Chapter Twenty-Three, it feels so comfortable!

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Is the investigation really over just like that?

Erena Ikeda followed behind Muneyuki Uesugi, feeling almost surreal. Although Uesugi had explained, she still felt somewhat bewildered. There was no evidence on her side to convict that male host named Tsubasa Takigawa, but Uesugi had no evidence either. So why did he have the confidence to solve the issue just by testing a response with the slang term "puppy"? Wasn't that also a lone piece of evidence?

Moreover, his thought process was wildly erratic and illogical. Erena couldn’t grasp how Uesugi connected the nightclub to the Yakuza.

Yet, he radiated an overwhelming aura of reassurance. Every move he made was filled with unshakable confidence, and his determination to get to the bottom of things and provide an explanation for the late Ms. Kurozawa was exactly what appealed to the tall beauty. Erena also intended to pursue the matter at all costs.

She would never let go of a scoundrel who toyed with women’s emotions and money, exploited all their worth, and then incited murder. Otherwise, what was the point of becoming a police officer?

“Let’s head back to the station now,” Uesugi said, pressing his middle finger against the bridge of his nose as he frowned. “Although we have a conclusion, we still need to report to Section Chief Sudō and the others, so they can contact the Metropolitan Police Department.”

“Why?” The tall beauty opened the car door and naturally settled into the driver’s seat. Her long legs swayed; even covered by suit pants, her stunning length and straight shape were undeniable. Erena’s physique wasn’t the typical short-legged, pigeon-toed Sakura girl type—instead, every movement carried a unique, supple sensuality.

Her youthful face bore a steely stubbornness absent from typical Sakura girls, her sharp expression making Uesugi involuntarily glance her way again.

Such gorgeous long legs wasted without stockings.

Come to think of it, he wasn’t even sure if she was wearing stockings...

No wonder they say men and women working together lighten the load. Having such a tall, beautiful female officer as a partner made Uesugi feel the mission was far easier and his mood much brighter.

“Miss Ikeda, you’re just a basic patrol officer. You don’t have the authority to conduct an independent investigation,” Uesugi said as he climbed into the passenger seat, pulling on his seatbelt. “Unfortunately, I’m only a forensic pathologist. I don’t have the authority to investigate cases alone either. We can exploit loopholes in the system, but we can’t openly defy it.”

Uesugi was absolutely right. Erena nodded reluctantly in agreement.

She gradually felt comfortable around Uesugi. In the past, whenever a man spoke, she instinctively contradicted him after the first sentence. But with Uesugi, she found herself patiently listening and reflecting before responding.

“Will Section Chief Sudō believe us?” Erena asked, braking and pulling the handbrake.

“That depends on how we present it,” Uesugi replied with a confident gesture, “Leave it to me.”

They drove back to the Ōtsuka Police Station in Bunkyō Ward. The last rays of sunset stubbornly clung to the gaps between tall buildings, reluctant to fade away. It was nearly 6 p.m., and the station was preparing to close. Many clerical staff and non-criminal traffic officers were slowly leaving in small groups.

“I wonder if Sudō and Tanaka have left,” Uesugi said casually from the passenger seat. “If they have, we’ll have to wait until tomorrow.”

“How can they leave when the case isn’t solved?” Erena, energized after a full day’s work, clenched her fists in mock defiance. “We have to catch them.”

“Work ends on time; what’s left is for tomorrow. That’s the civil servant life, Miss Ikeda. Didn’t I tell you not to mix work with life?” Uesugi shook his head with a smile. “Work is work; life is life. If you don’t distinguish between the two, you’ll exhaust yourself—and those around you. If overtime is truly necessary, they’ll stay.”

“Are you?” Erena snorted coldly. “Since we’re partners in crime, no ditching me now.”

“Of course.”

They got out of the car; Uesugi stepped out first. Erena parked and quickly followed, naturally walking beside him with less than a meter between them. Their casual, relaxed conversation easily drew waves of whispers and astonished glances from the crowd leaving work.

Uesugi, though only three months into forensic work, was already well-known throughout Ōtsuka Station. Aside from the detective division, nearly everyone had heard of his forensic talent and witnessed his charm.

For two consecutive months, the detective division achieved a 100% case-solving and arrest rate. Had it not been for a recent mishap with the Yamada case, the entire division would have been commended by the Metropolitan Police Department.

Even setting aside accomplishments, Uesugi’s handsome appearance and natural elegance, combined with his aristocratic aura, made him an eye-catcher.

Erena Ikeda was known throughout Tokyo as the “Boss Slayer” — tall, of mixed heritage, with a resilient and tenacious temperament. She was both a cold goddess figure and a dreaded workplace predator, a walking complaint generator.

