Hiding In Plain Sight

Women Are Difficult

Slipping a small notebook and pen from her apron, Tojo started scribbling something on the page. Handing the notebook to Shuichi, he skimmed the letters on the lined paper, remembering he needed to stay quiet. There is an audio bug hidden on my clothes that I cannot remove, it's nice to meet two other Ultimates. I've seen you two on the Ultimate Hunt, Saihara Shuichi and Gokuhara Gonta, correct?

Yes, that's us, I'm Saihara, nice to meet you, Tojo. I'm sorry to approach you like this, but we need your help and I think we can help you too. We think our friend has methanol poisoning, and we know you have medical knowledge. If you help us, we can offer you shelter with us, we're a group of six other Ultimates, including Gokuhara and I. Writing out his thoughts, Shuichi handed the notebook back to Tojo, worried he was taking too much time.

I'm more than happy to help your friend and would love to live with you all, but all my clothes are bugged. I can't wear anything other than this and the bugs send out an alert when they're removed from my uniform. Apologies, I hate to ask this but could you please bring me a change of clothes? Tomorrow, I'll be here at 3:30 pm.

Shuichi nodded as Tojo slipped her stationery back into her spiderweb-decorated apron, slipping into the store. "What happened?" Gokuhara questioned the male, "why could we not speak?"

"Tojo has audio recording devices on her clothes, the police would've heard us speaking. Come on, we need to go home and come back tomorrow," Shuichi heaved his bag over his shoulder and blended into the crowded streets. I hope this isn't a trap.

<--o--🩸--o-->

Locking the door behind him, Shuichi only just processed a scream of joy before Kokichi had slammed him against the door. "Wah!" He cried, soaking his secret boyfriend's chest with crocodile tears. "Shu~Shu you're home! I was so worried my beloved had died out there!"

"Where's Tojo?" Kiibo asked, the group ignoring Kokichi. This must've been a normal occurrence whilst Gokuhara and I were gone.

"A bit of a weird request, but she needs a set of clothes to be able to leave. Her outfits are bugged and she's under careful watch like we thought. I'll go back to see her at half-past three tomorrow, it's all sorted." Shuichi closed his eyes, subconsciously wrapping his arms around Kokichi who continued to cling to his boyfriend. "Tojo and I seem similar in build, so maybe she could borrow some of my clothes? Would that be alright?"

"Not to be not gentleman, but Tojo seem to need, uh, bigger shirt than Saihara," Gokuhara stuttered around his words. He always tried to be respectful, but Shuichi knew he was correct, most of his shirts would be uncomfortably tight around Tojo's chest.

"I can go and steal some clothes, but I'm unsure what women like to wear." Kiibo sighed, the group radiating defeat over a simple hurdle of an outfit.

"I'll come with you, but let's go tomorrow morning. It's easier to steal when shops are open, and they should just be closing about now," Rantaro glanced at the clock on the wall.

"Oh come on you lot! Stop being all depressed! Tojo just needs clothes like any regular female, it ain't like she's missing a fucking leg," Kokichi shouted. He's right, we're acting like this is a bigger deal than it is, I should've expected something like this. I'm an idiot for assuming Tojo wouldn't be under extreme observation. Something about this seems too easy though, surely the Chief of Police's maid wouldn't be free to roam the property.

"As long as everyone stays safe, we'll be fine. I'm sure my clothes will fit her, I have oversized hoodies after all. We don't need to overthink this so much." Everyone nodded, the looming despair lifting from the room at Shuichi's comments. Prying Kokichi off his thin body, Shuichi approached the door where Harukawa stayed behind, knocking gently before entering. "Hey Harukawa, how are you feeling?"

The female turned over in bed to glare at Shuichi, her gaze softening as she groaned and held her head in pain. "I'm alive, that's good enough for me."

"You'll feel better soon, trust me, I've found a way to get you help," Shuichi smiled, sitting on her bed and picking up a damp, cool cloth, draping it over her forehead. Under any normal circumstances, he was sure Harukawa would rip his arm off and use it to perform a proctoscopy, but she had no strength to move anymore. "Sleep well," he smiled, hearing a grunt in return as he left the room, shutting the door behind him with extreme care so he didn't make too much noise.

Shuichi yawned as he stepped into the hallway, rubbing his eyes as exhaustion overtook him faster than a four-wheeler on the highway. I haven't slept in days, my body feels ready to crumble like a ragdoll. "Hey, Sai, what's the matter? Is something wrong?" Rantaro asked, holding the boy's shoulders.

"Nothing, I'm fi-" Cutting himself off with another yawn, Shuichi slumped forward into Rantaro's arms. His body felt like lead, no amount of effort could make his limbs move the way he wanted.

"Let's get you to bed," Rantaro chuckled, picking up the male bridal style and carrying him only a few doors down the hall into his bedroom. Shuichi felt disoriented by the movement, fighting to keep his eyes open. 

"I just need a coffee," Shuichi mumbled, his body doing anything it could to conserve energy.

"Nope, you need sleep, come on now," Rantaro placed Shuichi on his bed with the same care as a mother with a newborn baby. Shuichi's heart pounded out of his chest as Rantaro started taking off his jacket. Don't see the bandages, please. If Rantaro shifted his long-sleeved shirt a minuscule amount, the bloody rags would be revealed. He let out a sigh of relief as Rantaro noticed nothing odd, sinking atop the mattress beside his boyfriend.

Pulling the blankets over the two men, Rantaro wrapped his arms around Shuichi's limp body. Shuichi couldn't help but giggle and whine with pleasure as he snuggled his head into the muscular man's chest. "Goodnight hun, get all the sleep you can before tomorrow," Rantaro whispered, playing with Shuichi's hair. The moment his eyes closed, the bluenette fell into the most pleasurable, deepest sleep he'd ever had in his life, feeling protected by the man beside him.