𓆩✩ ◛ °⋆𓆪
     ╰┈➤ 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒓𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒅 softly along the tracks, and I observed the outside world pass by my watchful eyes. Gentle noises from the railing played into the ambient background, finally slowing to a screeching halt as the train stopped.

I found myself neatly packing up my things to exit off onto the platform—carefully surveying the area.

I was now walking along the the river, looking for familiar faces. I paused, seeing a gathering just ahead. Police officers crowded around the area, and standing right in the middle was indeed the famed Ranpo Edogawa.

He was dressed in his iconic detective outfit, accompanied by our newest member—Nakajima Atsushi. I made my way toward the group, before being stopped by one of the officers, asking who I was.

"Eh? Is that the beautiful (First Name) (Last Name) I can sense?" An all too recognizable voice rang through my ears. I looked over to see Dazai peeking his head, Ranpo and Atsushi now also curiously looking my way.

"Finally my subordinate has arrived, you took so long we had to leave without you." Ranpo scoffed, crossing his arms.

I wasn't even supposed to be at the office that early, does that idiot even know that?

"Now now, that's no way to treat a lady, Ranpo." Dazai spoke for me, and I closed the mouth that was about to tell the cocky detective off.

Positioned beside Atsushi, I caught his faint wave. Dazai's hands gently landed on my shoulders, nudging me closer to the unfolding scene. "Take a look, (Name)," he urged, "things are starting to get interesting."

I gazed down at the body laid before us, a young woman who looked to be mid 20s. She was lying face up, 3 clear bullet holes on her chest.

"Any leads so far?" I turned to look at the older man and Ranpo.

"No clue who the culprit could be, by the way she carried herself at work she couldn't have been in a relationship with anyone." The older detective replied—sighing a little.

"So you're saying you have absolutely nothing right?" Ranpo cut in, pointing at him.

"Which is exactly why I can't entrust this case to amateurs like you."

"You there." Ranpo pointed at an officer standing off to the side. "What's your name?"

"I'm Junsa Sugimoto. The deceased Miss Yamagiwa was my senior in the department. What do you need sir?"

"You have sixty seconds to solve this case, go!" I watched as the frantic Sugimoto tried to piece together the case with the impossible time he was given.

"Isn't that a little cruel?" Dazai put his hand on my shoulder once again, releasing a sigh to himself. Suddenly the young officer came to an epiphany.

"What if... I'm willing to bet that the mafia killed her to keep her from investigating—"

"Wrong." Dazai said grimly, way more serious than his usual carefree attitude—his sudden switch made me tense. "First they make the person bite the curb, stepping on the head to break the jaw. While they're still in agony, they shoot you three times in the chest."

"So whoever shot her did so on purpose to make it look like the work of the mafia?" Dazai looked at me with contempt, reaffirming what I had gathered.

"BZZZT!" Sugimoto jumped at the sound of Ranpo imitating a buzzer.

"Oh well times up, looks like you don't have what it takes to be a famous detective." He pat the top of Sugimoto's head with a hearty laugh.

"Look here, you!" The older detective stepped forward, staring Ranpo down. "You keep spouting all this 'Great and famous detective' bullshit, like you've been reading too many bad mystery novels! The way to solve this case is to look for info and scour the crime scene."

"Uh what?" I watched as Ranpo's mood quickly soured, walking toward the man. "You still don't get it? Great detectives don't have to investigate. All I have to do is use my ultra deduction once, and I'll be able to tell you who, when, and how of the murder—in detail. Not only that, I'll know where to find the evidence, and I'll know just the right way to force a confession out of the killer."

"Don't give me that crap! If such a thing existed every investigator on the force would be outta the job!"

"Yes that's exactly correct." Such a remark sent the older man into an understandable rage. Ranpo only added insult to injury by shrugging him off, and giving an all too punchable smirk. Thankfully, Dazai interviened,

"My my, Ranpo is always like this Detective. Don't let it get to you."

"Alright then put your money where your mouth is and show us this 'ability'. Shall I count to sixty?" He mocked, trying to find amusement out of the situation.

"No need for that." Ranpo stepped forward, pulling hidden glasses from out of his brown coat.

"Watch carefully (Name). This is how our abilities really help us with work. Ranpo's ability is 'to fully understand facts about an incident'."

Dazai was indeed right. The air around Ranpo had definitely changed, leaving a chilling tone surrounding him. I had to admit seeing him at work was truly amazing; a more mature side of him wasn't something I'd have expected. The few silent seconds of growing suspence was finally broken, as Ranpo began to speak,

"I see."

