The entire MPD had a sleepless night!
The next day, Heiji was woken up by his phone ringing.
Kazuha and Sonoko were lying quietly in his arms. When they heard the phone, they frowned, opened their eyes slightly, and looked exhausted.
"I'll go answer it."
The two girls nodded, exchanged a quick glance, then—slightly embarrassed—closed their eyes again and fell back asleep.
Last night, Heiji had been too excited, and they were too tired.
Heiji answered the phone while still undressed.
"Heiji, Inspector Megure just called me. Officer Shiratori killed someone." Sato Miwako's shocked voice came through the line.
"Officer Shiratori killed someone?" Heiji asked, surprised.
"Yes. Inspector Megure told me to return to the MPD immediately. I'll probably be busy from now on… I likely won't be able to eat with Kazuha and Sonoko."
Yesterday, Sato Miwako had suggested eating together with Kazuha and Sonoko and, while she was at it, confessing to the two girls. But now she probably would not have the time.
"Where are you right now?" Heiji asked.
Up to this point, the system still had not notified mission completion. Heiji needed to go to the MPD and take a look.
"I'm still at home, getting ready to head out."
Because she had been so happy last night, Sato Miwako had struggled to sleep, so she only just got up.
Heiji checked the time: 8:20.
"Wait for me at your door at 8:40."
"Heiji, you're coming to pick me up?" Sato Miwako's voice lifted with delight.
"Yes. You don't have a car—how were you going to get to the MPD?"
"Hehe. I did it on purpose."
Sato Miwako laughed, pleased with herself.
Heiji gave a small smile.
"I'll get dressed first."
Sato Miwako hung up, her eyes full of warmth.
After Heiji finished getting dressed, he lightly kissed Kazuha and Sonoko on the lips and left.
As soon as the door closed, Kazuha and Sonoko opened their eyes.
"Kazuha… if it's something about the MPD, that should be Officer Sato, right?" Sonoko asked quietly.
"The car Heiji drove back yesterday looked like Officer Sato's car," Kazuha recalled.
"So you're saying Officer Sato and Heiji…"
Their eyes widened, a strange glint appearing.
By then, Heiji was already driving to pick up Sato Miwako.
"Miwako, why are you standing outside?"
"I'm waiting for someone."
Hearing her mother's voice, Sato Miwako turned back and smiled.
"Waiting for someone?" Mrs. Sato looked toward the intersection, puzzled. "Where's your car? Why are you waiting outside?"
Sato Miwako blinked playfully.
"Not telling you."
At that moment, a red Mazda pulled over by the curb.
"Eh? Isn't that Miwako's car?"
"Mom, I'm going to the MPD first. I might be very busy, so you don't need to wait for me to eat."
After saying that, under her mother's gaze, Sato Miwako got into her own car and drove off.
"That was a man… Could it be Miwako is in love?"
Mrs. Sato was overjoyed. She hurried to Sato Masayoshi's memorial tablet, pressed her palms together, and prayed.
"Miwako finally has a boyfriend. Please bless her."
In the car, Sato Miwako tilted her head happily, staring at Heiji with open affection.
Heiji glanced at her helplessly.
"Is there something on my face?"
She shook her head.
"No."
"Then why are you staring at me?"
"Because I want to look at you a little more," Sato Miwako said softly. "Otherwise I won't be able to look at you properly for a while."
She sounded a little regretful.
Heiji pulled into a temporary parking area and stopped the car.
"Heiji, why—mm…"
Sato Miwako could not finish. Heiji kissed her.
After a brief freeze, she closed her eyes and responded—clumsy, but sincere.
Heiji and Sato Miwako walked into the building.
Along the way, officers from other divisions greeted the two of them enthusiastically.
Sato Miwako looked at Heiji, surprised.
"Heiji, you're really popular in the MPD."
Heiji smiled faintly.
"Average. Average. Third in the world."
Hearing him act so full of himself, Sato Miwako could not help rolling her eyes—though she looked pleased.
"What exactly happened?"
As soon as they reached Investigation Division 3, they heard Inspector Megure's furious roar. The whole office seemed to shake.
Takagi and the others stood in silence, looking toward Officer Shiratori, who was sitting in the interrogation room.
"How is it?" someone asked.
Everyone turned to Sato Miwako.
She glanced apologetically at Heiji, then stepped into the interrogation room.
"Inspector Megure, what's the situation?"
"Miwako, you're here."
Inspector Megure glared at Officer Shiratori, then spoke seriously to Sato Miwako.
"The prosecutors are already preparing to indict Officer Shiratori. Witnesses and physical evidence are all in place. Every piece of evidence points to him. There's no way to defend it."
Sato Miwako frowned and looked at Officer Shiratori.
"Officer Shiratori, even though I have my issues with you, I want the truth. Why did you kill someone?"
Officer Shiratori looked up at Sato Miwako, smiling bitterly.
"I really didn't kill anyone."
He had said that all night—weak, powerless, and ignored.
"You didn't kill anyone?" Inspector Megure exploded. "Then why does the victim's heart contain a bullet that matches your gun? Why is one round missing from your magazine? Why were you found unconscious on the ground, reeking of alcohol? Why did nearby residents unanimously identify you? And according to the victim's girlfriend, you once had a dispute with him—how do you explain that? All the evidence points to you, and you're telling me you didn't kill anyone?"
Inspector Megure was red-faced with rage.
"I really didn't," Shiratori shouted back, equally furious. "Last night I only drank a little. Then I got a call from that killer telling me to return to the apartment. When I got there, I saw Ito Kazuki lose control on my balcony. We argued, then a gunshot rang out—he fell from the balcony. After that, someone hit me from behind and I blacked out."
Sato Miwako frowned.
"You were knocked out from behind?"
"That's right. I only drank a little—there's no way I got drunk enough to go crazy," Shiratori said, seething.
"But no one believes you now," Inspector Megure said, then turned and walked out of the interrogation room.
Sato Miwako glanced at Shiratori and followed out.
"Officer Sato… do you still remember the cherry blossom?" Shiratori suddenly said behind her.
Sato Miwako frowned and looked back at him.
"The cherry blossom is the symbol every police officer wears. It stands for justice—strength and gentleness. I've always used that spirit to hold myself up. How could I kill someone and stain that justice?"
Sato Miwako shook her head. She did not understand what he was trying to say.
Outside, Inspector Megure looked at Heiji and gave a bitter smile.
"Looks like Shiratori's case doesn't need your help, Hattori."
"The situation is that bad?" Heiji asked.
"Yes. The prosecutors are already preparing to charge Officer Shiratori with intentional homicide."
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