I was lost.
That was the only way I could describe how I felt standing outside Superintendent Isamu's office.
Most of the time, when someone like me gets called into the superintendent's office, it isn't for anything good. Paperwork mistakes. Missed reports. Some procedural error I didn't even know I'd made. My mind was already running through a list of possible reasons while I stared at the wooden door in front of me.
"Oh, god."
My hand hovered near it.
Just knock, Himiko.
I knocked twice.
Knock, knock.
"Come in."
Her voice was calm. Neutral. That somehow made it worse.
I pushed the door open and stepped inside, already preparing myself for whatever lecture was about to come my way. The office smelled faintly of coffee and old paper. Sunlight spilled through the large window behind her desk, framing Superintendent Isamu like something out of a painting.
"Take a seat."
I didn't want to waste her time, so I moved quickly and sat down in the chair across from her desk.
"You're always worried that you're wasting other people's time, aren't you?"
My head snapped up.
How did she—
She smiled slightly, like she already knew what I was thinking.
"You remind me of how I used to be when I was a young woman."
Her voice softened as she leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes for a moment like she was visiting some memory from years ago.
"I understand why you feel the need to pander to others the way you do," she continued. "In this line of work, women like us have to work twice as hard to move up the hierarchy."
Her gaze returned to me.
"And I've seen how hard you work."
I blinked.
She continued.
"From the way you're always helping around the office. From the overtime you clock day in and day out. Even during the invasion."
The invasion.
Just hearing the word made something twist in my chest.
She leaned forward slightly, resting her elbows on the desk.
"You rushed straight out to help people, knowing the risks. That's bold. Honestly," she began to whisper, "we need more of that in this world."
I was silent—didn't know what to say.
Then she smiled.
"So, I just wanted to take the time to thank you for all your hard work."
The words hit me harder than I expected.
Gratitude.
Recognition.
My dad would love to hear this. His daughter is being recognised by the top brass.
I straightened in my chair.
"Thank you, Superintendent. It's an honour to hear you say that. And I promise my hard work won't end here."
I stood up quickly, ready to leave before I somehow ruined the moment.
"Wait."
Her voice stopped me mid-step.
I turned back.
"Before you go, I wanted to ask you something."
Her expression shifted. Curious now.
"Why did you decide to join the police force?"
That was an easy question.
"Because I want to help people."
Her eyebrow lifted.
"The real reason."
My mouth opened slightly, then closed again.
No one had ever asked me that before.
Not really.
For a moment, the room felt very quiet.
"I come from a long line of police officers," I said slowly. "Usually, the men carry it on… But I'm an only child, so…"
The words felt heavier the more I spoke them.
"So… I was sort of pushed into it."
My fingers tightened slightly in my lap.
Dad always wanted a son.
He never said it. Of course, he didn't. He was too kind for that.
But I could tell.
So, I did everything I could to not disappoint him.
"I had to join the force," I continued quietly. "It would kill the Suzuki name."
The words sounded strange once they were out loud.
"When it came to my career prospects, I never really had a say. Work hard. Study hard. That's been the motto my whole life."
The superintendent's face changed as she listened.
Her curiosity turned into something deeper. Something thoughtful.
"Is this truly what you want?"
The question landed softly, but it hit hard.
"What does Himiko Suzuki want?"
I stared down at my hands.
I'd never really thought about it like that.
What do I want?
The truth was… I didn't know.
The silence stretched, but she didn't rush me.
Eventually, she leaned back in her chair again.
"My parents ran a store in Hatake," she said.
I looked up.
"My whole life, it felt like I was going to spend the rest of it there. A quiet countryside town. Working in that little shop forever."
She smiled faintly.
"Until one day I decided I didn't want that."
Her eyes drifted toward the window.
"Don't get me wrong. I loved the place. I loved my family. I loved the store."
Then she looked back at me.
"But I wanted to live in the city. I wanted to experience the lights. The people. I wanted a job that made me feel happy."
Her voice grew softer.
"So that when I reached the end of my life, I could say I lived it as a happy woman."
Something about the way she said that stuck with me.
