𝘿𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙂𝙖𝙢𝙚

Chapter 12

What Seemed Like A Dead End

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“Hey, Tsukauchi… We want in with the search” Keigo waved and walked over the police tape. The officer nodded and expressed his appreciation on how more people could help with the search better. Enji gave a brief ‘hm’ of agreement before asking about its progress. Tsukauchi sighed and looked down; it could only mean one thing. That was until one of his fellow police officers approached with a phone.

“Someone by the name Miki Takara called. Mentioned she had information about Mizuchi-san’s last whereabouts” he said when passing the phone to Tsukauchi. “Thank you, Yamashiro-san” Tsukauchi placed the phone next to his ear and began talking. Keigo and Enji looked at each other as they listened to the conversation detective Tsukauchi was having with someone named Miki Takara.

               Red and blue siren illuminated the area as it was losing daylight. A lot of people had volunteer in search of the pro-hero. Mizuchi may not be as notable as the top ten, but the public knew her. They wouldn’t rest until they found you. Police radio drowned the deafening silence as Enji and Keigo waited for what seemed like an eternity for Tsukauchi to finish his conversation.

Placing the phone down, detective Tsukauchi looked at the two pro-heroes before him. “Is it okay that I task you both to meet up with Miki Takara and interrogate her for the details?” Enji nodded and took his task dutifully. That was how Endeavour and Hawks went scouring for information from a certain Miki Takara and the hospital staffs. The duo was informed that you were supposed to visit her in the hospital where Miki Takara was admitted, but you never arrived. So they both went and look through the camera footages and questioned the people in the building.

Since Keigo Takami was more of a people-friendly kind of person, it was only natural for the winged-hero to gather information from the people while Todoroki Enji was sitting in the camera room, looking for any anomalies in the recordings. It was about a week ago into the video feedback, when it showed you inside its footage. It was around afternoon when you had made your way after stopping by the counter. Enji’s eyes softened at the sight of you as his eyes trailed, moving from screen to screen as you moved.

               You stopped and looked like you were stalking by the door of a certain room. After a while of watching whatever’s inside, Enji saw how you quickly turned away and rested against the wall with a hand covering your mouth. Something inside the room must’ve shocked you to your bones. Having paused the video feed, Enji looked around for a particular screen that could show him what was inside the room. None. None of the patients’ room in the hospital had a camera in them. But Enji wasn’t about to give up. If the patient’s room had no camera, all the needed to do was wind the video far back until he could see who entered it.

Most of his breaths were constricted the chest as he scrolled through the footages. His eyes flickered, watching the people moved in fast-forwarded speed. No one seemed to enter the room just yet. A little bit back, a little bit further. Todoroki Enji almost choked on his breath when he saw the familiar lacquered black hair entering the room, pushing the door as she entered and leaving it just slightly open.

Hana Sakuraku was in the room that you were looking in. Knowing Hana, Enji hated to think about the horror you’ve witnessed beyond the hospital door. Leaning back against the chair, Enji pinched the bridge of his nose and regulated his breathing. Relax. Relax. Take a breather. Don’t throw anything around. You can’t operate well if anger gets the best of you. (y/n) needs this; Enji mentally told himself.

               “Oi, Endeavour-san. Found anything?” Keigo barged into the room and saw his favourite hero looking all dejected. “Sakuraku-san was here” Enji stated as he massaged his temples. The winged-hero didn’t quite understand the context of his statement, but added on anyway.

“Yep. Sakuraku-san was here. But she was visiting passing patients in their deathbeds. What does it have to do with…” Keigo was silent for a moment. A solemn expression crept up his features as he began thinking harder.

“The hospital staff did mention Sakuraku-san leaving behind flowers by the patients’ deathbed…Endeavour-san! Do you think?!” Keigo’s wings moved frantically at the sudden revelation. Judging from the bigger man’s expressions, Keigo’s guess was right. Hana Sakuraku is a villain that had been hiding in the guise of a hero.

The Sakuraku household was placed under constant surveillance and subjected with a comprehensive search. No traces of Hana Sakuraku nor (l/n)(y/n) was found. However, the notes that Enji and Keigo stumbled upon in the greenhouse wasn’t any consolation either. It did gave out the true nature of hers. Scrawled within those pages were notes on which fragrance to use for a certain deed, methods to absorb someone’s lifeforce reservedly as not to cause any bloody mess, and even journal entries that dates back to the Edo period.

Crushing the pieces of paper in his hands, Enji was tempted to set the Sakuraku household on fire, if only it weren’t for it being under investigation. If only there’s someone with a keen sense of smell could help them out in search for (y/n).

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