Sakurako had just gotten home from school during the early evening, finding Hanako scribbling in her little diary, and Nadeshiko came home a bit faster than her. Sakurako wanted to resign into her room for rest when her mother, who's still managing the house, told them that they'd be going out for an evening meal and also take this time to study some subjects if possible. Sakurako almost protested, reconsidering the fact that she hadn't eaten any lunch at school. The second sister nodded, at which they got changed and headed out.

The place they'll be eating at is the COCOdeS café. Of course. The Oomuro's favorite place to eat.

Even though they walked, with snow nudging them and covering the paths, it felt like a five minutes trip when they reached the café. Sakurako had noticed that the café had taken down posters and decorations relating to Christmas and New Year's Eve. Despite this, it was somewhat surprising that the café still put up a menu consisting of a couple of cakes that fit the Christmas theme. They enter the café and get themselves a table in the middle section, first column. Sakurako takes the time to look around. The general atmosphere is still the same, tranquil and calming, except they get to watch the snow falling on the outside and a little chill that can be felt within.

Sakurako finds herself staring toward one of the windows when her mother calls her. "Sakurako?"

"Hmm, yes?"

"Daydreaming again?"

"… Couldn't help it."

"Well, what do you want to order?"

Sakurako nearly opens the menu and stares at the table. "You know, can I order a lasagna?"

Her mother stares at her eyes for a moment. "Alright, a lasagna then. What about a drink?"

"Strawberry milkshake."

"Okay, waiter!" the mother called with an arm raised.

The waitress comes around and asks what menu they wish to request. Nadeshiko wants omurice and mango juice. Hanako and the mother want miso soup and warm sweet tea. Sakurako… well, she already said it. The waitress repeats the order and notes to them that the lasagna would take some time to make before leaving for the counter.

Nadeshiko leans against the seat. "Chilly. Don't you think?"

"The snow outside?" Sakurako asked. "I like it, actually."

"When does the snow stop falling, though?" Hanako asked.

"Probably at the end of the month," Nadeshiko responded. "Then we'll be enjoying springtime."

"I wished the winter last longer," Sakurako stated.

"Me too," Hanako nodded.

"Hmm, I don't think I've seen you both playing snowballs," the mother commented.

"I don't play snowballs," Sakurako replied. "But I do lie down on the snow and watch the sky. Just doing that makes me feel sleepy."

"You didn't end up sleeping on the ground, did you?" Nadeshiko asked.

"Oh, I wish I did," Sakurako replied. "How was school, onee-chan?"

"Not bad. I've seen many students complain they must go back to studying this season."

"And you?"

"I didn't complain. But I did wish for spring to come."

"Do you think the next season will be as cool as winter?" Hanako had asked

"Should be cool enough without freezing anything," the mother answered

"Hmm," Sakurako leaned onto the table, frowning.

"Something's wrong?" Nadeshiko asked.

Sakurako shrugs, looking away toward one of the windows to watch the falling snow.

"Is this about what happened yesterday?"

Sakurako takes a deep breath and then looks up at her. "Do you think they're still scared of me?"

"You almost attempted to kill them. Why wouldn't they?"

"…. I'm planning to apologize to them as soon as possible."

"You should," her mother nodded. "But they should also apologize to you as well for starting that fight."

"Yes…."

Hanako clasps her hands together. "You did say that you loved them both."

"I did," Sakurako nodded

Hanako tilts her head. "Who do you like more between the two of them?"

Sakurako stares at her little sister. Nadeshiko could see that Sakurako was thinking with such seriousness that she struggled to compare the difference between the two aforementioned girls. The wincing and the frowning on her eyes were too apparent for the sisters to see. A hand reaches onto her forehead, rubbing her hair raggedly.

"Sakurako," Nadeshiko called.

"Just give me a moment," Sakurako responded. "I'm still-"

"Don't think too much about it," Nadeshiko replied. "I can see it's hurting your head."

Sakurako stares off into emptiness and leans against her seat. "Why do people only allowed to love one people they like?"

"Isn't it obvious? Like what you saw yesterday," her mother replied. "Himawari and Misaka loved you. You are special to them, and they don't want to let you be taken away by anyone else. From there, jealousy starts to build up."

"And they fight to win over me?"

"Yes."

"Isn't that selfish, though?"

"Selfishness is also a part of love, Sakurako. Everyone feels that the first, they're in love with each other. Won't you be angry if someone you like is talking or playing with someone else they liked more than you?"

