Chapter 6
“It’s rare, huh? Ritsuka catching a cold in early spring. You used to get sick a lot in summer, though.”
“Ugh… Sorry…”
Lying in bed, I apologized to Yoshino-san. I’m dizzy, my core feels burning hot, but my hands and feet are ice-cold. I can’t stop shivering.
“No need to apologize. I’ll cover your lectures, so rest up for now.”
Yoshino-san tucked a cooling pillow under my head. It feels nice and cool.
“…Hey, Yoshino-san… Will you come back soon…?”
“Uh… Sorry. After lectures, I’ve got work, so I’ll be late.”
“No…”
I don’t say stay with me. But I want her nearby. When I’m sick, I can’t help feeling that way, even if it troubles Yoshino-san. I can’t stop myself.
“No way, huh? But, well… Just when I need him, Tora-nii’s unreachable. Where’s that antisocial jerk wandering off to? Probably some girl’s place…”
“No…”
I clutch the hem of Yoshino-san’s clothes. I don’t want her to go. I’m lonely.
“What’s with you, acting all clingy like when we were kids? You’re an adult now, aren’t you~?”
“I’m not an adult…”
“Such a needy Ritsuka. Come on, sleep already. You’ve barely been sleeping lately...that’s why you’re sick. I’ll come back as soon as I can.”
She takes my hand and tucks it back under the blanket. She pats my head a few times, but with lecture time approaching, she stands up.
“Alright, I’m off. Night, Ritsuka.”
The door shuts with a click, and the house falls silent.
No one’s here. Just me. And right now, that feels terrifying. Why?
(I’m sorry… I’m sorry…)
…I did something awful to Saigawa-kun.
Onii-chan keeps saying I’m not at fault. But my words hurt him deeply. I’m fine hurting someone with my Blessing or a weapon, but hurting someone with words feels this painful...I didn’t know. I’m not normal… I’m definitely not a normal human. Something’s wrong with me, broken.
I don’t understand. Even though it’s about me, I don’t know what I want.
When Saigawa-kun said he liked me, I was happy. I’d never been told that by a guy before, and… it was Saigawa-kun. But I couldn’t accept him. I couldn’t reject him either. I just thought, vaguely, that staying as we are, together like this forever, would be enough.
Being honest about your feelings takes incredible courage. He was brave, but I’m trampling on that. I’m only thinking about myself… I’m the worst.
(Why me…?)
Saigawa-kun is so captivating. He’s a pain as an enemy but reliable as an ally. Even beyond that, he’s kind, smart, calm, brave, and I think he’s good-looking. So why, just because of some past connection, is he stuck on me? He should look at someone else. I shouldn’t have gone to that mixer. If I hadn’t, he’d have found someone amazing and be happier now, without any sadness.
…That’s a lie. Why am I lying to myself? So stupid. I should just die.
(I’m happy he only looks at me…)
I’m a coward. The worst. This cold is my punishment. It should get worse.
But… I’m lonely. I want someone here. The loneliness hurts so much I could cry.
In a daze, I picture someone. Yoshino-san, Onii-chan…
And as Saigawa-kun’s face appears last, my consciousness fades.
＊
“Haha! Check it out, Gori-senpai. A corpse!”
“Not funny, but I’m laughing~ Oi, Saigawa~ How long you plannin’ to stay like that~?”
If you had to name the corpse sprawled on the bed, it’d be Rouji Saigawa.
But don’t bother remembering my name. I’m about to die, so bye, Rouji (lol).
“Getting dumped by Yanagi-chan doesn’t usually hit this hard, does it? Five days without food or water? No joke, you’ll die. Please, at least drink some water.”
“…”
“No response, huh? Or can’t respond? Doesn’t matter~ The agency’d rather not deal with a haunted apartment, so~…”
My neck’s grabbed, and I’m yanked upright. All I see is a red mohawk...cheeks puffed like a hamster...pouting lips, and next to him, a pretty boy holding a half-empty water bottle. Oh… I’m about to get mouth-to-mouth…
My first kiss, stolen like this… Well, I’m dying anyway, so whatever…
“No, wait, it’s not whatever!! No way!! (falsetto)”
“PFFFFT──────!!”
Like a wrestler’s poison mist, Red Mohawk...er, Gori-san...sprays water in my face. I’m soaked from the collarbone up. He’s way too good at that…
“Not doin’ it~ My lips are too good for ya~”
“Don’t need ’em…”
“You awake now? Here, water. And a towel. Stop moping and pull yourself together. Who do you think’s been collecting lecture notes for you?”
