He opened his eyes to find the illuminated ceiling above him.

The structure was closed on all four sides with the exception of a single opening.

He was laying on his back and looking up at the center of the ceiling, but he could still see the rest of the room around him.

This was the operating room of A-Rank Hatohara Squad and that was where he had gone to sleep.

"That's not good."

He sat up with his lower legs dangling over the edge of the mat.

He had laid back and gone to sleep for a nap while sitting on the edge here.

He touched his body to find he was fairly chilled. But...

"For the most part, I'm fine."

He no longer felt any mental strain in his mind that had been a terrible annoyance earlier in the day.

He tried and had no trouble raising his arms in his simple outfit.

"Hm."

He frowned a bit when he pulled his right arm back, but...

"Good enough."

He let his arms rest and then sighed.

"Minoru-nii-san."

Someone was walking into the room filled with mats for the members who would Bail Out.

Minoru's eyebrows rose when he saw the blond glasses-boy.

"Lukas, you're back already?"

"You took a bit of an extended nap, so it actually has been a while since I was here. I also got you something to eat, but that is about it."

Lukas held out a lunchbox wrapped in a cloth.

"May I sit next to you?" he asked.

"Of course."

"If you need some more time..."

"It's fine, really," said Minoru while facing forward.

The mat was oriented a bit diagonally from the opening to the room.

The smaller room was illuminated by the fluorescent lights above, so the two of them could see clearly as they moved. Minoru's position on the mat gave him a view of the rest of their operating room.

"The enlistment testing should have ended by now."

"Were you intending to check on things if it dragged on?"

"Even if I wasn't, sometimes you realize you should and sometimes people tell you to do it."

But...

"There wasn't enough time for going over there. ...Is that a good enough excuse for not being well enough to go?"

"Being able to think about that sort of thing should be enough," said Lukas while untying the cloth wrapper, but Minoru could not agree.

"So how did everything go?" said Minoru.

"I asked Takeshi to watch in our stead. He was already going for his captain."

"But I bet he could have liked some company."

"Then did you want to be that company?"

"You set me up for that question, didn't you?"

I'm taking this so lightly, thought Minoru.

But I'm probably faking how lightly I really take it. However…

…I can't believe this.

He had fully accepted so many things on the inside, but external things like obligations and pride were refusing to let him outwardly accept them. He knew this made him look like a fool, so…

…I can't take any of it too seriously or it would drive me more mad.

"Y'know," he said. "I'm sure there was a big show during enlistment. Apparently someone went at it with Kazama-san."

"So I've heard. Takeshi did message me with what had happened over there while others had spoken about what happened with the Snipers on their end."

"Man, it's pretty hard to hide things like that over here, isn't it?" Minoru rested his head in his hand. "We get told that someone will be joining our squad after this enlistment and have to prepare for that while we had things to worry about over in Germany. It's a good thing the guys over at Tamakoma agreed to help."

.

Minoru sighed.

...Hard to say if we were lucky or unlucky.

They had managed to bring in Maki easily enough, but there was a clear distance between them and him. No matter how much they tried to get along, there was still a wall in the way that could mess with their squad's dynamics. The skills of the new member were actually well off that defeating Neighbors would not be an issue, but there was always more to situations than something like that.

They had been able to figure out Maki's strong points and work with that. And once they needed to go to Germany, it was safe to ask the Tamakoma Branch for their help.

They had heard how things went there, but that was why Minoru had come here.

This would be their chance to see Maki in action during the testing and properly greet him as a member of their squad.

But he had not been able to do so.

The testing for new recruits was over and information had already spread about the results.

"Well it's good to know that he managed to get through that easily enough," said Minoru.

"You really wanted to go watch what happened over there, didn't you?" said Lukas.

"It's fine as long as there was someone there to make sure he was fine. Besides, Loki was sending his squad over to look over everyone, wasn't he?"

He used that nickname for one of his friends without really thinking about it.

I'm being really cold, he realized. Cold and light. Is there a metal like that? I'm not sure. Well, ice works well enough for that description, but calling myself ice seems so arrogant.

"But this was still something better seen with my own eyes."

"The testing you mean?" asked Lukas.

"Right. How should I put it?" said Minoru. "It is really frustrating when you can't be there for someone, right?"

"I can't really say if this is a comparison, but I can at least say that is true."

"I'm not really sure what I mean myself, but…you know."

He tried to think back on the fight against Denji.

"—"

But he gave up on remembering what happened in the depths of that night where his ally and enemy had seemed to understand each other.

That probably expressed his innermost thoughts better than anything.

That was the part of himself he wanted to deny and the kind of person he wanted to be.

But this situation was for "everyone".

So while making sure not to reject anything that happened back then, he skipped past those thoughts and faced what came next.

"When I saw the results of our trip, it got me thinking. It made me feel like there was still a lot we were lacking."

"You feel powerless?"

"Hm, not quite. Feeling powerless is linked to the frustration I felt upon needing someone else to take care of my family. You know, the frustration of being treated as powerless when you know you're not."

"In that case," said Lukas. "Since we were involved in the situation concerning Germany, did you feel a powerlessness that is not linked to that frustration?"

"Lukas, why do you have to make everything so confusing?"

"It's not that confusing."

Lukas held up the lunchbox. It contained some boiled vegetables and grilled fish. The fish had its bones removed, so he must have made sure to check it before buying it. It also had a light rice dish, and…

"Where's the tea?"

"There was none left when I went to get some."

"Is that so?"

