I had walked around Samegawa, the shopping district, and even Junes, but I still had not seen anyone suspicious whatsoever. I didn't understand. I had been on TV the previous night, made myself completely vulnerable... Yet I had not even sensed the slightest suspicious activity. It was nearly the end of school hours when things began to sink in for me. The thought of what I was ultimately planning to do began to phase me... After all, I had been planning to make myself bait for this extremely elusive culprit... The reason I had attended that talk show the night before. If the police would not address my theory, then I was faced with no choice but to take the case into my own hands. It was a necessary risk I had to take. I started to feel somewhat melancholy, and found myself with a heavy feeling in my chest as I sat at one of the tables outside Souzai Daigaku. I tried to force this useless feeling out of me, but the attempt was to no avail. I sighed, and then looked up as a shadow fell upon me.

"Shirogane," said the familiar voice of detective Tohru Adachi, "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in school? ...What's wrong?"

"What do you mean?" I said, stiffening up and trying to flush all hint of emotion out of my appearance.

"I donno," Adachi said, scratching the back of his head with one hand in his pocket, "You just kinda looked sad."

"I have no interest in such emotions, however irrelevant," I said, "But if you must know, I was simply pondering my theories on the case."

Adachi sighed, seeming somewhat hopeless. "Listen," he said, taking a seat in the chair across from me, "Don't you think you're getting a little too into all of this?"

I grunted. "It's a serial murder case; I don't think it's possible to get 'too into it.' Plus, we still haven't gotten a valid explanation from Kubo."

"And that's just it," Adachi said, "We've questioned the hell out of him, but we can't get any answers that actually make sense. He just keeps saying things like 'I did it because I was pissed off,' or 'everybody just bugs me, I have no other reason...' We're probably going to send him in for a mental examination, because that kid doesn't exactly seem like he's all there. You know what I'm saying?" He chuckled nervously and scratched the back of his neck before growing slightly more serious. "Still... It's a shame those people had to die because of a simple mental disorder."

"But what if it isn't a mental disorder?" I insisted, " What if Kubo is making this all up? His story seems rather flimsy to me."

"Naoto-kun," Adachi practically chuckled, "Don't you think you're taking this a little too seriously? I mean, if he says he's the killer, he probably is. Who in the world would turn themselves in for a serial murder case if they weren't the real criminal?"

"I don't know," I said, "But even if he was the murderer, why would he turn himself in in the first place?"

"Maybe he got cold feet?" Adachi shrugged, "Guilt? The mental disorder I mentioned? People turn themselves in for crimes all the time, Shirogane, that's something you'll notice later on in your career."

"This just doesn't seem right to me," I growled, "We need to keep investigating."

Adachi looked at me with a face of pain and pity. He sighed regretfully, and tried to look into my eyes, though I remained deep in thought and stared at the table in front of me, crossing my arms. "Shirogane," Adachi said quietly, "I was told not to say anything until it was confirmed, but I think you should know this... We're putting a close on this case today."

The words struck like ice straight through my gut. I widened my eyes in shock, and looked up at him. "What?! Why?" Subconsciously, my fist pounded into the table. Adachi-san jumped back in surprise. "What is the meaning of this?!"

"Er... C-calm down!" Adachi stuttered, "There's no reason not to close it! We have a culprit in custody and he fully admits to everything! Plus, this case has been going on for more than four months now, and we have other issues to address."

"Other issues?!" I said, fuming so badly that I could have sworn I could breathe fire, "You just want to put an end to this case because it's tiring! This isn't dedication, this is forefeit! It's laziness!"

"Watch your mouth, Shirogane," Adachi said, suddenly getting more serious and standing up, "I wouldn't speak that way to an authority figure. Have some respect for your elders."

