There weren't many cars on the road.
Sato Miwako drove steadily, eyes forward, fully focused.
When the convoy passed Beika Central Hospital, her gaze shifted for a moment. The tension in her expression eased slightly, and a faint smile flickered across her face.
After they cleared the hospital, her mood felt inexplicably lighter.
They crossed a few more intersections.
Sato Miwako frowned. There are so few cars—so why are there so many people along the roadside?
Near Teitan High School, crowds packed the sidewalks on both sides, holding up signs.
"Okino Yoko is here too?"
Every sign was some version of Welcome, Okino Yoko.
Then the lead car stopped.
Sato Miwako hit the brakes hard. A surge of alertness rose in her chest. She snatched up the radio.
"Officer Shiratori, what happened?"
"Nothing. Someone fell on the crosswalk. Hold position."
"Officer Shiratori… Officer Shiratori…"
Sato Miwako lowered the radio, her expression turning cool. She couldn't make any sudden moves. This was supposed to be a routine escort; stepping out would draw attention.
And the directive from above was clear: Moriya Teiji's transport had to stay low-profile.
On the crosswalk, an elderly man sat on the ground, clutching his leg and sighing.
"Sir, are you alright?" Officer Shiratori stepped out and asked.
"It's nothing. These old legs don't cooperate. I'll be fine after I rest a bit."
At that moment, the person in the peaked cap took a cigarette from his pocket, set it between his lips, and walked out from the corner.
A shout suddenly rang out from the crowd.
Instantly, the people on the street stirred, heads snapping around as they looked for the source.
Sato Miwako's heart tightened. She grabbed the radio again, voice sharp.
"Everyone—do not open the windows."
But it was already too late.
"Miss Yoko is in that van. I saw her!"
The crowd surged forward at once, pressing toward the van. People from the adjacent street poured in, surrounding it from every side.
Camera flashes popped one after another.
"Close the windows—now!"
A thin, silvery glint cut through the chaos and struck Moriya Teiji between the eyebrows as he sat in the back.
The shouting didn't stop.
"Everyone, stop! There's no Okino Yoko here—stop!"
Officer Shiratori's expression changed immediately.
Sato Miwako hurried out and raised her ID.
"I'm a police officer. Miss Yoko is not here. Please stop causing a disturbance."
"You're lying! Okino Yoko is definitely in there!"
"That's right—we got the news yesterday!"
"Miss Yoko, I love you!"
Officer Shiratori's face tightened as he looked at Sato Miwako.
"Officer Sato, something is wrong with this."
Sato Miwako nodded, equally grim.
"It feels staged—like someone set this up to cover for something."
Then both of them froze, eyes sharpening at the same time.
"Moriya Teiji!"
"Disperse the crowd immediately," Sato Miwako said. "Get the vehicle to the destination first."
She got back into her car at once.
Officer Shiratori didn't argue. He was starting to understand just how serious this had become.
Sato Miwako slapped a siren unit onto the roof; the wail echoed down the entire street.
Officer Shiratori's car sounded its siren as well.
The piercing sound made the fans hesitate, exchanging uncertain looks as they instinctively stepped back.
Officer Shiratori's voice stayed controlled. He stepped on the gas and forced the convoy through.
Sato Miwako's brows tightened, unease building with every second. She raised the radio again.
"What's Moriya Teiji's condition?"
"He's still sitting there…"
"Not good—Moriya Teiji is dead!"
The shout burst over the radio.
Officer Shiratori and Sato Miwako both went rigid, their expressions shifting instantly.
"A poison needle is embedded in his forehead. If you don't look closely, you won't see it."
The officer's voice was strained with panic.
"Don't panic," Officer Shiratori said evenly. "We'll talk once we reach the destination."
But inside, he felt stunned.
How did Moriya Teiji die?
"I'll notify Inspector Megure." Sato Miwako immediately dialed.
"What? Moriya Teiji was assassinated?"
Back at the MPD, Inspector Megure shot to his feet, eyes wide.
In an instant, every gaze in the room turned toward him.
On the street, someone moved quietly—keeping to blind spots, slipping past every surveillance camera.
"Nurse, please bring me a basin of hot water."
"Okay, Mr. Heiji."
Heiji stood in the bathroom, looking at the "cigarette" in his hand. He gave a faint smile, dropped it into the toilet, and flushed it away without hesitation.
"Congratulations Host for completing the special B-rank mission. Reward: one random draw."
The phone rang.
"Leave it for now."
"Received Host's permission, defaulting to automatic draw tonight."
"Hello, Heiji. Sorry—I might not be able to come."
Sato Miwako's voice carried clear regret.
Heiji didn't have time to argue with the system. Hearing her tone, his focus sharpened.
"Did something happen?"
"Mm. Moriya Teiji is dead."
Even through the call, her disappointment was obvious.
"Maybe it was his fate. Don't blame yourself too much."
Moriya Teiji had to die. Even without the system's mission, Heiji wouldn't have let him walk away.
People in that line of work can hold grudges deeper than ordinary killers.
"I'm just disappointed I won't get to see you, Heiji."
Sato Miwako hung up right after that.
Listening to the busy tone, Heiji's mouth curved slightly.
"Officer Sato," Officer Shiratori asked, puzzled, "why do you look… so pleased?"
Officer Sato shot him a cold glance and walked straight to Moriya Teiji's body, frowning deeply.
"Miwako," Inspector Megure said, voice firm, "tell me exactly what happened on-site."
Sato Miwako nodded and recounted the entire sequence in detail.
"Find that old man immediately!" Inspector Megure barked.
"Inspector Megure, I already had someone sent to locate him," Officer Shiratori said.
"Officer Shiratori, this incident has a lot to do with you. You were far too careless." Inspector Megure shook his head.
Officer Shiratori nodded.
"This is on me. I didn't expect someone truly intended to kill Moriya Teiji."
Before long, the old man was brought in.
After hearing his statement, the three of them fell into silence.
"The killer paid him ten thousand yen," Officer Shiratori said, brows drawn tight, "and told him to sit on the crosswalk and force the convoy to stop. Then he could blend into the crowd and use the commotion to kill Moriya Teiji…"
"Too many moving parts," Inspector Megure muttered, shaking his head.
"That's why he leaked the rumor that Okino Yoko would appear at Teitan High School," Sato Miwako said, eyes sharp. "Once the crowd turned chaotic, the whole setup would look natural—like an accident."
"But how did he know our route," Officer Shiratori said, "and what was the murder weapon?"
That question left Inspector Megure and Sato Miwako silent.
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