[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/moq2uR2.png[/img][/center]
[center] [color=LightBlue]H-Have I mentioned how much I hate detectives?[/color]
[color=888888]-Norika Tsukishima[/color][/center]

It was not an especially sunny day. 

Not that it would have meant much. The filter on Norika’s window prevented much of anything from lighting up her room. But today it was cloudy. Very cloudy, in fact. And a bit stormy too. It was dark and hard to see much of anything, save for when a lightning bolt lit up the sky. And forget hearing anything. The rain drummed on the window for hours, drowned out only by the occasional crack of thunder. 

Despite the harsh conditions, a pair of headlights cut through the darkness outside. Guests never brought Norika much joy, but this one was especially troublesome. It was that beat up truck that belonged to the private detective. The engine was almost louder than the rain. 

[color=LightBlue][i]W-Why is [b]he[/b] here?[/i][/color] Norika wondered as she peered at the unwelcomely familiar truck from between her thick curtains as it made its way through the torrential deluge, growing ever closer to her home.

While she had gotten Roche to buy her a wig that matched the hair of her magical girl form, Norika had yet to settle upon a suitably unpleasant candidate to plant it on. At first, Suki had been the obvious choice to frame for the break-in, but recent developments had caused the sickly girl to hesitate on going through with that plan. Indeed, with current affairs being what they were, bringing unwanted attention to any member of the club was problematic at best. [color=LightBlue][i]If only I knew where any of those annoying GEM bitches lived…[/i][/color] In any event, she’d thought the worst she’d have to deal with was keeping the troublesome investigator away from Misoka. She hadn’t expected he would return so soon, especially not before she’d finalized her cover story. [color=LightBlue][i]I-I’ll just have to get creative…[/i][/color] Norika resolved, her mouth set in a firm line as she clutched the precious pendent around her neck. Taking a deep breath, the frail girl steeled herself as much as possible for the impending meeting.

The door swung open. It was one of the maids. 

[b]"Let’s get this over with. Come on."[/b]

A sentiment she could agree with.

…

…

…

The setup was much like before, with the sickly Norika positioned on a chair with her back to a corner. What was different was that her father was nowhere to be seen this time. The chair her father usually sat in was empty, and Makoto was seated shortly after Norika.

[b][color=ffffff]"These are some comfy seats."[/color][/b] Makoto’s expression remained professionally apathetic as he spoke. [b][color=ffffff]"The truck’s seats are starting to show their age. Maybe when I get them reupholstered, I’ll have the cushions replaced with whatever your family lines their chairs with."[/color][/b]

[color=LightBlue]"W-Why do you w-want to speak with me?"[/color] Norika inquired, getting right to the point despite the meek tone of her voice and her visibly unsettled demeanor. [color=LightBlue]"I-I already t-told you e-everything I know."[/color]

[b][color=ffffff]"Oh…"[/color][/b] Makoto’s demeanor returned to its normal seriousness. At least, normal compared to his first visit. [b][color=ffffff]"You had said that your parents tend to keep you out of most things. I had to talk with him for a bit and I thought you might like to be involved in things a bit more. In particular, I wanted to introduce you to someone."[/color][/b] He tipped his head. [b][color=ffffff]"When you mentioned the teal wig, I thought you were pulling my leg. The case is almost a slam dunk, but given your father’s influence I need to make sure parties outside of Hibusa town are not involved. Apparently ‘Cosplay Criminals’ are something that exist, and they can be very difficult to catch."[/color][/b] He shrugged his shoulders. [b][color=ffffff]"Your father is already paying me quite well, so I’ve decided to hire a specialist to work on that aspect of the case. I thought you might like to meet him."[/color][/b] 

[color=LightBlue]"O-Oh, I see…"[/color] Norika replied softly. This was both good, [i]and[/i] bad news. For one thing, it was rather considerate of Makoto to want to involve her in more of the investigation, but at the same time, she couldn’t help but feel that this was in some way a ploy to fish for more information. For another, while looking for possible suspects beyond Hibusa’s bounds significantly lessened the chances of Misoka, or her family, suffering any repercussions, it also greatly complicated Norika’s plans to frame an unpleasant individual of her choosing for the crime. In any event, she would have to think over those issues at a later time. Right now, she had a more immediate concern to deal with. [color=LightBlue]"Y-Yes,"[/color] she confirmed with a hesitant nod. [color=LightBlue]"I-I would v-very much like to meet him."[/color]

Makoto gave the girl a single nod. [b][color=ffffff]"Mister Vanhorn?"[/color][/b]

The teenage boy who walked into view wasn’t most people’s idea of a mister. He had youthful features and didn’t look like a Japanese native. His hair was short and curtained the sides of his face. His clothes leaned European and he took better care of his appearance than Makoto did. But he said nothing, and simply took a seat in her father’s chair across from Makoto.

