𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐬

file 045 | warnings for the future

"Don't you usually ask Suzume to make these deliveries?" Hiro asked as he followed behind Agasa deeper into the professor's house. "Why ask me, of all people? Why not mail it?"

Agasa let out a long-suffering sigh in response. "I've done mail in the past, but the equipment always ends up getting damaged in some way, and I don't want to keep burdening my friend with repairs." He pushed open the door to the lab Ai had taken to using, the girl giving them a short glance before returning to her computer. "When Suzume heard about the issue, she did two things: she had a word with the delivery company and she started making the deliveries herself."

"And that word she had with them was scathing, wasn't it?" Hiro asked in amusement, knowing her quite well by now.

"Oh, of course," Agasa agreed with a laugh. "But the reason I asked you is because Suzume made a promise to have a date with Ran-kun, and that date happens to be all day today. So, I figured you would be the next best person to ask. I can't make the delivery myself since I can't leave Ai-kun alone."

Hiro thought it over before giving a shrug. "Why not? What's the address?"

"Thank you so much."

~ — — — ~

The location was named the Blue Parrot Pool Bar. The bar was mostly empty, save for a couple in the back, a teenage boy sitting at the bar, and a 60-year-old man cleaning a glass. Hikaru glanced at the note in his phone and walked over to the bar top, knocking his knuckles against it. The elder man looked over in surprise before giving him a welcoming smile.

"Welcome. Is there anything I can help you with?" he asked cordially.

Hikaru smiled. "Konosuke Jii, right?" When the man nodded, Hikaru sighed in relief. "Good, I'm not in the wrong place." He placed the box in his hands on the bar. "Professor Agasa asked me to bring this over since Suzume was unavailable."

Jii's face lit up as he walked over to grab the box. "Ah, thank you very much. I was concerned when she didn't show up at her usual time."

"She's on a date that's going on for the entire day," Hikaru explained. "So, I was drafted to be the next delivery person." He could feel the teenager's eyes staring at the side of his face. "I'm Midorikawa Hikaru, by the way. I live with Suzume."

"Yes, Suzume-san speaks of you quite often," Jii said, depositing the box under the bar to keep it hidden. He chuckled at the wide eyes Hikaru had. "All good things, I can assure you, Midorikawa-san."

"Eh." Hikaru waved a hand. "Hikaru is fine." He finally looked over at the teenage boy, who quickly looked away at being caught staring. "Who are you?"

The boy gave him a conflicted look.

"You don't have to say if you don't feel comfortable," Hikaru assured him. "Won't hurt my feelings at all."

"...Kuroba Kaito," the boy muttered, taking a sip of his water.

Hikaru blinked before chuckling out of nowhere. Kaito blinked at this in confusion.

"What are the odds that I meet you a few days after Suzume does?" Hikaru continued to chuckle as he rubbed a hand down his face, taking a seat on one of the bar stools. "What are the odds?"

Kaito smiled, though uncomfortably, subtly leaning away from Hikaru. Geez, he's the guy from the Sunset Mansion, right? He's scary up close, but I can't figure out why for the life of me...

"Is there anything you'd like to drink, Hikaru-san?" Jii asked, bringing Hikaru back to his senses.

He thought it over before deciding that he felt nostalgic. "How about bourbon on the rocks?" he asked, tilting his head with a barely noticeable smirk. "It's one of my friends' favorites."