The Vice Captain's Return

"And that's how it all unfolded," Aiku said, concluding his account to his vice-captain.

Vice-Captain Rin Hatake was the sole individual Aiku held in high esteem, but fate had him absent on that fateful day. Aiku couldn't help but ponder how events might have unfolded differently if Rin had been present, given his exceptional skills and prowess, which rivaled his own abilities.

Rin Hatake's name was legendary within the police force, commanding respect and admiration from his peers, while striking fear into the hearts of criminals.

His exceptional combat skills and precision had earned him the moniker "Robo cop."

Many believed Rin was the embodiment of a perfect cop, flawless and unyielding. Some even considered him superior to Aiku, but ironically, both men shared a deep-seated respect for each other, each believing the other to be the more exceptional officer.

This mutual admiration forged an unbreakable partnership, yielding unparalleled success in countless high-profile cases.

Despite their remarkable success: why did they remain ordinary captains in a relatively small Osaka district police station?

Their reasoning was rooted in a deep-seated conviction: they believed that the pursuit of power and wealth, which seemed to drive their superiors, would inevitably lead them to be corrupt. Witnessing the prioritization of personal gain over public safety among their higher-ups, Aiku and Rin chose to decline promotions, staying true to their principles and commitment to serving the community.

Rin's expression turned somber as he asked, "Did the kid make it?" Aiku's response was measured. "He's still hospitalized, but fortunately, his condition has stabilized. However, he remains unconscious." Rin shook his head, muttering, "What a mess." Aiku offered a reassuring smile.

Rin's gaze fell upon Aiku's injured form, and regret crept into his voice. "If only I'd been here, none of this would've happened." Aiku placed a comforting hand on Rin's shoulder. "It's okay, Rin. Everything worked out for the best. It was meant to be. I'm just grateful I survived, and my family is safe."

But deep down, Aiku's conscience bothered him. He had chosen his family's safety over the little boy's during the incident. The choice had led to the death of the little boy's parents, and Aiku wasn't sure if it was the right thing to do. Rin's voice brought him back to reality. "Hey, we came here for a reason. Let's focus on that." Aiku nodded firmly in agreement, "Exactly."

They stood before the little boy's house, the scene of the devastating attack. Their one goal was to uncover the truth: what led to the assault and who was behind it. Perhaps, with luck, they'd crack the case and expose the mastermind responsible for the string of similar incidents. This new case was personal – they had taken it upon themselves to solve.

 With the help of detectives, Aiku and Rin Hatake launched their investigation. Flashing their police badges, they gained access to the area sealed off by yellow tape, boldly marked with the warning "Crime Scene".

After scouring the area and collecting evidence, Captain Aiku and Vice-Captain Rin reached a startling conclusion: the shockwaves had indeed originated from this location. Yet, there was no apparent source capable of generating such powerful waves. The only lead was the mysterious figure mentioned by the caller, but one question lingered: how had this figure triggered the devastating shockwaves?

"Was it a device that produced these shockwaves?" Aiku wondered aloud. They had never seen technology capable of causing such massive destruction. But in today's era, human innovation was advancing rapidly. Creating such a device was no longer unimaginable.

Aiku's voice snapped Rin back to attention. "We need to catch this person before things get out of hand."

Rin nodded, his eyes burning with determination. " I swear, I'll make them pay for every destruction they've caused."

Aiku's expression mirrored Rin's resolve. "Count me in."

The sudden shrill of Rin's phone pierced the air: Brrrring! Brrrring! Rin apologized, "Oh, sorry – excuse me for a bit," and stepped away to answer the call.

Aiku stood alone, surrounded by an unsettling silence. His thoughts drifted to the little boy's parents, and in the stillness, he whispered a heartfelt thank you. Their desperate cry for help had led him to stumble upon his own family in the midst of chaos.

But in a poignant twist of fate, he was powerless to return the favor, unable to save them.

"I'm sorry," Aiku whispered to himself, the words a sorrowful acknowledgment of his helplessness.

 Rin ended the call and walked back to Aiku, a thoughtful expression on his face. "I looked into the family like you asked me to," he said. "They were the Tanaka's."

Aiku's eyes narrowed slightly. "Oh, really?" he asked, his interest piqued. "Does he have any family relatives?"

Rin nodded, recalling the information. "According to our intel, he has an aunt – but she's distant. She never really visited."

