~Still 8 years ago at the Police Academy~
"How do I look?" Aine asked Rei as she twirled around. "Great as ever", Rei answered and smiled.
Both of them looked at each other with a smile on their faces, "please get a room", a voice from the earphones said. It was Hiro, the one in charge of the behind the scenes.
They were in the amusement park to observe Asahina Renmi on a date with Hagi. Rei suggested that they pretend to be on a date as well to monitor Asahina as closely as they could.
The whole day was filled with happiness as Aine and Rei tried all the rides Asahina picked, nothing unusual happened during their investigation.
As they decided to end the date, Aine and Rei stayed for a while to compete with each other at the shooting game. Hiro turned his earphones off as he heard the happy moments between them.
...
"Morning Renmi-san, I know that we don't really talk a lot, maybe this is our first time talking to each other but I wanted to ask you for a favor?" Aine said to her.
"Yeah, sure. No problem." Asahina responded.
...
"Rei, you're not escorting Aine home? What? Are you guys having a lover's quarrel?" Hagi asked.
"No, we're not. She said she needed to do something." Rei said without even looking at him. "Tsk...he didn't even try to correct the word lovers", Matsuda added.
Rei just shrugged at them.
"Date-san and Hiro are still with the senior, I think they're enjoying his advice", Matsuda said.
"You can say it again, those two seriously play it too well." Hagi said.
They chuckled and laughed, but they stopped when Rei stood up. His face darkened as he read an article on his phone, he dashed without answering Hagi and Matsuda's call.
...
"Is this all of it?" Asahina said.
"Yes, Renmi-san, thank you. You're such a life saver." Aine said with a smile.
She asked Asahina to move some things in one of the sheds, she turned around, his back facing Renmi.
The other woman saw an opening, she immediately pulled a knife in her clothes and swung it near Aine's neck.
Aine blocked the knife but since she was carrying a box when Renmi attacked she instinctively used her palms. Blood dripped down her arm.
After intercepting Renmi's attack, they started to throw punches and kicks. "So you discovered me, I knew it was fishy for someone who I don't even know to ask me for a favor. Say, how did you realize it?" Renmi asked.
"Amusement park, a teen was attacked inside the girls bathroom, knife wounds found on her body. Fortunately, she didn't die, you weren't able to kill her because I went inside the bathroom a few minutes after you did. That was very stupid of you, did you get the urge to kill someone, or maybe you're getting ahead of yourself cause you think no one would know the truth. That overconfidence will destroy you." Aine answered.
Aine kicked her on the abdomen, while a punch landed on her face. They struggled for a while, blood spattered everywhere.
As the fight reached its conclusion, Rei opened the door of the shed, Matsuda and Hagi beside him. The three people looked at them and immediately arrested Renmi. Rei walked towards Aine and carried her.
"W-wa-wait...I, I can walk on my own", she struggled but Rei only tightened his grip and didn't say anything to Aine's complaint.
...
"I can do it alone, really...", Aine mumbled. The man in front of her, cleaning her wounds didn't budge. He stayed there, as quiet as the room could be.
"Clumsy and reckless, try to ask for backup next time", he said and flicked her forehead.
"Ouch...but it was a great opportunity if I say so myself, such a worrywart...but well...thank you", Aine said and placed a gentle kiss on Rei's forehead.
...
"So you're really going huh?" Hagi sadly said to Aine. "Don't be gloomy, it doesn't look good on you", Aine replied.
"But that Rei, he really didn't come huh..." Matsuda said.
"Let him be, he's probably sulking", Hiro said while chuckling. "Yeah, yeah, he must be so sad right now", Date-san added.
"Yeah, let's let him have his own time for himself, anyway...I'll be sure to miss you guys...let's meet again as colleagues", Aine replied, she looked at the rooftop then went inside the car after waving goodbye.