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Shuichi Saihara has had his fair share of experiencing a lot of things in his job as a detective.
He had come across being kidnapped by serial killers so his co-workers could have the opportunity to track them down. Even tried his hand at tracking down a supposed nuclear bomb set to explode when the time limit ran out. Hell, he even studied, climbed mountains, swam rivers, AND prepared tools just so he can catch an alligator on the loose.
And the very good thing about all those experiences is that he actually succeeded .
But even with all that mentioned, Shuichi thought that all his nerve-wracking experiences back then would dare not even compare to the life-and-death situation he's currently in right now.
With his palms facing downwards on his lap, Shuichi sat on a lone chair in the middle of a darkened room, where five or so blaring white lamps are focused directly on his face that there's a possibility he'll go blind if he stared into it for too long. After a few minutes of his eyes adjusting in both the light and through the dark, Shuichi could now make out the nine individuals who invited him here sitting on a row of chairs across a long table, their own hands clasped together and placed promptly on it. Even through the darkness, the nine wore unreadable expressions, except for their piercing eyes that were all staring daggers at the lone detective.
Ouma once describes his group to Shuichi as a 'secret evil organization', where his subordinates are evil enough to—and exactly from the leader’s words, "be very overprotective of him that it was borderline infuriating". There was an instance when during one of their interactions Ouma mentioned a time when the members of DICE literally tried to scare away and threatened one of his blind dates just because they 'Act weird'. Ouma wasn't exactly sure what went down exactly, but what DICE said (or did) was so severe that it resulted in that blind date of his eventual move overseas, and Ouma never saw that blind date again after that. That same thing can also be said of Ouma’s other suitors, where the majority of them have also ended up missing.
In the end, Shuichi was left wondering whether that was just an exaggeration or a lie or not—and honestly, as a person who's currently the one dating the phantom leader of DICE, he's not entirely sure if he wanted the answer to that.
"So," Shuichi can't believe he already flinched just because one of the nine staring him down finally spoke, where the one who broke the tense silence is someone he remembered is nicknamed Clubs, who is now consequently tapping his fingers on the table. "Shuichi Saihara, right?"
"Y-Yes… Sir." As an afterthought, Shuichi muttered out the last word as formalities. Right now, he's already anxious enough to be shrinking back in their scrutinizing gazes.
Once again, he tries to remind himself that he's the Shuichi Saihara, an Ultimate Detective famous worldwide, where his own sense of normal cannot be compared to a normal citizen's normal, having experienced and done a lot of unspeakable things in his line of work.
Which is why experiencing something like this would just be a piece of cake to someone like him, right?
…Right?
"You're the famous detective who got assigned the case to track down the city's infamous phantom thief and his organization, right?" The follow-up question was asked by the one sitting on the farthest right, who's nicknamed Jack, and Shuichi can't help but gulp. "You're the guy who declared on national TV that you'll be the one to put that phantom thief to justice and put him in jail, right?"
If the DICE's gazes weren't that intense before, then it's a lot more now. He should've expected that that was going to be the first question they were going to ask him.
Yep, he's wrong about this being a piece of cake. Definitely a thousand–no, a million times wrong.
"I-I am, and I did say that on national TV…" The detective anxiously fidgets the sleeves of his sweatshirt to try and calm himself down. "B-But that's all in the past now! I dropped the case a few months ago, you see? I have no plans on catching him now, especially since…" He trailed off, unsure if continuing his statement will result in extending his lifespan or not.
"His words match the same as what our boss said about the situation." Hearts, the girl with brunette long hair, nonchalantly states.
"When and how did you and our boss first meet?" Clover asked the next question.
"I met him first on the night where he stole that valuable painting of the reclining woman. You must've known that I was the one who chased him off the roof, which is why I got assigned to that case in the first place." Shuichi slowly raises his head. "My first impression of my encounter with him is that he seems to be a really charming person. I hadn't known his real identity yet at the time, but I remembered feeling the emotions of intrigue and the want of encountering him again deep down."
"Then when, where, why, and how did you fall in love with him?" Queen questions next.
A faint red threatens to spread on the cheeks of the detective. "I remembered when exactly slowly falling in love with him happens, but again I was just unaware at the time. It was during that moment that I got completely close to him enough to be conversing together with him and that interaction continued even until our next chases. I really enjoyed our banters a lot." He was now more confidently talking than before because all the things that he's been saying really do classify as truth. "The time I realized what I really felt about him is when he showed me his real identity. That was the exact moment, I think, when I found that I really do have feelings for him. Because even though I found out, I wouldn't really care any less because Ouma-kun is Ouma-kun, and personally, I guess that's all that matters." A small smile surfaces on Shuichi's lips. Until he realizes that he got sidetracked.
"O-oh, a-and why did I fall in love with him? Well, look at Ouma-kun. How can you not fall in love with him?" He answered like it was the most obvious thing in the world, and it’s a relief that he earned approving nods and hums from the other party in agreement.
Shuichi puts his hand under his chin in deep thought. "And as for how I fell in love with him, it's because I unknowingly developed some romantic feelings for him…?"
