Chapter Text
The man sighed, checking the business card with the store in front of him. Shirogane-san had mentioned this was the best coffee she’d had in a long time. Even better than LeBlanc she had once claimed. Since he couldn’t risk traveling that far without the old merry band spotting him, Akechi had taken Shirogane at her word. Well that and she wanted him to pick up some pastries for her and her own friend group. Running a hand through his hair he headed in.
The air immediately smelled of coffee and something unmistakably sweet.
“Hello! Welcome in, we'll be right with you!” a voice called out from what seemed to be the kitchen. He shrugged, taking a seat at the counter looking over the jars that covered a wall. He vaguely heard a female voice call out.
“Hey boss, Shirogane called to let you know that she sent someone to pick her and Narukami’s order up. She also said you’re welcome for some reason.” There was a momentary pause where he heard a man’s laugh before the female voice chimed again this time next to him.
“Hi, welcome to The Arcana. Have you been in before?” Goro’s eyes never left the shelves. Some of the names of the blends stuck out but he couldn’t quite place how.
“No I haven’t though I suppose you were expecting me. I’m here for Shirogane-san and because I guess she says you have the best cup of coffee in Shibuya.” He mentioned and the girl seemed to perk up.
“Oh. Of course let me go get the boss for you. Oh and the current special is from the Justice arcana line. Though if you’re new might I suggest the Boss’ blend from the Fool arcana?” He shrugged, giving a tired slightly fake smile.
“Barista’s choice.”Akechi said and with that she walked away to check on other patrons. His mind wandered back to the jars though he wasn’t really paying it much attention as he heard a deeper voice call out.
“Order for Shiroga…” then the sound of something heavy being dropped cut through the idle cafe noise. Akechi frowned, turning to see what happened only to be staring at a man with black curly hair in a red apron. Before he could process what he was seeing, the man had already rushed out of sight. He heard whispering from the other patrons and Goro groaned covering his face with his left hand. Something in his gut told him that this had been a trap.
“You can’t make me!” he heard the voice and this time the tone felt familiar. Like a glove he’d lost sometime along the way.
“What’s the big deal Amamiya-san? It’s just Shirogane’s new assistant right?” The woman’s voice hit like a knife. Amamiya. It couldn’t be the same Amamiya from back then. Right? “Fine, fine I’ll ask. Can you at least make coffee for him?” Akechi glanced up from his hand to see the female barista return.
“I’m sorry about that sir. My boss seems to think you’re not with Shirogane-san as you’re not her usual assistant. Mind if I get a name to see if she left notes on who she sent.” Akechi sighed before putting the fake sweet smile on again.
“Of course Miss. She likely said that either Crow or the lesser Prince was picking the order up.” His voice was so pleasant that it freaked himself out. That tone hadn’t slipped out of him in close to ten years.
“Lesser Prince?” she asked, tilting her head and Akechi shook his head.
“Merely a joke she likes to pull from time to time. More likely it’s under Crow.” he said waving a dismissive hand in front of his face. The girl nodded before hurrying away. This whole thing had turned into a migraine. Even if it wasn’t the Amamiya he knew it could still be someone who remembered his time in the spotlight.
“This is why I don’t go by myself…” he muttered under his breath, rubbing his temple. “Ten years, you’d think I’d be able to get a cup of coffee without someone freaking out by this point.”
It was a solid minute before the barista returned with a cup of coffee.
“Sorry about that. One cup of Loki. Our special from the Justice Arcana line. As for Shirogane-san, my boss wanted to pass this to you while he remakes the order.” She said passing a note over. “Enjoy!”
Akechi wrinkled his nose slightly in annoyance before taking a sip. Immediately he was hit with an annoying sense of nostalgia. Like he’d tasted this cup before but it was far too long ago to remember what it used to be called. As he placed the cup back down and picked up the note.
Ren groaned, peaking around the corner watching the man at the counter read the note.
“Boss? You ok? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” And Ren rubbed his forehead watching the man shake his head and place the note down.
“Maiko, have you ever lost someone and were extremely sure that person was dead?” Ren asked in a hushed tone.
