Chapter 15: Everyday Life with the Ultimate Detective

Hello again ladies and gentlemen; boys and girls; Ultimates of all ages! Wesst1 back again once again.

I'm glad all of you enjoyed Peko's chapter, I was a little worried about how the ending, such as it was, would go over. Then again, more Peko is always good, and I wrote it in a way that requires more Peko later on. And I mean later on, I will not contribute to Peko overdose.

Now though, it is time for the original Ultimate Detective, Kyoko. We're getting close to the end of the flashbacks, at least for now. Toko and maybe Sakura might need flashbacks in their chapters but that's not for a while so let's not worry about that right now.

But before we hear Kyoko's story, we need to go back. Back to the past. Not Samurai Jack, but you'll still enjoy it, I'm sure.

…

Please bear with me, I promise it will all make sense when it's over. Now, it is going to be a little disjointed, but I think you'll like it.

Now, on with the show!

50 years ago

February 28. 9:41 AM

District Court-Courtroom No. 3

"…The facts of this case are quite clear to me. The detective on this case did an impeccable job," an elderly, bald, bearded man in a black robe announced.

From his place in the Gallery, a Young Kirigiri Fuhito, the detective who had been called in to lead the case, smirked. He was hardly one to gloat but couldn't help stroking his newly grown beard and mustache. The defendant must have thought himself clever, but Kirigiri detectives are the best in the world.

Hoshikage Gou, the defense attorney shot an apologetic look to his client. The large, round, older man had done the best that he could and was now fully feeling his sixty years of age. His co-counsel beside him seemed to be taking it hard as well. What a way to start a career, being a part of a loss like this. While the prosecution's case made sense, Hoshikage couldn't escape the feeling that they had all overlooked something: a key piece of evidence; a different explanation that was equally viable; something.

The prosecutor, a large, imposing man, by the name of Karuma Soranosuke, smirked just like his silent, unseen partner. The prosecution's explanation of events was perfect, just like him. Though younger than Hoshikage by 20 years, he was a force to be reckoned with even without the assistance of a Kirigiri detective. When a perfect detective worked with the perfect prosecutor, no criminal could escape justice.

"If there is nothing else, I must now hand down my verdict," the judge announced as he raised his gavel.

"Objection!" the young co-counsel exclaimed.

"Yes, young man? And you are…?" the judge asked.

"Naegi Reiji, Your Honor, and there is something else," the new lawyer, Reiji, declared.

"There is? But what? The sequence of events as described was perfect," the judge said.

"And that's the problem, Your Honor. We have all forgotten one very important thing. Nothing involving humans is perfect. If everything in this case fits perfectly, we must have missed something, and I've finally realized what it is," Reiji announced.

"Very well, young man, let's take a brief recess and reconvene in one hour," the judge declared before banging his gavel.

As the people in the Gallery left, Fuhito glared at this Naegi Reiji. Brown, messy hair, with an ahoge. A shabby suit. Looked to be in his early twenties. This was definitely his first case. Though his silver hair, and really, who wouldn't have silver hair after years of stressful cases as an assistant detective, made him look older, he was in his twenties just like the defense's co-counsel. Unlike the co-counsel, however, Fuhito had been training for detective work since age four. This greenhorn would learn the hard way that Kirigiri's didn't make mistakes.

Present Day

Naegi and Pekoyama turned to see a girl with purple hair and purple eyes and a smirk on her lips.

"Naegi-kun, I'm sure that whatever it is you and Pekoyama-senpai are doing is important, but in case you've forgotten, you have a meeting with the Headmaster," the girl reminded.

"I'm sorry, Kirigiri-san, I lost track of time," Naegi said sheepishly.

The now identified, Kirigiri Kyoko said, "I'm sure. And I'm sure that whatever it is it is important, but so is this meeting."

"Kirigiri-san, Miyabi is having kittens, I'm sure that your father would understand if Naegi-kun stayed for that," Pekoyama said. She believed that, of course, but she also wanted Naegi to stay with her.

Kirigiri was tempted to ignore her father's request for this. The thought of newborn kittens was appealing, but she knew that Naegi needed to meet with the Headmaster. Plus, she wanted to have some alone time with Naegi and if they were late, her father might send more people looking. "If it any other day I'd agree with you Senpai, but this meeting is important," Kirigiri told her.

Pekoyama sighed, she knew Kirigiri was right. She turned to Naegi and said, "I'll tell you all about it later, Naegi-kun."

"Thanks, Senpai," Naegi said as he and Kirigiri headed towards the Main School Building. After a few seconds of silence, Naegi turned to Kirigiri and asked, "So he's still the 'Headmaster,' huh?"

Kirigiri smiled softly and said, "While he's at work he is."

Naegi started to chuckle. "Sorry Kirigiri-san, I couldn't resist. It's just that it wasn't that long ago that you hated being reminded that you were the Headmaster's daughter."

"And you saw that it didn't bother me when Pekoyama referred to him as my father, right? Well, that's thanks to you," Kirigiri reminded him.

"I didn't do much. And I feel terrible about what happened with your grandfather," Naegi said.

"It wasn't your fault. My grandfather can be so stubborn about these things. It's his loss if he wants to hate us," Kirigiri reassured Naegi.

Naegi knew that Kirigiri was right. He hadn't set out to meddle in the affairs of the Kirigiri family, and he hadn't interfered directly or even intentionally. But by getting Kirigiri to try to understand her father, Naegi had angered her grandfather. It didn't help that the old detective seemed to have a grudge against Naegi.

Kirigiri elbowed Naegi and said, "Naegi-kun, none of what happened was your fault. Fuhito is angry that his decisions had consequences and that he's the one facing them." I'll continue the Kirigiri line of detectives, but I'll do it my way. Naegi-kun, I owe you more than I can ever hope to repay, she thought.

I'm glad things worked out for Kirigiri-san and the Headmaster, but I feel bad about what happened with her grandfather. Traditions are fine, but one can be tradition bound to a fault, Naegi thought as he remembered how he and Kirigiri had gotten to this point.

Hope's Peak Academy-Main Building

Fourth Day of Classes

Of course, he wouldn't make this easy, Kirigiri thought as she made her way towards the building's exit. She had attempted to meet with her father, only to meet Kizakura Koichi who had told her, "He's got a lot on his plate today, Kyoko-chan."

She realized that running a school was hard work and was time consuming, she did, but although Kirigiri would never admit it, she had hoped that Jin would have made time for her. What? No, if he cared he wouldn't have left, she corrected herself. She came here to cut all ties with her so-called "father," she couldn't expect him to do her any favors just because they shared blood.

Other explanations for her disappointment, no matter how much better and more complete they were, were unwelcome.

Kirigiri was shaken from her thoughts by a friendly voice calling her. "Kirigiri-san!"

"Hmm? Oh…Naegi-kun. Hello."

As soon as Naegi caught up to her, he asked, "Classes ended a while ago Kirigiri-san, was there something you needed to do?"

"…Why should I tell you?" Kirigiri asked defensively.

"Huh...? Well...I guess you don't have to tell me," Naegi admitted.

