Chapter Text
The rhythmic ticking of a clock was all the noise that accompanied Makoto as he sorted through the case files that had been crowding his boss’ drawers. Solved cases go in cabinet #1, pending requests go in the basket, suspicious things that aren't connected to anything yet but might be important go in cabinet #102, and the unfortunate state of the numbering and filing system is Makoto's handywork. Well he understands it, so it's not really a problem, right? But he can't spend too much time thinking about that before a loud bang breaks the silence of the office and his concentration. With a large flinch, the papers that Makoto had been carefully organising and preparing to put away had been dropped onto the desk. With a sigh and an attempt to pick up the files, another even louder bang startled Makoto into pushing all the papers into a mess on the floor. Finally registering the banging noise as knocking, Makoto quickly composes himself and calls out “come in!” in the most professional voice he can.
The door was opened with a bit more force than Makoto (and seemingly the guy who opened it) expected, causing it to smack into a chair drawing a wince from the stranger and a jolt upright from Makoto. This sudden action drew the attention of the stranger, who stared at Makoto with an unreadable expression. Feeling suddenly dry in the mouth, Makoto gave an awkward smile and gestured for the stranger to sit down in one of the waiting room chairs. He seemed normal enough, but Makoto couldn't shake a small feeling of apprehension as the stranger sat down. Makoto, glorified secretary that he is, stepped around his desk (only hitting his knee a little) and prepared his usual speech for when clients came in but Kyoko was busy. “Welcome to the Kirigiri Detective Agency! I can get you a drink and write down the details of your case,” the stranger looked up at Makoto with dull green eyes, ‘sharp’ being the only word that could describe them. “Er um, we've got coffee, couple– couple different kinds of coffee… juice? We have juice and some tea, and uh coffee and tea toppings!” A little flustered under the stranger's gaze (or rather glare), Makoto started to ramble on about the different coffee toppings that he was only 85% sure he had.
“Coffee's fine. I'm good without any toppings,” after a beat of silence and some evasion of eye contact, the stranger continued “please.”.
Makoto cut himself off and gave a quick “yup, just a moment!” before he could start rambling again. A black coffee was nothing new or hard, in fact pretty much everyone who works here drinks it black, but regardless he triple checked the steps. Clearing some space on his desk, pulling up a chair opposite to his, and setting down a coaster for the coffee, Makoto called the stranger over before taking a seat. The stranger obliged, stiffly sitting in the chair Makoto had left for him.
“I’m Makoto Naegi, an assistant detective here. So, what brings you in today?” Maybe a little too cheery of a tone to take considering his line of work and the seriousness of his (potential) client's expression, but Makoto does his best to make everyone who comes in feel more comfortable.
“I need to hire someone to accompany me somewhere. The sooner we can head out, the better,” his voice was steady, and he hardly waited for Makoto to finish speaking before he spoke. Nothing really new for Makoto, although he'd at least hoped to learn this guy's name.
“OK, I'm going to need some more details,” Makoto took a pen and a well-used notebook from his drawer, flipping to a blank page and clicking his pen. “It's just sorta basic stuff so I know the nature of your case better, so… where are you going? And why do you want to hire someone for this?”
The man looked away thoughtfully for a moment, before turning back to Makoto. “I'm going to Jabberwock Island. All I need is for someone to come with me, it doesn't really matter what else they do when we're there,”
Now Makoto was a little suspicious. That unease in his gut spiked upon the mention of Jabberwock Island, and everything was far too vague for him to treat this as a serious case. ‘Maybe this guy’s just shy?’ “Why are you going to Jabberwock Island in the first place? And why is it important that someone comes with you?”
Looking a bit annoyed at Makoto's persistence, he replied again sharply. “There's something there. I don't… know it, but I know it,” his eyes drifted to stare at a corner of the room as his body stiffened. “I need someone to come because…” he furrowed his brows and looked solemnly into Makoto's eyes “I don't think I'm going to come back.”
The air became heavy with his confession. Something about the intensity of his stare, the grave tone he spoke in– it hit Makoto in a way he couldn't fully understand. ‘This guy… he's still not telling me the full story’. Makoto couldn't bring himself to look away from his eyes, even as he felt his own waver. Swallowing dryly, Makoto already had an idea of what he was going to do. It was a bad idea, something he usually got in trouble for one way or another, but Makoto couldn't stop himself. “Detective Kirigiri is away right now, and the other detectives probably won't take this case, so…” steeling his nerves, he made the final push “...I can come with you, but I need some more information first. And um also to call Detective Kirigiri to get permission.”. Makoto mustered the most serious, determined face he could, which wasn't very serious looking considering how hard he was trying and how soft all his features are.