Respect for my elders? My blood was boiling. My face reddened as I began to grind my teeth in frustration. No. I wasn't going to stop. Not just like that. I'd had it. I stood up as well, slamming my hands into the table. "From the beginning, this police department has had absolutely no advance on the case. That's why the perfectual police called me in, isn't it? I thought this case was just more difficult than others for you all, but it turns out the only reason I'm needed is because you are all just a pack of lazy, retroactive imbeciles! You're so desperate just to close the case that the second someone comes into custody, you all jump to arrest him and put a close on all of this without another word, and you won't even take into account what I, who the perfectual police sent in as special help, think is best for us to do! I will NOT be treated like a child!" I didn't notice how loud I had been yelling. Everything around me seemed quiet. I stared into Adachi's eyes, my own eyes like razors, piercing painfully into him. I could sense the uncomfortable feeling I was giving him, as well as a hint of fear. Everyone in the shopping district had paused. I felt the likes of many eyes on me, staring coldly and savagely at the police officer before me. I didn't care. I was outraged.

Adachi narrowed his eyes. He seemed slightly embarrassed that I had yelled at him in front of all these people. "Don't forget," he said, "You still are a child./i"

"Ngh," I grunted, my expression softening. My heart fell, and my whole body went somewhat limp.

"Shirogane," Adachi said, turning to walk away, "You're off the case."

Urgency arose within me. My eyes widened again. "What...?"

"Unless," Adachi said, hands in his pockets, turning to face me with a smug grin, "You can swallow your pride and take back what you just said. And that includes shutting up about the case from now on, and letting the police handle what the police are assigned to do."

I was silent. Swallowing hard, I looked down at my quivering fingers, still pressed against the table. I didn't want to be taken off this case, but I also didn't want to ignore my gut feeling on the matter. It was too strong. I was completely speechless, not knowing what to say.

"Suit yourself," Adachi said, turning back and beginning to casually walk away, "Apparently your pride is more important to you than your job. You're going to need to learn to reverse that sometime in the future, if you want to continue it. Good luck, Ace Detective Shirogane." With that, he walked off, disappearing from the central shopping district.

My heart was racing, and adrenaline was still pulsing through my veins. I looked around. The people flooding the shopping district had all been staring at me. Through the silence, a small girl began to cry. My heart sank, and my face became pale. This innocent little girl was crying, scared stiff because of my yelling. A lump grew in my throat. I tried to swallow it down, but it would not leave. My heart cried out to the little girl... And something in me almost felt relatable to her... No, I would not admit that. I had nothing in common with that crying little girl. Nothing at all. Though... I still felt sorry for her. I felt sorry for everyone whom I had forced to witness my outburst. It was a stupid, stupid childish thing to do... I felt hot tears well up behind my eyes, but I refused to let them come out. Seeing nothing else to do, I panicked, running off down the road toward my house.

It was late afternoon when I arrived at my house, slightly after when I would have usually gotten home, had I gone to school. As I entered through the front door, a rush of the homey scent of my house, consisting mainly of the scents of wood panel flooring and old, dusty books, came over me. However, its usual relaxing effects on me did not come into play. I slammed the door in frustration, making no hesitation as I crossed the parlor and climbed the stairs to my room.

My Grampa had been readying himself for work, it seemed. He was putting on the coat he usually wore during investigations, a fresh cigar hanging out of his mouth. Yakushiji-san had been with him. I suspected they had been conversing prior to my arrival, as they had both had cheerful grins on their faces, the ones they always wore right after a good, hearty laugh.

Grampa followed me with his eyes as I stormed inside. "Naoto-chan?" he said, sounding concerned as his smile collapsed.

"I told you not to call me Naoto-chan," I said, freezing on the stairs, but not turning around.

"Naoto-kun," he corrected himself, "Is something wrong?"

"Did something happen at school?" Yakushiji-san asked.

"I'm fine," I lied, still fuming inside, "I just need some time alone."

"Alright..." my grandfather said, "Do you need anything? Shall I get you a drink or something?"

I had reached the door to my room and opened it, my shoulders hunched in insecurity and anger. "Some ginger ale, if you could... I'm having a bit of indigestion." I slammed the door behind me.