The moment YF stood up on the train to leave, bright flashing lights ate away at his peripheral vision and started to close in toward the center. His knees grew weak, prompting him to grab onto the nearest pole. He held onto it tighter as people started pushing past him to get out. Erika had described her sudden bouts of dizziness to him before, and YF knew a few other people prone to them. But experiencing it himself was much worse than he imagined. He suddenly felt a thirst in his throat as if his tongue would swallow itself. A bulging pain formed in his neck. He touched it and felt a pulsing, thick vein.
YF somehow stumbled out of the train and activated his neckband helmet to cover his face, continuing toward the stairs. He grabbed the handrail just as his foot slipped off the first step. YF felt a hand grab onto his forearm. He tried to thank whoever it was but could not speak, instead, coughing and hacking in response. He waved and nodded feebly before gently pulling his arm back. YF continued to descend the stairs, exiting through the turnstile and taking a longer, less populated route back to the koban.
About ten minutes that seemed like an eternity later, he felt someone touch his arm. “You alright bro?”
YF turned and hissed at him.
“Whoa! Chill out!” The person backpedaled toward the store he had emerged from.
YF himself was not sure what brought about his reaction. He only knew that the man angered him, and he grew less irritated the further the man backed away.
YF could not tell how long it took before he eventually made it back to the koban garage. He hobbled over to the fridge and grabbed onto the lid, fumbling with it until he got it open. YF’s vision was still fuzzy as he reached in and pulled the large vial from the black box. It was only in the seconds that followed after he drained the contents that he could see and think clearly. He held up the bottle, watching the last few drops of blood slide down the glass.
"Shit."
***
“Katayama?” asked YF.
“Light of the Way tells me he’s recovering,” Kuroda replied.
“That’s good.”
“And you? You sure you’re alright?” asked Kuroda.
“I’m fine,” YF insisted, a little stronger than he had intended. “And I’ll finish the report soon.”
“Take your time,” said Kuroda.
With no cameras on the lower five levels, no one would know the truth of what happened unless Katayama decided otherwise. It would be enough to land them both in jail for a long time, and so YF was not anticipating any objection on Katayama’s part when he woke up. Kita would take the fall for everything that had happened. YF and Katayama were looking for the stolen van together, which Kita then tried to take from them after they had found it. That would be the official story. YF had left the rifle Mizuno had given him next to her. All of his hand oils had been burned off of the handle and stock from the rapid-engage effects. It should be next to impossible to trace it to him. He then took Katayama’s rifle and hid it elsewhere in the lower levels, where he could retrieve it later.
“There’s another thing,” said Kuroda.
“Yes?”
Kuroda stared at him with a hard look for a few moments. YF braced himself for a dressing down.
"You're being transferred as a Town Liaison to the Ward Office."
YF had started to apologize on instinct but stopped himself, his mouth still open. It took several seconds for him to collect his thoughts. "So…what does that mean exactly?" he asked. It was obviously not the promotion he wanted.
"It means Uraga wants to keep an eye on you."
“Higher cost of living with the same pay? Great.” "And the koban?" he asked instead.
Kuroda inhaled deeply from his vape box. "I'll have to figure something out."
“I know some people in the community who can keep an eye out while Katayama is recovering. I suppose he would have to patrol both areas after.”
Kuroda turned his head and raised his hand up. “I didn’t hear that. But I trust you to keep the neighborhood running smoothly to the best of your ability.”
“Yes sir.”
***
YF packed the few things left in the koban as slowly as he possibly could. There were countless days he sat at the desk and stared at the clock, just wanting the time to pass as quickly as possible. Now that he would never have to be there again, it was as if he was leaving an old, warm coat behind. It was not that he regretted it, and it had long worn past its use date. But leaving was more bittersweet than he had thought.
He started to worry about what he was going to do in Nishida now that he sold the house Reina had given. The Black Hat was significantly closer to the Ward Office than it was to Itsugo, but it was still not a trivial commute. If he was going to see Erika more as promised, YF was going to need to figure out somewhere to live. He took out his receiver and went to an apartment finding site, connecting his public life profile to it and allowing it to come up with top five choices within a budget. He set the receiver on the desk as the algorithm would need to run a while longer.
