Time slipped away unnoticed as Kavei moved through the rows of storage shelves, his fingers trailing over the rough, dust-covered surfaces of the boxes. Each label he scanned carried a name, a silent testament to lives that had come to an end, forgotten by the world beyond these morgue walls.

The air inside was thick, unmoving. It was August-one of the hottest months of the year-but the morgue's seclusion only made it worse. There was no ventilation, no breeze, only the suffocating weight of stale air pressing against his lungs. Even through his mask, breathing felt like a chore. Sweat gathered beneath the fabric, dampening his skin, while the stiff uniform clung uncomfortably to his body.

But he couldn't stop.

With his flashlight guiding him, he continued searching, his gaze flicking between names as his fingers brushed over each label. His movements were steady, methodical, but his body was growing sluggish. The heat was relentless, making it difficult to focus.

Kavei exhaled sharply and swiped the back of his hand across his forehead, wiping away the thin layer of sweat forming there. His breathing had grown heavier, but he pushed forward, his hand moving from box to box, pressing his fingertips against the labels to feel the engravings through the dirt and time-worn ink.

Then, he found it.

Nakahara Shinji.

His body tensed for a brief second before he reacted. Without hesitation, he slid his phone back into his pocket and bent down, gripping the edges of the box firmly with both hands. It was heavier than he expected, but he lifted it with practiced ease, carefully lowering it to the floor without making too much noise.

The cardboard was worn, slightly frayed at the edges, but still intact. He glanced at it for a moment, then placed both hands against the box and pushed it beneath the shelf, tucking it away into the shadows.

One down.

Straightening up, he exhaled again, though it did little to relieve the tightness in his chest. The air still felt thick, pressing down on him. His uniform, damp with sweat, felt suffocating. But he couldn't stop.

He reached into his pocket, pulling out his phone once more, the screen's glow casting faint light against the blue-tinged darkness of the morgue.

The search wasn't over yet.

[Scene: Chiba
Main police station
5: 30 pm, evening
Sebiki, Himeko, Miyasi, Saira]

Sebiki pressed her back against the cold concrete wall, her heart pounding hard against her ribs. Her breath came in steady but controlled exhales, her body tense with anticipation. This wasn't a prank. This wasn't some rebellious teenage act of sneaking into a department office just for the thrill of it. This was serious. A single mistake could cost them everything. They had two hours. That is what Ren has given them. His hacking would stay for two hours where the CCTV and alarms wouldn't catch them. But two hours was not a lot of time.

She shifted her gaze slightly, glancing at the three figures beside her. Himeko, Miyasi, and Saira stood pressed against the wall just as she was, their hands flat against the rough surface, poised and ready to move at her signal. They were dressed identically-black shirts, black pants, and their shoes held in their hands to avoid making noise. Gloves concealed their fingerprints, foot pads muted their steps, and the full-face masks they wore shielded their identities. The fine sieve-like pattern of the fabric allowed them to see, but from the outside, they were nothing more than featureless shadows blending into the dimly lit hallway.

Sebiki exhaled silently, then peeked around the corner.

Two officers stood near the staircase they needed to take. They were deep in conversation, their postures relaxed, completely unaware of the silent intruders nearby. One of the officers chuckled, nudging his companion as he spoke, while the other leaned against the railing, his arms crossed over his chest. They weren't going anywhere anytime soon.

Sebiki pulled back and looked at the others, shaking her head slightly.

The message was clear. Not yet.

The girls nodded in response, shifting slightly but remaining still. Time crawled. Minutes stretched endlessly, and with every second that passed, the tension in Sebiki's chest tightened. The officers showed no sign of leaving. They were too busy talking, their laughter echoing faintly through the hallway, oblivious to the four figures waiting in the shadows.

Sebiki clenched her jaw, frustration beginning to settle in. They couldn't afford to waste any more time.

Then, her earpiece crackled softly, and Ren Kamanoji's voice came through, low and composed.

"I'll change routes. From where you are, turn back. Take the second left. The doors leading to the emergency stairs should be there."

Sebiki nodded instinctively, acknowledging the instructions. She turned her head slightly and signaled to the others, pointing in the opposite direction. Without hesitation, they silently pivoted, retracing their steps with careful precision.

Their movements were soundless, their foot pads absorbing any noise as they walked in a single-file line. Every step was measured, cautious. The dim green corridor lights cast eerie shadows on the walls, stretching their figures across the floor like ghosts.

Kavei had drilled them on this. Don't touch anything. Don't leave prints. Don't talk. Cover your face at all times.

They had followed his instructions to the letter-until now.

A sudden sound ahead made all four of them freeze mid-step. The distant murmur of voices. Someone was coming.

Instinct kicked in. Without thinking, they immediately flattened themselves against the wall, pressing their backs tightly against the cold surface. Their breathing slowed, shoulders tense. For a few agonizing moments, they stood there, barely daring to move, their ears straining to pick up any indication of how close the voices were.