“Sorry…”
I wipe the wet spots and chug the water. After five days of crying, sweating, and leaking every fluid, my body’s dry as a desert.
“So, what’s next? Personally, I say forget women and go wild...it’d be better for your mental health.”
“Don’t call women ‘women’…”
“We don’t know the details~ Sounds like Yanagi dumped ya, but spill the context. Talking about heartbreak makes it easier~”
“…Yeah…”
If I’m gonna die, I might as well let my friends know what happened.
How did Rouji Saigawa, the ultimate loser tornado-dick-man, get rejected by the girl he loves, and why’s he about to die…?
“HYAHAHAHAHA!!”
“EEHEEHEEHEE!!”
“Why’re you laughing?”
I give them the short version, and they burst out laughing. Oi, I’ll drag you down with me.
I slip into some clay-man’s accent out of frustration, but I’m pissed again. Yanagi’s cute, but her blond brother drives me nuts. Another candidate for the grave.
The anger wakes me up. Suddenly, I’m hit with ravenous hunger, so I devour the food they brought.
“It’s all that dumbass blond’s fault! If he hadn’t meddled, Yanagi wouldn’t have heard my feelings! And then he forced her to answer, that shitty clay jerk!!”
“He’s still her brother, so maybe don’t go that far.”
“No clue what ‘clay’ means, but you’re lookin’ alive again~”
“Askin’ again...what’s next?”
“I’ll kill that bald shitty clay-man, then die…!!”
I say it dead seriously. Hatred and revenge seem to give me a reason to live.
But Kuyama and Gori-san are laughing again. What? Did I say something weird?
“Too backward, man~ Turn that energy toward Yanagi~~”
“Uh, no… She rejected me…”
“Personally, I think there’s still a chance. Yanagi-chan’s just confused. Isn’t there a ‘gap’ between you two? Have you bridged it?”
I shut up. The one thing I got from that dumb blond was learning the specific nature of the ‘gap’ between me and Yanagi.
And like Kuyama said, I haven’t bridged it. Knowing it doesn’t mean I know what to do. No wonder she rejected me.
“Yanagi’s a strange girl, huh~? Well… same goes for both of you~”
“You’re plenty strange too, Gori-san.”
“Why not just go for it? She knows how you feel, and her brother’s the only noisy one. Yanagi-chan doesn’t hate you. Getting rejected is just part of it...keep pursuing her.”
“Easy for you to say… I don’t even know how to face her…”
What, just say “Yo” like nothing happened? Or “Heh” with a pathetic grin? Or maybe “Ah” like a scared kid? Either way, things can’t go back to how they were.
…God, I’m such a wimp. I had no idea.
“No choice but to tough it out~ Saigawa, did you think love’d come without pain~? That’s manga and drama stuff~ Reality’s different. You’ve only got that dumb face...charge forward with it~”
If you still love her that much...Gori-san concludes.
…Right. I got rejected, but my feelings for Yanagi haven’t changed.
Call it lingering attachment, but if anything, I love her even more.
Just one more time. I want to see her and talk properly. If she rejects me again, I’ll give up. If she says she just wants to be friends, fine.
I can’t just rot away like this. I’m still alive, after all.
“Sorry, Gori-san. Kuyama too. I’ll charge forward with this dumb face.”
“That’s the spirit. Though, a guy clinging to a girl after rejection is creepy as hell.”
“No police trouble, please~ A neighbor arrested for stalking mid-semester ain’t funny~”
“Sorry, Gori-san. Kuyama too. I’ll punch you both for real, then charge forward.”
I clench my fists, and they laugh again. “Classic Saigawa,” they say. Shut up.
...Then my phone buzzes. A call from an unknown number.
“Who’s this? Not Yanagi… She has my number. Whatever, I’ll answer.”
“Hello? Saigawa-san? It’s Kitsune. Got a moment...?”
＊
I don’t quite remember how it happened, but when I was a kid, I was bedridden for over a week with a mysterious fever. The world spun like a twirling plate, my heartbeat echoed in my ears, and my eyes burned and ached.
I vaguely thought, as a child, that I might die. I didn’t want to, but I couldn’t do anything. My mouth was dry as if coated in sand, and I opened my frail eyes, unsure if I could even see.
