[Scene: Chiba
Police department
Ryu and SEBIKI
An hour later
9th August]

The air inside the Chiba Department was thick with the scent of coffee, old paper, and lingering cigarette smoke. The dull hum of fluorescent lights filled the otherwise quiet hallway. Renge Kasugazaki, the division commander, stood in front of a metallic door, his knuckles rapping against it twice. The knock echoed faintly.

Inside, Ryu flinched. His head snapped toward Sebiki. "Ah! Someone is here!" His voice was just short of a whisper, yet his panic was evident. His fingers curled into the hem of his shirt as his body tensed, heart hammering against his ribs.

Sebiki, however, barely reacted. She exhaled sharply, tilting her head toward him with mild amusement. "Dude, chill. We came here with permission." Her voice was firm, reassuring, but not exactly kind. She stepped forward, her movements deliberate, and pressed a button beside the door. With a soft mechanical hiss, the door slid open.

Renge stepped inside. His presence alone shifted the air. He was a tall man, slightly lean, with sharp eyes that gleamed under the dim department lights. Despite his easygoing reputation, he carried himself with an intimidating charm yet his smile, warm and almost playful.

From behind Renge, another voice called out, deep and unwavering. "Senior Commander Renge, sir. To what do I owe this visit?"

Sebiki's father. Asaki Souta.

Asaki stood just behind Renge, his arms crossed. His reputation was nothing short of monstrous within the police force. Ruthless, unyielding, a man who never wavered in duty.

Renge's grin widened. "Oh, you're here." His voice was light, teasing almost.

Asaki remained unmoved. "How may Chiba help you today?" His words were curt, efficient.

Renge let out a dramatic sigh. "Ah, Souta-san~ I just came to meet you." There was a sing-song quality to his words, but it did nothing to soften the tension in the room.

Asaki's eyes flicked to Sebiki and Ryu. Renge glanced at the kids and with a chilling smile he asked. "Who are these kids? Why are they in your office?"

"My daughter," Asaki answered immediately, his voice still as cold as ever. "Sebiki Souta. And her friend, Kamanoji Ryu."

Renge's gaze shifted to Sebiki, then back to Asaki, his expression unreadable. Then, suddenly, his face lit up. "Oh, you have a beautiful daughter." His tone was sincere, his eyes warm as he smiled brightly at her. Sebiki, caught off guard by the compliment, blinked before offering a small smile in return. There was something about Renge's presence-it was easy, comforting, as if he carried the warmth of a summer breeze despite the rigid walls of the department.

But his demeanor changed in an instant. His gaze turned back to Asaki, and this time, there was something deeper lurking in his eyes. "Let's talk outside," he suggested.

Asaki held his gaze for a moment before giving a slow nod.

As he turned to leave, Renge chuckled lightly. "You shouldn't trust children too much these days," he mused, though the smile that accompanied his words didn't quite reach his eyes.

Asaki only gave him a sharp glance before turning toward his daughter. "Go home." His voice left no room for argument.

Sebiki straightened, nodded quickly, and grabbed Ryu by the wrist, tugging him toward the door. "Come on."

Ryu barely had time to react before he was being dragged along. His head snapped back toward the two officers, and he bowed hastily. "T-Thank you for having us!" His words stumbled over themselves as he tried to keep pace with Sebiki.

Renge watched them go, his expression unreadable. Then, as the door shut behind them, he let out a small chuckle. "Haha. What a duo. That guy looks good too."

Asaki, however, was unmoved. His eyes narrowed slightly. "You didn't just come to see me. What do you want now, Renge?"

Renge feigned a dramatic sigh, placing a hand on his chest as they walked down the dimly lit corridor. The walls were lined with case files, the scent of old documents lingering. "Oh my god~ relax a little. Can't I just visit an old friend?"

Asaki remained silent, his footsteps even and heavy against the tiled floor.

Renge let the silence settle before his expression sobered. "Someone somewhere is looking into closed cases."

That got Asaki's attention. His brows furrowed. "Closed cases? About what?"

Renge exhaled, glancing around as they turned a corner, heading toward the back of the department where it was quieter. "I'm not sure yet."

Asaki's jaw tightened. "Then how do you know about this?"

They stopped near a secluded corridor where the lights flickered faintly, casting jagged shadows against the walls. Renge crossed his arms, his usual lighthearted demeanor fading. "Officer Souta. My patrol officers told me."

Asaki's sharp eyes studied him. Officer Souta. Renge was never this serious before. "Really?"

