The new case in this chapter was taken from KDrama, Criminal Minds. And also, I made up Mika's parents' names and Kougami's family background because I couldn't find them anywhere. Feel free to notify me if you know the information for these two.

CHAPTER 3

Freshly starting the morning as an inspector of MWPSB, Mika's brand-new life began. After observing how different she was with her uniform, her brown eyes turned to her long hair which was pulled into a loose bun.

At this moment, apart from the late Kagami and Yoshika, her mind was clouded with those officers who had left a great impression on her. It was when her friends' murder case was still under investigation that two of them caught her interest and inspired her.

The first one was an inspector who was most probably the leader of their team since he was in charge of the rest at that time. He was a strict man who did not tolerate any clumsiness or silly mistakes from his underlings but for her, he was charismatic and charming.

The second one was a female enforcer who had comforted her when Kagami's and Yoshika's mutilated bodies were first discovered. Her advice of Mika should cry to save her Psycho-Pass from being clouded was the reason why she had grown stronger after that. It was good to cry but she should not mourn her friends' death for too long.

It was the time for her to show the sick criminal who would win this war at the end of the day.

But, I will report to Inspector Tsunemori Akane. I wonder what kind of senior she is...

Mika walked out of her room, going straight to downstairs. As expected, her parents were already at the dining table. Her father, Shimotsuki Hideji, an officer from Ministry of Economy was leisurely drinking his tea while reading an online newspaper from his tablet. Her mother, Mari was serving a plate of rice for each of them as bright as she usually was. Judging from how 'festive' the table had become with white rice, natto, fried egg and other side dishes, Mari could not care less to celebrate her only child's success way too open even it did not gain approval from her pessimistic husband.

"Ah, my daughter is here," Mari's brown eyes shone so bright as she turned and saw her daughter, all neatly dressed up. Mika might consider pulling an overdramatic reaction which was as energetic as her mother had her father not been so uptight in the morning. Come, come. Let me see you closer."

Mika put her handbag on the table before slowly approaching her smiling mother. Glancing nervously at her father even she had always argued with him about her life in general, Mika almost missed how proud her mother looked as she scanned her appearance.

"As expected, my daughter is always beautiful no matter what kind of outfit she puts on!"

"She has chosen her own path so she has to be at least presentable in front of us," Hideji remarked, still glued his eyes on his tablet even the daughter of the house was convinced that the old man was ready from the start to emit his sarcasm around the house. "To prove us that we're wrong."

"Dad, please. I thought we're done talking about this," still in Mari's loose embrace, she added, "Sybil system had decided that I am cut out for this job."

"Sybil system also decided that there are other job aptitudes for an excellent student like you," this time her father put down the tablet, staring seriously at her. He could not care less with how solemn their breakfast moment would be when all he wanted was to push his opinion into Mika.

"The employment standard for this job is high, Dad. I don't have a choice but to be excellent."

"That means you chose to be a police officer right from the start. So, what's the use of us sending you to Oso Academy if you decided to choose a way different path? We sent you to the school because we want to see your Psycho-Pass stay clear but now, you're working for a job that will make your Hue cloud easily. Are you out of your mind, Shimotsuki Mika?"

"Like you said, it's you who sent me up there. Thanks to that horrible experience and decision, my Psycho-Pass was almost clouded. It's fortunate that an officer from MWPSB had comforted me and inspired me to fight just like them for this society. Thanks to that horrible experience and decision, I have learned to decide on my own about what should I do after graduating instead of getting married right away and give you grandchildren," Mika said.

"What did you say?"

"Both of you, shall we have a peaceful breakfast instead of arguing about what Mika would do for her life?" Mari said, smiling softly at the two family members who were looking daggers at each other. This moment was typical but not upsetting for her. It was not like they would strangle each other at any moment. "Come on, Mika. Have your breakfast. I even packed up your lunchbox."

"Thank you so much, mum," Mika exclaimed cutely as she took her seat. If her father decided to be hostile, it was fine. She still had her mother who would take her side.

"Being a police officer is going to be arduous. She will rarely come home early so breakfast time is the only moment where I can talk into my daughter properly," Hideji pressed. He did not even bother to conceal how much he wanted to brainwash Mika instead of convincing or discussing with her. "Plus, it's still early. I bet she woke up this early because she wanted to justify something to me."

