On such a bright morning, the Furutani Family and the Oomuro sisters eat their breakfast together. There is nothing short of brilliance to listen to the harmonious noise of chirping birds and the distant bustling of city life whilst eating sweet and tender maple-rained pancakes in the morning, with healthy grapes and strawberries serving as its toppings. Lively conversations accompany the atmosphere itself as they are sating their appetite; however, Sakurako Oomuro remains quiet in her seat to flavor the taste in her mouth. A drink of warm tea for each is acceptably appropriate for the nearly chill morning.

These things should be enough to start up their morning. Only that Sakurako wishes for the TV to be turned on so she can watch the news in the morning. Perhaps this is one of her new habits that Himawari has ever seen, for she knew Sakurako was, at least, disinterested in listening to the news. Seeing that Sakurako didn't have any topic to discuss with the family, her eyes focused intently on whatever news the TV provided, no matter how good or bad it was.

The news had recently talked about a flood in a particular neighborhood on the south side of the city, which was surprisingly caused by the rough storm last night. No one's dead nor sees the need for evacuation, but some people's homes are flooded, causing several property damages with an unknown estimated cost. It also mentioned that the neighborhood is the only one that suffered a blackout.

"Jeez, talking about being unfortunate," Hanako sourly commented. "Those people must have a hard time sleeping through all that."

"For how long do you think that flooding will subside?" Himawari inquired, taking another bite of her food.

"With flood that high," the Furutani mother replied. "It might take five hours, maybe longer than that."

"Can people still live in there even with the flooding?" Kaede curiously asked.

"Yes, they can," Sakurako confidently replied, despite her indifferent face. "They'll get everything else wet, though."

The following news comes up and talks about an innovation of a solar-powered bicycle made by a dropout college student to combat air pollution within the city. The idea is that when it is under the sun, the solar energy gained through the solar panel on the back of the vehicle will transition into electric energy to gas it, leaving the pedals as a frugal way for the bike's power. Such an idea had Sakurako invested in its function. However, she became disinterested in the cost that came up in the news. Either that or having solar panels attached behind the bicycle like a roof is unnecessary when you can just simply pedal it.

On the next news, the channel brings up the infamous vigilantes—the so-called Sentinels of Takaoka. Kaede is surprisingly invested in this news, whereas Sakurako is only curious about the city's reaction to this vigilante group. While the police department still has no leads about the group, despite the ensued fight at the port a couple of days ago, they are still unable to find whatever lead or clue to discerning the identity of the vigilantes. But it appears the police are a little relieved that the Sentinels are taking a break in between their execution of justice. It is still indeed a good sign for Sakurako.

"So they don't do their vigilante thing every day?" Kaede asked.

"Yes," Sakurako replied. "I think they just want to take a break or investigate something before they take care of the criminals."

"You sound so certain about that, Sakurako," the Furutani mother commented.

Sakurako merely shrugs. "I tried to think like how Sumida-san thinks."

"Who's Sumida-san?" the mother asked.

"She's our friend, Sakurako's mother's friend, that is," Himawari explained, downing an intact grape. "She's working as a detective."

"Ooh," Kaede glimmered in her eyes. "Is she working just like Detective Sherlock Holmes?"

Hanako winces her eyes awkwardly at Kaede. "How do you know Sherlock Holmes?"

"I read about him, Hanako-chan," Kaede happily replied. "I still have the English novel."

As you can see, it is Sakurako's turn to wince at her. "You read English books?"

"Yes, I do. It is fairly easy."

Both Oomuro sisters stare at her for a moment, and then they face Himawari with a question from Sakurako. "Why is your sister quicker to be smart than you?"

Himawari keeps her smile, but her strained eyes are screaming at her. "Did you just intentionally insult me?"

"Now, now, no one should be angry early in the morning, Himawari," the Furutani mother advised. "I'm sure that's not what Sakurako meant."

"Huh, right," Himawari sighed as she relaxed.

"That reminds me," Sakurako suddenly added. "Have you dealt with your low blood pressure?"

"Now you're reminding me of this now?" Himawari was exasperated.

"Oh, low blood pressure!" the mother immediately turned to her daughter. "Why haven't you told me about it?"

"Um, okaa-chan," Himawari staggered. "It's not that big of a deal-"

"Oh no, that's a big deal, young woman!" the mother sternly replied. "We really need to check your blood pressure soon! No wonder you are often sleepy in the morning."

"Okaa-chan, it's not-"

"Himawari, I'm afraid I have to insist on this," the mother then leaned toward Himawari's childhood friend. "Thank you for pointing that out, Saa-chan."

"You're welcome, okaa-sama," Sakurako politely replied, assuredly convinced that Himawari was glaring at her.

*TUNG-NUNG-NUNG-NUNG-NUNG-NUNG-NUNG-NUNG*

Everyone jumps at the sudden Indian tone, excluding one Sakurako Oomuro. Annoyed a little that she's interrupted when she almost finished her breakfast, she nevertheless pulls her phone out of her pocket and looks at the caller. To add to her unwritten irritation, it is Kyouko calling her so early in the morning. Sakurako glances at her relatives before answering the call.

"Kyouko-senpai?"

"Yahoo, blondie-chan!"

"You are also blonde, you know?"

"Hope ya' don't mind me interrupting you this morning."

"You just interrupted my breakfast, Kyouko-senpai."

"Oh, I know, I know! But I want to ask. Are you free for today?"

Sakurako sighs. "What are you planning now? I'm free for this afternoon."

"I want to invite you to play at an arcade game center."

Sakurako raises her eyebrows. "Oh? Now I'm interested."

"Yeah, I kinda figured you might want to play something that's not just on the TV. So, yeah, wanna come over?"

"Sure," Sakurako drank her water. "Are you planning to bring someone else with you?"

"I was planning to bring Ayano, but she already has another plan this afternoon," Kyouko mumbled in dissatisfaction. "But Rise-chan can come over to play."

"Is there anyone else?"

"Now that you mentioned it, your friend from Nagibara, Furoda, wanna come over to play too."

"I'm not even surprised. Furoda seems to be a better best friend for you than Yui-senpai."

"You think so!? I can finally tease her with what you just said! That oughta makes her jealous."

"If I know Yui that well, she won't even care about it."

"So, Saku-chan, are you bringing anyone with you later?"

"One moment," Sakurako turned at Himawari. "Are you free this afternoon?"

"Why'd you ask?" Himawari wondered after eating a slice of pancake.

"Kyouko-senpai is inviting me to an arcade game center."

