The Vacant Days (Puzzle III: Discipline)
Fandoms: Professor Layton, Zatch Bell, and Toilet-bound Hanako-kun
Rating: T
Summary: Luke's intelligence is pissing Suzume off so, she wants to get back at him by disciplining him. Or maybe not as his charisma is too bearable for her to handle.
TW/CW: None
Notes: Since I am going by the canon ages, the Hanako-kun characters are also around Suzume's age. Suzume's and Luke's interactions are clearly platonic, people. Well from Suzume's POV, that is.
Words: 1,088
"Yo, Mizuno! Where is Triton and Mr. Layton?!" Kou Minamoto kicked the door open and entered the kitchen alongside Amane Yugi, aka Hanako, and Nene Yashiro. "We discovered a few new puzzles for them to solve!"
"The hell would I know?" Suzume told them in a grumpy tone as she sipped her cola from a glass cup. "They weren't here when I woke up. I swear I'm going to discipline that little shit when he and Mr. Layton comes back! His parents aren't around to do the job anyway!"
"Awww! Did you and your boyfriend get into a petty quarrel?" Amane smirked puckishly.
"What are you talking about? Triton is just a kid." Suzume frowned at Amane suspiciously.
"Oooh, you don't have no idea! Poor you, Suzu!" Amane gave her a tricksy grin. "You see-"
"Dude, cut it out!" Kou smacked Amane on his head.
"Don't pay mind to Hanako, Miss Suzume. He loves to joke around." Nene giggled and bowed her head to Suzume. "We're going out to search for Triton and Mr. Layton ourselves."
"Cool, have fun and be careful." Suzume waved at them vacantly. "Tell Triton I need to speak with him when he gets home."
"Oooh, I will tell him myself!" Amane guffawed.
"Shut it, Hanako!" Kou dragged him out as Nene followed.
Suzume sighed. She finished the rest of her cola and washed the glass cup before she left the kitchen. She has gone back to her guestroom. She worked on a 30-piece Jigsaw puzzle to kill time.
hat the hell I'm even doing?' Suzume stared down at the half-finished Jigsaw puzzle. 'This is frustrating. I wonder how is Triton and Mr. Layton doing? They probably helped a new person invent something.'
'You don't look good with black hair, Miss Mizuno. You do look much better with your natural hair color. And I prefer blue as a color scheme for your dresses.'
Suzume had a blank expression as she recalled Luke's words from yesterday. Luke was usually well-mannered, so maybe he was complimenting her. Still, the way he said it baffled Suzume.
'So, he likes my natural reddish brown hair, so what?' Suzume rested her chin on her hand. 'He's just a kid. He doesn't know what he is talking about. Ugh! I still remember his smug grin! Hell with this!' Suzume slammed her hands onto the desk, causing the half-finished puzzle to scatter into pieces. '….Oh well. I'll redo the puzzle when I get back.' She marched out of her bedroom. 'I'm going to look for Triton myself!'
The number one piece of advice that Suzume definitely needed to keep in mind was thugs. She still needed to watch out for those bastards. Who knows how many thugs Viktor hired to capture her or her father. She was also wondering if Luke kept his word and did some investigation on her father on his own.
'Why did I agree to allow a kid to help me in the first place?' Suzume pouted petulantly. 'I should just pack my things and go back to Japan.'
If Kiyomaro was here in Steam Bison, things would have been different. Suzume froze as she stood in the middle of a plaza. There were some people around, minding their own business. She gazed at the sky. There were some clouds today. She could see the steam smoke coming from the metal chimney caps. Suzume felt nothing when Kiyomaro's charming expression flashed in her mind.
Emptiness.
Why should she still have romantic feelings towards Kiyomaro after he broke her heart back in middle school?
'No.' Suzume lowered her head and shook her head. 'I've come here to search for the truth about my father's disappearance. I ain't giving up.' She clutched her hands together. 'I am over Takamine anyway. He's in the past. I have no time for romantic relationships.'
Suzume gazed over at Eggmuffin's workshop's building. Maybe Luke and Layton were there. Perhaps they were in a different workshop with another inventor. Possibly one of the twin sisters that Luke had spoken to her about before. She forgot which door to Eggmuffin's workshop. The building had too many entrances.
'I'm going back to Triton's place. Why did I even come here?'
Suzume was about to leave, but she spotted Luke leaving Eggmuffin's workshop. Layton wasn't with him. Suzume's original purpose for getting fresh air kicked in.
"TRITOOOOON!" Suzume speeded towards him and stopped in front of him.
Luke was startled in surprise. Suzume stretched his cheeks with her fingertips.
"Give me a good reason why I shouldn't discipline your smartass for exposing me yesterday!"
"You're still upset about that?!"
"You little shit! You think you know it all, don't cha?!"
"Please let go of my cheeks, Miss Mizuno." Luke groaned in discomfort.
"Ugh. Only because you asked so nicely." Suzume stopped pitching Luke's cheeks. "Sorry. I have no idea what came over me. I feel better through. I felt so annoyed all day. Also, sorry for calling you a little shit." Suzume turned her eyes away from Luke in shame.
"It's fine, Miss Mizuno. I forgive you." Luke smiled at her affectionately. "I am curious why you and Flora were in disguises yesterday."
"You caught me. I'll explain to you when we get home. So, where's Mr. Layton?"
"He's still inside Eggmuffin's workshop. Do you need something from him?"
"Well, my acquaintances discovered a few puzzles and wanted you two to solve the puzzles."
"Cool! I can't wait for the new puzzles!" Luke's expression brightened, excitement flashing within those childish eyes of his.
"Oh, you! Detective Triton?!" Suzume stroked Luke's cheeks. "More like Detective Adorable!" She felt very delighted. She has always had a weakness towards children. She used to babysit as a part-time job back in her homeland. "No wonder why you're popular! You are so cute!"
Luke flushed heavily. His eyes glimmered as he gaped at her, stunned by her compliments. Suzume grinned at him. He complimented her first yesterday, so it was only fair. Suzume let go of his cheeks and spun around. She had her hands behind her back as she gazed at the sky.
"Well, I don't want to bother you or Mr. Layton, so I'll see you back home, ya?" She looked at him over her shoulder. "Do try to stay out of trouble, detective boy." She gave him a bubbly grin.
"Y-yes."
'He is still a kid. I was his age once, after all.'
Suzume hustled back to Luke's house to prepare dinner with Flora and the family maid, Beth.
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