For the first time in the conversation, Renge hesitated. His fingers twitched slightly against his bicep. Then, in a lower voice, he admitted, "I saw Benzaki Haru today."

Asaki's entire body went rigid. "What?" His voice dropped, ice-cold. "Why is that guy here now?"

Renge let out a slow breath. "You know he blames us for those abruptly closed cases. But he came last night." His tone was carefully controlled, but there was something dark lurking underneath. "He told me I should be prepared to give answers when the criminals are found. The ones we couldn't find."

Asaki's fingers curled into fists. His voice was sharp. "Huh? That's vague."

"You tell me." Renge rubbed the back of his neck, his smile completely gone now. "Haru knows something. But he's not telling me all the details. All he said was that someone has started looking into a certain closed case."

Asaki's mind was already running through possibilities, his breath steady but tense. "Cases that were closed because we assumed there were no criminals?" His tone was skeptical. "Like what? Homicide cases?"

Renge shook his head. "No, Asaki." His voice dropped even lower, a weight settling in his words. "Cases where we concluded the victims were dead."

Asaki scoffed. "Well, that might be because... I don't know. They were." His tone was laced with sarcasm, but Renge didn't react.

Instead, his gaze darkened. "Trust me. The way Haru looked at me, I'm sure we missed something."

Souta's fists tightened at his sides. "But which case?"

Renge said nothing. The question hung in the air like a noose, tightening around them with every second of silence.

[Meanwhile
Scene: Shinjuku
Kavei, Kai and Kenma
Kavei's house
9th August]

The kitchen was warm with the smell of freshly washed dishes and the faint scent of detergent lingering in the air. The sound of water running from the sink mixed with the occasional clatter of utensils as Kavei rinsed them, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Kenma, stretching his arms above his head, lazily strolled towards him.

"By the way, how's your head now?" Kavei asked without looking up, scrubbing a plate with rhythmic motions.

"My head didn't tear apart yet," Kenma replied dryly, leaning against the counter with a smirk.

"Oh, not funny, brother," Kavei shot back with an unimpressed glance.

"Haha, not funny? What about you, jokester?" Kenma teased.

"What did I do?" Kavei feigned innocence, placing the plate in the drying rack.

"Don't get me started. You keep getting wounded," Kenma pointed out, crossing his arms.

Kavei shrugged. "Oh, haha. I am a detective, alright? What's your excuse?"

Kenma smirked. "Let's see. A detective's friend."

"Oh? Fair enough, fair enough." Kavei chuckled, shaking his head.

Kenma shifted his weight against the counter, now facing the hall. His eyes met Kai's, who had been quietly watching their exchange from the living room. Kenma flashed a small smile in his direction, but Kai didn't return it. Instead, he stood up and walked towards them, picking up a dish towel. He grabbed the plates Kavei had washed and began drying them, placing them back into the cabinets with practiced ease.

"You know this place pretty well," Kenma remarked, tilting his head.

Kai finally smiled, just a little. "Yeah. I'm practically always here."

"Yeah, I heard you babysit Daichi while Kavei is out on some other business," Kenma said casually.

Kai's hands momentarily paused before he resumed drying the dishes. He placed the last plate in the shelf, shut the door, and exhaled softly.

"Yeah," he said simply. "I babysit Daichi."

Kenma raised a brow at the hesitance in Kai's tone. "How long have you known Kavei?"

"Months."

"Ah. Years for me," Kenma countered, leaning in slightly.

Kai tilted his head. "Wow. I wonder why he didn't ask you to babysit Daichi. I guess I became more reliable even though I haven't known him for a whole year."

Kenma's jaw tensed. "You know what-"

"Guys." Kavei's voice cut through their brewing argument. He yanked off his dish gloves, turning to face them. "I am standing right here. And you have the guts to argue. In my kitchen."

"But he started it-" Kai began, but Kavei shot him a glare.

"Kenma, you better not argue here."

"Hah!" Kai smirked.

"And you too." Kavei turned to Kai with an equally stern expression.

"Hah!" Kenma mimicked, smirking right back at Kai. They locked eyes again, glaring at each other bitterly, neither willing to back down.

Just as Kavei was about to scold them further, a loud yell came from outside the door.

"Open the door!"

"A-ahhh!"

Kavei, distracted by Kenma and Kai's bickering, turned too quickly, missing a step and stumbling forward. His foot caught awkwardly on the floor, and he lost balance, landing hard with a thud.