"If there isn't something specific you want," she continued, "then ask yourself what your heart desires."
She folded her hands together.
"Follow what feels right. If the police force feels right, then by all means, continue."
Her eyes studied my face.
"But based on the look you're making right now… I'm guessing that might not be the case."
It felt like she could see straight through me.
I looked down again.
What do I want?
For the first time in a long time, I actually asked myself that question.
Then I looked up at her again.
"Thank you, Superintendent."
She smiled.
"Call me Makoto."
That caught me off guard.
"And you're free to take the rest of the day off," she added. "You've earned it."
I blinked.
"Thank you… Makoto."
When I stepped out of her office a moment later, I felt lighter than when I'd walked in.
Like something inside my chest had loosened.
By the time I made it back to my apartment, one thought kept returning to me.
I wanted to call my parents.
It wasn't like it had been that long. I'd called them right after the invasion to let them know I was safe.
Still… I felt like I needed to talk to them again.
Maybe it was my conversation with Makoto.
Maybe it was everything that had happened during the invasion.
Either way, I grabbed my phone and dialled home.
It rang twice.
"Hello?" The voice was warm, it brought back a torrent of memories from home.
"Hi Mum, it's Himi—"
"OH MY GOD, HIMIKO! HOW ARE YOU?!"
I pulled the phone away from my ear before my eardrum burst.
"I'm fine! I'm fine!"
"How's life treating you in the big city?"
I smiled.
"It's good. Very different from back home, but I like it."
I leaned against the wall.
"I miss you, though."
"We miss you too!"
"I've been working a lot of overtime," I said. "Hopefully I'll get some extra holiday hours soon."
"Hopefully, we can't wait to see you again," Mum said warmly. "Your father wants to know how things are going in the force."
Of course he does.
"It's going… great," I said.
Not entirely a lie.
"The superintendent actually recognised the hard work I've been doing. She called me into her office just to thank me."
"THAT'S WONDERFUL!"
I winced slightly.
"Wait until I tell your father!" she continued excitedly. "He's out right now, but when he gets back—oh, he'll be so proud."
I bit my lip.
Those words always did something strange to me.
Proud.
That was the most important thing in the world, wasn't it?
Making them proud.
Making sure all the effort meant something.
"Mum," I said slowly. "About… the force—"
Knock. Knock. Knock.
I turned toward the door.
Someone was knocking.
"Sorry," I said quickly. "Someone's at the door. I'll call you back."
"Alright, dear, see you soon. Love you"
"I love you too."
I hung up and walked toward the front door.
Who could be visiting me?
I leaned forward and looked through the peephole.
Two men stood outside.
Both wearing suits.
Not normal suits either. Dark, clean, almost identical. The kind you see on government agents in movies.
My stomach tightened.
Who are these guys?
Carefully, I unlocked the door and opened it slightly.
"Miss Suzuki," one of them said calmly. "Don't worry. I know we might look a little intimidating."
He smiled politely.
"But we're just here to bring you a job opportunity."
A job opportunity?
"You were recommended to us by one of our associates," the other man added. "Apparently, the two of you know each other quite well."
My brain struggled to keep up.
Two men in suits show up at my door… for a job opportunity?
"We're part of a newly formed international organisation," the first man continued.
My confusion only grew.
"We heard you were on the ground during the alien invasion."
The alien invasion.
"That's part of the reason you were recommended."
International organisation. Recommendation. Aliens.
None of this sounded real.
"Who exactly are you?" I asked cautiously.
The two men exchanged a glance.
Then the first one spoke again.
"We're representatives of the Ministry of Extraterrestrial Investigation."
He paused.
"MEI, for short."
My brain stalled for a moment.
"We'd like to invite you to join our organisation as a fully fledged associate."
He gave a small, professional smile.
"So, what do you say?"
I stood there staring at them.
International organisation.
Alien investigations.
Recommended.
My mind flashed back to my conversation with Makoto.
What does Himiko Suzuki want?
The truth was… I still didn't know.
But I did know one thing.
This felt different.
Exciting.
Scary.
New.
Something my heart actually responded to.
I took a breath.
Then I smiled.
"Sure."