"The Non-Killing Owl should still be alive. Word is he was rescued by that mysterious ghoul called 'Madara.' Perhaps you'll have a chance to speak with him directly someday, Investigator Mado."
Byakuya said this knowing that if the timing was right, he could arrange such a meeting himself.
"'Investigator Mado'?"
Kureo immediately corrected him with a serious expression: "I think you could just call me 'Father-in-law.' That would be more appropriate." (Note: In Japan, the more common form would be "Otou-san" [Dad])
"...Investigator Mado is joking again."
Byakuya smiled awkwardly.
He knew Kureo had a habit of delivering jokes with a completely straight face.
"..."
Akira sat expressionless and silent, but her eyes betrayed obvious turmoil.
"Hmm? I wasn't joking just now."
Kureo stated plainly: "Akira asked me once when my first kiss with her mother was. My instincts immediately told me—could it be that you and Akira have already kissed?"
His words were meant to confirm this with both Byakuya and Akira simultaneously.
"..."
Byakuya didn't know how to respond, since he had to consider Akira's feelings.
Akira's composure wavered further, her carefully maintained calm expression on the verge of cracking.
Meanwhile, other investigators in the area had overheard Kureo's words. The main hall's rest area couldn't possibly be occupied by just the three of them.
"A kiss? What does that mean... Could it be that Investigator Amaha and Investigator Mado have already...?"
"That's obviously what it means. And it came straight from Mado-san himself—Akira's father..."
"I recall Akira Mado being quite popular within CCG. How many boys are going to be heartbroken now~?"
"If the competition is Investigator Amaha, then it's game over for anyone else. Besides, an excellent beauty like Miss Mado would naturally have high standards."
"..."
The investigators began chattering enthusiastically.
At this point, Akira finally couldn't take it anymore and stood up.
Seeing her sudden movement, the surrounding investigators fell silent.
She addressed Kureo: "Father, you've had too much to drink. You should go home and rest."
"Huh? I haven't had any alcohol today."
Kureo responded immediately.
"No, you're definitely drunk."
Akira wasn't having any of it. She began pushing Kureo toward the exit.
Kureo didn't resist, letting Akira push him out of the CCG Main Office, knowing she was just embarrassed.
Though Akira's personality was very similar to his own, she was still a young woman. Compared to him, she was naturally more prone to embarrassment—mainly because Kureo had said such things in front of so many people.
"No need to be so shy. You've already kissed—now's the time to launch a fierce offensive and seal the deal."
Outside, Kureo offered his advice.
Akira maintained her expressionless facade: "This is my own business. Father needn't concern himself. Father should focus on taking care of his own health—your injuries from the Owl Suppression haven't fully healed yet. You should go home and rest properly."
"Alright, alright~ I understand. I'll head back then."
Before leaving, Kureo left one final remark: "When you spot an opportunity, seize it properly. Don't wait until it's too late to have regrets."
"..."
Akira made no response. Who knew what was going through her mind at that moment.
...
Afterward, Akira returned to the rest area and sat back down in her original spot, her expression unchanged.
As if nothing had happened at all.
"What about Investigator Mado? Has he gone home?"
Byakuya asked.
"Yes, he wasn't feeling well. He went home to rest."
Akira replied calmly.
"I see..."
Byakuya nodded slightly.
Following this, neither of them spoke.
The atmosphere grew awkward.
All because of that kiss during the Owl Suppression Operation.
Akira hadn't actually been mentally prepared at the time—she'd acted on impulse.
"About last time..."
Just as Akira was about to clear the air, an unexpected voice interrupted her.
"Amaha-senpai, so this is where you are~"
Hairu Ihei happened to be passing through the main hall's rest area and spotted Byakuya sitting across from Akira.
Having run into Amaha-senpai at the Main Office—a rare occurrence—she naturally had to come over and say hello at the very least.
"Investigator Ihei?"
Byakuya turned around to find that it was indeed Hairu.
He'd recognized her by voice alone—Hairu's tone and manner of speaking were quite distinctive.
"By the way... is this Amaha-senpai's current partner?"
Hairu walked right up to Byakuya and sat down in the seat beside him.
Even though she didn't know Akira at all, that wouldn't stop her from catching up with her beloved senpai.
"That's right. This is Rank 2 Investigator Akira Mado."
Byakuya nodded.
"...'Current'? What do you mean by that?"
Akira picked up on the nuance immediately, directing her question at both Byakuya and Hairu.
"Hm? Oh, Miss Mado might not know—I was actually Amaha-senpai's first partner. Though only a temporary one."
Hairu smiled pleasantly at Akira.
"...Is that so?"
Had Hairu not mentioned it, Akira wouldn't have known this.
But Akira's expression remained unchanged. She simply said flatly: "Regardless, I was the first official partner."
"True, but a temporary partner is still a partner. I was here first."
Hairu's smile didn't waver either.
"..."
Byakuya sensed that Hairu and Akira seemed to be at odds somehow, though he couldn't quite understand what there was to compete over regarding "partners."
"Akira, this is my temporary partner from when I was investigating the ghoul organization 'Grey Straw.' First Class Investigator Hairu Ihei. That happened to be right when we were about to become official partners."
Byakuya interjected, introducing Hairu to Akira.
"Investigator Ihei..."
Though she inexplicably found Hairu somewhat disagreeable, Akira still used the polite form of address out of courtesy.
"Amaha-senpai always calls me 'Investigator Ihei,' but he addresses his current partner by her first name. How unfair..."
Hairu began objecting to Byakuya's choice of address.
...
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