The Detective

Death’s Office, Death Incorporated Building, Late evening

Akane glares at Death. She is still half-naked. She wants to fight him, holding a fierce expression on her face, but she knows that there is nothing she can do. Akane puts her skirt back on. Then, she leaves.

Death watches as the door closes behind Akane.

Hallway, Death Incorporated Building, Late evening

Akane steps out of the office and closes the door behind her. She makes a frustrated expression to herself as she stands behind the door.

Akane whispers to herself.

Akane: “Damn.”

From behind her, there is a voice.

Miss Sato (Off-panel): “Excuse me, Hayakawa-san.”

Akane turns back. She sees Miss Sato standing in the hallway. She has a concerned yet hopeful expression. Her eyes are soft and fragile.

Miss Sato: “Death-sama…what did he say?”

Akane does not reply. She only as a pained expression.

Seeing the expression, Miss Sato frowns. She realises that the meeting didn’t go well. She is saddened and distraught.

Akane: “I’m sorry.”

Miss Sato looks to the floor, clutching her hand close to her heart. After a moment, she looks up and forces herself to smile.

Miss Sato: “It’s okay, Hayakawa-san. You’ve already done more than enough.”

Akane steps forward. She is brimming with passion.

Akane: “Don’t give up just yet. I made you a promise. I made everyone a promise. I said I’ll get all of you justice, and I’m not stopping until I fulfil it!”

Miss Sato clearly doubts that, though she is too polite to show it. She only offers a smile.

Miss Sato: “I appreciate it, Hayakawa-san.”

Akane realises that Miss Sato doesn’t believe she can do it. Akane has a pained expression. She is frustrated with herself. What is she going to do?

Title card: My New Boss is the Grim Reaper?! Episode 6.

File Room, Death Incorporated Building, Late afternoon

Akane works at her desk in the file room. She slips documents into a large envelope and seals it up. She holds it in her hands. Her expression is determined.

Akane glances up at the clock. It reads 6:30 pm.

Akane steels her resolve.

Akane: “Okay.”

Entrance Hall, Death Incorporated Building, Early morning

The receptionist is typing at her computer. The hall is empty. There are no spirits around, yet the receptionist still seems to be busy.

The receptionist lifts up her head. She glances back to see Akane in coat, holding the envelope under her arm.

The receptionist seems mildly surprised.

Receptionist: “Going home on time? That’s rare.”

Akane forces herself to smile as she lies.

Akane: “My parents drove up today so I’m having dinner with them.”

The receptionist goes back to her work.

Receptionist: “Thank you for your hard work (ご苦労様).”

Akane approaches the automatic door. The doors open for her. The outside looks pure white, as if it is a gate to a different world. Akane braces herself and steps through.

City Streets, Late Afternoon

Akane steps into a busy city street. She glances back at the building she stepped out of. It is incredibly plain and boring. Nobody would ever suspect it is the gateway to the afterlife.

Akane quickly walks away. As she walks, she glances from side to side suspiciously. She is afraid she is being followed. She continues walking.

Finally, Akane stops in front of a police station. She stares at the letterbox in front of the police station.

Akane takes out the envelope she is holding. She clenches it tight. Her eyes go between the envelope and the letterbox. She is clearly in a lot of thought. She is facing a very difficult choice.

Akane extends her arm, about to slide the envelope into the letterbox, only to pull it back back.

She is still in thought when a stranger’s voice calls out to her.

Ryō (Off-panel): “Is everything okay, ma’am?”

Akane flinches. She hides the envelope behind her back and quickly turns around.

Akane: ‘Y-yes, everything is great!”

Akane sees Ryō Furuichi standing in front of her on the street. He is a very handsome man, and Akane blushes a little while looking at him.

Ryō has a very kind smile. He is almost the opposite of Death.

Akane struggles to look normal while holding the envelope behind her back.

Ryō: “It’s hard to do the right thing sometimes, right?”

Akane is surprised. She feels very understood, and immediately feels herself beginning to trust this stranger.

Ryō glances around.

Ryō: “I’m not usually supposed to do this, but I’m technically off-duty, so…”

Ryō looks back at Akane. He smiles brightly and extends a hand to shake hers.