“…Onii-chan…”
“Hm? What’s wrong, Ritsu? Thirsty?”
Back when Onii-chan hadn’t dyed his black hair yet. His half-baked Kansai accent came from mimicking his admired artist mentor. Short-tempered, quick to fight, always covered in bruises...but so kind, so strong, so dependable. My beloved Onii-chan.
“…It’s hot…”
“Of course, you’ve got a fever. Hang on, I’ll wipe you down with a wet towel.”
“…No… Don’t go…”
I stopped him as he moved to get water and a towel.
It was pointless, but I just wanted someone there.
My body was burning, breaking… It was scary…
“I’ll be right back. I’m not going anywhere. It’s okay.”
“No… No…”
“Jeez, ■■■■-san’s never around when you need them…”
Huh…? Who was that…? I can’t remember their name…
“Anyway, just wait a sec. Let go of my shirt.”
“…Scary… Onii-chan, Ritsuka’s… scared…”
“Did you have a bad dream? It’s okay, nothing’s scary. I’ll protect you.”
What’s scary? It’s scary, but I don’t know why. That makes it even scarier, so I wanted him to stay. But he left the room, and as I watched him go, my core burned, my eyes rotted, my body melted, everything changed… and then…
“Eh...…?”
Splash. Onii-chan dropped the basin of water.
“Onii-chan…”
“Ritsu, what the...!? What’s with… your hair…!?”
“…It’s cold…”
Not hot anymore. My whole body feels frozen, cold.
No, it’s not just a feeling...it is frozen.
My jet-black hair, once like Onii-chan’s, had somehow turned silver...and then I gained it. My own Blessing.
“《Falling snowflakes》. That’s her name, so treasure her, okay?”
“…A voice… I hear it… Who… Do I know you…?”
“Voice? Ritsu, stay with me! It’s my voice! Look at me! Damn it, your body’s freezing…! This isn’t normal! This kind of awakening can’t happen!!”
“Otherwise, it’ll be lonely. You’re all alone now, forever...”
I’m falling, far away. All sounds fade.
But somehow, I understand. A Blessing is precious, mine alone.
But it’s no miracle...it’s far more cursed...
“AAAAHH!!”
I scream, throat tearing, and bolt upright. A nightmare. No. Is it a nightmare? It’s not, but it’s scary. Why? I don’t know, but it’s scary.
Because I remembered I’m all alone…?
“Oi...”
Onii-chan. He’s here. I have Onii-chan.
I leap out and cling to him. I want him to hug me tight, pat my back, stroke my head, and show me I’m not alone.
“No! I hate this!! I hate this hair!! I want to be with everyone!! I don’t want a Blessing!! It’s weird!! I don’t want this power!! Why, why did this happen!? I didn’t do anything wrong!!”
“Calm down! Ugh… Stop, your Blessing…! Yanagi, Ritsuka…!!”
Onii-chan holds me tight and collapses onto the bed. He pulls the blanket over us, wrapping me up. Like when we used to play, hiding under the covers with a flashlight, pretending to explore…
“… Ritsuka, listen to my sound. The sound of my heart. Don’t think about anything else.”
“The sound… of your heart…”
In the pitch-black, only that sound echoes. Warm darkness. My own world, but I’m not alone. I can’t see, but there’s warmth wrapping around me. Someone’s heat and pulse deny my loneliness…
Someone…? This isn’t Onii-chan’s scent… But I know it.
I love this scent… So I feel safe…
＊
(She loved that too. Falling asleep to my heartbeat…)
Crawling out of the blankets, I confirm that Ritsuka...no, Yanagi...has fallen asleep.
I had a little sister who passed away. When she couldn’t sleep after a scary dream, I’d soothe her like that. Never thought that experience would come in handy now.
“Ritsuka caught a cold~ Could you look after her?”
Kitsune-san’s call led to some back-and-forth, and now I’m at their shared apartment. I’ve got thoughts...mostly impure...so I’ll skip those.
(But if Kitsune-san sent me knowing this, she’s kind of brutal.)
Yanagi’s room is like an industrial freezer. Desk, bookshelf, everything’s frozen solid...like the season’s glitched out here. Does a Blessed person’s cold make their Blessing go haywire? If I weren’t so tough, this’d be bad.
(No, maybe it’s just Yanagi causing this.)
She was delirious, not even recognizing me, just radiating cold and thrashing like a scared kid. It hit me hard...I know nothing about her.
