"Promise me, never become a cop in the future," Momo said seriously.
If this menace were ever made a police officer, Tokyo citizens would probably live in a constant nightmare.
Framing people, excessive force, fabricating evidence, twisting right and wrong… Takashi had done everything a cop shouldn't do.
And this was only his first day as a police officer.
If he really joined, he'd probably torture confessions out of people too.
"Hitomi said that if I ever showed interest in becoming a cop, she'd put me in the seat of Police Commissioner."
Hearing Takashi call Hitomi so casually, Momo's gaze turned dangerously sharp.
Yet our protagonist was completely caught up in his own smugness and didn't notice the change in her expression.
"What are you trying to say?" he asked.
Momo smiled, her eyes curving like crescent moons.
Momo was very pretty.
Everyone knows that when attractive people cry, it's like "pear blossoms in the rain," not like a pig wailing in mud.
Takashi rarely saw Momo smile, and was momentarily dazzled.
Overconfident, he said, "Miss Ryuju, you don't want to see the Ryuju Group fall apart in your hands, right?"
"How about you join me? Together, we can rule both the black and white sides of Tokyo."
Momo smiled even more sweetly.
Her finger traced lightly along Takashi's cheek. "Kitahara, I want to test if this bulletproof vest really works."
"Huh?"
Takashi didn't process that in time.
The next second, Momo grabbed his throat tightly, squeezing hard. "Perfect. Our group just got a new machine gun recently."
"I'd like to test it on you."
Takashi's face turned red, brain oxygen-deprived, eyes rolling back like a fish tossed onto dry land.
"Bulletproof vests can block bullets, but you can't just keep shooting full auto with a machine gu—"
That was the last thing Takashi said before losing consciousness.
…
When he next woke up, Takashi found himself lying in a hospital bed, the strong scent of disinfectant all around.
Instinctively, he pinched his thigh.
It hurt. He was alive.
"You're awake?"
The doctor beside the bed walked over.
"Are you the only doctor in the world?" Takashi tilted his head and looked at Nakano Maruo, unable to hold back his sarcasm.
Why do I keep running into you?
"Delusional. Probably took a blow to the head during the fight. We'll have to open up your skull," Nakano Maruo muttered to himself.
"Don't worry, I'll be the lead surgeon."
"I'm sorry, Dr. Nakano! I was wrong!"
Takashi folded instantly.
No way—he was terrified you would be the one holding the scalpel.
After confirming Takashi's condition, Nakano Maruo turned and left the room.
Not long after, the door opened again.
"Yo, you're up?"
This time it was Momo.
"What the hell! Were you trying to choke me to death?" Takashi glared at her.
"Relax. My dad taught me how to choke someone unconscious without killing them," Momo replied as she brought in a fruit basket and placed it by his bed.
She pulled up a chair and crossed her legs casually.
"What did your father even teach you?"
Takashi's eyes unconsciously drifted toward her legs.
"And why the hell did you choke me anyway?"
Momo didn't care about his gaze and shook her leg nonchalantly. "To help you."
"Help me? I almost died!"
"Relax. I wouldn't let you die. Trust my technique."
"No, I don't. I want an apple now. Peel it for me."
"Go eat shit."
After staying a while, Momo got up to leave.
Before she left, she said, "Thanks."
"For what?" Takashi was puzzled.
"Check your phone."
Momo didn't explain. She just waved and walked out.
Takashi picked up his phone from the nightstand and turned it on, only to find a flood of missed calls.
The most came from Narii—over fifty.
Next was Hitomi—with over forty.
Then came Umaru, Kotonoha, Nagisa, Maki, Adagaki Aki, Komi Shoko… even Yukino called once.
Though Takashi guessed that call was probably made under pressure from his mom.
Given her personality, Yukino definitely wouldn't call to comfort him on her own.
Anrakugawa Hanabi didn't call, but she did send a message asking how he was.
Tch. Cold woman.
Well, at least now Takashi wouldn't feel guilty using her.
Just as he was hesitating whether to call Hitomi or Narii first, Narii called again.
"Hello!"
She must not have expected it to connect, because she immediately rushed out, "Takashi! Are you okay? How are you? Which hospital are you in? I'm flying back right now!"
Hearing the airport flight announcements in the background, Takashi figured she was already at the airport, ready to fly back from France.
The girl was currently in France studying trumpet under a master.
"Calm down, Narii. I'm fine. Really."
Takashi explained everything—well, except the part where Momo choked him unconscious.
That finally calmed her down.
After a few more comforting words, Takashi made calls to Hitomi, Umaru, Kotonoha, and others.
After notifying everyone, he realized it had been over an hour.
Sigh… that's one downside to having too many girls around.
Too many people, too many chats. A few minutes here, a few minutes there—an hour disappears in no time.
Only now did Takashi have the mind to check the news.
And the top headline nearly gave him a stroke.
"Chief Kitahara Dies in the Line of Duty!"
Then who's lying in this hospital bed?
Of course, the next headline was Japan Police's emergency clarification.
Ogitsu Yoshiko had also issued a statement confirming Takashi was only unconscious, not dead, and that legal action was being taken against the newspaper.
The second top trending tag read: "Incompetent Japanese Police—Glorious Chief Kitahara!"
This article praised Takashi's heroism, how he bravely fought criminals, and ended by strongly demanding that the current Police Commissioner step down and let Takashi take the role.
Takashi read the whole thing and thought—Is this really about me?
Also, the same newspaper had written very different things just a few hours ago.
He pulled up their past articles:
A dozen hours ago, after Takashi entered the station: "Vicious Criminal Infiltrates Police Headquarters!"
Ten hours ago, after fan chaos: "Tyrant Brainwashes His Followers!"
Eight hours ago, when Takashi visited a kindergarten: "Perverted Loli-Con Deserves to Burn in Hell!"
Five hours ago, after he punished school bullies: "Takashi the Righteous!"
Three hours ago, after he beat up street thugs: "Maybe He's Actually a Qualified Chief?"
Now, after getting injured: "Incompetent Japanese Police—Glorious Chief Takashi!"
Heh… the media.
A case study in how to turn a hostile newspaper into a bootlicker.
Honestly, he preferred their rebellious tone from earlier.
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