"Good morning."
"One moment. Ah, Himako."
"Konnichiwa, I hope I'm not disturbing you."
"Don't worry, Himako. What brings you here?"
"Is Sakurako here?"
"She's playing in the living room. What's that in your hands?"
"Oh, my mother told me to bring this leftover meat soup to you."
"Ah, I see. Come on in."
On this new day is the students' favorite day, Sunday. A day when the school is off. But it would be unfortunate for some students who have to attend the clubs on Sunday. Lucky for Himawari, her status as a Student Council does not require her to attend the school. And, of course, this will be the perfect day to spend her time with Sakurako.
Wary of the meat soup heat, she undid her shoes by using her foot before stepping onto the wooden floor. She then proceeds to follow Nadeshiko down the halls until she was guided into the living room. From where she's standing, she could see Sakurako – one joystick in her hands, and Hanako are sitting on the floor in front of the TV. Himawari didn't bother to know what game they're playing and instead greets them.
"Ohayou," Himawari greeted the other two sisters.
"Oh, good morning, Hima-chan," Hanako greeted.
"Good to see you again, Himawari," Sakurako greeted back as she lowered her joystick. "What are you bringing in your hands?"
"Some leftover meat soup," Nadeshiko answered her question.
"Really?" Sakurako proceeded to stand up and walked over to her. "Let me get that off your hands."
"Oh, sure," Himawari carefully handed the soup over to her. "Mind the heat, by the way."
"Alright," Sakurako then looked over to her eldest sister. "Where do you want me to put it?"
"Just put it on the counter in the kitchen," Nadeshiko pointed towards the kitchen. "The one with the rubber pad on it."
"Alright, Onee-chan," Sakurako then headed off to the kitchen for a while.
Nadeshiko then walks over and sits down on the couch. On the other hand, Himawari sits down at Hanako's side. Himawari then looks over towards the TV. From what she could see, the screen is currently displaying… some sort of equipment to choose from. It takes her little time to realize this is the game that Sakurako bought yesterday. Well, the shopkeeper was right with the graphics looking so good.
But still, she's feeling a bit uncomfortable to see weapons displayed on the screen.
Soon, Sakurako returns and sits between Hanako and Himawari. "You want to spend some time with me?"
"Yes," Himawari replied with a nod. "Isn't that what you always do with me on Sundays?"
Sakurako shrugs a little to the question. "I guess so."
Sakurako then starts to skim over the equipment and weapons on the screen. "Why do you want to play this kind of game?" Hanako asked with a raised brow
"I want to know how it feels like to be a police officer," Sakurako paused for a moment. "Well, to be a SWAT officer, to be exact."
"I see," Himawari still watching her choosing her equipment. "When the action starts?"
"After I got my equipment," Sakurako replied indifferently. "I'm still considering to choose a rifle or a submachine gun."
Nadeshiko can't help but raise an eyebrow. "What's the difference? They're still guns."
"Those firearms have different power, bullets, models, and handlings to begin with," Sakurako replied as she looked behind her. "And I need a gun that would fit well to the environment I would face."
Nadeshiko was about to reply, but no words came out of her mouth. Instead, she rephrases her words. "I already lost my tongue."
"Huh?" Sakurako looked at her with confusion. "You still haven't lost it yet."
"She meant that she's speechless, Saa-chan," Himawari explained as she refrained from face-palming.
"Oh," Sakurako stared at her for a moment before turning at the screen. "Anyway, I think I choose a rifle for this one."
"Who are you going to deal with anyway?" Hanako asked curiously.
"Well," Sakurako let out a quick sigh. "For a start, a serial killer."
It takes them for about five seconds before they turn their head at her. "I'm sorry, what?" Hanako asked with a terrified look.
"A serial killer," Sakurako ignored their stares of shock as she chose her weapon. "M4, G36, QBZ- 95, ACR, SCAR… Huh, I'm going for a Famas then."
Hanako then notices the AI teammates besides Sakurako. "What about your teammates?"
"They already have their own equipment," Sakurako then leered over to the start button. "I think that's all. Let's start the game."
The game starts with her character, and the teammates slowly make their way to the front door with weapons raised, and they hear the voice of the radio.
"Central BCC, Charlie, Delta and truck one responding to code 99 at 73 Wilford, High-Risk Warrant Service."
The cops stopped when they reached the front door, and now Sakurako is in charge.
"Alright," Sakurako then aimed at the door and chose the option to check the door. "Door's unlocked?"
"Grey, check the door," her character ordered, at which one of the cops responded. "On it, sir."
The officer next to the door; his name is Buckie, turns the knob on the door. "It's locked."
"Right…" Sakurako moved to the door and proceeded to picklock the door.
Nadeshiko chuckles at her action. "I thought you're a cop."
"I like to keep the element of surprise," Sakurako responded as the girls watched. "Alright, clear the house."
An order is issued from her character, and the officers obeyed. "Yes, sir."
They open the door and proceed to storm the house. "Moving in."
Sakurako was the last to enter what it seems to be a wide hallway. "Hallway clear."
"Green, clear the room on the left," the commander ordered, two green-tagged officers responded. "Yes, sir."
"Grey, on me," Sakurako moved to the room on the right, hearing her fellow teammate behind her. "Right behind ya'."
They notice Sakurako carefully scans around the room as the cops walk. "It's nice to see you're careful for once," Himawari commented with a smile.
"It's a good thing," Sakurako commented. "Last I heard, the suspect has a gun, so I want to make sure I'm not the one getting shot first."
The commander and the two Grey units clean out the dining room and proceed to enter the kitchen, at which they found a civilian in it. Sakurako immediately presses the button to yell at her.
"Police! Get your hands up!"
The two Grey units did the same.
"Hands in the air! Now!"
"Get down on the goddamn floor! Police!"
The yelling goes on for some time, but the female civilian resisted. "What are you doing in my house!?"
"Civilian's not complying," Buckie responded after the yelling.
Sakurako ordered the woman to comply but still resisted. "Don't make me do this."
The girls are starting to see where she's heading. "Please don't tell me you're going to shoot her!" Hanako exclaimed in concern.
"She's just an innocent woman!" Himawari stressed with a frown. "What do you think you're doing!?"
"Hey, don't get too overboard with that woman," Nadeshiko advised, fierce eyes staring at the blonde.
"No, I'm not going to shoot her," Sakurako then switched her rifle with an item. "I got something better."
Sakurako then proceeds to pepper-sprayed the woman. This action well dumbfounds the girls.
"Did you just sprayed her face?!" Himawari asked with a high tone.
"Yes, I need to detain her," Sakurako obliviously replied as they watched the woman surrendered, kneeling on the ground and raising her hands in the air as she painfully tolerated the peppers on her face.
Sakurako then proceeds to cuff her hands. "Why are you arresting her?" The sight dumbfounded Himawari.
"I'm not arresting her," Sakurako countered.
"Then what's that?!" Hanako pointed at the apparent action Sakurako made.
"I'm detaining her," the second sister calmly replied.
"What does that even mean?" Nadeshiko asked with frowned eyebrows.
"I'm making sure that woman is not going to do anything stupid," Sakurako explained. "Because she's not in charge of any crime yet."
Silence engulfs them for a moment as they are stunned by the answer.
"Well… I can't complain when you say it that way," Nadeshiko admitted her defeat.
Sakurako then makes the commander report the civilian. "TOC to entry team. We have a civilian, secured, and ready for transport."
"Copy that, proceed with the mission," TOC radioed back.
"Gold, on me," her character ordered before they moved back to the hall and moved forward, turning right at the end of it.