[b][color=ffffff]"Yes, Mister Vanhorn."[/color][/b] Makoto pointed at him once. [b][color=ffffff]"He knows a lot about these cosplay criminals."[/color][/b] 

[color=daa520]"Just Finn is fine."[/color] He placed his hands in his lap, which also held a laptop. [color=daa520]"We don’t need to be so formal."[/color]

Makoto scoffed. [b][color=ffffff]"He doesn’t let me call him Finn."[/color][/b]

[color=LightBlue][i]H-He’s a [b]teenager…?[/b][/i][/color] Norika wondered incredulously. Indeed, the young man before her looked younger than she was. Then again, thanks to her frail constitution, Norika herself looked several years younger than her actual age, so perhaps the same was true of this "Finn". [color=LightBlue]"I-It’s a pleasure to m-make your a-acquaintance, Finn,"[/color] Norika told the boy detective with a demure bow of her head. [color=LightBlue]"I-I’m Norika."[/color]

[color=daa520]"So I’ve been told."[/color] He returned the nod with one of his own, then flipped open his laptop. His eyes were focused on Norika as his fingers tapped away. [color=daa520]"I’ve spoken with Makoto, and I have a few extra questions about the wig. It was teal, but do you remember how long it was? Any accessories that stood out?"[/color]

[color=LightBlue]"I-I, um… I-I think it was waist-length,"[/color] Norika replied hesitantly, as though she were trying to recall what she’d seen. [color=LightBlue]"I-I didn’t really get the b-best look at it,"[/color] she added with a frown. [color=LightBlue]"I-I mainly just n-noticed the color…"[/color]

[color=daa520]"I see."[/color] Finn’s eyes flicked down to his laptop. But rather than furious typing, he scrolled and tapped a few times. [color=daa520]"Are you a fan of Hatsune Miku?"[/color]

[color=LightBlue]"N-Not really…"[/color] Norika replied, unsure of where Finn was going with this new line of questioning. [color=LightBlue]"I-I mostly prefer i-instrumental music,"[/color] she added softly. [color=LightBlue]"W-Why do you ask?"[/color]

[color=daa520]"She also has teal hair. If you were a fan of her, you might be more inclined to misremember details about the thief and project something you were more familiar with in your memories."[/color] He closed the laptop. [color=daa520]"I also prefer instrumental music. Beethoven’s Moonlit Sonata is one of my favorites. Particularly the first movement, Adagio sostenuto. The melancholy of the notes gets me every time. Though the furious maelstrom of notes in the third movement is also to my tastes. Do you have any favorites?"[/color]

Norika was silent for a moment before answering. [color=LightBlue]"I-I like v-video game music,"[/color] she explained, looking away out of embarrassment. [color=LightBlue]"M-My brother and I u-used to play a l-lot of different ones, a-and I really e-enjoyed their soundtracks."[/color] If she had to pick a favorite, Blood Shot, from the console port of Gearmantic Hearts, would have been a strong contender for that spot, but she wasn’t about to tell the obviously high-brow Finn that. Indeed, she felt self-conscious enough about revealing this much insight into her taste in music as it was. 

This made the corners of Finn’s lips curl up. [color=daa520]"Ahh, I’m always hesitant to bring up my love of videogames. Have you ever played Gearmantic Hearts? I heard good things about it, but it was just a curiosity for me until I learned one of the characters was named ‘Finnegan Fabricant.’ I remember I tried to get really good with him."[/color] His eyes flicked down to his computer. A little bit of typing, a few clicks, and some [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYHgH68Trz0]music started to play.[/url] [color=daa520]"Combining the eerie electric organ with a heavy guitar rift isn’t something I’d normally picture for him, but it kind of makes sense given his past traumas."[/color]

Norika had to stifle a gasp when Finn started playing the very song she’d been thinking about. She also had to stop herself from falling into the trap of clarifying that the track in question was actually the theme for a [i]different[/i] character, a death ray-firing technomantic horror that was one of her most often used fighters, along with the equally beam bombardment heavy Sixshooter Synthia and Necroid 99. Instead, she simply replied, [color=LightBlue]"I-I’ll take your w-word for it. K-Kaito and I o-only played that game a f-few times, so I’m n-not especially familiar w-with the characters’ b-backstories…"[/color]

[color=LightBlue][i]T-That was close… This kid [b]really[/b] knows what he’s doing. I need to be [b]very[/b] careful with what I tell him…[/i][/color]

[color=daa520]"It’s a fun game."[/color] Finn nodded as his smile retreated. [color=daa520]"But I play a lot of stuff. Actually, do you have a Mist account? Disharmony? You could add me to your contacts and-"[/color]

