Kitagawa Tera could not care less whether the culprit was trying to threaten him or had other intentions in mind.
However…
I have to catch this madman quickly, no matter whether if it's for Eri or me.
Since the culprit boldly sent the pair of arms to his house to tell him arrogantly not to act rashly, he could easily enter Kitagawa Tera's home and bring the same fate to him and Kitagawa Eri.
Kitagawa Tera was not concerned about himself but about Kitagawa Eri.
School was about to start again tomorrow, and it was too dangerous to let Kitagawa Eri act alone.
Kitagawa Tera made up his mind and gave Arano Ryoko another call.
…
It was eight o'clock at night, and heavy snow was falling outside. The television was re-running Japan's New Year Red and White Song Battle Program…
"When the weather is so perfect for a drink, why do I have to be called out by you again, rascal?"
Arano Ryoko took a sip of her beer unhappily.
She already started drinking.
Kitagawa Tera did not reason with this woman. He simply pushed the cardboard box to Arano Ryoko.
"This is?" Arano Ryoko's eyes flashed sharply for a moment.
"Give it to forensics. It should be the arms of the female body found today. It was just sent to my house…"
Splash!
The table was pushed, and Arano Ryoko's expression changed drastically.
At the same time, two police officers on guard outside rushed in with guns.
"Superintendent!"
Arano Ryoko started yelling at them before they could finish speaking. "Didn't I tell you two to guard Kitagawa's house?! What are you still doing here? Scram! Continue standing outside, and I'll send you all back to the police academy for retraining!"
"… Yes, Ma'am!" The two poor police officers saluted pitifully and quickly went into the dark.
Arano Ryoko had no time to be bothered with the two new police officers. She turned her pair of narrowed eyes to Kitagawa Tera and said in a low voice, "You're being targeted by that guy?"
"That's why I would like you to send someone to protect my younger sister," Kitagawa Tera said directly.
"Got it." Arano Ryoko did not appear surprised by this request.
No matter what, the police had reason to guard Kitagawa Tera and Kitagawa Eri since they were being watched by the suspect.
"I'll arrange four men to protect you and Eri-chan…"
"Superintendent Arano, have all four of them protect my sister." Kitagawa Tera's excessively calm tone made Arano Ryoko shudder inexplicably.
Why would a minor make this request even though he knows he's being watched? Wouldn't they usually request more protection for themselves?
Kitagawa Tera's expression is grave, and his eyebrows are locked. Is he angry because his family is being threatened?
…
This was the first time Arano Ryoko detected such an obvious emotional response from Kitagawa Tera.
But…
"Don't be stubborn, Kitagawa. This isn't something a high school student like you can resolve." Arano Ryoko knitted her brows. "I don't care if you've practiced karate or judo, but this murderer is a madman who kills in cold blood. Leaving you alone…"
"My mother is usually overseas, so I am the head of the family. I'm really worried about Eri. For my family, I hope Superintendent Arano can accept my willful request." Kitagawa Tera raised his head under Arano Ryoko's surprised gaze.
His back was straight, and fearless light seemed to flash from his black eyes.
For my family…
Arano Ryoko had a strange feeling.
It seemed she was in a conversation with an adult instead of a high school student, the mature head of a family.
Moreover, his familiar words gave her a sense of nostalgia.
"You rascal…" Arano Ryoko's addiction to cigarettes started up again, and she took out a lady's cigarette.
She lit the cigarette and took the sake bottle out of the Japanese bar with Kitagawa Tera following closely behind.
Puff
After taking a few puffs of the cigarette and rubbing her cold palms together, Arano Ryoko asked, "I say, are you secretly a siscon?"
"…" Kitagawa Tera did not answer.
"Forget it. I won't be able to get answers from a guy like you."
The blazing red flame from the lady's cigarette was extremely eye-catching in this cold winter night.
Arano Ryoko crouched in front of the Japanese bar in an unladylike manner. Her short hair covered part of her face, adding indescribable femininity to this heroic superintendent.
She looked at the night sky where snowflakes were dancing and took a trip down memory lane.
"Someone I knew once said the same words as you."
She sucked the cigarette deeply.
"It happened a long time ago, but that person wasn't like you, Kitagawa. She wasn't confident, and she was an airhead and a klutz…
"A senior that was as brazen as the two newcomers just now."
Unexpectedly, Kitagawa Tera, who had merged into the night, said silently, "I know."
"What do you know!" Arano Ryoko was very dissatisfied with Kitagawa Tera's sudden interruption of her precious memories.
She spat rudely, and an indescribable expression appeared on her pretty face.
It was not sadness or regret. She was purely remembering her past.
"That person… had to support her parents, but she died so simply." Arano Ryoko was suddenly agitated. "Do you know?! It was during a case tracking down drug dealers selling new drugs.
"My colleagues said that they had to look after her, considering that she was a girl and also like that usually.
"But she liked to show that she was a senior and sent me to a safe place.
"That showoff!
"She died so miserably in the end! How funny," Arano Ryoko murmured to herself and looked up.
Above the white smoke from the cigarette was the unpretentious night sky.
The sky tonight was particularly clear, and the umber-black night curtain was inlaid with shiny stars.
It was rare to see such a beautiful deep night sky in Tokyo.
The stars flowed like a galaxy.
"It's the same as that night six years ago… We found her body in an abandoned port area of Tokyo Bay.
"It's ridiculous. But I don't know why I always feel that she's beside me, with the same foolish ways, that foolish boss."
Arano Ryoko rubbed her gun lovingly and took a sip of sake in self-mockery.
The light from her lady's cigarette gradually dimmed.
The air was dead silent.
Kitagawa Tera's voice came. "Her name is Karuizawa Yumiko. She is a beauty with… gorgeous long hair, right?
"It's not an illusion. She is indeed by your side, always accompanying you."
Arano Ryoko swiftly turned her head and gazed at the Kitagawa Tera behind her.
She stared at him for three whole minutes before she sighed and said jeeringly, "Really… What am I doing, telling all of this to a child."
Arano Ryoko lit another cigarette.
She did not smoke it this time. She just inserted the lit cigarette into the snow in front of her.
The smoke lingered, and Arano Ryoko raised her hand and spilled the sake onto the snow.
Hey…
Yumiko, if you're really beside me.
Please take care of this strange kid.
Arano Ryoko raised her head again.
In the snowy sky, Arano Ryoko seemed to be able to see Karuizawa Yumiko's figure.
She was smiling slyly at her, just like that time.
Arano Ryoko returned to her senses.
The sky showed no change, only cold snowflakes that fell on the tip of her nose.
The night sky of Tokyo was just like this.
It would neither cry nor laugh.