"Oh?" Himawari tilted her head. "I guess it won't hurt to go there. Kaede also wants to go there, no?"

"I want to go there too, onee-chan!" the shine on Kaede's smile is just too bright. "Okaa-chan, can we go there?"

"Well, since you're so excited about it, I'll allow you," the Furutani mother answered. "But I can't be there because I'm busy."

"Okay, okaa-chan," Kaede responded, though a little down that she couldn't come.

"Hmm… I want to go to the arcade too," Hanako added. "It's been a long time."

Sakurako turns at her. "Do you think Nadeshiko-chan would like to come as well?"

"Hmm… I think she's okay with it," Hanako replied. "I'll ask her later. I will also see if I can bring some of my friends to the arcade."

"Fair enough, I guess," Sakurako then answered the phone. "Kyouko-senpai, are you still there?"

"Oh, uh, ah, yeah, still here! So… you'll be bringing someone?"

"I'll bring Himawari and our sisters to the arcade. It's been a long time since we visited one."

"Oh, that's cool! More the merrier!"

"Before I forget, what is this arcade called?"

"Wildwind Game Center. It's two blocks south of the mall."

"Oh, that arcade. Is that place any good?"

"It's beyond good. There are lots of games to play there. Your sisters are going to love it."

"Okay then. When will I meet you? Half-past one o'clock?"

"Yeah. I'll be waiting for you."

"Okay, Kyouko-senpai."

"Alright, see you later~!"

"See you," and with that, Kyouko closed the call much to Sakurako's respite.

The Furutani mother smiles. "I will spare some allowance for the arcade once you come back from school."

"Yes, okaa-chan," Himawari turned to Sakurako. "Looks like you can use your lottery money to good use, Sakurako."

"Don't worry, I don't spend that much," Sakurako assured her.

Once they finish their breakfast, they soon pack up their stuff and march towards their respective schools.


09:00 AM. Police Department.

As usual, the morning hours in the station are relatively calm, though some of the officers are already busy at their desks and on their way to their designated patrol area. At one of the desks sits Detective Sumida, re-fixing her ponytail before she reviews the cases on her platform. When she's about to grab her cup of coffee, she realizes she hasn't made one for herself yet. Sumida sighs in aggravation while leaning against her chair. However, her irking vanished when someone came over to her table. Sumida automatically smiles at him.

The police chief is a rather chubby man. But assuredly, he is the current mighty fist of the department and quite influential to his members to keep morale up. His thin but orderly beard just goes to show his veterancy.

"Detective Sumida," he greeted.

"Good morning, chief," Sumida greeted back. "What brings you here today?"

"Just checking up on my fellow officer," the chief replied. "Oh, also, here's your coffee."

"Oh? Oh, well, thanks, chief," Sumida accepted the mug of coffee. "You don't have to do this for me."

"You know I always look out on my people, Sumida," the chief then looked onto her cases. "Is that the new fraud case they were talking about?"

"Yeah," Sumida shifted her files. "I'm not well-versed in this marketing scam stuff, so I might ask a friend to help me out."

"Didn't many people fall for it?" the chief asked.

"A dozen already fooled by it until someone spoke out," Sumida replied. "I'm going to need dates and transactions as evidence because I think I have an idea who the culprit is."

"That's good. By the way," the chief pointed his thumb behind him. "Ballistic results just came out. He's waiting for you in the lab."

Sumida looks up. "Are those the ones from the port?"

"Yes," the chief replied. "He found something surprising."

"Okay, I'll be on my way then," Sumida stood up with her coffee. "I'll see you later, chief."

Even with the relaxed atmosphere of the department, she can't help but maintain her fast pace. She soon reaches the lab, void excluding three forensic members. She finds her friend in a nice, intelligent white suit, different from the usual police member since he's one of the three forensics.

"Good morning."

Her friend turns around. "Ah, Sumida-san, ohayou."

"Ohayou," Sumida greeted back, then drank her coffee. "Chief said you were waiting for me."

"I was. Come here," the man led her to one of the tables.

"What did you get?" she asked, putting her free right palm on the table.

"For starters," the man began. "The ballistics we got from those supposed gun dealers are 9mm, 10mm, which we can assume they were using Glocks. One of them uses a .45 ACP cartridge, quite powerful stopping power, a couple of HK pistols, and the M1911 chambered with that bullet. We found a 12 gauge buckshot, which is a common shotgun round; Mossberg, Remington, Benelli, and other gun brands used it. And lastly… a 7.62x39mm."

Sumida stares at him with slight bewilderment. "An AK round."

The man simply smiles at her.

Sumida frowns her eyes. "Do you think this is the same vigilante group that took that sick bastard Jin down?"

"Well, you tell me," her friend replied. "Seems convoluted for me that they even bother to play dress-up as some gun dealers."

"I guess you could say that's far-fetched," Sumida replied. "What about the crates? Any trace of what type of explosives those gun dealers use?"

"You'll be surprised," the man replied. "We got traces of cyclonite, diethylhexyl, polyisobutylene-."

"Okay, stop it right there. I'm not a scientist," Sumida put down her coffee. "What kind of bomb is this?"

"You know the bomb usually used by the military?"

In an instant, her eyes bolt out. "C4?! Are you kidding me?!"

"Wish I could say that," her friend replied. "From all the weapons we found from raids on gun smugglers, this is the only, and I daresay, the first time we have military-grade explosive used by a criminal party in our city. Whoever killed that Jin, that is…."

"Either that vigilante group somehow got a hold of that explosive, or the gun smugglers are also selling that type of bomb while the AK round is just coincidence."

Her friend raises his right eyebrow. "So? Smuggling guns is one thing, but smuggling bombs is another, given how hard it is to get one. Who's even has access to that kind of weapon?"

At that question, her eyes perk up. "There's only one I know who could do that."

Her friend sighs as if he's just getting tired. "It's her, isn't it? Don't you get tired to keep chasing her around?"

"Well, for now, I'm only in the mood to ask her just that," Sumida shrugged. "Besides, she and I have become… acquaintances, shall we say."

Her friend gives a curious glance, though his dilated pupil indicates surprise. "How'd that happen?"

"Remember that Oomuro Family I told you about?"

"Oh, that. What does it have to do with Shiba?"

"That…. Shiba is also the family's friend, quite close to their second daughter, in fact."

"Ooh, this's starting to get interesting," the forensic replied. "But I don't think she'll admit it even if you both are acquaintances."

"Guess I'll have to see it by myself," Sumida looked down at the papers. "Was that all of it?"

"For now."

"Alright," Sumida grabbed her coffee. "I should be going. If there's anything new, let me know. I'll see you."

