The Phantom Thief of Hearts || Saiouma Phantom Thief AU

1

Shuichi's POV

I stumbled up the fire escape, nearly falling as I chased the thief up the side of an apartment building- but it was no use- he was faster. I reached the roof after him and climbed onto it, watching as he calmly made his way to the opposite end of the roof as me. He walked backwards so he could stare me in the eyes through his mask, unafraid. I wish I could say the same for myself. For a worldwide famous detective, I was terrified. I'm known for solving impossible cases, but the case of "the phantom thief" is a case I've been stuck on for weeks now. I've been chasing him all around Tokyo- losing sleep analyzing clues he'd left behind, attempting to catch him with the help of authorities at the place of his next strike, and always getting so close to unmasking him- but it's like he's always one step ahead of me- of all of us. So that brings me here, defeated yet again. I pulled my hat over my eyes to avoid his masked gaze, and the flashing of the sirens below us. I was entrusted with this case. I was expected to solve it. And I am letting everyone down by not being able to do so. I looked up at the thief, who was now walking towards me, clapping slowly.
"Well done, Mr. Detective," he said, "Every time you and I meet you get this close-" he showed me with his fingers, "to catching me. But, fortunately for me, yet again, you've failed."
I could still catch him. I could still catch him right now. But he and I both know that I lack the confidence to do it. He and I both know that he'd already won. I cast my gaze down at the ground in shame.
"Aw, stop sulking~" he cooed, "There's always next time."
I nervously made eye contact with him. "U-Until we meet again," I said quietly, silently cursing myself for stuttering.
"Byeonara~" he sang, making a gun-like gesture with his fingers, before taking a backwards fall from the building.
My heart drops whenever he just falls like that- I always wonder how he doesn't die. Just then, the door to the roof burst open, and my uncle and some policemen ran towards me.
"Is everything okay? Any injuries?" an officer asked me.
"No injuries," I replied.

**Timeskip**

After getting home I took my shoes and hat off, and threw myself onto my bed. Another clue was recovered from the scene of the robbery that I would soon have to analyze. I laid on my back and stared at the ceiling.
Since being assigned the case, I realized I had grown a bit of an attachment to the idea of catching the thief. When- or if- I catch him, it will feel like a trophy. A trophy to prove that I'm actually a good detective- because even though I was considered one of the best detectives in the world- I still didn't feel like I was. I wasn't trying to prove it to others- I just wanted to prove it to myself.
I decided to get up and take a look at the clue that was recovered from the crime scene this time. The clue was always left behind purposefully by the thief about where he would strike next. For weeks me and the other investigators had been finding these little riddles hidden in the general areas that the thief had visited. I sat at my desk and turned on my desk lamp, since the sun had set hours ago. This one seemed like it was scribbled quickly, and it went:

"Where precious stones line the walls, I will strike once night falls. If you fail the biggest stone, will be mine and mine alone."

So maybe tomorrow night?
Well the approximate time could be determined pretty easily- so I have to think about the location now.
"precious stones line the walls"
I opened my laptop and began searching for areas that displayed precious stones on Google.
"geology in japan" I searched.
Just statistics... and more statistics...
Wait-
An advert for a geological museum in Tokyo.
"Book a tour of The Geological Museum of Tsukaba, Ibaraki Prefecture today!"
Could that be it? I opened one of my desk drawers, pulled out a notepad, and began jotting stuff down. It seems like this the place that the thief is talking about. He's planning to take the biggest stone, which is most likely also the most valuable. I had to stop him before he could do that-
Time... Evening- Because that's when nightfall is- The approximate time the sun sets is 5:30 pm.
Location... Geological Museum of Tsukaba-
I decided to call my uncle to report my findings, and as I waited for him to answer, I tapped my pen against my desk anxiously. What if I was wrong...?
"Hey Shuichi."
"Hey-" I said, trying to think of a way to put my thoughts into words, "So the clue... I found a potential time and location for the next strike."
"Do tell-" I heard the rustling of pages on his end of the line.
"The clue reads as follows," I said, and read him the clue.
"Right," he said, "So how would you interpret that?"
"Maybe... The Geological Museum of Tsukaba in the Ibaraki Prefecture, at like- 5:30 pm- because that's when nightfall is."
"I'll notify the authorities, and maybe even call for some backup. Go get some sleep kid, you're going to need it."
"Thank you-" I said and hung up.
I organized my desk a bit before turning off my lamp and getting ready for bed. Tomorrow would be a hell of a day. I then remembered my uncle mentioning something about backup in our phone call... Would we be getting assistance? I decided to try not to overthink and to just go to bed. Tomorrow is important- my uncle was right- I need rest. As I drifted off to sleep I thought about the thief. Would I ever even be able to solve that damn case...?

--Word count: 1037--
--Sorry for any typos--
--I'll try to update asap--