Individually, each was a focal point, naturally attracting attention. Together, showing up side by side, and with Erena actually engaging normally with Uesugi—without putting distance between them like other officers—this was enough to shock the entire Tokyo police world. Not to mention Erena, who was at the center of rumors since entering the force as a non-career recruit and requesting field assignments. This mixed-heritage female officer was expected to be transferred to the Public Relations Division at headquarters as a ceremonial and image representative. Those seeking to pursue her would have to circle the Sakurada Gate of the Metropolitan Police Headquarters.

And that was only the potential admirers.

But no one dared approach her—after multiple formal complaints by Erena, no man dared meet her gaze or come within five steps of her.

“Look! Section Chief! Senior Officer!” As Asako Kuwabara was packing up to leave, she seemed to have discovered a new continent, pulling the equally ready-to-leave Tanaka and Sudō by the arm, bouncing excitedly.

“I can’t believe it!” Tanaka poked his head from the window, dumbfounded. “Uesugi, little brother, how did you pull this off?”

“It’s incomprehensible. Could they be... dating?” Sudō placed his briefcase on the desk. “But they just met, right?”

“Who knows!” Kuwabara lamented, her heart shattered. The image of the unattainable beauty, the mixed-heritage tall model, was utterly destroyed.

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Only a few days since meeting Uesugi, and Erena had already been completely won over?

Looking at Uesugi’s calm, cold demeanor and feeling her own inadequacy, Kuwabara couldn’t even summon jealousy.

Actually, they looked quite compatible.

No, they were remarkably compatible.

Yet, why did her heart tighten again and again?

She realized this was the stench of happiness, the sour taste of love...

While Uesugi and Ikeda had already entered the station, Sudō, Tanaka, and Kuwabara were left outside, struck by a shared mischievous thought.

Heh heh~ heh heh heh~

Our local precinct’s aggressive matchmaking is ready.

Let’s see how the detective division handles a big shake-up!

Upon entering the building, Uesugi and Erena immediately sensed the stares and whispers around them. When Erena glanced their way, nearby people fell silent, their eyes darting as they gave way.

“Boring,” Erena said coldly, stamping her heels a bit harder on the floor.

“What do you think they’re gossiping about?” Uesugi seemed unfazed. He didn’t care about others’ looks; after all, he was the ultimate realist who could bluntly tell patients, “It’s cancer. No cure. Prepare to die.”

“Can’t you guess?” Erena shot him a glance filled with strong loathing.

“Unmarried man and woman together? Probably rumors,” Uesugi said, hands in pockets. “Back in college, just exchanging notes with a girl in my big class made people think we were dating.”

“These people are so boring. Just standing close and they assume dating; dressing up a bit and they think it’s a date,” Erena’s sharp gaze first flared, then quickly dimmed, as if recalling something unpleasant. Her mood shifted so fast that Uesugi’s intended joke about “just walking together means love, eating together equals spending the night” went unsaid.

A woman’s emotions are unfathomable—identical words can please or offend depending on the moment.

Uesugi admired Erena’s looks and athletic, tall figure—but that didn’t mean he’d make a move.

He wasn’t without women around him. He’d be crazy to pursue a sharp-tongued female detective who had already driven away three superiors.

He was mainly interested in her skills.

On the third floor, in the detective division, Uesugi and Erena reported their findings to Section Chief Sudō and Senior Officers Tanaka and Kuwabara.

When Sudō heard Erena had acted alone and interrupted Uesugi, he lost his temper and scolded her harshly. He was genuinely angry, warning Erena that if it happened again, even if the Metropolitan Police Department disciplined her, he’d still kick her out.

Erena stood straight, head bowed, silently accepting the reprimand. Her somber expression showed she was used to it.

But this time, Uesugi stepped in front of her, saying, “This concerns me as well. I suggested going with Miss Ikeda.”

Once again, he defended her, cutting off Sudō’s tirade.

“But Uesugi, little brother, why?” Tanaka said impatiently. It was quitting time, and he didn’t want to stay another second. “If it’s something, we can do it tomorrow. Civil servants must have that mindset.”

“Work is work, life is life.”

“Curiosity,” Uesugi frowned. “You’ve all seen my report, right?”

“Uesugi, little brother, we base investigations on evidence. Your judgment is brilliant. Sudō, Tanaka, Kuwabara, we all acknowledge your skill. But for an arrest, one key piece of evidence is missing.”

Sudō’s attitude towards Uesugi and Ikeda was reversed: the former was a noble savior who helped the detective division top the Metropolitan Police Department’s monthly reviews twice and saved them once; the latter was a troublemaker and boss slayer in his eyes.

“This doesn’t require evidence,” Uesugi said calmly.

“But without evidence, the prosecutors and Metropolitan Police Department...” Sudō looked troubled.

“That host was likely a fringe member of the violent gang. For the Yakuza, isn’t it presumption of guilt—arrest first, ask questions later?” Uesugi continued.

The Yakuza had no human rights. If Ms. Yamada had been Yakuza, by the time she drew her knife, she’d have been riddled with holes. The first memorial day had already passed.

