It was a busy morning at the Shirogawa police station.

  The aftermath of the previous night, drunk and beaten up scumbags sat on chairs, waiting for interrogation.

  Just an ordinary morning.

  It seemed the officers barely noticed them, too busy with their own cases.

  Some were at their desks, others chatting quietly as the station buzzed with routine activity.

  Behind the monitor, a young, serious detective in his early twenties scrolled through case files, resting his palm against his cheek.

  He seemed unaware of his surroundings.

  Sharp black eyes absorbed every detail on the screen.

  He looked tired, but the exhaustion only added to his quiet presence.

  “Takashi!!”

  The loud voice of his colleague startled him.

  “We’re waiting for you.”

  The man approached, placing both hands on the desk.

  “Do you ever read your messages?” he asked jokingly.

  Takashi pulled his phone from his pocket.

  His eyes widened.

  He stood up from the chair.

  “Tell them I’m coming.”

  He grabbed his jacket from the back of the chair and hurried after his colleague.

  In front of the office door, he tightened his tie and straightened his jacket, adjusting his posture.

  He knocked once and entered immediately.

  His colleagues were already seated.

  “Good morning. I’m sorry I’m late, I got caught up with the case I’m working on.”

  he said, bowing politely.

  “Morning, Takashi."

  his colleagues greeted him in return.

  “Good morning, Takashi. Don’t worry, please, have a seat.”

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  The chief, a middle-aged man with a relaxed and kind face, still in good shape for his age, greeted him.

  “We’d still be waiting until tomorrow if I hadn’t literally dragged him here."

  his colleague added jokingly.

  “The man is all about work.”

  Takashi blushed slightly, a small smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

  “You should learn something from him, Kenta.” the chief added with a chuckle.

  “Don’t mind him, Takashi. Please, sit down.”

  Takashi pulled out his chair and sat down, a faint smile touching the corner of his mouth as he glanced at Kenta.

  “If everyone is ready, I would like to start the meeting” the chief said, looking across the room as he stood in front of the whiteboard covered with photographs of young people.

  Everyone nodded in agreement.

  He lifted a small plastic bag from the desk, his expression now serious.

  “You are all familiar with the recent deaths caused by the new drug called Red Fury” he continued.

  “It has been circulating on our streets.”

  He gestured toward the photos of the victims.

  “They were all young addicts.”

  A heavy silence filled the room.

  “We need to find who is distributing it, and stop it from spreading any further.”

  An older colleague spoke up with a serious expression.

  “We’ve all been working overtime this entire week, but every lead turns into a dead end.

  We have nothing so far.”

  “I know” the chief replied.

  “We’re all under pressure.”

  He paused before continuing.

  “I called this meeting this morning to inform you that we received new information about a massive gang gathering tonight in the Shirogawa district.”

  The room grew quiet.

  “We know the location and the time of the meeting, and we’re hoping it’s connected to the drug distribution.”

  “Our hope is to stop this at the beginning, and I’m counting on all of you.

  We move at eight o’clock tonight.”

  The chief’s gaze shifted.

  “Takashi. Kenta.”

  Both men looked up.

  “You two will be leading the operation.

  Prepare yourselves.”

  “Yes, Chief” they both nodded, nervous, but proud.

  “That will be all for now” the chief said.

  “Does anyone have any questions or something to add?”

  He looked across the room, gripping the back of the chair tightly, a subtle sign of his unease.

  The room fell quiet.

  It seemed everyone understood their assignment.

  Worry was visible on their faces, but no one spoke of it.

  The chief’s expression relaxed for a brief moment.

  Still gripping the back of the chair, now with both hands, he leaned closer to the table.

  With a silent sigh, he looked around at his colleagues.

  “Well…if there’s nothing more to say, I’d like to end this meeting.

  I’m hoping for the best.”

  He straightened slowly.

  “You may go now. Prepare yourselves for tonight.”

  The sound of chairs scraping against the floor filled the office.

  As the officers left one by one, the chief’s gaze followed them, worry etched across his face.

  Takashi remained behind, gathering the papers from the desk, unaware that everyone else had already left the room.

  He felt a firm grip on his shoulder.

  For a moment, he placed the papers back on the desk and turned his head toward the chief.

  The chief’s gaze was kind, full of warmth, almost fatherly.

  “Takashi” he said softly.

  “Good luck tonight.”

  A sigh of worry escaped him.

  “Thank you, Chief. I’ll do my best"

  Takashi replied, trying to reassure him that everything would be alright.

  The chief hesitated for a moment.

  “You know…” he said quietly.

  “You remind me so much of your father. He would be very proud of you.”

  His expression softened, touched by nostalgia

  “He was hardworking, just like you. I admired his passion so much…

  Back then, we were young and reckless. We thought everything was black and white, but there was so much more to it.

  And in the end… his decisions cost him his life.”

  He leaned against the table, gripping its edge with both hands, his gaze fixed on the floor.

  “Don’t make the same mistake, Takashi” he said quietly.

  “You need to work smarter. Eventually, you’ll get the justice you’re seeking.”

  Takashi gathered the papers from the desk, his eyes still lowered, as if avoiding the chief’s gaze.

  “I’ll remember that, Chief… thank you.”