"No, I don't have to tell you. So, I'm not going to," Kirigiri told him bluntly. Seeing Naegi flinch at her words and tone made Kirigiri feel guilty. "I'm sorry Naegi-kun, I'm mad at the Headmaster, not you," she explained.

That piqued Naegi's curiosity. "Your otou-san? What did he do? If you don't mind me asking."

"That's my business," was all Kirigiri said in response.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have asked. But I do want to help if I can," Naegi told her.

Kirigiri knew Naegi was sincere, but this was a family problem. A dysfunctional family, granted, but still a family problem. "I believe you, Naegi-kun, but I'll handle it."

"Okay, but the offer stands," Naegi said as he dropped the subject.

"I may take you up on that," Kirigiri said. She was just trying to be nice, but she thought that maybe if she kept getting stonewalled, she might need help in the future. And although she wouldn't say it, she did think it was nice to know that there were people here she could count on.

50 years ago

February 28. 11:21 AM

District Court-Courtroom No. 3

Suicide. Fucking Suicide! How had he missed it? Fuhito knew how he missed it; the apartment was a dump. The roof leaked; the carpets looked like they had been pulled out of a dumpster; of course, he missed it. The man stood on a block of ice to hang himself. It was almost a perfect suicide. But that attorney, that Naegi Reiji, he thought the mold on the carpet was odd. The victim had been dead for several days when the police had been called, enough time for mold to grow. Why Fuhito hadn't thought to take a closer look was beyond him.

Prosecutor Karuma glared at Fuhito from behind his desk, that case had ruined his perfect record. Kirigiri Fuhito's blunder had cost Karuma his perfect record. When he finally decided to speak, Karuma made no effort to hide his anger. "Is this really the best a Kirigiri detective can do?"

Fuhito flinched at that but did not respond. How could he? He had shamed his family with his subpar investigation.

Karuma continued, "Kirigiri Fuhito. The heir to a proud family of detectives, outdone by an attorney that has yet to lead a case."

Again, Fuhito had no response, Naegi Reiji had been more thorough than he had. That didn't mean that Fuhito wasn't bitter about it.

"I do not believe that we will be requesting your services in the future. You may go," Karuma told Fuhito.

Fuhito finally found his voice. "Sir, if you give me another chance this won't happen again!"

"And if I don't give you another chance, it won't happen again anyway," Karuma countered as he waved Fuhito out of his office.

Months passed but things hadn't gotten better as far as Fuhito was concerned. Karuma had been putting pressure on other Prosecutors, even ones in other judicial districts. Cases were still plentiful, and the family's connections made sure Fuhito still had work, he just had difficulty getting on criminal investigations in Japan.

The most irritating part was how nice his family was being about this.

"It happens."

"Learn from it and move forward."

"People have short memories, they'll forget."

"But I won't!" Fuhito wanted to scream. They were right and he wasn't the first Kirigiri to make a mistake, but none of them were shown up by a newly minted attorney. They would be corrected by veteran investigators; he had been humiliated by a man his own age with barely any experience.

Fuhito wouldn't forget. He wouldn't make another mistake in his investigations. No matter what it took, he would become a perfect detective, and he would wipe away this stain on his record.

Hope's Peak Academy-Main Building Hallways

Sixth Week of Classes-Monday

Kirigiri had once again attempted to speak with her father and once again, it didn't happen. She knew he wasn't avoiding her, and for some reason, she found that more annoying. If he were avoiding her, she could do what she had come to Hope's Peak to do easily, but this…this was making her feel like a small child whose parents couldn't play with her because of work. She hated that feeling, it was like part of her believed that there was still a bond between them worth preserving, a notion Kirigiri had to force herself to reject. She didn't understand it, resenting her father had been so much easier at home. With her grandfather.

That was odd. Why should Grandfather's presence have anything to do with how I feel about Da- that man? Kirigiri asked herself. She believed it would be best to stop that particular train of thought.

"Kirigiri-san?"

"Hmm? Oh, Naegi-kun. Do you require my assistance?" Kirigiri asked the newly arrived Luckster. She had grown fond of the boy in the time they had spent as classmates.

"No, it's just… If you're headed that way do you want to go back to the dorm together?" Naegi asked. He couldn't be sure, but he got the feeling that something was on her mind. Maybe she would open up about it on the way back to the dorm.

Kirigiri gasped. "Oh my! Forward, aren't we?"

"What? Oh, n-no that isn't…" Naegi sputtered as he tried to explain himself.

Kirigiri chuckled and said, "I know. You need to be careful. Someone as foolishly open as you is easy to tease."

Naegi winced at that "foolishly open" comment before mumbling, "It's just something friends do."

"Yes. I've seen how sincere you are about wanting to be friends with everyone. That concert you put on for Mioda-senpai erased any doubts many of us could have had," Kirigiri explained.

"I swear I've always been honest about that," Naegi said in his defense.

"I know that, it goes back to that foolishly open nature of yours. Someone like you could never deceive people," Kirigiri explained.

"About that 'foolishly open' part…," Naegi began.

"My apologies, I suppose it does sound like an insult. I actually find it refreshing. It's a nice change not having to listen for lies," Kirigiri told him.

Naegi decided to just let it go. It was no secret that Kirigiri's social skills were…lacking was a nice way of putting it. She would either develop better social skills or he would get thicker skin, as long as they were getting along, he didn't think it mattered too much. Still, he wasn't sure he would ever actually like being called "foolishly open."

Hope's Peak Academy-Girls' Dorm

Tenth Week of Classes-Monday

Naegi never thought it would happen, but as he sat in the common area, he realized that the lack of household chores had left him bored. He knew that they girls were just looking out for him, but he wasn't sure it was necessary. Kimura's medicine had healed up his shoulder, there was no need for him to take it easy.

It is nice to know that they care so much though, Naegi thought. Not that he ever doubted that the girls cared, but it was always nice to be reminded.

Naegi paused his musings when her heard the 'click-clack' of high-heels. He turned and saw Kirigiri observing him. She seemed pleased, although with Kirigiri it was difficult to tell.

"An almost instant reaction, I'm impressed. You seem to be aware of your surroundings. After last night, I had questioned whether or not you actually possessed survival instincts," Kirigiri explained.

Naegi wasn't sure, but he thought Kirigiri sounded mad. He would have to tread lightly. "It's not about whether or not I have survival instincts, Kirigiri-san. Sonia-senpai was in danger."

"As were you and the others, correct?" Kirigiri asked, her annoyance breaking through her mask slightly.

"That's true, but we didn't know when help would arrive or even if help would arrive in time. I couldn't just sit back and do nothing," Naegi explained.

Kirigiri knew that Naegi had a point, but she wasn't going to let him off just yet. Originally, she had planned to cut ties with her father and leave Hope's Peak. She hadn't expected to get attached to her classmates. She had Naegi to blame for that. His persistence and his kind nature made it difficult not to open up to him. She wasn't going to forgive him for becoming her friend and then making her worry about him. "And that makes it okay to be reckless? How do you think Sonia-senpai would have felt if you had died? What about the rest of us?" Kirigiri asked that last bit without meaning to.

"I'm sorry Kirigiri-san." There was no other appropriate response. Naegi knew that he when people found out exactly what had happened at the embassy, people would tell him that he was reckless. He hated making people worry about him.

