[Rena Henmi Arc 7] Hey there, rookie

—Outside the club, just past 2 a.m.

The chaos had finally settled.

The street had reclaimed a fragile sense of calm.

Shinozuka and the detectives loaded the arrested man into the patrol car and departed from the scene.

Left behind were—

Kosuke Kaname, Hayata Saotome, and Rena Henmi.

“…Phew.”

Rena let out a quiet breath, brushing her disheveled bangs back with her fingers.

Hayata, watching the gesture, couldn’t help but speak.

“You were seriously badass back there, Rena-san!”

“Of course I was.”

She replied curtly—but a faint smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

(…She shows everything on her face. No filter at all.)

Kaname smirked slightly.

“—By the way, you.”

Rena suddenly turned, locking eyes with Hayata.

“Eh? Me?”

“Kaname told me earlier. About your ears.”

“Ah… yeah.”

“You should’ve said so sooner.”

Rena glared at him.

“If I’d known, I wouldn’t have let you go into a club that loud for a stakeout.”

“It’s fine, really! I managed to hold it together somehow…”

Hayata waved his hand with a nervous smile.

Rena sighed—just a little—but her eyes softened.

“…Don’t overdo it, okay?

I mean, I’ve gotta admit… you earned a bit of respect.”

Kaname let his smile return.

—Then, he slowly grew serious.

“—Rena. Join us.”

“Whaaat!?”

Hayata shouted before Rena could.

Rena blinked in disbelief.

“…Huh?”

“You’ll get paid. Fixed monthly salary.

It’s technically a contractor position.”

Kaname said it plainly—but his tone was steady and direct.

“Why me? And—did you just drop the honorific?”

Just as she started to object—

“Your palate is something special.

Not just now—we’ll need it more and more going forward.”

That quiet statement left Rena speechless.

Hayata, sensing the moment, barged in.

“Wait wait wait! What about me!?”

“You’re just kind of… here.”

“C’mon! That’s not fair!”

Rena nearly burst out laughing at Hayata’s protest.

“…Jeez.

Fine. I’m free anyway—

Guess I’ll tag along for a bit.”

Glancing at Hayata, whose face screamed “What about me?”,

Kaname narrowed his eyes gently.

“—Then it’s settled.”

—

Beneath the still-glowing neon of Kabukicho,

Kaname and Rena began walking side by side.

“Wait up, guys!”

Hayata rushed to catch up.

Rena playfully tapped the top of his head.

“Hey there, rookie.”

“Ow! Come on—I’m the senior here!”

As Hayata whined behind them,

the three of their shadows stretched quietly through the city—

just before dawn.

[End of: Rena Henmi Arc]