Chapter Text
It sort of takes Haruka a while to notice, but between school work, patrols, fights, and general soul searching since arriving to this town, he doesn't really think much of it. After a particularly bad fight where Takanashi's arm is broke does it scratch is brain again.
"Makochi doesn't get the police often, huh?"
Both Suo and Nirei turn to him, eyes wide. Suo's eyebrows furrow, and Sakura watches the same confusion drape over his face. "That's true…. I've never quiet noticed. Nirei-kun, why is that?"
Nirei squawked and glanced between Suo and Sakura rapidly. "Me!? Ah! Well…."
"It's because Furin students sort of are the police. We patrol, the community brings their issues to use, we keep them safe. Actual police patrols are so far and few in between because our town is so far from any police station. That, and the police has long proven that they're no help to the townsfolk."
His friends made a noise of understanding and Nirei nodded, pulling out a notebook. "It's all Umemiya's doing. Really the only emergency personnel we tend to see are ambulances and on the rare occasion, fire trucks."
"Well that's useful to know. I truly had no idea." Suo states. Nirei blushed.
Haruka nodded and turned his mind off it, his curiosity satiated.
In hindsight, he likely jinxed himself.
One week or so later, in the middle of class, murmuring broke out among his classmates. The boys were leaning, standing, trying to look outside the window. Even Sugishita was awake, glaring down into the courtyard.
"What's going on?"
"Mizuki and Hiragi are outside."
"It's an officer…."
"Police and a detective. Look at that guy's trench!"
Sakura turns to Nirei, who was shaking in his seat. "What's going on?"
"I-I'm not sure!" The blond pat himself down frantically. Was he looking for his phone, notebook, or contraband? Sakura didn't have a clue. "They've only ever visited the school once and never again! Oh gosh, did… did a fight go to far? Is someone getting arrested?!"
Suo's hand clasped firmly on Nirei's shoulder, interrupted his panicked spiral. Nirei jerked in his hold before apologizing and muttering under his breath.
Their teacher clapped their hands. After a stern glare everyone began to settle again, but not before someone stated that the officers were being escorted inside.
So Haruka refocused on class. Or at least tried. Their sensei started droning on again about math- not his favorite subject- when not long after, Hiragi was sliding open the door.
He exchanged a respectful nod with the teacher, then scanned the room, eyes landing on Haruka.
"Sakura, come with me for a second."
Immediately the room burst into noise. There was a whole slew of questions. The most prominent however (and the only one he cared about); Is Sakura getting arrested?
While he'd really rather not be, it wouldn't be the first time he was arrested at school. But he's been on much better behavior at Furin and it'd be embarrassing to be pulled away in front of his friends. Before, it'd be yet another thing to make others aware that Sakura Haruka was not to be trifled with.
Here though….
Hiragi's voice cut through the shame spiral Haruka planned to toss himself in. "Arrest? No one's getting arrested!" The class cheered and Haruka ducked down to hide his blush.
Nirei lets out a sigh of relief as Sakura stands. "So Sakura-san will be right back?"
"Hopefully within the hour." Hiragi answers, and closes the door as soon as Sakura hits the hallway. The neutral expression falls as they lock eyes.
"You're not getting arrested. "He states again, moving towards the stairwell- the roof. Sakura follows. "They just want to ask some questions. But from what we've been informed, it may be a bit… much."
Sakura's lips twitch down. "If it's only questions, i can handle it."
"I know. We know. But…." The words seem to escape him. Hiragi huffs and runs a hand through his hair, his other hand coming down on Sakura's shoulder not unlike what Suo did earlier.
"Just speak up if you need a breather."
The open air of the roof, while usually inviting and somewhat clarifying, did absolutely nothing about the weight in Haruka's stomach and the nothingness that was lodged in his throat. The smell of herbs and vegetables and fertilizer teased his senses and only made his nausea worse, certainly not helped by the guests he had to talk to.
He could unfortunately see them the moment he walked onto the roof. Sat underneath the gazebo, talking to Umemiya was the trenched up detective, and making a workspace for interrogation of the table was the officer. A folder, a camera, and a voice recorder. The rest of the Four Kings were just a bit away, sat gingerly on the edge of the planter boxes. They all waved as they spotted Sakura. Their movement made Umemiya's conversation come to a pause.
Hiragi nudged Haruka towards Ume. "Go on. Ume's gotten permission to sit with you. We'll all be close."
Sakura slowly made his way towards Umemiya, trying his best not to look at the man, but his curiosity got the better of him. The detective was a large, burly man, whose trench coat was sun bleached in some places, completely dirty in others. He was also old. His full beard and his ponytail were both dusted with gray, and wrinkles accumulated on his forehead. His face was twisted unpleasantly, he looked irritated, but despite that, Sakura also thought he looked… sort of… kind.
"Haruka Sakura?" He asked, but didn't wait for an answer. "Detective Gino. A pleasure to meet you. This is my assistant, Officer Ishihara."
The officer adjusting the camera looked up to give him a slight nod with a crooked smile. Her glasses nearly slid off her face with the movement, and she hastily moved to catch them. In her rush, she shoved at the camera, and then it almost toppled too. She caught it all in the end, and with a sigh of relief, gave the Detective a salute.
"We're sorry to interrupt you in the middle of your class, however your current address has been changed multiple times during the course of our investigation."
Sakura blinked. He glanced at Ume, who looked as though he was told something particularly appalling. "That shouldn't be happening. I've been in the same apartment since moving here."
Detective Gino smiled wryly. "How about we sit?"