"See you too."

Sumida soon left the office at the same pace when she entered. The coffee she drinks do wonders to pump up her adrenaline. Hopefully, it won't betray her by making her sleepy.


13:20 PM. Downtown.

In this hour, the semi-bustling city never seems to fail to amaze people of how people never get tired to always walk around to reach their jobs despite the several numbers of cars used on the streets. Something about staring at skyscrapers and tall buildings kept Sakurako's eyes locked on, wondering why such modernity and sleek sight comforted her so much. Himawari, however, dislikes the semi-rowdy atmosphere of the city. At the very least, the blunette doesn't have to breathe much-polluted air.

The Oomuro and Furutani sisters walk along the sidewalk. Amongst them is Misaki Takasaki, who's been walking a bit ahead of the group. The light blonde child is quite… competitive about this trip, kept reminding in between minutes to beat Hanako in any game. Thankfully, Kaede was relatively kind to keep reminding her to look forward when she almost crashed into a pole. Misaki surprisingly praises Kaede and kinds of calling out Hanako for not warning her. Hanako simply told her that she did warn her, and Misaki was being clumsy.

It wasn't long for them to reach the arcade. It was rather big, bigger than the video game store she visited back there. What intrigues her is the use of different tones of oranges throughout its structures. Hanako and Misaki also seem to like the different tones since it screams fun in many ways. There was a signpost on the side of the glass door, Wildwind Game Center, with its iconic wind symbol. They proceed through the glass doors and look around at the interior.

Soon, that idea interrupted the moment they saw Kyouko, Furoda, and Rise, who were waiting for them near the reception desk. To her own surprise, Sakurako is gladder to meet Rise again than she does to meet Kyouko.

"Yay, the gang's all here!" Kyouko happily announced. "Hi, guys."

"Kyouko-senpai, it is good to see you again," Himawari responded with a smile. "You're still as energetic as always. Furoda-chan, Rise-senpai, it's good to see you too."

"Wah, I didn't think that you both would bring your sisters too," Furoda then noticed the light blonde child. "Oh, who is this?"

"This is Misaki Takasaki, my classmate," Hanako introduced. "Misaki, this is Furoda onee-chan. Sakurako nee-chan's friend."

"I am glad to meet you, onee-san!" Misaki immediately bowed in joy.

"Hai, hai, I'm glad to meet you too," Furoda replied. "Looks like you also have a fun friend, Hanako."

"Erm, thank you, Furoda nee-san," Hanako replied.

Rise then speaks something. They all turn at her, but what they get is the visual of her moving mouth.

"Um, I'm sorry. We don't understand you," Nadeshiko responded as politely as she could. "Can you repeat that?"

Sakurako then translates. "Rise-senpai hoped that they didn't cause us trouble by asking us to come here."

"Oh, don't worry about it, Rise-san," Nadeshiko assured. "In fact, we rarely go to the arcade, so I don't really mind that you invite us to come here."

Rise smiles. Her wide eyes never fail to glimmer as she speaks unvoiced words.

"Mind translating it for us, Sakurako?" Furoda requested.

"She said she's glad to hear that."

Hanako looks at her with perplexion. "I still don't understand how you can make out what she said."

"Alright, enough standing around!" Kyouko quickly announced. "Let us enter into the hive mind… of the arcade!"

"Hai, I'm with you, onee-san!" Misaki patriotically volunteered.

"Alright, come with me!" Kyouko then ran off. "Charge!"

"Chaarge!" Misaki followed suit into the hallway.

"Misaki, don't run like that!" Sakurako warned aloud, which was surprising for her sisters and Himawari.

"Hey, wait for me, Kyouko-chan!" Furoda also followed suit into the hallway with such excitement, giggling along the way.

"They really can't wait to play, do they?" Nadeshiko asked, smiling and shaking her head.

Kaede jogs toward the reception desk where a woman is sitting at. "Excuse me, miss. Is this where we buy coins to play the arcade games?"

"Why yes," the woman replied, keeping a warm face despite what she saw from those three running in. "You're new here, I presume?"

"Yes, we are new here," Himawari replied. "We would like to buy some coins."

Himawari buys the coins first, at which she shares half of the coins with her little sister. Nadeshiko and Sakurako were the next to buy the coins, but Nadeshiko was the one who shared Hanako hers and Sakurako's coins. When they are about to enter the hallway, Sakurako quickly tells them to wait since they just remembered Rise is still buying the coins. But during that moment, something flashed in the second sister's mind.

"How did we suddenly forget Rise was here?"

Pushing that thought aside, they then enter the hallway and follow the direction into the main game room. Oh boy, how Sakurako is going to have a field trip in this building. There are more than plenty of arcades to play around with. Not only limited to digital gaming arcades, but there was also ball throwing, toy vending machines, lucky-based/gambling machines, and many more. Furthermore, Sakurako fully appreciates that most of the arcades have additional tools like replicas of motorcycles, car seats, and other replicas. Then some arcades rely on buttons and joysticks exclusive to games similar to Street Fighter.

They eventually find Kyouko, Misaki, and Furoda playing at a throwing ball machine to see who has the highest score. Himawari and her sister part from the group when Kaede finds a rather charming and childish kids' game. And Sakurako was left with her sisters.

"Is there anything you want to play?" Sakurako asked.

"Hmm…," Nadeshiko then eyed a row of arcades with joysticks and buttons. "I'll play Blood Arena."

"Bloo-?" Hanako turned at that row. "Oh, that game is violent, isn't it?"

"It sure is," Nadeshiko then looked at the second sister. "So, Sakurako, why don't you try that game?"

"I'm… not sure if I'm good at that game, though," Sakurako hesitantly looked on.

"Don't worry about it," Nadeshiko assured with a pat on a shoulder. "Besides, we're here for fun. Not judging people on how they play."

"I guess you're right."

The Oomuro sisters head over to that row. Once the coins are in, the two choose 1v1 and get to pick their characters. Nadeshiko had picked a character of a slim, athletic slim girl with daring gym clothes. On the other hand, Sakurako picked the bulkiest muscled man out from the tenths of characters available, which had Nadeshiko giggling to herself. Hanako is the spectator, watching the two begin their match and fight.

Sakurako surprisingly won the first round, though the reason was that Nadeshiko wanted to take it easy on the second sister for that round. In the next match, Nadeshiko will give her best. They then started in the second round, and, of course, Nadeshiko won the match, though she noted that Sakurako somehow beat her close to zero health. Proceeding to the final round, both players are somewhat cautious of each other's attacks, but in the end, Nadeshiko comes out as the winner of the game with half of her health.