"It's fine. I should know better," Kirigiri said.

"Huh?"

"You've noticed that I always wear gloves, correct?"

"I have, but what do your gloves have to do with anything?"

"Simply put, there was a time when I grew attached to someone, and I made a bad decision. I was forced to learn a very powerful lesson, and these gloves are a daily reminder of that. So, on these gloves, I swore to never make the same mistake again. It's easier to just not get close to people, and yet I have, haven't I?"

"You don't get close to people?"

"Yes," Kirigiri answered. It just hurts less that way, she mentally added.

"Kirigiri-san?"

Kirigiri looked to see Naegi holding out his hand with only his pinky finger extended.

"Kirigiri-san, I'm sorry I made you worry. I never meant to bring up bad memories. Maybe I don't have a right to ask for another chance, but if you give me one, I'll make a promise," Naegi said earnestly.

"Oh?" Kirigiri was curious and slightly amused. A pinky promise was childish, at least she thought so, but Naegi seemed to be serious, so she would at least hear him out.

"I wish I could say I'll never do anything reckless ever again, but I can't. I have to do what I think is right and sometimes that involves being reckless. But I can at least promise that I'll stay alive. I won't make you worry anymore," Naegi promised.

Kirigiri chuckled a bit at that. "You realize that you I and others are still going to worry if you get hurt, even if you don't die, right?"

"I know," Naegi admitted as he lowered his extended hand. Before he could, however, Kirigiri's pinky looped around his own.

"But I'm going to hold you to that. So, you better keep your word," Kirigiri said.

"I will," Naegi said happily.

"I don't give second chances often, so don't screw up," Kirigiri said as she pulled back her hand and left the room.

"I won't Kirigiri-san, you can trust me," Naegi called after her.

I know I can, Kirigiri thought happily as she went to her room. She had planned to end her friendship with Naegi and go back to how she had been when she had arrived at Hope's Peak. But like always he had surprised her. She didn't mind though. She wouldn't admit it, but she had been reluctant to have that conversation in the first place. She had no desire to go back to how things were, but she had believed that it was necessary. She didn't think so anymore and that suited her just fine.

Thirty-Four Years Ago

People had forgotten, but Fuhito never did. His first investigation still left a bad taste in his mouth. His reputation had recovered, but he still wasn't happy.

It hadn't even taken that long, Fuhito's reputation had recovered a little over two years after that fateful case. Much to Fuhito's displeasure, it was not due to his efforts.

Prosecutor Karuma had been forced to resign in disgrace for using fake evidence. False testimonies, forged documents, coerced testimony, he had been found to use it all. To add to Fuhito's annoyance, it was Naegi Reiji that had revealed Karuma for what he was. The one who had shamed Fuhito was also the one to restore his reputation, and Fuhito hated him for it. What angered him even more was Naegi himself.

"Defense attorneys and prosecutors are there to keep each other honest." Those had been Naegi's words when asked for a comment. Is that what he was doing back on that day? Was this upstart accusing him of being dishonest?

For years, Fuhito had worked to be rid of the shame he felt. "Detective work comes before everything else," had become his mantra. It had cost him his son and later his wife, but he it would all be worth it when he became the perfect detective.

Fuhito was shaken from his thoughts when three men entered his office. His guests were fellow detectives Kudō Shin'ichi, Hattori Heiji, and Zenigata Kōichi.

Kudō was a man with an athletic build with dark brown hair and slightly paled skin. He wore a blue suit with a red bow tie. Next to him was Hattori. It amazed Fuhito how the two had no blood relation but looked so similar. The only differences between the two were that Hattori had darker skin, spikier hair, and he would normally wear street clothes. Today he was wearing a red sports coat with a striped T-shirt and jeans. Zenigata, the oldest of the three, very much looked to deserver the nickname of "Tottsan." His gray hair was covered by his Inspector's fedora, but even in his advanced age he was as imposing as ever, Fuhito believed the trench coat helped with that.

"What do you three want?" Fuhito asked.

"Kirigiri-san, we had a plan for the future of detective work and were hoping that you would help us," Hattori said.

Fuhito had no idea what he meant by that, so he remained silent.

"What Hattori-san means is…" Zenigata began as he explained the idea of the Detective Library's Detective Shelf Collection.

When Zenigata had finished, Fuhito asked, "And what do you need from me?"

"We were going to ask you if you would register for the DSC with us. The other founders assure us that you would receive the highest rank, reflecting your long and amazing career," Kudō said.

"Are you mocking me?" Fuhito asked.

"What?" the other three asked.

"I am the latest in a long line of detectives. We Kirigiri are born for detective work. 'Raising their ranks?' 'Available to the public?' My career is not a bargain bin detective novel," Fuhito seethed.

"It won't be just you," Zenigata countered.

"I don't see what the big deal is, Kirigiri. We aren't going chapter and verse on every case we've ever handled. If this is about some past mistake…" Hattori tried to say.

"Past mistake" turned out to be the wrong thing to say. "Get out!" Fuhito screamed.

"Well, we tried," Kudō said as he and the others left.

Fuhito's anger didn't dissipate for quite a while. Of course, they couldn't understand. Riffraff like Kudō and Hattori simply became detectives because they thought it was "cool." Zenigata should have at least understood with his legendary ancestor. To be anything less than perfect was an insult to those who came before. But if those three wished to be entertainers before they were detectives, then fine. Fuhito had no need for them, but they had forced him to consider something. What would he do about the future? He wouldn't be around forever. He would need an heir. The boy was gone, he didn't want to be a detective. Did he not understand what it meant to be a Kirigiri? Fuhito refused to find someone outside the family to train. He was an elite and his heir would be too. But who would they be?

Police Station Near Hope's Peak

Seventeenth Week of Classes-Tuesday

Kirigiri was happy to finally have a case. It wasn't anything major, but she appreciated the distraction. She needed a break from her attempts to meet with her father and other things. Whether it was fate or just bad luck on her part, lately, she had been bumping into Koizumi when the photographer was calling her father. She had sympathized with Koizumi as another girl with father issues, and while she was happy that things had worked out for Koizumi, Kirigiri couldn't help but feel an ache in her chest when the older girl spoke to her father. Kirigiri hated that feeling.

She was most certainly not jealous.

Yeah, she didn't believe that either.

So, when the police had called and asked for her help solving a murder case, she jumped at the chance. Although…

"Okay. So, I'm in the warehouse playing Omaha Hold'em. My first couple of opponents are…people? I don't know, they really aren't that important to this story. Anyway, I'm one of the lucky ones who made it to the end that night and wouldn't you know it, one of my opponents is the Queen of Liars herself," the witness recounted.

Kirigiri nodded and asked, "What happened next…Cayde-san, was it?"

"Yeah, like I said, Celestia Ludenberg herself is at that table along with one of the victims, Yasuhiro Taeko, who was trying her damnedest to look generic and then there was that kid in the hoodie. Naegi Makoto I believe. Told him about the greatest place in town, Spicy Ramen. I'm getting sidetracked here. Anyway, we play a few hands but really it seemed to mostly be between Ludenberg-san and Yasuhiro-san. Ludenberg-san looked like she was thinking 'I got this!' You know how you in that zone and you're thinking 'I got this,' but she so did not have it," Cayde told her.