“Yeah of course. My first friend during elementary school was like that. I still miss him.” She said thinking.
“Well the person saying his name is Crow is mine. I haven’t seen him in 10 years!” he exclaimed as a whisper. “I would murder Shirogane if I wasn’t worried about going to prison. Maiko, can you cover for a bit? I'm going to try to sneak out to call around to see if someone can babysit while I figure this whole ghost thing out.” He started taking off the apron and hanging it up.
“Alright Amamiya-san. I'll distract him.” she sighed, shaking her head before grabbing the boxes labeled for Shirogane heading out towards the counter.
Ren took a couple calming breaths before pulling his phone and swiftly made his way towards the door. His fingers flew across the keyboard asking who was off work or at least who was available to talk. Before beginning to dial a different number.
“Tokyo investigation department Naoto Shirogane speaking.” Ren leaned against the wall of the building.
“You have some explaining to do Shirogane-chan!” his voice shook, closing his eyes.
“Oh dear you’re upset. You never use chan unless you’re angry or scared. Though by your phrasing I am going to make the educated deduction that this is about the assistant I sent to pick up my order?” Ren pinched the bridge of his nose letting out an annoyed sound. “Ah yes there’s the confirmation I needed. Has the Crow tried the blend you made when you first pitched the idea of The Arcana?”
“How long Naoto?” He managed out leaning his head on the wall behind him looking up at the large buildings around him.
“What?” she answered as though not expecting the question.
“How long have you known? How long has he…” he stopped closing his eyes.
“Eight years. He’s been working under me for about four to five years. The Kirijo group has mentioned that they’ve known for ten. He was set up in one of their hospitals for those first two or three.” Shirogane explained her voice turning more concerned and soothing.
“Kirijo? Seriously? And no one bothered to…to…” his voice tripped thinking of the sleepless nights. The glove he held onto through his worst moments. Her. Shaking his head he cleared the tears that pricked his eyes.
“I have no idea why we weren’t allowed to tell you or your team Amamiya-san. Nor do I understand how you two avoided running into each other for so long. The only reason I nudged him to your door is because he keeps complaining about the coffee shops around the office. Narukami and I got annoyed and promised to tell him where we always get ours from. Which so happens to be your place.” Ren gave a very watered down snort at that.
“Ok well I have to let you go, Shirogane. I need to call around to get someone to watch Eimi while I confront a ghost. Sunday you should stop in. She’s going to help Maiko.Her and I would love to see you.” he said trying to clear his throat.
“I look forward to it, Amamiya-san. Kanji and I will stop by. He’s made her a couple more cat backpack charms. Until then.” and with that the call ended. Ren took a moment to look at his screen. Ryuji’s name flashed up as an incoming call. A deep breath and he answered.
“Hey Bro.”
“Yooo. The message sounded ominous dude. What’s going on? Did something happen to my future track queen?” Ren smiled hearing him.
“No no, Eimi is fine. I’m trying to see if someone can pick her up and take her for a bit once school gets out. I had an unexpected issue show up at the cafe and wanted to be sure she was taken care of before I figured this out.”
“Oh no dude. Is it your ex? Please don’t tell me that wench finally showed up because I can get the team to take her out for you.” Ren laughed at the absolute seriousness in his best friend’s voice before peeking in the window seeing the long chestnut hair still at the counter talking with Maiko and a salaryman regular of his.
“No, no. Nothing like that Ryuji. I highly doubt I’ll see her again. You know how I am with exes. Once they leave they leave for good. Just a stupidly large order during a busy day. So do you have time to watch her?” He asked, messing with his bangs.
“Yeah of course I can take her. Want me to swing by your place and hang with her there?” he thought for a moment before nodding.
“Yeah if you don’t mind, the spare key is in its usual spot. I’ll message you when I finally get off work. Thanks for everything bro!”
“No problem. See you later!” he hung up before glancing back in again. The man’s eyes had widened over something the regular had said. Maiko was shaking her head like she couldn’t stop what was going on. Scratching the hairs on his chin he sighed before heading back in.