Blood-Less| A Mystery Saiibo Story

Chapter🔎Four

Shuichi sips on his coffee. His eyes looked dead inside. Amami shared the same sentiment. They sat along the blue wall's booth. The built in chess table shadowed underneath the coffee cups.

Kiibo thumbed his lip. "What if we play a game to ease your nerves as we talk."

Shuichi eyes lit up. "Yeah, that could be fun."

Amami smiles. "I'll play the loser."

"So onto business,"

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"Mr. Amami," Kiibo moves his first white pawn to F3.
"Shuichi and I are trying to solve the murders of Kaede Akamatsu, Kokichi Ouma and the disappearance of Kaito Mamota."

Shuichi first places his hand on a pawn but before moving it, he changes his mind and moves another to C6.

"Right. Well I'll start by telling you what I know, I suppose."

Kiibo nodded after moving another pawn to H4. "Anything you think can help will be greatly appreciated. "

"Well, Kaede and Kokichi were my lovers. All four us - including Shumai, worked here. They would work with Shuichi at Naegiri's and then by night would help me bake our daily displays. And sometimes on their off days they helped me run the bakery. The bakery was like a second home for us. I just hate that it feels like an empty house now."

Shuichi deep in thought finally moves another pawn to B5.

Piece by piece the game played on.

"I'm very sorry to hear. Shuichi and I will give you answers you deserve."

Amami nodded his head and gave reassured smile. "I believe you."

Kiibo smiled as moves another pawn closer to Shuichi's half of the board. "Do you recall anything strange between October 12th to the 22nd that may relate to the case?"

"Well." Amami scratches the back of his head in thought. "Oh wait! Yeah. Sometime before the scene. I noticed Kaede wasn't talking to us much."

Shuichi lifted his head up. "That's right. She was super blunt and just didn't seem like she wanted to be around us."

"Did you talk to her?" Kiibo asked, growing a little impatient about Shuichi not playing his turn.

"Yeah. She was so hungry but I just never saw her eat. She would complain about being starved but never eat."

Shuichi lifted his head up as if he realized something. Kiibo took a mental note. "Everything ok?"

"Yeah! It just reminds me of how hungry I am. Maybe, I'll eat when I get home."

"Damn, I forgot you were hungry, Shumai. You'll have to forgive me on that. I'll go whip up some-"

"No. No. I'm ok. I can't take bread I'm on a diet."

"A diet? That's unlike you. You aren't starving yourself again, are you, Shu?"

"No! I promised I wouldn't! I won't!"

"Attaboy. Do you wanna refill on your coffee?"

"Yes, I'll get it myself. Thank you, Taro." With that Shuichi moved his bishop to mid board and stood up.

"What more can I tell you, little robot?"

"Err. I will ignore that way of referring to me. But do you have more information on Mr. Mamota? We haven't seen him since he left to go grocery shopping."

"That's Maki's boyfriend, right?"

"Yes. I am quite certain, Ms. Harukawa was dating him and Ms. Akamatsu."

"Oh yeah. Maki was Kae's girlfriend. Maki and I don't talk much. We only had one thing in common. Hard to make conversation, you know?"

"It appears that I need to speak to her."

"Well to get info on Kaito, maybe you should."

"Alright, Mr. Amami. Last question. Was there anything remarkable about Ouma?"

"No, he was just a rat of a boyfriend." Amami looks down and then. "I say 'rat' with love, of course." He gives a chuckle.

"He has a bit of a block for a head. I bet you can relate." Amami smiled with a small wink.

Before Kiibo became confused, Amami smiled. "I'm just messing with you, Kiibo. But no, I didn't notice anything weird about Kichi before he died."

Shuichi stepped back to the table. He was against Rantaro when he looks downtown to the board. Kiibo quickly moved his pawn to Shuichi's and took his opponents knight.

Shuichi glared slightly "We should leave Kiibo. It is getting late."

Kiibo looked out the door. The sky was a canvas with beautiful color. A dark purple blended into a beautiful orange. "I see."

"Well, thank you for all your help, Mr. Amami. Sorry for being in your hair for this long."

"How the time flies, am I right? It was nice meeting you."

Rantaro hold his hand and gives it a firm shake.

He hugs Shuichi tightly and gave him a strong smile. "You got this, Shu-Shu." Amami cradles Shuichi's face and then casts a small wave as he gets up from his seat and leaves to the kitchen.

"Mahiru had done the rest of today's shift so I'll lock up in awhile. Good night."

"Let's hurry, Kiibo."

"Um, alright Shuichi!"

Kiibo took a look down. He noticed Shuichi played his turn.

Kiibo noticed something really odd. The King was in checkmate by the rook and open ranked bishop. And as his eyes mapped a couterplay, there was a bloodied tissue next to the taken white knight. Close to Rantaro's spot. Not knowing what to do made a note of it. He took a picture and took a piece but left it there so Rantaro wouldn't know they were on to him.
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"Hey Shui-"

"Not now, Kiibo."

"Everything ok? This is pretty impor-"

"My head is killing me. I'm practically starving."

"Let's do the cooking thing Rantaro suggested. We can discuss what I found."