Besides Queen, King scoffs and groans. "That's just lame–Ow!" Queen smacks the back of King's head to shut him up, and turning to Shuichi, she nods in recognition. "That's fair enough."
"Hey detective," The next who spoke up was the girl named Diamonds, where an open folder with paper inside was placed in front of her. She raised one paper from the folder, showing a picture of him with written information."Our research about you shows that your parents are a famous actor and a scriptwriter. So my question is, with you as a famous detective plus with also rich and famous parents, just how rich are you exactly?"
"Diamonds, that's not a suitable question!"
"Why? I'm just curious!" As the other DICE slowly gives her judging looks, Diamonds exasperatedly sighs and rolls her eyes. "Fine then. What's your annual salary?"
"Diamonds!"
"What?! I just want to know if he can provide for our boss!"
"Oh, if you're asking, I don't really rely on my parents for things like that, since I don't really talk to them much anymore. And well, as for my annual salary, as far as I remember, it's…" Shuichi shyly states his annual salary. The nine members of DICE consecutively widened their eyes in unison.
King nudges Ace next to him, which, at first glance, is supposed to look discreet. "Bro, he's loaded." King loudly whispered.
"I say that we should just scam him and bail."
In alarm, Ace turned to his brother. "That's not the point of our interrogation! The point is to do a background check on him to see if he's a good fit for the leader of DICE!" He whispered back, and Shuichi was left wondering if the fact that the two of them were whispering loudly so he could hear was intentional or not.
"A-Anyway!" Before their whispering escalates into something else, one member, Spades, coughs into his fist as he leaned forwards from his seat. "Our boss–er, Kokichi had already told us what's going on between you and him. And the fact that you have already known his other persona, also about us, our group, and what we do, for that matter." On his hand, Spades fiddles with a pair of dice.
"Now all of those things don't really matter, since our identities still haven't been exposed and you're still standing here alive, but we want to ask one question just for clarification:" Spades' carefree look that seems to be more than what it seems made Shuichi think that he's a person he shouldn't ever mess with.
Spades opened his narrowed eyes. "Detective Saihara Shuichi. Do you really love our boss, Ouma Kokichi?"
"I do." Even with Spades’ piercing gaze, the detective spared no hesitation in answering. "With all my soul!"
"Then if you truly love our boss," Clubs starts, "Will you do anything and everything for his love?"
"I would, in a heartbeat!" He replied with enough conviction.
On the side, Hearts raised her hand in question.
Realizing the implications of what he just said, Shuichi slightly shrinks back, his finger rubbing his cheek. "A-Ah, well, as long as it's in my capabilities and not against the law, that is."
Hearts lowered her hand.
That was the signal of the incoming barrage of questions directed at him in the form of a fast talk.
"Then would you catch a grenade for him?"
"Absolutely. If I could."
"Would you throw your hand on a blade for him?"
"That sounds painful, but if that's what it takes to keep Ouma-kun safe, then definitely."
"How about jumping on a train for him then?"
"Joke's on you because I already did that during one of our chases."
"Wait.” During the fast talk, Jack realizes. "Isn't that from a song–?" He turned at the other eight, confusion and concern written on his face but was ignored.
"Then the last question!"
A small pause, until Hearts was the one who spoke next. "For our boss, would you take a bullet straight to your brain?"
("The questions really were from a song!" Jack retorts, but is once again ignored.)
Compared to the last few questions, it took a second or two for Shuichi to answer. "Um. Sorry, but isn't that too much?" Shuichi pointed out apprehensively. "Because I don't think Ouma-kun would just let me take a bullet to the head for him? I don't think he's that kind of person…" He rambled in deep thought. "And honestly between the two of us, he's most likely the one to do that, considering his antics…"
Shuichi doesn’t have to wait for a while for their reaction, since the gasps from DICE were so loud and dramatic as if they heard something obscene, and Shuichi started lowkey panicking because he knew he made a big mistake and had to retract his answer before it's too late.
"I mean–"
"Then you don't deserve him!"
"Wait wait wait, let me expla–"
"Someone not risking their lives for our boss does not deserve to be with our boss!"
Okay, that does it. Shuichi being accused of something not true is definitely way out of line, that he abruptly stood up and harshly slammed his hands down to the long table, toppling some of the blaring lights shined upon him and even alarming the nine into silence. Unlike before when he's avoiding their gaze, he makes eye contact with each of them.
"I'm sorry if I'm crossing the line but with all due respect, I love Kokichi Ouma-kun with all my heart and nothing would ever stop me from loving him! Even if his organization doesn't approve of me or anything of that sort!" It was a powerful outburst that even surprised Shuichi himself, but nevertheless, he continued. "I will try my best not to hurt and have him hurt because I will never leave him!"
He should’ve shut his mouth after that. God, he should’ve shut his mouth after that.
But at the time, he was too angry to even care that he carelessly let his mouth run loose.
"Especially now since these days I even have plans on proposi–"
It was too late by the time he clamps his mouth shut and bit his tongue. Shit, Shuichi shouldn't have said that. He definitely should not have said that, it's supposed to be a secret!
