Why Do You Lie? || Heizou

2

Back at his temporary office that Neuvillette had kindly let him use, Heizou poured over the case files once again. The evidence, the testimonies, Y/n's words - he analyzed them all. He knew he was missing something, a piece of the puzzle that would bring everything together.

But nothing clicked.

Heizou sighed, leaning back in his chair. He couldn't shake off the feeling that the answers were staring him right in the face.

Frustrated and needing a break, Heizou decided to take a walk. The cool night air was refreshing, and the quiet streets of Fontaine provided a much-needed respite from the chaos of the courtroom.

He had never been to Fontaine before, and he found himself captivated by the city's beauty and elegance. The grand architecture, the ornate fountains, the soft glow of the street lamps reflecting off the wet cobblestones - it was really different from the electrifying energy of Inazuma. The city was like a painting come to life, each corner revealing a new scene to admire.

Suddenly, the faint strains of a melody interrupted his thoughts.

Heizou whipped around and scanned the area, trying to figure out where the sound was coming from.

The music led him to a small park, where a lone figure was seated on a bench, bathed in the soft glow of the streetlamp. As he approached, he recognized the figure - it was Y/n, her fingers gently strumming a lyre.

"Miss L/n," Heizou greeted, a playful smile tugging at his lips, "I didn't know you played."

Y/n looked up, surprise flickering in her eyes before she returned his smile. "Well, Detective," she chuckled, "there are a lot of things you don't know about me."

"Is that a challenge?"

"Maybe." She shrugged. "Maybe not."

Heizou grinned. "You're a hard woman to read, Miss L/n."

"So I've been told."

Heizou took a seat next to her on the bench. Up close, he could see her face better, the curve of her cheekbones, the fullness of her lips, the glint in her eyes. "Would you mind if I joined you?"

Y/n tilted her head. "Not at all, Detective."

She resumed her playing, the soft strains filling the night air. She messed up once and he could see the embarrassment flicker in her eyes, but she carried on, her fingers gliding over the strings with renewed confidence.

Her hair danced around her shoulders, catching the lamp light. The gentle breeze brought with it the faint scent of rainbow rose and vanilla.

"Why do you keep getting accused of murder?" 

He had been itching to ask the question and now it was finally out. Heizou watched her carefully, searching for any sort of reaction. But her expression remained impassive, her fingers never stopping.

"Well," she finally said, her eyes locking with his, "maybe I just have one of those faces."

"Do you really expect me to believe that?"

"No," she laughed. "I don't expect you to believe anything I say."

"That's good, because I don't."

"Smart man."

They lapsed into silence, the soft sounds of the lyre the only noise. It was a comfortable silence, not awkward or strained.

Heizou listened, lost in the music, his thoughts drifting. There was something about Y/n, something not quite right. He couldn't put his finger on it, but his intuition was telling him that there was definitely something.

"Detective," Y/n spoke up, breaking the silence. "You're staring."

Heizou shook his head, slightly flustered. "Sorry, I was just... lost in thought."

"Don't worry," she said, smiling. "It's nice to be admired."

Heizou couldn't help but smile back. "Well, then, I hope you don't mind me continuing to do so."

She laughed, a soft, melodic sound that blended with the music from her lyre.

Heizou had so many questions. What did she mean she was at the Marcotte Station, admiring the Fountain of Lucine at the time of the murder? Why had she laughed and deftly avoided Neuvillette's constant questions? Worse, why was the Oratrice constantly saying she was innocent when she was clearly guilty?

Y/n glanced at him. "You're thinking again, Detective," she teased.

Heizou raised an eyebrow. "Is that a problem, Miss L/n?"

"No," she smiled, "it's cute."

Heizou felt the heat rising in his cheeks. He was usually so quick to reply, to come up with the words to make people swoon, but his mind at the moment was dry, and he couldn't quite wrap his head around as to why.

"Detective," she said, a serious expression replacing the playful one. "If you're here to find out about the murders, I can't help you. I know nothing about them."

Heizou stared at her. The words were spoken so calmly, so matter-of-factly, that he could almost believe them.

But his intuition was screaming at him that they were a lie.

"Miss L/n-"

"Y/n," she cut in.

"What?"

"Please," she said, looking into his eyes, "call me Y/n."

Heizou hesitated. "Okay... Y/n."

She smiled, pleased.

"Y/n, I don't understand. If you know nothing about the murders, then why are you constantly being accused?"

Y/n shrugged, her fingers idly strumming the lyre. It was no longer music, just random plucking at whatever strings her fingers could find. 

"Y/n, I know you know something." Heizou continued, his voice growing firm. "If you tell me, I can help you. We could lessen your verdict."

Y/n stared at him, her gaze intense. "I told you, I know nothing about the murders."

"Then why were you at Marcotte Station, admiring the fountain, when you know very well that the fountain isn't there?"

"I didn't say I was at the fountain, did I?" Y/n countered. "I said I was at the station, admiring the view. The fountain was the view, and I was admiring it."

Heizou's brows knitted in confusion. "What?"

"If you want the truth about the murders," Y/n replied, her voice growing quiet, "then find the answer yourself. I can't give it to you."

Heizou frowned, frustration building within him. "Y/n-"

"Detective," she interrupted, her voice suddenly growing cold, "it's getting late. You should go."

With that, she stood up, the lyre clutched tightly in her hand. She gave him a mock bow, then turned and walked away, disappearing into the shadows of the night.

Heizou sat there for a moment, lost in thought. Her words, her lies, her truths - they were all like pieces of a puzzle that had no end solution. But he was determined. He would find the answer, even if it took him years.

The night was silent, save for the sound of a lyre slowly growing more distant and the soft splashing of water.

~

A/N: I couldn't help myself from writing more!! Idek where I'm going with this but I love writing down my random thoughts and seeing where they'll take me >:) Hopefully Y/n isn't an idiot lolol