Lying is a Sin, A Sin Hanagaki Takemichi Commits Too Often

I'm Falling (so why did you take my place?) - The Twelfth Promise

So I got covid about two days ago, I'm fine so don't worry. It was really bad yesterday, I could barely breathe, barely see, eat or swallow but I am better today. This is the longest chapter I've written in a while, hope you like it.Please do pay attention to the date changes in the story.

June 4th, 2017

Naoto approached his coworker who sat at the desk across from him. He was a junior detective, only 22, a little dense sometimes but he was like the little sunshine of the precinct.

"Hey Watanabe."

"Oh, Detective Tachibana! How are you?" He greeted excitedly, another thing, the kid was a major people pleaser.

"I'm good, I just need a favour."

"Of course, anything!"

"Can you please search for all Hanagaki's in Japan, specifically any that have resided here in Tokyo. Maybe just search Hanagaki Takemichi instead, and find all of his relatives."

Detective Watanabe nodded slowly, "Can I ask what case this is for sir?"

"No case. A personal favour. I want to surprise a friend," Naoto replied.

"Okay, well Hanagaki Takemichi you said? Let me put that in..." a few clicks of a keyboard and Takemichi's information came up.

"Alright, according to his birth certificate, his mother is Hanagaki Jun, and his father is Hanagaki Ito. Is that all you needed sir?"

"Can you now search their statuses and locations?"

"Hmm, oh...oh, Hanagaki Ito is currently in a small graveyard in Yokohama, he passed away from alcohol poisoning 12 years ago. Now Hanagaki Jun...oh it seems that she has changed her surname back to her maiden name, she is now Sato Jun and she lives on the outskirts of Tokyo in a small suburban neighbourhood. Would you like me to send her phone number and address, sir?"

"Yes please, thank you Watanabe."

.

"Thank you for your work today Rindou-kun, you can head off."

He went to undo his apron before stopping and looking back at his boss, "Are you sure Takemichi? I can stay behind and help you clean."

"It's fine, everything's basically spotless already, it's much easier to have more than just me working here. Besides, Haru-kun will be picking me up any minute now, kinda accidentally stood him up for our dinner last night," Takemichi replied, chuckling to himself.

Rindou nodded, "Alright, well I'll see you Friday right, that's my next shift?"

"Yep, also tell your brother to not come to work on Thursday in those platform shoes again, he's freakishly tall enough."

"Haha, got it boss, see you later," Rindou waved goodbye but he couldn't help but send one more concerned glance his way before walking out.

It wasn't long before he saw Haruchiyo's surprisingly nervous figure at the front door, although Takemichi had long since forgotten about their troubles, he couldn't help but still be in shock that he was about to have dinner with him. But at the same time, he was happy, Haruchiyo seemed like a whole new person and he really wished he could have known Akashi Haruchiyo before drugs.

"Afternoon Haru-kun," he greeted as he walked out, locking the door behind him.

"Hey Takemichi, um, you want to drop by your place right? To change?"

"Yeah if you don't mind, I'm covered in flour and cookie batter."

Haruchiyo had always been more on the quiet side, Takemichi had barely even heard him speak back in their Toman days, always silent by Mucho's side. But the difference was back then, his silence was unnerving, but now it was surprisingly calming.