Tohru can’t feel anything but grateful towards Mitsuki Kirigaya - even if he supposes this could technically be blackmail.

The other boy has been nothing but fair towards him, ever since he uncovered Tohru as Jabberwocky. It’s a fair choice. Give up killing and become Edogawa’s assistant… or jail. Of course - the answer for Tohru was obvious - even if the other option wasn’t jail, yet a million yen, he still would’ve chosen to become Edogawa’s assistant over anything. It’s still like a dream to him… to be working and collaborating with someone who he could only call his idol.

...Even now, as he carries Mitsuki’s bags into the fast food restaurant, he’s thrilled to spend time with the one who moved his heart so.

“Mmn, you hungry, Tamashiro-kun?” Mitsuki tilts his head at Tohru quizzically.

“Only a little.” Truth be told, Tohru is starving, but he wouldn’t want to burden Mitsuki with things like that.

“Well, I’ll get us some food.” An unnaturally long pause as Mitsuki scrutinizes him through his glasses. “...Do you want a vanilla or chocolate milkshake?”

“Chocolate would be nice… but…!”

“That’s what I figured you’d like.” Mitsuki steps up to order the food, and Tohru interjects softly.

“But you don’t have to pay -...!”

“Nonsense. I’m the one who brought you here, so I’ll pay.”

“...But…”

Mitsuki gives him a look so stern that it shuts him up.

The two wait for their food in relative silence, Mitsuki watching the television in the restaurant intently. It’s playing the news, though Tohru doesn’t fully pay attention, keeping an eye and an ear out for their meal.

“Oh, it’s news about Dolly…!” Mitsuki mumbles putting a hand to his face as if to quell the redness already coming to his cheeks.

“Dolly…” Tohru echoes. He knows by now that Mitsuki has an impressive crush on the other detective, and will jump at any new information given.

So even when their order is called, and Mitsuki is still intently glued to the television, enamored with the depictions on screen, Tohru goes to pick it up.

“Kirigaya-san…” He gently taps Mitsuki’s shoulder to grab his attention. “We can grab a table near a television set.”

“Mm- oh, sounds like a good idea.” Mitsuki nods, and the two set off in search of a table, finding one directly under a speaker in the ceiling, with good view of the television set. What a perfect steal, Tohru thinks.

As Tohru lays out the food on the table, giving Mitsuki his fries and a fork, and setting aside his own fries… he notices there’s just one milkshake, no other drinks… yet two straws. “Um… did they forget our… other drink?” He asks, trying to pry Mitsuki’s attention away from the news momentarily.

“...Ah, they did.”

“I can… go and talk to them…?”

Mitsuki is already reading the receipt, and shakes his head. “They didn’t charge us for it, so there’s no use. There’s two straws, right? So we can share the milkshake. I ordered a chocolate milkshake as well.”

Tohru feels his face heat up as the blood pounding in his eardrums drones out the sound of Mitsuki’s voice.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

“...That’s fine with you, right?”

Tohru almost doesn’t hear him.

“Ye- yeah! Yes, it’s fine- !” Sharing a milkshake with Mitsuki… there are two straws, but this is something lovers do on dates, is the only thing Tohru can think. His heart must be racing faster than a bullet train right now.

Mitsuki shakes his head. “You know, if you’re feeling ill we can go home.”

“...Feeling...ill?” Tohru isn’t sure if he follows.

“Your face is red. Do you feel warm…? You could have a fever.”

Ah. Tohru considers for a moment that Mitsuki might be doing this on purpose to tease him, but pushes it out of his head, putting a hand on his hot cheek as if that will suppress the blushing.

“No, no. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

“...Maybe you should have a sip of the milkshake then…?” Mitsuki tilts his head ever-so-innocently, and Tohru is so sure that he’s being teased now. But he’s adamant not to make a fool of himself in front of Mitsuki, and so he grabs a straw, defiantly jamming it on the table and peeling it of its wrapper.

He takes a sip, trying to suck up the thick ice cream, all the while avoiding eye contact with Mitsuki, who he can tell is subtly amused by this.

Tohru wipes his mouth when he’s done, still not looking the other in the eyes. “Thanks, I think that did it.” He’s just embarrassed now.

Mitsuki chuckles. “It looks good. I think I’ll have some now.” He reaches over to gently grab the shake from Tohru’s side of the table - and brings it to his lips without even changing the straw.

Now, Tohru isn’t by any means weak-hearted, but he does feel like fainting when he sees. That’s an indirect kiss…! Mitsuki is definitely doing this on purpose - Tohru supposes that the detective is more cruel than he first let on.

Mitsuki sighs. “It is good. Thank you for sharing, Tamashiro-kun.”

“I-it’s, it’s not a problem, after all- you paid.”

“Mmmn, I guess so.” Tohru still can’t stop thinking about that indirect kiss. He knows deep within his mind he won’t be over it for the next week or so. “Ah… Tamashiro-kun…? I’ve been meaning to ask you this, but...”

Tohru quirks an eyebrow, finally bringing his eyes to meet Mitsuki’s. “Yes…?”

“Do you have a favorite…?”

“...Favorite…?” He’s going to need more prompting than that.

“Detective.” Mitsuki closes his eyes. “Don’t just say Edogawa because I’m here. You can’t butter me up that easily.” He smiles, though it’s a small smile. “You know my favorite detectives. Dolly, Nemesis Jones…” Mitsuki sighs as he trails off. “Or since you’re a serial killer, should I be asking who your favorite serial killers are…?” His eyes narrow.

“That’s rude…” Tohru mumbles. “I don’t like serial killers.”

“Oh, right. Just because you kill people, I shouldn’t’ve assumed…” Mitsuki rolls his eyes.

“...It’s not like that. I wanted to be a detective you know.”

“...” Mitsuki pauses. “You did?”

“...Yeah. I did.”

Tohru doesn’t continue on, and there’s a heavy silence that hangs in the air between them, before he sighs and finally speaks again.

“...I went to eat lunch on the roof one day because I wanted to study for a chemistry test.” He pauses, sucking air in through his teeth. “I thought I’d be alone up there, but there was already someone else. A girl from one of my classes.”

“...Was she going to…?”

“Yeah.” Tohru shakes his head. “She told me about the awful things her dad did. I told her I’d help her out if she… didn’t. She already knew that no matter who she told, it wouldn’t make a difference, so I figured… I’d apprehend him.”

“Yourself…?” Tohru nods.

“I dunno. I was kind of young and stupid.”

“You’re pretty young and stupid right now.” Mitsuki says, but it’s rather endearing.

“I ended up killing him. It wasn’t on purpose, but… that girl… her life changed so drastically. She was happy - she thanked me, good things happened for that family after he died, and I figured… if I can make a change like that in someone’s life… why shouldn’t I?”

Mitsuki closes his eyes, tapping his finger on the linoleum table.

“Even so… you should’ve gotten help.”

“...I know.” Tohru shrugs his shoulders. “I should’ve.”

“Well… that’s in the past now.” Mitsuki smiles. “What matters now is that you’re helping me, alright?”

“...I guess.”

“And I’m glad to have your help. You’re a very good assistant, you know… Tohru-kun.”

Tohru knows his face is extremely red at this point, but god - he doesn’t even care. “...Thanks. I work for the best.”