Entering the subway station, Kazawa avoided the rushing crowds of commuters and students leaving work and school. He slowly circled twice through the maze-like Shibuya exit, arriving at a restroom marked off-limits due to maintenance.
He glanced down at his message to confirm it, then bypassed the barrier and entered the men's restroom.
Shuichi Akai, smoking a cigarette, leaned against the far wall.
"Looking for me… Akai-san?" Kazawa hesitated for a moment but decided that this was the least awkward way to address him.
Akai paused, stubbed out his cigarette, and without correcting the form of address, said, "Your exit documents and false identity are ready. In ten days, arrangements will be made for your departure… Akazawa, you need to prepare to disappear quickly."
Kazawa pressed his lips together but didn't respond immediately. Instead, he asked, "What about you? What are you going to do?"
Akai smiled faintly. "As I told you last time, I'm undercover on a mission. Now I have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It's risky, but worth trying. Regardless of success, after this operation ends, it will be very difficult to keep my identity hidden. I won't be able to guarantee your safety anymore."
"…You have to go?" Kazawa faltered.
Actually, Akai trading himself one-for-one with Bourbon is not a simple bargain.
Perhaps Kazawa and his wife's appearance has changed the situation — Akai hasn't exposed his undercover identity several years ago, and now he's in a much higher position than when he was revealed in the manga. After all, even Amuro Tooru hasn't won against him in a proper confrontation; his ability rivals Bourbon's.
"I have no choice," Akai shook his head, looking at Kazawa and finally confessing honestly, "As I told you before, I was recommended into this organization by my aunt and uncle. Though my blood relationship hasn't been discovered, since their death, the organization has thoroughly screened everyone connected to them. I don't know how much longer I can stay undercover. Time is running out; I have to risk it all."
Kazawa sighed deeply.
He wanted to say to Akai, "Why don't you change your assistant for this mission? Your teammate is really useless, and if you get into trouble, Amuro will come running from three hundred miles away with a gun—there's no way to control that."
But he couldn't say it.
"Then be careful," Kazawa closed his eyes briefly and said, "Before you move, please inform me."
Since there's no avoiding it, Kazawa planned to use this opportunity flexibly to add bricks to his own plan.
Akai noticed his implication and was slightly surprised: "You're not planning to leave?"
"Yes." Kazawa nodded firmly. "You have your plan, and I have mine. I won't let Mom and Dad die without clarity, nor will I run away carrying a stain."
Akai frowned, scrutinizing Kazawa.
There was no emotional expression on the boy's face — no anger or hatred, not acting on impulse. His words were calm and clear, obviously well thought out.
"Your strength is hard to oppose them, especially in Japan. You've experienced it yourself. They act freely in the shadows; their roots run deep here. It's difficult for one person to do anything."
"I know."
"Especially since you're still a minor. I don't know what your aunt and uncle taught you, but individual power is very small compared to such a huge force."
"I know."
"And yet you insist?" Akai sighed.
"You know these truths too, don't you… Shuichi-nii?" Kazawa changed his tone. "Then why are you going undercover alone?"
"I'm not alone. I have great power supporting and protecting me. I have contacts, resources, and people I can call on…"
"Me too. Don't I have you guys behind me?" Kazawa grinned brightly.
No one knew the dilution ability of the distillery better than Kazawa. If he didn't trust himself, he trusted the distillery's HR. The infiltration density was something MI6 feared and KGB envied.
There was nothing left to fear!
Kazawa's pale blue eyes were lit by the overhead light like a flickering candle, shining brightly in the dark. Akai looked at him and smiled wryly.
"I don't know what you're relying on… but alright, if you really insist." Thinking of the Miyano sisters trapped in the mire, Akai felt a little sad. "Your retreat is a chance many people never get. Don't waste it… I hope you won't regret your choice."
Kazawa smiled widely, then grew serious. "However, if you have the means to send someone out of Japan, I need your help with one thing."
Akai was surprised. He knew Kazawa had nothing left to hold on to in Japan. Had he developed some close connections since coming to Tokyo?
"Tell me your plan, and who you want to send away." Akai stood up and looked serious.
"Don't worry. He's very important to my plan, but personally, he's not a critical figure." Kazawa took out his phone and tapped it, sending some files to Akai's email.
Akai took out his phone and received photos and information.
As he carefully reviewed the email, Kazawa quietly asked, "Do you know that the organization has a mid-level member in Tokyo who's a member of parliament?"
"A mid-level member… which one?" Akai glanced at the attached photo: a boy with bangs covering his eyes and a gloomy aura.
Kazawa showed a smug, spoiler-like smile and said firmly, "Tsuuguchi Shigehiko."
———
"How's Kazawa's report?" A suited Rei Furuya walked from the police department's underground parking lot into the secure elevator, where he met Yuuya Kazami.
"The report's nothing unusual. Kazawa seems to be in good shape." Kazami rubbed his temples, recalling the afternoon meeting.
Honestly, Kazawa was a handful. Now just seeing his face made Kazami instinctively feel a headache. The afternoon had almost broken his stern demeanor.
"Have you submitted it yet?"
"Not yet. I want you to check it before I submit."
"Good." Rei rolled up his sleeves and sneered. "Make sure you include my supervision report too. Unlike yours, you don't have to clean it up too much. Describe any out-of-supervision behavior a little. I need some negative points to convince the organization."
Really? Kazami glanced at the back of Rei's head. He suspected some personal reasons behind that.
These days, not only is the Zero group struggling, but Rei Furuya was also exhausted dealing with this lively, often-in-trouble kid. He had to catch him while also making sure the organization didn't think he was too friendly and losing control. It was not easy.
But Kazami dared not reveal this suspicion and only lowered his head obediently: "Understood, Mr. Furuya."
"Are the materials everyone prepared ready?" Rei was the first to leave the elevator and strode down the bright hallway. Now he was sharp and imposing, nothing like the gentleman at the café earlier.
"Just waiting for you."
"Well done." He opened the conference room door. The room was dim except for the projector's bright light on the front screen.
On the screen appeared a large title:
"Investigation, Analysis, and Summary of Cases Related to the Phantom Thief Joker."