Prologue

Ame-senpai and I drove northward, leaving the Swingwell compound behind us. Our destination? My house in the Projects. We were going to shed our costumes for the South and change into our costumes for the North. My Hinotori would become Erika. Ame's Pudding would become Amelon.

Watching Ame change was a privilege of mine. After all, I could confirm that Ame-senpai truly did have pudding and melons.

Ehe. Eheheh.

Anyways! Where was I? Uh…right!

That was our deal with the Shrimps gang, Ame told me. Starting today, we will be going to the Lemon Shark Fruit Cannery for the graveyard shift. That meant that Ame and I would be able to swing by Swingwell in the mornings for the Deadbeats.

We'd be living our double lives doubletime. Afternoon nap times are gonna be our greatest luxuries from here on out.

That - and these afternoon costume changes were also the best time to catch up with our team.

So, while I watched Ame-senpai slide into her - I mean, uhm… while I dutifully prepared for the mission ahead, I picked up the phone in my kitchen and made a call.

…

The telephone rang for a few moments before the call went through. As soon as Kiara heard the click, she spoke firmly.

"Takanashi. Badge 1-0-1-4-0."

The operator paused for a moment, flipping through a sheet of paper again. This time, however, the delay wasn't as long as the last time Kiara called.

"How can I help, Detective?" The operator asked.

"Forensics, please." Kiara replied, "Patch me through to Dr. Ninomae."

"Hold on please. Patching you through now."

Kiara heard another click. Then, Ina's tired voice reached Kiara's ear.

"Dr. Ninomae speaking."

"Ina-senpai!" Kiara cheered, her voice shining as bright as sunlight

"Ah, Detective Takanashi. Good afternoon." Ina seemed to smile on the other end, "You're cutting it close. Subaru and I were heading home in half an hour. The Night Shift Watch Commander is already getting ready to take over for the evening."

"Well, it's a good thing we caught you, then!" Kiara was stubbornly positive.

"Heh. It's refreshing to hear someone this chipper over the phone, you know that?" Ina snickered, "Speaking of which, how's A- I mean, how's Detective Watson holding up? She's still not moping around, is she?"

Ina seemed to be keenly interested in what Kiara had to say.

"Oh! Ame-senpai has melo-" Kiara started, but she stopped herself halfway, "Oops!"

"Excuse me?" Ina was startled.

"I mean - Ame-senpai is doing better now, Ina-senpai." Kiara reassured with a smile, "She was a little sluggish for a while, but she's back in action." The Phoenix sat down on a chair and leaned back against the wall, "Plus, she said that she'll tell us what's been on her mind when she's ready. She just needs time to think."

A moment's pause followed. It seemed to last for an eternity.

"Classic Ame." Ina finally commented, "That's good news, though. That means she's on the mend." She promptly changed the subject, "So! What can I do for you today, Takanashi?"

"We've got some good news and some bad news from the South district." Kiara explained calmly.

"Story of our lives." Ina groaned. The doctor's swivel chair creaked and her elbows thumped her desk, "The beans, Takanashi. Spill them - and don't go easy on the details."

With that, Kiara told Ina about her brief adventure with Ame in the South District. All the while, she shared what information she gleaned about the Deadbeats, their front in Swingwell and her observations about Death-sensei and Calli.

Mostly about Calli.

Actually, as soon as Kiara started speaking about Calli, she almost couldn't stop!

"Sounds like you're a big Calli fan." Ina assessed, "Mind if I prop you up in my apartment next summer?"

"You're welcome to try!" Kiara chuckled.

"But yes - I agree with your notes, Takanashi. Calliope Mori might be a useful ally in our goal."

"I sure hope so." Kiara hummed, "It's good that she's trying to lessen the collateral damage with diplomacy - but I really wish she'd go a step further and stop the war altogether."

"There might be something that she sees that we don't." Ina reminded the junior detective.

"What could that be, senpai?"

"If we knew, we wouldn't be investigating the Queenpins would we?"

"Gah! That's true…"

Ina chuckled on the other end of the line.

"That aside, my shift is coming to an end." Ina reminded, "If there's anything else you want me to look up - now's your chance."

"Oh, right!" Kiara's eyes shone, "What information do you have about Mumei Nanashi and the Owl Pals of Parliament Road?"

"Mumei Nanashi and the Owl Pals." Ina hummed. She answered without even pulling out any files from her records, "Now that's a combo that takes me back."

"How so?" Kiara asked.

"When Ame and I were fresh out of Police Academy, the Owl Pals were one of the biggest gangs in the City." Ina explained casually, "Roughly half of Shrimp territory and half of Deadbeat territory was ruled by the Owl Pals back then. They even cut into Central quite a bit."

"What happened to them?"

"A City PD crackdown brought the Owl Pals and a lot of the smaller gangs affiliated with them down. Ame and I spent our stint as beat cops nabbing Owls - even inside the Central District!" Ina recounted with a sigh, "It was so brutal that the last Police Chief had to step down. By the time Chief Enma took office, and took all the credit too, the Owl Pals ceased to exist - and the Shrimps and the Deadbeats took over their territories." The doctor paused and mused, "If their boss, Mumei Nanashi, is active again, then she might be involved in this war."

"Ame-senpai and I think that Mumei Nanashi is the arms dealer of the Deadbeats." Kiara revealed, "We saw her walking into Swingwell on our way out. She was there at Dicey Odds when we confronted Baelz Hakos too!"

"That makes sense. Mumei and the Owls were known for using guns and knives - anything they could get their talons on, really." Ina groaned, "Them getting involved makes this coming war even more dangerous."

"Think that Owl Pal guns were used in the Nephilim Club shooting?" Kiara asked.

"I wouldn't be surprised if they were - but I can't confirm that." Ina admitted, "All the investigation details are locked up tight in the Restricted archives. A lot of the formal details about Nanashi and the Owl Pals too! Only Chief Enma - and maybe her favorite Detective Ouro - would be privy to that stuff."

Kiara's eyes narrowed, "Like they'd ever help us."

"We play with the hands we're dealt, my friend." Ina consoled her, "Keep track of any weapons that you find in the North and in the South. I'll cross-reference them with Subaru's missing military equipment manifest. It's better than nothing."

"Will do, Ina-senpai!" Kiara saluted the telephone.

"Of course - but there's one last thing I wanted to tell you." Ina started with concern, "It's about that car you're driving. The V8 convertible?"

"What about it?"

"Well…" Ina's voice trembled, "The previous owner of that vehicle was Mumei Nanashi. It was her favorite car."

...

Queenpins

Hoo Are You?

...

To Be Continued