Hiding In Plain Sight

Our First Expedition

Rantaro, Shuichi and Kokichi entered the shopping centre after their outing, the earlier question rattling around in the bluenette boy's brain. "That sounds good Harukawa, I wonder if Saihara might know something. He was a detective right?"

"I might know something about what?" Shuichi asked, approaching the group standing in a circle in the darkness. Surveying the expressions of the other Ultimates, noticing anxiety and irritation scattered throughout their various beings.

"We need something that will give us insight on police movement so we can stay a step ahead," Harukawa began. "Specifically insight to the Ultimate Hunt."

"Yeah, that's a great idea but there are two teeny-tiny problems. What is it and how do we get it?" Kokichi sighed, literally waving off the idea.

"You know a solution, don't you Saihara?" Harukawa turned to the boy, the group silencing to hear his explanation.

"W-well, yeah, maybe. My uncle might've tried what he could to distract the police force from finding Ultimates when they got too close. He let me work with him on it for, well, obvious reasons." Saihara hurried to finish his explanation, aware he was rambling. "If I can get ahold of his laptop, I can get access to all of the data we'd need. That is if his office hasn't been cleared out already."

"Are you sure it's there? We can't risk going on a wild goose chase for this." Harukawa reminded the man of their situation.

"There are only two places it could be, and we left everything at the office before the whole announcement thing."

"Let's make up a plan then, we need to be in and out before we can be caught," Shirogane suggested.

"The fewer people that see us, the better. If someone notices us sneaking into the office then they'll definitely call the police," Kiibo mumbled.

"That's why only a few of us will take part in whatever plan we come up with. More people means more chances at detection," Harukawa reminded the group. Everyone listened to her as she had the most experience (that they knew of) in these scenarios.

"I have an idea," Shuichi walked over to the supply corner, picking up a notepad and pen. Returning to the group who watched in eager curiosity, he sat on the ground and started drawing a map, ready to explain his plan.

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Shuichi kept his head down as he walked through the street alongside Harukawa, Rantaro and Kokichi. "We're here," he mumbled, glancing around before slipping into a dark alleyway when the coast was clear.

"Woah, how did you guess the window would be open?" Kokichi gawked, his head thrown back as he stared at the window above them. The window remained one of the most important parts of the plan.

"It gets really hot in there with the window closed," Shuichi mumbled. "Is anyone inside?" Without an answer, Kokichi's eye sparkled as he rose above the disgusting pavement, zooming into the air and glancing inside the office. Dropping to the ground after a second, he shook his head. Perfect, it's all going to plan.

"No one's inside, but-"

"Don't get in the way Ouma, just follow the plan. We don't need your tricks right now," Harukawa snapped. Approaching the brick wall, Shuichi gripped a loose brick and attempted to lift himself, losing his grip and falling back to the ground. Kokichi reached out and grabbed his hand, failing to break his fall as the two ended up in a mess of limbs. "Can you carry him up there, the wall looks difficult to climb."

"I'm forty-four kilos Harukawa, I can't even lift a watermelon. Why can't you just teleport him inside?" Kokichi retorted.

"Can't, I need to see the ground where I'm teleporting for it to work. I also can't teleport others."

"Then how do you teleport with your clothes? Or any of the weapons you carry? Seems a bit broken, don't you think?" Kokichi grinned, stirring up his fellow orphan.

"Don't know. I think I can teleport other things as long as it's not alive since I can't teleport with plants. Whatever just figure this whole thing out, Amami, we're creating a distraction. Don't start climbing until you see the signal," Harukawa ordered, dragging the green-haired male away from the group. Shuichi watched his two friends leave the alleyway, vaguely aware of the soft hand still intertwined in his.

"Awe, is the virgin embarrassed about a little hand-holding?~" Kokichi teased, grinning maniacally at the red-faced boy.

"N-no, I just-" Shuichi stuttered, eager to change the subject. "Do you think you could help me up the wall? I might need a bit of assistance."

"Only if you promise not to speak like a robot!~" Shuichi nodded, mumbling an agreement to the teasing before a bright beam of light caught his attention, accompanied by screaming civilians. "That's the signal, come on." Kokichi pulled Shuichi to his feet, heaving his body up the wall with all his might as the taller boy struggled to climb the mostly smooth surface. Stepping on every tiny windowsill he could, Shuichi panted and jammed his fingers into the tiny cracks, blood oozing from his hands as he scaled the bricks.

Running out of ways to continue ascending, Kokichi struggled to lift Shuichi just enough for him to grab the higher windowsill. He used as much of every ledge possible, careful to stay out of sight from inside the building, aware anyone could look out the window and identify him. If someone recognises me, it's game over and we can kiss that laptop goodbye, after all, no one inside will risk their jobs to help a criminal like me.

"Shuichi, are you sure you want to do this? It's not worth it. There isn't-"

"Kokichi we need to at least try. Please keep your voice down, someone might hear us." Shuichi mumbled, having only one focus. After what felt like hours of painful climbing, Shuichi used the last of his strength to haul himself through the targeted window, falling to the floor in a heap. Taking a moment to catch his breath, he closed his eyes and lay against the cool linoleum as sensation gradually returned to his limbs.

"Do you wish you listened to me now?" Kokichi mumbled, standing next to the collapsed male with his hands crossed over his chest.

"What are you..." Shuichi trailed off, opening his eyes and taking in his surrounding, the sight of the office causing his heart to drop. Oh shit...