After parting ways with Yui Yuigahama and Mahiru, Yukino Yukinoshita, who was on her way home, witnessed the entire scene.
Watching Ren as he walked farther and farther away while carrying Shoko Nishimiya, Yukino felt a complicated mix of emotions.
Ren clearly had no relationship with that little girl, yet he chose to reach out to her first. He was perfectly capable of speaking normally, but to accommodate her, he chose to communicate entirely through sign language.
Yukino didn't understand sign language and had no idea what they were saying, but the happy expression on Shoko's face said everything. It felt strangely familiar to Yukino's own childhood—and yet, it wasn't. That little girl was far more pitiable than she had ever been.
If I were in Ren's position just now, what would I have done?
Yukino thought about it for a long time but couldn't find an answer. Perhaps she would only truly know once she was in that situation.
[Ren, what kind of person are you, really?]
The violent enforcement during their first meeting, the arrogant remarks in the Service Club, the "request" he used to freeload off her, and today's "return gift." Yukino couldn't tell which side of him was real.
She forced herself to stop overthinking and quietly followed Ren as he disappeared into the distance. She wanted to see exactly where he was taking the girl. A part of her even wondered if he was kidnapping a grade-school girl. She had to keep a close eye on him; the moment he went somewhere suspicious, she wouldn't hesitate to call the police.
However, when she saw the place Ren entered with Shoko, Yukino went silent. Because he walked straight into the police station.
"The name Yukinoshita is quite famous, isn't it?"
"Why don't you try using your family's power to protect yourself?"
The words Ren had spoken back then surfaced in Yukino's mind. She hadn't used her family's power to protect herself then, but now, because Ren wasn't sure if this girl had any power behind her, was he planning to use the system instead?
Despite getting the answer she wanted, Yukino felt hesitant.
Inside the Station
Inside the station, a young officer in uniform looked sternly at Ren, who was still holding the little girl, and started taking the report.
"Sir, are you saying your sister has been a victim of school bullying? And that the bullies scattered and fled after you discovered them?"
It wasn't that the police station never saw bullying cases, but usually, the victims were covered in bruises and their eyes darted around in fear whenever they looked at an officer. The man standing before him looked completely composed, showing no sign of being wronged. Even the "sister" in his arms was looking around with curious, wide eyes.
She didn't look like a victim of bullying at all.
"Officer, are you accusing me of making a false report?"
"I saw cameras at the scene earlier. Additionally, I assume most areas of her school have cameras as well."
Ren supported Shoko with one hand as she curiously turned around, while his other hand lightly tapped the desk. Shoko wasn't just curious about the police station; she was curious about Ren too.
So this kind older brother who's been so nice to me can actually talk!
Despite her curiosity, she didn't interfere. She just blinked her large eyes, watching the serious expression on Ren's face.
"Sir, here..."
Before Ren produced definitive evidence, the young officer was bound by regulations and couldn't formally open a case. He was just following the rules.
Before he could finish, a sharp voice came from behind him: "Toyohara, step down. This isn't something you can handle."
That voice... the Chief!
The young officer named Toyohara recognized the owner of the voice instantly. Looking at the calm, desk-tapping Ren in front of him, he realized this was far above what he was authorized to handle.
"Yes, sir!" He first gave a respectful ninety-degree bow to Ren, then another to his Chief, before scurrying away.
The Chief hurried over, wiping cold sweat from his forehead. After receiving a call from his superiors informing him that Ren was here, he hadn't dared to delay for a single second.
He remembered not long ago when Ren had sent Miyabi Nagumo in. Shortly after, Nagumo's entire family had been hauled in by the people backing Ren. If someone like this got even slightly unhappy, the Chief himself might be the next one sent in.
For the sake of his career and his life, the Chief didn't hesitate for a moment.
"Mr. Katsuragi, what brings you here today?" The Chief bowed and groveled, acting like a shameless bootlicker. If he handled this well, it could mean a promotion. All it would take was a single word from this boy.
"Cut the formalities. Just call me Ren," he said indifferently. "It's nothing major. This kid was bullied at school, so I'm here to report it."
The Chief was stunned. A little girl personally carried by Ren was bullied? He came to report it? These were three normal sentences, but his brain refused to fit them together.
It didn't matter if he didn't understand. He just had to be obedient.
"Understood, understood! We'll immediately bring in the individuals who bullied this young lady for questioning."
"You don't understand. I'm not here to pull strings or play games. I just want the surveillance footage. Check if my sister was bullied. If the situation is true, I expect you, Chief, to handle it according to the law."
Shoko's situation was just Ren being charitable; there was no need for a massive uproar. All he wanted was to cut down the time usually required for the legal process.
"Yes! I'll get right on it! Mr— Ren, please wait just a moment." The Chief, drenched in sweat, hurried away. Time was of the essence. He had to find the street footage Ren mentioned, and someone had to go to the school to pull their records too.
This district was small; the police station had its hands in everything. Pulling some footage was just a matter of one phone call.
Once Ren set her down, Shoko immediately began signing to him.
"You can talk. Why did you use sign language with me?"
Ren rubbed Shoko's light-brown short hair, which he had already messed up once. He signed back:
"You've got the order wrong, Shoko. I was the one who signed first, and then you signed back to follow me."
"So Shoko Nishimiya doesn't get to ask why."
"Oh." Shoko nodded, only half-understanding.
Not dwelling on the sign language issue, Shoko—who had been bottled up all day—wasn't about to miss this chance to communicate freely. She began signing rapidly with Ren.
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