"So you know who did it now?" The detective was still in disbelief, not taking the latter seriously. However Ranpo simply lifted his hand, extending his pointer finger in the direction of officer Sugimoto.

"The murderer was you." His accusations were met with heavy laughter from the older detective, again disregarding Ranpo. This left the young man with a mildly displeased facial expression, but he continued. "Didn't I tell you I know where to find the evidence? Watch closely. Lend me your gun." He motioned to Sugimoto.

"D—Don't joke around about that! If I hand my firearm to a civilian, it's not just my paycheck that will get cut."

"Hmph, I've had enough of him. Just hand it over to humor him so he'll shut up. No point in wasting anymore time." Yet the demand was met with a strange silence, as the officer stopped in his tracks. "Hey, what's the hold up?"

"It's never easy for the common gun owner to secretly get more ammo. The same can also be said for police officers," Ranpo remarked, pausing briefly as I took the opportunity to study the frozen figure of the other man. His demeanor betrayed a hint of panic, and gradually, I began to comprehend the implications behind Ranpo's words.

He doesn't want to hand over the gun because...

"He's trying to think of an excuse for the three missing bullets in his revolver." Ranpo pointed at him once more, causing Sugimoto to finally lose his cool. Dazai immediately took notice of the man getting ready to fire his gun, quickly pushing the poor Atsushi to apprehend him. In one swift motion, Atsushi had the officer pinned to the floor—much to Ranpo's delight.

"It was supposed the be the perfect crime! Why?" Sugimoto pleaded, but to no avail. I watched the scene continue to unfold, with Ranpo proceeding to lay out the evidence of Sugomoto's crime.

"The murder took place early morning yesterday. She was dumped into the river some 140 meters upstream."

"How did you know that?!"

"If we go there I'm sure we'll find them... you and the victims footprints I mean. And the blood you failed to clean up." Most of us, besides Dazai, we're still in disbelief at how incredible Ranpo's ability was.

The older detective handcuffed Sugimoto, taking him away to the office to continue questioning. Ranpo and the rest of us followed suit, an anxious air filling what was to come.

__ __

I waited outside the building for the rest of them. Ranpo had concluded the whole case, reciting all the events that took place to the smallest details. The older man, whose name I found out to be Minoura, thanked Ranpo for his assistance.

"Whenever you need my ability, feel free to call me. I'll give you a discount next time!" I bowed to Mr. Minoura, waving goodbye as we departed back to the agency.

Ranpo walked ahead of us, looking around at the different shops.

"That ability of his is amazing. He knew everything, down to the last details." I had no other way to express my awe, it was very satisfying to watch the case unfold.

"Eh (Name)? Surely you know right, with all the reasoning he did? Ranpo doesn't have an ability." Dazai shook his head, leaving me and Atsushi in shock.

"HUH?!" We both yelled at the same time. Dazai explained how he had half figured it out as well, but I still couldn't help but respect Ranpo even more. I turned my attention to the childish man in front of us, striding along the streets without a care.

Now I get it, 'Worlds Greatest Detective'

Eventually, we approached the train station. I sat next to Ranpo with Dazai and Atsushi sitting in the booth behind us.

"So my subordinate, revel at my skill yet? Impressed by my ability?" He smirked, opening a bag of chips he had taken from the train attendant.

"You certainly live up to your fame," I complimented, acknowledging his undeniable skill. For all his cockiness, he does show for it. Working under him won't be so bad, despite how rude he comes off. However, my response didn't seem to please him; a sour expression replaced his earlier demeanor.

"Psst, you're just like all the rest of them. If you're going to work with me, don't start to hold such high standards now. I'm a person just like the rest of you." He mumbled the last part, crossing his arms like a child.

"Not to worry, I never thought that way in the first place. All that I think now is that I respect you—even if you have an unpleasant personality." Ranpo paused for a second, as if for once he didn't expect this kind of an answer. He sat up straight, going back to eating more chips.

"Hmm, maybe I did make the right choice." I looked at him with a questioning gaze, but he didn't seem to want to respond.

"So Ranpo, you really did that without an ability?" Atsushi suddenly asked.

"Huh? Who told you that? Of course, I have an ability! I am an ability user!" the young detective retorted, his voice starting to rise, accompanied by a subtle pouting undertone, as he argued with the new recruit.

I simply chuckled to myself, watching him adamantly insist he was an ability user. Atsushi gazed with wide eyes as a young woman began to approach, scrambling to shush the other male.

"Shhh! Quiet down Ranpo! Look, the train attendant is coming over now!"

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