"Wow, not bad, Sakurako," Nadeshiko replied. "Even though you lose, you got the basics of the game."

"That's actually impressive, though," Hanako commented. "I realized you aren't trying to be reckless to attack her, Sakurako."

"Well, I don't know how she attacks, so just to be safe," Sakurako stretched her hands. "A thin girl managed to beat up a strong, muscled man. I hope that same thing doesn't happen to George."

Nadeshiko half-shut her eyes. "Are you truly concerned, or are you trying to jinx that up?"

"What's a jinx?"

"Putting a curse on someone."

"Oh. I'm worried for him, of course."

"Good, I was getting a bit concerned here," Nadeshiko turned to Hanako. "What we should play next?"

"Can we play that air hockey?" Hanako pointed in the direction of the room across the current row.

"Oh, sure," Nadeshiko nodded.

"You want to take turns?" Sakurako asked her.

"Sure," Nadeshiko replied. "Let's give our arms some workout."

They proceed to the hockey table. The game is a mix of the usual American Hockey and Ping Pong. To play the game, players have to use a disc with a handle called a mallet to hit the hockey puck and send it toward the opponent's empty slit across the table, which is the player's goal. Hanako and Sakurako take the first turn. After the coin has been registered, they hold their mallets and begin their play when the puck is flung out from the center of the table, and the timer starts.

Hanako was a little sloppy on her strength, but her aim was sharp. In contrast, Sakurako is strong, sending the puck back and playing defensive on her goal slit. When the timer ended, Sakurako managed to win her final points, and the total points show that Sakurako's points were higher than Hanako's. In fact, Hanako is half lower than her. After grabbing the tickets, it was Nadeshiko's turn to challenge the second sister.

Nadeshiko was fast, faster than Sakurako. But the second sister was able to prevent most of her shots from entering her goal. Following this, the game soon turned competitive now that each other was racing to earn the most points, and their concentration was at their total capacity. Hanako observes that her two sisters are playing air hockey like a Ping-Pong contest. By the time Sakurako manages to win a goal, the timer ends, and they turn to look at the scoreboards. Sakurako wins again, with Nadeshiko's score less than 100 points than Sakurako's.

"Whew, I must be getting rusty there," Nadeshiko commented to herself.

"That was fun, though," Sakurako added. "I wonder if we can buy one for our house."

"If we did buy one, then there's no need for us to come here in the first place, isn't it?" Hanako asked.

"I guess that makes sense," Sakurako shrugged.

Hanako looks around her and stares in a direction for a moment. It seems she's eager to ask for something, Sakurako noticed. While she did stare at where Hanako was looking, she couldn't tell what game she wanted to play.

"Is there something you want to play over there?" Sakurako asked.

"Actually…," Hanako looked away, somewhat embarrassed. "There's this claw machine I want to play with. I wanted to get one of those pajamas, but I always failed to get one. Can you help me get one?"

"Oh?" Sakurako kept her flat smile. "Let's go then."

"U-um, sure."

Hanako leads the two elderly sisters to the specific claw machine. Inside the glass box of the machine sits the various kinds of onesie pajamas with different characteristics and colors of different animals. There are patterns like tigers, dolphins, frogs, and many more. Hanako eagerly places her hands against the glass and peeks in.

"So, which one do you want to get?" Nadeshiko asked.

Hanako then points against the glass. "There. The cow one. Near the hole."

"That? Okay," Sakurako inserted a coin and operated the claw.

It wasn't the first time Sakurako played the claw machine. However, she always loses the prize no matter how hard she tries. She got a grip on the cow pajama and slowly pulled the claw up through the joystick. Unfortunately, by the time the pajama got off the ground, it fell back to where it was. Sakurako knew the reason was that the claw machine was rigged to have not strong enough grip to let the prize fall so that every time one failed, one would spend their coins until either empty or had enough of the game.

"Oh, I thought it would hang on a bit longer," Hanako upsettingly pouted.

"Well, what did we really expect from this machine?" Nadeshiko commented. "This game is designed to eat people's money."

Sakurako furrows her eyebrows. "Machines do go hungry?"

"I didn't mean it literally," Nadeshiko replied.

"Don't you want to try it?" Sakurako asked.

"I won't even bother, to be honest," Nadeshiko replied. "Until we know how to get it."

"Oh hohoho~! You are having trouble, I see~."

Sakurako rolls her eyes back and turns to her right to see Sakurako leaning against another machine. Sakurako merely sighs, realizing Kyouko may know a way to help them.

"Kyouko-senpai, can you help us?"

"Of course, what do you ask from the noble knight, Sir Kyouko?"

"I need your help to get a pajama for Hanako-chan," Sakurako pointed at the machine.

"Sure!" Kyouko walked over to the controls. "Which one do you want to get?"

"The cow one over there," Hanako pointed.

"Ah, of course! I'll get it for you!" Kyouko inserted her coin and operated the claw.

After thrice failing the retrieve the pajama, Sakurako notices what Kyouko was doing before making her assumption. Rather than retrieving the pajama with the claw, she was using it to lift the pajama little by little toward the hole. This was not a technique that ever crossed her mind, and even Nadeshiko was a little baffled at this technique. On the sixth try, the pajama fell into the hole, and Kyouko retrieved it from the slot.

"Here you go, Saa-chan!" Kyouko happily replied.

"Wow, I never thought that actually worked," Nadeshiko commented in surprise.

"I might try that technique one day," Sakurako took the pajama. "Thanks, Kyouko-senpai."

"You're welcome! Oh, by the way," Kyouko pointed behind her. "Rise-chan was calling for you to play basketball arcade. She heard you're good at playing that during gym class."

"Oh, okay," Sakurako turned to her sisters. "I'll be back in a moment."

"No worries, imouto-chan," Nadeshiko assured her.

Kyouko had stayed to play with her sisters as she went over to a row of basketball arcades in the corner of the room. She finds Rise there, but Furoda and Misaki are nowhere to be found. When she reached her, Rise's timer was up, and she threw the last of the basketballs with an impressing score. Rise turns the moment she hears her footsteps.

"Sakurako-san," Rise greeted with a smile.

"Rise-senpai," Sakurako looked around her. "Where's Misaki and Furoda?"

"They're playing with Himawari and her sister down that way," Rise replied as she took her tickets.

"Oh. Kyouko said you were looking for me," Sakurako replied.

"I did," Rise stared into her brown eyes. "I want to talk with you."

"About what?"

Rise, then straightens her smile. "I fear it's the topic you're not comfortable about. About… what you're doing now."