Mika might resemble her mother but the people around them knew how much her personality matched up her father. They would be the greatest and most intimidating combo had they been on the same page. Yet, since her friends' death, her goal was to defeat the criminals which also defeated Hideji's principle; keeping her safe from the not-so-safe world and lived a normal life which was getting married early.

Since then, their goals and point-of-views clashed with each other. Hideji was stubborn which also made Mika as stubborn.

"You're right, Dad. I know I already disappointed you with my job. But, I promise you, I will make you proud someday. I'll be the inspector who have her cases closed more than anyone could succeed."

If he was the same father who always prioritized her over everything else in his life, Hideji should see her fiery determination as she spoke.

"Don't forget to bring a nice man while you're at it. You said those who are admitted in MWPSB are excellent students like you so when the right time comes, make sure to bring a good boyfriend," the man's voice was flat but it managed to make his wife sighed heavily. So much for wanting to have a normal but hearty breakfast.

All Mika could do was smiling. She was so into her goal which was bringing down criminals but Hideji decided to be more cynical by demanding a man who would be her partner. As expected, her father still tried to push his principle into her head. That was why she was sent to Oso Academy; keeping her Psycho-Pass clear and once she became an adult, she would find a life partner for her.

But, she was still young. Was it that necessary to make a fuss about marriage? She already knew what she wanted to achieve and she did not need any partner for that.

"I am sorry, Inspector Tsunemori. Chief Kasei just approved me to bring back Ginoza-kun to the headquarters. Really, I don't have any ill intention to take away your enforcer," Akane was so used to see the professional and elegant Risa that she could not help but blink at her device as the woman kept apologizing to her.

"It's okay, Aoyanagi-san. Chief Kasei must approve it because Ginoza-san personally requested it, right?" Akane asked even the answer was obvious. Escorting an enforcer should be done by the inspector from the same division but for Ginoza, it was Risa who ended up bringing the man out of the care centre.

Sooner or later, she would talk to Ginoza. From the way he had always been indifferent to her and Kougami every time they paid a visit, he must have something stacked up inside.

"Yes, that's what I was informed," Risa said, shoulders slowly dropped as she sighed heavily. Akane wondered just where was Risa at the moment as all she could tell was the inspector was in her car and stopped by somewhere. There was no way the inspector could talk to Akane freely without Ginoza around. "Even wasn't it fishy for you, Tsunemori? I mean, he's now an enforcer so he basically has limited options, let alone to choose which inspector who would bring him back to the headquarters.'

Indeed. That's what Kougami-san has pointed out, Akane thought. She averted her gaze at Kougami who was talking with Yayoi about their recent case. Including Kagari which was surprisingly serious, three of them were too focused on Yayoi's computer screen to care about Risa's call.

"Well, I guess we can say that Chief Kasei has a soft spot for Ginoza-san at the moment since Ginoza-san was a senior inspector."

"Well, let's hope for that even that's the first time I have heard of Chief Kasei being that lenient."

After ending the call with a heavy sigh, Akane left her seat and joined others.

"So, do you find any trace of the victim?" she asked, drawing all eyes to her before Yayoi simply shaking her head.

The current case they were working on was about a girl who was abducted when she was studying in her school library. Kasahara Aimi, a university student in her 20s was reported missing by her friends since she never returned after a toilet break. The Street scanners did not detect anyone with high crime coefficient, much to everyone's chagrin.

"Man, what a day when we're supposed to celebrate Gino-san's return. I even wanted to prepare a lot of dishes for him. Kou-chan must be frustrated as well," Kagari exclaimed as if that Kou-chan was someone from other division and not Kougami who was just standing next to him, immediately had his blue eyes sized up.

"What? Me? Where did that come from? It's you who're over excited when Tsunemori informed us about Gino!"

"Oh, come on, Kou-chan. Do you really want to live in denial for good? Akane-chan might not say it out loud but the rest of us could see how you were affected when Gino-san was demoted!"

"Cut it out, you guys," Yayoi said, trying hard not to smack their heads in annoyance. They were not exactly that loud but according to her experience, they would be in any second. "We'll pretend that it's Shion who planned to throw a party for Ginoza-san. She would be more than willing to help."