"Maybe not…. I would complain, though."

Nadeshiko smirks at the second sister. "Really?"

Sakurako ignores her question and gives her own question. "Can't I love them both equally?"

"You could. But when people marry, they get to choose one person. That's the rule," Nadeshiko replied. "Besides, if you try to love two people equally, they would eventually fight one another."

"What about I love them both equally while I carry a gun around?"

The two sisters deadpan at her. Their mother barely shows her gulp. "I… wouldn't recommend that unless you want no one to love you."

"Oh. Okay."

"Also, we shouldn't talk about that in public."

"What? The gun?"

The mother only nods. Sakurako looks onto the table. "Sorry."

A waitress happens to come by with drinks and food on a tray. The only thing that lacked from that tray was Sakurako's lasagna. After letting her know the lasagna is currently being made, the waitress soon left to serve other customers. The second sister sips her drink with the provided straw, delighting herself with the taste of fruit on her tongue. While Hanako works on her Japanese homework, the sisters and the mother enjoy themselves in the silent harmony the café is able to provide.

Tik, tok, tik, tok, times passes by as Sakurako awaits her meal. Then she hears a couple of footsteps coming from behind her. She turns her head and feels herself graced by the presence of Yui Funami but also dismayed by the presence of Kyouko Toshinou. Then again, showing her dismayed face would ruin the quiet, snowy evening, so she opts to give a small smile.

"Ah, Sakurako!" Kyouko greeted.

"Kyouko-senpai," Sakurako nodded slightly. "Yui-senpai."

"Ah, konbawa," Yui greeted, looking over the sisters. "How is your day?"

"It is a fine day, Yui-san," the mother replied. "Did you just come from school?"

"Yeah, doing club activities," Kyouko replied with a smile. "Drawing, crafting stuff. Something like that."

"We've been playing snowballs back there," Yui remarked, rolling her eyes.

"Hey, hey, why do you think we called it the Amusement Club?" Kyouko asked back.

"That sounds fun," Hanako commented.

"It is!" Kyouko said as they sat across the sisters' table. "You gonna love it! I know a lot of games to play with you in our club!"

"Hmm…." Nadeshiko seemed to analyze her words for a moment. "So your club is all just… amusement?"

"Aah…, looks like we got found out," Yui admitted.

"Yui! You traitor!" Kyouko playfully pouted.

"Maybe you try changing the club's name because of how obvious it is," Yui responded flatly.

"How come the teachers allow that kind of club to remain to exist?" Hanako asked.

"I think the teachers gave a leeway for the club," Sakurako replied.

"How so?" Nadeshiko raised an eyebrow.

"I don't know. Kyouko-senpai did bring the teachers to her club for a game," Sakurako explained. "And they didn't shut the club down."

"Ah, that time," Yui commented. "Had you only brought Nishigaki-sensei, we won't have to worry ourselves to death back then."

"Come on, the teachers even enjoyed the game we played," Kyouko leaned against the corner of her seat. "Can't they have a little fun for once? They've been working hard teaching us many new things, after all."

"What game was that?" Nadeshiko asked.

"We played King," Sakurako answered. "We get to see Kitamiya-sensei undergarments, though."

The sisters' faces paled at her words; Yui and Kyouko could only look at each other with awkward smiles. On the other hand, the mother is more than appalled at her daughter.

"Sakurako," the mother started. "That's disgusting."

"Kind of reminds me of that scene in your book, Onee-chan."

"Oh- would you stop bringing that up already?!" Nadeshiko protested, though her eyes looked at her bottom left. "Hanako is still here."

"Right, sorry," Sakurako sighed again before sipping her milkshake and losing herself in the tranquil atmosphere.

Yui and Kyouko already called a waiter and gave out their order. Just when that waiter leaves, the waitress comes around and serves the lasagna before Sakurako. The taste of meat and mozzarella was dazzling on her tongue, which temporarily made her smile. In her mind, yesterday's event keeps playing in her mind. Remembering how she almost killed Himawari that time, she regressed into her own question.

"I'm addicted to killing people?"

She still remembers Shiba's answer, but it didn't make her feel a little bit better. She takes another spoonful of her meal to distract herself before turning over to her senior. To her surprise, she saw Kyouko frowning; even Yui had shown some concern for her blond friend.

"Kyouko-senpai?"

"Hm? What's up?"

"Why do you look so upset? That's uncharacteristic of you."

Kyouko stares on for a moment. "Don't tell me you didn't hear the news?"

