The Shade of Blossoms (A Bungou Stray Dogs Fanfiction)

7. The Three Stooges and the Suicidal Dumbass

Everyone had gathered for another "entertaining" day at work in the office. Only a few bullet holes were still visible in some walls from the Black Lizard's raid a couple days ago. Ooka was asleep at her desk, head resting on her arms.

Atsushi looked at her from his desk, "Ooka-san?"

She ignored him and buried herself further into her arms, groaning. Kunikida glanced up at him from his laptop, "Just leave it, brat. If she didn't sleep well the previous night, she'll sleep here."

Ranpo, perched on the main desk, spun to face them, "Ooka-chan's adjusted to sleep through Kunikida-kun's yelling so he gave up trying to wake her. She'll wake up when she knows she's needed."

Atsushi sweatdropped. Ooka whined and turned her head the other way with a huff and furrowed brows. "She must be having a nightmare," He thought.

~~~

"I'm trying to help you control your abilities, Shohei. You're not making this easy."

"This is all your fault! My abilities were fine until you put t-that monster in me!"

"I will not have you remain so disobedient. I won't have you get in the way of my goals."

"You're crazy! Doing this will never give you praise! It's madness!"

"Such a shame. You really were my favorite."

"Stay away from me!"

~~~

Ooka suddenly woke up with her head shooting up, smacking right into a book that Kunikida was holding over her, "Oh, you're awake. You're going with the brat and Ranpo-san to investigate a case."

She held her head in pain, "Oww. Why did you hit me with a book!?"

"I didn't. You woke up and hit it yourself. It's your own fault." He said, pushing his glasses up.

"Then why are you holding a book over my head!?"

"You'll be taking the train," He answered, avoiding the question.

"Good. I could take a nap without being bothered!" She said, standing up.

Ranpo and Atsushi were waiting at the door. She groaned and made her way over to them, "I need some pocky... "

~~~

Sitting between the window and Atsushi, Ooka carried a large box of strawberry pocky, nibbling on a stick.

Ranpo sat on the opposite side, observing a marble in the sunlight as Atsushi was in deep thought.

"I thought you were gonna take a nap, Ooka-chan," Ranpo questioned.

Ooka whined, "I can't sleep anymore." She handed some pocky over to Ranpo and gestured the box to Atsushi, which he kindly refused.

She nodded and looked at Ranpo, "So Ran-san, did you read 'The Children of Men' yet? It caught my interest but I'm not so sure if it'll be a good read."

"P.D. James? Hmm, it takes a bit of time for the story to actually get started but it's very thought provoking and the concept is unique. It takes place in a dystopian England where there is a problem with fertility. I recommend it."

"Ohh. Now I have to get it. But knowing you, you probably predicted the outcome before you even finished the book."

"I did. I could spoil it for you."

"No, I want to read it for myself. Don't tell me."

Ranpo laughed, "It would be fun to ruin the book for you."

"Ran-san, no! You can't be too cruel!"

"The protagonist dies in the end."

"AHHHHHHH!"

"I'm kidding."

"Ran-san!"

"Or am I?"

"Stop!"

Atsushi sweatdropped at the two.

~~~

The three made it to the riverside where police and investigators were already at the scene. A man in his late 30's turned to them, "You're late, agents." A young cop was saluting them behind his superior.

Ooka knew the older gentleman to be Minoura, a colleague of Tachibana, but she didn't recognize the young cop.

She looked around the area and spotted some men using a machine to cast a net in the water to gather any possible evidence.

"How idiotic. All the difficult cases in the world should be overseen by a great detective as a matter of fact," Ranpo boldly stated.

"We don't need a private investigator today because the victim is my subordinate." Minoura walked over to a tarp shielding the victim and removed it, revealing the body of a young woman.

Ranpo took his hat off to honor the dead and Atsushi covered his mouth at the sight of the body. Ooka closely observed the corpse to find 3 bullet wounds centered on the chest area.

"A lady."

"She was found floating in the river this morning," The young cop added.

"She was shot three times in the chest. We don't know where or when she was killed. We haven't even found the bullets." Minoura followed.

"Any suspects?" Ranpo asked.

"No. As far as anyone at the office knew, she was not in a relationship either."

"Does that mean you don't have any leads?" Ranpo challenged, putting his hat back on.

Minoura stared at him with a hard look, "That is all the more reason why we can't let some amateur private eye handle this."

"Minoura-san, I assure you that Ranpo-san isn't an amateur and is highly capable of solving this case," Ooka defended him. She wasn't particularly fond of people insulting her friends.