Kenta stopped the car in front of Takashi’s building, still lost in his thoughts after everything Takashi had just told him.

  “So… he really was close to your father, just like he said.” Kenta spoke after a moment.

  “Do you think that’s the reason he wants to help you?”

  “I think that’s the main reason.” Takashi replied.

  He turned his whole body toward Kenta, resting one hand on the back of his seat.

  “But don’t you think it’s strange?” Takashi continued.

  “How his family disappeared all of a sudden. How he ended up inside the organization.”

  His brow furrowed.

  “It doesn’t make sense. I feel like there’s much more to it… but I can’t figure it out yet.”

  “I don’t know…” Kenta said slowly. “It is strange.”

  He stared ahead, thinking.

  “Maybe his father ran away because of his debts.” he continued.

  “Maybe they were hiding, and Sota had no other choice but to join them. Maybe he needed money.”

  Takashi shook his head.

  “No… that’s not it.”

  His eyes stayed fixed on the road.

  “He said it wasn’t his choice. There’s something much deeper going on.”

  He pulled his hand back from the car seat.

  “I’ll find out what’s really going on eventually.” he said.

  “What matters most right now is that we finally have someone on the inside.”

  He turned toward Kenta, his eyes lighting up.

  “We can bring down the biggest crime organization in Shirogawa, and we won’t get another chance like this.”

  He paused.

  “Just think about that.”

  The excitement in his eyes was impossible to miss.

  “But we need to do this carefully. No one can know.” he said.

  “Now that we know someone in our department is working for them and leaking information, we have to keep this a secret.”

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  “I think we’ve bitten off more than we can chew, Takashi.” Kenta said seriously.

  “I don’t know… maybe it’s just a bad feeling, but something tells me this won’t be easy.”

  “I know.” Takashi replied. “I feel it too.”

  He turned toward him, his expression firm.

  “But I won’t back out now. Not when I’m this close.”

  Kenta exhaled slowly, then nodded.

  “Then… whatever happens,” he said quietly,

  “you know I’m with you. I’ve got your back.”

  “When will you meet him again?” Kenta asked.

  “I don’t know.” Takashi replied quietly.

  “He said he’d find me… when the time comes.”

  “I’ll let you know as soon as he contacts me.” Takashi said.

  “Right now, I think I need to go home and rest. I feel like I’ve been run over by a truck.”

  Takashi opened the door and stepped outside as Kenta started the engine.

  He leaned back slightly, looking at him with a wide grin.

  “Oh, I forgot to tell you…” Takashi said casually.

  “Dr. Akiyama said hello.”

  “Don’t tease me like that.” Kenta shot back at once.

  “You know she’s way out of my league.” His ears turned red.

  “Don’t say that.” Takashi replied, still smiling.

  “You’re a great catch, Mr. Ishida.”

  He paused, clearly enjoying himself.

  “If I were a girl, I wouldn’t miss my chance.”

  “Go to sleep, Takashi Mori.” Kenta muttered, pulling the car away from the curb.

  “You’ve started talking nonsense.”

  Takashi stood there on the street, still smiling, until Kenta’s car disappeared down the road.

  After a week, Takashi felt strong enough to return to his usual routine.

  He was back at the station, buried in paperwork until his recovery was officially complete.

  He hated desk work, but it was the only thing he was allowed to do for now.

  There was no sign of Sota.

  No messages. No sudden appearances.

  Takashi found himself wondering where he was and why he hadn’t shown up yet.

  With the hospital visits over, there was no way to ask about him anymore.

  He waited patiently, but the silence grew heavier with each passing day.

  There was still no sign of Sota.

  Slowly, he began to reconsider his promise not to look for him at the bar.

  There was so much work at the office that sometimes Takashi stayed late into the night.

  He didn’t have to but somehow, working helped him avoid thinking about Sota.

  “Go home, Detective Mori.”

  The chief’s voice echoed through the quiet office.

  “The work will still be here tomorrow. Go home and get some rest.”

  He approached Takashi’s desk, already dressed to leave.

  “It seems I lost track of time.” Takashi said with a faint smile as he lifted his head.

  He stood up, turned off the computer, and carefully arranged the papers on his desk.

  “Thank you for reminding me, Chief.”

  Takashi had already pulled on his coat, ready to leave as well.

  “You’re making me look bad.” the chief said with a small smile.

  “Come on… let’s go home.”

  He placed a hand on Takashi’s shoulder and turned off the lights as they left the office together.

  It was really cold outside as they stepped out of the building, the chill sending a shiver through the chief’s entire body.

  “Ugh, I hate winter.” he said, rubbing his arms. “I don’t understand how anyone can like this cold.”

  Takashi laughed at his words.

  “I think the cold weather came earlier than usual this year.” he said, sounding disappointed.

  “You’re right about that, Chief.” Takashi replied.

  “Good night.” the Chief added as he walked toward his car.

  “See you in the morning.”

  “Good night.” Takashi nodded

  As he approached his apartment building

  It was already very late, he had really lost track of time.

  If the Chief hadn’t reminded him, he probably would have stayed at the office until morning, he thought.

  As he walked toward the entrance, something familiar caught his eye.

  A black Nissan Cedric, parked in the shadows.

  His eyes widened.

  He took a step back, then looked again, just to be sure his eyes weren’t deceiving him.

  The driver’s side window slid down slowly.

  Takashi started walking toward the vehicle.

  Even in the darkness, he recognized the blond hair immediately.

  Now he was close enough to see clearly.

  Sota leaned closer to the open window.

  “Good evening, Detective Mori.” he said calmly.

  “I told you… I’m a man of my word.”