Ryō: “My name is Ryō Furuichi. It’s nice to meet you.”

Cafe, Night

Akane and Ryō sit in a small cafe. Ryō is very mature and has a cup of tea on the table in front of him. Akane, in contrast, has a glass of juice.

Akane is very nervous. She has her hands on her lap. In contrast, Ryō looks very comfortable. He also looks inviting and unjudgemental.

Akane: “So, uh, Furuichi-san…”

Ryō picks up his cup of tea.

Ryō: “Please, Ryō is fine.”

Akane: “Ryō-san…you’re a police officer?”

Ryō finishes a sip of his tea and chuckles.

Ryō: “Technically I’m a detective, so yes. But please don’t think of me just as a policeman. Right now, I’m just a small guy in a big city.”

Akane seems less uncomfortable. Still, she waits for Ryō to speak.

Ryō puts down his cup of tea.

Ryō: “I really don’t want to intrude on anything, and I especially don’t want to make assumptions, so please tell me if I am being rude. However…I have a feeling we both know what you were doing outside the police station.”

Akane looks guilty.

Ryō continues.

Ryō: “I’m not here to force you to do anything. As I said, I’m not on duty. We’re just here as two civilians, having a chat.”

Akane nods.

Ryō: “I always wanted to be a policeman. Ever since I was a little kid. Really cliché, with all the wants of justice and helping the innocent. But when I first joined the police force, I realised it wasn’t like that. I don’t mean that the world wasn’t black and white, rather that the department was…well, it was corrupt.”

Ryō laughs awkwardly.

Ryō: “I wanted to do the right thing. I really did. But every time, I was so scared that something bad would happen. They were my bosses and seniors; I couldn’t just betray them. So when internal investigators came, I…I said I didn’t know anything.”

Ryō’s eyes slow a glimmer of regret and guilt.

Ryō: “I won’t force you to do anything, Hayakawa-san. If you leave now, I’ll forget that we ever met. But I only implore you to trust in yourself. Because not a single day goes by where I don’t wish I could go back in time and do the right thing.”

Akane looks incredibly conflicted. She clenches at her lap, completely torn between her two options. Does she tell him? Or does she leave? Akane doesn’t know.

Finally, Akane pulls out the envelope from her bag. She looks at it for a second, before slowly beginning to hand it over.

Ryō smiles kindly. He reaches to receive it.

Suddenly, Akane stops. Her eyes widen.

Ryō looks concerned.

Ryō: “Hayakawa-san?”

Akane: “I…I’m sorry.”

Akane gets up and scrambles to put on her coat.

Ryō: “Hayakawa-san, please…”

Akane takes out her wallet and puts down a wad of cash.

Ryō stands up.

Akane grabs the envelope and starts to head out the cafe in a hurry.

Akane: “I’m really sorry about this!”

Akane runs out of the cafe.

Ryō watches her as she leaves. The door swings shut behind her. Once she’s gone, his expression is one of concern. However, there’s a glimmer of something darker too. What is Ryō hiding?

City Streets, Night

The moment Akane is out of the cafe, she starts to run. She doesn’t even know why she is running.

Akane (Narration): “Why…”

In her mind, she remembers Death’s face. She remembers the first time she saw his human face. The time they danced in the jazz bar. Their sudden passionate kiss.

Akane (Narration): “Why…”

Akane stops next to an alleyway. Without realising, she had run into a secluded part of the city, where it is dark and there are not many people around.

She presses against the wall, catching her breath. She puts a hand to her face. Her face is bright red.

Akane (Narration): “I have known him for only a few days, and yet it feels like years.”

Akane looks down at the envelope in her hands.

Akane: “Damn it. No matter how hard I try…I really am a bad person.”

As Akane stands there, a figure approaches her from the alleyway. The figure is obscured by darkness. Its shape hints at a tall man. He enters the light at the entrance of the alleyway.

The man’s mouth is wide with a terrifying grin. He approaches Akane, who doesn’t notice him creeping up.

There is a close-up of something in his hand. It is heavily obscured by the darkness, but it is clear that it is something metallic. Is it a wrench?