Honkai Star: Rail x Reader Oneshots

"The Game Is Afoot!" | Ratio x Reader

Summary: Ratio, a brilliant and self-assured member of the Intelligentsia Guild, teams up with you, his loyal partner, to solve a murder at one of the guild's labs. As the case unfolds, Ratio's sharp intellect and your growing observational skills bring you closer to the truth, but danger lurks as the true culprit is still on the loose.

Tags: Ratio x Reader, Mystery, Detective/Crime, Sherlock Holmes-Dr. John Watson inspired dynamic, Crime-Solving, Slow Burn, Humor, Suspense.

Warnings: Mentions of murder and violence, Blood/gore (in the context of the crime scene), Mild peril.

The stark halls of the Intelligentsia Guild buzzed with the murmur of scholars. You adjusted the strap of your satchel, following closely behind the Dr. Veritas Ratio as he strode ahead, exuding an air of unshakable confidence. His hair shifted slightly with his brisk movements, the light catching the gold accents of his outfit. You quickened your pace, unwilling to let him leave you behind.

"You know, Doctor," you began, shifting your satchel to the other shoulder, "some of us like a bit of context before running headfirst into a high-stakes mystery."

Ratio stopped abruptly, spinning on his heel to face you. His eyes, ringed with a sharp golden glow, regarded you with a mix of amusement and exasperation.

"Context? Context is for those who cannot deduce the answer from observation alone," he said, tilting his head. His tone was smooth, confident, and just shy of patronizing. "The evidence is all around you, my dear assistant."

"Partner." you corrected, crossing your arms.

Ratio smirked, the corner of his mouth lifting in that infuriatingly charming way he always seemed to manage. "Semantics. Now, focus. What do you observe?"

You sighed, scanning the hallway. Ratio's tests of your observational skills were both enlightening and maddening. The floor had faint scuff marks leading toward the west wing, where the air seemed cooler, the lighting dimmer. A faint hum, almost electrical, emanated from somewhere nearby.

"The west wing," you said finally. "Someone's been moving equipment through here, likely something heavy. The air is colder, suggesting refrigeration or climate-controlled storage. And that hum—"

"—is from a plasma stabilizer recently installed in the lower labs," Ratio finished, a hint of approval in his tone. "Not bad, though I would have preferred you notice the trace amounts of oxidized particles near the vent. It suggests whatever was moved wasn't just heavy; it was old."

You rolled your eyes but couldn't suppress a smile. His backhanded praise was the closest you ever got to a genuine compliment.

"So, what's our mystery this time? Stolen research? Missing scientist?"

Ratio began walking again, his voice sharp and authoritative. "Neither. A murder. A rather sloppy one, if you ask me."

"The authorities lack the necessary... finesse," he said, a slight edge of disdain creeping into his voice. "No, this requires someone with intellect. Someone who can think beyond the pedestrian notions of motive and means."

"And that's you?" you asked, only half-joking.

"Naturally."

When you arrived at the lab, it was in disarray. Broken glass littered the floor, and a figure lay crumpled near a console, their lab coat stained crimson. You swallowed hard, glancing at Ratio, who seemed entirely unfazed.

"How can you be so calm?" you whispered.

"Emotions cloud judgment," he replied, kneeling beside the body. "Now, do be useful and examine the room. Tell me what you see."

You nodded, forcing yourself to focus. The console had been smashed, but only selectively—certain buttons and data ports were targeted. On the table nearby, a vial of viscous green liquid sat untouched, despite the chaos.

"Sabotage," you said aloud. "Someone was after the research. They only smashed the console to make it look random."

Ratio glanced at you, his expression unreadable. "Continue."

You pointed to the vial. "They didn't take the sample, which means they were either interrupted or didn't know what they were looking for."

Ratio's lips curled into a rare, genuine smile. "Excellent. You're learning."

The compliment warmed you, but the moment was fleeting. He turned back to the body, tracing the outline of a faint bruise on the victim's neck. "Strangulation, followed by a staged scene of chaos. Amateur work."

You frowned. "How can you be so sure?"

Ratio stood, brushing off his hands. "Because the real culprit is still here."