Quit Playing With Me

Chapter Three: Chasing the Elusive and Flirtatious Culprit

[Chapter Three: Chasing the Elusive and Flirtatious Culprit]

Shuichi gritted his teeth in frustration as he chased the phantom thief. He had a sinking feeling that something was off with the key that had been thrown their way. He couldn't shake the thought from his mind.

The chase continued and it became apparent that Saihara was struggling to keep up. He cursed his decision to skip P.E. back in high school. If only he had kept up with his fitness, maybe he wouldn't be struggling so much now.

The phantom thief seemed to find the situation amusing, giggling as he led Saihara on a wild goose chase. Suddenly, the thief turned in a direction that Saihara recognized. They were heading back towards where everyone else was.

Saihara couldn't help but think that the phantom thief was making a mistake. Why would he lead us back to where everyone else was? Surely he knew it was a disadvantageous move.

As Saihara tried to catch his breath, he couldn't help but wonder if the phantom thief was really as smart as he initially thought. As Shuichi and his uncle arrived, flashes of lights greeted them. Though the bright lights hurt his eyes, it didn't deter him from keeping his gaze fixed on the phantom thief. The cheers of the crowds could be heard in the background as they made their way into the building.

"Shuichi?! Hey, Shuichi, what are you doing--" his uncle called out, but he paid no heed as he sprinted towards the door, determined to catch the thief.

Inside, he spotted the phantom thief and tried to grab his cape, but unfortunately, the elevator doors closed too quickly, leaving him empty-handed. Shuichi let out a heavy sigh and glanced at the long, spiraling staircase that led up to the rooftop. He knew that using the elevator would be faster, but he had no other option. With a deep breath, he began to climb the stairs, his heart pounding in his chest.

Every step was a struggle, and he had to fight to keep from tripping and falling. Despite the pain and exhaustion, he pushed himself forward, knowing that he had to keep going. Just a little bit more, he thought, urging himself on towards his goal. Shuichi Saihara stood before a door and without any hesitation, he opened it. The cold wind of the night greeted him, causing him to quickly place his hand on his cap before it could be blown off.

As he caught his breath from running, he heard giggling behind him. It appeared that he had arrived at the location first. "Wow, you knew I was going to come here? Impressive, Mr. Detective-in-Training. You have my respect!" the person exclaimed.

Shuichi couldn't help but wonder if the person's words were laced with sarcasm. "Anyway, I could've arrived here first before you, you know... But, I had to come back for the Taaffeite or this night will be meaningless! Hmph!"

Shuichi's thoughts raced as he looked at the thief who stood before him. The thief toyed with the gem, making it dance between his fingers. The detective in training knew he had to retrieve the stolen gem.

The thief interrupted his thoughts. "Do you know how much this costs, Mr. Detective-In-Training?" Shuichi gulped nervously, knowing that he had to act fast. The gem was worth a lot and he couldn't let the thief get away with it. As the phantom thief started to speak, the detective charged towards him, hoping to grab the gem. However, the thief was too quick for him, and he easily dodged Saishara's attack with a smooth motion.

As the thief approached him, Saihara Shuichi tensed up. "Whoa, there! Don't even resort to violence! The last thing he will do is to hurt a cute boy like you!" The thief pinched Shuichi's nose, causing him to blush. Does he enjoy making fun of me? Or is he seriously flirting with me? Shuichi wondered.