Sakurako and the cops spend their time clearing out a bathroom, which surprisingly tight, before clearing out two bedrooms on their right. So far, no suspect on sight, but they had to waste two flashbangs in the process. They return to the hall and continue to traverse it until they found stairs leading to the basement.
"TOC, entry team, we found a basement," the commander radioed. "We're going in."
"Roger that, be quick, the hostage won't have much time."
The girls tense up at the sentence and prompt the second sister to run down the basement with her teammates. The commander proceeds to open the door, but it's locked.
"You're going to picklock it?" Himawari asked with a raised brow.
"No time," Sakurako then ordered the whole team to breach the door. "We're going loud."
A green-tagged officer then installs a breaching charge on the doorknob before looking at the whole squad. Fingers are counting…
3.
2.
1.
*CLICK-BOOM*
Buckie then throws a grenade in. "Popping smoke!"
*PWUSSHH*
The cops wait for a moment for the smoke to at least half-filled the house before they charge in.
"GO, GO, GO!"
Not even one second after entry, they heard one of the members shouted. "Suspect in sight!"
"Police! On the floor! Now!"
"Get your damn hands up!"
"Hands up!"
"Ass on the floor!"
"Hey! Drop your weapon! Do it!"
Before them is a suspect standing in his spot and has a pistol in his hand. He can't even shoot Sakurako and the teammates yet because he's coughing the smoke. Even with that, the bastard still won't comply.
"He's not surrendering," Hanako stated in concern.
"Alright," Sakurako then switched to her secondary weapon. "You better get down now."
*PWST-ZTZTZTZTZZTZTZTZTZZTTZZTZ*
Sakurako then tases him with a taser gun. To be honest, it's somewhat funny to watch him electrocuted like that. Himawari even chuckles at the animation. The police squad then proceeds to yell again for some time.
"Alright, alright, I surrender, I surrender!" the suspect complied, kneeling down with hands in the air and his gun dropped on the floor.
Sakurako secures the suspect and the gun before reporting the potential tied-victim on the bed. The girls had to admit, and she's relatively quick and careful to play this game. Sakurako seems to enjoy the tactical game despite the violence it contains. Thankfully, Sakurako has called it a day on the game. Sakurako spends her little time to tidy up the gaming tools as the other three girls smiled happily at her. With all that done, Sakurako looks back to Himawari.
"Where do you want to walk?" Sakurako asked the blue girl.
"Well," Himawari shrugs a little. "Where do you want to go?"
Sakurako stares at her as she ponders on the consideration. "Somewhere…"
Outside in the neighborhood, on this bright day, the blonde and blue girls are walking down a particular peaceful road. No cars pass by save for the number of people and children walking down that same road. Sakurako unconsciously observes the small leaf graciously falls to her left, watching it dancing playfully before landing on the grey road. The blonde then looks behind her to see Himawari as her eyes negotiating on her pretty face, outfit, and… breasts. She noticed the blue girl's eyes staring back at her before looking back forward.
While they wander aimlessly, Himawari still keeps in mind that Sakurako hasn't told her yet where she wants to go. Or rather… she still doesn't know where to go. Sakurako will tell Himawari where to go when she finds something that interests her. The last thing she expects from this walk is to be lost on the way because Sakurako doesn't know her way back. That's assuming Sakurako became suddenly ignorant and idiotic when Himawari asked her.
According to the weather channel, the day is a little warm, and there will be no rain at noon. So, they don't have to be overdressed with jackets. Sakurako is simply dressed in her nice lime T-shirt with its collar and sleeves colored in lemon. Instead of a skirt, she wears a pair of dark blue trousers. The usual small handbag is shouldered around her right side and bright white shoes.
On the other hand, Himawari wore an open, short, thin, white jacket reaching her waist. A sleeveless, buttoned, light purple shirt and a long yellow skirt are her outfit choices. She has a relatively bigger satchel than Sakurako's. Her footwear of choice is a pair of brown sandal-shoes.
Both of them haven't said a single word along the way. It's not because they didn't want to talk; it's just that Sakurako never said a single word, and Himawari is a bit confused about coming up with a topic. Even with this peaceful trip, it's still awkward for Himawari. Taking a trip like this is equally taking a trip with a rarely meowing cat. Well, she's thankful that she's not noisy,
Himawari then stares at the blonde from behind, having her eyes looking up and down her figure. Unaware that her vision becomes slightly hallucinated. She sees her turning her head at her and begins to talk words – a mix of mockery and optimism, with such a cheerful face. She didn't realize that her mouth gradually forms a friendly smile.
But that didn't last long when her vision suddenly returns normal, and Sakurako is actually staring at her with small concern. "Are you alright, Hima-chan?"
"H-huh?!" Himawari quickly shook her head. "N-nothing."
"Why were you smiling at me for a moment?" Sakurako asked as she stopped walking.
"I told you it's nothing," Himawari reasoned, expressing her awkwardness and frustration. "I-it's just… daydreaming, yes. I was daydreaming."
"Hmm…" Sakurako didn't bother to ask much and continue on their walk. "Odd of you, you never daydream like that on a trip."
"I know," Himawari let out a sigh of defeat. "It's hard to talk with you."
"Is it because I never said a single word along the way?" Sakurako asked, looking over her shoulder.
"Well… yes…" Himawari replied with a nod. "Don't you want to talk about something?"
Sakurako stays quiet for a moment. "Not sure. Hmm… that reminds me…"
"What is it?" Himawari asked with a raised brow.
"Do we have homework?" Sakurako asked, still looking over her shoulder.
"We have one due the next three days," Himawari replied.
Sakurako then satisfied with the question. "Ah, good then."
Himawari wonders if Sakurako knows where they're going. "So, have you come up with a place for us to go?"
"For now?" Sakurako asked back before looking forward. "I want to take a short trip to the park not far from here."
"Oh," Himawari already showed her pouting face. "I hope you didn't get us lost along the way."
"We still have our phones if we get lost in the way," Sakurako replied.
Himawari is still a little bit surprised at her answer. "It's somehow nice to see you still have some logic. …you understand what that means, right?"
"I don't really understand what it means," Sakurako replied. "Unless you mean about what makes sense."
"That's right," Himawari happily smiled at the answer. "Have you eaten something before we left?"
"I had breakfast this morning," Sakurako replied with a nod. "But I should admit, I want a small snack."
"Oh?" Himawari then pulled out a snack from her bag. "I have an onigiri for you."
"What's the filling?" Sakurako asked with a raised brow as she took it off her hand.
Himawari then pouts her face at the question. "Vegetarian filling."
Sakurako then stares at her for a moment, but her reaction did not change. "Really? Arigato, Hima-chan."
Himawari didn't expect that Sakurako didn't complain. She usually exclaimed about eating vegetables. "I thought you don't want to eat anything that has vegetable."
"I'm curious how it tastes," Sakurako then took a bite on the onigiri. "Hmm, this is nice."
It is pretty interesting to see Sakurako complimented the vegetable-filled onigiri. "Do you like it?"
"Sort of," Sakurako then munched a bit of the onigiri.
They both then look back forward. There's nothing more than the sound of munching. Until…
"Thank you, Hima-chan."
Himawari was caught off-guard by the comment. "I'm sorry?"
"Yesterday…" Sakurako paused for a moment. "I didn't get to say thank you for setting up my birthday."
Himawari stares for a moment before procuring a soft smile. "You're welcome, Saa-chan."
"But why a surprise birthday?" Sakurako asked as she ate the onigiri.
"Kyouko-senpai suggested that," Himawari replied as she corrected her bag. "She said that she wanted your birthday to feel a bit different than usual. She also helped us to spend some funds on planning your birthday. Especially the confetti cannons."
