Inside the bar—
the atmosphere was unusually quiet.
The customers kept stealing curious glances at the table where a notorious gangster and a police lieutenant sat facing each other.
Saito rested his arms on the table.
Then looked at Jirin.
"So."
"What's the exact reason you're here?"
Jirin smiled.
"Your name has skyrocketed since Jokun City."
He took a sip of tea before continuing.
"I also heard about you from Harold."
Saito's expression softened slightly.
"Uncle Harold..."
"How is he?"
Jirin nodded.
"He's doing fine."
"He still talks too much."
Saito chuckled.
"Sounds like him."
Jirin set his teacup down.
The smile on his face slowly faded.
His eyes narrowed.
"So..."
He looked directly at Saito.
"Are you having fun with your life?"
Saito frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Jirin folded his hands.
"You know..."
"Gangster stuff."
He paused.
"Cruelty."
Another pause.
"Stealing."
The room became silent.
Kaito, Bomb, Rin, Alya, and Fanny all watched Saito, waiting for his answer.
Saito leaned back in his chair.
Then answered honestly.
"I won't lie."
"I've stolen before."
He looked Jirin straight in the eyes.
"I've fought people."
"I've broken the law."
He paused for a moment.
"But I don't enjoy hurting people for no reason."
Jirin listened without interrupting.
Saito continued.
"If someone innocent gets caught in the middle..."
"I protect them."
"And if someone under my flag is threatened..."
"I'll stand in front of them."
Jirin remained silent.
His expression revealed nothing.
The only sound in the room was the gentle clink of his teacup as he picked it up for another sip.
Jirin slowly shook his head.
"That's not the point, Saito."
His voice remained calm.
"You are a gangster."
He folded his arms.
"Every act of kindness you do..."
"...is still done while breaking the law."
Saito let out a long sigh.
"Here we go..."
"You're going to nag me all over again."
Jirin didn't deny it.
"I am."
He turned his attention to the rest of the table.
His eyes stopped on Kaito.
"A Noctarion."
Then Bomb.
"A masked man whose past nobody knows."
Then Rin.
"A former Hollow Gang leader."
Finally, his gaze rested on Alya and Fanny.
"And..."
"You dragged two innocent civilians into your gang."
The room became quiet.
Saito met Jirin's eyes.
"It's their choice."
Jirin looked back without blinking.
"Is it?"
Fanny immediately stepped forward.
"It is."
Everyone looked at her.
She stood beside Saito.
"No one forced me."
"I asked to join."
Alya nodded.
"Me too."
"They gave me a choice."
"I stayed because I wanted to."
Jirin studied both girls for a moment.
Then looked back at Saito.
"You always did let people choose."
Saito shrugged.
"I don't like forcing people."
Jirin sighed.
"I know."
He tapped the table with a finger.
"But once they wear that blue scarf..."
He looked at Fanny.
"...they also inherit your enemies."
Fanny instinctively touched the Blue Scarf symbol pinned to her clothes.
Jirin's expression softened just a little.
"My concern isn't whether you forced them."
"It's whether they truly understand the price of following you."
The room fell silent again.
No one answered immediately.
Saito leaned back in his chair.
A small smile appeared on his face.
"Let me guess."
He looked directly at Jirin.
"You're here to ask me to surrender..."
"...and become a police."
Jirin didn't hesitate.
He nodded once.
"Yes."
Saito let out a quiet laugh.
"Then my answer is the same."
He shook his head.
"...No."
Silence settled over the table.
Jirin sighed.
"I thought..."
"I sent you to Kira so you could grow into a strong police officer."
He lowered his eyes.
"But I was wrong."
Saito's smile disappeared.
"It's not Mom's fault."
His voice became firmer.
"She taught me how to survive..."
"...while you left me with her."
Jirin looked back at him.
"I visited every week."
Saito immediately answered.
"That doesn't count."
The room became still.
Saito continued.
"I always asked you..."
"...about my real parents."
His fingers tightened around his teacup.
"But you never told me anything."
Jirin remained silent.
Saito's eyes stayed fixed on him.
"Every single time..."
