"Ok now Takashiro is it!" The violet haired kid called as the kids started running around the backyard "ha! Consider yourself tagged Kokichi!" They screamed out as the violet haired kid- Kokichi- avoided their attacks swiftly.

Takashiro whined "why do you have to be so fast? This isn't fair" they complained and the kid laughed "you just have to get faster Taka!" He replied with a grin.

I wish I could play with them...

I stared out the window as I saw Chiasa and some kids playing outside with the boy with dark purple hair, Kokichi, leading them.

Lucky...wish I could go outside like that...

"Shuichi!" My uncle called and I gulped turning around as he faced me "your supposed to be working Shuichi, not playing come on now" he grunted as I groaned as he grabbed my hand and led me away from the window and the other childrens laughter.

Why did it have to be me? I complained to myself. My uncle and father were the founders of a large detective buisness that ran halfway through Japan- the other half belonging to another rival buisness and heir.

So who had to train their skills everyday in order to inherit the company? Me.

Sometimes I really wish it was Chiasa they chose. She's a lot more social and carefee compared to me since she met that boy but of course the age old saying still stood.

Chiasa is sickly. And because she is sickly it has to be you. I didn't understand why though, it just runs in the family I guess. My Mother is also like her.

Having to make constant tips to the hospital...a lot of medications...one time when I visited her she actually had to get hospitalized because a virus invaded her lungs.

They never told me much about her condition, other than that's the reason why she can't inherit the buisness. Yet...my uncle's words about why the chose me still stuck.

"I put you up Shuichi because your not like Chiasa, she may be more social but you have always been more observant and analytical than we could ever train her to be" he responded.

Yet that didn't stop the envy from growing in my heart. While Chiasa got to play and make friends I always had to be studying. Studying so I could one day defeat the rival heir Kyoko Kirigiri.

It's really unfair. Even my uncle seems to know that but my Father...he is nothing like my uncle.

-/-/-

"Mother!" I screamed running into her room only to pale when I noticed my Father was with her, "Shuichi what have I told you about bothering your Mother? She's supposed to be resting go study" he scolded me as I frowned.

"Honestly honey, it's ok, I love talking to Shuichi it doesn't bother me at all" my Mother responded with a smile.

"But you need to rest..." he started again but she shushed him "a boy should be able to speak with his Mother, I've rested enough" she said sternly and he sighed.

"Don't stay to long Shuichi you have a test in math tomorrow" he noted and then turned to leave.

"Now that the old bear's out of the way-" my Mother joked "HANAKO!" I could hear my Father cry and she laughed "sorry dear" she responded.

She then turned to me "so have you found another good book Shuichi?" She asked me and I nodded "Uncle gave me a lot when we went to go visit him" she smiled "that's Shoto all right, he was just like a certain little detective I know when we were younger" she joked.

I grinned sitting next to her "Mom...when are you going to get better? I miss going outside with you..." I told her and her eyes seemed to soften.

"Soon, I promise ok? Now let's start this next book maybe this time I can get the culrpit right" I laughed "Mom you always get it wrong" I teased.

"We'll see, last time I was so close" she reminced. I laughed "last time you guessed the dog!" She grinned "guess that's why your my detective Shuichi"

-/-/-

I sat in the hospital room with Chiasa. We were visiting and she had to go in here and it was pretty boring to be honest or maybe that's because I am a eighth grader.

'Hey Shuichi...' Chiasa started and I turned to her 'what's it like?' I raised an eyebrow.

'What's what like?' I asked her and she shrugged 'I don't know...having a healthy body...being able to live life without knowing you have a very short time limit' I shook my head 'your not going to die Chiasa-'

'The doctor said I will die before I even graduate high school' my eyes widened as she gave me a sad smile as I could see tears streaming down her face 'I...I don't want to die...Shuichi...I know it's wrong...but I'm so jealous of you...you'll get to live a full life...and I'm scared of the day my friends know the truth...I'm scared of dying! I don't want to die! It's so unfair!' She cried out sobbing uncontrollably.

Now I feel guilty...'I'm jealous of you...you get to actually go to school...make friends...your Dad loves you...your the lucky one' I told her and she stared at me.

'You really think so?' She asked and I nodded, 'yeah you should tell your friends about your condition though...' I warned her.

She nodded 'I know, I just want to play pretend a little longer, I made a promise to Kichi that we would accomplish our dreams and I want to keep it' I raised an eyebrow 'but your going to die' she gripped the blankets tightly 'death isn't going to take me easily, I'll kick I'll scream I'll be stubborn...cause...I mean...who says you can't add more time am I right?'

-/-/-

I sat in the waiting room as I waited for news of my Mother as I cupped my hands together in prayer.

Please...please don't take my Mother away from me...

I don't know what happened to be honest. It all started since the day she was born they told me. She was always sickly as a lot of people in my family are including Chiasa.

My aunt eventually left her job to come and help us, even though she was only related by marrige and that was severed when she and my uncle divorced she insisted on it.

Why is life so unfair to us? Mom and Chiasa didn't do anything wrong so why are they being punished?

Is it because I was selfish and spent time with Mom when she was supposed to be resting? Or being jealous of Chiasa?

Is it me being punished for not wanting to become a detective?

I'm sorry.

-/-/-

The rain fell down as I sat on top of the stairs. The funeral ended hours ago and my Aunt didn't even go because she claimed something happened to Chiasa.

I hope she's ok...we may not be that close...but Aunt Jin doesn't deserve to lost both her best friend and daughter in the same year.

-/-/-

"Hey Shuichi" my uncle called as I dragged my bags into the car. He smiled "it's so nice seeing you" he told me.

I looked down my Father's last words still echoing in my mind. After my Mother died he went crazy, he became more and more stern I was expected to be perfect when I am not and he would always yell at me for something.

It got so bad that when my uncle came to visit he could see immediately through his act and convinced him to let me go live with him for...'experience' with another town and it's crimes.

He reluctantly let me go. I was now going to live with my Uncle who was living with my Aunt again after they lost Chiasa a few years ago.

The same day I lost my Mother.

Ironic isn't it? I don't know how Chiasa died though. No one will tell me anything and all Aunt Jin does I hear is drink and that she plans to retire as soon as her class graduates.

"I'm sorry about your Father, he used to be a great man believe me" he told me. I looked down "don't remember him like that" I admitted.

My Uncle laughed "you know me and your Mother lived on the same street as him back in the day" he told me.

"We used to get into so much trouble like...your cousin...when we were younger, then we hit the books...your Father was always such a jokester...I wonder when that changed...I wish you could have seen him though back when he made the most AWFUL puns"

I laughed before I realized my uncle wasn't. He was smiling sure, but I could still see some tears.

"Heh guess those days are over...but Shuichi we need to talk for real right now" he told me.

"The town we live in...well don't take anything as it is given to you, let me just put it simple like that, nothing is how it seems and there's a price for seeking the truth...but I believe you can do what I cannot...I need you to be finally do what I can't" I raised an eyebrow.

"What do you mean what you can't?" I asked him "let me just say...if I say something wrong bad things will happen- I can tell they are watching and waiting for me to strike...your my ace in the whole...but if anyone and I mean anyone asks who you are don't ever mention me or your Father" he warned me.

"I know this is a lot to ask of you...but we need you Shuichi...we need you to finally discover the truth"

"What truth I don't understand-" I started but my uncle laughed "man what weather are we having am I right?"