The investigation

Going back in time to 3 AM on September 1st...

Ookuma's minions, clad in opposition garb, approached Ookuma's house.

"Alright, make sure people see us angrily marching towards the house. It is out in the wilderness a bit so we need to let people know we're heading there," Benise stated.

Rebelle smirked and began filming as the group began marching and shouting jeers at Ookuma.

"One final push. Even though the election's 50 days away, this will be the sticking point that nets Madam Ookuma those remaining crucial seats she needs to get a majority. Then, it's game," Rebelle thought.

                                                                            ...

As the group reached the house, they immediately stopped in shock. The house had already been burnt down.

"Uh, what do we do?" one minion asked.

"Hmm, perhaps she set the plan off early? This is unlike Madam Ookuma though," a senior member stated.

"I see tire tracks. Perhaps she drove off?" another mused.

"We might want to disperse. Madam Ookuma's car is still here. I guess she had to change the plan at the last minute. Act as though we did just burn the place down. Ah, that must be the new plan. Fear not, I believe I know why Madam Ookuma did this. I shall explain later. For now, head back," Benise ordered.

"I think I get it too. She's gonna act like she was burnt to death in the house, then she'll courageously emerge covered in "wounds" and bandages. No wonder you're a genius," Rebelle thought.

                                                                            ...

At the police station, a tired Mutsumi yawned as she sat at her desk.

"I thought I was the chief. Why do I have to spend the night?" she tiredly pouted.

"ALL PERSONNEL! ASSEMBLE AT ----! THIS IS AN ORDER FROM SENIOR COMMISSIONER NAKAYAMA FROM HQ!" an officer's voice blasted out from the speakers.

"That address, that's Ookuma's place. _! Oh no, Reika was heading there!" Mutsumi thought as she began sprinting for her squad car.

Once she got to it, she got a call from Reika.

"Mutsumi, I'm fine. Though I'm going to need you to be my eyes and ears when Ookuma's place is investigated."

"Huh? Wha-"

"MUTSUMI! I'm serious. Get there as fast as you can. Record with your phone, and put in those contacts I gave you when you get there!"

"Understood."

When Reika got really serious, Mutsumi knew not to question her and to just go along with it.

"Must be big. Reika wouldn't be so serious if it wasn't," Mutsumi thought.

                                                                             ...

Nakayama began to freak out as she stared at the burnt house.

"Ah AHHHHHH! MADAM OOKUMAAAAAA!" she screamed as she began desperately running into the house.

Himawari clicked her tongue and motioned for Purin to restrain her for her own good as she and Inoka put on their gloves and went with forensics into the wreckage.

"I already got the memo. Apparently she changed the plan, of course that still means I'm stuck dealing with Nakayama's wailing," Purin thought.

"Looks like Ookuma filleted the roof and crispified the hall n walls," Inoka mused as she looked around.

Mutsumi then pulled up and put in the contacts before running inside.

"Nakajima, the hell are you running in here in high heels? This place is dangerous," Himawari glared.

Mutsumi ignored her and began looking around.

"Wish she told me WHAT to look for," Mutsumi thought.

She then noticed Inoka standing where the bathroom had been.

"Hmm? Looks really crispy in here. Well guess it is close to the outside," Inoka shrugged a she walked away.

As Mutsumi gazed around the bathroom, Inoka went to where Ookuma' bedroom had been.

"Hmm, there's a safe. Pretty crispy n warped. Smashed open. Well, guess she is capable of that. And it's empty. Yep, definitely plan B. Well time to snooze," Inoka thought as she left the house.

"AND!?" Nakayama glared.

"No sign of corpses, so they probably escaped," Inoka stated.

"Oh, so Madam Ookuma survived!?"

"I'm doublin down on it."

"But why is her car still here?"

"Probably came back in a sedan, saw the fire, ran into save her daughter, then hightailed it to get medical treatment," Purin theorized.

"ARE YOU IMPLYING MADAM OOKUMA WAS HURT!?"

Nakayama immediately began frantically dialing Ookuma only for the call to not go through. She then ran to her squad car and sped off.

"And now we can get some beauty sleep, Pu-pu," Inoka grinned as she waltzed away with Purin.

"Oi, I wanna look too," Purin glared.