Hanako raises an eyebrow. "What news?"

"There was this morning news about blonde girls are being targeted by a number of stalkers," Yui answered.

Nadeshiko snaps her head in her direction. "What? In this city?"

"Yeah," Yui pointed her head to Kyouko. "There was a stalker following her around just this morning, and we had to find the nearby police to escort us to school."

Sakurako stares at her for a moment before Kyouko adds in. "I did call Furoda before we come here, and she said that she's being stalked as well."

"That's not good," Nadeshiko commented. "What's this city coming into?"

As this topic went on, Sakurako contemplated to herself. She needs to review that news as soon as she gets back home. But… there was something about the news. She furrows her eyebrows at Kyouko's words. The specific prey those stalkers are looking for….

She got the feeling they were looking for her. She may know the reason why. Until she can speak to Shiba about it, she can't confirm this conclusion just yet.

"You alright, Sakurako-nee-chan?" Hanako asked. "You're pretty silent just now."

"I was just thinking about it," Sakurako's only answer before she wordlessly enjoys her meal.

Kyouko laughs awkwardly at Sakurako. "Sorry, I didn't mean to worry you about it."

"It's fine," Sakurako replied. "We all have a reason to worry about something."

Sakurako returns to her meal as her family and her friends begin to chat again on some other topics. Sakurako was still in no mood to talk for now. A lot of things had gone through her head that even a night's sleep won't even suffice. Maybe a five hours rest on the snowy ground could clear her mind. But the delicious lasagna is more than enough to keep her locked in her seat. Even though the meal was great, she didn't smile.

She stares off the window on her right, bypassing her mother, watching the snow falling once again till she notices a car parked hastily a little far from the main glass doors. When she sees the four men in clad jackets exiting the car in haste, she spots some kind of wool headwear in their hands. Sakurako mindlessly sips her drink when she sees them wear on their headwear, revealing that they are masks.

It didn't take long for Sakurako to that something terrible was about to go down. But she's already too tired to care about it and resume her meal. Would've been better if she had brought a gun. She takes another spoonful of her lasagna as she hears the glass doors were abruptly open and the clack of a gun rings in the air.

"THIS IS A ROBBERY!"

Everyone in the restaurant is frighted. None dare to stand up as they cower and duck within the confines of their seats. Kyouko and Yui had ducked into their seats, unable to say a single word. Her little sister and mother screamed with a stroke while Nadeshiko clung to the youngest sister. Three of the robbers went into the aisles, one for each, while the fourth went straight for the counter. These guns could be fake, knowing this is the country that has almost no firearms, but would they want to find out the hard way?

"Alright, people, get your hands in the air!"

"You 'eard 'im! Hand in the air!"

"Nobody makes a move!"

"Any of you tryin' to call the police, you'll be sure as shit will get shot!"

"Hey, hey, hey!" the robber in the third aisle screamed. "What'cha think you're doing?"

Kyouko looks over to that aisle, noticing a woman is holding her phone and freezing midway.

"Put that phone away, woman," the robber ordered.

The man beside the woman tries his best to comfort her as she slowly puts the phone on the clear table. The robber approaches, grabs the phone, and tosses it away.

"Smart girl."

The robber at the counter aims his gun at the cashier. "You. Open the cash machine. Now!"

"Y-yes," the employee woman stuttered, fearful of her life that she had been clumsy in opening the machine.

"Make it quick, bitch!" the fourth robber then turned at the customers. "All of you! Put out your cash and jewelry on the table! Now!"

The extra pressure from the three robbers was enough to force the people to give in and ask what they demanded.

The Oomuro mother was more distraught than ever. "I can't believe they're doing this."

"Okaa-chan," Nadeshiko put her only phone and cash on the table. "We have to do what they say."

"They can't do this! Why is no one calling the police?!"

"Okaa-chan, please! Calm down! They'll hurt us if you- Sakurako?"

At Nadeshiko's mention, they turn to the second Oomuro, only to find her still enjoying her meal and hasn't put her hands up. Kyouko and Yui, who're still frightened to put down their hands, are stunned at Sakurako's obliviousness. The family, however, is beyond horrified for if they decide to turn their attention on her.

"Sakurako, what are you doing!?" Nadeshiko whispered in anxiety

"I'm just eating my meal."

"Do you think this is the best time to enjoy your meal?!" Hanako retorted back in a whisper. "You'll get us killed!"

"Put your hands up, Sakurako!" her mother whispered in demand.

"Why would I? I just want to eat."