Kirigiri nodded and scribbled something in her notebook but said nothing.

"Well, I'm confused and so is Naegi-kun. He looks over and I just shrug. Maybe he was hoping I knew what this was about, I know more about these things than he does, that tournament wasn't my first, but I don't have time to explain what I don't have time to understand, y'know? So, this goes on for a while and the kid gets up to get drinks for everyone. He's coming back and 'BOOM!' he tripped on Colonel, drinks go flying, and the victim gets drenched. So, she's pissed, can't blame her, and our host, some guy calling himself the Drifter, finds out she has an earpiece and is communicating with her brother. Well, no one cheats in a yakuza sponsored tournament and lives to tell the tale," Cayde explained.

"So, you allege that it was one of the yakuza families that murdered those two?" Kirigiri asked.

"Them or that Drifter guy, I was more interested in getting out of there," Cayde said.

"Thank you, that should be everything," Kirigiri said as she got up to leave.

"See you star side," Cadye said as he waited for the police to let him leave.

Once the door to the interrogation room was shut, Kirigiri sighed. Crimes involving the yakuza were complicated, she could never be sure if the officers she was working with were a family's man or woman on the force. Then she started to laugh, of course it was complicated, Naegi was involved at some point. She'd have to thank him, a case like this was just what she needed.

Hope's Peak Academy-Main Building

Eighteenth Week of Classes-Saturday

Kirigiri's case had ended predictably. She had found enough evidence to link the murder to the Shikabane family and not the Drifter, not that it made much difference the case was buried once the name "Shikabane" was mentioned.

It pays to have friends in high places, I suppose, Kirigiri thought. She hated quitting in the middle of a case, but without backing from the police, investigating yakuza was suicidal at best. Kirigiri cringed at her choice of words, Pekoyama's attempts to take her own life were still fresh in everyone's mind. She didn't even know why she was trying to see her father today. Though Pekoyama had sworn that she would never try to take her own life again, when a student tried something like that, it didn't exactly blow over. And that was on top of Sato's attempt on Natsumi's life.

"Maybe I'll try again some other time," Kirigiri said as she stood facing the door to her father's office.

"Try what?" a male voice asked. Kirigiri turned to see Naegi standing there looking concerned.

"It's…" Kirigiri was about to say, "It's nothing," but she didn't think she could convince Naegi of that. "I've been trying to speak to the Headmaster since I arrived here, but so far I've had no success."

"You want to talk to your otou-san? I was under the impression that the two of you didn't get along," Naegi said. Kirigiri had never outright said that she had a problem with her father, but given her attitude towards the headmaster and with how much Kirigiri tried to avoid acknowledging her relationship with the man, Naegi couldn't help but think the father and daughter had a rocky relationship.

"We don't have much of a relationship at all. When I was seven years old my mother died and my father disappeared from my life," Kirigiri explained.

"Oh, that explains it," Naegi responded.

"I was raised by my grandfather to be a detective. We've been a family of detectives for generations. Our family's motto is 'detective work comes before everything else.' The Headmaster turned his back on all of that. I worked hard and went against some of the traditions of my family to get scouted by this school so that I could speak with him. Originally, my plan was to tell him that I don't need him in my life and to leave the school."

Naegi was about to respond, but Kirigiri continued.

"Don't worry. I don't plan on leaving anymore. It's your fault that I got attached our fellow students."

Naegi chuckled at that and said, "I'm not going to apologize for that, Kirigiri-san."

"No, I wouldn't want you to. I still want to talk to that man and say what I came here to say."

"Kirigiri-san, why are you lying?" Naegi asked.

"What? I haven't lied once in this entire conversation," Kirigiri said, genuinely surprised that Naegi had accused her of dishonesty.

"Kirigiri-san, you want me to believe that you don't care about your otou-san, but if you didn't care, you wouldn't have come here to tell him he's not a part of your life anymore. You'd have just went on with your life like normal," Naegi told her.

"It's not that simple," Kirigiri countered.

"Isn't it? Kirigiri-san, I have seen how you can be when you want something. You show a stubbornness I wouldn't have associated with you and you pursue your goal often without thinking of anything else," Naegi said referring to the times when Kirigiri had uncovered the identity of Genocider Syo; Hagakure's fortune telling rates; and her most recent case. "What I'm saying is, I think you want there to be a good reason for why the Headmaster did what he did, but don't want to know for sure."

Kirigiri didn't respond. She couldn't because Naegi was right. Her grandfather had encouraged her to hate her father and he had mostly succeeded, but in the back of her mind, there was always this one shred of doubt that her father didn't simply abandon her. And now that Naegi had said all of this, Kirigiri couldn't keep ignoring the possibility that it was true.

"Kirigiri-san, I can't tell you what to do, but just keep in mind that he might be hurting too. Approach it like you would a case, you told me that a good detective considers all possibilities and only discounts them as evidence comes in. I think you should hear him out before you make any decisions, otherwise you might walk away from this feeling less satisfied with the outcome than you did going in," Naegi said.

Kirigiri sighed and asked, "You always have to make things more complicated, don't you?"

Naegi saw her usual smirk and knew that she would heed his advice. "I don't try to," he said.

"I know," Kirigiri said with a nod. Still feeling playful, she asked, "Since you have all the answers, do you know how I can see him?"

"I have a meeting with the Headmaster soon, but it shouldn't take long. It's about the elementary program. You're more than welcome to come in with me and do what you need to do," Naegi suggested.

Kirigiri wasn't surprised, of course that was Naegi's idea. She laughed before she knocked on the Headmaster's door.

Kirigiri Jin and Kizakura Koichi had been patiently awaiting Naegi for a meeting about the elementary program, particularly five so-called Lil' Ultimates. It seemed that Naegi had questions about the children's home life. Well, in reality, Jin had been waiting, Kizakura just practically lived on a couch in his friend's office. When the door opened, both men looked and saw two students enter.

As the headmaster of Hope's Peak Academy, Kirigiri Jin had seen many things. The students of this school had all done near miraculous things, particularly the Lucky Student of Class 77-B, although Jin would say that Naegi Makoto was quickly gaining on his senpai. However, seeing his daughter face-to-face again was something he didn't think he could have prepared for. He hadn't been trying to avoid her, not really, but being the headmaster of this particular school meant there was always a fire to put out (for as much as Jin cared for his students, there was no denying that Hope's Peak often felt more like a mental asylum than a school).

He saw Naegi with her, that explained it. The boy's charitable nature was admirable, and it wasn't the only thing admirable about the boy.

Taking a deep breath, Jin said, "Hello Kyoko-chan. I'm sorry I've been so busy."

"It's fine, I don't expect you to place that much value on family," Kirigiri replied. Her tone never changed but everyone present in the room swore that they could see the venom dripping off of those words.

"Kyoko-chan you don't under-" Kizakura began to say.

"Then help me understand," Kirigiri interrupted.

"I must admit, I expected you to come in here one day and say you wanted nothing to do with me," Jin said chuckling.

Kirigiri's response was to look away from him and pout while saying, "I've decided to approach this like a detective."