"You changed the subject."
"I was a kid."
"I deserved an answer."
Jirin slowly closed his eyes.
"I know."
When he opened them again, there was regret in his expression.
"But there were things..."
"...I couldn't tell you."
Saito frowned.
"Couldn't..."
"...or wouldn't?"
Neither man looked away.
Around them, Kaito, Bomb, Rin, Alya, Fanny, and even Malfoy remained completely silent.
For the first time since they had met Jirin—
they realized this wasn't an argument between a police lieutenant and a gangster.
It was an unfinished conversation between a grandfather and his grandson.
Jirin took a slow breath.
"There is a reason..."
"...why I left you with Kira."
His voice was quieter than before.
"So she could protect you."
"From danger."
Saito held his gaze.
"...Yeah."
A faint smile appeared on Saito's face.
"And I'm still alive until now."
Jirin nodded.
A hint of relief crossed his weathered face.
"And I'm grateful for that."
For a brief moment—
neither of them spoke.
The silence wasn't hostile.
It was heavy.
Filled with years of words left unsaid.
Saito rested his elbows on the table.
"If that's true..."
"Then whatever that danger was..."
"It must've been pretty serious."
Jirin wrapped both hands around his teacup.
"It was."
His answer came without hesitation.
Kaito, Bomb, Rin, Alya, and Fanny exchanged glances.
No one interrupted.
Saito's expression grew serious.
"So..."
"You really have been hiding something from me all these years."
Jirin looked directly into his grandson's eyes.
"...Yes."
"And one day..."
"I'll tell you everything."
Saito frowned.
"One day?"
Jirin nodded.
"But not today."
The room fell silent once again.
The rain continued pouring.
Jirin's boots stopped in front of a small bar.
A warm light glowed through the windows.
He pushed the door open.
Creak...
A woman's voice immediately came from behind the counter.
"Sir, we're already closed."
She looked up.
Then froze.
"...Lieutenant Jirin."
Her eyes narrowed.
"What are you doing here?"
Jirin remained standing at the entrance, rainwater dripping from his coat.
"I'm not here to capture you, Kira."
Kira folded her arms.
"Oh?"
"Then what do you want?"
Jirin slowly pulled back part of his coat.
Revealing the sleeping baby in his arms.
"I want you..."
"...to take care of him."
Kira stared at the infant.
Then looked back at Jirin.
"You've got some nerve."
"Showing a baby to a gangster."
Jirin nodded.
"I know."
He looked down at Saito.
"But I'm sure..."
"...you'll protect him."
Kira remained silent for a moment.
Her gaze softened slightly as she looked at the sleeping child.
Then she asked quietly,
"What happened..."
"...to his parents?"
Jirin didn't answer.
The silence itself felt heavy.
Rain continued tapping against the windows.
Finally—
he spoke.
"I don't want to talk about that."
Kira studied his face.
For the first time—
the legendary lieutenant didn't look like a fearless officer.
He looked like an exhausted grandfather carrying a burden he wasn't ready to share.
Kira looked down at the sleeping baby once more.
He looked peaceful.
Completely unaware of the storm outside.
Or the conversation deciding his future.
She let out a long sigh.
"...Fine."
She reached out.
Carefully taking baby Saito into her arms.
"But don't expect..."
"...he'll be safe forever with me."
Jirin nodded slowly.
"I know."
Kira adjusted the blanket around the baby.
"You know what I am."
"A gangster."
"I have enemies."
"If they find out I'm raising a child..."
"They might come after him too."
Jirin looked at Saito one last time.
"I understand."
Kira frowned.
"Then why me?"
Jirin was quiet for a few seconds.
Then he answered simply,
"Because despite everything..."
"...you're someone I can trust."
Kira looked surprised.
Then gave a small, bitter smile.
"Coming from a police lieutenant..."
"That's one strange compliment."
Jirin almost smiled.
"It isn't a compliment."
"It's the truth."
The two stood in silence.
Outside—
the rain continued to fall.
Inside—
the sleeping child rested peacefully in Kira's arms, unaware that his life had just taken a path neither of them could fully predict.