"Dammit, Sakurako! Stop eating your food and put your hands up before they see you!"

"Hey, who the hell's whisperin-" the robber in the middle aisle stopped, noticing Sakurako's backside and seeing that she hasn't raised her hands. "Hey, you kid!"

Her family and friends freeze in dreadfulness as the blonde only continue eating.

"I'm talking to you, blondie!" the robber called. "The hell you think you're doing?!"

Sakurako barely turns to her left. "I'm just eating my food."

"Very funny, kid."

"I'm not joking."

"No one asked you, wiseass!"

"The hell's going on there?!"

The second robber turned toward the fourth. "We got ourselves a smart brat here! She ain't putting her hands up!"

"You deal with her!" the fourth robber responded.

"Fine. Stand up, brat!"

"No, no!" her mother cried, and that's the only thing that concerned Sakurako.

"Hey, hey! Who said you could stand up?!" the robber aimed at the mother

"Mom, calm down," Sakurako assured her. "It'll be fine. Just sit down."

"Yeah, listen to your kid, bitch," the robber responded, waving his gun.

"Hey!" Sakurako faced the robber with an uneven tone. "Don't you speak to her like that!"

"You hear that guys?" that robber asked, the other robbers chuckled at her words. "You tryin' to play a hero, kid?"

"No, I'm only angry that you call her that, and you interrupt my meal."

"You stupid or something?" the robber asked mockingly. "How 'bout you put your hands up, huh?"

"No, thanks. I just want to continue eating my meal."

All customers within, including her friends and family, jolt their eyes out at her answer. After a careful look, there was not even an ounce of fear coming out of her. She just stood still like a rock, wearing the most inexpressive face. Even if her mother thinks she's afraid, she can't see any of it written within her eyes.

The robber, stunned for a moment, grits his teeth. "The hell you said, kid?!"

"I just want to continue my meal."

That robber looks at his fellow robbermate, showing the same confusion about her behavior. "Do you want to get shot, kid?"

"Why do you ask me that? I thought you wanted to rob the café."

If Sakurako is planning to stall them, it is working. But in Yui's perspective, it doesn't seem she wants to distract them.

"Grr, I mean it, you little brat!"

"Sorry, but I'm already too tired to care about that," Sakurako sighed. "Now, if you excuse me-"

"Don't worry, kid, I'm already tired of you anyway."

*DOR*

"NO!" her mother screamed as Sakurako was shot in the stomach and fell on her back.

Hanako screams, muttering her second sister's name with tears flowing as Nadeshiko holds her back from jumping onto her in front of the robber. The mother couldn't dare to look back at the fate of her second daughter, screaming in denial that she had died. Kyouko and Yui felt their arms become numb, and their eyes fixated on Sakurako, her eyes closed, and blood stained the clothes surrounding her wound. The rest of the customers scream once again as they continue to cradle deeper into their seats.

"What the hell?! Did you just shoot a kid?!" the first robber asked with bewilderment.

"What? Just makin' sure no one gets in the way. Grab their money and stuff! We gotta make it fast."

"Goddamn- screw it!" the third robber responded before the robbers proceeded to grab customers' valuables.

"You monster!" Yui almost stood up, and Kyouko tried her best to hold her back. "You won't get away with this!"

"You wanna join your friend too?" the second robber aimed at her.

"Yui, please, don't!" Kyouko pushed onto the seat. "You're going to get us killed!"

"You… bastard!" Yui yelled, with tears becoming evident in her eyes.

"You better keep her seated before I have to put a bullet on her as well!" the second robber demanded before focusing on the other customers.

For a number of seconds, the robbers continue to grab more and more valuables. The Oomuro family and the friends remain fixed on the robbers, angry, afraid, and apprehensive. When the second robber was about to reach the Oomuro family, he stopped in his tracks with disbelief written in his eyes.

"What the- where did she go?"

"Huh?" The family and the friends look at the dead Sakurako, only to find she isn't there anymore. The only evidence left on that floor was just a tiny speck of blood without a trail.

"Where is she?!" the robber immediately aimed at the family. "Where did she go?!"

"We don't know where she went!" Nadeshiko responded aloud.

"Stop bullshitting me! She was right next to you!"

"We didn't see where she went, I swear!"

"Don't lie to me!"

"What else I have to tell you?! I don't know how she got away in the first place!"

"You piece of-"

*SHIK* "AAAH!"

