“Why do you suddenly want to talk to him?”

  Kenta placed his hands on his hips, worry written all over his face.

  “I need to ask him a few things,” Takashi replied quietly.

  “He was close to my father back then. Maybe he still has some answers.”

  Takashi pushed himself up from his chair, the effort more visible than he wanted it to be.

  “You’re right, Kenta,” he added with a tired smile.

  “I really need more sleep.”

  He started toward the door.

  “I’ll tell you everything when I get back from the Chief’s office.”

  Kenta watched him go, shaking his head.

  “Yeah… sure,” he muttered, half amused, half irritated.

  “Just keep me waiting. That’s fine. This man is seriously driving me crazy.”

  Takashi didn’t turn around but he smiled wider as he walked away.

  He stood in front of the Chief’s office door for a moment, gathering his thoughts, then finally knocked.

  “Come in.”

  Takashi opened the door.

  The Chief looked up from his desk and greeted him with a broad smile.

  “Come in, Takashi.”

  “Good morning, Chief,” Takashi replied, returning the smile.

  “I’m sorry for coming unannounced.”

  The Chief waved a hand dismissively.

  “Don’t worry about that. Sit down.”

  Takashi pulled out the chair and sat down.

  “Is everything all right?”

  The Chief didn’t hesitate.

  “You look like something’s bothering you.”

  Takashi was silent for a moment. Then he spoke.

  “Chief… can I ask you something?”

  He looked straight at him.

  “Of course,” the Chief said. “What is it?”

  Curiosity flickered across his face.

  “You were close to my father back then, weren’t you?”

  “Yes,” the Chief replied without hesitation. “We were very close.”

  He paused, studying Takashi more carefully now.

  “Is everything all right, Takashi?”

  The surprise in his voice was impossible to miss.

  “Can you tell me what happened back then?”

  Takashi asked quietly.

  “How did he end up involved with the organization?”

  His eyes stayed fixed on the Chief.

  The Chief lowered his gaze slightly before answering.

  “Yes… I can tell you, if you really want to know.”

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  He paused, then continued.

  “Back then, your father and I worked in a small department for a few years before we were promoted to investigators. Shortly after our transfer, we started hearing about that organization.”

  He leaned back slightly, his expression growing serious.

  “They had existed for a long time. When their leader was alive, they were dangerous but controlled. He knew how to keep them in line.”

  The Chief’s jaw tightened.

  “After he died, his son took over. And everything changed.”

  “The new leader merged with several other groups...

  people hungry for money and power. Crime began to rise. They expanded fast. Too fast.”

  He shook his head slowly.

  “Even when we arrested some of their members, nothing came of it. No one talked. Not a single one.”

  His voice lowered.

  “And those who might have… either disappeared or died mysteriously in prison.”

  He stopped for a moment, hesitating.

  But Takashi’s eyes told him everything.

  He wanted more.

  “It was your father’s idea,” the Chief finally said.

  “His decision.”

  He exhaled slowly.

  “After one of our colleagues was murdered, we began to suspect the organization was behind it.”

  He lifted his gaze to Takashi.

  “Your father was still relatively new back then. He wasn’t well known yet as a detective.”

  The Chief’s voice grew heavier.

  “He said that made him the perfect fit.”

  He shook his head slightly.

  “I don’t know what he was thinking at the time… but he was determined.”

  His eyes darkened.

  “So determined that he went through with it even when I didn’t support his decision.”

  Finally, the Chief approved his request, and your father moved to Shirogawa.

  He lived there for several months, trying to get closer to them.

  And eventually… he did.

  The Chief sighed deeply.

  “He was a great detective. Dedicated. I told you this once already,” he said quietly.

  “You remind me of him so much.”

  Takashi pulled his chair closer.

  “Did he find out anything?” he asked.

  “Did you speak to him after he entered the organization?”

  He needed to know.

  “Yes. We spoke occasionally,” the Chief replied.