Naegi couldn't help but think, That's adorable.

Jin had a feeling that he owed this to Naegi. The boy was special, there was no doubt about that. "Very well, Kyoko-chan. You deserve answers. I'll tell you everything: Why I left the family the first time; why I returned; and why I couldn't take you with me the second time."

One part of that sentence stuck out to Kirigiri. "What do you mean 'couldn't'?"

"It all starts before you were born. You see, my father, your grandfather…"

Seventeen Years Ago

Worthless! They were all worthless! Not a single student Fuhito had attempted to take on had the talent of a Kirigiri detective.

Ugh. There was that word, "talent." He was beginning to sound like the boy. He would not call Jin his son, the boy had abandoned the family and their ways to research "talent." Some of the younger members of the family tried to explain it away, saying Jin's chosen path wasn't that different from detective work, that he was looking for a "truth" too. Fuhito ignored them, the boy had still turned his back on generations of Kirigiri tradition it was only right that Fuhito drove him out.

The last he had heard of the boy was that he had gotten married a year or so ago. Fuhito didn't look into that, another member of the family kept tabs on Jin in the unlikely even father and son wished to reconcile. Fuhito vaguely recalled that Jin had sent an invitation to the wedding, probably at the bride-to-be's request, but Fuhito had not bothered to remember. Fuhito would do no such thing. It was Jin's fault that Fuhito had no heir, that was supposed to be Jin's role.

As Fuhito returned to his study, he found a note on his desk. It was about the boy. Fuhito would have thrown it away except the message on it gave him an idea.

Your son is going to be a father. Fuhito would have to start keeping tabs on his son's family himself. Perhaps his grandchild would be what Fuhito was looking for, provided he got to them before his son had a chance to screw the child up. Yes, Fuhito would have a lot of work to do in the coming years.

Months Later

Jin did not want to be here. He had not left his old home on good terms and had never planned on coming back. It was only because of his wife's urging that he would even attempt to reconcile with his father.

Jin looked at his wife and newborn daughter. Kiyone may believe that Fuhito wanted to patch things up but Jin knew his father, the man never gave a damn about family. Jin knew Fuhito wanted something, and Jin had a pretty good idea of what it was. Jin would be damned if he allowed Fuhito to turn Kyoko into a clone of him.

"Jin-kun, calm down, I'm sure your father really wants to fix things. He can't be as bad as you remember," Kiyone assured her husband as she held their infant daughter.

Jin was tempted to tell her that if the old man died, Jin wouldn't have bothered attending the funeral, but held his tongue. Kiyone was a sweet woman and from a family that was actually a family. The Uzuchi family had always been kind to Jin and had been overjoyed when Jin and Kiyone got married. Jin didn't need his father as long as he had his in-laws.

"Jin! So glad you could make it," Fuhito said as he entered the room.

"Hello Father," Jin replied.

"It's nice to finally meet you Father, my name is Kiyone, Jin's wife, and this little cutie is Kyoko," Kiyone said.

"Yes, I know," Fuhito replied.

Jin thought he heard condescension in his father's voice but Kiyone must not have noticed as she just said, "I should have known. Of course, one of the greatest detectives in the world would be able to find that out."

Fuhito's eye twitched, Jin knew that was a bad sign. Fuhito had already made up his mind that he didn't like Kiyone after that comment. Most people would see it for what it was, Kiyone trying to compliment Fuhito, but to Fuhito, it was a layperson being amazed at something simple and attributing it to great ability.

Fuhito walked over to Kiyone and asked, "May I hold her?"

"Of course," Kiyone said as she carefully handed Kyoko over to Fuhito. Fuhito had just barely touched Kyoko before the baby began crying.

Jin hated it when Kyoko cried, but he couldn't help but smirk this time. That's my girl, Jin thought. Jin hoped that this was a sign that this would all be over soon.

Ten Years Ago (or Seven Years Later)

It had not ended soon, in fact Kyoko had warmed up to her grandfather as she got older. As it had turned out, Kyoko had a natural talent for detective work. Must run in the family, Jin thought. If Kyoko wanted to be a detective, that was fine with Jin, but why did she have to learn from Fuhito? Jin still dreaded the thought that his sweet little girl would grow up to be like her grandfather. The odds were slim, there was enough of her mother in her that Kyoko would never be as bad as Fuhito, but Jin still worried.

To make matters worse, Kiyone had fallen ill and no treatment was working. She had been sickly her whole life, but she had been improving, at least according to her and her parents, but it seemed that her illness was winning this time.

Jin hated this. His wife was sick, and his daughter was in Europe with her grandfather investigating a murder. Seeing Kyoko might help Kiyone, at least that's what Jin told himself when he called his father for what felt like the thousandth time. In reality, he knew that the end was near and that his little girl would have to say goodbye to her mother.

"What do you want boy?" Fuhito's voice asked as soon as the old detective picked up.

"You need to bring Kyoko back now, old man, Kiyone is sick and I don't know how much longer she has left," Jin answered, showing his father the "respect" the man was due.

"We're almost done. You can't rush these things."

Yeah, you learned that the hard way, didn't you? Jin held back from saying that. Reminding Fuhito of Naegi Reiji wouldn't bring Kyoko back any sooner. "Father, I'm asking, please bring Kyoko back. I'd like her to spend some time with Kiyone before…" Jin couldn't finish that sentence.

"Stupid boy, do you think the culprit is going to just sit around while I bring the girl back for 'family time'? She's a Kirigiri, she'll understand that detective work comes before everything else."

Jin was seeing red at this point. "My wife is going to die, and you want her to try to prolong her suffering because you can't catch a murderer?!"

A normal person could understand Jin's frustration. Fuhito was neither a normal person or a good person and therefore hung up.

Jin, in his anger, slammed the phone down and punched a wall to relieve some anger. He didn't know what to do. All he could do was go back to Kiyone's side and hope that a miracle would occur.

Two Months Later

The miracle never happened. Well, he couldn't say that. Kyoko had somehow made it back before Kiyone died. Barely. Little Kyoko's last memory of her mother was Kiyone as a white face floating above a hospital bed.

Jin had had enough. The only reason he had stayed this long was because Kiyone had convinced him to give Fuhito a second chance. Fuhito had taken that goodwill and… well, "squandered it" would have been putting the best spin on it. Jin had gone to his room and begun to pack. I never should have come back to this place, Jin told himself.

"What are you doing boy?"

Great. Fuhito was here. Just what Jin didn't need. Jin didn't even turn around to answer. "Leaving. And taking Kyoko with me."

"You'd let your daughter's talent go to waste? Even you must admit that she's a natural-born detective," Fuhito said.

"Kyoko can be a detective, but I refuse to let her turn out like you," Jin told his father.

"A shame that you don't get a say."

That caught Jin's attention and finally got him to turn around. "What do you mean?" he asked.

"I mean, you're free to leave, but the girl stays," Fuhito answered.

"You can't do that. I'm her father, not you," Jin argued.

"Can't I? Do you know how long I've been at this, boy?" Fuhito asked, rhetorically.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Jin asked, not liking where that was going.

"I stay out of the public as best I can. That's the Kirigiri way. But judges all over Japan know me and my reputation. Would I get custody of your daughter?" Fuhito began.