Her past, how she joined the Organization, why she fought.
(I never even wanted to know before…)
She might have feelings about her own Blessing. And that dumb blond? To her, he’s a reliable brother.
I want to know now. Her past, all of it. I want to understand her.
“Alone, huh? You’re not, but… maybe you are. I think… I’m clinging to you, Yanagi. I get it now…”
Everyone feels like lashing out sometimes. If you do, what happens? You might hurt someone. But me? I could easily kill. I’ve got the skills and resolve.
I don’t, of course...never have, never will. But just knowing I could sets me apart from normal people who can’t. Yanagi’s probably the same. Somewhere in my heart, I’m hoping she’ll understand me and leaning on her for it.
“…Pathetic. I’m only thinking about myself. I fell for her, but all I want is for her to like me back. That’s not it… No way.”
Gori-san’s words sink in. I’ve gotta move forward with this dumb face. No time to fear pain. Hoping she’ll turn to me, understand me, love me...that’s weak. Clinging to a vague relationship, waiting for a miracle? That’s pathetic.
“I’m glad my feelings got out. I finally get what loving someone means. So, indulge my selfishness a bit longer...Yanagi.”
I fix her slipped blanket. Sleeping peacefully, she looks younger, almost mystical, like she might never wake.
What separates us. What Clay told me. Non-Blessed and Blessed.
Overcoming it all is my trial...mine alone.
＊
Sounds. Clinking, chopping, simmering. Living sounds… Someone’s here.
I love these sounds. They tell me I’m not alone.
They’re coming from the kitchen. Yoshino-san’s back? Or Onii-chan?
“Sorry, I’m feeling better, so I’ll hel...”
“You’re up, Yanagi? No need to help. Sit or lie down.”
“…”
Hmm… I’m seeing Saigawa-kun’s hallucination. This is bad. I’m not better at all.
I’ll wash my face. The cold water feels good. Okay, back.
…He’s still there. Not gone. Strong hallucination. I can’t win. This is bad…
“I gotta call an ambulance…”
“Huh? You’re that sick? Your fever...”
His hand touches my forehead. It’s rough and warm.
“With your ability, your skin’s still cold...anyway, if you need an ambulance, I’ll call.”
“Wait… Are you the real Saigawa-kun…? Hallucinations can touch now…?”
“Not a hallucination. Kitsune-san asked me to look after you, so I’m here.”
“Oh… Welcome…”
“I’ve been here for hours…”
Right, Yoshino-san said she’d be late, and Onii-chan’s off wandering somewhere. So it makes sense Saigawa-kun’s here…
“…Oh.”
“What?”
“I-I need to change. I’m in pajamas…!”
“It’s fine, you’re sick. No need to...uh…”
Now that I said it, he’s staring. I’m wearing my cute black-and-white cat pajamas. I like them, but I’m not ready for him to see…
“…They’re cute. Suit you… but…”
“…Then I’ll stay like this.”
“O-Okay… Uh, porridge is almost ready. Wanna eat? It’s fine, I followed the recipe. Water’s measured to the milliliter.”
“I don’t care about that… I’ll eat.”
I’ve never measured water for porridge to the milliliter. But he says it so seriously...it’s just how he cooks, I guess.
“…It’s good.”
I spoon the steaming porridge. I thought porridge would taste the same no matter who made it, but it’s not. It’s… Saigawa-kun’s flavor.
“Glad you like it. Take your meds after. I got sports drinks and cooling pads too.”
“Thanks. Um, I’ll pay you back, just wait...”
“Huh? No need.”
“But I can’t just...”
“…Call it a gift. You’ve done the same. Eat before it gets cold.”
I can’t argue with that. He’s good at shutting me down.
I finish the porridge and take the meds. Once they kick in, I’ll get sleepy...but I’m not sleepy now. I want to talk to him.
“I think I had a scary dream. I don’t remember it, but when I looked around, everything was frozen. Did I… do something while half-asleep?”
“Dunno. It was already frozen when I got here. I don’t know what you did.”
He looks away, speaking gently. I realize then...he’s not good at lying. And he only tells kind lies.
“…Sorry. I probably caused trouble.”
“No trouble, don’t worry. You’re awfully meek, though. The Yanagi Ritsuka I know barges into people’s homes, barefoot, flinging ice chunks. Are you an imposter?”
“Mph. I took my shoes off! The ice… yeah, I threw that.”
