#9, And Yup

Chapter 9

A Realization Too Late

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As the team walked out of the now-ruined Vionse headquarters, the adrenaline of their recent victory slowly wore off. Meito stretched his arms above his head, yawning as the events replayed in his mind. Nodo and Kishimata were deep in conversation about what snacks to get, while Lucas kept messing with his messy hair, trying to look more "detective-like."

Suddenly, Meito stopped mid-step, eyes wide as a realization hit him like a ton of bricks.

"Wait a minute…" he muttered, causing the others to halt and look at him.

"What is it?" Nodo asked, his face stuffed with a half-eaten granola bar.

Meito's expression was a mix of confusion and regret. "Why didn't we… just take Weisto hostage?"

There was silence as the team processed his question.

Kishimata blinked, then crossed his arms. "Uh… come again?"

Meito turned to them, his voice rising in frustration. "He's got no powers! He couldn't fight back! Why didn't we just tie him up or something instead of just… leaving him frozen there?"

Nodo raised an eyebrow, tapping his chin in thought. "You know… that's a really good point. We could've dragged him back, interrogated him, and gotten all the dirt on Vionse."

Lucas, with his signature smirk, chimed in. "Ah, too bad, too late now. That guy's probably still lying on the floor like a human statue."

Kishimata groaned, rubbing his temples. "So what you're saying is… we let the boss of one of the most dangerous organizations just chill out back there? Without doing anything useful with him?"

Meito facepalmed. "Yeah. Pretty much. I just realized… I'm an idiot."

Nodo shrugged. "Eh, don't be too hard on yourself. I mean, who could resist such a flawless Uno reversal? Priorities, my friend."

"But still!" Meito flailed his arms, exasperated. "We could've gotten so much information out of him! We could've, like, thrown him in the back of the car and driven him straight to HQ."

Lucas snickered. "Oh yeah, real smooth, Meito. Just toss a criminal mastermind in the trunk like he's a sack of potatoes."

Kishimata sighed, shaking his head. "Well, it's not like we can just go back in there now. I bet by the time we do, he's unfrozen and long gone."

Meito let out a long, dramatic sigh. "Great, just great. We had him right there, and I didn't even think of it."

Nodo patted him on the back, laughing. "Hey, don't sweat it, buddy. You're still our lovable, slightly clueless leader. Besides, maybe it's better this way. Less paperwork."

"But... but…" Meito tried to protest, but Nodo was already skipping ahead, carefree as ever.

Lucas, now with his detective hat tilted at a ridiculous angle, came up beside Meito, grinning from ear to ear. "You know, I like your style, Meito. Improvisation over interrogation, comedy over cruelty. It's got a certain charm to it."

Meito groaned again, running his hands through his hair. "I'm just trying not to make us all look like a bunch of amateurs."

Lucas winked. "Too late for that."

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The group eventually made their way back to headquarters, where they were greeted by the usual bustling chaos of government agents and tech specialists. The mission had been a success overall, despite Meito's lingering self-doubt about their failure to capture Weisto.

As they sat down in the briefing room, the atmosphere was casual—too casual, maybe, for the high-stakes nature of their work. Nodo was flipping through his Uno cards, Kishimata was cleaning his sword, and Meito was sulking in his chair, replaying the whole ordeal in his mind.

That's when their commanding officer entered the room, a stern-looking woman with sharp eyes and a no-nonsense attitude. She was followed by a short man with a disheveled detective coat, who was none other than Lucas Dei Amor, the government's so-called "ace" in solving mysteries.

The commander spoke first. "Good work on the Vionse operation. You managed to send us the intel we needed." She looked around the room, assessing each of them with a sharp gaze. "Though… we received word that Weisto Von Gerald got away."

Meito winced. "Y-yeah, about that—"

Before he could continue, Lucas interjected, stepping forward with a cocky grin. "But that's the fun part, isn't it? The boss gets away, we get a rematch later. Who doesn't love a little chase?"

The commander narrowed her eyes at Lucas but didn't seem to disagree entirely. "Next time, make sure to secure the target."

Meito nodded solemnly. "Yes, ma'am. I'll be sure to… you know, actually think next time."

Lucas walked over to Meito's side, ruffling his hair playfully. "No hard feelings, kiddo. You'll get the hang of it. Besides, I think your hair could use more fluffing up anyway. It's part of the detective look."

Meito scowled, pushing Lucas's hand away. "Dude, quit messing with my hair!"

"Can't help it," Lucas shrugged, his silly grin never leaving his face. "Gotta keep my apprentice looking sharp."

"Apprentice? Who said I was your apprentice?" Meito shot back.

Nodo, who had been quietly observing, chimed in with a laugh. "You two are starting to sound like an old married couple."

Kishimata chuckled. "Yeah, this is getting weird."

The commander cleared her throat, snapping them all back to attention. "Alright, enough. We have more work to do. You've earned a bit of rest for now, but be ready. The next operation won't be as easy."

As they were dismissed, Meito slouched in his chair, still sulking about the missed opportunity with Weisto. Lucas, as always, couldn't resist teasing him one last time.

"Cheer up, Meito. Next time, just remember the rule of being a detective: if you can't outfight them, outthink them."

Meito glared at him. "Easy for you to say…"

Lucas leaned in, lowering his voice. "Come on, Meito. You're just a few steps away from becoming the real deal. Who knows, maybe one day you'll surpass me."

Meito rolled his eyes. "Yeah, sure. If I don't mess up first."

As the team walked out of the room, the playful banter continued, but the realization still lingered in the back of Meito's mind. Next time, he wouldn't forget the basics. Next time, he'd make sure that even if they couldn't outfight their enemies, they'd outsmart them.

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To be continued...

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This chapter blends humor and self-reflection, with Meito's realization leading to some playful banter and a bit of character development. The interactions with Lucas add comedic elements, while the missed opportunity sets the stage for future confrontations. The balance between levity and the seriousness of their mission keeps the narrative engaging without any plot holes.