Sakurako just hums to the answer. "I should thank Kyouko-senpai for giving me a heart attack."
Himawari lets out an annoyed sigh. "That was unnecessary to say."
"I know," Sakurako admitted with a nod. "Tell me, did I was feudal with Kyouko?"
"It seems like that so far," Himawari replied, now frowning her eyebrows. "What's your problem with her?"
"I'm not sure," Kyouko admitted with a shrug. "I didn't even realize I was like that to her until I ask that question."
"I don't believe that," Himawari disagreed.
"I expected you to say that," Sakurako is nearly finished with her snack. "But I didn't lie about that."
Himawari didn't react much but then suddenly chuckles. "It was cute to see you that scared."
"Are you teasing me?" Sakurako asked with eyebrows frowned.
Himawari chuckles again at the question. "I guess so."
Sakurako didn't look back at her, but Himawari senses that she might be annoyed. "Don't be like that, Sakurako."
Sakurako then turns her head with a questioning look. "What do you mean by that?"
"Eh?" Himawari is surprised to see Sakurako really didn't react much. "I thought you were annoyed."
"I was satisfied with your answer," Sakurako responded to her statement.
Himawari loses her tongue at the remark as Sakurako stares back forward. "Come on, then. We're nearly there."
Himawari could only stare at her, blonde her as she thoughts to herself. "You are so peculiar with how you answer my question."
They spend about another five-minute walk to reach a specific part of the city where there is a big park located. Many people visit here in the evening, but considering it is still in the morning to noon, only a few people visit here as of today. Himawari had, to be honest, they should visit this forest in the evening for a perfect spectacle. But then again, Sakurako is the one who is dragging her around on this usual trip. And the only last thing she wants is to complain at Sakurako for not coming to this place in the right mood.
That might ruin her mood and make her turn tail back home.
Sakurako stops in her tracks before looking over to Himawari. "Hima-chan."
"Yes?" Himawari raised an eyebrow, putting both hands on her chest.
Sakurako then gives her an open palm. "Can you hold my hand?"
"W-why?" Himawari had to lean her head back with surprise.
Sakurako only stares at her as her hand stays in place like a statue. From the looks of it, that's what Sakurako could say at the moment.
Sighing at the request, Himawari reluctantly holds onto her hand. "F-fine, Sakurako-chan."
Sakurako nods at her before she begins to drag her through the park. Calmly walking down the path of the pristine ivory path as winds occasionally negotiate with their warm bodies. Their eyes move about to see leaves falling off the trees. Of course, it's not just any leaf.
The colors of the leaves are a mix of yellow and orange. It's the autumn season in Japan. Himawari could assume that Sakurako is glad that she doesn't have to suffer the heat of the previous summer. But that alone wasn't enough to distract Himawari from her thoughts. Oddly, that kind of thought is actually much more straightforward than people would think.
The idea of hand-holding with her childhood friend.
She should have no problem with the idea since she knew her so well. But there was no helping to hold back her blushes. This is due to the public cultural manner in Japan. Japanese people don't want to show their affection in public, including through hand-holding and hugging. It's not that it's illegal; it's just a bad manner and sometimes gross. People value the privacy of relationships and don't want to be seen lacking public moral sense.
In this case, Himawari is the one starting to feel this embarrassment. And she can't help but to fill her thoughts with what she's touching now. Her head bowed down a bit, blushing as she started to feel the smooth texture of her clean skin. To feel how soft her hand is. But can't get over to the fact that she became so nervous about holding her hand for so long.
They did stop for a moment when Sakurako turns her head at her and finally notice it. "Hima-chan, why is your face turned red?"
"A-uhm… n-nothing," Himawari shook her head in denial. "I just feel a bit cold."
Sakurako thinks otherwise after noticing her nervous tone. "You embarrassed."
"N-no, I'm not!" Himawari denied it again. "I'm just a bit feverish."
Sakurako didn't reply but proceed to release her hand, much to her surprise. "It doesn't seem like it. Is it about the affection-in-public thing?"
Himawari soon loses her words for a moment before rephrasing. "Y-yes, that was embarrassing."
Sakurako stares at her for a moment before letting out a weary sigh. Sakurako didn't say much and left her behind before she catches up. Himawari manages to walk beside her and looks at her face. To her surprise again, her face is still indifferent. Saying that she's annoyed is just conjecture. From the looks of it, she could say that she didn't really care.
They didn't realize they finally a three-way intersection of the ivory path. Himawari was still looking at her as Sakurako turned her head to see her still gazing. Until they both unexpectedly bump into someone in the middle of the intersection. They were walking at a moderate speed, which wasn't enough to fall to the ground, but enough to make the person they bumped into drop some books.
"O-oh, we're sorry!" Himawari quickly apologized as the three quickly crouched down to collect the books. "We didn't see you."
"No, it's alright," the person replied.
As Sakurako collects a book, she takes a brief look at the person. The woman possesses light brown hair, hair-styled into a thick and wavy shoulder-length ponytail, while her fringe is slick and straight, which cover her ears, but it swept to the right. She possesses red eyes, and her skin is as white as a lily. Her bust is medium, at least a bit smaller than Himawari's. Aside from the formal attire comprised of brown trousers, black coat, and white shirt, Sakurako did notice something on the woman's belt as she crouched down.
Underneath her black coat, she could see a flash of a gold badge.
When it's said and done, they return the fallen books to the woman. "We're sorry, Ojou-san," Himawari humbly apologized with a bow.
"Hey, hey, it's alright," the woman huffed, patting the book of the specks of dust. "Glad it didn't get ruin, or the library is going to sue me for property damage."
"I see…" Himawari awkwardly replied to her remark. "We'll be on our way then. Let's go, Saa-chan."
Surprisingly, Sakurako didn't budge to her call and instead stared at the woman. "What are you doing, Sakurako?"
"Hmm…" Sakurako didn't reply just yet like a broken robot.
"Eerm…" the woman became awkward and reluctantly shed sweat to her stare. "Is there a problem?"
Sakurako continues to stare for the next five seconds before looking straight into her eyes. "Are you a detective?"
"Wha- Sakurako!" Himawari was angry at her bluntness. "Don't ask her straight like that!"
"Wait, how did you know I was a detective?" the woman asked in wonder, which caught Himawari off-guard.
Sakurako then points at her covered belt. "I saw a flash of your badge."
The woman stares at her for a while but then chuckles as her response. "You have a sharp eye. I'll give you that.
The woman then reveals the badge underneath her coat. "I'm with the Toyama PD."
"Oh? I'm… surprised," Himawari then turned to Sakurako. "Well, you should feel lucky detective-san didn't berate you straight."
Sakurako didn't say much, but the detective assures her. "Don't be hard on her, ojou-san."
"It's okay, detective-san," Sakurako assured with such an oblivious tone. "We usually talk like this."
"Uhuh…" the detective could tell that Himawari was starting to look embarrassed to hear her friend's reply. "What are you both doing here in the middle of the day?"
"We're just taking a morning walk, detective-san," Sakurako then paused to a realization. "Wait, is it already noon?"
"Well…" the detective checked her watch. "It's already noon."
"Ah, arigato," Sakurako nodded. "And we hope we don't get lost on our way back home."
Himawari could only shut her galled eyes as the detective watches with wonder. "The last sentence was unnecessary, Sakurako."
"You both ever gotten on lost your own?" the detective asked.
"Just a few times…" Sakurako paused with a hint of doubt. "I think."
"And another few times on your own," Himawari added to the sentence.
"Was that necessary?" Sakurako asked.
Himawari nods sternly, and Sakurako responds expressionlessly. "Okay, then."
