S-ranked cases

Mamoru quickly found their seats in the food court and immediately stood up. "Ki, I will buy the pizza. You just stay here."

"But I said I would treat you."

He suddenly extended his hand out and pressed his fingers across her forehead. "I think you have a bit of a fever; you should rest."

He noticed again. This shouldn't surprise her already, and yet it does.

"Okay," Sumire took out her wallet and put a few bills in his hands. Mamoru looked like he was going to refuse, but she shook his head. "I know you don't even have ten yen left after buying that necklace. Just take it. It would be embarrassing to have them take our orders and you not having money to pay."

"Uh, right, then I will dash."

"Mm." With those words said, Mamoru quickly left. Sumire slumped her head on the large round table and sighed.

Is it because she woke up early? But it feels like she did not get much sleep. Normally she is able to relax and sleep in Ru's presence, but she felt a bit strange last night. So even though she was reluctant to leave his side, she quickly rushed off.

She did not want to stay at home, knowing she would only feel restless, so before she knew it she was in the shooting range. She wanted to calm her nerves.

The relationship between Ru and her she has never thought too deeply about it before. But what happened with that jealous girl the other day was not the first case. Ever since they returned from winter break, it has happened more frequently. She has managed to casually brush it aside, but that woman knew far too much.

Knowing that Ru would go that far for her makes her delusional. Ru, does he like her? Over the past few years, this thought has popped into her mind, but she never thought to ask or even test him. She does not want to break what they have.

Her thoughts broke off when somebody slid into the chair opposite her. Sumire sighed deeply. "I am on my day off."

"You have days off? Has the world come to an end."

"Let me rest. I am tired."

At those words, the man chuckled. "Then you don't want these new cases? They are very interesting; all their victims had their brains removed."

She immediately sat up and saw a man with green hair and emerald green eyes. This is the information broker Jack. His code name is english but isn't it obvious that he is Japanese?

Sumire scanned the two cases in front of her. The reward money for one was ten times larger, but what interested her was the cheaper-looking case. 'A victim from a fashion university-' The image of that guy from before appeared in her mind.

It's that person's school; is it just a coincidence? She is still suspicious about why that guy was there that day. How did he get out of the police questioning? At a glance, he looked like a normal civilian. But he managed to chase away those people.

Since she was wounded, she was only half-listening. But she paid attention to the most important part. Those ruffians said they knew him. That guy told her he was a fashion design student. They could have passed by him in the streets, but those guys even said his name. He must have some type of connection.

"We are taking this case." A familiar voice picked up the more expensive-looking case. She turned to see that Mamoru had returned with the pizzas.

Mamoru quickly placed it down on the table.

"Ru."

"This case has more victims. We need to know more, so it's better to investigate the case that has more victims." Mamoru explained.

That is true, but it's unlike him to choose the more expensive job. If she follows his logic, the cheaper jobs are usually the most dangerous. Sumire frowned when she realized what he was doing. She picked up the cheaper case file.

"Then Ru will take that one. I will do this."

"Ki!"

"Don't be so stubborn. If you start treating me like a vase Ru, I will get mad."

"I know, but-"

Jack chuckled. "Now, now, you two. Even if you want to have a lovers spat, please mind there are single people here."

"We-we are-"

Seeing Ru get flustered made her embarrassed too. "A-anyhow, we can just divide the jobs between us. It doesn't matter who does what job."

"I would advise against that. These cases may have different reward money, but they are both S-ranked cases. You have to do this in your pair or a group; otherwise, I won't give them to you."

Sumire looked at the two cases, troubled when Mamoru suddenly took the sheet from her hands. "Jack, we will do them both. Is there a time frame for both cases?"

"I think the university student one has a time frame. The girl seems to belong to a prestigious family. She was supposed to model in some grand event."

"Then Ki and I can check out the university tomorrow. If we are lucky, we can get it done within a week."

"Then I'll leave these with you. It's the detailed case files." Jack stood up and left two different colored envelopes with them.

Mamoru took a seat where Jack was and sighed. "Ki, you sure you don't want to relax? What about your debut preparations?"

"Everything is okay already. I have time to take on some more cases. As for relaxing, don't I relax when I am in school? I think my life is balanced."

"It sounds like you are trying to convince yourself there." Mamoru sighed again.

"Is it troublesome after all?"

"No, both cases interest me too. But it's true I picked the expensive one so you could relax."

"I'll be okay. Your, my partner Ru, so I am sure you will not let me go too crazy."

Mamoru reached over and tapped her forehead. "So your planning on going crazy?"

"School has been very stifling recently. You should at least let me do what I want for awhile." Despite her vague explanation, she saw a guilty expression appear on Ru's face. "That's okay, right?"

"Ki, you really know how to guilt-trip someone."

"Well, maybe you should control your fans. They have harassed me a lot recently. How is the school supposed to be a peaceful place for me, if they behave like that?"

Sumire did not intend to accuse him but walking into the classroom and feeling that suffocated atmosphere every day was mentally draining for her.

Even if those girls are bitter and jealous, to release all their frustration on her is not fair at all. Besides, based on what she saw the other day, Ru is also responsible. She never thought she would get to see him treat another person coldly.

Perhaps there is a side about him that she still does not know about?