This is why ten people in the dark room with lamps toppled over all stared at each other in awkward silence. Shuichi, his hands still on the table, blinked. DICE, all of whom are still sitting down, blinked back.
At that point, Shuichi just wanted to perish on the spot.
The bad news is there may be a chance that he might get shipped off overseas and declared missing because of what he just said.
While the good news(?) is DICE might take this in a good way with the way their eyes look to be sparkling while they're all staring at him with expectant looks.
Clover was the first one who stood up from their seat. "You have plans on p-wording to our boss?" They gush with their mouth covered ("That sounds weird out of context…" Jack whispers).
"My goodness," Queen spoke, bewildered. "I never expected this day to finally come."
"I can’t believe our boss is finally leaving the nest…" Clubs shed a tear or two and after that, then looked at Shuichi dead in the eye. "When's the wedding?"
"Uh, it's still not currently set in stone yet, since I haven't even asked him–"
Shuichi yelped when someone propped their hands on his shoulders, which is actually Ace who stood up earlier but no one noticed due to the shocking revelation. "My future brother-in-law. You're rich, famous, and somewhat handsome, so you passed in my book. Which is why I will let you marry our boss." Ace’s expression soon turned into a look of utter pleading. "So can I please be the best man at your wedding?"
"I want to be the person who throws the flower petals like a lunatic! Or the ring bearer!" King interrupted Ace’s question.
"Aw, I want to be that too!" Hearts chimed.
"The time has finally come and our boss has finally grown up! HURRAH!" Diamonds cheered.
"WEDDING! WEDDING! WE–" DICE all chanted, albeit very loudly, that Shuichi started panicking.
"Guys, shh! Ouma-kun's just outside and he might hear!"
Understanding what Shuichi’s getting at, DICE nods at him and to each other. " Wedding! Wedding! Wedding! " They chant once again, although it's now a volume lower.
It was probably at this moment that what Ouma had said to Shuichi about DICE before maybe really was just an exaggeration (hopefully).
And on another note, just what kind of chaos did he accidentally unleash?
"Uhh–" Shuichi was about to speak once more when a slam of a door opening cut the DICE’s mini celebration to a stop.
"Guys, stop being noisy, or else the neighbors might complain!" Someone in the doorway opened the lights, finally bringing illumination to the room they are in.
"And why are all the lights off?" In the opened doorway, there stands the leader of DICE, the one nicknamed Joker, and the main phantom thief, Kokichi Ouma. Looking at the situation of the room with the chairs, the long table, and the toppled lamps, Ouma glared at his subordinates. "And stop scaring my boyfriend away, jesus fucking christ!"
"Looks like our work here is done, my lieges!" Spades yelled and he points at the door. "Time to move out!"
"HEY, WE'RE NOT YET DONE HERE–"
In a flash, the nine members of DICE scrambled out of the room. Shuichi saw Ouma annoyedly sigh as he massaged his temples. The leader shifted his face upwards at Shuichi with an overly look of concern.
"Shumai. They didn't say anything bad or insulted you, did they?"
Now that the lights are on, Shuichi can now clearly see Ouma’s forming pout with his puffed-up cheeks speckled with soot, paired with his springy hair tied up. The sleeves of his purple button-up shirt were also rolled up, along with him also wearing a checked apron to complete the look.
In other words, adorable.
The reality of that finally sank into the detective.
Gosh, his boyfriend's so adorable .
Ouma took Shuichi's silence as confirmation and he looked away, his face darkening. "I'm definitely going to give them a piece of my mind for harassing my beloved–"
Shuichi quickly reassures his boyfriend before anything else happens. "D-Don't worry! They just asked me a few questions as a way to pass the time. It's relatively harmless." Well, if you call it harmless by asking me tons of questions about you, but sure let's go with that .
"Hm? That's a relief then," Ouma's expression was gone at the same speed it appeared, now replaced with a grin. "In any case, a certain phantom thief prepared some special BBQ in the backyard. So you better taste a few of them because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"
"Really?" Shuichi’s eyes sparkled at the offer. However, a brief hesitation crosses his face, which mildly concerned the other party. "But Ouma-kun, before we follow them outside,"
The detective beckons him to come closer, and Ouma, although confused, with the way he scrunches his eyebrows and tilts his head, eventually obliges. When they were in front of each other, Shuichi leaned closer to the leader's ear. He whispered,
"…I love you lots."
His boyfriend really is adorable when his ears instantly redden upon Shuichi whispering those words to him.
And yet, Shuichi was still taken aback when Ouma turned his head towards him to give him a quick peck on the cheek as a counterattack, earning a small surprised squeak from Shuichi in surprise.
"I love you very much too!" Ouma in all of his lovable glory responded, and he quickly dashes outside the same way as DICE did before Shuichi can even catch a glimpse of his definitely flustered face (Which is a bummer, because he really wanted to see it too).
Shuichi clasped his loudly beating heart from his chest, and with a lovesick smile, sighs in relief. His other hand that's now in the pocket of his pants plays with a small box.
He supposes that he can take care of his problem of p-wording (coined from Clover) to Kokichi a little while later.
Because to be honest, he was just glad that he managed to survive the interrogation somewhat unscathed.