They all, including the robbers, immediately turn towards the third aisle and find the third robber kneeling in pain. A split second later, the third robber's scream immediately turns into a gurgle. From where Kyouko and Yui sit, their eyes almost go white, looking at the reason for his agony.

A blonde girl holds him from behind, holding a pencil that stabs through his neck. It was apparent that within her eyes, she was as red as an angry bull.

"Sakurako..?" Kyouko muttered in horror.

Without a second thought, Sakurako immediately frees the gun off his hand. She then aims that gun toward the three robbers.

"Oh shit!"

"She got a gun!"

"Shoot her!"

Sakurako was the first to pull the trigger, evidently killing the robber at the counter with a lucky headshot. Within the first bang, all customers and employees inside immediately jumped beneath the tables. The second robber is already shooting at her and even escaping from the second aisle. Still, Sakurako manages to put a couple of rounds into his torso and falls against the counter with a yelp. Sakurako starts to chase the last robber who's about to escape as they both exchange fire. The moment Sakurako exits the third aisle, that robber manages to shoot out her gun.

*CHAK*

A bullet collides on the right side of her neck and forces her into a knee. During this moment, the robber takes this chance to run out the doors and toward the vehicle. Sakurako held firm into her wounded neck, but that pain was soon masked by the anger they had offended upon her. She ignores the pain and immediately looks toward the robber she had shot in the head. She takes the pistol off him and chases the last robber down. Turning to her left, she sees the robber is already in the car but unable to start it repeatedly.

Sakurako steps closer and begins shooting at the robber through the side window.

*DAR-DAR*

Within the second shot, she felt a heartbeat. Didn't stop her from shooting him, though. Sakurako let loose at least four more bullets before she got close enough to see the car's interior bathed with blood. Sakurako gradually lowers the gun before reaching onto the wound on her stomach. Seeing her hand now soaked with blood, she becomes conscious of the people inside the café and decides to return inside.

The Oomuro family looked on with white faces, and even Hanako was too shaken to move a hand. Yui and Kyouko, however, were horrified and dumbfounded at the massacre she had made that they even had to gulp. When Sakurako enters, they all exit that aisle to come to her aid. Hanako already got ahead to embrace her second sister with severe concern.

"Saku-nee-chan!" Hanako ran toward her. "Saku-nee-chan! Are you alright?!"

Sakurako lifts her head at Hanako. The little sister was about to embrace her. However, Sakurako immediately aims her gun at Hanako's head.

*DOR*

Time seems to have to stop. Nadeshiko and the mother felt their blood run cold. Yui and Kyouko just had a stroke at the scene. Hanako, still standing there, stares into her with a look of scandalous betrayal. But it takes a moment to realize that she didn't shoot straight at Hanako; it was next to her head. It was the other robber against the counter behind the little sister that she shot; he was about to shoot at her with what strength he had left. Hanako sluggishly and erratically turns her head toward what the gun is aiming.

At this point, Sakurako immediately regains her consciousness and realizes what she had done. She quickly drops the pistol and holds her little sister's cheek, guiding her to look into her eyes as she kneels.

"Hanako, Hanako, don't look. Don't look," Sakurako's face now drowned with hysterical care. "You're fine. Everything's fine."

To see Sakurako's face immediately soften was already an anomaly in itself.

Hanako stared back as she could feel her heart about to explode from fear. "O-onee-chan…?"

"Easy, Hanako. You're safe now," Sakurako caresses her cheek and her hair. "You're all safe now."

The brunette little sister stares into her brown eyes, still fidgeting, and soon her fear dissipates. However, woeful exasperation took its place.

"Baka…. Onee-chan no baka!"

Hanako startles her by hitting her second sister's chest. Yet, when she sees Hanako starts tearing up, Sakurako is unable to say nor do anything.

"Do you realize what you did?!" Hanako yelled, holding her shoulders firmly. "You almost got killed! Did you even have to do that, baka!?"

"Hanako, I-"

"Don't argue with me! Do you know how scared I am!? I thought you were dead! I just saw my own sister almost taken away from me forever! You- You…."

Her heart breaks at her outburst, and she can feel herself about to tear up. Sakurako wordlessly hugs her, resting Hanako's crying face on her shoulder. Sakurako had looked over at the dead robbers, and she's more than inclined not to look at her work once again. Sakurako shushes her as she rubs her little sister's head.

"I'm so sorry for making you scared, Hanako. I…. I won't do it again, imouto-chan."

Sakurako notices her family and her friends approach her. However, she turns her attention to the customers and the employees.