“You rang?”
YF looked over his shoulder to see Mizuno standing in the doorway. He nodded. “It’s going to be a while before any patrolmen come back to these parts. It’d be nice if you could watch over the community while I’m gone.”
YF was anticipating that Mizuno would say something like “we were watching over the community even without you” but then realized that was not his style.
“Of course Mr. Sakai. It would be an honor,” said Mizuno.
“Thank you. Really.”
“Don’t mention it.”
YF shoved a few more things into his box. He shook his head. “Didn’t think I would miss this place at all.”
“It’s the tragedy of life,” said Mizuno. “We never appreciate what we have.” He turned and motioned with his head toward the direction of Nishida Ward, and the capital city beyond that. “The city is a testament to that truth. Always wanting more may not bring out the good in us, but it does bring out the best in us.”
“Are the two mutually exclusive?” asked YF.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
Mizuno chuckled. “Probably.” He made a clinking sound as he checked his watch. Mizuno might be the only person YF knew who wore one.
“I must apologize Mr. Sakai but I have some prior engagements to which I am already late.”
YF waved a hand. “Don’t worry about it. We’ll keep in touch, meet up again I’m sure.”
“I’m sure,” Mizuno confirmed. “Good bye then Mr. Sakai, see you soon.” He bowed slightly and closed the security door, leaving the inner door open as he left.
YF spent some more time packing his things and rearranging some items to make sure they would not get crushed. When he was finished he went outside and waited for the courier. Eventually, a teenage boy rode up to the koban on a beat up scooter. The trip from Itsugo to Nishida on that thing would probably take a long time.
YF swiped on his receiver toward the boy once, hesitated, and then pressed his finger on the receiver screen once more. “Here’s a bit more to keep it on the down low,” said YF, swiping a second time.
The boy saluted. “Yes sir.”
YF stood there and waited until he saw the boy ride out of sight. Right as he was about to turn to look at the koban one last time, he heard a vibration on his receiver. He unlocked it to see that it was Reina.
“You have time for coffee? Need to talk to you for a bit.”
YF had a sinking feeling in his stomach. It was probably about the house. He wanted nothing more than just to ignore the message, but figured that if Reina wanted to convey something to him she was going to find a way. Better to get it over with earlier than later.
“Where?” he texted back.
“The Antelope next to Aoshima Tower. Top floor. I will be waiting.”
YF decided he would not look back at the koban, instead, starting the trek to the train station.
***
Reina was already seated near a large window overlooking the Ward with her bodyguard standing near the restaurant entrance. The space was large, and seemed like it should have been full of patrons at that hour, but the only three people there were YF, Reina, and Reina’s companion. The man bowed slightly to YF as the latter entered, motioning for him to continue to the table. Reina was wearing a muted blue dress, the color of her house. Come to think of it, YF had never seen her wearing blue before. She had a white blazer draped over her shoulders, the sleeves empty as the lapels rested against her arms. YF approached the table and stopped behind her, slightly to her left side.
"What is this meeting about?" he asked.
Reina turned her head gently, revealing her face with expertly done makeup, the kind that looked like it took no effort but really took all morning. Her already beautiful natural features were even more pronounced, something he did not think was possible. She smiled slightly. “Come, sit.”
YF tried to fight back his previous thought of her saying something similar on his bed. He stepped forward to the chair and pulled it by the bottom of the backrest, sitting uncomfortably across from her. YF then waited for her to speak.
"I wanted to personally reward you for your contribution to our group's goals in Itsugo."
YF had heard on the news that in the subsequent investigation Nakajima and Higashikuni were arrested for sectarian activities, illegal weapons, and drugs. Kita's cousin — the one who had interrogated YF after the Aritomo raid — was slated to be locked up for a long time as well. There was no word on whether Hiroyuki or Yui were affected by the scandal at all, but YF guessed with so many people taking the fall, it was unlikely.
"Now Uwada has full control over the Village," said YF.