The stranger looked a little shocked at that, but it was kind of hard to actually tell. He opened and closed his mouth a few times, struggling to find the right words and deep in consideration, before snapping his jaw shut and then finally speaking: “what other details did you need to know?”. Makoto couldn't help but feel relieved, giving a sincere and subdued smile.
“Well firstly, I'm gonna need your name,” Makoto said in a light-hearted tone, however the stranger seemed a little caught off guard and his face flushed slightly.
“Hajime Hinata. Sorry,” Hinata finally broke eye contact, choosing once again to stare at an indistinguishable spot on the floor. Makoto gave a small chuckle and smiled a little brighter.
“OK Hinata! That's the big one, but I do need to ask a few more questions. I'll try not to press too much but Kyo- um, detective Kirigiri is pretty skeptical as a detective and all so she probably won't let me go unless I have enough details or she'll think it's suspicious and–” Makoto cut himself off with a cough and shook his head “Alrighty yeah so! What are you looking for at Jabberwock Island?”
“I know there's something there, but I don't know what,”
“So then… Why Jabberwock Island? Do you have any connections to that place?” Makoto leaned slightly forward, pressing his stomach to his desk. Hinata visibly gulped, and fully turned his head away from Makoto.
“There’s something about that place. Something's pulling me there, I feel it,” Hinata curled in on himself a bit. Makoto felt bad, but if he was going to help, he needed to know: so he waited silently to encourage Hinata to keep talking. “I… I have these dreams. They were all kind of blurry at first, but now, I can remember them pretty clearly. It's always the ocean, and that song… and I know I have to go there,”. The two sat in suffocating silence for a moment, Hinata looking deadly serious and yet lost in thought. The more Makoto heard, the worse that apprehension got. Closing his eyes and bringing a hand to rest his head on, Hinata spoke again. “I don't need you to believe me. And I'll go there no matter what, even if someone else doesn't come with me. It's just… a safety measure. Like I said, I don't think I'll come back once I go there unless someone pulls me out. But,” Hinata remained composed as he spoke, but something about his voice caused Makoto's heart to drop “even if I don't come back, it's not that big of a deal. So even if I stay there forever, I want someone to remember me.”
With that, Makoto was fully convinced. He knew what he was going to do, whether Kyoko let him or not. Standing up with every ounce of resolution he had, Makoto slammed his hands on the desk (a little too harshly considering Hinata's flinch), and looked the no-longer looking away from him Hinata dead in the eyes. “I’m going to call Kyoko. I'll be right back, so please don't leave,” Of course all his accumulated bravado disappeared with his voice cracking and making it sound like he was on the verge of tears. Nonetheless, he confidently walked into one of the offices down the hall and prepared to speak to Kyoko.
Ringing once, then twice, and a third time. “Kyoko Kirigiri speaking. I'm not available at the moment, so either leave a message or phone the Kirigiri Detective Agency if it is urgent.”. Of course she didn't pick up. Kyoko's a hard worker and on an important mission doing… whatever it is she does on missions, so it makes sense she wouldn't respond to anything right now. To compromise and maybe make her hurry up a bit Makoto sends a text: “Time sensitive, there's a job I need to go on”. Makoto sighed, and sat in a nearby swivel chair as he waited for her reply.
He reflected on the day. But that's a lie actually, he only really thought of Hinata. He looked so composed, even a little intimidating, but something about him made Makoto's heart clench. He was… tragic, somehow. Everything he said, and even the way he looked at Makoto, all of it made Makoto want to run like a scared animal. At the same time, Makoto desperately wanted to reach out to Hinata– He wasn't sure in what way, but his heart was telling him to. Makoto couldn't leave Hinata alone. Couldn't let him go through this alone. If he explained it to Kyoko, she'd definitely understand because this is very far from the first time he'd made impulsive decisions on the whims of his heart, but she might not let him go, considering he'd be directly handling this and going somewhere far. His phone buzzing let him know it was time to defend his decision like his life depended on it.
“Good day, Makoto. You said that this is time sensitive and that you'd be the one handling it, correct? Please tell me the details of the client and of the job,” As per usual, Kyoko was straight to business. Other people probably couldn't notice it due to her stoic nature, but Makoto could tell Kyoko really did care about him just from the way she sounded apprehensive already. The thought made Makoto smile a little.
“Right, the client is Hajime Hinata, and his ‘case’ is an accompanied trip to Jabberwock Island. He's worried about his safety going alone, so he wants somebody to come with him,” Makoto kept everything as concise as possible, while also trying to phrase things in a way that wouldn't make Kyoko suspicious. He can't lie for shit, and even if he could Kyoko would still absolutely catch him, so it was very important he convinced Kyoko in as few words as possible.
“Is the job to act as a bodyguard or a simple escort? Additionally, have you performed a background check on Mr Hinata or done research about the location you're going to?”