  “But back then, I wasn’t the Chief yet. He didn’t report to me.”

  His gaze dropped.

  “The Chief at the time was Masato Fujimori. He died a few years ago.”

  He paused, choosing his words carefully.

  “I know he tried to uncover the truth after your father’s death. But we never found anything. Nothing solid.”

  It was clear how much this still weighed on him.

  Even now, it was hard for him to talk about.

  “So he never told you anything?” Takashi pressed.

  “Nothing important,” the Chief said slowly.

  “But I do remember one night… a few months after he joined them.”

  He lifted his head.

  “He called me and asked me to come to the hospital.”

  Takashi’s body tensed, but his face stayed calm.

  “He had brought in a young boy. The hospital demanded a police statement, so he called me for help.”

  His voice lowered.

  “To fake the report.”

  Takashi pretended not to know what that night meant.

  He said nothing.

  “I went there and did everything I could not to blow his cover,” the Chief continued.

  “I was relieved to see him alive.”

  His expression darkened.

  “But he was different.”

  The Chief swallowed.

  “I still remember what he told me that night.”

  He looked straight at Takashi.

  ‘Kenji… they’re ruthless.’

  “I told him to reconsider,” the Chief continued quietly.

  “I told him he still had time to back out… before it was too late.”

  He paused, his jaw tightening.

  “But he was more determined than ever.”

  The Chief exhaled slowly.

  “He said he needed more time. That he had to get closer to their leader.”

  His voice dropped.

  “And after that night… I never saw him again.”

  “You never spoke to him after that?” Takashi asked quietly.

  “We did… a few times,” the Chief replied.

  “But he was worried. He said they were very cautious. Organized.”

  He hesitated.

  “He was afraid they might be listening to his calls.”

  “So he thought they knew something?” Takashi pressed.

  “That they were already suspecting him?”

  “He never said it directly,” the Chief answered.

  “But the last time we spoke… he was different.”

  His gaze lowered.

  “Something was off.”

  The Chief looked at Takashi more closely now.

  “Why?” he asked. “Are you suspecting something?”

  Takashi shook his head lightly.

  “No. I just wanted to know more about him.”

  He stood up slowly.

  “Thank you, Chief.”

  It was clear...Takashi wanted to end the conversation.

  “Thank you for telling me all of this, Chief,” Takashi said quietly.

  “I really needed to know.”

  He was already on his feet, ready to leave.

  “I’m glad I could help,” the Chief replied.

  He looked shaken by the conversation, his expression heavier than before.

  Then he studied Takashi more closely.

  “You look like you didn’t sleep at all.”

  He paused, then added more gently,

  “Why don’t you take the day off?”

  “I will,” Takashi said.

  “Thank you, Chief.”

  He was already at the door when the Chief’s voice stopped him.

  “You know you can trust me with anything, Takashi,” he said.

  “You’re not alone in this.”

  Takashi knew the Chief was suspecting something.

  But he kept his expression calm.

  “I know, Chief,” he replied evenly.

  “Thank you… for everything.”

  He opened the door and left without looking

  As he stepped back into the crowded office, Takashi spotted Kenta at his desk, scrolling through his phone, looking far too comfortable.

  “Do you ever work?” Takashi teased as he approached.

  “Finally!” Kenta exhaled dramatically.

  “I’ve been waiting for years.”

  Takashi grabbed his coat from the back of the chair.

  “Let’s go get breakfast. And I really need coffee.”

  He nudged Kenta away from the desk.

  “Go get your jacket.”

  “Okay, okay… I’m going.”

  Kenta moved quickly, almost too quickly.

  A moment later, he was pulling on his jacket as he hurried back.

  “Let’s go. I’m ready.”

  They walked side by side toward the exit.

  Takashi rested a hand briefly on Kenta’s shoulder.

  “We need to make a plan,” he said quietly.

  Kenta glanced at him, suddenly serious.

  “What kind of plan?”