The jet-black body of the motorcycle was accented with Kawasaki's signature streak of green, and even while seated on it, his feet could easily touch the ground.
The bike beneath Ritsu was a newly purchased 1000cc Kawasaki Ninja H2R. Its water-cooled inline-four engine was more than enough to keep it from becoming outdated for years to come.
Riding his new motorcycle, Ritsu wandered aimlessly through the streets of Beika Town. It was already close to midnight, and there were few cars left on the road. He was considering whether to head somewhere more open and really push the bike as a way of celebrating his new toy.
As a law-abiding citizen, Ritsu obediently waited at the traffic light.
Though he wasn't wearing a motorcycle helmet as required, mainly because he intended to stop by the roadside for a cigarette before continuing on.
Tokyo in February was truly cold. Dressed only in a thin black dress shirt and a long black coat, Ritsu parked the motorcycle and slipped into a nearby convenience store. The warmth inside made him instinctively rub his cheeks, which had gone stiff from the icy wind.
Instead of buying warm milk, he unusually ordered an Americano at this late hour, a drink he would never normally touch.
He didn't even ask for cream or sugar.
"One pack of CASTER 3."
"Sir, may I see your ID, please?"
After Ritsu presented his TASPO card and confirmed he was an adult, he finally got his favorite brand of cigarettes. He didn't light one immediately. Instead, he stood beside his motorcycle and finished the still-hot Americano first.
Without even frowning, he expressionlessly drained the dark brown liquid from the cup, tossed the paper cup into the trash can outside the convenience store, and even remembered to sort the garbage properly.
"Ah… I'm seriously exhausted. Once I get back, I need to sleep properly and make up for all the stakeout time from the past few days."
"Yeah! Three straight days really is rough. But Date-san, you were amazing!"
The motion of Ritsu tearing open the cigarette pack paused slightly. Turning his head to the side, his gaze landed on the flat-topped man with a toothpick hanging from his mouth.
Tokyo really was small.
He hadn't expected to run into someone familiar this quickly.
Wearing a simple white T-shirt beneath a dark green stand-collar jacket, Wataru failed to notice the man beside the motorcycle. Looking curiously at Takagi next to him, he asked, "Hm? Amazing how?"
"You know, just now! You subdued that huge knife-wielding suspect in an instant." Takagi seemed to remember something and sighed in admiration. "I heard you were also one of the top students at the police academy, Date-san!"
The smile on Wataru's face froze briefly.
After a moment, he looked up toward the dark night sky, where only a few scattered stars could be seen, and laughed bitterly.
"Idiot, it wasn't like that. At the academy, I could only ever rank third. Whether it was brains or physical ability, I never once managed to beat those two guys."
"Huh? Those two guys?"
"Yeah. The guy in second place was lean like you. Pretty serious personality too, always earnest about everything he did. I wonder where he is now, what he's doing, whether he's doing alright."
The image of Rei surfaced in Date's mind.
He really missed those days. The passionate, spirited versions of themselves back at the police academy.
If only they could return to six years ago. If he could go back six years, no matter what, he would stop them.
"What about the guy in first place? He must be doing something incredible now, right?" Takagi blinked curiously.
To Takagi, Wataru was already one of the most capable detectives around. So he couldn't help wondering what kind of person could surpass his senpai and claim first place.
"That guy, huh. He always wore this grumpy expression that kept strangers away, but he had a kinder heart than anyone else. He ranked first both entering and graduating from the academy. Sometimes he was so exceptional that I honestly wondered how someone so perfect could even exist in this world."
Wataru paused before continuing softly, "But… maybe exceptionally talented people just don't have very good luck."
He raised his hand and pointed toward the brightest star in the night sky, smiling faintly.
"Takagi… that brat who was always first place has already turned into a star. So when you're facing criminals, stop being so soft-hearted. Detectives are human too, we only get one life. Don't waste it in the wrong place."
Turned into a star.
Takagi froze for a moment before finally understanding what he meant. That outstanding senior from the police academy… had already passed away?
Lighting the cigarette in his hand and bringing it to his lips, Ritsu listened to their conversation and let out a brief chuckle.
Being remembered was already the best possible outcome. Because he could never again stand before them as Sasajima Ritsu.
"…I'm sorry, Date-san."
"What's there to apologize for?"
Wataru raised his wrist to check the time on his watch, then lifted a brow with a bitter smile.
"So it's already past midnight, huh? Today's actually that guy's death anniversary."
As though remembering something, Wataru reached for the police handbook tucked inside his jacket pocket.
Inside it was the ring Ritsu had once given him.
Originally, he hadn't intended to use that ring to propose to Natalie. But now… Wataru had already decided he would use that ring to become engaged to her.
After all, it was the only thing Ritsu had left him. He had to treasure it properly.
"Crap!"
His movement was a little too forceful, and as he pulled out the handbook, it slipped from his hand and fell beside the road.
Wataru hurried forward to retrieve it, completely failing to notice the black sedan speeding toward them at a bizarre velocity.
Takagi stepped forward, about to ask what Wataru was picking up, when he heard the roar of an engine. Turning his head in confusion, he spotted the black car barreling straight toward them.
"!!!"
"Date-san!"
Takagi sprinted forward, trying to stop the disaster from happening. But unexpectedly, a black figure moved even faster than he did.
A right hand shot out and grabbed the back of Wataru's collar, yanking him backward with tremendous force.
Bent over and completely defenseless while reaching for the handbook, Wataru was dragged hard enough to crash onto the pavement. A burning pain shot through his elbow, it had probably been scraped against the asphalt.
The speeding sedan finally slammed into a utility pole several meters away.
Takagi was thoroughly shaken by the sight. Snapping back to his senses, he hurried over to Date lying on the ground and cried out,
"Date-san! Are you alright?!"
"It's just a scrape on my elbow."
Date waved his uninjured right hand dismissively before looking toward the black sedan, which had already started catching fire.
He quickly got to his feet.
"Takagi, hurry and save the injured person!"
Ritsu watched the two of them run toward the driver. He walked to the roadside and bent down to pick up the fallen police handbook.
As he lifted it, something dropped out and rolled over half a meter away.
He took a few steps and picked it up. It was a ring from the Sasajima brand.
The ring he had bought during that surprise birthday celebration back at the police academy, the one he had purchased after misunderstanding the "deception" from the class leader and Kenji.
'So the class leader had been trying to pick this up.'
Without changing expression, Ritsu quietly slipped the ring back where it belonged. Watching the two men pull the unconscious driver out of the car, he silently placed the police handbook by the roadside, mounted his motorcycle, and rode away into the night.
Several minutes later, the piercing sound of an ambulance echoed through the quiet neighborhood.
After loading the injured person into the ambulance, Wataru suddenly remembered he should thank the passerby who had just saved his life.
But when he turned around, only the police handbook remained on the ground beneath the dim yellow streetlight.
The person was already long gone.
Slowly, Date lifted his head toward the night sky, staring at the scattered starlight above.
'Ritsu… have you really turned into a star watching over us?'