Sakurako was caught off-guard by her choice of topic. Sakurako looked around again warily, which was something understandable from Rise's perspective. Sakurako takes a deep breath and straight-up inserts a coin into the basketball arcade. Rise does the same, and they both begin to throw the balls into the ring.

"Did you tell anyone else about it?" Sakurako asked as she threw a ball.

"No. Only Nishigaki-chan knew about it," Rise assured. "I won't tell anyone."

"Good," Sakurako quickly breathed out a sigh of relief. "They don't need to know."

"Do you mind if I ask you some questions about it?" Rise asked as two balls entered the ring.

Sakurako hesitates as she throws three balls into the ring. She then sides glances. "What do you want to ask?"

"Are you working as a criminal?"

Sakurako pauses for a split second before throwing her ball. "…Yes… as a vigilante."

"Is Shiba-san also a vigilante?"

"She… she's actually a gun smuggler."

Rise raises her eyebrows, evidently surprised. "You worked for her?"

Sakurako shakes her head. "I know vigilante is a crime, but I don't want any work that can help criminals."

Rise looks down for a moment. "That must be hard to do."

"It is," Sakurako solemnly sighed. "Shiba is the only one who can find criminals for me to deal with that can benefit the police and the people."

"And what did you get out of those work?"

Sakurako's mind runs wild for a moment as her throwing is on autopilot. "Money. Mostly. And also that feeling that I'm doing the right thing."

Rise genuinely shows her concern through her innocent eyes. "But you also kill people, don't you?"

Sakurako stops throwing. To hear such a claim from her friend…. Funny, she tried to not think about those nasty people she killed. But still… they are still people, still able to think and talk. Now that Rise asked about it, a sudden sharp tug was felt deep in her heart. It's slapping her face to remind her that her path was being led astray through murder, which a child like her shouldn't. Her lips taste bitter the more she contemplates her question.

She thinks long enough that she doesn't realize her timer is over, and Rise's score is higher than hers.

"Sakurako?"

The blonde quickly snaps at her. "Wha-? Oh…."

"Did… I hope I didn't offend you by my question."

"No, no, it's…," Sakurako paused, then looked at her red eyes. "Do you think I'm a bad person, Rise-senpai?"

"No, I would never," Rise shook her head. "Even if you…."

Rise trails off. Sakurako shakes her head to herself, grabbing the tickets before inserting another coin for the arcade. Rise does the same and catches up with her score.

"What drove you to become a vigilante?" Rise dared to ask.

Sakurako glances for a moment. "There was a shootout incident. Misaka and I were in it. We survived, but the other people…. I rather not talk about it."

Rise shrivels, sorrowful for her answer. "I'm so sorry to hear that."

Sakurako nods before Rise asks again. "Do you mind if I asked about it from Misaka?"

"I don't mind," Sakurako replied. "But don't tell her about my work."

Rise stares back. "She doesn't know you're a vigilante?"

"Yes."

It was understandable why. Rise turns back to her arcade.

"I never asked how you knew I was at the port," Rise stated. "When I was almost-."

"Stop," Sakurako quickly interrupted, sighing as she threw. "As for that one… I didn't know you were there."

Rise is startled by her answer. "You were there for another reason?"

"That man who was using you as a shield," Sakurako responded. "I was hunting for him. Still, I'm glad we still made it out alive despite that."

"Why were you hunting for him?"

Sakurako glances as she considers. "I…. He's one of those men who caused the shootout incident."

Rise stops throwing despite the fact that the timer is still running. "You're doing all this vigilantism for revenge?"

Sakurako turns at her, wincing her eyes to the correct assumption. The blonde Oomuro wordlessly focuses back on her game. She feels disgusted by herself, and Rise could see it.

"I see…" Rise looked away but kept glancing with concern. "Nevertheless, I want to thank you once again for that day. I… don't know how I can repay you for that daring rescue."

"It's alright," Sakurako replied. "Just knowing that you are still fine is enough for me."

Rise smiles. "You're too humble, Sakurako."

They continue on winning their points, and when the timer is over, they see that Sakurako won with a score of 2400 while Rise only achieved 2000 scores.

"Nice throw, Sakurako-chan," Rise complimented.

"You weren't bad also, Rise-senpai," Sakurako told her as she grabbed the tickets.

When they were about to finish up that arcade, the light blonde child happened to come over. "Sakurako nee-chan! Nee-chan!"

"Hai, is there something you need?" Sakurako asked her.

"Furoda nee-chan was looking for you," Misaki replied. "She wants to play a co-op arcade game with you."

"Okay, are you coming?" Sakurako asked Rise, to which she responded with a nod.

Misaki quickly went ahead, but Sakurako reminded her to slow down. It didn't take long for the kid to lead them to a relatively wide arcade game. There is a large screen facing them, and before the screen is the spots for two players, each with a replica gun on display. Furoda is seen waiting on the second player spot, with Himawari and her little sister waiting just next to the arcade. Both Sakurako and Rise look upon the arcade in question.

It's a well-known arcade. Dawn of Sunshine, a popular arcade known for its rail-shooting mechanic, features two special Japanese agents to fight against a bunch of terrorists in a tourism-centered city. Its humorous, quick-paced, and suspenseful action make it fun to play.

"Saa-chan! Saa-chan!" Furoda called. "You ever played this?"

"Just once," Sakurako replied. "I haven't played it for a long time."

"Alright, play with me, Sakurako!" Furoda insisted. "I don't think I can win this by myself."

"Well, Sakurako," Himawari commented. "At least you get to shoot someone with a gun and not with a controller."

"Is it a fun game, onee-chan?" Kaede curiously asked.

"It is," Himawari answered. "However, I'm not so good on a game that needs strict coordination and focus."

"But haven't you tried to play a game like this before?" Misaki asked.

"No, I haven't," Himawari admitted with slight displeasure. "It's not really my type of game."

Rise smiles and glances over the blonde. "I think it's time to put your shooting skill to good use."

"But… it's different," Sakurako responded to her voiceless statement.

"I know," Rise whispered back. "I'm sure this is nothing. You were that precise, no?"

Sakurako considers as she watches the looping gameplay on the screen. "I guess I'll try."

"Come on, then," Furoda invited. "What are you waiting for?"

Sakurako steps over the vacant player spot and holds the replica gun. It may look the same, but it was lighter than the pistol she had back home. Evidently, her right hand automatically acts as if it's usual for her to hold a gun, with gun safety precautions no less. To be frank, Himawari and Furoda were both weirded out by her behavior.