Aiku's face reflected a mix of emotions, but a hint of relief crept in. "Hmm, at least he has some family left," he said, his voice softer. "That means he's not alone."

Rin nodded in agreement. "Yeah, that's some good news right there."

Rin continued, "Apparently, his name is Akira." He paused, his expression turning thoughtful. "Aiku, the kid might be our only hope in this case. If he survived, it's possible he might know something."

Aiku's eyes lit up with a glimmer of hope. "That's what I wish – it would be a huge bonus." However, his enthusiasm was tempered by reality.

"But with his memory loss, as the doctor said, there's a high probability he won't remember anything."

Rin's voice held a determined tone. "At least there's a little probability in our favor. We have to hold onto that."

Aiku nodded, a sigh escaping his lips. "Hmm, that's what I wish. We'll just have to wait for him to wake up and hope for the best."

"First things first, we need to head out to his aunt's place," Aiku said, a sense of urgency in his voice. "We have to give her the information and let her know that her nephew survived."

Rin nodded, already moving into action. "Yeah, let me get the car."

As they drove to the aunt's location, Aiku's mind wandered to the daunting task ahead. How would he break the news to her, knowing that he might be indirectly responsible for her nephew's ordeal? The weight of guilt threatened to overwhelm him.

Rin, sensing his friend's turmoil, kept his eyes on the road while offering words of comfort. "Hey, don't think about it too much, Aiku. Don't feel guilty. You did what you could, and I think that's what fate wanted. No action you took would have changed anything."

Aiku listened intently, Rin's words slowly calming the storm brewing inside him. He took a deep breath, letting the tension ease, and nodded silently, grateful for his friend's reassurance.

A short drive later....

"We're here," Rin said, parking the car near the house. They stepped out and approached the door, knocking in unison.

A woman's voice called out from inside, "Just a moment!" Footsteps hurried to the door, and she asked from behind it, her voice laced with caution as she peered through the peephole "Who is it?"

Rin responded, "Police officers."

The door swung open, revealing a woman with red, puffy eyes and vibrant red hair to match. Her expression was etched with concern as she welcomed them inside.

"Please, come in," she said, gesturing for them to enter. "Have a seat."

As they sat down, she headed into the kitchen, calling out, "I was just about to have some tea. Would you like to have some?"

Rin nodded, smiling politely. "Sure, thank you."

She returned with a tray, bearing steaming cups of tea, and handed them out. As they accepted the tea, she sat down across from them, her eyes locked on theirs. "What brings you here?" she asked, her voice tinged with a hint of concern.

Rin took a sip from his cup, his eyes never leaving Miss. Hina's face. He set the cup down, his expression turning serious. "Miss. Hina, we're here to inform you about something. There's good news and bad news." He paused, choosing his words carefully, as Aiku watched with a somber expression.

Rin's words hung in the air, and Miss. Hina's eyes widened with concern. "Bad news? What's wrong?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Aiku signaled Rin that he wanted to take over, and Rin nodded subtly. Aiku cleared his throat, his expression still somber. He avoided Hina's gaze, a look of guilt crossed his face.

 "Last night, regarding the incident ... your sister and her husband..." He hesitated, the words catching in his throat.

"I'm afraid they didn't survive the accident. They passed away last night."

Miss. Hina's eyes dropped, and tears began to fall from them, streaming down her face. Aiku's words had unleashed a torrent of grief. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Miss. Hina's response was barely audible, her voice choked with sobs. "I... I already heard the news on TV..." She broke down, crying uncontrollably.

"But I just didn't want to believe it," she whispered, her words punctuated by sobs. "But now you're saying it... it means it's true." Her voice trailed off, and she buried her face in her hands, overcome with grief.

Overwhelmed by guilt, Aiku was at a loss of words. He sat silently, a helpless witness to her anguish, unable to offer any comfort.

Rin offered her a tissue, and she took it, gently cleaning her tear-stained face. As she composed herself, she asked, her voice still shaky, "What about the good news? You mentioned there was some good news?"

Rin's expression softened. "I hope you know that there was a survivor."

She nodded, her eyes welling up with tears again. "Yes, it was mentioned on the news, but they didn't reveal who it was."

Rin nodded sympathetically. "Yes, that's true."

She leaned forward, her voice barely above a whisper. "Who... who survived?"

Rin's eyes locked onto hers. "Your nephew."

Her eyes widened in shock. "Akira?"

Rin nodded, a gentle smile on his face. "Yes, he survived."