"It's just crispy wood. She clearly just changed the plan last minute, maybe she accidentally set something off early and changed the plan then. Well, even if da Madam got cooked a bit, we'll still blame the "opposition" for the fryin."

"Fine, I'm tired anyway. We'll sleep at the station since we'll likely be busy with crowd and press control in the afternoon. If Madam Ookuma truly did suffer an injury, Nakayama will keep us all awake for the whole day."

Once the two left, forensics began to head out.

"Commissioner Myouchi and detective Inohara's theories are likely correct. The safe is heavily damaged, but it's likely due to the fire. It was burnt inside, but likely because the door was left open," a member stated.

"And you're implying that Madam Ookuma took the safe's contents out?" Himawari asked.

"Correct, though it did seem a bit odd that the safe door was off it's hinges."

"Well, Madam Ookuma likely tapped into her inner strength to just kick the door down rather than fiddle with the combination."

"Ah, that would make sense. Well, get some sleep Commissioner Rikuma. We'll rope the place off then head back."

Himawari yawned and headed for her squad car as the forensics team roped the place off.

"Um, Chief Nakajima?" an officer nervously asked.

"Oh, I'll be fine on my own. No need to wait for me," Mutsumi smiled.

"But-"

"I'm just going to sit in my car for a while."

"One of us can drive you-"

"I'm a little too sleep deprived for pick up lines. Head back now, that's an order."

"Y- yes ma'am."

Once Mutsumi was the only person present, she dialed Reika.

"I've been able to see everything you saw thanks to the camera contacts. Now, go to your car and change into that outfit I left you. Make sure you use the headset too," Reika stated.

"All nighter huh?" Mutsumi sighed as she opened the trunk and pulled out a hazmat suit and boots.

Once she was changed, she headed back to the house and began scanning it with a device.

"Hmm, nothing. Guess she didn't have any hidden underground rooms," Reika stated.

"Will you be coming?" Mutsumi asked.

"Unlikely. I might be off work for days. Now check the bathroom again, particularly the bathtub..."

A few hours later...

Mutsumi finished changing out of the suit and sped away in her squad car.

"An all nighter, and I'm not going to be able to rest either. Then again, that adrenaline rush I got will probably keep me going for another few hours. Now I just gotta get this evidence to Reika," Mutsumi thought.

                                                                             ...

In a small apartment, Reika removed her VR headset and set it down before taking a hidden passage to another room. There, she stared at the sleeping Mao.

"Looks like she's been through a lot. I'm glad Stitch was able to grab all this stuff I requested. Now, let's see how she reacts to it," Reika thought as dawn began to crack and Mao woke up after her eventful night.

                                                                           ...

After comforting Mao, Reika went into the other room to call Mutsumi.

"Don't worry, I'm just going into the other room to make a call and pick up the things you ordered. I'll stay with you as long as you need. Don't worry, this is a safe place," Reika smiled as she left the room.

Mao decided to read the manga and lounged on the bed.

"This guy has green hair and is a hero? ___."

As Mao became invested, Reika made her way through the hidden passage and went to collect all the things Mao had ordered. A mountain of boxes encased the door as Reika opened it.

"Well, most of this is food, but I'm glad she ordered a lot. She'll be thrilled to finally experience all these things," Reika thought as she moved the boxes inside. Once they were all in, she called Mutsumi.

"I put it exactly where you told me to," Mutsumi stated.

"Great, is Bianka nearby?"

"I believe she's in the house."

"Standby while I call her."

"Yeah?" Bianka asked as she answered the phone.

"Bianka, could you make sure that package I dropped off is stored in "the store"?"

"Oh? You have a big case? Er- I see it, lemme put on a hoodie n mask n grab it."

Bianka exited the house and retrieved the package Mutsumi had left. She then ran into the house, locked the door and hid it in the secret basement before talking with Reika again.

"All stored, Onee-sama."

"Good. Now call in sick today. Say you've caught something nasty and that I'm sick too."

"Got it."

"And don't tell a soul you're not really sick. Not even Mochi."

"Alright. You sound real serious so I won't argue."

"Thank you. Now be on high alert."

As the call was ended, Bianka walked over and armed herself with a handgun hidden in one of the cupboards.

"Guess I'm on guard duty. Wonder what big fish Onee-sama's bustin?" Bianka thought.