"What's HEISEIE supposed to mean?"
Hearing Hayasaka's question, Ritsu revealed a helpless expression. Seriously, had this girl never ridden the Heisei Express before?
"HEISEI EXPRESS. The Heisei Express train. Combined with the earlier '211,' it means 11 a.m. on the 2nd."
"So this obviously isn't the place where the victim's being held, right? If it's the mission location, the scope is still pretty broad."
Ritsu curled his lips into a faint smile. "Yeah, which is why I'm planning to apply in advance for helicopter deployment authorization and permission to use a sniper rifle."
"What do you mean?"
"You'll find out tomorrow. If you're not afraid of heights, come along."
"Of course I'm not afraid of heights."
They took the elevator to the tenth floor and stopped in front of an office on the south side. This was the office of Kiyonaga Matsumoto, the Chief of the First Investigative Division of the Metropolitan Police Department's Criminal Affairs Bureau. Ritsu had come here to request permission to use a helicopter and a sniper rifle.
As an inspector, he technically had the authority to mobilize them, but he still needed to report it to his superior beforehand.
Knock knock knock.
"Come in."
After entering, Ritsu gave a polite bow. He didn't bother with small talk and got straight to the point.
"Chief Matsumoto, a case I'm currently investigating requires cooperation from a helicopter and a sniper. I'd appreciate your approval."
Matsumoto didn't look like an approachable person. His square face and the terrifying scar over his left eye gave him an intimidating aura. Someone who didn't know him might mistake him for a suspect.
"Approved. Though if I remember correctly, aren't you supposed to be on leave?"
Ritsu hadn't expected Matsumoto to remember the vacation dates of detectives in the Criminal Affairs Bureau. He gave a bitter smile.
"That's true, but unfortunately I ran into a case. As a police officer, I can't just ignore it, can I?"
"Heh. That kind of resolve is a good thing. Go request personnel from SAT."
"No need. I just need to pick up a suitable sniper rifle from the armory."
Matsumoto frowned slightly. "You know how to snipe?"
Naturally, Ritsu couldn't afford to expose any flaws in his cover. He explained calmly,
"It's written in the supplemental section of my file. After becoming an adult, I frequently went to shooting clubs. During my time in America, I also trained with a SWAT tactical unit. My best subject was sniping."
"Oh, I see… I'll notify the armory. Go pick it up yourself before tomorrow's operation."
"Understood. Then I'll excuse myself."
The door closed softly behind him.
Matsumoto opened a drawer and pulled out a file bag hidden beneath a notebook. From inside, he took out a thick stack of documents, Onizawa's personnel records. The sheer thickness alone showed just how extensive they were.
The supplemental pages did indeed contain those details. He hadn't lied.
However, Matsumoto had asked on purpose. After all, he had reviewed this file countless times and remembered every detail inside it.
Ritsu's excellence had already drawn the attention of upper management. As a Criminal Affairs Bureau manager, Matsumoto naturally had to pay close attention to the young man's actions.
So far, although his personality was somewhat eccentric, he was extremely serious when handling cases and his case-solving efficiency was both fast and remarkably effective. He truly was a rare genius detective.
It was as though he had been born for this line of work.
Matsumoto returned the file to the drawer, stood up, and pulled open the blinds to look outside the window. Thinking back to what Department Chief Odagiri had said.
It was probably just his imagination.
Still, there was definitely something rotten mixed into the Metropolitan Police Department. The only question was how much trouble that person would eventually stir up.
After leaving Matsumoto's office, Ritsu headed toward the elevator, planning to go downstairs and find somewhere to eat. Unbeknownst to him, the elevator only descended one floor before the doors opened again.
Seeing Hayasaka looking ready to clock out, he glanced down at his wristwatch and asked, "Already time for you to get off work?"
"Yeah. I covered for someone for a few hours earlier and now that there's nothing going on, he paid me back for it."
The elevator reached the ground floor and opened once more. Hayasaka glanced at Ritsu, who was motioning for her to go first, and said expressionlessly,
"Want ramen?"
"Yes," Ritsu answered instinctively. Then he blinked and asked, "Wait, what do you mean?"
Hayasaka clicked forward in her high heels and frowned. "If you want to eat, then keep up, freeloader."
In less than two months of working together, Hayasaka had gradually started accepting this strange superior of hers who was often unreliable and always hitching rides during operations. It wasn't because she had simply gotten used to him over time, it was because his investigative ability really was impressive and she had learned quite a lot from him.
And from what happened today, it was clear he was a kind-hearted, good police officer. So she had decided to treat Ritsu to a meal and ease the tension between them a little.
Still standing inside the elevator, Ritsu snapped back to his senses and hurried out before the doors closed. Catching up to Hayasaka's side, he smiled brightly and said,
"Hayasaka, I've got a secret to tell you."
"Hm?" Hayasaka glanced at him without much interest. Still, if he wanted to say something, she could reluctantly listen. "Go ahead."
"Well…" Ritsu leaned in mysteriously and lowered his voice. "The sun rose in the west today."
"Huh?"
For a moment, Hayasaka didn't understand. But when she saw him immediately bolt away after saying it, she realized he was teasing her, making fun of the fact that she was actually willing to buy him dinner.
"This guy… is seriously annoying!"
She had finally managed to change her opinion of him from "hate" to "indifference," but now Hayasaka silently reached out with an invisible hand and repeatedly clicked the minus sign behind "indifference" until it dropped all the way back to "hate."
'Hmph. I really can't show this guy any kindness!'
Ritsu secretly glanced back at Hayasaka's puffed-up expression, a faint smile surfacing in his eyes. He didn't actually want things to be this way.
But they couldn't become too close.
Because he was Onizawa Takashi. He was Augier of the Organization. He had no right to become your close companion.
'So it's better if you hate me. That way, when I leave, you won't feel sad.'
Hayasaka walked toward her lavender Volkswagen Beetle. Seeing Ritsu standing outside the passenger door preparing to take out a cigarette pack, she coldly stopped him.
"If you want to smoke, then walk to the ramen shop."
"Uh, not even one puff? I mean, back in the main office you didn't seem to—"
"It's because you chain smokers are always smoking in the main office that my rhinitis keeps getting worse! Anyway, when you're with me in private, no smoking allowed!"
"Oh."
Ritsu obediently stuffed the cigarette pack back into his pocket. So Hayasaka had rhinitis. Looks like he'd need to restrain himself around her.
Though honestly, the irony was pretty harsh.
Back then, he himself had once been part of the "anti-smoking brigade."
But after learning to smoke, quitting had become genuinely difficult. And nicotine addiction only grew stronger, never weaker.
Hopefully he wouldn't end up walking the same road he used to curse Gin for taking. Lung cancer was a real pain to deal with.
He opened the car door and climbed inside, once again forcing his long legs into a cramped position.
Sure, hitching rides was convenient but every time he sat inside this car, he truly understood what it felt like to be imprisoned.
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