"Is everyone hurt?" she asked.

The people start to assess each other in regard to their condition. Miraculously, none of the people were hurt during the gunfight.

"Thank God," Sakurako sighed out in relief.

"I can't believe you did it," Nadeshiko quickly kneeled next to them, eyebrows narrowed. "How insane are you to do something like that?"

"They made me angry in the first place," Sakurako answered.

"Sakurako, you dolt!" the mother agitatedly yelled. "What the hell were you thinking getting yourself shot like that!?"

"I don't know what I can say to you, mom," Sakurako just couldn't look up at her mother's face. "I'm sorry."

The mother sniffs and holds onto her right shoulder and her right arm. "Yeah, just… don't do it again. I couldn't bear losing you this way."

"Alright," she nodded.

"Are you okay?" Yui asked, unsure of how to approach her. "Your wounds…."

"Oh…," Sakurako pulled away a little to check her neck and her stomach.

It seems Hanako just realizes her bleeding wounds. "Ah, your blood…."

"Right, I feel hurt a little."

Kyouko stares in disbelief. "But you got shot in the stomach!"

"Yeah, it just hurts a little," a few seconds passed, and the adrenaline began to wear off. "Okay, it's starting to hurt a lot."

"Alright, Sakurako, lie down," Yui said, assisting the family in setting her down. "Kyouko, call the police and the ambulance!"

"I'm on it!" Kyouko immediately whipped out her phone and called.

"Do we have a cloth, towel, anything?" the mother asked.

"I'll get the cloth!" the waitress volunteered before running into the kitchen.

"What do I do?" Nadeshiko asked, a bit clueless.

"Hold that wound," the mother ordered. "Yui, can you hold her neck?"

"Got it."

"Keep still, Sakurako," her mother told her. "We'll get you to the hospital soon."

Sakurako smiles at her assurance. "I Know."

After a minute of tense silence, the waitress returned with a couple of clean cloth so the family and Yui could temporarily use them to seal the wound. Kyouko announces that the police and paramedics are on the way. After a few minutes, the emergency response reaches the scene and finds themselves amazed at the chaos before them. All people within the café have been evacuated, while Sakurako, alongside her family and friends, is escorted by the paramedics towards the nearest hospital.


Sumida had hopped out of her car toward the aftermath of the scene. There was little of value to investigate, but she was here to clean up the mess. A few broken windows tattered with bullet holes, the trail of blood is a little noticeable near the glass doors, and a nearby car had its interior bathed in blood. Entering through the glass doors were a couple of dead men resting against the counter, with a few bullet holes on their bodies. She just couldn't believe it.

One of her fellow officers that first arrived at the scene told her that Sakurako was shot and killed all those robbers before she could be sent to the hospital. She only shakes her head at that radio call. She was ready to call bullshit that Sakurako could do something like this. Then again, Sakurako played that law enforcement simulator and was even interested in firearms. But managed to survive a gunshot head-on?

Sumida walks over to one of the officers at one of the nearby cruisers, currently radioing the situation with other officers. Sumida calls him over.

"What's up, detective?"

"Any update on Sakurako's condition?"

"One moment," the officer radioed interrogatively for a moment. "Understood. Sakurako is currently in surgery now. She'll live."

Sumida places a hand on her chest with a relieved sigh.

"Do you want to visit the hospital?" the officer asked.

"Later, we have a job to do," Sumida replied. "I want to make a quick call first."

"Okay," the officer merely nodded.

Sumida steps a bit far away from the scene and makes the call. She waits for a moment for an answer.

"Hello?"

"Shiba, it's me."

"Ah, detective, detective~. Why call me so late this evening? Did you miss me, or did you want to taunt me?"

"Listen, something happened. It's about Sakurako."

"What of her?"

"She's been shot."

"W-what? You aren't pulling strings, are you?"

"Look, a robbery just happened at COCOdeS. The robbers managed to shoot Sakurako. But here's the thing, she killed all those robbers by herself."

A few seconds of silence on the other end. "She…. Goodness."

"I know."

"Are you going to visit her?"

"Tomorrow morning. Sakurako's currently in surgery now. I need to clean up the mess here at the café. You think you can pay a visit?"

"I may need to check my schedule first. Thanks for letting me know, detective."

"It felt like the right thing to do. I guess I'll see you later."

"You too."

The detective pockets her phone and looks up toward the dark sky, colored by the police sirens, with one question lingering in her mind.

"How the hell can you do something like this, Sakurako?"