"There's a Café"!
Heiji and Sato Miwako sat quietly across from each other, the table filled with food.
"Heiji, have some French toast."
Sato Miwako cut a small piece of French toast and offered it to Heiji with a fork, her eyes full of tenderness.
Heiji smiled lightly, took the bite from her, and ate it slowly.
Sato Miwako rested her chin on both hands and stared at Heiji without looking away.
"What are you staring at me for? You eat too."
Heiji cut a piece and offered it to Sato Miwako, holding it right up to her lips.
Sato Miwako blushed, glanced at Heiji, opened her lips slightly, and gently bit into the piece of French toast.
Her face flushed.
Heiji nodded in approval.
"Miwako, if you put a bit more effort into dressing up in the future, you'll definitely be prettier than a lot of big celebrities."
"Even prettier than Okino Yoko?"
Heiji froze and looked at Sato Miwako, puzzled.
Sato Miwako rolled her eyes at him and laughed.
"I'm kidding."
She already knew Kazuha and Sonoko were Heiji's girlfriends, so she had no jealous thoughts. But she had noticed that Okino Yoko seemed to be very close to Heiji.
A star like that was hard to ignore.
Heiji glanced at Sato Miwako and smiled.
"Miwako, are you jealous?"
Sato Miwako blushed, then her gaze dimmed.
"Heiji… do you think Kazuha and Sonoko will agree to us dating?"
Heiji paused, looking at Sato Miwako in surprise.
She didn't ask who Heiji liked, or who he liked more. She was worried about whether she could get Kazuha and Sonoko's approval.
Heiji smiled gently.
"I don't know either."
Sato Miwako nodded, clearly discouraged. She didn't have much confidence at all.
"However," Heiji continued, "I believe that with Miwako's charm, Kazuha and the others will understand."
Hearing that, Sato Miwako raised her head, confusion appearing in her eyes.
Heiji picked up a fried shrimp dipped in sauce and held it out to her. A mischievous smile lifted the corner of his mouth.
"Miwako is so pretty. How could I let you go?"
Sato Miwako stared at him blankly.
Then she suddenly smiled, opened her mouth, and ate the shrimp. Her eyes curved into crescents, and the sweetness in her expression nearly overflowed.
"Actually," Sato Miwako said while chewing, "at the beginning, Heiji didn't care about me at all, right?"
She rolled her eyes at him.
"Saying I'm pretty and all that is just you comforting me."
Heiji paused, then shook his head.
"Miwako is the pride of the Metropolitan Police Department. Who would dare say you're not pretty?"
"Hmph. But before, Heiji always seemed to ignore me."
Sato Miwako pouted.
Heiji smiled awkwardly, lowered his head, and stuffed food into his mouth.
With a sputter, Sato Miwako suddenly laughed. To her, Heiji looked very cute like this.
It was only noon.
After paying the bill, the two walked quietly along the street.
Heiji walked in front with his hands in his pockets. Sato Miwako put her hands behind her back and followed beside him.
They were talking, but the atmosphere still felt a little strange.
"Heiji… does this count as a date for us?"
After a long while, Sato Miwako's soft voice sounded.
Heiji paused and turned to look at her.
Her eyes carried a hint of discouragement, a hint of expectation, and a hint of envy.
Envy?
Heiji felt it was odd and followed her gaze forward.
A couple ahead was walking hand in hand, talking and laughing.
Heiji understood instantly and couldn't help smiling.
Sato Miwako stared forward. She had never been in a relationship—she didn't even have the experience of holding hands with someone. Seeing other couples holding hands made her envious, but she didn't dare take the initiative.
I'm so jealous of them…
She sighed to herself, feeling a little down.
Suddenly, a large hand wrapped around her waist. Before she could react, her waist tightened, and she was pulled in, her body leaning involuntarily.
Sato Miwako widened her eyes and looked at Heiji, frozen in his embrace.
Her lips trembled slightly, carrying a strange pull.
"Mmm—!"
Her eyes widened, staring at the face close to her.
[This is my third kiss with Heiji.]
The thought flashed through her mind. Her eyes immediately turned misty. She hooked her arms around Heiji's neck, rose slightly onto her toes, and responded—clumsy but earnest.
People nearby glanced at them in surprise, then moved on.
At that moment, a car passed by.
[Is that Officer Sato and Hattori Heiji?]
Officer Shiratori's pupils shrank. He stared in shock at the two of them kissing, his heart turning cold.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw something that made him panic. He slammed the brakes.
A sharp screech of braking sounded, leaving a long tire mark.
Officer Shiratori's car jolted as someone was struck hard—someone who had almost been hit looked arrogant instead.
"How do you drive? Didn't you see it was a red light? Are you trying to murder me?"
The shrill voice was full of arrogance.
Officer Shiratori frowned and looked toward the roadside—his face changed instantly.
Where were they?
The two who had been kissing were gone.
Another dull thud.
Officer Shiratori snapped back and looked at the small dent in the car. His face darkened.
"Ito, let's go," a woman beside the man said softly.
"Go where?" Ito shouted. "This bastard almost got me killed. He's definitely paying for this."
Officer Shiratori got out of the car and stared coldly at Ito.
"Sir, I can sue you right now for damaging someone else's property."
Ito practically jumped.
"I'm a police officer. If you still have a problem, I'm ready to deal with it anytime."
Officer Shiratori pulled out his police badge, his expression icy.
"Police? So what if you're police?" Ito sneered. "I'm telling you, the thing I fear least is the police. I—"
Suddenly, Ito stopped.
Officer Shiratori slightly revealed the pistol at his waist and looked at him coldly.
"Ito, let's go," the woman said again, her face changing.
"Don't get smug," Ito spat as he was pulled away. "I'll make you regret this."
After they left, Officer Shiratori slammed his fist onto the car.
"Damn it!"
Evening came. The sun set in the west.
At the riverbank, everything was bathed in golden light. The green plants looked as if they wore a thin layer of gold.
On the slope, Sato Miwako lay quietly in Heiji's arms, her head resting against his chest, her eyes filled with a deep, quiet sweetness.
"Damn it. A whole day's good mood ruined," Ito cursed. "That woman Reina actually argued with me because of a police officer. Damn it."
Ito gulped down his beer in one go and tossed the can casually toward the riverbank.
Clang—!
The can suddenly flew back upside down and smashed hard into Ito's head.
"So painful!" Ito yelped, then roared, "Which bastard did that?!"
Triggered B-rank mission: Kill Ito, frame Shiratori Ninzaburo.