It's been 2 days since we decided to meet at the Café. Yes, today is the day that we're going to start our meeting and catch up on the Reaper Case. That is if... only he's not getting late.
It's been 29 minutes and 40 seconds and he's still not here yet, I've been here by the time the clock started to hit at 8:00AM, but he's still not here yet! He's even the one who decided on what time we should meet up and now he's late! What's up with this guy!?
"It's now 8:30AM... Just where is this guy...?", I asked myself as I waited outside of the Café.
He's a composed and intelligent guy, but I didn't know that he sucks at waking himself up..
"I'm sorry to keep you waiting Ms. Watson.", said a guy behind me with a voice that sounds like Jhon... No, it's definitely Jhon.
"What took you so long Jhon? You're 30 minutes late you kno—", I cut my own words as I looked back and saw him.
He's..... Definitely not well...
His suit is a mess. His tie is not tied well. He's got a butter on his cheek. And also... He's got bags under his eyes!!!
Just what on earth did this guy do last night????
" J.. Jhon..? A-Are you okay...?", I asked as I stuttered.
"Hm? Oh.. I couldn't sleep early last night.", he said calmly.
Couldn't sleep early?? Just what kind of a detective doesn't sleep early when he's not even doing anything yet???
"How are you so messed up?? You didn't even have a work to do last night right??", I asked.
"Hm? Yeah.. But... I got insomnia.", he said calmly AGAIN.
Th-This guy...
I was about to rant even more but it occurred to me that we're only wasting time. So I sighed deeply as I could and said...
"Fine.. Let's just get in.. We're 30 minutes behind schedule after all..", I said as I calmed myself down.
"Sure.", he replied calmly.
How is this guy even calm at his looks?? Does he even care about proper hygiene??
Whatever... He's already here so I guess we can't do anything about it now...
We entered the Café by letting me in first and then him next. He's even acting more of a gentleman despite his looks now...
Whatever, I'll uncover the mystery by the time we sit..
We sat down on our seats and ordered something. I picked tea while Jhon picked a normal coffee. And while the coffee was being made we immediately started our meeting.
"How much do we know about this case so far?", I asked Jhon.
But he didn't respond...
"Jhon?", I asked.
"Yes!?", he replied in a high pitched tone.
He shrieked? Was it my imagination?
No no.. He definitely shrieked.
"Are you okay?", I asked.
"Y-Yes.. What were you asking Ms. Watson?"
He's definitely... Nervous.
But I continued our conversation..
"I asked about how much we know about the case."
"Ah.. Y-Yeah.. To be honest, I haven't really checked it out myself.. So I'm about to see what I'm going to—", he cut his own words.
There it is... I see how it is now huh..
His grammar got messed up, so he's definitely nervous.
"Are you really okay Jhon?", I asked despite already knowing his situation.
"Y-Yeah, I'm fine Ms. Watson..", he replied.
He's definitely nervous. And I can easily expose him right here and now, but I need an opening..
"Excuse me Ms. Watson.. I'm going to the toilet..", he said as he stood up.
"S-Sure..", I said.
That was easy.. But I'm definitely sure that he's going to fix his looks on the toilet..
If I don't strike now then exposing him might be impossible..
I looked at where Jhon was going and apparently.. He crashed on the waitress on his way to the toilet.
Talk about luck.
"I-I'm sorry...", Jhon said as he helped clean the floor with the waitress.
"I-It's okay...", the waitress said as she continued to clean the floor with Jhon.
As they were both cleaning the floor, I was looking for a way on how to start the exposure. And after some thought, I finally decided on how to deliver it.
By the time Jhon and the waitress finished cleaning the floor, the waitress went back to the counter to prepare our drinks again..
And that's my chance to strike.
"Wait a minute, Jhon.", I said while his back was facing at my direction.
I also noticed that he shaked a little after I called his name.. This guy is definitely...
"I noticed that you've been off ever since you arrived. Are you really okay?", I asked.
"Y-Yes.. I am fine Ms. Watson.."
He tried to act calm but I already saw through him..
"Stop acting calm.. I already saw through you, Mr. Jhon Benedict."
He went silent. He's probably thinking on how to escape this situation.. But I won't let him.
"Wh-What do you mean by tha—", Jhon was about to say something but I cutted it off by saying..
"You're faking it. You're calm and composed attitude.", I said confidently.
He went silent again.. So I decided to continue.
"The mustard on your cheek, the mud on your right shoe and your messed up attire is the evidence."
"Wh-What are you trying to—"
I cutted him off again and continued to speak..
"When you woke up late this morning you saw the time reaching at almost 8:00AM, so you hastily prepared yourself and left your apartment with a bread in your mouth. As you were trying to wear your suit while running you stepped on a puddle of mud on your right shoe as you were on your way here, and in attempt to say a word to your pain of what just happened, you dropped your bread with butter on the road, resulting a piece of butter on the side of your mouth."