It's kind of funny for the detective to see the blonde just accept the answer and move on like that. "Hehe, you should be lucky you didn't end up lost at the outskirts of the city."
That was a joke, but the blonde's opinion… guess what? "I got lost at the outskirts once."
Himawari gives out her blank eyes at the girl. For the detective… it was more of a suspension of disbelieve than a horrifying one.
"Are you joking?" the detective asked.
"Huh?" Sakurako then deadpanned at her with a straight face. "You were joking?"
She has taken the joke literally, for a good reason.
"Oh, sorry," the detective quickly apologized. "I didn't know you got lost at the outskirts before."
"No, it's okay," Sakurako replied with a shook. "I didn't realize you were joking."
"If I may ask," Himawari is polite for the moment. "What are you doing in the park?"
"Well… I'm off-duty for now," the detective replied. "I'm looking for a place to sit so I can read the books."
Sakurako then points behind the woman. "You mean that bench?"
The woman then turns to behind her to see the bench. "Ah yes, that one."
Sakurako then looks over to Himawari. "Do you want to take a seat for a moment, Hima-chan?"
"Sure, that was a long walk," Himawari agreed with a nod. "I hope you don't mind, ojou-san."
"I don't really mind," the detective replied, then pointed her head to the side. "Come on, then."
The three then proceed to the bench and sit down. Sakurako is sitting in the middle with Himawari on her left and the detective on her right. The detective puts her two books down and proceeds to read a book called "Hot-Tail Mandeley." From the looks of the books' covers, Sakurako can guesses that they are novels. The girls and the woman didn't say a word, and honestly, Himawari feels a bit awkward about it.
But, Sakurako, how limited her intelligence was, can't help but be curious about the detective's job. "Is it dangerous?"
The woman then turns at her. "Excuse me?"
"Is it dangerous to be a detective?" Sakurako asked with a raised brow.
"Hmm…" the woman then shut her book. "Depends on the situation. Something unexpected can also happen during my line of work."
"It must be scary for you," Himawari commented in concern.
"Scared? Hah!" the detective laughed at the remark. "It's actually relaxing most of the time."
"I don't think solving some cases count as relaxing," Sakurako stated bluntly.
"What about not getting shot at while on the job?" the detective asked the blonde.
Sakurako only lets out a hum. "That works."
Himawari raises both of her eyebrows. "You… never getting shot at for once?"
"Well, I had some shootouts long ago," the detective then shrugged. "Now, here I am. Enjoying my holiday."
"I see…" Sakurako then paused for a moment. "May we know your name?"
"Sure," the detective nodded happily. "I'm Detective Sumida Oharu, and you are…?"
"I'm Sakurako Oomuro," she then gestured to Himawari. "This is my friend, Himawari Furutani."
"It's a pleasure to get to know you," Himawari politely replied.
"Likewise," Sumida replied with a smile. "And I gotta say; I appreciate your company."
"Glad to hear that," Himawari replied with a smile before noticing Sakurako is staring at the woman. "Sakurako?"
The blonde is a bit distracted… on the woman's bust… "A bit small."
"Small?" Sumida then looked down at where she's staring at.
Which the detective quickly covers her bust with humiliation. "W-what are you staring at?!"
"Sakurako…" Himawari's eyes became a bit darker.
The blonde then looks back at Himawari's bust for a moment. "You still beat hers."
"H-hey, rude!" Sumida retorted with a blush. "Stop comparing and don't humiliate me!"
Himawari lets out an annoyed sigh, but her blush is noticeable. "Sakurako…"
"I'm sorry," Sakurako obliviously apologized. "I was distracted."
"Distracted?" Sumida let out a sigh and then thought to herself. "Is this girl a dimwit or something?"
Sumida then stares back at the blonde. "Where do you live, by the way?"
"Just a few blocks in that direction," Sakurako answered, pointing at where they came from. "Himawari-chan is my neighbor."
"Good to know," Sumida nodded.
"Hmm…" Sakurako paused for a moment. "I was wondering. Do police must have a warrant to search a house, arrest a person, or even confiscate items?"
Sumida smiles at the question. "In my experience, that is a must for every police work. But there are exceptions. Such as a person is committing another crime while the warrant is underway, hearing some disturbance in the other area, something like that."
"Ah, I see," Sakurako nodded in understanding. "Is it easy to be a detective?"
"You better hope don't become one," Sumida advised. "Don't even bother with the police training. Are you good at solving complex cases? Because that's the stressful part of my job. That's including shooting people and stuff."
"Really?" Himawari asked with a raised brow.
"Yeah," Sumida then looked at Sakurako. "Why are you asking about my job?"
"I'm just curious," Sakurako replied with a small shrug. "I just recently played a police-themed game."
"Seriously?" Sumida chuckled at the response. "What it's called?"
Himawari straightens her back. "A game called 'Knock-Knock.'"
Interestingly for Himawari, she didn't expect Sumida to stare at her with widened eyes. "The heck? Do you mean that SWAT game she's playing?"
"Erm, yeah…" Himawari awkwardly replied, sinking her upper body away from Sumida. "You know that game?"
"Know that game?" Sumida snickers at the question. "I played that game. The guys who made that game got the police procedures right."
"Got the procedures, right?" Himawari disagreed with a frowned forehead. "Sakurako arrested an innocent woman to 'secure' her."
"Arrested?" Sumida was confused at the context. "You mean 'detained?'"
"De-" Himawari stopped short with a deadpan before looking over to Sakurako.
"Told you."
Himawari wants to say what the hell but decides to rephrase her words. "But she pepper-sprayed the innocent woman she detained!"
"I guess that woman didn't comply to be detained, huh?" Sumida asked with a raised brow.
"Pretty much," Sakurako shrugged again.
Himawari still can't believe how casual the detective replied. "You're so okay with this."
"What? That's SWAT for you," the detective then leaned against the bench. "I could say the same for the SAT."
*TING-TING-TING*
Both girls reacted a bit to the sound by staring at the direction of the sound. Apparently, that was Sumida's phone ringing. The detective pulls out her phone and checks the messages. Needless to say, she seems exasperated by the message. Sumida lets out a sigh before pocketing it back to her coat. Her head is carelessly leaning against the top of the bench.
"You seem irritated," Sakurako stated, the evident look on her face.
"It's nothing," Sumida responded with a shook. "I just got an update from a friend about a case at a store."
"I see," Himawari shared her concern. "It must be troubling from the looks of it."
"Well, it's nothing much to worry about," Sumida then rubbed her forehead. "I hate it when my job interrupts my day off."
"What's that case about?" Sakurako asked; the detective could see the small glimmer in her eyes.
"Nah, I won't bore you about the details," Sumida shook her head, thinking that would be a wrong decision to make. "That would be unprofessional, Oomuro-san."
Himawari wanted to say something, but it seems Sakurako still has something to say. "Is it the case about Bakimura Store?"
Himawari could say that Sakurako is just guessing here, but her conjecture seems to be extremely correct from how Sumida deadpans at her with an open mouth.
"That's the first thing that came up in your mind?" Sumida asked, barely nodded to her.
Sakurako shrugs before leans her back against the bench. "It's my best guess. I haven't heard other news than just that."
"Well, you are right in that assessment," Sumida then opened her book. "My friend had sent a message to me about the origins of the drugs. Worth checking it out if I had the time."
"It's still unbelievable that the store owner would keep such things in their storage," Himawari commented with an upsetting frown.
"Well, he got jailed for it, but the criminals who rented that storage haven't been found yet," Sumida responded with a disappointed sigh. "Sneaky scums. Well, that's a bit better than dealing with Shiba."
Sakurako then winces her eyes at the name she said. "Shiba?"
