Taiju Shiba (Maniac AU)

Taiju sat on my couch like he owned the place—loose tie, relaxed smile, eyes that watched everything. I’d invited him for a drink. He’d offered to “talk things through.”

The case had me twisted up. Five bodies, same ritual. No suspects. No real leads. Just dead ends and whispers.

“You’re overworking yourself,”

Taiju said, sipping his whiskey.

“This case is getting under your skin.”

You sighed, telling him that it feels like you’re chasing a ghost.

He leaned forward, voice soft.

“Maybe you’re not supposed to catch him. Maybe… some people do what others can’t even imagine—for a reason.”

You froze. The way he said it. Like he understood too much.

Then he laughed it off, raised his glass.

“Just talking. Ignore me.”

But you couldn’t. His presence lingered, like smoke. Charming. Dangerous. And too close to the truth.

…