"Sakurako," Furoda called with an awkward smile. "This is not a real gun, you know?"

"O-oh," Sakurako herself was taken aback. "I didn't even realize it."

"That SWAT game sure taught you some precaution, didn't it?" Himawari commented and shook her head with a smile. "Not that it's a bad thing."

Sakurako looks over to Furoda. "So I'll insert it or-."

"Let me use my coins."

Furoda inserts her three coins, to which the gameplay transitioned into the main menu. Once they are both ready and confirm the arcade of the two players, the game starts. But first, they watch the cutscene first. Two particular men, the special agents, are escorting a high-profile diplomat prepping himself for a speech in front of many audiences. Midway into his speech, a sniper shot the diplomat on his shoulder. The two agents immediately evacuate the VIP as the crowd escape in disarray. In the middle of the chaos, terrorists begin popping out from the crowd and opening fire at the agents.

As the first wave of enemies appears, Sakurako and Furoda aim their guns at the enemies and press their triggers. Kaede and Misaki are cheering as the two players fire. Furoda has a sloppy aim that could out-shame Kyouko's reckless attack. Furthermore, Furoda only relied on using only her right hand and didn't bother to use the gun's iron sight for proper accuracy. Subsequently, she has wasted a lot of ammo despite using the current semi-auto pistol.

Sakurako, on the other hand, takes it much more seriously than Furoda. From here on out, Rise can see how Sakurako treats the arcade. The first thing that everyone hadn't noticed yet was Sakurako's stance, left foot forward and right foot behind her, bending her knees a little. Secondly, Sakurako uses both hands on her gun with a tight grip and uses the iron sight, which Himawari had already noticed. Sakurako's aim isn't perfect, but still excellent for effectively shooting her enemies. Alas, Sakurako couldn't help herself from wasting ammo, at least lesser than Furoda, due to the quick-paced nature of the arcade.

Furoda has suffered a couple of hits during the first and second waves, while Sakurako surprisingly remains unscathed. As the game progresses, they are led into the city hall, where more terrorists pop in through the windows and the second floor. Much to Sakurako's dismay, Furoda got a hold of the submachine gun. Nevertheless, Sakurako fared pretty well herself with unlimited ammo for her pistol. Furoda did great as well on her part, but she eventually ran out of ammo for the submachine gun. Misaki and Kaede were cheering on how great they played.

Himawari, however, comments. "I can't believe you just wasted the entire submachinegun's ammo. Why did you even waste it for?"

"I just can't help it," Furoda replied. "It's awesome to hear my gun goes ratata~. Wished I still had more ammo for it."

"Hopefully, you'll get a machine gun next," Sakurako told her.

"My, that's even better!" Furoda beamed a smile. "That oughta show them who the boss is!"

"No," Sakurako simply replied. "I said that because you are good at missing the targets."

Misaki and Kaede looked shocked, while Himawari was taken aback by her response. Rise was a little more amused, and her expression went unnoticed.

"H-hey, I'm not that bad!" Furoda retorted. "I know you shoot that good, but I also hit some of the enemies there!"

"Actually," Sakurako remained focused on the screen. "There's a good thing about missing your targets."

"And that is?"

Sakurako and the others turn to look at Rise speaking voiceless words, and then the blonde Oomuro translates her words. "It teaches your enemy how to not get shot in the head."

"The way you said it ain't making it even better," Furoda commented in discomfort.

After a brief cutscene, they fight through numerous enemies and eventually end up inside a car, which proceeds into a hot car chase. It didn't limit them to just shooting enemies, but also a way to stall or destroy the enemies' cars. During this point, Furoda suffered another couple of shots, leaving her with one hit-point, while Sakurako has fared well this far and only suffered losing one hit-point during the chase. The next enemy would be the boss they face on the highway.

The boss was a bulldozer-modified freight truck containing armed henchmen. The truck's first attack is to ram straight at the agents' car on the side. A quick-time event commences, and they shoot the truck's driver just in time and avoid the ram. The truck then accelerates and opens its trailer door, where enemies begin to unleash fire upon the holed-up car. Unfortunately, Furoda was shot one last time during this proceeding, eventually losing the game and leaving Sakurako on her own.

"Drats!" Furoda swore in annoyance. "I can't say I expect it. It's all on you, Saa-chan."

"GO, SAKU NEE-CHAN!" Misaki cheered patriotically. "YOU CAN DO IT!"

"Woah, keep it low, Misaki-chan," Kaede reminded with concern.

"I'm sure you'll win this game, Sakurako," Himawari encouraged with a gentle smile.

"Here we go…," Sakurako sounded her doubt. Then again, she had been in an intense situation before, and indeed this quick-paced fight against a boss helped her with coordination.

Sakurako happens to have an assault rifle, the M4A1 in particular, and fires on the henchmen, especially the machine gunner of the trailer. She made a quite rapid succession on her target while also conserving ammo for her rifle. However, she suffered a loss of a hit-point by that same machine-gunner. Despite this, Sakurako wasn't keen on getting herself shot again and tried her best to take down this bulldozing truck.

During the ensuing fight, Sakurako had to do a rinse-and-repeat scenario twice to get rammed and shot by the henchmen. Her character survived but suffered a loss of a couple of hit-points, leaving her with one chance, just like Furoda. Now, Sakurako has to deal with the driver himself, who's using a shotgun from his seat. The good thing was that he had to drive closer to the car to take a good shot at her. As the truck accelerates closer to her car, she notices something next to the boss's truck.

It was another truck towing a fuel tanker. An idea lit in her mind.

She immediately directs her aim at the tanker and wastes her ammo on it. Almost immediately, the tanker explodes, engulfing the trucker and forcing the bulldozing truck to crash through the tanker. The agents' car immediately leaves the scene of destruction, glad that the boss was defeated. In a cutscene of the mission's aftermath later, they were introduced with the word Mission Accomplished.

"Oh, I actually did it," Sakurako herself was surprised by her own victory.

"Yay! Saku onee-chan won!" Misaki joyfully raised her fist.

"I'm glad you won, onee-chan!" Kaede added with a glorious smile.

"My God!" Furoda quickly hugged the blonde. "I can't believe you won this! You're so close to losing back there!"

"Erm… thanks?" Sakurako awkwardly replied.

Rise smiles and shakes her head while Himawari adds with slight disbelief. "That was quite an excellent play, Saa-chan. To be frank, I was almost convinced you were about to lose."

"I thought the same," Sakurako agreed to her statement.

"Woah! You actually won that game!?"

They all turn at the new voice and see Kyouko and Sakurako sisters coming over the scene. "You beat that boss on your own, Sakurako?" asked the bow-headed blonde.