The rest of their operating room was visible through the opening, showing off their belongings.

It was quiet when compared to the rest of Border.

"Should we go see him now?"

Minoru did not know if he could just sit around stewing or not.

He doubted he had left his innermost thoughts behind in actions that had happened there would remain in his mind from the simple fact that everything there had an impact on him and others.

He was not dumb enough to forget that.

He had already found an answer, but he did not have to give it right away, so here he was.

He was pretty sure he would walk around the base once he had managed to calm down some more, but...

"So it looks like Hatohara Squad has expanded, huh?"

That would give him plenty to think about.

He had only recently returned to Mikado City, so he was still not really sure what Border was doing about certain matters.

Of the ones who had gone along with him, he had heard Arafune would be helping with the Sniper testing and Yuki would be doing his own thing, but...

"What should I do?"

He knew everyone else would be doing their own things and continuing on while he moved at his own pace.

"I guess that's just how things are now."

"So the enlistment testing is over for today?"

Tsuji was using a water scoop to water the wooden planters on the Misaki Flower Shop's roof.

He had been asked by a friend to work for a bit there.

This was meant as a simple way for him to earn some money while also helping a friend.

"Shin-kun, spreading your arms as much as possible while carrying a bucket would work toward building more muscles for your shoulders. As would not moving your wrist when swinging the water scoop. ...As for enlistment, I got word from Shiro-kun that it has ended and the new recruits are able to gain some points now."

"Why did I think it was a good idea to have you here while I worked for a bit? ...But why did Oshiro go over there anyway? Wouldn't it have been fine if he left it to Kimura-senpai?"

"I doubt she would have been able to keep from telling a bad joke," said the blue haired girl he was with while removing some weeds from the platers.

"How do they get weeds up on the roof?" asked Tsuji.

"This type has extremely small seeds which can be carried by the wind or birds. It is also possible the seeds were in the soil to begin with."

"I see," said Tsuji as he tapped the water scoop against his head. "I'm surprised you know that kind of thing."

"Sorry. I just happened to know that one is all."

Then a few people moved within their eyesight in front of the flower shop. They were standing in the sun and they began whispering among themselves while looking Tsuji's way.

"Because Tsuji-kun is also very athletic, you see."

"He's hopeless when it comes to girls, isn't he?"

"Should we help him out? Invite him to our next party?"

"You are very popular, Shin-kun," noted the blue-haired Hisoka.

"When you're that close by I can hear you whispering!" Tsuji called down.

The people cried out in surprise and moved back into the shade, making Tsuji sigh.

"I really hope they're actually doing their jobs. This part of the city gets rather busy later on, right?"

"You would know more about that than I would."

Kobayashi Hisoka looked southeast.

She gazed over the buildings, past the water, and beyond the blue sky.

"Do you think there was anything major that happened?" asked Tsuji.

"I would think there are at least a few special people there."

Hisoka lowered her hips to crouch down.

"Who could that be, I wonder?"

"That is a very neutral question to ask. Some might have asked who would be better."

Tsuji thought about what that meant.

"Hah," he laughed bitterly. "We still have to hold our position until we can make it back to A-Rank."

"Is that how it is?"

Just then, the door to the roof was pushed open.

They looked over to see a blond girl burst out and jump on the floor several times.

"Ah~ Suzu-nee-chan isn't here."

Svantje sighed, but her smile never left her face. The pink-eyed girl hummed softly as she looked at the sky as if she was in deep thought.

It's surprising that this girl is called Border's Sunshine, having her warm personality, but still have some kind of serious aura around that others take her seriously. And well, from most girls she is one of the normal ones... thought Tsuji while Hisoka gave him a silent look that suggested she was thinking the same thing.

Then the Sniper turned around and noticed them.

"Shinno! Hiso!" Svantje's smile brightened as she approached them, stopping besides the blue-haired girl while being mindful of Tsuji's fears. "Good that you're still here!"

"You could have just messaged us."

"I would have, but I didn't want Shinno to freak out because of me~"

A few people moved away from the shade down below and waved their hands side to side with pity in their eyes. Some were even in shock as it had been Border's Sunshine they were talking about.

Then they moved back into the shade.

"Don't worry, Shinno! I know you will be able to talk to other girls soon! Besides, you have Hiso and ShiShi!"

"Th-thank you..."

Svantje did not falter as he started to move behind Hisoka.

"Anyway, is there something you need?"

"I think you can guess why I am here~"

"...To solve another case when you have been asked by the police to stay away?"

It was a known fact all around Mikado City that Svantje was one of the best detectives around, to the point where she would be compared to other great minds such as Sherlock Holmes and be revered as such. It had also gained her a nickname by her own captain of "Miss Homes".

However, this sort of ability came with a sort of self inflicted "curse".

"Add that she is someone who actually gets things done. ...Even when she is asked to stay away."

"Uwah~ It's not my fault that I accidentally stumble on these cases! And I can't look away when they are close to being solved!"

Hisoka only blinked as Tsuji let out a sigh. Both worried about the girl's safety at times.

"Anyway!" she clapped. "I wanted to invite you two! The police insisted that I take his reward, so what better way to spend it than with others?"

"I see. In that case, we should be going now. Oh, but we should get Shiro-kun first. That way Shin-kun has someone else to hide behind."

"The fact you aren't saying that to tease me just hurts that much more..."

Hisoka looked over her shoulder to see Tsuji bowing his head in despair. Svantje's giggle could also be heard.

"Is that so?"