In the midst of the piling cases that were overwhelming sometimes especially after they lost Masaoka, Akane was happy with how improved the unit was. Yayoi; the stoic one would look after her sometimes and willingly stayed back to help her. Kagari was the same even he kept exclaiming that he was just bored.

As for Kougami, he rarely took a break which Shion had guessed it might be because he wanted to bring down Makishima as quick as possible. It was for the sake of the late Masaoka and Ginoza.

Masaoka-san, wherever you are, I want you to know that we'll be watching Ginoza-san from now on. Just like how earnest of you protecting him on that day.

"We have contacted Kasahara's parents. It didn't seem like they were involved with troubles or sorts before. They're just normal citizens with a daughter who is striving to be a dentist someday," Kougami said, exhaling the smoke while his fingers still holding a cigarette. He and Akane were standing by the balcony, not exactly enjoying the view of the city when the criminals were still around breathed the same air.

Whenever they thought of criminals, they always had Makishima as the first one. Because of him, the dynamic of their teams had changed drastically. They lost a veteran enforcer who acted like a father for them when his own son did not acknowledge him.

They lost another inspector who would be back as an enforcer instead. How hard he would take it; they were afraid to imagine and only hope for the best.

"That's why the parents look so innocent. My heart broke right away when they cried like that," Akane remarked, staring emptily at the buildings.

"Trust me, inspector. You'll face the worse and more surprising cases. Parents who ask about the criminals instead of the victims as if the criminals are their children. Parents who claim that we in MWPSB are good-for-nothing. Parents who only realize that it's their faults that their children got abducted because they're too busy working."

"What about your parents?" Akane said, her voice louder than usual as her curiosity suddenly kicked in and did not take a long time to blurt out. It came from the realization that while she knew that Kougami was an inspector with Shepherd 2 codename and was demoted after Enforcer Sasayama's death, she knew zero about his family background. "To have a smart and intuitive son like you, they must be..."

"My parents were busy working when I was still in school. They rarely had time for me so I spent my time in trying sorts of martial arts until I had my interest in silat."

His words were natural as if he was talking about the weather. It might be because no matter how distant his relationship was with his parents, a man in his late 20s like Kougami might not bother with it anymore which was why Akane let it slide. She did not wanted to push more answers from the enforcer.

But, it never made Akane felt less guilty. She should just zip her mouth from spitting such personal questions like that.

"Silat? Ah, the one that Sasayama-san..."

"About Kasahara parents, I must say that they reminded me of Gino. Back then, he would be the most sensitive person if we encountered cases like this one. I bet those loving and hopeless parents reminded him of his mother. You don't have any idea how happy he was when the higher up allowed his mother to be treated in their house due to his position as an inspector. Had it been for everyone else, one who suffers from eustress deficiency will be taken to a medical institution."

Instead of his genuine confession which made him questioned himself why on earth he opened up easily to Akane, the back of his head received a smack from the inspector.

"Auch! What was that, inspector!?" The fact that he was often injured did not make Akane's sudden attack felt less painful.

"Ginoza-san is on his way with Aoyanagi-san. If he's late, most probably he's visiting Masaoka-san's grave," Akane said with a poker face before she made her way inside. For a second, Kougami thought that the inspector was possessed by a random entity or else, the real and gentle Akane did not dare to hit a fly.

"Wait... what? What does that have to do with you suddenly smacking my head?" Instead of following her, the enforcer was staying still on his spot.

"I am just joking. Is it that lame?" Akane turned, imitating Kougami's typical smirk before leaving him stunned.

Whenever we talk, you always end up talking about Ginoza-san. Why don't you just approach him first like a normal friend instead of hiding and holding up everything, Kougami-san?

Green eyes stared at the grave wordlessly for God knew how long. After six months, Ginoza was finally discharged. After six months, despite he was back to the outside world, his therapist had shocked him; pushing a certain terrible idea into his head.

"Your average crime coefficient is 140. I am sorry to say Ginoza-san but with how your therapies have worked so far, there is no chance for recovery."

It was shocking but he was totally fine with that. No chance for recovery? It was not like he needed it in the first place.

