"...It really is you, Sensei. You noticed immediately."
Makima muttered quietly, slowly lifting the now-cold coffee cup on her desk.
As the bitter taste spread in her mouth, her eyes gradually narrowed.
Looking outside the window, a crow that had been flying in the distance suddenly changed direction and soared high into the sky.
That was not just a simple bird; it was one of her surveillance networks.
And just now, that network had been detected somewhere.
"Indeed... you are as impressive as ever."
A faint smile spread at the corner of her mouth. That sharpness unique to 'him', known from long ago.
The only person in this country who could see through her gaze.
Yoshimura Kuzen.
Makima lowered her gaze to the surveillance map spread on the desk.
The flow of the surveillance network marked by red dots was mostly consistent, but only one place was slightly off.
A small provincial city.
The surveillance route there just now seemed to have been cleanly severed, leaving a trace.
"Far from dulling... it's become even sharper."
She murmured lowly as if talking to herself and leaned back in her chair.
The crow had already vanished from sight, but her gaze was still fixed in that direction.
Denji, Reze, and 'that man' she had known for a long time were there.
"This has become interesting..."
She quietly set down the coffee cup with a smile.
An unexpected variable had arisen. But for her, that was merely a 'controllable factor.'
Her fingertip slowly pointed to a spot on the map on the desk.
The street seen through the crow's eyes, the old cafe, and the two people inside.
Denji and Reze.
Makima's gaze narrowed coldly.
"...You must have thought you'd escaped."
A small voice seeped into the room.
It sounded like a soliloquy and also like a warning to someone far away.
The crow's shadow disappeared into the darkness,
and so the night slowly deepened.
And the next day, the corridor of the Public Safety Headquarters was greeting a new day along with a cold wind.
The corridor of the Public Safety Headquarters was oddly cool even though it was daytime.
The autumn wind seeping through the window gaps slightly rustled the stacks of documents.
Aki followed Power as she walked towards the meeting room and spoke.
"Power, don't say anything strange to Makima-san for no reason. The Denji thing is just a vacation."
"Hmph! Even so, it's too long! That bastard Denji couldn't possibly be quiet for this long. Something's definitely suspicious, I tell you!"
Power crossed her arms and grumbled.
Her red eyes were shining more sharply than usual.
Upon opening the meeting room door, Makima was sitting there as if waiting.
That characteristic calm smile—the expression that disarms the viewer's wariness while simultaneously making them feel uneasy somewhere.
Aki placed the documents he was holding in front of Makima's desk and bowed his head respectfully.
"Makima-san, do you have a moment? I'd like to ask about Denji."
Makima stopped her hands, which were organizing documents, and looked up.
"Denji? Ah, that boy... he's currently on special leave."
"Special... leave?"
When Aki asked again, Makima smiled as if it were nothing.
"Yes. He's had a hard time with various things, hasn't he? I thought taking a short break wouldn't be bad.
I can't tell you the detailed location as it's his private life, but there's no need to worry. He'll be back soon."
Her tone was all too natural.
But Power narrowed her eyes and whispered.
"Weird. Makima, you're hiding something..."
Aki noticed and quietly pulled Power back.
"Power, stop that. Don't cause unnecessary trouble."
"I'm serious! Denji wouldn't just quietly spend a vacation like that! Something's definitely suspicious!"
Power muttered as she stepped out the door, and Aki followed, letting out a sigh.
A momentary silence flowed between the two as they walked down the corridor.
Then Power opened her mouth.
"Aki, what if we... really try looking for Denji once?
That idiot bastard, he might have gotten into some trouble, you know."
"……."
Aki fell into thought for a moment.
Normally, he would have ignored Power's intuition.
But...
This time, for some reason, a corner of his mind felt uneasy.
Denji being quiet might, in fact, be a 'danger signal.'
"...Alright. After the next mission is over, if we have time, let's look for him once.
Better than letting it pass uneasily for no reason."
A mischievous but oddly confident smile spread across Power's lips.
"See! You'd be boring without me~!"
Aki pressed his forehead and let out a deep sigh.
"Please, just don't cause problems... Power."
At the end of the corridor, a crow sat on the window frame, quietly watching them.
Its eyes were all too clear and, at the same time, expressionless to a chilling degree.
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