“Point is, I’m used to dealing with your Blessing. Nothing you do bothers me. Don’t stress over stuff you did half-asleep.”
“…Okay. I won’t.”
I’m not feeling great. I’ve got a fever, a cold. Saying weird stuff is normal, right? I tell myself that and move on.
“Saigawa-kun. Um… about before.”
“Before? Oh, when we went out with Clay?”
“Yeah. You… kinda confessed to me, right?”
“Kinda? It was a confession. It’s true, my honest feelings. Though I didn’t say it to you...you just overheard.”
“…Is it weird to ask why…?”
I’m choosing my words carefully, but he’s so confident. Like he’s resolved...it’s not like him.
“Probably weird. I’ll tell you if you want.”
“…Sorry, never mind. I’m still… not sorted out myself.”
“Alright. No pressure. Don’t worry about it. Focus on getting better.”
“But you got hurt because of me...”
“So what? You gonna lie to yourself because you feel bad? If you did that, I wouldn’t forgive you. Don’t underestimate me, Yanagi.”
He’s angry. Clearly. Like someone looking down from above.
His eyes lock onto me. Those eyes… They’re the only ones that…
“To you, what am I?”
“That’s...”
“If you can’t answer, that’s your answer for now. But I’m different. I can answer. I know exactly what you are to me. Yanagi, you’re my...”
“Ritsu────!! Onii-chan’s back────!!”
Just as he’s about to say something, the door flies open, and Onii-chan barrels in, as loud as ever.
His hands are stuffed with plastic bags, green onions poking out.
“You caught a cold, huh? Onii-chan’ll make porridge in a sec...WHOA, DICK-MAN’S HERE!? SOMEONE CALL A GUY────────!!”
So loud… Onii-chan yanks out a green onion and smacks Saigawa-kun with it.
Saigawa-kun blocks it with one arm, grabs another onion from the bag, and swings at Onii-chan. They start fencing with green onions like it’s a samurai drama.
“Hey, loser dog…!! What’s a rejected loser doing in my sister’s place, huh!? Want me to call the cops…!? Or a hearse…!?”
“Shut it, useless kin…! I’m here because you were out wandering, so I took care of her…!!”
“Sorry for the trouble…!! Now die as thanks, you perv ape…!!”
“Try me…!! I ain’t scared of nothing anymore…!!”
I get that they don’t get along, and I’ve given up on that.
But at least act like adults and stop wasting food.
“Hey!! Don’t play with...cough, cough!”
“Wah, wah, wah… You okay, Ritsu? Don’t push yourself...here, water? Soft water?”
“Sorry, we got loud. I’m heading out. This dumb blond’s back now.”
“Wait, don’t call me some YouTuber wannabe.”
Saigawa-kun starts packing up, like his job’s done...but I still have something to say.
“Saigawa-kun.”
“What? You should rest.”
“The porridge was good. I’ll repay you next time… Wanna hang out?”
I’m selfish. But I want a next. A reason to be with him.
He looks surprised for a moment, then smiles softly.
“Yeah. After you’re fully recovered. See ya, Yanagi. And Clay.”
“What? I don’t need your goodbye...get lost.”
“Idiot, die!!”
SLAM. He gets the last word and leaves. Why’d he have to… ugh!
“GRAAAH────!! Alright, Ritsu, Onii-chan’s gonna kill that guy!!”
“No. Onii-chan, Ritsuka wants an apple…?”
“I’ll peel a ton!! Wait there!!”
The rabbit-shaped apple Onii-chan peeled was sweet and delicious.
I don’t think I’ll have weird dreams tonight. I just feel it...
＊
“Director, I’ve compiled the documents.”
Sorting papers, Yoshino reported to her employer.
Gen’u Detective Agency. A small private detective firm with just three employees, including Yoshino, a part-timer.
“Detective” doesn’t mean solving dramatic cases like in fiction. They operate under real-world detective laws, focusing on background checks and personal data collection.
With client requests dictating their work, there’s no clear busy or slow season. Overlapping jobs mean chaos; otherwise, it’s quiet.
Right now...multiple cases are running concurrently. In short, it’s hectic.
“Sorry, Kitsune-san. Making you work with your studies…”
He apologizes, but his face holds a half-smirk. It’s always like that.
The agency’s director, Detective Gen’u… age and background unknown. Yoshino thinks he’s the one most worth investigating but swallows the thought, tossing out a quip instead.