"Oh, crap. Kavei-kun! Are you okay? Did you trip?"

"I'm fine," he groaned, rubbing his lower back. He quickly scrambled to his feet, shuffling past the sleek furniture. The tapping of his bare feet echoed against the porcelain tiles as he reached for the door.

"Next time, inform me beforehand when you're coming over so I don't trip over something and crack my backbone," he grumbled, still rubbing his back.

"Hold up, I'll open the door," he then said, loud enough to be heard.

"Okay," came Himeko's voice from outside.

Kavei shuffled around, moving the furniture out of the way, his bare feet tapping against the tiles. He unlocked the door and pulled it open, only to immediately regret his decision.

Himeko stood there, bathed in the soft glow of the afternoon sun, looking effortlessly elegant. Her light yellow summer dress fluttered slightly with the breeze, complementing the soft pink of her loose hair. Her bright, agate eyes studied him, slightly squinted in concern.

"You need help?" she asked, leaning in slightly.

"No, no-" He paused, involuntarily taking in her appearance.

Her white shoes, her perfectly matched side bag, the serene aura she carried-it all made him feel weirdly unsettled. And then, she reached out.

"Easy," she murmured, her voice a gentle melody as she offered him her hand.

Kavei blinked. His mind blanked for a moment before panic set in. He quickly withdrew his hands and straightened up. "I-I'm fine," he stammered, heat creeping up his face.

Himeko tilted her head slightly, then gently pressed the back of her hand against his forehead.

"You alright?"

"Y-yeah!" He immediately stepped back, nearly tripping again. "B-By the way, C-Come on in!"

She smiled and stepped inside.

"What did you trip over?" she asked, amused.

"M-my own feet. I-I mean, I was in a hurry when I heard your voice so... Haha," Kavei mumbled.

Himeko turned to the two boys. "And you two didn't stop him from falling?" she asked, unimpressed.

"Pfft," Kavei smirked.

"Why are you laughing, Niram-kun?" Himeko asked, narrowing her eyes.

Kavei waved his hand. "No, no. Nothing."

Himeko huffed. "Well? Why didn't you two stop him?"

"They were too busy glaring at each other," Kavei deadpanned.

"Huh?"

"Yep. They were arguing. In my house." Kavei crossed his arms, his tone cold.

"Kai, why are you so immature?" Himeko asked, crossing her arms.

"Huh? I am not immature, alright? Kenma started it!"

"Me? I started it? You were the one who didn't smile at me, okay?" Kenma shot back.

"Why on earth does that even matter?" Kai said waving his hands in the air.

"It definitely means you hate me!" Kenma argued back, holding his head with both his hands.

"Now you're just being paranoid!" Kai pointed a finger at him.

"I was being paranoid-"

"OH, SHUT UP!" Kavei yelled.

Kai and Kenma flinched. Himeko smirked victoriously.

Kenma muttered under his breath, "Why is she here?"

"This is my house," Kavei replied flatly. Kenma immediately nodded, not pushing further.

With a sigh, Kavei walked over to his desk, switched on his laptop, and his fingers flew over the keyboard. The screen flooded with dialogue boxes, rapidly appearing and disappearing as he navigated through files, codes, and records. Himeko, standing behind him, felt her head spinning just watching.

"What are you doing, Kavei-kun?" she asked, dumbfounded.

"Hm," he responded, nodding absently, completely engrossed in his work.

The room grew silent except for the furious clicking of his keyboard. Kenma and Kai sat beside him, also watching intently, though neither spoke a word.

After some time, Kavei finally leaned back with a satisfied sigh.

"Done?" Himeko asked. She had tried to keep up, but all she understood was that windows could be minimized.

"Ahaha, yes, yes," he chuckled, glancing at her tired face.

"So. Mind unwinding the suspense?" Kenma asked, stretching his legs.

"Sure. I figured out the names, IDs, parents, hometowns, and residences of the witnesses from the case files," Kavei explained.

"I see. But why?" Kai asked.

"Remember how I told you I suspected these guys of having a criminal record? I pulled their data to confirm if my suspicion is true."

"Okay, alright. But why is she here?" Kai asked, gesturing toward Himeko.

"She's going to copy these files onto her own drive," Kavei stated.

"Why?" Kai asked raising an eyebrow.

"Someone needs to confirm my suspicion."

Kai frowned. "Himeko's father is a conglomerate, not a hacker."

"But I know someone who is a hacker," Himeko said, grinning sheepishly.