After making plans to visit the Beika City Museum on Thursday, Ren's daily routine settled into a predictable rhythm.
A simple life revolving around school, the supermarket, and home.
Studying moderately at school, picking up necessities at the supermarket, then heading straight home.
It was a very straightforward and peaceful life.
In fact, it also reflected how, following the major explosion incident in Shinjuku, the Metropolitan Police Department had significantly ramped up its security and surveillance. After all, the last thing the MPD wanted was to see its hard-earned reputation collapse overnight.
Right now, the Metropolitan Police Department was like a pack of wolves, green eyes glinting as they watched for the next threat to leap out.
Because of this attitude, nothing unusual had happened in recent days. The overall pace of life had noticeably slowed down.
Sato Miwako was enjoying a rare moment of calm.
It had already been two days since she was promoted to Police Inspector, yet things had been so quiet she hadn't had the chance to demonstrate her capabilities as an Arbiter.
"What's wrong? You look out of it."
"Do I?"
Sato Miwako turned her head toward Yumi, who was speaking to her over the office partition.
"Lately, aside from routine patrol work, things have completely died down since the weekend. It feels like I suddenly have nothing to do."
"Isn't that a good thing?"
Miyamoto Yumi looked like she was about to roll her eyes. To her, Miwako was just bragging.
"Supervisors like you only rotate in on part-time patrol shifts. But the criminal officers under the supervisors? Their workload is brutal. We're doing triple shifts, especially the patrol officers and their unit leaders. Aside from meals, they're patrolling nonstop."
"Ever since the explosion, the MPD has tightened control multiple times. The Ministry of Transportation's workload has been insane lately. I've had shoulder pain every day from the grind."
So this "leisure" was all relative.
While the workload for criminal officers above the rank of supervisor seemed light, those directly under them were handling more cases than ever. And police supervisors usually only took on serious cases, making it more noticeable when major crimes occurred.
After what happened over the weekend, it felt like the entire MPD had PTSD, constantly on edge for the next big move.
And with good reason. After all, there are real psychopaths out there who pull off extreme crimes back to back.
But that also meant the lower-level detectives had taken on a massive increase in duties.
At that moment, Yumi was slumped over the partition, visibly drained, looking at her best friend across the desk.
"You've got it good. Promoted to Deputy Inspector, then you caught that major case and smoothly got bumped up to Police Captain. Meanwhile, for us in the Transportation Bureau, it's a nightmare trying to get promoted."
Promotion within the Traffic Department was far more limited compared to other divisions of the MPD.
Most of their work involved traffic control and road safety.
Compared to other branches of the police department, the Traffic Department was mostly tasked with patrol and traffic management duties.
Because the work was less intense, many officers demoted from other departments got reassigned there. Outsiders even called it the "Department of Retirement."
But that was just for those who were sent there after being demoted. For officers originally assigned to the Traffic Department, it was a legitimate career track.
Most of those who entered the MPD through the Ministry of Transportation could still climb the ranks through experience and effort.
Yumi Miyamoto had managed to become a deputy police officer at her age thanks to her diligence and professional track record.
Still, trying to earn a promotion from within the Ministry of Transportation was extremely difficult.
Without major achievements, it usually took at least ten years.
"Yumi, you can do it!"
Sato Miwako didn't have any concrete advice, so all she could do was cheer her friend on.
"Save it."
Yumi shot her a look. She clearly didn't believe in the whole "hard work pays off" thing anymore—not in the Transportation Bureau.
"Anyway, isn't your birthday coming up in two days?"
Yumi suddenly remembered that Miwako's birthday was on April 1st...
"Have you thought about how you're going to celebrate?"
Sato Miwako blinked, suddenly realizing her birthday really was just around the corner.
"Wow, it's already that time of year."
In the blink of an eye, her birthday had come again. That meant she'd officially be 28.
Thinking about that made her kind of wish her birthday wouldn't arrive.
"Got any plans for this year's celebration?"
"Hmm... not really."
Sato Miwako replied without much thought, but just then, a certain person came to mind.
"I guess I haven't."
"Huh?"
Yumi widened her eyes in disbelief. That reaction was very suspicious. In the past, Miwako had never made birthday plans. Could that be different this year?
"Does that mean someone's celebrating with you this year?"
Is it that surprising to have someone to spend it with? Sato Miwako felt a little exasperated.
But... she really hadn't had anyone to spend her birthday with in the past. When she thought about it, Yumi had always been with her.
Sato Miwako waved her hand dismissively.
"It's not that I have someone to spend it with. It's just that someone's helped me a lot this year, so I thought maybe I'd treat him to a meal or something."
"Eh? Who is it?"
"One of my informants. He hates trouble, but he's been a big help with my cases lately. So I thought a meal would be a good way to thank him."
Oh, just an informant... Yumi lost interest right away. That kind of topic wasn't worth gossiping about.
The relationship between informants and detectives was always complicated. In most cases, they weren't exactly friendly.
But Miwako's relationship with this informant seemed oddly not bad.
"Well, since you've decided, I won't crash your birthday this year. Ah, but I'll still get you a birthday gift."
"Thanks."
(To be continued.)
***
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