[Date: July 20
Time: 8:00 am
Location: Miyasi's house]

"Darling. Kavei is here to see you," Miyasi's mother called out as she opened the front door, finding Kavei standing there with a small smile.

"Yes mom. Let him in," Miyasi replied from within her room, her voice carrying through the house.

"Come on in, Kavei. She is in her room," Miyasi's mother smiled, stepping aside to let him enter.

"Thank you, ma'am," Kavei nodded politely as he stepped inside. He found himself here once again, the cause familiar but this time for a different purpose-a case that was more personal than any other.

Kavei knocked on the door before entering Miyasi's room. She gestured for him to sit, her focus entirely on the scattered sheets of paper around the room-on the floor, the bed, the desk, and the chair.

"What are you up to?" Kavei inquired, twirling on his feet as he glanced at Miyasi, who remained seated on the bed, engrossed in her task.

"Well. You need your hands on Aroshi's records, right?" she replied without meeting his eyes.

"Yes. What about it?"

"I asked Saira to get a hold of the list of officers in the Kanagawa police station," Miyasi explained, her attention still fixed on the papers.

"Oh. Did you find anything so far?"

"Well, not really. They all have offspring, alright. But it seems like they are not the type to help. I am still going to reach out to them anyway," Miyasi sighed, shuffling through more papers.

"I see. How many are we talking about?"

"More than a handful, I guarantee you," she chuckled softly, a hint of frustration evident in her voice.

"Sheesh. I guess this was supposed to be hard from the get-go, huh."

"Yeah. We can't involve adults. It will just get slapped back at us. The case was closed after all," Miyasi mentioned, continuing to sort through files.

"Hm. Give me the names of some of them. I can start my search as well," Kavei offered.

"Are you sure?" Miyasi looked up at him, surprised by his willingness to help.

"Of course. I was the one who wanted to do this anyway," he affirmed, nodding in her direction. Miyasi handed him a pile of eight sheets, knowing that Saira was already on a quest to find a promising friend who could assist them in obtaining Aroshi's records.

Every morning, Kavei embarked on his journey from Shinagawa to Kanagawa, passing through Oimachi station to begin his task. Meanwhile, Saira stayed at her family's vacation home in Kanagawa, facilitating her visits to the houses of the researched officers. Kavei took it upon himself to commute every day, determined to find someone who could assist them in their quest.

He diligently traversed the neighborhoods, knocking on doors according to the list they had compiled. Sometimes he encountered helpful individuals willing to listen to his request, while other times he faced rejection after rejection. Undeterred, he persisted, returning home late in the night, exhausted yet resolute.

To streamline his routine, Kavei packed breakfast for the next day the night before, ensuring he was prepared to leave at the earliest hour possible. He ate his morning meal on the train, watching the landscape blur past as he traveled towards his destination. By noon, he would indulge in the bento he had meticulously prepared the previous night, savoring each bite amidst the hustle and bustle of the city.

Upon his return to Shinagawa in the evening, Kavei would treat himself to a simple rice ball wrapped in Nori before retiring for the night. The monotonous cycle continued, day after day, as he tirelessly pursued their goal of finding someone who could provide the assistance they desperately needed.

[Date: July 25
Time: 11: 45 pm
Location: Kavei's house]

Kavei balanced the phone between his ear and shoulder as he tidied up the remnants of his simple meal, the remnants of Nori speckling the white dish he held. Miyasi's voice filled the room, her curiosity evident as she questioned him about their potential ally.

"Yeah, Benio Kasugazaki. Son of the division commander Renge Kasugazaki," Kavei confirmed, his tone carrying a hint of satisfaction at the progress made.

"Benio? How old is this dude?" Miyasi's inquiry was swift, her interest piqued by the mention of their potential helper.

"A year older than me," Kavei replied, his mind already calculating the age difference between Benio and Miyasi.

"So, a year younger than me then," Miyasi mused, a subtle calculation evident in her voice. Kavei, still in junior high, and Miyasi, a senior high student, had been navigating their respective school years with a shared determination.

"Yeah," Kavei affirmed, acknowledging the difference in their ages as Miyasi continued her line of questioning.

"A high school student. What makes you think he will help us without causing trouble?" Miyasi's skepticism was evident, her concern for potential complications palpable.

"It seems like it," Kavei began, his voice carrying a note of cautious optimism. "He said he won't let a word slip. Maybe he is in for a thrill ride. Reminds me of a certain group of nutjobs..."

Miyasi chuckled at the comparison, recognizing the parallel Kavei drew between Benio and their previous escapades. "Haha. Are you keeping in touch with those guys, though?"

"No. They might figure out what I'm up to otherwise," Kavei admitted, his focus shifting back to the task at hand.

"Gosh. You have to see them sooner or later. Let's keep that aside for now, I guess," Miyasi conceded, recognizing the importance of maintaining a low profile.

"Yes. Benio will be here tomorrow," Kavei informed Miyasi, his tone betraying a sense of anticipation for the meeting.

"That's great. We might just get a clue in this break," Miyasi remarked proudly, her confidence in their endeavor evident.

"We might. Good night, Miyasi Neechan," Kavei bid her farewell, the warmth of their conversation lingering in the air.

"Good night, Kavei," Miyasi echoed, ending the call.