A mix of relief and longing washed over her face. "Can I see him?" she asked, her voice trembling with emotion.

Rin's expression turned sympathetic. "I'm afraid that's not possible for now. He's under top security."

Aiku added, "We believe the accident might not have been an accident. We think someone might have attacked them, so we've put Akira under protection until he wakes up."

Miss. Hina's eyes welled up with tears again, but this time, they were tears of gratitude. "Thank God he's still alive," she whispered, her voice cracking.

Aiku placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Please, try to control yourself. Everything is going to be okay soon. You'll get the chance to visit him and bring him home. Just be patient for a little while longer."

After finishing their tea, Rin and Aiku rose from their seats, bidding a farewell to Miss. Hina. The soft creak of the door echoed through the air as they stepped out of the house.

 As they strolled back to the car, Aiku turned to Rin with a weary expression. "Can you drop me off near the City Hospital?" he asked, his voice low and husky. Rin raised an inquiring eyebrow, prompting Aiku to elaborate, "I want to visit my family." Aiku said.

Rin nodded as he sat behind the wheel. He knew Aiku had been separated from his family since the incident and the longing was evident. With a gentle shift into gear, Rin steered the car toward the City Hospital.

Moments later….

Rin pulled up near the City Hospital, the fluorescent lights of the building casting a pale glow over the surrounding streets.

As Aiku moved to exit the car, Rin's expression turned serious. "You really need to get some rest, Aiku. Those wounds need time to heal."

Aiku, swathed in bandages, offered a wry smile. "Yeah, I know, but I just needed to get the details from the incident. I couldn't trust anyone with it."

Rin's eyes narrowed slightly, but he nodded. "Okay, if you say so."

Aiku let out a sigh and smiled weakly at Rin. "Thanks for always being there for me."

Rin's expression softened. "Oh, no, why do you have to say that? What are brothers for?"

Aiku's smile widened as he pushed open the car door. Rin's voice followed him again. "Remember, you need to rest. I'm here now, I'll take command so no need to stress yourself. Just get better soon."

 Feeling a weight lift off his shoulders Aiku said. "Finally, I can slack off a bit."

Rin laughed. "Take all the time you need to relax."

 Aiku waved goodbye, watching as Rin's car disappeared into the distance.

He walked into the hospital, his footsteps echoing off the sterile walls. He hadn't seen his family since they were fighting for their lives, and the memory of that ordeal still haunted him.

The ache of missing them had grown unbearable, and he was desperate to spend time with them, to see them smile and laugh again. His hope was that they would be well enough to go home, to leave the beeping machines and antiseptic smells behind.

Aiku's fingers trembled slightly as he grasped the hospital room door handle. With a deep breath, he pushed the door open, and a warm light spilled out.

Before him, a heartwarming scene unfolded: his daughter sat in a wheelchair beside his wife's bed, chatting with her. The creaking door drew their attention, and as they caught sight of Aiku, their faces erupted in radiant smiles.

His wife's eyes welled up with tears of joy, and she sobbed uncontrollably, overwhelmed by relief that he had survived. Aiku's eyes misted as he strode over to her, his lips meeting hers in a tender kiss. He then turned to his daughter, enveloping her in a warm hug.

They spent the next few hours laughing and talking together, making up for lost time.

Weeks later....

The day of discharge finally arrived, and Aiku beamed with joy as he left the hospital with his family by his side. The drive home was filled with laughter and chatter.

Once home, Aiku settled into a cozy routine, spending quality time with his loved ones and following the doctor's orders to relax and rest for at least a week. The peacefulness of their home, with familiar family sounds, was exactly what he needed to feel better.

But even in joyful moments, Aiku's smile would fade, haunted by the memory of Akira's parents' lifeless body. When his wife asked, he'd simply hold her close and kiss her softly, saying, 'I'm just thankful we're together.'

With their week-long rest coming to an end, the family gradually slipped back into their routine. Mrs. Sakura returned to her lecturing duties at one of Osaka's most prestigious universities, while Karen returned to high school, determined to catch up on the three weeks' worth of studies she had missed.

Aiku, meanwhile, resumed his role as Captain, taking the reins back from Rin. His team welcomed him back with open arms, relieved to have their leader return after a three-week absence.

With Aiku's return, Rin felt a sense of relief wash over him, knowing they could now refocus on their investigation into the recent incidents.

They held onto the hope that Akira, still recovering, would soon awaken and provide them with a crucial lead.