CHAPTER THREE [S l e e p i n g H e a r t]

SHIBAZAKI stared out of the window while waiting for their meeting to start.

They are waiting for the new Inspector. He finds it mysterious because of the sudden resignation of their current inspector in their sector.

None of them was chosen to take over his position. In review, they have also been serving as officers in their department.

It was widely reported that the Inspector was still young, but he was also rumored to be clever and strategic.

He couldn't help but doubt him because he was only twenty-seven years old. He would never hesitate to meet this person though.

But it's just frustrating because on its first day, he showed his unprofessionalism to everyone.

It's been thirty minutes, but he still didn't come.

Many of his teammates are complaining to their senior, but he'll say . . . "just wait".

"Who is this and even our superior understands him and obey him?" Shibazaki said to himself.

That's how he got up to go out because he was tired of sitting down. He'll have a stick of cigar first.

But all of a sudden, he was stopped from standing when a motorcycle was heard by everyone from the outside. They saw through the glass that someone had parked in the parking area.

"Is he what we're waiting for? He seemed like he didn't care if he's too late!" he said while observing as it went inside the hallway.

- - -

Sachi is whistling as he's walking through the shiny tiles. He is happy because this is the first day he will be entering the Department in Japan. Although he worked in another country, the superiors chose to send him here after he was promoted. He didn't know why he was happy. He must have been annoyed because it would have been better if he had stayed abroad. It seemed that something lived in his heart when he learned that he would work in Japan.

He had no idea why he was chosen but he was going to fulfill his obligation. For such, he will not disappoint those who trusted him.

He asked at the reception where the meeting hall was. The receptionist was talking with someone on the phone. He had been standing for a moment before she realized that his existence. She had suddenly become stunned and had red cheeks afterwards.

"S-Sir? May I know who you are? How may I help you?" she asked Sashi while staring at him.

He could not blame her because all woman act that way on him.

"I'm Sachi Uchida, the newly selected Inspector in the Department of Investigation."

He smiled because she was just idle in front of him. She couldn't speak since the time she laid her eyes on him.

Suddenly he snapped his fingers in front of the receptionist's face. He was so used to the reaction of the women she met. Suddenly the woman was embarrassed.

"Sir, the meeting hall is on the second floor. Left side. Third room."

"Ah, okay. Thanks, miss," he said with a smile and winked. The receptionist opened her mouth in what Sachi did.

When he came inside, he immediately saw all the officers there.

"Oh, there he is!" their senior said.

He was immediately introduced to those who would be with him.

"Hello, Good Morning everyone! I'm Sachi Uchida," he said simply.

"That's all you have to say? Aren't you sorry?" said a voice behind him. As he faced him, he smiled and apologized.

He noticed that the man was shocked to see him.

"Why, sir?" he asked in surprise.

"Hey, greet Sir Sachi, Shibazaki," said one of them.

Sachi wondered why he stared at him that way. He's like seeing a ghost. It seemed like he had something to say in that moment but in a blink of an eye . . . it just became blank.

He smiled as soon as he sat down in one of the chairs to listen to the impending meeting.

Shibazaki, on the other hand, suddenly realized he's in shock. His mind is in turmoil. He can't be mistaken. Or maybe, he's just wrong? It's impossible for Twelve to be the new Inspector.

Later, he just found himself smiling too. He would ask the senior why he had been sent back to this country. Because it has been discussed previously that he will be fixed overseas, so that he will be safe. He remembered the past, where a tragic event took place. About ten years ago . . .

""" FLASHBACK """

Shibazaki didn't know what to do. He suddenly panicked. But he did well to calm himself down. He saw in both eyes how Twelve and Nine lost their lives in his presence.

Kneeling before them, he could see the helicopters slowly depart. Suddenly, there was a pat on him. It's one of the assistant nurses of medics who had an immediately went for rescue. He was told to go to the medics. He saw Lisa being picked up and taken to the ambulance.

He asked what their status was. They said no one was alive. The other's heart is still beating but it is weak as it may not breathe at all. They immediately rushed to the nearest hospital.

He waited several hours until the doctor finally came out of the operation room.

"Doc. How is he?" Shibazaki asked.

The doctor thought before speaking.

"What is your relationship with the patient? I can only tell about patient's case to his family."

"He has no relatives," Shibazaki said. The doctor looked at him as if he had no choice, so it was better to tell him more about the patient's condition.

He took a deep breath before speaking. "As of now, the patient is fine. There is a lot of lost blood in his body, so other body organs and systems in the patient's blood vessels are not functioning properly which has led to comatose. "

Shibazaki was astonished.

"Doc, when will he wake up?" he asked.

It didn't take long for the Doctor to answer. "We don't really know when the patient will wake up. Let's just pray for him. What's important is that he lives. Let's wait for him to wake up."

He sat down in a long chair, feeling very cramped in those moments.

Suddenly his cellphone rang. The call came from their senior, who sent him immediately for reporting so that they could discuss Twelve's situation.

A few months later, Twelve was still not awake.

He is currently in the young man's room while sitting on a chair next to his bed.

Shibazaki recalls what he had discussed with his senior about Twelve. Telling him that no one should ever know that he was alive—not even a single one.

A lot needs to be done in Twelve's diagnostic tests for him to be cured. He was told that when the young man awoke he would immediately arrange all the necessities of the young man to move him abroad.

It was suggested that Twelve be given a second chance, so that he could start again.

"Are you the patient's relative?" the nurse asked Shibazaki.

"Guardian," he replied frantically.

She let him go for a moment before opening one of the folders in front of his desk.

"Doc will send you to his outlet. He has something important to tell you about the patient's condition," the nurse explained.

Shibazaki nodded and started walking towards the Doctor's office.

She told him that the condition of Twelve was gradually improving. They're just waiting for him to wake up. He asked if there were any other complications to Twelve's body. The only answer is that everything is okay.

Shibazaki smiled as he looked at the sleeping Twelve. That includes the sad truth—it is impossible for Lisa to know that Twelve is alive.