A flicker of movement at the end of the corridor sent a jolt of adrenaline through Sebiki's veins.

But then-the figures turned a corner, disappearing from sight.

Sebiki exhaled slowly, forcing herself to stay calm. That was too close.

They quickly resumed their path, moving with renewed urgency. At the end of the corridor, they reached the intersection Ren had directed them to. Taking the second left, they finally spotted the emergency exit doors ahead.

Sebiki exchanged glances with the others. No words were needed. They had to move fast.

She stepped forward and reached for the door handle, her fingers tightening around the cold metal. Slowly, carefully, she turned it, ensuring there was no sound as she pushed the door open just enough for them to slip inside.

Her earpiece buzzed again.

"Two incoming. Get in quick."

Ren's warning sent a fresh wave of urgency through her. She snapped her head back toward the others and waved frantically, signaling them to hurry.

They didn't hesitate. One by one, they slipped through the door, their movements swift and precise. Sebiki was the last to enter. Just as she stepped inside, she caught sight of two officers walking toward their previous position, laughing at some joke between them.

She shut the door behind her, her fingers pressing lightly against the handle to ensure it didn't make a sound.

Silence.

On the other side, the officers continued down the hallway, oblivious to the fact that four intruders had just evaded them by mere seconds, laughing at their own jokes.

[At the same time
Ren Kamanoji's house
5 pm, evening]

Ren let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, relief washing over him as he watched the screens in front of him. The glow of his laptop cast sharp shadows across his face, highlighting the tension in his furrowed brows and the dark circles under his eyes. His setup was minimal but efficient-two screens, multiple feeds, and a pair of earpieces, each tuned to a different frequency.

One screen displayed a grainy, black-and-white live feed of Kavei, maneuvering through the morgue with careful precision. The other screen showed the girls-Sebiki, Himeko, Miyasi, and Saira-slipping through the emergency stairwell door just in time to avoid the two patrolling officers.

Ren let out another exhale and leaned back in his chair, his shoulders finally easing up. That was close. Too close.

He reached up and adjusted both earpieces, pressing them deeper into his ears. One channel was tuned to Kavei, the other to Sebiki. Their breathing, their subtle movements, even the occasional rustle of fabric-it all streamed directly into his ears.

Fifth Floor - The Evidence Vault

The girls moved with trained precision, their bodies low as they crept down the dimly lit hallway of the fifth floor. A sickly green hue from the emergency lights bathed the corridor, casting long, shifting shadows against the walls. The air was still, thick with a sterile chill, and the faint hum of the building's electrical system was the only sound accompanying their muted footsteps.

Sebiki led the way, crouching as she advanced, each step deliberate and measured. The room at the very end of the corridor held their target-the evidence vault. If all went well, they would be in and out before anyone even knew they had been here.

Her heartbeat pounded against her ribs as she slowed her approach, eyes locking onto the heavy steel door at the end of the hall. The vault stood firm, secured by a large rotatory lock and a numerical keypad for additional security.

Sebiki turned slightly, catching Miyasi's gaze. No words needed to be exchanged. They all knew why they were here. They had pleaded, fought, and screamed for justice. The authorities had ignored them, closing cases that should never have been closed, dismissing lives as if they were mere statistics. Their anger ran deep, festering into something unshakable. If no one else would act, then they would.

Miyasi nodded, her jaw tightening with resolve as she crouched in front of the lock. From her bag, she pulled out a small, black device no larger than a deck of cards. Its metallic backing had a pin-like structure that allowed it to grip onto the center of the rotatory lock. As soon as it was secured, Miyasi reached for her laptop, flipping it open and setting it on the floor.

The screen's soft glow illuminated her face as her fingers flew over the keyboard, inputting lines of code with a practiced ease. Every second counted.

Himeko pressed her back against the wall near the corridor's entrance, her fingers curled into fists. Her ears strained for any sign of movement, her eyes flicking between shadows, muscles coiled with tension. Sebiki and Saira remained by Miyasi's side, eyes darting between her and the hallway, their senses heightened, ready to react at the first sign of danger.

The seconds stretched unbearably long. Then, Miyasi suddenly looked up and raised a hand, giving them a thumbs-up. She had done it. The lock would disengage now.

Sebiki and Saira exchanged sharp nods before turning to Himeko, who had been glancing back repeatedly to make sure no patrols were nearby. The moment she caught sight of Miyasi's signal, she wasted no time scurrying over to them.

Miyasi stood, closing her laptop swiftly, while Saira stepped forward and gripped the edge of the door. Holding her breath, she pulled.

The vault door opened soundlessly, a testament to its sleek, well-maintained mechanism. No groaning metal, no creaking hinges. Just a silent invitation into the room beyond.

Without hesitation, the four of them slipped inside, vanishing into the shadows.