[Date: 20th July 
Time: 8:00 am
Location: Miyasi's house]

"Darling, Kavei's here to see you," Miyasi's mother called as she opened the front door, revealing him standing on the porch with a polite, almost shy smile.

"Yes, Mom. Let him in," Miyasi's voice floated from somewhere deeper inside the house.

"Come on in, Kavei. She's in her room," her mother said warmly, stepping aside to let him through.

"Thank you, ma'am," he replied with a courteous nod before stepping inside. The familiar scent of the house wrapped around him—tea leaves, polished wood, and something faintly floral. He had been here before, but today felt different. This wasn't just another visit; it was about the case, the case he had finally promised himself to look into.

Reaching Miyasi's door, he gave a quick knock before pushing it open. She was sitting cross-legged on the bed, surrounded by a paper storm—documents strewn across the floor, desk, and even the chair by the window.

"What's all this?" he asked, drifting further in, letting his gaze sweep over the mess before landing on her.

"Trying to help you," she said, eyes still fixed on the sheet in her hands. "You need Aroshi's records, right?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"I asked Saira to get me the list of officers at Kanagawa Police Station."

"Oh?" His brows rose. "Any luck yet?"

She shook her head slightly, still rifling through pages. "Not much. They all have kids, alright, but none of them seem like the type who'd help. Still... I'll reach out. Can't hurt to try."

"How many names are we talking about here?"

"More than a handful," she murmured with a faint laugh, though frustration was creeping into her tone.

"Figures. Nothing about this was going to be easy."

"Exactly. And we can't involve adults—it'd just get tossed back in our faces. The case is closed, after all."

"Then give me a few names," Kavei said, stepping closer. "I can start digging too."

She finally looked up at him, a little surprised. "You're sure?"

"Of course. I'm the one who pushed for this in the first place."

A smile ghosted over her lips before she handed him a neat stack of eight sheets. As he took them, he noticed her eyes flick briefly toward the phone on her desk—Saira was already out there, trying to track down someone trustworthy enough to get them Aroshi's files.

Every morning, Kavei made the same long trip from Shinagawa to Kanagawa, changing trains at Oimachi Station before beginning the day's search. Saira had it easier—she was staying at her family's vacation home in Kanagawa, which meant she could head straight to the neighborhoods they needed to check. But Kavei didn't mind the commute; if anything, it gave him time to think, to plan, to steel himself for whatever the day might throw at him.

Armed with the list they'd pieced together, he spent his days weaving through quiet streets and knocking on strangers' doors. Sometimes he'd be met with polite curiosity, a person willing to at least hear him out. Other times, the door barely cracked open before it closed again. Rejection came often, but it didn't stick. Every "no" just sent him on to the next address. By the time he made it back home each night, shoulders aching and legs heavy, the fire in his chest still burned.

He learned to make the routine work for him. Each evening, he'd set aside a few minutes to pack breakfast for the next morning—something he could eat quickly on the train while the city slipped by outside the window. Lunch was a bento he'd prepared the night before, carefully arranged so he could enjoy it in some tucked-away corner or on a park bench, the chatter and clatter of the city washing over him.

When the day finally ended and he stepped off the train back in Shinagawa, he often grabbed a simple rice ball wrapped in crisp nori—just enough to keep him going until he could collapse into bed. Then, the cycle would start all over again. The days blurred together, each one as repetitive as the last, but beneath that monotony was an unshakable drive. He wouldn't stop until they found the one person willing to help.

[Date: 25th July 
Time: 11: 45 pm
Location: Kavei's house]

Kavei balanced the phone between his ear and shoulder as he cleared away the last bits of his simple meal—the dark flakes of nori still scattered across the white plate in his hand. Miyasi's voice came through the line, curious and eager, as her words spilled out. "You really found someone who is willing to help us? Who is this person?"

"Yeah, Benio Kasugazaki. He's the son of the division commander, Chiba, Sir Renge Kasugazaki," Kavei said, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. He felt a quiet sense of satisfaction knowing they were making progress.

"Benio? How old is he?" Miyasi's question came quick, her interest clearly piqued.

"Just a year older than me," Kavei replied, already doing the mental math between Benio's age and Miyasi's.

"So, a year younger than me, huh," Miyasi mused thoughtfully. Kavei was still in junior high while she was in her senior year, both pushing through their own challenges of school.

"Yeah," Kavei agreed.

"Okay, but a high schooler... What makes you think he'd help without causing a bunch of trouble?" Miyasi's voice was skeptical, her worry about complications obvious.

"We are both kids too. Besides, he seems trustworthy," Kavei said cautiously. "He promised he wouldn't say a word. Maybe he's just in for the excitement. Kind of reminds me of a certain group of idiots I know..."

Miyasi chuckled softly at the reminder. "Haha. Are you still in touch with those guys?"

"Nope. They'd probably catch on if I was," Kavei admitted, focusing back on the matter at hand.

"Man, you've got to see them again at some point," Miyasi said, then quickly added, "But yeah, we should keep that on the back burner for now."

"Right. Benio's coming by tomorrow," Kavei said, the hint of excitement clear in his voice.

"That's awesome. This could finally give us the lead we need," Miyasi said, pride shining through.

"Maybe. Good night, Miyasi-neechan."

"Good night, Kavei-kun," she replied, and the call ended, leaving the quiet warmth of their shared hope hanging in the air.

[

Date: 26th July
Time: 9:00 am
Location: Kavei's house]

The rich scent of fresh coffee filled the small kitchen, mixing oddly with the tight knot of unease coiling in Kavei's chest. He stood near the counter, eyes flicking between the TV screen and the steaming pot in his hands. The news was on, but his mind was tangled up in everything it was showing.