“Just an escort! There shouldn't be any physical danger it's more of, um…” There were about a hundred ways Makoto could try to explain Hinata's situation, but he could only think of about four and all of them involved sharing more about Hinata's personal life then he'd like to. His hesitance and verbal stumbling told Kyoko all she needed to know.
“Then it's a case of mental danger, isn't it?” Her voice gave away nothing, but Makoto still felt like he let her down by being so easy to read.
“It's– y-yeah, it is.” Makoto sighed: this could go either two ways now.
“And I'm correct to assume you want to help Mr Hinata as a result of your own feelings rather than any practical need for you to accompany him?” Kyoko was all too used to how Makoto worked: she already knew that she couldn't change his mind, so at least she'd try to work preemptive damage control.
“Yes. From what I know, Hinata doesn't have anyone out to get him or any real reason for going. He just… he's worried to go alone because he's worried he won't come back on his own a–and I can't just leave him alone!” Makoto was well aware he was letting his emotions slip a little too much. Detectives require professionalism and the ability to remain composed even in devastating situations: Makoto was led by his heart even when it directly fought against his brain. That compassion is why Kyoko hired him, why she thought he'd make a great detective, but he still had a long way to go.
“Do a background check on Mr Hinata and research Jabberwock Island. I want you to write and send me a report of your findings by tomorrow if you're serious about this,”
Without wasting or risking any time for Kyoko to change her mind, Makoto rushed out his reply “Th-thank you so much, Kyoko! I promise I won't let you down!”. Although Makoto wasn't there to see it, Kyoko did smile as she hung up. After a slightly embarrassing fist pump and quiet yet too loud cheer, Makoto recovered his dignity and excitedly made his way back to the main room.
When he re-entered, Hinata was where he was when Makoto left. He sat slightly slouched on the chair, legs split and head resting on his fist, arms on the desk. He looked pretty peaceful with his eyes closed and his white button up all wrinkled. He also looked pretty in general, but that was highly unprofessional for Makoto to think so he chased the thought away quickly. “Ah, Mr Hinata, I have some good news!”. Makoto calling out seemed to snap Hinata out of his stupor, and explained the deal to Hinata very rapidly and likely very poorly. At the end of the exchange, Hinata wrote down his phone number for Makoto, and Makoto bid him goodbye with a bright smile and a wave. Hinata shot a smile back to Makoto, but it was quite awkward and strained looking. Makoto still appreciated the gesture!
Leaning back in his chair (and spinning in it for good luck), Makoto stretched and got to work researching. He let his eyes drift over to find Hinata's untouched coffee, and the previously scattered papers neatly piled on his desk.
———
Hajime took the bus home. It was crowded considering the time of day, so it wasn't a very pleasant trip. Somehow though, Hajime still felt a lot less bothered by it than usual. It eased his mind to know he'd finally be going to Jabberwock Island soon, and it also helped that he wouldn't be going alone. His keys jingled as he unlocked his apartment door, kicking it shut behind him. The detective he'd met was nice, but Hajime didn't have high hopes for him being able to actually do much in the case of real danger. That didn't really matter much though, so long as he went. For now Hajime just had to sit back and wait for a call. It was still a pain: he really couldn't wait much longer. If he did, he'd definitely go crazy. …Crazier, maybe. He hasn't really been well since the dreams started.
Hajime kicked off his shoes, but didn't bother changing otherwise. He debated making something to eat, and then debated just eating some snacks, but in the end couldn't work up any appetite or care. He sunk into his couch, and was out like a light.
The sinking sensation was one Hajime had learned to expect when he slept. Pressure on his chest, pushing him down with its intensity into the void beneath him. His senses dulled. Everything was cold. The deep abyss dragged him deeper down. He tried in vain to swim up, even a little, but the surface and its little glimpse of light eluded him. Deep down he knew his place was down there, down where he was called, but the thought disgusted him.
The further he sunk, the louder that music got. It was a strange sound, a melody that didn't exist outside of his dream; he knew it was singing, but it wasn't anything remotely like any human voice or any animal voice for that matter. The further he sunk, the more his ears wanted to bleed.
Faintly around him dark shapes circled, rippling the water. Some that sunk past him, dragged even deeper down than he was. They weren't shapes. Hajime had looked at them many times before. Seen their bodies, their faces. He chooses not to recall them. Even so the sensation of their eyes clung to his skin, covering him in thick tar. But he knew it wasn't actually their gazes coating him.
He couldn't close his eyes no matter how hard he tried. He really wanted to look away, but did he really? His throat too was clogged with seawater: even if he tried to speak, to cry out, no sound would emerge.
Sinking deeper, and deeper, and deeper into that abyss. Into that voice. He fell head first and the other hims did too.