"You evil piece of shit," Jin interjected.

"Or would it go to my mentally and emotionally unfit son, whose wife's untimely death push him over the edge?" Fuhito finished.

"None of that is true! There will be judges who see through it!" Jin countered.

"I decide what's true. Fools in black robes and the riff-raff who argue in front of them just exist to tell detectives that they are right," Fuhito told his son.

Jin wanted to fight back. He really did. But he didn't know how. Fuhito had built up a reputation that was equaled only by a select few. Jin was going to work at Hope's Peak Academy when the next school year started, but he was no one. Jin knew he couldn't win, but there were still things he could do for Kyoko.

"You're a monster, but you're right. I do have some conditions though," Jin said. I'm sorry Kiyone! I'm sorry Kyoko!

"I'm the one in control boy, but I suppose I can humor you. We are 'family' after all," Fuhito said. Jin didn't miss the mocking tone in Fuhito's voice when he said "family".

A Few Days Later

"You did what!" Uzuchi Minako screamed at her son-in-law. Jin had come to his in-laws' home to explain the arrangement he had made with Fuhito. He had brought Kizakura, hoping that the Uzuchi's wouldn't kill him for what he had done in front of a witness.

"Minako-chan, let him explain. Jin-kun wouldn't do something like this without a reason. At least he better not have," Uzuchi Tōhachirō said to his wife.

Jin gulped. Even in his advanced age Uzuchi Tōhachirō was still a master of seven Japanese martial arts, when he made a threat, he followed through if he had to. "I agreed to leave Kyoko with my father," Jin wanted to vomit when he called Fuhito his father, "if I don't try to get her back, she can at least see the two of you. That way she can at least know loving grandparents, not just some old bastard who heaps his broken dreams on her."

"I don't like it Jin-kun, that little girl needs her daddy," Kizakura said.

"I don't like it either Koichi-kun, but I don't know what else to do. The old man threatened to take me to court to get Kyoko from me," Jin explained.

"How many contacts could a homicide detective have in family court?" Minako asked.

"When he's from a family of detectives? Plenty. Plus, after some 'unpleasantness' in his past, he had to make a name for himself in other areas," Jin explained.

"'Unpleasantness'?" Tōhachirō asked.

Jin then explained to the others Fuhito's history, or at least the parts he knew about. Out of respect to Fuhito, most members of the family never spoke of his first case.

"Too bad we can't track down that lawyer. That might piss Fuhito off enough that he couldn't make a convincing case to a court," Kizakura joked. He hated it, but joking was all he could do.

Jin didn't answer and instead turned to the Uzuchi's and said, "Make sure Kyoko knows how amazing her mother was. And don't tell Kyoko about this. If Fuhito finds out that she knows he may stop letting you two see her too."

"Jin-kun," Minako said sadly. This man was suffering, and he was doing his best to limit the suffering to just himself.

"I don't agree with this Jin-kun. I'm not someone who gives up without a fight. Even if it's hopeless," Tōhachirō said.

"Believe me, I wish there was another way. For the life of me, I can't find one," Jin told them.

"Fine. We won't tell Kyoko. I hope Kiyone can forgive us for this," Tōhachirō said solemnly.

Jin hoped so too. He lost his wife to illness and now he lost his daughter to Fuhito. The thought of never seeing his daughter again, and Fuhito would make sure that he never did, was almost too much for the man.

Hope's Peak Academy-Main Building

Eighteenth Week of Classes-Saturday

"And that's the story Kyoko-chan," Jin told his daughter.

Kirigiri didn't know how to respond. She didn't know what to believe. For the past decade, the biggest force driving her was the thought of meeting her father again and telling him exactly what she thought of him. Now though…

It couldn't be true could it? I certainly explained a lot of things thought. Forbidding her from having a cell phone; forbidding her going outside after dark; and even seemingly wanting to know what she is doing all the time, at the time, Kyoko had just thought that Fuhito was just being overprotective, but now his behavior seemed more controlling than anything else. It would certainly explain why Fuhito encouraged her to hate her own father.

"All this because he was embarrassed on his first case?" Naegi asked incredulously. It didn't make sense to him. Humans weren't perfect, making mistakes and growing from them was just part of being human. And why did parts of that story sound familiar? Naegi asked himself. Specifically, Fuhito's first case sounded like a story his grandfather had told him years ago.

Once her body started listening to her again, Kirigiri left the room. She needed to check something.

"Kirigiri-san!" Naegi called after her.

"Let her go kid," Kizakura told the boy.

"But…" Naegi tried to argue.

"It's fine, Naegi-kun. Given everything I told her, I think this was the best reaction we could have expected," Jin said with a sigh.

Naegi looked at the Headmaster for a few seconds before eventually nodding. He saw the pain in Jin's face. Naegi could tell, the man wanted to comfort his daughter, but he knew that now wasn't the right time.

After Kirigiri left her father's office, she went to find a secluded spot. There was something she had to do, and she didn't want anyone to overhear. Before she could make any decision, she needed to confirm what her father had told her. Good thing Grandfather doesn't know about this, Kirigiri thought as she pulled out a prepaid phone that she bought before she came to Hope's Peak. As soon as she found a secluded spot, she dialed her maternal grandparents' number.

"Hello. Uzuchi residence," her grandmother's voice answered.

"Grandma Minako, it's Kyoko," Kirigiri said.

"Kyoko-chan! It's so good to hear from you!"

"I'm sorry I haven't called. I've just had a lot on my mind."

"That's alright. We know how busy you can be."

Kirigiri thought she heard Grandpa Tōhachirō in the background say something that sounded like "Fuhito" and "controlling asshole."

That must have been correct because Minako soon scolded him. "Tōhachirō!"

"That's actually what I wanted to talk to you both about. I spoke to my father today and he told me why he left," Kirigiri explained.

"Hold on, Kyoko-chan," Minako said. A few seconds later and she heard Tōhachirō's voice. "So Jin-kun finally told you, did he?"

"Does that mean it's all true?" Kirigiri asked.

"We're sorry for keeping this from you, Kyoko-chan. We wanted to tell you in spite of your father's wishes. But you respected Fuhito so much, we weren't sure you would believe us," Tōhachirō told her.

"That and we knew your father was right about what Fuhito would do if we did," Minako added. Apparently, they were on speaker phone.

"I don't know what to think. For years, I thought my father abandoned me. Now I find out that my grandfather threatened him and that all this time I was little more than a prisoner," Kirigiri told them.

"I'm sorry Kyoko-chan, we should have done something. Or at least tried," Tōhachirō said.

"It's fine. It sounds like there was nothing anyone could do," Kirigiri assured him.

"As for what to think, that's something only you can decide Kyoko-chan," Minako told her.

"I…I think I need some time," Kirigiri said.

"That's fine. That's more than fine. You've been through a lot today. More than anyone your age should be expected to deal with. Just know that we're here for you," Minako told her.

"Thank you, Grandma."

"That's what family is for, Kyoko-chan. We love you," Minako said.

"I love you both too," Kirigiri said as she ended the call. Once she put her phone away, she let herself fall back against the wall and slide down it into a sitting position. "What am I supposed to do now?" she asked herself.