"It does make things easier."
"What does it make easier, exactly?" asked YF.
"Nakajima was difficult to do business with," said Reina. "He stepped out of bounds and sold products that were damaging to the general public’s health. He also killed countless of Uwada's associates."
“You a patriot now?” asked YF.
“Always was,” Reina replied.
YF conjured up an image of Uwada in his head and found it difficult to rectify how different the two looked now that Reina had returned to the public eye. He was not sure that Uwada and Reina's agendas were even aligned, though he was now divided on whether he really wanted to help either of them.
“I think I’ll pass on the reward,” said YF.
“You intend to reject my gift?”
“Someone once told me in this line of business gifts are not free. I don’t have the capital to repay gifts from a person like you,” said YF.
Reina scoffed. “So blunt.”
YF caught a brief moment where Reina had a fond look on her face before she composed herself. He was sure that look had something to do with Hiroyuki.
"I'm going to move to the Ward," said YF, changing the subject.
“Oh? That’s good news. We can see each other a bit more.”
“I doubt that.”
Reina drank half of her coffee. YF frowned when he saw her eyes light up. He then looked down at his own coffee.
“Couldn’t hurt to try a bit of it,” said Reina.
YF took out his police water bottle, twisting open the cap and pouring the coffee inside.
“Ah, saving it for a rainy day.”
Reina’s teasing used to have an attractive quality to it, but YF found her attitude annoying and condescending. He twisted the cap back on and clapped the bottom of the bottle against the table. Reina didn’t flinch.
“That’s it? That’s all this was about?” asked YF.
“Well, I thought a gift was best given in person.”
“The last one wasn’t.”
“Did you make good use of them?” asked Reina.
“I sent it to Eiji. It’s not my wedding, up to him. I’m sure he’ll tell me to convey his thanks soon. Give it a bit of time, he’s slow about these things.”
“His fiance already did,” said Reina. “I wouldn’t worry about it.”
YF did not expect that. Maybe he had underestimated Kaede.
“I think there’s more to this though. You wouldn’t have called me over just for a gift,” said YF.
Reina turned to her bodyguard and waved him away with two fingers. The man bowed and left the restaurant, making it feel even emptier than it did before. “We need to take care of the situation with your partner,” she said, turning back to him..
YF rose immediately, knocking over the chair. “No.”
“Sakai—”
“No.” He pointed a finger at her. “If you want a bolt—”
She rose herself, placing her palm over his mouth. She looked around the room with an expression of genuine paranoia. It was a sign of weakness YF did not expect. Even in a place she probably owned, she could not trust she was not being listened to. At that moment, YF felt sorry for her. She motioned with her eyes as if he should sit back down, which he found himself doing despite not really wanting to listen to her. When he did, she released her fingers.
“Now,” she said in a much lower whisper. “Unfinished business needs to be taken care of. You will be richly compensated.”
“I—”
“And,” Reina interrupted. Her eyes had a dangerous look in them. “I will make sure those you love are well looked after as well.”
YF felt a tightness in his chest. Of course Reina knew Erika had left whatever project she was doing in Ikusayama. YF guessed that the project was likely very sensitive and very important. He wanted to scream at her for threatening his wife and unborn child, but he knew he could not for their own safety. YF guessed that Reina would go far to accomplish her goals. He just never guessed that she would go this far. Her underhanded threat contrasted so sharply with the atmosphere of the restaurant and the Reina he remembered that it was nauseating. But with each second he sat with her, the pretty rich socialite facade she wore for so long started to fade from her demeanor. Despite the obvious agony he knew she could see in his eyes, YF could only see a blank, cold stare in hers. Behind the most beautiful face he had ever seen in person, YF thought he could see the eyes of a demon.
“I see,” said YF tersely.
“That’s what I wanted to hear. Kawara!”
Reina’s bodyguard re-entered, bowing once. “Ma’am?”
“Put the bill on the company card and please take Mr. Sakai anywhere he wishes to go. He is an old, and trustworthy friend. I expect you to treat him with respect.”
Kawara bowed low. “Yes ma’am!”