"Nevermind what I just said," Sumida dismissively waved her hand at her.
Despite that, Himawari is still disgusted by the word 'sneaky scums,' Sakurako became suspicious about the detective. Sakurako incidentally recalls her first time 'off the wrong foot' meeting with Shiba Matsubara. Shiba did mention that she thought Sakurako was working for a detective. This must be the detective Shiba meant, probably. She might give a call to her shooting-sensei when she got home.
"Anyway," Himawari began. "Did you hear when Bakimura Store will open?"
"Hmm…" Sumida paused her reading to remember the answer. "It will open in three days last I heard. The only thing that's missing is to look for a new manager to run that store."
"That's good news," Himawari complimented with a smile. "I can't wait to shop there."
Sakurako turns her head forward, seemingly lost in thought. "Hmm…"
The bluenette raises both her eyebrows to the curiously blonde girl. "Do you want to say something?"
Sakurako then lazily turns her head at her. "I might know someone who can run that store."
That gets Sumida's attention, half-closing her book to look at her. "You know one?"
"Hai," Sakurako nodded stiffly. "Do you know Buro Kurowa?"
"Buro Kuro-" Sumida suddenly halted and then widened her baffling eyes. "Wait, I know him. He's one of the employees that helps defend the store. I had to admit, and I was kinda surprised that he has a firearms permit."
"Hm?" Sakurako is still curious about firearms. "What kind of firearms?"
"A shotgun-" Sumida paused for a moment. "Why are you curious about it?"
Sakurako then shrugs the question. "I guess I'm a bit of a gun enthusiast."
"Even after playing that SWAT game, it doesn't mean that you suddenly an enthusiast that fast," Himawari countered her statement.
"I guess so," Sakurako then paused for a moment, fiddling her fingers before looking up to the bluenette. "We're going to do a shopping run after this, aren't we?"
"Yeah," Himawari let her hands rest on her thighs. "We both are running out of supplies in our houses. Which store you want to go to?"
"To Sakagawa Store," Sakurako replied with a straight face.
"Hm… do you mind if I tag along?" Sumida asked as she shut her book. "I just remembered that my fridge is empty back in my apartment."
Sakurako stares at her with a tilted head. "Is it that end of the month already?"
While Himawari doesn't know what she meant by that, but Sumida understands her meaning. "No, it's early of the month. And hey, even if I'm a detective. My pay is not that high."
"So you're saying you're poor," Sakurako then got her head knocked a little by Himawari's fist. "Hey, don't say anything like that!"
"Huh? No, it's not that I'm poor," Sumida rejected the statement. "I just got enough money from all that job."
"I see," Sakurako then sucked her whole lips into her mouth. "And before I forget, Kurowa-san actually worked at Sakagawa Store."
"Oh, really?" Sumida widened her eyes, wincing a part of her forehead. "I'm surprised you know him.
"Well, we had a little chat at that time," Sakurako then decided to stand off the bench. "So… should we start walking?"
"Alright, then," Himawari then stood off the bench.
"Hang on, you don't have to walk all the way there," Sumida stated as she picked her books off the bench. "I'll give you girls a lift."
"Um, n-no, it's fine-" The woman then cut off Himawari.
"Nonsense, no need to be shy about it," Sumida then walked ahead of them. "Come on."
Both of the girls – Himawari being reluctant, and Sakurako seems pleased with the help – followed up just behind her. There, Sumida leads them to her personal light grey sedan car. The two young girls sit in the back as Sumida takes over the wheel. Convinced that everyone is already comfortable in their seats, Sumida begins to drive the car.
The drive was quick if Himawari paid attention. Sakurako did take a quick nap along the way, but she feels like she has just taken a nap in no less than thirty seconds. Sumida, Himawari, and Sakurako exit the excellent vehicle and enter the beloved Sakagawa Store. However, before they begin their shopping, Sakurako leads the detective and Himawari to one of the employees, none other than Buro Kurowa.
Buro seems so surprised to see the woman here. "Ah, Oharu-san. I'm surprised to see you here."
"Actually, I'm more surprised to see you are working with the same job in a different store," Sumida commented with a smile.
"What brings you here, by the way?" Buro asked as he scratched the back of his neck. "I thought we're done with the interrogation and testimony."
"Actually, I want to let you know that Bakimura store will be open in the next three days," Sumida replied with her arms crossed. "But we're still having a problem looking for a manager to run the store. So I was thinking if you could become that store's manager."
"Wait, really?" Buro was uncertain of this turn of events. "I'm not sure if I could handle that position."
"I'm sure you can handle it," Sumida assured him. "Your colleagues are pretty pleased with your dedication and customer service. This is a nice opportunity for you. What do you think?"
"Hmm… I think I can do it," Buro felt so optimistic about this outcome. "I'm in. I'll tell my boss about it, and I'll holler to you after that."
"Nice," the detective replied with a happy clap. "I'll get in touch with some of my contacts and convince them about you."
"I didn't know detective could give people a job," Himawari commented with a confused look.
"I don't give people jobs, but I know someone who could," Sumida replied with her fists on her hips.
"You always do. You're a detective, after all," Buro replied as his hand putting down a product onto a rack. "I hope that's all unless you're here to do shopping as well."
"Well, we're here to do a shopping run by chance," Sumida replied, then pulled out a list from her pocket. "Mind helping us out?"
"Oh, not at all," Buro replied with a smile and a clap. "Whatcha looking for?"
Sumida and Himawari went off with Buro to the other section of the aisle, whereas for Sakurako, she stayed at the very left of the aisle. That aisle is where she finds soaps, shampoos, and bathroom wares. Of course, she finds them for herself and Himawari, not including Sumida. She's enjoying her excellent time picking the soaps, well, with a straight face.
*TING-TING*
Her phone rang. She recognizes the ringtone. That's the message's ringtone.
She proceeds to pull out her phone and checks into it. Admittedly, it was excellent timing to receive this text because this message is from Shiba herself. The lady shouldst feeleth lucky yond Sumida didn't seeth this, in how Sakurako phrased in Shakespearean language. Let's not question where she learned that language, m'kay?
This is what the message contains:
"Hey Sakurako, I found a job for you. And as I promised, I got this job, not from a criminal."
Sakurako winces her eyes, then replies:
"Details?"
She waited for a moment for a reply and received the next message:
"Well… it's an assassination job. I got a call from a mother-in-distress to kill a serial killer, who is none other than her own daughter. That's just screwed up if you ask me. (^_^.)"
Sakurako had to agree to her last sentence. She had felt upset after reading the sentence.
"When?"
Shiba sends another text:
"About six in the evening. Meet me outside the love hotel. I've sent you the location so you can find me through GPS. Don't bother to bring a gun. I've prepped one for you."
Love hotel? If there's one thing she could conclude, this target must be a jealous woman with psychopathic tendencies—correction, already beyond yandere. But if there's one thing she's glad about, the job is not from a criminal.
"Alright, looks like I have free time in the evening. I'll come over for the job."
Sakurako receives another text from the weapons dealer.
"Glad to hear it. I have to admit, I didn't expect for you to actually take an assassination job. I'll see you in the evening. "
Satisfied with the new contract, she immediately hides her phone and continues on her shopping run. She turns her head to her left and sees Himawari and Sumida are coming over. Sumida starts to look for her soaps, on the other hand, Himawari helps the blonde get the latest soap according to their list. Convinced that everything is already according to the list, the three head out to the cashier. Of course, Sumida, Himawari, and Sakurako split the bills to pay their individual items. In that way, they'll feel equal with each other.
Once they exit to the store, Sakurako then asked Sumida. "Do you mind if you can get us home?"
