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"Officer Sato is here!"
Someone in the crowd suddenly spoke up.
And just like that...
All the chatter immediately stopped.
"Huh...?"
"Why are you all gathered here?"
"Don't you have work to do?"
"Takagi!"
"Go and bring in everyone related to last night's murder case to the police headquarters for questioning."
"..."
Miwako Sato was completely unaware of the strange looks from those around her.
As a dedicated female detective, she only had one thing on her mind during work hours—solving cases.
"Uh... Got it."
Wataru Takagi responded gloomily.
At that moment—
He felt like his life had lost all its former brightness.
"Officer Sato seems to be in a really good mood today."
"Of course!"
"Which woman in love doesn't look refreshed and happy?"
"Damn it!"
"Why does a capable female detective like Miwako Sato have to fall for some pretty boy?"
"..."
The resentment among the male officers at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department was already burning uncontrollably.
"He's not just any pretty boy, you know."
"Akira is seriously impressive."
"So..."
"You guys should just give up any unrealistic fantasies already."
Yumi Miyamoto understood Miwako Sato very well.
Because honestly, when she thought of Akira, her heart skipped a beat too.
"Miwako!"
"Wait up!"
Yumi quickened her pace to catch up with Miwako.
After making sure no one else was around, she lowered her voice and asked, "How was your date with Akira yesterday?"
She knew Miwako was tight-lipped. If there were others within earshot, there was no way she'd get any useful info.
"Date?" Miwako looked at the case report in her hands and absentmindedly replied, "When did I ever go on a date with Akira?"
"WHAT???"
"You still won't admit it?"
"Who was it that got into Akira's red Ferrari near Beika Mall yesterday?"
Yumi pointed to her own eyes.
She had seen the whole thing with her own two eyes, and this woman still wanted to deny it?
"That wasn't a date."
"I had told him before that if he bought a Ferrari, I'd agree to go out with him."
"Who knew that guy would actually buy one?"
"So..."
"We just had a simple meal, watched a movie, and then went home."
"..."
Yumi's lips twitched slightly.
Ha... Who would believe that?!
Back when she had asked if the two even knew each other, Miwako's response had been a bit vague and ambigious .
And now, just "kind of knowing each other" was enough to go see a movie together?
Miwako Sato, this woman, was getting less and less honest in front of her.
"Let me tell you something."
"Akira lives right next door to me. Did you know that?"
Yumi had hoped this would stir some kind of reaction from Miwako.
But to her surprise, the woman remained as calm as still water.
"I'm not talking to you anymore."
"Takagi!"
"Why aren't you on your way yet?"
"..."
Yumi watched Miwako walk away.
Hah—!
She sure was good at acting indifferent!
CLOVER Convenience Store:
Yui Nakazumi rushed into the store, panting as she said, "Manager! Something bad happened!
Shiori-chan was taken away by the police!"
Under normal circumstances...
She should have gone to her parents for help. But both of them were away on business trips.
With no other option, the only person she could think of was Akira.
Even though Ran and Shiori were practically at war with each other right now, the fact remained—
Akira was their boyfriend.
"What happened?"
Just as he asked, Akira received a call from Sonoko Suzuki.
"Hello—"
"Ran was taken away by Officer Takagi from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department."
In that instant—
A thought flashed through Akira's mind.
Had the feud between those two escalated to a criminal offense?!
No way!
An innocent 18-year-old high school girl wouldn't have the guts for something like that.
"There was a murder at a mall in Beika Town, Third District, last night."
"Both Shiori-chan and Ran somehow got caught up in it."
"This morning, Shiori-chan told me that they were both listed as suspects."
"..."
At the time, Yui had thought it was just an amusing story.
After all, how could high school girls possibly be involved in a murder?
But never in her wildest dreams—
Did she expect that as soon as she and Shiori woke up, detectives from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department would already be knocking at their door.
Meanwhile, Sonoko had faced the same situation.
After everything that happened last night, she wasn't sure if she should still invite Ran to work part- time at the CLOVER convenience store.
After much hesitation...
She finally decided to follow her heart.
But just as they were walking down the street, they were suddenly stopped by Officer Takagi, and
Ran was taken into a police car for questioning.
"It's not a big deal."
"I'm heading to the police department now."
"You two stay here and look after the store."
A murder case?
Akira had seen too much to be surprised anymore.
"....."