Then the Metropolitan Police Department would ask: “They only had a knife; why did you shoot?”

Tanaka and the others would say: “She’s Yakuza.”

MPD: “Oh, then it’s fine.”

“That won’t work! Uesugi, little brother! Is the Metropolitan Police Department your family business?” Sudō shook his head repeatedly. “They have a special division for the Yakuza and don’t need evidence, but...”

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Sudō didn’t voice the next part: if he were a detective sergeant in the Metropolitan Police Department’s First Investigation Division, he could deploy resources against the Yakuza without evidence. But as a precinct section chief, there was no way he could summon such resources.

“You must know people in public security, right?” Uesugi interrupted again. “I’m talking about the former Yakuza member who guided Ms. Yamada in cleaning the crime scene.”

“I’m telling you there’s a former gang member who assumed a new identity and works at the host club. Using the club as a base, he remotely controlled Ms. Yamada’s criminal acts, and through tipping and champagne towers conducted illegal financial activities,” Uesugi tapped the table with his finger. “The murder is connected to the entire gang organization, the host club, and possibly club finances. That’s what I’m talking about.”

As Uesugi spoke, Sudō’s eyes brightened with each sentence, growing increasingly animated. “Yes, yes—exactly!”

This wasn’t troublemaking; it was a major breakthrough, a chance to earn merit.

Without hesitation, Sudō grabbed the phone and called the Metropolitan Police Department.

“Hello, is this Itō from Public Security? Yes, this is Sudō from Ōtsuka Station. We’ve made a new discovery in this investigation... yes, the suspect’s champagne tower host might be a former gang member. It seems he’s using... yes, yes, no, this is all for national security, combating gang crime and financial offenses. Ōtsuka Station fully commits!”

After hanging up, Sudō beamed. “The Metropolitan Police Department said they’ll start an immediate investigation! Uesugi, little brother, you’ve earned us another merit!”

“Time to clock out! Ha ha ha ha!” The three in the detective division laughed and switched off the lights, ready to leave.

“Let’s go, too.” Erena remained still. Sudō and the others looked at her as if she were a plague, deliberately taking another exit to avoid her. The tall beauty stood straight, like a solitary pine tree, her suit pants hanging to the floor. Despite her height, the empty room gave her a sense of loneliness and solitude.

So Uesugi took the initiative: “I’m hungry.”

He opened the detective division’s door and held it for her.

Only then did Erena react, not speaking but softening in her eyes.

Such small gestures were deeply appreciated by someone so sensitive and thoughtful.

“You helped me again. Thank you,” the tall beauty said earnestly to Uesugi.

“It’s nothing. Didn’t I say we’re partners in crime?” Uesugi forced a smile, about to say it was no big deal, but his gaze inevitably lingered a few seconds on Erena’s remarkably ample figure before shifting away.

So obvious!

Erena was highly sensitive to such looks from men and immediately reacted to Uesugi’s gaze.

“You’re dead!” she thought.

This man was full of flaws.

Just as the tall beauty prepared a swift elbow strike combined with a sidekick to take him down, Uesugi’s earlier words echoed in her ear:

“I’m a man, too!”

Hah, so now you’re a man?

Erena despised him silently, lowering her raised elbow.

Forget it. Considering how much he had helped her, she’d spare him this time. After all, encountering a normal, communicative, knowledgeable man was rare, and she needed his help to continue this job.

Suppressing the urge to smash Uesugi’s handsome face, she stepped over the threshold and signaled, “Let’s go.”

“You looked like your expression changed just now. Am I imagining it?” Uesugi sensed her mood shift and wondered aloud, “Did I do something wrong?”

“You’re imagining things,” the tall beauty said, sidestepping past him. Her sunflower-scented presence suddenly grew stronger, hard to imagine such a lively, warm fragrance coming from someone so cold and aloof in tone and demeanor.

“Alright, I’m off to dinner. Want to come?” Uesugi casually asked, pulling out some discount coupons. “Eat there enough times, you get a discount. Spend 1,500 yen, save 200 yen—let’s go together?”

“Pfft... no thanks. Go with Tanaka and Sudō,” the tall beauty laughed softly, struggling to contain it. “I have things to do.”

“Oh.” Uesugi was genuinely casual; seeing her decline, he turned to leave. “See you.”

Yeah, no ulterior motive—he just wanted a dinner companion.

Erena felt a strange sensation.

In the past, such stares and looks would instantly anger her, and if a man got too close, she’d lose control and strike.

But Uesugi was different. His closeness and gaze didn’t trigger her body or mind’s alarm. Being with him felt comfortable, and she could restrain herself.

Erena sighed deeply. Now in her fourth year, she’d changed five stations. Even someone as stubborn as her knew that if she caused more trouble, she wouldn’t survive in the force.

There were still decent men in Tokyo after all!