"Sure, I don't mind," Sumida replied with a nod as she opens the car's back. "It's near, right?"
"Yes," Himawari awkwardly nodded as they put down their shopping bags. "It's close."
"Good then," Sumida replied as she shut the car's back. "I just need directions."
"I'll help you on that," Himawari replied before they all finally enter the car.
A trip that should be longer than fifteen minutes has been reduced to at least five minutes thanks to the lift Sumida gave. They made it back to Sakurako's house safe and sound, and it's a shame that Sakurako doesn't get to enjoy the car's AC longer. The car stops in front of the house, at which Sumida kills the engine, and they exit the car. Sumida then opens the car's back to let the bluenette and the blonde grab their shopping bags. After that, they head towards the house's front.
"Sakurako, Himako?"
Much to Himawari's surprise, Nadeshiko and Hanako are right in front of them. The eldest sister is holding a small plastic bag in her right hand.
"Did you both just come back with a stranger's car?" Hanako asked the tone she had is high to show her shock.
"Yes, Hanako-chan," Sakurako replied calmly with a nod.
"Why do you even-" Nadeshiko asked quickly but then got cut off.
"Ah, is this your family, Sakurako?" Sumida asked as she walked over next to the girls.
"They're my sisters, Oharu-san," Sakurako replied. "I'm their second sister."
"I see," Sumida then bowed to the sisters. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"I-it's a pleasure to meet you too," Nadeshiko replied humbly but still concerned. "May we know who you are?"
"My name is Detective Sumida Oharu," Sumida introduced herself.
"Detective?" said the eldest sister, widen her eyes and leaned her back a bit as Hanako does the same. "Wow… I didn't expect that."
"And you are?" Sumida asked the sisters.
"My name is Nadeshiko Oomuro, and this is Hanako Oomuro," Nadeshiko then diverted her eyes to the bluenette and the blonde. "I hope Sakurako and Himawari-chan are not bothering you."
"Bothering?" Sumida chuckled a bit. "I really appreciate their company."
"Is that so?" Hanako asked before procuring an innocent smile. "We're glad to hear that."
"Did you go somewhere?" Sakurako asked, looking at the bag the eldest sister's holding.
"We just came back from the stationary store," Nadeshiko replied. "Hanako needs new coloring tools, and I need new pens."
"Ah, I see," Himawari nodded. "I hope we didn't concern you much for taking a lift with Oharu-san's car."
"Well, I'm not worried now," Nadeshiko smiled. "It's a good thing that-"
"AAAAAAAHHH!"
Never been felt so frightened after hearing that high-pitched scream. After they jumped to hear that, they quickly turned their heads at the house. That screaming was none other than the Oomuro sisters' mother.
"Mom?!" Sakurako went straight ahead into the house.
"Wait, Sakurako!" Himawari screamed, following her into the house.
"Wha- hey- damn!" Sumida swore before the rest of them quickly enter the house. "Hold it!"
Sakurako quickly makes her way to the living room to get to the kitchen. And from there, she stops as Himawari, Sumida, and the rest of her sisters stop right behind her. They saw the mother is standing beyond the doorway of the kitchen. A ladle is in her hands while her body fails to stop shaking in fear.
"Okaa-chan!" Sakurako's voice was a bit high. "What happened?"
"T-there is a-" the mother failed to finish her sentence.
"Is there a robber?!" Nadeshiko asked quickly, then continued by Sumida. "Just stay there, ojou-san."
The mother was finally able to rephrase her words. "T-there's a cockroach in the kitchen!"
Silence suddenly engulfs the room, where their panic finally fades away. Everyone who's looking at her, including Sumida herself, could give nothing more than a blank stare. Sumida can't believe what she just heard. The sisters and Himawari looked a bit frightened. While Sakurako, well, she barely refrains herself from feeling annoyed.
"A cockroach?" Sakurako raised an index finger at the mother. "One moment."
Sakurako hastily makes her way upstairs, leaving Himawari, Sumida, and the rest of the Oomuro Family downstairs.
"We should kill that cockroach," Hanako suggested despite her fingers noticeably fidgeting.
"Y-yeah, but…" Nadeshiko swallowed her saliva. "I- can't do it…"
Everyone then looks at Sumida, despite the mother doesn't know who she is. But Sumida slowly raises her hand in denial. "U-um, no, I'm not going to do that."
"But you're a detective!" Himawari stressed with a glare.
"I know, but- I can't stand cockroach," the detective left an awkward smile and shed a sweat.
"What?! Unbelievable!" Hanako pouted with such cute eyes. "Who's going to kill it?!"
"Make a way, please."
They turn their backs to see Sakurako with a relieved look.
"Sakurako, where were-" Nadeshiko quickly trailed off. "-you…"
They begin to widen their eyes as wide as a light bulb and drop their jaws open, and their bottom left eyelids to lift a bit. They have to wonder no more as to why she went upstairs. What is contained in her hands was something far outrageous than they thought. She has a Remington shotgun in her hands.
*SH-SHLIK*
The cocking sound itself makes the girls and the detective recoiled in shock and backed away. Sakurako makes her way to the kitchen in a jog as her mother watches. Once she's out of view, she gets down to work.
*BAM-SH-SHLIK-BAM-SH-SHLIK BAM-SH-SHLIK BAM-SH-SHLIK BAM-SH-SHLIK*
*TUK-TRUTRUTUTUK*
No more sounds emanated from the room for the moment. That until Sakurako calmly walks into view and rests against the doorway's post with her shotgun pointing at the ground. Everyone standing in the living continues to stare with shaded eyes. It is very inconceivable for them to see Sakurako went two steps too far by killing a bug with a shotgun. But, there's a better question than why she used the shotgun.
"Sakurako, where did you get that shotgun?" the mother asked in concern.
The blonde then stares at her for the moment. "I bought it."
Everyone can't help but shed a sweat. "You… bought it?" Sumida asked with an uncertain tone.
"Yes, I did," Sakurako nodded with a straight face. "It's an airsoft shotgun."
"Oh," Nadeshiko let out a sigh. The rest did the same with relief. "That sounded a bit too real."
"Because I asked for it," Sakurako added, much to their surprise.
"Well… that bug is dead, right?" Hanako asked with a speck of fear.
"Yes, certainly," Sakurako was being confident but didn't show that part on her face. "If you count its body riddled with bullets."
"Ah, well then…" the mother awkwardly looked around. "I'll get the broom."
Sakurako nods as she moves on before leering back at the girls and the detective. "Sakurako-chan, I think you just took things literally from that game," Himawari commented.
Sakurako raises an eyebrow at her remark. "Did I scream put its hands up in doing so?"
"Well, not too literally," Sumida corrected. "But at least, that's just too far."
The girls even agreed with her with a nod.
Sakurako lets out a hum. "Fortunately for this house, we have something to shoot with if someone robs our house."
"Okay, that'll work," Nadeshiko nodded in consent.
The time of this afternoon is spent with a friendly chat between Sumida, Himawari, and the Oomuro Family. They barely feel that they have at least spent two hours at this civil meeting. Sumida and Himawari bid their farewell to go back home. After they left, Sakurako spends her time playing with Hanako with the time bestowed to her. For now, she'll wait for the evening to arrive.
17:45 PM.
The streets down in the city are crowded as the tangerine light in the sky slowly fades away. High buildings shaded the paths and smaller complex within as street lights fighting back against the dark. Cars come and go, still obey the laws of traffic when the police are absent. Unsurprisingly, the sight in the middle of the city was nothing more but a fantastic view.
