[Masato Kai Arc 2] We’ve still got more spots to check

—Mid-afternoon, at a no-frills diner.

Each time the noren curtain at the entrance swayed, the smell of garlic and sauce wafted out into the street.

The place had only just opened, and there were still only a few customers inside.

At a corner counter seat, Rena sat with her arms crossed, scanning the interior with sharp eyes.

Beside her, Hayata leaned in and murmured, half-impressed, half-wary.

“This is the second candidate spot?”

“Looks like it. And honestly, it does seem shady.”

Rena tapped her phone and continued.

“I looked it up earlier. Apparently, drug addicts tend to have dulled taste buds and crave stronger flavors.”

“…Well, yeah, judging by the menu, everything here looks super heavy.”

“Exactly. Information is power.”

Her gaze locked onto one man across the room,

pouring sauce over his fried egg set again and again—

followed by pepper, mayonnaise… The sheer amount was clearly abnormal.

(…There we go.)

Rena stood up quietly.

“I’ll confront him once he’s outside. You stay silent and follow my lead.”

“Roger…”

—

Eventually, the man finished his meal and left the diner.

Rena and Hayata followed him discreetly into a deserted alley.

“Excuse me, can I have a moment?”

Rena called out. The man turned around, startled.

“Huh? What is it?”

Rena stepped in slightly.

“About your lunch just now—

You used a rather extreme amount of condiments, didn’t you?”

“…What?”

“You’re using drugs, aren’t you?”

The man froze—

then turned beet red with rage the next second.

“What the hell?! Can’t you tell just by looking!? I work on a construction site!

Been sweating like hell since this morning. Of course I need some salt!”

Panicked, Hayata jumped in.

“Ah! Sorry, it’s just a misunderstanding—!”

“Misunderstanding!? You’re not even cops! Who the hell do you think you are?!”

Yelling, the man stormed off down the alley.

—

A few minutes later, back in front of the diner,

a group of men in construction uniforms—complete with company logos—walked in boisterously.

Hayata muttered under his breath.

“…Come to think of it, there was a building under construction across the street…”

Rena said nothing. Her expression twisted as she turned and started walking.

“C’mon, it’s fine. We’ve still got more spots to check, right? Let’s go, next one!”

Rena shrugged and let out a sigh, walking slowly down the alley.

Amid the thick afternoon heat,

her slightly discouraged figure disappeared into the depths of the backstreets.