[Masato Kai Arc 1] Does that mean we’re going solo?

—Daytime, Kabukicho, Shinjuku.

Unlike the nighttime chaos, the air was heavy and sluggish.

Only the flickering edge lights of old signboards and the rumble of a garbage truck echoed faintly through the pale backstreets.

Through one of these alleys walked Hayata Saotome and Rena Henmi.

—

Earlier, inside the station.

Sitting on a bench in the old locker room, a can of coffee in hand, Kosuke Kaname spoke.

“Lately, there’s been strange movement in Kabukicho even during the day.

Small-scale drug distribution. Not just in shops—rumor is, there are hand-offs happening in alleyways too.”

“…In broad daylight?”

Rena frowned as Kaname handed her a folder without ceremony.

“There are a few spots where dealers have supposedly been spotted. I’m tied up with another case—

So you two go and get a feel for the area.”

“So basically, busywork.”

Rena muttered flatly.

“But… does that mean we’re going solo?”

Hayata’s eyes lit up.

“You’re just scouting today. No pressure. Take it easy.”

Kaname sipped his coffee and leaned back.

—

After leaving the locker room, the two walked down the hallway.

“…He said just to get a ‘feel’ for the place, but…”

Rena stopped mid-step.

“If we’re going all the way there, we might as well see if anything actually suspicious is going on, right?”

“Exactly! If we catch something, that’d be seriously cool!”

“It’s not about cool. It’s about efficiency.

I’m not doing this for fun—I’m trying to get a raise.”

She scoffed and kept walking.

Hayata followed with a grin.

(—She can act like she doesn’t care, but she’s clearly into this.)

—

Now, the first target alley.

“…Over there.”

Hayata pointed discreetly.

“‘Over there’ where?”

“There were these two guys earlier talking about going to ‘check out the goods.’ Sound sketchy, right?”

Rena silently followed his gaze.

Next to a convenience store stood two young men in T-shirts, laughing and holding a paper bag.

“I mean… doesn’t it look like a drug deal?”

“‘Looks like’? What’s that supposed to mean?”

Rena shot him a glare and let out a small sigh.

“Alright. I’ll go check.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

—

Rena walked off casually, Hayata watching her proudly. But just seconds later…

“Hey, hey, that merch is insane, right?”

“Totally nuts… a hand-signed base by the artist? That’s cheating…”

“Why are they doing the release event here of all places? Kabukicho makes zero sense…”

Rena stopped, glancing at the men without turning her head fully.

“S-sorry… were we being too loud?”

Without saying a word, she turned on her heel and came back.

“…Just figure collectors. Probably just left an event.”

“Wait, the ‘goods’ were those kinds of goods…?”

“Sounded pretty obvious to me.”

Hayata crouched down, shoulders slumped.

“Why here…? Wouldn’t Akihabara make more sense…?”

Rena gave a wry smile and sighed softly.

“Well, nothing’s ever that easy.

Let’s move on.”

“Roger that…”

—

Kabukicho in broad daylight.

Still swayed by what only seems suspicious,

the two walked on through the lingering scent of neon,

toward their next location.