"Hi, it's been a while," he said, mentally smacking himself for letting his mind wandering off when he was supposed to greet his late father. "How are you... Dad?"

The fact that how easy for the word to slip out of his tongue when all he did when Masaoka was still around was glaring or getting furious at him had stabbed his heart deep.

It was a deep stab and his lungs felt suffocated but he continued talking.

"This morning, the therapist said that my crime coefficient is still 140. There is no chance for recovery but after months, I have decided that I won't stay in the institution doing nothing. Just like they said, being a detective is a bad job but someone has to do it."

"Just so you know, Kougami is a latent criminal as well as an enforcer. He and I are cut from the same cloth so we have nothing to lose had something happened to us. Meanwhile, you're on a different path than we're. I truly think that's for the best. From the bottom of my heart."

He closed his eyes, appreciating how his brain still could recall every single word from Masaoka. He needed it so that he would stay 'sane'.

"At the end of the day, even after you died, I am always a terrible son in every way, didn't I? I don't live up to your expectation. You did tell me to take a different path. You even sacrificed your life for me."

He did not want to keep a busy woman like Risa waiting any longer so he walked out. It was a complete silence in the car as he left with the inspector. His green eyes focused on every single thing that caught him from outside of the window as if he was just an isolated child who had seen the world for the first time.

Little did he know, Risa was studying him.

The fact that he wanted to visit Masaoka-san's grave as soon as he was discharged... Is that why he wanted me to escort him instead of Inspector Tsunemori?

"You... you look much better without glasses," Risa meant it to be random because the car was so silent and she did not want Ginoza to be spaced out in despondency again but as her comment gained a confused look from the man, she realized that her words contained the truth.

The man did look way much better without glasses.

"I mean... yeah, that's what I meant. You look better without glasses."

What the hell am I saying!?

"Thank you, I guess."

"You're welcome. You don't want to make a new one? We can stop by..."

"Nah, that's fine. I don't mind how I look anymore. You already know that the glasses are just for show."

Yeah, I do. Masaoka-san even said that you look like the younger version of him.

They reached the headquarters, passing the curious and shocked looks around them with Ginoza's comeback, especially with how drastic he looked like. Much thinner and paler.

"People are not that amused to see me, right?" The man chuckled. It was genuine as if he was watching a sitcom.

"No. It's just you look much more handsome when you don't wear glasses," the frustrated Risa could not help but blurting out what she could come up instantly.

"What?"

The elevator which Ginoza passed was open just in time. A small girl stormed out of the elevator which caused her to bump into the man. A squeak followed but before the girl could fall down and twist her ankle from wearing heels, Ginoza was faster to catch her.

Owh, what the heck is this? A 2000s movie? A man and a woman are embracing each other at a corridor like this, Risa cocked her eyebrow as she was the only witness who saw Ginoza and the young woman who she never saw around the headquarters were staring at each other.

Mika, the one who was held by Ginoza stunned. She was aware that the tall stranger was still holding her waist to keep her legs to give up but she was more aware as she saw deep into the green eyes who were staring back at her.

This man has such beautiful eyes, Mika thought before something conveniently registered in her mind. She was positive that she had seen such eyes somewhere in Oso Academy...

"Owh, I am sorry," Ginoza who snapped back earlier than the puzzled woman in his arms quickly released her. "Are you okay, miss?"

"Huh? Yes, yes. I am sorry too. I was rushing."

"That's a relief," his smile was unfamiliar but Mika was positive that she had seen his features somewhere. "Then, excuse me."

Ginoza was only a few steps ahead with Risa when Mika exclaimed, "Excuse me. Have we ever met somewhere?"

Both Risa and Ginoza turned, confused expression written over their faces.

"Pardon?" He asked.

"I mean, your eyes... No, I think I have met you before... well, considering I bumped into you here instead of some random public places..." she immediately felt like a bulb lit up in her head. "Could it be... you're the inspector who investigated the murder case in Oso Academy?"

This girl was directly but innocently bringing up one of cases that reminded Ginoza of Makishima and his father right away.

At this moment, Risa was so nervous to look at Ginoza. Screw herself from a few minutes ago who randomly praising Ginoza's new look, now she had to come up with something better to help the man.

