(Scene switch, time is already late at night. Sato Miwako of the First Investigation Division's Violent Crimes Section 3 of the Metropolitan Police Department is driving a police car through the silent streets with her junior, Takagi Wataru, who is tall and sturdy yet still possesses the greenness of a newcomer.)
Inside the car, Takagi Wataru looked over the arrest warrant that had just been issued directly by his superiors, bypassing all their routine investigative procedures. His brow was furrowed, and his face was filled with confusion.
"Sato-senpai," he couldn't help but turn to his valiant senior, whom he secretly admired. "This case... feels a bit strange. The arrest warrant and case files just dropped out of nowhere without us even conducting an investigation. And this charge... 'Threatening National Public Security'? The target is just an 18-year-old high school student. Isn't this... a bit too far-fetched?"
Sato Miwako, who was driving, stared sharply ahead. Her intuition also told her this was unusual. But as an experienced detective, she was more accustomed to obeying orders and acting based on evidence.
"An order is an order, Takagi. Since the arrest warrant has been issued, it means there are sufficient reasons that we haven't grasped yet. The higher-ups wouldn't target an ordinary student for no reason." Her tone was steady, despite the doubts she harbored in her heart.
Takagi Wataru temporarily suppressed his unease. The atmosphere was somewhat silent. After a moment's hesitation, he switched to a personal topic and asked somewhat bashfully, "Um... Sato-senpai, I heard... you recently went on a blind date with Inspector Shiratori?"
Hearing this, Miwako let out a helpless sigh, her tone carrying a hint of irritation. "My family was pushing too hard. I pretty much just closed my eyes and agreed randomly. I didn't expect the other person to be that guy, Shiratori... I was surprised too."
She paused, seemingly wanting to find someone to confide in. "My mom is really something... Besides, before the case of my father's death in the line of duty is resolved, before catching the culprit known as 'Soshigaya,' I have no heart to think about these personal matters."
Her voice grew low, carrying a trace of obsession and pain that was hard to detect.
During their conversation, the police car drove into their destination—an ordinary hotel located on the edge of the commercial district. In the parking space next to it, a black chevrolet camaro sat quietly, not attracting any special attention.
The two got out of the car, entered the hotel lobby, and showed their police IDs. The Staff Member didn't dare to be negligent and quickly found Kuchiba Hiro's check-in information, provided the room number, and handed over the spare key.
Arriving outside the target's room, the two exchanged a look of mutual understanding, quickly checked their sidearms, and chambered a round. Miwako made a gesture, indicating she would lead the assault while Takagi provided backup from behind.
*Click—* The key card swiped open the door.
Miwako was the first to rush in like a cheetah, aiming her gun inside the room and shouting sternly, "Police! Don't move!"
However, the standard room of less than ten square meters was empty. The bed was tidy, as if no one had stayed there. But the sound of splashing water coming from the bathroom clearly indicated that the target was inside.
Miwako immediately aimed her gun at the frosted glass door of the bathroom and warned loudly again, "You inside! Come out immediately!"
The sound of water stopped abruptly. A faint, seemingly panicked sound of footsteps came from inside. A moment later, the bathroom door was pushed open.
Kuchiba Hiro walked out with only a white bath towel wrapped around his waist. His black hair was dripping wet, with water droplets sliding down his young but well-defined, powerful chest and abdominal muscles. A perfectly timed look of shock and confusion was on his face, as if he completely hadn't expected the police to show up.
"Hands up! Turn around! Get on the ground with your hands behind your head!" Miwako ordered again, her gun pointed steadily at him.
Kuchiba Hiro seemed frightened and subconsciously took half a step back. It was this subtle movement that caused the already loosely wrapped bath towel to suddenly slip and fall completely to his feet.
He was exposed stark naked before the two police officers.
"Ah!" Miwako exclaimed subconsciously. Her gaze involuntarily flicked downward for a moment, her cheeks instantly flushing crimson. Her eyes immediately began to wander, and the hand holding the gun shook imperceptibly.
Beside her, Takagi also instantly turned red in the face. Embarrassed, he blinked rapidly and turned his head slightly away, not daring to look directly.
In that lightning-fast moment of distraction!
Kuchiba Hiro moved!
The shock and confusion in his eyes were instantly replaced by icy sharpness. Like a lurking predator suddenly launching an ambush, he lunged forward. His left hand precisely grabbed Miwako's wrist holding the gun, his thumb jamming behind the trigger to prevent it from firing, while a vicious headbutt slammed hard into the bridge of Miwako's nose!
"Ugh!" Miwako groaned in pain. She was instantly dazed, and the strength in her hand loosened.
Kuchiba Hiro took the opportunity to snatch her pistol. At the same time, he pulled her toward him with force, his arm clamping around her neck like iron pincers, using her as a human shield in front of him. The entire sequence of movements was fluid, completed in the blink of an eye!
"Drop the gun! Then go close the door!" Kuchiba Hiro's voice was cold and devoid of emotion. The muzzle of the snatched pistol was pressed firmly against Miwako's temple. "Otherwise, she dies."
Takagi Wataru, who had just turned his head back, was stunned by this sudden turn of events! As a newcomer, when had he ever seen such a scene? Seeing his senior captured with a gun to her head, he was scared out of his wits. He hurriedly dropped the gun in his hand to the floor as instructed, raising his hands and speaking incoherently, "Calm down! Stay calm! Don't hurt Sato-senpai!"
Under the pressure of Kuchiba Hiro's icy gaze, Takagi Wataru trembled as he backed up step by step to the door and closed it.
The moment the door closed, Kuchiba Hiro's arm suddenly exerted force. Miwako struggled a few times before completely fainting due to lack of oxygen and the previous impact. Kuchiba Hiro gently laid her on the floor, then unhesitatingly walked toward the panicked Takagi Wataru with the gun raised. Before he could react, Hiro struck his temple hard with the butt of the gun!
Takagi Wataru collapsed to the ground. Silence returned to the room, leaving only the sound of Kuchiba Hiro's heavy breathing.)
In reality, the light screen was somewhat ethical, using clever obstructions or camera angles to avoid key areas. However, Kuchiba Hiro's young, exercised body, full of power, was still clearly seen by the countless viewers in front of their screens.
Online public opinion exploded instantly. A hint of strange fanaticism mixed into the originally tense atmosphere.
"Holy crap!!! This physique!!! I'm literally drooling—!"
"Sorry, Police Big Sis, but at this moment, I'm on the side of the little brother! These muscle lines are just too perfect!"
"Big Sis blushed, hahaha! Understandable!"
"Wait... isn't your focus totally off??? This is an arrest scene, hey! But... okay... indeed... *drools*..."
"Help, online anonymity really lets some people take off their last masks (I want to join too!)"
"Who said just now that women aren't perverted? Come out and take your beating! This comment section is hotter than a gym!"
Of course, even more people had completely different points of focus.
"His mind works so fast! Taking that step back on purpose to let the towel fall was definitely calculated! Just to create that fraction of a second of distraction!"
"His moves were clean and efficient! Snatching the gun, controlling the target, and threatening—all in one smooth motion! He's definitely trained!"
"These two police officers... especially that female officer, are so unprofessional! How could they get distracted at a time like this? In America, any suspicious move by a suspect is enough for the police to empty their magazines!"
"To the person above, this is Japan, not your 'land of the free' America! But indeed... their alertness was insufficient."
"The Authorities have truly lost all shame! 'Threatening national security'? They clearly sent people to silence him! I support Kuchiba Hiro's counterattack!"
"Go for it, young man! Take down this group of sanctimonious hypocrites!"