police a little.”
“Well, they wouldn’t really admit, if they meant it as a christmas prank or not,” Yoko points out. “I wouldn’t either in their place.”
“Good job,” Jun congratulates Aiba, making the latter burst with joy. “So the police got tricked by little kids in the end?” he teases.
“But still, why did they ask for help from some random fortuneteller? Don’t you find it strange?” Sho asks, frowning like suddenly struck with the thought.
“I heard he is popular with the kids. Helps them a lot even in things that don’t include supernatural phenomena.” Yoko shares what he found out when talking with the children in the orphanage. “I bet he takes money for this, that swindler.”
“He can’t really take much money from the kids who don’t even own it in the first place, especially those at the orphanage,” Sho opposes him though. “But maybe you should indeed keep an eye on him,” he agrees in the end.
While their exchange goes on, Aiba hands something to Nino under the kotatsu table. He peeks at it curiously, seeing a small present with the card saying the same thing as two years ago. He smiles despite himself. He borrows a pen from the nearest table and scribbles on the card for his own present to Aiba “Thank you, but you should find someone better next year,” and finds Aiba’s leg, then hands under the table to give it to him. After reading the note he smiles shyly, but shakes his head. Just moments later, he sends him a worried look though and Nino doesn’t have to be a mindreader to know why, after all the years he spent with his friend. “I don’t mind,” he mouths to him and it seems to calm Aiba down.
They don’t talk about Nino’s disappearance case openly, though Subaru at one point asks about it in very bold and indelicate way. Nino tells him he was spirited away, which earns him more time not to answer honestly, because Subaru gets too busy considering the possibility.
His small investigations ended up in nothing. He followed the lead of some names that might have been involved into the incident back in his middle school days, that’s how he found that address in Yokohama, but before he could even see the flat he had already lost his consciousness and woke up locked in that dark basement. He can’t even count how many times before similiar stuff has happened, either getting himself into troubles, waking up abandoned in the park, on the corridor of his own building (he always changes flats whenever it happens) or just not finding anything. It’s like a white hole and all the informations regarding the matter are erased automatically. Still, he thinks that this cat cafe in Osaka was a bit odd and he will investigate its background soon. If he is lucky enough he might come upon something. He also needs to make sure for Sho to cooperate instead of hiding stuff from him.
But he also wonders if he will ever get any closer to the truth.
Also what Jun told him today also caught his attention. Supposedly one of his sisters was looking for him, leaving an address under which Jun later “found” Nino. He can’t say whether it was really his family member just by Jun’s vague description, but one is certain for sure: without her help Jun wouldn’t find the place. He hopes that whoever she was that she will come back to their office again, though he finds it not very likely, for whatever reason. Maybe he simply stopped believing in his luck anymore.
“Eh, I’m supposed to kiss someone in this room? But it’s all guys around,” Yoko whines when the bottle’s end points to him. Others already look very eager to offer him a punishment and Yoko doesn’t even want to know what that could be, so he searches for any sort of way out. Then he notices the tiny cat trying to play and break an ornament hanging on the lowest branches of the tree, but couldn’t even reach it without standing on it’s two tiny legs and almost toppling over.
He smiles and reaches toward the pet and kisses it on the nose. “It counts, right? Since Furball is the part of the team,” he excuses himself, happy to find a way to get out of the uncomfortable situation.
“Okay, this time it counts, but next time you won’t have the same luck,” Subaru promises him, but Yoko has his hopes that they will get bored and finish the game before his next turn comes. He searches already for any other game idea around to propose to the others.
Still it’s his turn and he spins the bottle obediently. It points at Jun this time and Yoko declares vengefully (though later in the evening he doesn’t even mind anything anymore) “You have to kiss someone in this room. But make it not me.”
Jun doesn’t back away, only keeps his glasses in place as he stands up. “Still, I request a handicap. So far, you all used some, so I think I have a right for one too” he says, because last time the fate made the bottle choose him, Nino told him to wear the Santa Claus outfit again. Jun obliged and now sits in the same Santa costume he had on himself when working in the mall, because he still didn’t have the time to return it back. He never planned to run around the city in it, but when he tried to get inside the changing room he found it closed shut and despite trying to find any manager, no one could tell him where is the person with the keys. So instead of wasting time, he grabbed then his jacket, which was left in on the hangers outside the room and only removed his fake beard before sprinting into the streets. Now honestly he got so used to the outfit that he finds he doesn’t mind it at all anymore.
“Everyone, close your eyes,” Jun request and despite the protests they finally do, leaving him some margin of privacy. They will miss out on the show and it’s just how Jun wants it.
After making sure everyone has their eyes closed he looks only on one person, sitting a bit away, but not enough for Jun not to reach him if he leans on the kotatsu table. He pecks his lips lightly and Nino feels it, his heart skipping a beat. From that moment on, it does it every time he looks at Jun that night.
“How can we know if you really kissed anyone this way?” Yasu protests and Jun only confirms with a cheeky smile that he indeed did what he was supposed to, and other people’s frustrations for not seeing aren’t his problem.
He doesn’t peek on Nino anymore, but he hopes the other will keep it a christmas secret and he doesn’t need to hear the other’s opinion to know that he would find it awfully sappy, because so does Jun.
It was, after all, not meant to be repeated, though both of them feel like the blush will stay on their faces forever. Maybe even until next Christmas.