SCIAW: Chapter 367/368

Chapter 367: Unexpected Encounter at City Hall

"Ah…"

At this moment, Kazunobu Chiba only felt a dull ache in his back and legs. His stomach kept grumbling with hunger.

He finally found a place to sit and rest, allowing himself to relax a little.

"There's been so much patrolling these past two days."

He couldn't help but complain aloud.

The recent patrol workload really was excessive, far more than usual.

"Don't whine."

Ninzaburo Shiratori, dressed in a gray suit, walked over holding a can of cola.

"A major bombing just occurred last week. With so many incidents recently, it's only natural for the Metropolitan Police Department to increase the number of patrols."

"Plus, the Second Division's failure to catch that Phantom Thief Kid 1412 last night. Not only did they get completely tricked, but he also escaped right under their noses. That incident really hurt the police's image."

"That's why we've got so many patrol shifts this weekend."

Ninzaburo Shiratori also felt the pressure of the patrol work, but he understood exactly why it was happening.

For the police, this was a key opportunity to restore credibility. They had no choice but to seize it.

Shiratori believed the intense schedule would only last a little longer.

But he couldn't help sighing.

"The patrol missions we've been handling all week should've at least eased up a bit this weekend. But of course, that notorious thief had to target the museum yesterday."

"After what happened before, everyone there is already on edge."

"And now it's not just the museum. The Mihuashi Municipal Building is also under threat. If anything happens there too, patrols will have to continue for at least another two weeks."

Oh no… Chiba felt like he was about to faint. His future looked bleak.

"Assistant Inspector Shiratori, we're not really going to keep patrolling like this, are we?"

"Probably not."

As a career-track Assistant Inspector, Ninzaburo Shiratori knew more than Chiba, who was only a patrol sergeant.

"The current patrol workload is already intense. It's unlikely to increase any further. If that thief hadn't stirred things up, we probably would've returned to our regular routine this weekend."

"Even though there'll still be places that need patrolling, the requirements won't be this strict."

"We're mainly maintaining this current level of patrol to prevent any copycat crimes."

Criminal copycats had always existed. These lunatics really were gutsy, mimicking crimes just for the thrill. That's why the police had to strengthen patrols to deter such imitators.

"Didn't that thief send a challenge letter to the Suzuki family yesterday?"

"The target is the Suzuki family's heirloom, that giant black pearl. I figure once this weekend's over, the patrols should ease up for a while."

Shiratori wasn't fond of these troublemakers either. They just made life harder for the rest of the police force.

The detectives in Tokyo couldn't be tied down to just one or two high-profile cases. So the only thing they could do was increase patrols across the board to reduce the chance of similar incidents.

"Chiba, by the way, where's Takagi? Is he still on patrol?"

"Yeah. We switched shifts. He went upstairs to patrol."

Chiba took the cola from Shiratori's hand and downed it in one gulp.

His body was quickly replenished with sugar, and the fatigue he'd been feeling eased a bit.

"Takagi's work attitude has been solid lately. At least he's not like before, always trailing behind Officer Sato and ignoring his duties."

Shiratori's tone carried a teasing undertone.

Wataru Takagi, a recent addition to the Metropolitan Police Department, had always been known for his obvious crush on Officer Sato.

But that wasn't anything new. There had always been a long line of detectives who admired her.

Too bad for them, Miwako treated everyone the same, regardless of gender. She never showed any special affection toward anyone.

"Ahahaha…"

Chiba understood Shiratori's meaning and could only laugh awkwardly.

"I wasn't trying to single him out, but I do hope he keeps up this more professional attitude. Chiba, Takagi's improvement is all thanks to your help. Good job."

Shiratori naturally recognized Chiba's efforts.

Chiba had helped Takagi a great deal. If it weren't for his guidance, that guy would probably still be completely clueless. He might've even been demoted back to the Traffic Division by now.

"But you need to focus on your own progress too. You can't spend all your time and energy keeping an eye on Takagi. You're a patrol sergeant now. You should be working toward your next step."

"Takagi's calmed down a lot lately. His attitude is on the right track. Chiba, you should focus on yourself now."

"Eh…"

Chiba seemed a bit surprised to hear that.

"What's wrong? Did I say something odd?"

"No, no. Officer Shiratori is absolutely right. I just didn't expect you to say something like that."

Ninzaburo Shiratori paused and sighed.

"Don't assume I'm some cold, uptight guy who doesn't care about subordinates. I care about my team's development too. I've worked hard to get to this point. Don't lump me in with the kind of people who climb through connections, okay?"

Hearing that, Chiba immediately stood up and quickly shook his head.

"Officer Shiratori, I didn't mean… Huh?"

Chiba stopped mid-sentence, his eyes locked on a jewelry store ahead with a stunned expression.

"Hmm? Chiba, what were you trying to say just now…"

After waiting a while without hearing the rest, Shiratori turned and followed Chiba's gaze.