[Next morning

Date: 26 July

Time: 9:00 am

Location: Kavei's house]

Kavei stood in his kitchen, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingling with the tension swirling in the air. His eyes darted back and forth between the television screen and the brewing pot, thoughts racing as he processed the revelations unfolding before him.

As he poured the steaming liquid into his favorite cup, Kavei couldn't shake

the memories that flooded his mind.

Yaozori's glare as he was taken away

by the police, the relentless pursuit of justice by a young detective, and now, the sudden appearance of Tomarami Famina, a figure from his past he hoped never to encounter again.

"Crap," he muttered under his breath, his grip tightening on the handle of the coffee pot. Each name mentioned on the news broadcast sent shivers down his spine, a reminder of the darkness lurking in the shadows.

But amidst the chaos of his thoughts, one name stood out like a beacon of hope: the junior detective whose astute deductions had brought down criminals far beyond his years. Kavei couldn't help but smirk at the mention of the young prodigy, even as fear gnawed at the edges of his mind. They were talking proudly about him afterall.

"T...t...Tomarami Famina!" The words caught in his throat as the image of the notorious criminal flashed across the screen, his presence suffocating even through the confines of the television. Memories of past encounters flooded back, and Kavei felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.

The threat echoed in his mind, a chilling reminder of the danger that lurked just beyond his doorstep. But as he glanced nervously at the doors and windows, a sense of relief washed over him at the sound of a sweet voice emanating from the television speakers.

"Some of them can turn out good, huh?" Kavei muttered, his eyes flicking back to the screen where the reporter continued her interview with yet another former adversary turned informant. The words of gratitude and acknowledgment from those he once sought to bring to justice were a bittersweet reminder of the complexities of human nature.

But it was the final interviewee, Mr. Seitsuki, whose words struck a chord within Kavei's soul. The seasoned detective's assessment of the junior detective's potential sparked a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness that threatened to consume him.

"He has a lot of potential, I must say," Seitsuki remarked, his voice carrying a weight of authority that commanded attention. "If Itsuhara can see his potential, I don't think she is wrong."

Kavei's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Itsuhara, the seasoned detective whose mentorship had guided him through the darkest days of his career. The thought of her faith in the junior detective filled him with a sense of pride and determination, despite the lingering doubts that clouded his mind.

As the interview concluded and the doorbell rang, Kavei's heart leaped into his throat. With cautious steps, he made his way to the door.

Relief washed over Kavei as he swung open the door, greeting Itsuhara with a warm smile. "Oh, Itsuhara. What's up? Come on in," he invited, stepping aside to let her enter.

But instead of reciprocating his friendly gesture, Itsuhara's expression was one of fury as she stormed past him. "What's up? You. That's what's up," she roared, her tone leaving no room for misunderstanding.

"Huh? What's wrong?" Kavei's confusion was evident as he stood at the door, trying to make sense of her sudden outburst.

"Kavei Niram. Since when have you been helping the police?" Itsuhara's voice was sharp, demanding an explanation.

Kavei blinked in surprise, taken aback by her accusation. "What?" he stammered, struggling to comprehend the source of her anger.

"Tell me. Now," Itsuhara insisted, her eyes flashing with intensity.

"Well, it's been a while... maybe since I was nine...?" Kavei ventured, his brow furrowing as he searched his memory for answers.

"That long? What is wrong with you?" Itsuhara's frustration was palpable as she shook her head in disbelief.

"What do you mean?" Kavei's confusion deepened as he met her gaze, his hands instinctively slipping behind his back.

"Kavei, you can't go around with that no-care-in-the-world attitude anymore," Itsuhara admonished, her tone softening slightly as she spoke.

"But why not?" Kavei's question hung in the air, his eyebrows knitting together in confusion.

"Look, sooner or later, the criminals you put behind bars will come for you. Let's be a little careful here," Itsuhara urged, her concern evident in her voice.

Kavei remained silent for a moment, processing her words carefully. "Off course they did. They did yell and even threw me out, ha-ha. So, I guess I just helped secretly. Only Inspector Senzaki knew about this," he admitted, a wry smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"And he didn't ask you to stay away why?" Itsuhara's question was pointed, her gaze piercing as she awaited his response.

"Why do you think? Because it made cases easier?" Kavei's sarcasm was not lost on Itsuhara as he fired back, his frustration simmering beneath the surface.

"Ugh. Sure. Just stay indoors for now till we shift you to a new house-" Itsuhara's words were cut short by Kavei's interjection.

"I think we talked about this, Itsuhara neechan," Kavei reminded her, his tone firm as he redirected the conversation.

"No, Kavei. I guess some rules need bending. We have to keep you safe-" Itsuhara's insistence was met with resistance as Kavei interrupted once more.

"If it's because of what I asked of you, forget it-" Kavei's frustration bubbled to the surface as he attempted to assert his independence.

"It's not. I want to keep you safe as your employer. And I'll do it," Itsuhara asserted, her tone leaving no room for argument.

"You can't just barge in and ask me to stay put till you move me elsewhere," Kavei protested, his voice rising in frustration.

"Oh, but I just did. And you better abide. Goodbye," Itsuhara's tone was final as she turned on her heel, descending the stairs without a backward glance.

"Hey! Wait! Ugh... and she's gone," Kavei muttered to himself, his frustration lingering in the air long after Itsuhara's departure.