He poured the dark liquid into his favorite cup with a shaky hand, the warmth doing little to calm the storm inside him. Benio hadn't contacted him yet. Not a word.

"Damn it..." he muttered, voice barely above a whisper.

The screen showed a grainy video of a man called Yaozori being cuffed by police officers. The man's glare was sharp, wild with defiance, but there was no escaping the handcuffs as he was taken to the police car for a shift in restraining bars.

"Good Morning viewers, this is Hitomi of EZR TV. I extend a warm welcome to everyone in the interview segment of the show," Hitomi said, voice steady. "Today's criminal interview starts with mister Yaozori, who is currently being shifted to a new restraining area."

The camera shifted its focus on Yaozori as he growled at it. "I will definitely get you! I will get you! I will have your head hanging on the door of your very house, you STUPID DETECTIVE!"

Kavei's eyes narrowed. Yaozori. This was the man who he had helped capture during a five person kidnapping case. 

The screen flicked, and suddenly the image of Tomarami Famina appeared. He simply stood near the police car, the camera panned at him. 

"Tomarami Famina," Hitomi continued, voice dropping as if afraid the name alone might summon trouble. "A notorious figure from the underground, linked to several high-profile crimes. Our next words are from him."

Kavei's breath caught. "No... not him." The name stuck in his throat like a bitter pill. Memories flooded back. He had helped capture this man out of sheer luck. He wouldn't have been involved at all if he wasn't even passing by the incident then. 

The TV showed a short clip of Famina's cold eyes, the kind that seemed to see straight through a person's soul. "My followers, and those who admire me will surely emerge. There will be a war. I want you to be ready, detective."

Kavei clenched his jaw, the handle of his coffee pot tightening in his grip.

"Stay focused," he told himself.

Hitomi shifted tone, now highlighting a new interview.

"Some criminals turn their lives around," she said. "Although she has a sentence to complete and the verdict is not complete yet, she seems to have embraced her mistake and is extremely regretfully. But is that enough?"

The lady next to Hitomi, Yuume, spoke into the camera.

"Yeah, I am an offender. An accomplice even. But the junior detective, he saw something in me—something worth saving."

Kavei let out a small, almost amused sigh. "Some of them really do change."

Then the screen showed a serious-looking man with dark hair—Detective Seitsuki, a legend in the department. His voice was steady, carrying weight and years of hard-earned respect.

"What do you think of the junior detective who has been a name in every possible new case?" Hitomi's voice spoke into the mic as she directed the question to Seitsuki

"He's got a lot of potential," Seitsuki said, nodding toward the camera, the mic close to his lips now. "If Itsuhara believes in this kid, I'm willing to bet she's right. I only hope he stays vigilant."

Kavei's heart gave a sudden jump at the advice.

Just as the interview wrapped up, a sharp chime rang through the apartment.

The doorbell.

Kavei's pulse quickened. He set down the cup carefully, wiped his hands on his jeans, then headed toward the door with measured steps, every sense on alert.

Who could be visiting at this hour? After seeing Tomarami Famina on the news just moments ago, the ominous doorbell didn't help ease his worry.

Kavei felt a wave of relief as he swung open the door and saw Itsuhara Yukina standing there. He gave her a warm smile. "Oh, miss Itsuhara! What's going on? Come on in," he said, stepping aside.

But instead of returning the smile, Yukina stormed past him, her face dark with anger. "What's going on? You. That's what's going on," she snapped, her voice low but fierce.

Kavei blinked, caught off guard. "Huh? What do you mean? What's wrong?"

Her eyes locked onto his, sharp as daggers. "Kavei Niram, since when did you start helping the police?"

He stumbled, caught completely off guard by the accusation. "W-what? I don't get it."

"Tell me. Now," Yukina demanded, stepping closer.

"Well... I guess it's been a while... since I was nine, maybe?" Kavei said slowly, furrowing his brow as he tried to piece it together himself.

"That long? What the hell is wrong with you?" she shook her head, disbelief dripping from every word.

"What do you mean by that?" he asked, confusion deepening, his hands nervously sliding behind his back.

She softened, but only a little. "Kavei, you can't keep going around like nothing matters anymore."

"Why not?" he asked, genuinely baffled.

"Because sooner or later, the criminals you put away are going to come after you. We have to be careful," she warned, her voice tinged with real concern.

Kavei was silent for a moment, then gave a crooked smile. "Believe me, they already did. They yelled at me, even kicked me out once. So I kept it on the down low. Only Inspector Senzaki knew."

Yukina's eyes narrowed. "And he didn't tell you to stop?"

Kavei shrugged, sarcasm seeping through. "Why would he? It made things easier for him, I guess."

Yukina let out a frustrated sigh. "Ugh. Just stay inside for now, okay? Until we move you somewhere safer—"

"I think we've been over this, miss Itsuhara," Kavei interrupted, firm.

"No, Kavei. Some rules need to be bent. I'm serious—we need to keep you safe."

"If this is about that favor I asked you, forget it."

"It's not," she said, her tone hardening. "I want to protect you. I'm your employer, and I'll do whatever it takes."

"You can't just show up and tell me to stay put until you move me somewhere else," Kavei shot back, frustration bubbling over.

"Oh, but I just did. And you'd better listen. Goodbye."

Without another word, Yukina turned and headed down the stairs, leaving Kavei standing there, mouth open.

"Hey! Wait! Ugh... and she's gone," he muttered to himself, the mix of irritation and helplessness lingering long after she disappeared.