"I..."

"Yes, yes. Now, I remember you. You patrolled our school day and night to find Oryo Rikako," the girl exclaimed, stepped closer to Ginoza as her brown eyes shone brighter in happiness. Much to their surprise, she bowed as she supplied, "nice to meet you, inspector. I am Shimotsuki Mika, a rookie inspector who will work here from now on. It's a pleasure to meet you and you must be..."

"Inspector Aoyanagi Risa from Division 2," Ginoza answered before Mika could finish her question.

"Ah, both of you are my seniors then. Nice to meet you, senpai," she said.

Senpai... inspector...

If she's from Oso Academy last year, that means... she's what? 18? And she just said that she's an inspector just now, right?

"The victims, Kagami and Yoshika are my friends," she said, bitter smile was the only way to show them how the case had affected her greatly but she had recovered from the deep pain that the death had caused. "So, I want to thank you and your team properly for solving the case."

"The culprit is still on the loose, though," Ginoza said. Too slow and flat but that made Risa more bothered and wanted to run away from this suffocating situation as quick as possible.

"Yes, I know. That's why I am here. I want to defeat them with my own hands. I want to defeat such criminals who must be eliminated for good. I look forward to working with you, senpai," while she bowed again, a small smile escaped from Ginoza's lips. She reminded her of himself back when he was a rookie. In fact, they were so similar, just from the way she put her words. "By the way, which division are you both from? I am..."

"Ginoza-kun, I believe the chief must be waiting for us," Risa interrupted, loosely holding Ginoza's arm. "I am sorry, Inspector Shimotsuki. We're running late. We'll see you next time, okay? Let's go, Ginoza-kun."

"Ah, yes... I'll see you around then," Ginoza said quickly bowing slightly before he and Risa left the area.

Seconds passed and Mika could not help but staring at where the friends disappeared.

Are they couples? Why did she look like she isn't pleased with how I talked to him? Wait, come to think of it, his name is Ginoza-san, right? Inspector Ginoza.

Screams and pleading from a young girl as she struggled to escape herself from the cage had gained no sympathy from those who captured her. Even she was young and it had been two days since she was made as a hostage for undefined motive, she could recognize what kind of culprits they were.

Just plain brutal, destructive and heartless. One of them was a long white-haired man with a skinny figure but he kept spitting so many Philosophy stuff that made him sounded more twisted than his simple appearance. The other one was a tall and sturdy man with one of his eyes had two colors. They talked casually about books and technology as if they were a professor and a specialist. Not some crazy maniacs who kidnapped an innocent girl at a university library.

"The news about her has been released. MWPSB had run an investigation to find her," one of them, Choe Gu Sung remarked with amusement which added up how he was cruel because it was abnormal.

It was abnormal how he was amused with the fact that the police officers knew what they did to her. Logically speaking, the criminals were supposed to pray for their lives that their wrongdoings were never smelled in the first place.

But, for them, it was more thrilling to make the bureau chased them down.

"Let them be. It's not like they knew how to learn after what happened to the old enforcer," Makishima Shogo, the other guy remarked, paying no heed to Aimi's struggling from the ropes that encircled her slim body. The only bright side was they never hurt her.

"Speaking of which, why did we drag this girl into your plan? Don't you think kidnapping a random girl just to provoke Sybil is too simple? We should start a strike, missile or something," Gu Sung said, observing the girl from his sofa. He thought that when Makishima wanted them to hide in the abandoned underground parking lot, he wanted to torture the girl maliciously right away and left her body here. All kinds of sharp weapons were around them and arranged in order but they remained useless so far.

"Hm... Before we start to be serious again and launch a strike or something, we should do a warm-up again. Other than Kougami Shinya, Inspector Ginoza Nobuchika was also demoted because of me."

"Then?"

"And the dead enforcer is his father, apparently. I might touch a raw nerve among them."

He smiled but his right-man did not fully understand him. Instead, he could spot how familiar the way the man looked at the trembling girl in the cage while sitting in a relaxed fashion.

Someone would be dead meat tonight. She was not going to be solely abducted. He should know it. Once one learned Makishima's vicious side, there was no way to escape freely but there were options.

Be in cahoots with him or getting killed.