Archive of Our Own

The Armed Detective Agency rose into fame and fell into infamy just as quickly as how they proved their innocence afterwards. Of course, time is relative, but if you were to compare their case to other terrorist cases, two years were incredibly speedy. Not to mention the fact that it involved taking down a lot of corrupt politicians in the government working together with the extremists and real terrorists. The reveal of superpowered child soldiers being used during the war-- good people marched in contempt for Yosano Akiko’s lost childhood - did not help the government’s reputation at all. Yet, despite having been able to prove their innocence and restore their reputation, people still hesitated to reach out to them.

(Perhaps, it was something to do with the trial of Dazai Osamu, which happened almost immediately after the trial that proved their innocence.)

(But that was a story for another time.)

Right now, sitting at the armchair intended for guests was a client. It was a young man in his early 20s. His harrowed expression betrayed the neatly groomed hair and immaculate suit he was wearing. Whatever refreshing vibe he would have given off was replaced by something a lot more depressing. “I’m sure you know about the case involving my uncle’s death.”

They did. The late millionaire Higashikata-san was found murdered in his own room. Any of the maidservants there could be the culprit, for they all had the same access to the key, but only one maid was without alibi.

The person in front of them was Higashikata Tomoaki. Currently his whole family refused to be in contact with him for a stunt he pulled.

“Atsushi, it’s your case.” Ranpo handed the files to his juniors who accepted it with slight confusion.
Tomoaki looked miffed. “Did I not just ask for the best or are you not the best?”
Ranpo turned toward him, an unimpressed look adorning his face. “I’m not the best option to deal with delicate feelings. You and the maid are in a relationship, that much is obvious--” The client flinched. “--she refused to say it, and when you came forward to reveal it she just got mad and told the police you’re just pitying her, right?”

Ranpo’s deduction, as usual, was accurate to the point of scary. Their client stared at their own knees, his hands grasping at his pants at the painful reminder. “I…” Ranpo poked at his own nose. “Am not good at not trampling over feelings when I do my work.” He then acknowledged Atsushi yet again. “But you can handle something fragile like that, right?”

Atsushi nodded in earnest. “I’ll do my best.”
“I know.” Ranpo shrugged. “Remember, you don’t have to solve the case, just prove her innocence.”
Atsushi nodded politely toward his senior. “Higashikata-san.” He addressed his client and offered the man’s jacket back to him from the coat rack. “Shall we go?”

Detective Nakajima Atsushi was a soft-spoken and mild mannered individual. Tomoaki couldn’t really imagine how anyone was able to frame him as a terrorist. Sure the man had some muscles, but he also looked like he would cry if someone were to accidentally crush a ladybug.

“What exactly did Yasuda-san say when you came forward to reveal your relationship?” The detective asked gently.
Tomoaki fidgeted a bit, clearly uncomfortable with the topic but at the same time was desperately in need of someone to talk to about it. “That she was grateful I believe in her innocence, but she wasn’t happy I tried to save her by lying about sleeping together.” His hands were pressed together, fingers interlacing as if trying to consume each other. “I never said we slept together. And we really didn’t. Our relationship was chaste.”

“But that won’t be how people see it.” Nakajima quietly flipped through the case files. “A rich young man in an illicit relationship with a maidservant. Surely she was after his money. Surely he coerced her into sleeping with him. Rumors like that will follow if your relationship came to light. She was trying to protect you.”

“How are you so sure she was trying to protect me?”

Nakajima looked up from the papers, “Why else would she risk being jailed?”

Tomoaki had a feeling that the stares he sensed weren’t directed at him. Detective Nakajima took it in stride, or perhaps he didn’t notice at all. An officer was leading them toward the detention cell where his lover was being held, and the man kept glancing nervously at the detective he brought along. No, there was no way Nakajima didn’t notice.

When they arrived Tomoaki almost missed the relieved expression in Saya’s face when she saw him. That expression was immediately turned into a scowl as she curled up to the corner of her cell and looked away. Tomoaki wondered if he would have noticed the relief if Nakajima didn’t point out that she was trying to protect him.

“Yasuda-san.” Nakajima greeted her. “My name is Nakajima Atsushi, I’m a private detective. Higashikata Tomoaki-san has hired me to help you with your case.” Saya surreptitiously glanced at him. “First of all, can you please roll your sleeves?” Tomoaki gave him a confused stare as Saya did so. “Further, please. Up to your upper arms?” Only then the maid started hesitating. Nakajima gave her an encouraging nod that prompted her to continue.

There were fresh bruises on her arms.

“What--”
Tomoaki’s horrified shout was cut short by Nakajima glaring at the officer. “If.” He sounded almost snarling. “ If somehow Yasuda Saya-san died while in holding, The Agency will pursue this case.” He looked away from the officer and back toward Saya. “But I know that won’t happen.”

The officer simply nodded frantically.

Nakajima tugged at Tomoaki’s hand and put a finger over his own mouth. “Not yet. We’re going to prove her innocence first.”

Tomoaki blanched at the thought of putting the well-deserved lawsuit on hold.

Nakajima requested a meeting with the detective in charge of the case. Tomoaki noticed the way he slowly dug his fingers into his fist before letting go in a repeated movement as if to calm himself down. Ah. So he was disgusted too.

The detective in charge was a well-dressed man that couldn’t have bought his very expensive watch with a police salary. Tomoaki could guess that he was someone well-fed by the Higashikata family.

“Like I said, everyone’s alibis checked out!” The man huffed.
“Yes. All the maids were in the kitchen or somewhere near the kitchen when the murder took place, only Yasuda-san didn’t.” Nakajima nodded. “And all the family members had someone who could testify for their alibis too.”
“So you see we got the right culprit?” The detective in charge was satisfied with Nakajima’s assessment.

“She has no reason to kill the master of the house.” Nakajima said blandly. “None of the servants have one. The family members, however…”
“You just said everyone’s alibis were accounted for!” The other detective sounded annoyed.
“No, you idiot. I said the family members all had someone who can testify for their alibis.” Tomoaki jolted in surprise hearing Nakajima cussed.

“The first son and his wife accounted for each other’s alibis. The second son and the only granddaughter did so for each other. And so on, and so on, and so on. Two people covered for each other, and no one else could confirm their whereabouts, but you don’t think it’s strange?”

“The key wasn’t the only way to enter the room either. So what if it was stormy outside? People can still use the stepladder to enter through the window. So what if no one was wet at the time? Warming up and changing clothes wouldn’t take much time with an accomplish helping. There are many holes in your arrest, and I suggest you think that over before embarrassing yourself at the court.”

The detective in charge gaped, “T-then… who?”
Nakajima relaxed. Tomoaki wondered if his politeness was an act, or if the angry detective and the polite man were both his true self. “Are you hiring The Agency to solve this case for you?”