26 / 02 / 2019, 08:40 — Tuesday, Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters, Osaka.
Some time had passed since Aki Takahashi entered the room. The tension that had gripped her upon arrival had faded, replaced by a calm focus as she scrolled through the tablet at her desk.
Her face was serious, eyes a strange mix of dark brown and faint gold, an unusual combination that might seem unnatural to ordinary people; some might even mistake it for a disease. But these were no ordinary eyes.
They were the mark of her ability, the specialty that had made her a target of both Heaven and Hell Gate: an Onmyoji walking the "Celestial Way."
Nearby, Hayakawa browsed through a thick file, pen in hand, connecting dots, noting anomalies, and forming hypotheses.
Fujimoto-san, the warm presence in the team, busied herself in the kitchen, preparing tea for them and for the soon-to-arrive Team Leader.
Across the room, Takumi-san remained in his seat, an unusual sight: the bald, ferocious-faced man now absorbed in a romance novel. The juxtaposition was strange, but it was typical of him.
The team's geek, Nakamura, continued his usual lazy focus on a laptop, eyes reflecting the flicker of the screen as he delved into his own world of analysis.
In the corner, Reika Amamiya, rifle maintenance complete, leaned back with her eyes closed, conserving energy with quiet discipline.
Soft footsteps echoed across the floor.
Clack… clack…
They paused at the door. The office door opened to reveal a broad, imposing figure. White hair caught the glint of the overhead light.
The man's face was weathered, resolute, and tough, stubble on his chin sharpening the hawk-like intensity in his eyes. His tall frame, close to 190 cm, and sharp suit made him look commanding, intimidating, yet like a caged beast.
As he stepped inside, everyone rose instinctively, saluting in unison:
"Good morning, Team Leader."
He returned their salute with a smile, his deep voice calm and commanding.
"Continue your work. We will begin shortly."
Once seated on the sofa, the team relaxed again, exchanging small smiles at their leader's rare, approachable demeanor.
---
Toshio Nagasawa, Team Leader of the Second Division, leaned back, hands resting atop his stomach. His voice was calm but carried authority.
"As you all know, it's rare for the entire Second Division to be mobilized like this." His gaze swept across each member of the team.
"This time, even the First Division's hounds cannot detect any clue in this case. To be truthful, even I cannot foresee what will happen next."
He straightened, voice firm yet reassuring.
"But know this: as long as I am alive, I will support you in every way. You can trust your back to me. You will never be betrayed, never to be abandoned."
His tone was cold, ferocious even, yet carried an unmistakable reassurance. The team, accustomed to the dangers of their world, trusted him implicitly.
They knew what it meant to be extraordinary, and they knew whom they could rely upon.
Toshio moved to the desk, retrieved a file from his inner pocket, and placed it carefully before them.
He adjusted his suit before beginning.
"All documents and clues gathered thus far are in this file. For a brief overview: this case began two weeks ago. There have been a series of disappearances, spiking in recent weeks. In the first week alone, 178 people vanished. In the subsequent weeks, the number rose to 526. This does not account for any unreported cases."
Fujimoto stood, heading to the kitchen to continue preparing drinks. The team paid little attention, still focused on the briefing.
"The First Division reconnaissance…" Toshio's voice wavered slightly with irritation. "…Shinohara Etsuko, that vixen, was tasked just two days after this event. You know what this implies. She smelled something, but could not find it. Two days to merely sense the threat is troubling in itself. Now they have ransacked Osaka, patrolled the streets, and found nothing."
A faint smile flickered across his face at the thought of their frustration. At that moment, Fujimoto returned with a tray, holding steaming black coffee.
"Drink first, Toshio-san. I can see your lips are dry from the walks," she said, offering it to him.
He accepted it gracefully, smiling faintly as he took a careful sip, eyes closing briefly to savor the warmth.
The rest of the team exchanged glances, amused by the leader's brief pause.
Setting the cup down, he continued.
"If no new clues emerge this week, Headquarters will require coordinated action: First, Second, and Third Divisions together."
After digesting the information, he looked around the room.
Hayakawa appeared thoughtful, Nakamura, unconcerned as ever, Takumi is serious, Reika is silent, and Fujimoto is… let's just forget about her.
His gaze rested on Aki, who hesitated, about to ask a question.
His look encouraged her, a silent prompt: "Go ahead. Don't let this silence linger like an idiot."
Aki flushed slightly, embarrassed, but opened her mouth to speak.
Then a phone rang. Toshio withdrew his device, reading quickly.
His expression shifted: confusion gave way to gravity, then tension tightened his face.
In an instant, a fleeting shadow seemed to flicker behind him, vanishing as quickly as it appeared, leaving an oppressive sense as deep as the sea in the room and even spreading to the outside.
He closed his eyes, exhaling a long, heavy sigh.
The team stiffened, sensing the shift.
"I… I'm sorry," he muttered softly. After a moment to compose himself, his eyes hardened as he spoke again.
"That vixen we mentioned earlier… she is dead."
Shock settled over the room. The news was sudden, brutal, and entirely unexpected.
Toshio did not pause for reactions. His gaze drifted elsewhere, unreadable.
"It seems… they were impatient and struck the hornet's nest themselves." His tone was grim. "There is no need to wait any longer. Headquarters will mobilize all three divisions to investigate. Whether this is lucky or unlucky… I cannot tell."
The room fell silent, each member processing the gravity of the situation in their own way.
The investigation, it seemed, was about to escalate beyond anything they had anticipated.