A blonde girl is walking down one kind of road that is not crowded and yet not peaceful. Eyes are looking left and right as she follows the path shown in the GPS. But, of course, still being mindful of the static obstacles before her. The only things she hears are only her footsteps and the cars roaming about. She can barely feel the breeze thanks to her thin striped pink and blue jacket and a pair of cream trousers.
It takes none than a few seconds for her to reach the destination. On her left across the road is the love hotel, called Scattering Tanuki. Quite a strange name if one would ask her. But then, ahead of her, there's a person waiting exactly across the building. The violet woman is standing there, leaning her back against the wall of a high building, hands in her pockets of the open trench coat. Then blonde tucks her phone away and walks over to the violet woman.
"Matsubara-sensei," the blonde greeted with a straight smile.
"Oh, will you stop teasing me with that name, Sakurako?" the violet woman replied with mild irritation.
"Huh, tease you?" Sakurako looked perplexed at the moment.
"I'm still surprised you still looked so ignorant to what you just said," Shiba commented, leaning her head a bit forward. "And you're earlier than I thought."
"I was concerned if I'm late," Sakurako just shrugs at her comment. "The job?"
"Follow me," Shiba then motioned her to her right, signaling her to follow.
Shiba leads her to forward a bit until an alley on their right greets them. They enter the alley and walk around the back of this building. There was a door into the building, but Shiba opted to use the outdoor emergency stairs, at which Sakurako followed suit. They climb until they reach the door on the fifth floor—no need to pick the door because it's already unlocked, to begin with.
The hallway is noticeably empty and dark when they entered—but evidenced from the scattered plastic sheets and covered walls, no need to ask if this floor is currently on renovating. Shiba has assured her that the workers already went home from their shift. Lady luck is on their side as they traverse down the halls and find the windows overlooking the love hotel. A large bag is found before one of the large windows.
Shiba and Sakurako crouch down, then the violet woman proceeds to unzip it open, revealing a very much different rifle than one Sakurako had or even seen.
"So…" Sakurako paused as she looked up. "You want me to be a sniper."
"Yep," Shiba then pulled out the rifle from the bag. "M21 SWS. I figured that you're still not good at playing bolt-action rifle."
"Shooting one bullet at a time?" Sakurako asked the weapon dealer.
"I see you have done your research," Shiba smiled at the blonde.
"Only a little," Sakurako then grabbed hold of the rifle. "Is it just me, or this is heavier than my AK?"
"It's more heavier," Shiba added on her observation. "If your hand's feeling tired, use the bipod on the barrel."
Sakurako did notice a couple of tables on the floor they're on, but it seems she might not need them. The blonde, still crouching, open the folded bipod as her eyes looked over the hotel. Before she slowly puts the rifle down on its stock and bipod and then lies face down on the ground. She then holds her rifle and looks through the scope, adjusting her eyes to see through it. Ignoring the fact that her belly and chest feel a bit hurt.
"You're starting to get the hang of it," Shiba complimented with a smile as Sakurako turned off the safety by pushing the lever out of the trigger guard. "Now, to make this brief. I came across the contact of a mother, a Suzu Yana, who is so desperate to stop her daughter, Kohaku, from going on a killing spree."
"Killing her ex-lovers?" Sakurako asked the obvious.
"Yeah," Shiba nodded. "She didn't even care if her ex-lovers have good reasons to dump her. She stabbed them all to death. One of those times, she also killed the girlfriend with him. Yana-sama did describe that her daughter seems to… relish on what she did."
Sakurako frowns her eyes; it's clear that she's angry and even refrained from saying. "Monster…"
"Last her mother called, Kohaku will be coming to this place," Shiba replied as she pulled out her mini-binoculars. "Her recent ex-boyfriend, along with his girlfriend, will be entering the room in front of us. She'll be coming to kill them."
"Are you sure about that?" Sakurako asked, didn't even leave her eyes out from the scope.
"100 percent accurate," Shiba then looked through her binoculars. "Yana-sama somehow found the ex-boyfriend's room that he booked yesterday. This is the one. On the fourth floor."
Sakurako then stays silent for a moment. "How many did she kill?"
"Well…" Shiba paused, at least glad that she's asking about casualties. "Six so far, including the dead girlfriend."
Sakurako unconsciously grips the rifle tighter, but her finger is off the trigger. "What of Yana-sama?"
"She said that she'd take every responsibility to stop Kohaku," Shiba replied with her binocular lowered. "For her, putting bullets on her is already a sign that she's been disowned from her family for her wicked actions, and she won't be forgiven."
That's a tragic consequence, suited for this ill-evil young woman. "Alright."
Few minutes have passed, and the weapon dealer noticed that it's already five minutes past six in the evening. She second-guesses the distance between the building she's in and the love hotel is about 25-30 meters. Knowing the target will be entering the fourth floor, she has a clear view of the room, including half of the room's floors. However, Sakurako decides to ask another unrelated topic, but enough to alarm Shiba.
"By the way, I had a walk with my childhood friend this afternoon," Sakurako begun.
"Yeah, so what?" Shiba asked, making her best to look uninterested.
"We met a woman at the park," Sakurako replied expressionlessly. "She was a detective, apparently."
Shiba actually turns her head at her. "Oh, really? Did you ask her some questions about police procedures?"
"Not really," Sakurako replied with a shook. "But her name was Sumida Oharu."
And now, what she received was Shiba's look of bewilderment. "What?! That bitch!?"
Sakurako then stares back with a solemn look, and a bit disgusted with her words.
Shiba sighs in response. "Sorry. But did she tell you about who I am?"
"No, she just mentioned your name," Sakurako then aimed back through the scope. "And also about Bakimura Store."
"Oh…" Shiba then looked back at the love hotel. "I see…"
"I could guess you both had a war with each other," Sakurako said.
"Well… it's barely like that," Shiba replied with a shrug. "I'm doing illegal business, and she's keeping the pressure on me so I can get to jail. And look, I'm still here, scot-free thanks to the lawyers that are with me, even if that damned detective has proof against me."
"I think you forget to add 'bribe' in that sentence," Sakurako added to her response.
"Huh, sharp," Shiba complimented. "You don't know how many people are so thirsty for money and willing to do anything to get it, to the point of destroying their own dignity."
"Hm…" Sakurako then turned a bit to her left. "I guess I'm lucky to have someone who's working on something bad."
"You are," Shiba replied with a tilted head. "You know… I'm surprised that Sumida is working on the Bakimura Store case by chance."
"Me too," Sakurako added with an agreement. "I have saved her the trouble from telling her I was there."
"Yeah, you don't need to remind me why," then looked over to the fourth floor with her binoculars, but then quickly worked up. "Saa-chan, get ready. They're here."
She aims her rifle down into the windows, not shut by curtains. Through her scope, she could see a couple, a young man and woman. And the first they did after entering the room is to kiss. That didn't bother her much, and she continues to watch them with Shiba by her side. A few minutes have passed, and she only saw that the boyfriend is sitting on the bed while his girlfriend is changing. Sakurako then slowly turns her scope to the right…
She didn't expect to see that girlfriend in lingerie.
Sakurako gulps as she didn't realize her cheeks are starting to get a little red. "Quite a nice view, isn't it?"
"Too nice," Sakurako replied, somehow maintaining her flat tone.
Shiba confusingly looks at her. "You're not even feeling excited or something?"
"So far…" Sakurako paused for a moment. "It made me blush."
She watches the girlfriend slowly approach his boyfriend before kissing him and then making out with him, lying on the bed. What she can see are only their bottoms and legs. Nothing was off for now. There's nothing she could say except enjoying the sight. If there's one thing she could say, it's that she might be getting aroused from watching this.
Until Shiba notices something off… "Sakurako, look over to the right."
