26 / 02 / 2019, 08:27 — Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters, Osaka.
The morning sunlight pierced through scattered clouds above Osaka, reflecting off the walls of the police headquarters beside Osaka Castle.
A crisp, cold wind carried the last traces of winter, brushing against the few remaining patches of snow clinging stubbornly to the paved streets.
Alongside the roads, plum blossom trees began to hint at new life, buds swelling and petals trembling with the wind.
Birdsong competed faintly with the distant hum of traffic, a subtle reminder that the city was stirring into its daily rhythm.
Pedestrians moved deliberately along sidewalks, their scarves wrapped tightly, hands tucked into warm pockets, boots crunching over the lingering snow.
Cars passed silently, tires pressing through thin ice, as the city awakened under the fragile morning light.
Inside the building, down a long, echoing corridor, Aki Takahashi moved briskly, her black jacket clutched tightly to her chest as if shielding herself from the chill that still seemed to seep indoors.
Her breath came in soft, shallow clouds; her nose tinged red from the cold outside. Despite the warmth of the building, her body trembled slightly as she hugged herself and quickened her pace.
Her knee-length skirt and black stockings hinted at both youth and professionalism, while the badge pinned to her jacket — "Takahashi Aki — Heaven Gate, Deputy Leader", earned a few curious glances from passing civilians.
Their initial intrigue softened into cautious respect as they noticed the badge; some even saluted reflexively, moving aside to give her way.
Aki cursed herself inwardly. "Tsk, it's simply stupid! Why call people this early? You could've waited until the sun was fully up! And now everyone's staring at me…"
Determined to arrive at her destination before being caught in her own nerves, she accelerated, jogging down the corridor.
Her chest rose and fell with rapid breaths, not large but sufficient, heaving in rhythm with her movements.
Before the door ahead, she paused to straighten her posture and take a heavy breath.
"Keep your composure… don't get baited by that bastard."
The thought briefly stirred her blood, her heartbeat quickening at the thought of the team waiting on the other side.
Steeling herself, she gripped the door handle and opened it.
She smiled brightly, intending to greet the team, the morning promising a smooth start.
Before she could speak, a sharp, melodic voice cut through the quiet:
"You are fifteen minutes late, Takahashi-san."
He was seated casually on a sofa, legs crossed, wearing a white shirt untucked beneath a loosely draped blazer.
His almond-colored eyes, deep but slightly lifeless, watched her with a calm precision.
His black hair was neat, his jaw angular and clean. He glanced at his watch as he spoke, unaffected by her arrival.
The room contained four others besides him.
A bald man with a square jaw and faint scars on his forehead leaned comfortably against a sofa, thick eyebrows furrowed naturally.
Deep-set brown eyes softened as he smiled, a worn leather jacket draping his broad frame.
His left hand rested atop his crossed legs, the other along the backrest.
"What a romantic youth," he said slowly, gruff yet with a melancholic expression. "I'm envious… really envious."
At her desk, a woman organized files and tapped her tablet, her voice calm and warm despite the pointed content of her words. "You're right, Takumi-san. But to mistake a quarrel for romance will only result in a beating from both sides, you know."
Soft features, rounded cheeks, and warm brown eyes framed her shoulder-length black hair. Her nameplate read: "Heaven Gate — Ayaka Fujimoto."
Leaning casually against the wall, another woman in her twenties examined her weapon — a modified HK417 rifle.
Sharp, observant eyes tracked Aki from the corner, her athletic build dressed in a zipped hoodie and knee-length shorts, prepared for movement. She simply glanced once, then returned to her task, silent and focused.
Lastly, a young man lounged on the sofa like a slumped ragdoll, messy dark hair partially obscuring his glasses.
Beside the bald man, he exhaled lazily, voice slow and teasing. "Yeah, yeah, welcome, Takahashi-chan. We've been waiting… though it doesn't matter much."
Aki's eyes scanned the room. Every member of the Second Division was present.
Once done, she ignored the others and walked straight to the sofa beside the man who had corrected her earlier.
They stared at each other, silent, a tension stretching between them. One minute passed.
Around them, the room's calm persisted as if nothing was unusual. The young man on the sofa with glasses grinned, enjoying the scene.
The bald man smiled softly, a memory, or perhaps a thought of something that never was, stirring in his chest.
Finally, she broke the silence, her vein pulsing slightly as danger flickered in her gaze:
"Don't you have anything to say, Hayakawa-kun?"
He smiled faintly, eyes averting her glare, oblivious or deliberately so.
"What do I have to say, Takahashi-san? You're late, and now you won't admit it. I suppose I'll have to report it to the Team Leader."
Aki could not bear it. She lunged, grabbing the hem of his shirt, dragging him close to her face.
"Who in their right mind schedules a meeting this early! Do you even know how cold it is outside? Do you know the stares I endured while walking down the corridor?" She shook him lightly, her voice rising, the frustration spilling from her.
He fell backward toward the sofa, controlled by the tug, landing headfirst against the cushions with an almost comical grace.
Aki turned to the bald man next.
"And you, Takumi-san! How many times do I have to tell you I hate him very much?!"
Then her gaze snapped toward the man with glasses.
"And you, Nakamura-san, stop grinning like this is entertainment! I'm your Deputy Leader!"
The young man raised a hand in surrender, a faint smile betraying his amusement.
Aki's shoulders slumped as exhaustion overtook her. She returned to her desk, flopped into the chair, and let out a sigh.
"Every day… is always like this."
The morning had only just begun.