[b][color=ffffff]"We’re here for the case."[/color][/b] Makoto raised his hand. [b][color=ffffff]"I’m sure Mr. Tsukishima doesn’t need us to act as a rent-a-friend for his daughter."[/color][/b]

Finn groaned and flicked his eyes towards Makoto. [color=daa520]"Getting to know people is part of a detective’s job."[/color] Then he looked back at Norika. [color=daa520]"Anyway, no pressure. All of my socials are ‘TheRealFabricant’ without spaces. Sometimes ‘TheRealFabricant99.’ Add me if you’d like, or don’t."[/color]

Makoto lowered his hand. [b][color=ffffff]"Any questions about the case?"[/color][/b]

[color=daa520]"None that your report didn’t answer."[/color] Finn closed his laptop. [color=daa520]"Sorry for getting you out here for just one question."[/color]

[b][color=ffffff]"That has to do with the case."[/color][/b] Makoto added. 

[color=daa520]"But thank you for your time, and it was nice to meet you."[/color]

[color=LightBlue]"Y-You’re welcome,"[/color] Norika replied with a small bow of her head, her voice as quiet as ever. [color=LightBlue]"A-And it was n-nice to meet you as well,"[/color] she added, even if, in actuality, she hadn’t enjoyed the experience in the slightest. [color=LightBlue]"I-I’m sorry I c-couldn’t be more h-helpful."[/color]

As the man and boy got up, one of the maids returned to Norika’s side to hand her a cane. Then the maid departed as quickly as she could. 

[color=daa520]"Oh, but one more thing!"[/color] Finn turned around before leaving Norika’s sight. [color=daa520]"It was hard to make out with the storm, but I thought I saw a Xolys poster through one of the windows."[/color] He flipped open his laptop. [color=daa520]"He looks something like this? I thought it was your room, but you aren’t familiar with Gearmantic Hearts so I must be wrong. Or do they just have similar designs?"[/color] And on the laptop screen was a picture of the [url=https://i.imgur.com/ZZbseoZ.jpeg]towering technomantic nightmare[/url], a bit stretched out and low resolution, but still unmistakable to a true fan. 

Norika’s heart practically stopped upon hearing the young detective’s latest words. Her eyes went wide while a trembling hand pressed against her chest.

[color=LightBlue][i]H-How in the [b]world[/b] could he have seen that?![/i][/color] her dizzy mind wondered frantically. 

Indeed, it should have been impossible. Even discounting the rain, her window was tinted and the shades were almost completely drawn across it. Furthermore, the poster in question was located on the back wall of a walk-in clothing closet, one that, while it [i]had[/i] been open at the time, was still impossible to see into from outside the house.

[color=LightBlue][i]W-Who [b]is[/b] this boy…?[/i][/color]

Unconsciously biting her lip, Norika’s mind raced to formulate a convincing response, even as she desperately tried to compose herself.

[color=LightBlue]"I-It was m-my brother’s…"[/color] She eventually answered, her soft voice even meeker than usual. Taking a gulp of air, she continued, [color=LightBlue]"H-He l-liked the way that c-character l-looked, so he g-got that p-poster f-for his r-room. W-When he l-left for u-university, h-he let me h-have it."[/color]

Finn and Makoto just stared, then Finn tipped his head back with a grin. [color=daa520]"Ah! That explains it!"[/color] He shut his laptop. [color=daa520]"Your father showed me his room, and I noticed he had pictures of all the fighters but that one. That makes a lot of sense."[/color] 

Makoto sighed. [b][color=ffffff]"We ready to go?"[/color][/b]

[color=daa520]"Yea."[/color] He backed out of the room while pointing at Norika. [color=daa520]"You’re very lucky to have that! Those are quite collectable now!"[/color] 

And with that, the young boy and the scruffy man were gone. 

[color=LightBlue][i]W-What… W-What even [b]was[/b] that…?![/i][/color] Norika wondered, still in something of a state of shock even half a minute after the pair had departed. The whole scene had been so surreal, and it had added such drastic complexity to an already complex situation that she was having trouble figuring out where to even begin solving just one of its myriad facets. [color=LightBlue][i]I-If only Kaito was here…[/i][/color] the frail girl reflected somberly as she made her slow and shaky way back to her room, one trembling hand tightly gripping her cane, while the other continued to clutch her precious pendant. [color=LightBlue][i][b]H-He’d[/b] know what to do…[/i][/color] After all, he had always seemed to know the easy solution to any problem. But the sad fact was, Kaito [i]wasn’t[/i] here, and Norika would have to solve [i]this[/i] problem on her own…