"Kirigiri-san?"

"Hmm?" Kirigiri looked and saw Naegi rounding the corner near where she was sitting. "Did you hear any of that?" she asked.

"No, I just got here. The Headmaster said to give you some space, but I had to be sure you were alright," Naegi explained.

Of course you were, you're sweet like that, Kirigiri thought as she felt her cheeks heat up. While she was happy that Naegi had come to check on her, Kirigiri didn't want anyone to see her right now. Most people wouldn't guess just by looking at her, but behind Kirigiri's stone cold personality, she easily gets emotionally upset, but it was usually masked by her strong will. But her mask was dangerously close to breaking and she wasn't sure what she was going to do. She didn't know whether she should be more sad or angry and she didn't want to take it out on anyone else, especially Naegi. "Naegi-kun, please leave. I don't want to see anyone right now."

Naegi sighed and said, "Alright then," before he went back around the corner and out of Kirigiri's sight. Kirigiri was a little disappointed that Naegi had given up so easily, before she heard Naegi say, "You can't see me. Do you want to talk now?"

Kirigiri stifled a laugh before she said, "Idiot." Despite her words, Kirigiri did talk to Naegi. She told him about her childhood; her mother's death; her father leaving; and how her grandfather had raised her.

Naegi had gotten a general idea of what Kirigiri's life was like from what Kirigiri had told him before they met with the Headmaster and from Jin's story, but it was his first time hearing it from her perspective and in such detail.

"…And I checked with my grandparents, who confirmed what my father said. Now I don't what to do," Kirigiri finished.

"What do you mean?" Naegi asked, hoping that talking through it would help Kirigiri reach a decision.

"I understand why my father wanted to get away from my grandfather. But my father didn't want to be a detective, so that might have made it at least a little easier. I don't want to go back to my grandfather. I'm not even sure I want to be a detective anymore, not after what it did to my family," Kirigiri told him.

"Your oji-san did that, not detective work. I've seen how you get when you have a case, you really enjoy your work. You don't need to be like your oji-san to be a detective, you already proved that yourself when you rejected some of his ways to get to Hope's Peak. Don't let your oji-san ruin detective work for you," Naegi countered.

Kirigiri knew Naegi was right. Fuhito had enforced the idea that her entire sense of self is wrapped up in being a detective. He had succeeded, Kirigiri had suffered from identity issues. Whether that was Fuhito's goal or not, it did help him mold Kirigiri into the heir he had wanted. Or it would have had Kirigiri not wanted to see her father again. Kirigiri had never accepted all of Fuhito's teachings as she still thought family mattered. She was so shaken up that she had forgotten that. Had Naegi not shown up, she may have done something she would have regretted later, like give up detective work.

"Thank you, Naegi-kun. You've helped me out a lot today," Kirigiri said with a smile.

"That's what friends are for, Kirigiri-san," Naegi replied.

Later

"What!?" an elderly voice shouted angrily from Kirigiri's phone. Kirigiri was behind the girl's dorm before dinnertime. She had decided that she had tell her grandfather that she wasn't going back to him.

"I said, 'I'm not coming back'," Kirigiri replied. She didn't elaborate, Fuhito knew what he had done.

"Kyoko, did you forget? We are Kirigiris! We are detectives! Are you really giving all of that up?!" Fuhito yelled.

"I'm not giving up anything. I'm still a detective, but I'm going to be a detective my own way. Without you," Kirigiri told him as she hung up. Kirigiri released a breath the she hadn't realized that she had been holding. He lied to her and used her, but Fuhito was still her grandfather and he had still raised her, of course telling him she wasn't coming home was difficult.

"Kirigiri-san, dinner is ready," Naegi told her. After he saw her, he asked, "Are you okay?"

"I am. I just got off the phone with my grandfather. I told him I wasn't coming back," Kirigiri explained.

"I see."

"I hope I did the right thing," Kirigiri said.

"That's difficult to say. You probably won't ever really have an answer, but I want you to know that I'll support you no matter what," Naegi told her.

"Thank you Naegi-kun," Kirigiri said. After mulling it over for a few seconds, she said, "You know, I came to Hope's Peak intending to tell my father that I didn't need him in my life and then leave the school. I should probably thank you for preventing that."

"I'm glad you stayed, Kirigiri-san. It hasn't always been easy, but I'm glad I came to Hope's Peak. My life got so much better when all of you became a part of it," Naegi told Kirigiri.

For the second time that day, Kirigiri almost let her mask slip as a blush exploded across her face. "I-I'm flattered, Naegi-kun. I'm glad you came to Hope's Peak too," Kirigiri said. She meant it, she felt that her life was better with Naegi in it too. One might not think that, given that she just got done cutting ties with her grandfather, but Kirigiri had felt that she had gained so much more. Her friends, her father, her freedom, and her Naegi. Wait…"My Naegi?" she thought as she looked at Naegi. "My Naegi" I like the way that sounds, Kirigiri thought as she slipped her hand into Naegi's. In return, Naegi gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

Hope's Peak Academy-Girls' Dorm

Nineteenth Week of Classes-Monday

Things had been going rather well for Kirigiri for the past two days. She and her father had a long overdue conversation, and while Kirigiri was still upset that Jin hadn't thought to visit her in ten years, she had come to accept that he had done what he had done because he believed it was what was best for her.

Just as she was getting ready to head to her room to review some case files before dinner, her phone rang. It was her father.

"Kyoko-chan, could you come to my office? Your grandfather is here."

"Of course, Daddy," Kirigiri responded before hanging up. She had expected this. She knew Fuhito wasn't going to give up easily. Steeling herself for what she expected to be a long argument, Kirigiri headed to her father's office.

Later

Naegi had not expected this. He had come to discuss problems with Hope's Peak Elementary with the Headmaster when an elderly man had barged in.

"Hello Father. So, you've finally come to visit me at work, have you?" Jin asked.

This is Kirigiri Fuhito. I should probably… Naegi thought as he headed for the door only to be stopped by Kizakura.

"I think they'll need witnesses for what's about to happen, kid. Might as well get comfortable," Kizakura said as he led Naegi to one of the couches is in Jin's office.

"You have something to do with this don't you, Boy," Fuhito said to Jin. "Kyoko called me two days ago, on a phone she wasn't supposed to have, and says that she isn't coming back."

"Kyoko-chan can think for herself, despite your best efforts. She made that decision on her own," Jin corrected.

"You… What did you do?" Fuhito demanded.

Before Jin could answer, Kirigiri entered the office.

"Hello Father. Hello Grandfather. What brings you here?" Kirigiri asked, feigning ignorance.

"You know damn well why I'm here, Girl," Fuhito told her.

"I'll thank you not to talk to my daughter, your granddaughter, like that. Not in my office, not anywhere," Jin reprimanded.

"I'll do whatever I damn well please, Boy," Fuhito said angrily. He turned back to Kirigiri and said, "What happened to being a detective? Would you really give that up because of some stupid thing like a familial bond?"

"You don't think they're stupid when you take advantage of them," Kirigiri shot back.

"What did you say to me?" Fuhito asked.

