Ouma's POV:

I groaned as I got up from bed, some pills and a cup of water laid on the bedside table as usual along with a handwritten note.

I'm sorry I had to go to work Ko, I tried to get off but they needed me  that badly.

I'll make it up to you! Please stay in bed and try and get better <3

-Shuichi

I smiled a little at the gesture, taking the medication as usual. I was surprised he was so quick to forget about...

...

I failed. My mission to try and get information about Ace failed...and all I got out of it was making Shumai scared.

And getting sick on top of that...how many days did I waste? I gripped the sheets tightly in my hands, why...why am I so useless...?

I sighed leaning back against the covers my chest still felt tight, and it was eerily familar to the time I had Hanahaki minus the thorns that cut into my throat.

At least I don't have to cough out blood every morning anymore...heh...

...

...

...

I glanced out at the site of the surronding city from the window, along with the wide blue sky...

Get up.

Yanking off the covers and ignoring my aching body I got up and quickly changed.

I had no plan, just one clue, one clue that might lead no where...but even then I had to try didn't I?

Didn't I owe it to them as their leader to give it my all?

Fueled by a newfound strength I put back on my outdoor shoes and opened the door...

"Woah, Shuichi called me to babysit...darn gonna have to hunt down a runaway"

My eyes widened as Shuichi's uncle stared back at me, "been a while, hasn't it?" He asked cheerfully.

~♤~♡~◇~♧~

Shuichi really called you to come take care of me? I asked on the sheet of paper, "yup he said you got sick and wanted to make sure someone was looking out for you" he told me setting down a cup of tea in front of me.

"So where were you heading by the way?" He asked. I circled the top of the cup nervously unsure of how to answer.

I'm trying to find my friends.

I eventually said, "oh really? Well I got to admit I want to meet them to, you told so many stories about them last time we met and they sound hilarious! I would love to help you see them again, so where do they live and I can take you to see them?" He asked eagerly.

I looked down.

Someone kidnapped them. I don't know who.

Saihara's Uncle immediately got a serious face on as he read the note, "is that so...well that can't do"

Immediately he got up from his seat as I looked at him curious "well what are you waiting for short stuff? We're going down to my office"

Wait you aren't putting me under house arrest?

"Why the hell would I? They're your friends after all! Ah uhm don't tell Shuichi I did this, the poor kids heart would never recover" he joked.

"If he asks, after a kaiju battle of the century I eventually won the battle and got you to rest the whole day" he told me grabbing his keys as I got out the door.

I gave him the look.

"Ok fine, after using some cheap tactics like sleeping powder I got you to rest all day, you happy?" He joked, I nodded.

Shu's Uncle is so cool...

~♤~♡~◇~♧~

If I thought I was a slob, then oh boy was I in for a treat...

Mugs were everywhere and immediately told me where Shuichi's coffee addiction came from and case files were stapled onto the walls. It looked like a scene from a movie rather than someones house as his Uncle carefully navigated the terrain.

"Geez knew I should have hired help- ok don't go to the left there's thumbtacks everywhere jump two paces to avoid the coffee spill, and make sure to jump atop of the couch to avoid last week's leftovers.

...

"Kid I'm sixty, don't expect me to be a clean freak alright?" He told me. I finally found someone worse than me- Shuichi can't ever judge again! :D

"It's a self contained organized chaos alright?" He insisted as we went through the ridiculous steps necessary to get to his home office as he opened up a box....

My eyes widened.

Laying front and center was my old mask in a plastic bag along with dozens and vanilla files of the phantom thief cases, along with...

...

Chiasa...you really did kill people...did you...?

"Alright, first off I need to know who is in your organization and is currently not either in prison or...well you know" he instructed me.

I looked at the files of Riko and Takashiro from when they were taken into prison...Riko looked terrified at the camera as Takashiro just had some slight reluctance...

I'm so sorry...

I grabbed the files of the actual DICE members and handed them off, "thanks, this is what Shuichi brought to me maybe a day or two after you got admitted to the hospital so no one could find your friends" he told me.

I sighed a little relieved.

"Ok I'll see what I can pull up on my own...granted your group is pretty good at covering their tracks...let's see..." he muttered sipping on some coffee that...sweet mother of Panta how old is that thing?

"Hmm...well the latest find I have is of two years ago, your friend Tsuki Otome had some sort of floral buisness, but apparently it was shut down because she went missing. She's the only one to actually have a missing persons case" he told me showing me the photo of the abandoned buisness.

...how does she still like flowers after seeing me throwing them up? That's some passion I guess...

Is there anything else? Places where they might have to a lot? Someone who might know who would have taken them?

"If you don't even know who it was that's kind of hard...hmm wait...Jin was a member of some sort of hired mercenaries correct?" He asked. I nodded reluctant.

He grabbed her file, "hmm...well according to the crimes they could tie her into, she is a possible member of these three. Night Owl, they mainly do small jobs which fits her case and are relatively unknown, Yue one that specializes in poisons, and this one Kakegurui...wait a second who names their syndicate after a gambling anime?" He asked.

...

It's Kakegurui.

"Huh? How do you know?" He asked, they signed themself off as Ace. An Ace is part of a deck of cards, if Kakegurui really did name themselves after an gambling anime then that name fits the best.

"My god Shuichi did date a smart one..." his Uncle mumbled out loud.

I'm definitely not offended.

"Think you might be right kid-"

*RING*

....

"Oh fuck..."