And then, he too was caught off guard.

"Officer Sato…"

Following Chiba's line of sight, they saw Miwako, dressed in casual clothes, walking into a jewelry store with a boy beside her.

She was clearly well-dressed today, but the boy didn't leave much of an impression.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 368: Birthday Gift

"The prices in this store are more reasonable, not too expensive. I come here sometimes to buy things."

Miwako personally introduced the store.

That answer caught Ren a bit off guard.

"Miwako, you wear jewelry?"

Miwako's expression stiffened. She turned toward Ren with a glare.

"So I don't look like someone who would wear jewelry?"

"That's not what I meant."

Realizing his wording was off, Ren quickly shook his head.

"I mean, you're usually working, right? Do you wear jewelry while on duty?"

"Of course not."

Miwako denied it flatly.

You're not supposed to wear unnecessary items while on the job, especially anything that could be grabbed or used against you.

Realizing what he meant, she softened a bit.

Miwako rolled her eyes.

"Your thinking is too rigid. On weekends, I also wear jewelry when I go out. I don't just sit at home. I go out with Yumi too."

"Girls like to dress up when going out together."

Seems like the situation between girls and guys is different… Ren couldn't recall ever needing to be that meticulous when going out with his guy friends. They just went out casually.

"Hehe~ Even if girls are just hanging out together, we still make sure we look good."

Miwako was slightly proud of having corrected Ren.

"Anyway, I'm still a girl."

Though, every time Yumi dragged her into some mixer or social event… Miwako wasn't going to bring that up. Just like she said, she was still a girl.

"That's not a problem. I think Miwako is pretty."

Her delicate face and clean short hair might not work for everyone, but they suited her perfectly.

As a woman, Miwako wasn't lacking at all. In fact, she stood out more than most of the girls Ren had met.

Plus, as a police officer, her personality was great—straightforward and easygoing.

"Oh~ You're smooth. I'll take that compliment."

Miwako accepted the praise with a satisfied smile.

The two of them walked into the store, where a wide variety of jewelry was on display.

Necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets, watches—plenty of options. The prices were reasonable too. They weren't luxury brands, but quality items that everyday people could afford.

"The styles are refined, and the prices aren't bad either."

These weren't flashy luxury goods, but Ren was still a bit impressed.

"Exactly."

Hearing Ren's comment, Miwako smiled again.

"This store's brand isn't bad. The craftsmanship is good. Even if it's not a high-end label, the style is nice. Whether you're buying for yourself or as a gift, it's a solid choice."

"True."

The jewelry was indeed well-made. It was clear that attention had been paid to the details.

Most of it was silver, though a few gold bracelets stood out. It seemed you could even customize things here if you were willing to pay.

Ren no longer felt financial pressure these days.

As long as it wasn't an outrageous expense, the 600 million yen he'd earned through Maple Leaf Gold Coin was more than enough to handle it.

Of that, 300 million had already gone to help Yoko build her studio.

Even so, the remaining 300 million yen gave Ren plenty of freedom when it came to daily purchases.

He glanced around. The priciest item in the shop was a gold piece priced around 150,000 yen.

It was steep, but still within reach for most people.

As Ren browsed, Miwako had her eyes on a string of crystal bracelets.

Seeing this, Ren walked over.

It was a delicate ladies' bracelet. Ren checked the price tag—123,000 yen. Fairly high.

"Excuse me, miss. Could I see this bracelet, please?"

"Certainly. Just a moment."

The clerk, who had been standing nearby, quickly opened the display case and took out the bracelet.

Ren handed it to Miwako.

"Miwako, try it on."

"Huh?"

Miwako blinked in confusion, clearly not expecting that.

Ren didn't explain. He picked up the bracelet, unclasped it, and gently took Miwako's left hand, slipping it on.

"Looks good."

The bracelet sparkled under the lighting, perfectly matching the preferences of most girls. Miwako's skin was very fair, and the bracelet complemented it well. It made her arm appear even more delicate and soft.

It wasn't until the bracelet was securely on her wrist that Miwako finally snapped out of it.

"Wait—why are you making me try it on? Wasn't I supposed to buy you a birthday present?"

"Isn't today your birthday?"

"Well, yes, but…"

"Then that's all that matters."

Ren cut her off before she could continue.

"This isn't a big expense for me now. I can easily afford it."

"Besides, it's a little early, but—Happy Birthday, Miwako."

"…"

Miwako stared at the bracelet on her wrist in silence.

It was the first time she'd received a birthday gift from someone other than Yumi. She felt… happy.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome."

Ren smiled and gave her a moment to collect herself.

Once she calmed down, Miwako turned to look at Ren.

"Then, do you still need to pick out gifts for the others?"

"Three. One is a maid, one is my girlfriend, and the last is a 13-year-old girl."

(To be continued.)