"I know. I heard my father's side of the story. I confirmed it with Grandma and Grandpa. You've been lying to me for a decade," Kirigiri continued.

"Damn Uzuchi. I never should have let them get involved with you," Fuhito said, quickly losing what little composure he had.

"So, I could grow up knowing nothing of my mother and hating my father?" Kirigiri asked angrily, her own mask was beginning to crack.

"They were a distraction. Detective work comes before everything else. They know nothing of our ways," Fuhito told her.

"You mean your ways," Jin cut in.

"My way is the only way!" Fuhito yelled.

"It might have been. Long ago. Back when detective work was seen as a sacred profession. Being tradition bound isn't necessarily a good thing," Jin mused.

"We'll see. It doesn't matter. I tried to give you one last chance, but I'm sure the courts will give me custody of my granddaughter once they learn she is incapable looking after herself," Fuhito told them.

"That's a lie and you know it," Kirigiri said, feeling insulted and disgusted by Fuhito's words.

"I decide what's true. Some mouth-breather in a black robe won't deny me," Fuhito argued.

"They will," a new voice cut in. Naegi had heard enough.

"Who the hell are you?" Fuhito asked.

"I'm your granddaughter's friend. And I'm telling you, your plan won't work. The law may struggle to keep up with the times, but it's always trying to adapt. Oji-san has shown me how court proceedings have changed just in his lifetime. But your traditions and idea of how justice works sound like they predate even that," Naegi explained.

"They do. Our family's traditions started in the Edo Period," Jin said.

"And they've served me well for fifty years," Fuhito countered.

"You've been stuck in a certain day for fifty years. When that case didn't go your way, you retreated into our family's old traditions. Your clock has been stopped for so long that it's rusted over. You can't accept that detective work has changed with the rest of the world," Jin explained.

"When you couldn't move past that one case and become the perfect detective, you decided to heap all of your broken dreams onto someone else under the guise of finding an heir. You can't grow if you can't get past your own mistakes and adapt to the world as it is," Kirigiri added.

"Judges, attorneys, prosecutors, detectives, and the police. Even those we entrust with carrying out justice are under constant scrutiny in the modern world. The legal system is no longer composed of just the ruling class like in the Edo Period," Naegi finished.

"You…you," Fuhito seethed, not knowing how to continue.

"Perhaps we could ask your grandfather what he thinks, kid," Kizakura suggested to Naegi.

"Grandfather? Why is this boy's grandfather important?" Fuhito asked.

"I should probably mention, the one who helped us get to this point is that boy. The grandson of the Honorable Judge Naegi Reiji, Naegi Makoto," Jin said hoping to strike the final blow against his father.

"Naegi? Naegi! Naegi! NNNAAAEEEGGGIIIII!" Fuhito screamed, as he broke down. "I won't accept…! I can't accept…! Detective work…! My profession is sacred! I decide what's true! Some random man with no power behind his name has no place in the justice system! Some boy who came out of nowhere doesn't know what he's talking about!" Fuhito raged.

"That's enough old man," Jin said calmly.

"What!" Fuhito yelled.

"Like I said, you've been stuck in the past. The one with no place in the justice system…is you," Jin explained.

"Just because I want to be a detective, doesn't mean I want to emulate you. There's more to me than just detective work," Kirigiri added.

"This isn't over," Fuhito said through clenched teeth.

"It is. Most attorneys aren't willing to do things that will get them disbarred. And the whoppers you want to tell the court would definitely qualify as suborning perjury once they find out," Kizakura said.

"Now Father, I believe that we are done here. Would you like to leave with what's left of your pride intact or shall I have security escort you out?" Jin asked.

Fuhito decided that the first option was preferable and turned to leave. But before he opened the door, he looked at Naegi and said, "You and your grandfather are my curse! Your grandfather shamed me on my first case and now you have cost me my heir! You'll pay for this boy!"

"You did that to yourself," Kirigiri told Fuhito.

With a scoff, Fuhito left the office, slamming the door on his way out. Once her was gone, Naegi spoke up.

"I'm sorry things turned out that way. I didn't mean to destroy your family."

"Fuhito destroyed it, Naegi-kun. You brought it back together," Jin said.

"But…" Naegi tried to argue.

"It's for the best. If he comes around one day, that's great. But for now, he has to deal with the consequences of his decision," Kirigiri told Naegi. She did feel a bit sad. Regardless of why he did it, Fuhito did raise her. It would have been odd not to feel some sort of attachment.

"Some of us have been waiting years for that to happen, kid. Don't lose sleep over it," Kizakura added.

"Then I won't say anymore," Naegi said.

That Evening

Kirigiri had been called to the dorm's common area by Ikusaba. She had a pretty good idea of what this was about.

"Does this have anything to do with Naegi-kun?" Kirigiri asked as soon as she noticed a presence in the room.

"Yes, it does," Ikusaba confirmed as she entered and sat down.

Kirigiri still sensed others and said, "If you girls want war, I'll give you war. I can be pretty stubborn when I want to be, so I'm in this until the end."

"Kirigiri-san, please. 'Chillax' I believe is the word. There is really no need to fight when I have the perfect solution," Sonia said as she came into the room.

Present Day

"Why doesn't she offer to be a mistress if she thinks the idea is so great?" Kirigiri asked herself as her face turned red at the memory. Her thoughts then shifted, My life wouldn't be as rich without Naegi-kun in it. Hopefully, we can explore love's mysteries together someday soon!

Naegi was oblivious to those thoughts though. He had gotten better, but if Kirigiri didn't want him to be able to read her, then he would not be able to read her. Instead, he just reflected on his memories and felt honored that she trusted him enough to confide in him the way she had earlier in the school year.

The two were shaken from their reminiscing by five young voices shouting, "Mako-nii!" before Naegi was tackled by five different colored blurs.

"Hi kids," Naegi said from his place on the ground as he tried to get air back in his lungs.

Whew! That's done. I hope it was worth the wait. I know I took really long. Longer than I would have liked. Writer's block is a bitch.

There was a lot of lore on Kyoko and the Kirigiris to go through, so I needed to be sure to get it right. I suppose it didn't help that I did other flashbacks, during the flashback. That was new for me, so I wanted to be careful. That and I had trouble finding information on custody battles in Japan.

Fuhito will be back, we'll need new antagonists when Junko comes around, although she has been quiet lately. But, she's been busy, trust me, I have plans for what she's been doing.

You know, canon Fuhito is a dick, but I wonder if I played up what made him dick too much in the chapter.

Is there ever a bad time to include Cayde? Probably, but I think he works here.

Do any of you know who Kevin Mask is? In Kinnikuman Nisei, he ran away from his home because of his father, Robin Mask, and rejected most of his father's teachings, and still referred to him as "Daddy." Not judging, but that was why I had Kyoko start calling Jin "Daddy" as opposed to "Father" because I thought the two characters were similar in regards to their father issues.

I hope I got Fuhito's breakdown right. I wanted it to be like Kristoph Gavin's at the end of Apollo Justice.

Warriors of Hope are up next. What class/job do you think Makoto would use in an RPG? You know he would play along with those kids. I'm leaning towards paladin myself, but maybe summoner would be good.

Anyway, read and review and as always, stay frosty!