"I did," she responded.

"Wow," Kyouko gleamed a smile. "You are deserving the title of Commando Sakurako."

"I'm not really surprised," Nadeshiko commented. "She's already too familiar with shooting games, so I don't doubt this game would be easy for her."

"Too easy, I think," Sakurako added as she put back the gun. "It's easier to use this replica than those controllers."

"Too easier, you mean," Hanako corrected, clutching her new pajama. "Still, I'm glad to see Sakurako nee-chan win a game Nadeshiko nee-chan couldn't win."

Sakurako widens her eyes and turns at her eldest sister. "Oh?"

"Now, now, don't drag me into playing that," Nadeshiko deflected. "I'm not good at that game."

"If you say so, onee-chan," Sakurako responded.

"So," Himawari began. "Shall we find another game to play with?"

"Sure," Kyouko then pointed in a direction. "There are some interesting games over there. Let's take a look at them."

As they are about to move, Himawari stops her with a tug. "Sakurako, can we talk for a moment?"

Sakurako shrivels her eyes with concern. "What is it?"

"Come with me."

Himawari drags her around by the arm, effectively splitting themselves from the group for a while. They happen to find a restroom and discover no one is around. Ensuring that no one is coming over to the ladies' restroom, Himawari shuts the door and faces Sakurako. Concern begins to grow on the blonde's face.

"What's going on, Hima-chan?" Sakurako looked at her face and saw a tinge of conflict in her eyes.

Though, at this point, Himawari's face begins to blush. "Sakurako… can you be honest to me?"

"What of it?"

"In your opinion…," Himawari paused. "What do you think of me?"

"What do I think of you?"

"I mean, what do you like about me?"

Sakurako was a bit weirded out by the question but answered nonetheless. "You're kind, Himawari. But you're also strict sometimes when it's needed. I wish I could be as mature as you, and you can do everything that I couldn't. You always helped me out, even if I didn't need your help. And…."

"And?"

"Now that I think about it, it must be difficult to walk around with those big boobs."

Himawari shut her eyes, lifted her head a little, and tried to force an awkward smile. "You… don't have to tell me that one…."

"That's what I like about you, Hima-chan," Sakurako looked into her golden eyes. "At least, that's why I think I like you."

"I see," Himawari took a deep breath. "Who do you like more between Misaka and me?"

"W-what?" Sakurako leaned her head back. "Why are you asking me this?"

"Just tell me, Sakurako," Himawari replied. "I'm just curious."

"Himawari…," Sakurako paused. "I like the both of you. I don't know who I like more between you two."

Himawari looks into her clueless eyes. "I see…. It's just… Sakurako… I like you, Sakurako. But I must admit, I like you more than as a friend."

Sakurako slightly widens her eyes. Stifling her fright at the same thing Misaka had said. She's… Is she going to...?

Himawari places her hands on both her shoulders. The constant blushing accompanied a rather desperate look on her face. Himawari leans in to kiss her, but Sakurako pushes her chest away. The blunette was slightly surprised by her action. Does she know she saw them both do that?

"Do you… really like me?" Sakurako asked, worried rather than embarrassed. "I'm still a stupid girl. I can't do everything you do. I'm not even as graceful as you."

"Sakurako…," Himawari held onto her chin, staring with a melancholic expression at her statement. "Don't sell yourself short like that. I like you no matter how inferior you think you are."

"Hima-chan…. You're being strange."

"I know. Just let me show you."

Himawari then pushes herself and kisses Sakurako's lips. Although disappointed that someone has taken Sakurako's first kiss, it satisfies her that this will be Himawari's first kiss. Sakurako remained awkward on her part but didn't resist, blushing red as an abnormal, yet pleasant feeling poured throughout her body. Such… euphoria they both experience.

Himawari then lets her lips go and stares into her eyes. "How do you feel, Saa-chan?"

"It's… warm…, incredible…, I think…," Sakurako stuttered. "It's so pleasant."

"I feel the same," Himawari then turned around at the door. "Okay, we should get back with the others."

"Yes, you're right. Let's go."

"And Sakurako."

"Yes?"

"Don't tell everyone what we both did here. Okay?"

"Hai."

Soon they left the restroom and got back with their group. As they spend their time in the arcade, Sakurako still feels the same euphoria from the naughty act that she got from Misaka. Her heart feels conflicted for a moment. She liked both of those girls, even with their different personalities. But… the thought of two girls falling in love with her is not something she knows how to deal with.

"Who do you like more between Misaka and me?"

Sakurako immediately pushes that question aside. True, she can't say who she likes more, but she equally likes them. She shakes her head and plays with her friends and sisters. She instead deals with this problem much later. For now, she wants to spend every second she has to have fun in this arcade.


17:00 PM. Pars-King Steak Restaurant.

Not every day, people splurge money on some expensive but delicate food, and that's what Sumida happens to plan for the evening—splurging some money on a nice, hot, and gravy steak. She's sitting at the reserved table of the famous L'anoir Steak Parlour. A restaurant that is well-known for its atmospheric classic-Franco-American style restaurant with brown-orange themes and including souvenirs of the western world. One such feature of this restaurant is that it has outdoor dining, where Sumida is sitting right now.

She has already received the menu book and still skims over the various food choices. While she ponders her menu, the sounds of heels tapping the ground come closer in her direction. Sumida lowers the menu to see a confident woman in a red dress. An all-well familiar smirk that Sumida nearly irked by.

"There you are," Sumida commented. "I'm half-worried that you'd turned down my offer."

"Oh, please. As if you never turned down my 'fair' offer," Shiba sarcastically remarked. "Thank you for waiting for me, by the way."

"Likewise," Sumida ignored her sarcasm. "Have a seat."

Shiba straightens her skirt and sits comfortably. "I like your choice of a restaurant. Are you planning to waste all your savings over a piece of meat?"

"It's not hurt to do it once in a while. Besides, I've been craving to eat steak in this place."

"Have you ordered yet?"

"Nah, not yet," Sumida then handed over the menu. "Pick your order."

"Alright," Shiba then scanned over the few menus of the steaks. "Huh, these items are surprisingly a little cheap than that one restaurant north downtown."

"I can tell this is the first time you have come here."

Shiba smiles and looks up at the detective. "Nice deduction, observer."

Shiba reads again for a moment before putting the menu down, cueing Sumida to call for a waiter to their table.

"What would you like to order?" the waiter asked.

"Bourbon Beef Steak and Dazzle Red Wine," Sumida ordered.

