“Indeed it is. It’s refreshing.” He dropped in a few sugar cubes and stirred it about, then set the tea down in front of Hakuba. He then sat across from him, steepling his fingers.
“This is all related to the dominoes that just fell and I need you on the same page. As this identity, I pass cursory glances, but I cannot withstand greater scrutiny than that if someone starts poking around. I also have no gun license as ‘Subaru Okiya,’ as that would raise some suspicions about why an engineering student who has no history of interest in firearms had a firearm license.
"That amateur detective, Kita, poked around my room and found my rifle. Turns out that she checked the registry and saw that I wasn’t within it. I deleted the photos on her phone, but she would still know that something is off about me. I couldn’t tell her anything about why or anything that would absolve myself. She’s a security risk. Telling strangers she’s suspicious of about her cases that she’s in the middle of investigating? Accepting food from them?
"My point is, if the Black Organization had gotten a hold of her, they would make her talk very quickly. They made hardened thugs with a history of loathing snitches squeal. And, if I were arrested for illegal possession of a firearm, the police would find out very soon that I wasn’t who I said I was. There’s also a high-ranking Organization member lurking nearby who has close contact with the police and he would recognize me.”
He pulled off his glasses, then took off the wig and the cap underneath. Opening his eyes fully would have to wait, as they were red and he didn’t want to scare his prey. [He then mentally swatted himself. Hakuba may be a soon-to-be meal, but that was a rude thought, all in all.] “My name is Shuichi Akai. A pleasure to finally introduce myself to you.
“The reason why I’m explaining to you is because, the last time there was an incident where the Black Organization clashed with our side, our plan was slap-dashed and rushed. It nearly got the Kaitou KID killed and Shiho as well, because they were unaware of what was going on.”
After a quiet ‘thank you,’ Hakuba took the tea cup and briefly glanced over it before taking a sip, letting the flavor settle and permeate as he listened. He’d met Kita before, and had had similar (but less serious) concerns regarding her antics, but then, Subaru’s situation was much more dangerous. He lowered the cup, watching the other man carefully as he went over the bit regarding KID, then took another drink before setting the cup in his other hand, pensive.
“Even Kaitou KID, hm? I’m curious as to who all is on your side, but I won’t press for that information just yet, seeing as I’m so recent an acquisition…” Though, really, the more he thought about it, the more obvious it seemed. He clearly had Kudou and his family in his hands, at the very least.
“Ah, before moving forward, I do need to ask… and forgive me if this is a painfully obvious question that I should already know the answer to… but was it not possible to tell the girl that the firearm was not your own? Or, ah, is it not common enough knowledge that this is their residence? I’ll admit that I knew that this was the Kudou home, but I had no idea that anyone was actually staying here once Kudou-san became Edogawa-kun…”
He frowned.
“I’ve been told not to investigate his case, and although I know that he’s now Edogawa-kun and that it was this ‘Black Organization’ that somehow caused it, I… must admit that I’m not certain where I should be sitting on the issue. Ah, that is to say, what is the safe story to have in mind, officially?”