Fruit-chan, he’s such a dastard.
Yusa doesn’t know if anyone will believe him. He’s not sure he believes himself.
“What’s wrong?” Shio grins.
Yusa motions Rikai and Shio closer to whisper in their ears. “I saw Investigator Furuta with one kakugan.”
“Are you sure?” Rikai asks sharply.
Yusa nods.
“Well.” Shio rubs his hands together. “There’s only one thing left to do.”
“Tell Arima-san?” Yusa is intimidated by his relative.
“No.” Shio sounds scandalized. “Break into his office. Steal his phone. We’ll do the investigation.”
Yusa and RIkai know that when Shio wants to be brave, there’s little they can do but follow.
——————————————————————————-
“Fruit-chan!” Yusa and Shio tackle the investigator in a hug.
“Huh?” Furuta sounds oddly frightened. His phone has spilled out of his pocket.
“We’re going around hugging people today,” Shio says proudly. “To show our older relatives some love.”
Furuta smiles, but he looks dead inside. He was always a loner in the garden, pining for Rize and refusing to cheer on the family.
Rikai, meanwhile, attaches a wire to his phone as Shio babbles on about an unimportant memory. After a minute, during which Furuta’s smile grows markedly more strained, Rikai yanks the wire free and nods.
“Well, gotta go hug Hsaio!” Shio jumps back.
“She’s much scarier than you,” Yusa can’t resist adding.
But what they find on his phone makes him regret those words.
——————————————————————————-
Furuta strolls back into his office, whistling and pretending Eto doesn’t exist because he’s killed her. Yes. That’s it.
“Hi there.” Hirako lounges in his chair, boots planted on his desk.
“Pardon?”
The door swings shut behind him. Arima, flanked by Hairu and Ui, glares at him.
“Is there a problem?” Furuta tries to laugh.
“You’re much scarier than Hsaio.” Yusa looks sad as he, Rikai, and Shio crawl out from under his desk.
“Hello, brats.” Furuta smiles innocently. “I’m confused.”
Hairu holds up his medical records.
“Those – those are sealed!” Furuta backs away. Arima blocks the door.
“Not by flirtatious doctors.” Ui scowls as Hairu shakes her head. “Really, Souta?”
“Don’t call me that!”
“Why? It’s your real name, isn’t it?” Hirako shrugs.
“You know? And you, too?” Furuta swings around to Ui. “You’re okay with – with them?”
“We know a lot more, clown.” Ui takes no pleasure in this. He still can’t believe Arima and Hairu and the kids are ghouls.
Furuta lunges for the window, but Hirako catches him and drags him to the ground.
“No – no – let me go!” screams Furuta. “Please! You fuckers!”
“You’re not supposed to say that word.” Rikai is perhaps more scandalized by his cursing than his plots.
“We’ll bring you to interrogation and we will learn everything you planned,” Arima says firmly.
Furuta knows what awaits him in interrogation. He shakes his head wildly. “You – you just went along with this – at least i did something – fuck you!”
Arima squats before Furuta as Hirako cuffs him. “I have my own plans. Always have.”
“Then why didn’t you save us?” Despite his best efforts, Furuta’s voice cracks.
Shio’s lips quiver. He throws himself at Furuta. “I still want to hug him!”
Furuta scoffs, but some portion = of the kid who saved Rize must remain, because Arima and Hairu see him lean in to Shio’s embrace, ever so slightly.