"Filet Mignon and Pina Colada, please," Shiba ordered.

The waiter writes down the orders. "Bourbon Beef Steak, Filet Mignon, Dazzle Red Wine, and Pina Colada."

"That is correct," Shiba answered.

"Please wait for your order," the waiter soon left the two women alone.

"I have to admit," Shiba began, contentedly clasping her hands on the table. "It is highly unusual for a member of authority to invite a felonious person for dinner. Not that I have problems with your invitation, of course."

"We both have been playing cat and mouse for a while," Sumida replied. "So I thought we both might want to take a break and enjoy ourselves for a little dinner."

"Even though I have tried to murder you on various occasions long ago?"

Sumida looks up to Shiba's grin and sighs. "Pretty much. Don't worry. I don't have any ill plans for you today. I already finished from work, anyway."

"Funny, I thought detectives work themselves to death to look for some inconspicuous clues."

Sumida stays calm, repressing the aggravation within. "Can you… drop that sarcasm of yours for now? Please?"

Shiba leans her head a bit with a raised brow. "Interesting. Well, since you asked so nicely. Alright, I'll stop."

"Good, good."

"Hm, from how you behave right now, it seems you invited me here for another reason."

"I just have a couple of questions for you."

"Snooping into my work now, aren't you?"

"Partly," despite the seriousness, Sumida looked a bit weary. "I'm sure you are aware of that incident at that port."

"Oh, certainly, it was on the news," Shiba smirked a little. "Perhaps you are blaming me for that shootout?"

"I blamed you on many things, but not this one," Sumida's response surprised Shiba. "However, I believe you were in contact with these Sentinels before."

"And how come you came to that conclusion?"

"We found traces of C4 compounds among the blasted crates. No one, including those Sentinels, should be able to get a hold of these items. But…."

Sumida stares intensely at Shiba's eyes, which remain collective and smiling as ever. The waiter happens to come by during this staring contest and lays out the menu on their table. After the waiter left, they began to cut their food.

"So you think I sold them those compounds?"

"Knowing your reputation, I believe you have access to such explosives."

Shiba tastes the filet in her mouth and contents herself with the savor. "Why should I tell you about my… business affairs, which is none of your concern?"

Sumida sighs again and gradually places an enveloped document on the table and pushes it toward her.

Shiba, both curiously and perplexedly, tilts her head. "What is this?"

"Your involvement with a certain American Democrat."

Shiba immediately glares at her patient red eyes before opening the envelope and skimming over the document in hand. She's more surprised at the number of leads she somehow procured on that subject rather than pieces of evidence found within the country. Shiba shuts the document and envelopes it back.

"How did you conjure this much evidence?"

"Interpol."

The only word she didn't like to hear. As she alarmingly looks around her, Sumida assures her. "Calm down. I haven't told them that you're hiding here. I don't think they'll believe everything I say if I were to alert them of you."

Shiba widens her eye and her mouth a little and then leans against her seat like a sack. "All this is enough to kick them back to hunt for my head. Why haven't you submitted this evidence to your superior, or even to Interpol itself?"

"Well, that was my plan," Sumida admitted. "But with this recent rise of crimes and the emergence of the Sentinel, I decided to withhold it. For a while. Figured that I might need your… assistance one day. You could say it was my gut feeling."

Shiba straightens her back, looking back and forth between her and the document. "Was that the only reason for not throwing me into jail sooner? So that you can blackmail me?"

"Well," Sumida looked down for a moment. "There's Sakurako."

For once, Shiba was genuinely amazed by her answer. Then, she procures a content smile and decides to play along. "Looks like I'm not the only one who is fond of her."

Sumida didn't reply and drank her wine, either shy or prideful to admit it. Shiba pushes the document back to her when she puts the glass down. Sumida looks up with confusion.

"You can keep it."

Sumida slowly places a hand on the document. "You're not worried if they will hunt for you one day?"

"As long as you're not involved in that hunt, I think I'll be fine."

Sumida her words for a while. "Suit yourself then. So… are you-?"

"Yes. As for your previous question, I did sell those compounds to them, about six packets of C4, which should be enough to defeat a couple of APCs."

"Must be expensive."

"It was, but they had enough money, so I take it."

"You met them personally?"

"Yes, but they're pretty cautious of their identity the last time I met them. They're wearing face masks, and I think I remember seeing one of them using a gas mask."

"Gas mask, really?"

"Well, you tell me. Who wants to run around with that on?"

"Oh well, where and when was the last time you made your transaction with them?"

"A night before that port incident, I believe. I can't say exactly what time it was. We didn't keep a log on that. We made the transaction in my place, which I cannot tell you where it is for obvious reasons."

"Well, you don't need to remind me that. Did you ask them a reason why they want to buy those bombs?"

"I remember the leader, I think, said, and I quote: "Blasting that sick pimping bastard to hell."

"Pimping bastard? Do you happen to know Jin Mikey?"

"I never met him. But he was a vicious bastard, I heard. Dabble in prostitution, trafficking, and stuff. Always not honoring his deal when he got the chance. I'm guessing he died in that shootout."

"He did, but by gunshot, not explosion. I guess there are things people can't control, huh?"

"Agreed. I'm kind of glad he's dead, though."

"Even a criminal like you don't like him. That's a first."

"Hey, being a criminal doesn't mean we don't have standards."

"Can't argue with that," Sumida stored back the enveloped document on her person. "That's all the questions I have for now. Thank you for answering."

Shiba stares at her for a moment before chuckling. "No, thank you for putting your trust in me to answer your questions and inviting me to this fine restaurant."

Sumida contemplates her words at the end of the sentence and huffs a smile. "You haven't eaten anything before coming, have you?"

Shiba frowns, hanging her head low. "Was I that obvious?"

"Well, we both worked hard today," Sumida added, raising her glass. "Let's continue to waste our time for a bit of fun and relief."

"You mean a temporary truce?"

Sumida pouts her lips forward and reaches her glass forward. "That's more fitting. Cheers?"

"Cheers."

*CLANG*

The two rivals become content with each other, not cussing each other and genuinely having a conversation like the ordinary people they are. They would spend the rest of the evening savoring the taste of their meal and satisfying their appetite as they enjoyed their temporary company. But a particular couple sitting next to their table watched their friendly exchange.

"They certainly are close, aren't they?" the redhead commented with a bright smile.

"I guess so," the black-haired tomboy replied with a sweat. "It's nice to see them not fighting each other."

"I wonder what they were talking about."

"Come on, Akari, let's not think too much about it. Let's just finish up our meal."

"Alright, Yui-chan!"