He went silent again.. But after a few seconds, he turned around and faced me with a face.. Of nervousness.
"H-How did you know that..?", he asked.
When he asked that question, that only proves that I was right.
"And also.. Your fly is open.", I said as I pointed my finger down at his fly.
"Eh..?", he said.
"The waitress probably saw that your fly is open but she kept on being quiet."
He looked down at his fly, and when he saw it open.. He quickly closed it.
"Heh. To think that a composed guy like you would fake something like an attitude..", I said in a way of mocking him.
"I... I'm sorry Ms. Watson!!!!!", he shouted as how bowed down really fast.
"Ehhhh... So that's all it takes to reveal the real you huh??", I said as if mocking him again.
"I'm really sorry for tricking you Ms. Watson!!!", he shouted again.
This guy is getting loud... The waitress' at the back are all looking at him too..
"As for why I knew everything, I only pieced the evidence that you showed and created my own event. But it looks like my own event matches the real one."
That's probably one of my ways of solving a case.
"I'm ready to take any punishment... Just don't take me away from you!!!", he shouted again.
Eh? Away from me? What does he mean by that..? I'm getting creeped out now..
"By 'getting me away from you', what do you mean by that...?", I asked.
"I.. I'll explain everything.. After I fix myself in the toilet.. So please give me time...", he said.
"S-Sure...", I replied.
He immediately went to the toilet and I went back to my seat and sipped some tea.
And even if he fixes himself, he won't be able to fake his own personality anymore. Yes, after getting exposed like that.. There's no way he'll go back to being a composed guy and act like nothing happened.
After some time, he finally came out from the toilet and went back to seat while wearing a depressing face.
"Now.. Could you explain why you faked your own personality..?", I asked.
"Yes.. It's because.. I'm a fan of you.. Ms. Watson..", he said.
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaatttt....????
I have a fan????
I don't remember trying to achieve fame... What's going on here???
"What do you mean by that...?"
"I was once a normal detective.. However, my skills aren't exactly as good as they are now. But after seeing you solving a case in a museum in only 4 minutes.. I started to admire you...", he said.
"Eh? Museum? Which one?", I asked.
"The museum with the dinosaur.."
He can't even name which museum it was...
But after going through some flashbacks of my own thoughts, I finally remembered solving a case within a time span of 4 minutes.
"Ah... I now remember...", I said.
"You do?? Do you remember me too???", he asked with an excited voice.
"Definitely no.. I don't remember seeing your face around there... But I guess you saw me at that time.."
"I-I guess so... But still.. That's how I started to admire you.. And whenever you had a new case, I followed you around and took notes."
"What are you? A stalker? You're creeping me out..."
"N-No!! Definitely not a stalker! I was just....."
He was thinking of another word to use but...
"Right.. I guess you could say that.."
"Creepy...."
"B-But I took notes you know! And after going to enough time with you, I finally decided to apply to your department. And luckily, I was picked as your assistant."
I see.. But he's still creeping me out though..
"But why did you fake your own attitude towards me?", I asked.
"Because.. I thought you didn't like assistants who are slow and stupid and loud.. So I decided to wear a mask and pretend to be composed and frank.."
I see... Well it is true that when it comes to solving cases, I get serious all of a sudden. Well, I guess that's because it's a case that needs to be solved. Even if it's a small or big case, if there's a mystery a detective has to solve it. That's what a certain person told me...
"I'm really impressed on how you figured out on how I started my day though.. As expected of Ms. Watson!", he said.
"You left tons of evidences.. So I only had to create an event. What were you doing last night though? You weren't busy weren't you?", I asked.
"Th-That's... I.. Played online games until 1AM..."
Eeeeeehhhhh... So he's a gamer.... No wonder his skills aren't improving. He's focusing more on his games than his own job..
"I'm really sorry for everything Ms. Watson. Please punish me as you see fit.", he said as he bowed down his head to the table.
A punishment huh? Let's see.....
"Yeah.. I have no punishment for you."
"Eh? Why not..?", he asked.
"It's just a small thing so there isn't really a need for a punishment. I accept your apology so just be yourself starting from now on and learn from me personally if you want to become a better detective in the future.", I said.
He was staring at me for a second but he smiled after processing my advice and said..
"Okay! I'll do my best as your assistant!", he said positively.
I smiled back to give him even more encouragement.
But it looks like we wasted another 15 minutes huh... I planned this meeting to end at 9, but I guess that's not happening.
"We should start with the meeting. And I'll take the lead..", I said.
"Y-Yes!", he replied.
And so, we started the meeting. Even though we're 45 minutes late..