The blonde slowly peers to the right, at which she saw an individual silhouette at the corner of the window. The silhouette slowly walks down until the middle of the window. A young woman with an eerie grin. But she also notices another thing.
There's a knife in her hand.
"Shiba?" Sakurako asked, haste to the sight.
"Yep, that's Kohaku," Shiba quickly replied. "Take the shot!"
Without further ado, the trigger is depressed.
*BAM-BAM-BAM*
Three shots rang throughout the city. People down on the streets halt on their tracks, alarmed, looking around them like a pack of frightened cats. Cars on the streets did not stop on their way, but the drivers have wondered what those sounds are. Most would think that some naughty juvenile kids are playing with fireworks.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!"
But one such couple thinks otherwise. At least, to what they just saw.
*TING-TRING-TING*
Gun barrel's barely heating up, but a small smoke comes out from its edge. The single eye of the young blonde still on the scope. Before her scoped eye, and before the young couple, lays a young ill-sadistic Kohaku. Her head and shoulders rest against the wall, gasping in horrible pain as her knife falls off her hand. From how Sakurako sees her face, she could tell that sick woman finally felt what it feels like for the first time, feeling despair and horror—realizing the fate that befalls her.
However, Sakurako could swear she could hear the man's voice from afar. "Ko-Kohaku?"
Before finally pressing the trigger the last time.
*BAM*
And a single shot to the target's chest, Sakurako suddenly feels her heart aches. Now, Kohaku is dead, lying in her own blood. Do not mind the quick screaming of the said couple; she gets off from the scope and looks toward the room afar. She is letting out a sigh as her eyes unconsciously wincing at the bloody sight.
"Your mother sends her regards."
Shiba then pockets her binoculars away and then looked over to the blonde. "Good job, she's dead."
"I know," Sakurako replied with a nod, hastily getting off the floor. "It's time to get out from here."
"Hey, take this," Shiba tossed a cap at Sakurako. "There's an exit at the end of this alley. Don't worry about me. I'll handle this gun from here."
Sakurako wears on the cap before nodding at her. "Arigato, Shiba-chan."
"Don't mention it," Shiba replied with a smile. "Now go."
Sakurako didn't waste a second to leave the floor and uses the emergency stairs to get down. She immediately walks down the alley, avoiding to exit through the front alley. Once she's out of the alley, she walks down the street in the direction of her house, wearing off her cap after 50 meters from the alley. She dumps the cap into a trash bin as she continues on her way home.
And from there, she never faced any such resistance.
20 minutes later.
If there's one thing that annoyed Sumida, it is to get a new case while she has a day-off. She just got a call from the Department that there has been an incident that happened at Scattering Tanuki Love Hotel. That call is about a case of homicide. It's not like something she hasn't dealt with before.
She parks her car in front of the closed road. She exits her car and proceeds to walk to the hotel entrance, where an officer is waiting for her.
"Well, well, Detective Sumida," the officer greeted her. "We're glad that you're here."
"I still can't believe you've called me on my supposed day off," Sumida exclaimed with an annoyed sigh. "But I can't really complain much about it."
"We're sorry about that," the officer apologized with a small bow. "We just felt this might be urgent because this incident happened just minutes ago."
"Oh, well then," Sumida waved a hand at him. "Take me to the scene."
"Right this way."
The officer leads her towards the fourth floor by using the elevator. It didn't take them long to go up and immediately headed for a specific room. By the time they reached the room's door, they meet a couple of youngsters, hastily dressed in their casual outfits. From how Sumida sees it, they are still terrified of what had happened.
Sumida goes ahead to interview. "Good evening, I'm Detective Sumida.
"Good evening to you too, detective," the frightened boyfriend replied.
"May I ask what had happened here?" Sumida asked the couple.
"Well… we're going on with our… session, detective," the girlfriend replied. "When we didn't know, there's a crazy woman who entered our room without a sound. She even had a knife in her hand."
"She's going to stab us," the boyfriend paused for a moment. "When suddenly… someone shot her out of nowhere."
Sumida winces at his words. "Nowhere?"
"I mean, those shots came in through the window," the boyfriend replied. "But we didn't dare to look out the window to see who it is."
"I see…" Sumida turns her head at the open room, and the investigators are currently examining the scene. "Who's the dead woman that tried to kill you both?"
"That's… Kohaku Yana," the boyfriend reluctantly replied. "I broke up with her recently."
"Why so?" Sumida asked with a tilted head.
"That's because…" he then looked at her shocked girlfriend. "The couple of times I met with her, she seems to be too scary. I could say she was sadistic to begin. I started not to like where it was going, so that's why I broke up with her."
"I see…" Sumida nodded. "I'll go ahead and check the scene. I'll come back later once I have another question in mind."
"Of course, detective," the girlfriend nodded before Sumida walked off into the room.
The detective expects that there are more clues in the room. Unfortunately, the only clues left in the room is the place of the couple's make-out session, Kohaku's bloodied body, and the bullet holes on the somehow-intact window. She checks over the dead woman, leering over the knife just beyond the dead woman's open hand. She looks over to the four bullet wounds from her stomach up to her chest. Somehow, it's surprising to see that Kohaku wasn't shot in the head.
"Kohaku Yana, huh?" Sumida flatly asked. "Can't believe you're trying to kill your ex-boyfriend only to die this way."
"Umm, detective," the officer with her interrupted. "About her…"
"What is it?" Sumida asked him.
"We might've found the serial killer that's responsible for killing six people in five different locations."
Sumida stands up with such surprise. "What makes you say that?"
"Well…" the officer paused for a moment. "The officers that were investigating the recent murder of one of her boyfriends had found the remains of a phone buried underneath a big pot flower. They recovered the messages and found death threats from Kohaku herself."
"Really?" Sumida has never been for once surprised by this outcome.
"Yeah, and by the looks of that knife," the officer pointed at the knife. "The forensics here believed that's the same weapon she used on her previous boyfriends."
"Well, karma's a bitch, ain't it?" Sumida then looked over to the window behind her. "What about the shooter?"
They walked over to the window as the officer points at the building across. "It came from that fifth floor."
"No one saw who was shooting her?" Sumida asked.
"None, not even a camera," the officer frowned. "Witnesses did saw some flash from that floor, but it was still too dark to see who was shooting. But we found empty cartridges on that floor. They have been sent to the department to analyze them."
Sumida seems a bit perplexed by this case. "Whoever was shooting her, he really didn't like whatever she was up to. And even in the right time at the right place."
While the idea seems plausible, the officer has some doubts. "But to kill her with a rifle at that distance, don't you think that might've been a mercenary?"
"Probably," Sumida had another opinion. "But my other best guess is that we might have a vigilante on the lose."
"A vigilante?" the officer asked with a raised brow. "Do you think the people in the city will be upset about this?"
"If that guy creates a lot of chaos along the way, yes, in a long shot," Sumida replied with her arms crossed. "But it looks like whoever that guy was, he knows how to keep a low profile."
"I see," the officer looked behind him for a moment. "I need to go back to guard the entrance."
"Go ahead."
Sumida still keeps staring out the window as the officer proceeds to return to his post. While the forensics are examining the scene, Sumida can't help but stand there and think about what occurred here. Even if she's happy that this madwoman died with maybe justifiable force, the idea that a vigilante might be lurking around the city is pretty concerning. Most people would think vigilantes are the proper judge throughout the city. But Sumida thinks the otherwise. Even the vigilante wanted to bring justice; he might've used evil deeds to fulfill whatever he thinks is justice, which is most often looked down on by the department.
If her opinion about this unknown vigilante is correct, she needs to find out who he is as soon as possible.