“No biggie. Just pay me extra~”
“Haha. Kids these days are so mercenary. How lamentable…”
“Lamentable, huh? Even old-timers loved getting paid.”
“Fair point. So, does that apply to you too...”
The tiny office lacks a proper meeting room. They’ve got a corner with a partition, two sofas, and a low table for client meetings.
Gen’u’s there now, meaning a client’s present. Normally, Yoshino would avoid banter, but today’s an exception.
With his faint smile, Gen’u addresses the client.
“...Kuyama Reiichi-san.”
The client...customer...Kuyama Reiichi returns a thin smile.
“Hah. Not me. I value something more than money.”
“Oh? Like what?”
“Hmm. ‘Bonds,’ maybe? Something like that?”
“Yeah, right… People who value bonds don’t make requests like this.”
Yoshino tosses the compiled documents onto the table.
The scattered papers read: Investigation Report on Rouji Saigawa.
“Saigawa-san’s your friend, right? Why do this...”
“Kitsune-san. Don’t speak to clients like that…”
“But, Director! This guy smells bad!”
“Body odor? That’s harsh. Fine, want a reason? I like Saigawa. I just want to know him better. That’s why I hired you.”
Kuyama shows no guilt. Yoshino’s Blessing can detect lies to an extent, so she knows he’s not hiding anything.
“Better, huh… Saigawa-san’s life isn’t that weird.”
“Don’t act like you know him better. I’ve known him longer, right? Oh, you read the whole report, so you’re chatty? Loose-lipped clerk, huh. Shouldn’t she get a pay cut, Gen’u-san?”
“Jerk… You’re pissing me off…”
The conflict between the Shishima Agency and the Organization. The existence of supernatural Blessings and those who wield them. Such underworld details are completely hidden. No search yields results, no rumors circulate. Either everyone involved stays silent...or those who talk are silenced.
The truth’s unclear, but Yoshino intends to keep her past buried. So does Saigawa, her former enemy, now living as a normal student.
“As for Kitsune-san’s treatment, leave it to me… Don’t need to read the report?”
“Right. Oh, Kitsune-san, don’t get too close. I might end up drip-brewing this coffee through my mouth.”
“Your gynophobia’s the real mystery…”
Kuyama silently scans the documents. Finishing, he sighs heavily.
“Do I have to pay for this? No useful info at all.”
“Oh? My apologies. A re-investigation at half-price...”
“No thanks. This agency’s a bust. I heard you were top-notch, but I’m disappointed. Other firms just pull surface stuff...hometown, family, education. I don’t care about that.”
Underworld info can’t be dug up from the surface.
Yoshino knew Kuyama wouldn’t be satisfied with this report.
“So you want something specific about the target?”
“Let’s talk about Saigawa’s core strength. He never loses balance...shaking train, crowded street, even if I tackle him. And he’s never played sports? No way. You don’t get that core without training. There’s more, but overall, his abilities aren’t something a normal person could achieve. I want to know why...his circumstances.”
(Just think, “He’s super athletic,” and move on…)
Kuyama’s seen through Saigawa’s superhuman physicality.
And that it’s not innate or easily gained.
“So, call it a student’s ramble, but...what if there’s a wild world I don’t know about? Assassins, spies, stuff from stories?”
“Hm. Assassins and spies do exist, though?”
“Whoops, true. How about this...‘superhumans’?”
(Does he already know…? Just no proof…)
Maybe Kuyama’s probing her and Gen’u for info.
Yoshino’s guard goes up. Gen’u tilts his head.
“Hm? So Saigawa-san’s core strength makes him a superhuman… Is that what you’re saying? Sorry, I don’t follow.”
“…My bad. It’s a leap...no, not even logic, just nonsense.”
“Yeah, yeah! This is a detective agency, not a daydream dump. Get out!”
“Maybe I will. No gains here. Thanks.”
Kuyama stands, bows, and leaves. He could’ve taken the report but left every page behind.
“What a waste! Director, what do we do?”
“Keep them a few days, then shred.”
“Got it.”
“And, Kitsune-san.”
“Yeah?”
“Can you tail him? He doesn’t seem… savory.”
“Ugh, why? If you’re paying extra…”
She can’t share work-related info. Gen’u’s sharp...he’d know if she blabbed. She wants to warn Saigawa and Ritsuka about Kuyama, but if she can’t...she’ll watch him herself.
Yoshino adjusts her glasses and takes a deep breath...
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