All Beautiful Girls Want to Stick with Me

Since Officer Hidari still had responsibilities at the Metropolitan Police Department, she drove them to the train station before returning. Before leaving, she gave her umbrella to Iroha, noticing that the small folding umbrella Aimi held would barely cover two people, let alone three.

As Officer Hidari glanced at Kotomi, her lips parted slightly as if she wanted to say something. However, seeing that Aimi and Iroha were standing nearby, she chose not to speak.

"Aimi, I'm a little hungry. Could you go across the street to the convenience store and buy me a red bean bun?" Kotomi handed her a 1,000-yen bill. "You two can pick out whatever you want as well. My treat today."

Realizing Officer Hidari had something to say to her, Kotomi decided to use the excuse of sending Aimi and Iroha away temporarily with a generous gesture of 1,000 yen.

"Alright, Onee-chan, but you better not regret saying that!" Aimi took the money and grabbed Iroha's hand, leading her to the convenience store.

Aimi wasn't particularly interested in food or drinks. What really caught her attention was the capsule toy machine outside the store.

Recently, Aimi's pocket money had dwindled significantly, and the biggest culprit was her newfound obsession with capsule toys. She had been working hard to complete a set of polar bear-themed figurines.

Capsule toys might not cost much individually, but once someone becomes hooked, trying to complete a themed set can quickly drain their monthly allowance. Kotomi couldn't help but chuckle, remembering her own middle school days when she was similarly obsessed with collecting capsule toys.

Back then, Kotomi was hooked on completing a set of Super Sentai-themed capsule toys. Now, Aimi, a middle school third-year herself, was equally engrossed in her polar bear figurines.

This hobby wasn't something Kotomi felt the need to correct. As long as Aimi didn't overspend, Kotomi believed her interest in capsule toys would naturally fade with time.

"Now, Officer Hidari, what is it you wanted to tell me?" Kotomi asked.

"You're perceptive. That's a good quality," Officer Hidari praised with a nod before continuing. "Do you remember this morning when I told you about the Kyoto police trying to apprehend Shikama Shika?"

"Of course, I remember. Did they catch him? Can they sentence him to death?"

"No, they didn't catch him. They discovered he left Kyoto an hour before the police arrived, boarding a train bound for Chiba City. He's likely hiding somewhere in Chiba now. Be careful on your way back, and stay vigilant. Until we catch him, the police will be increasing patrols in Chiba City."

Officer Hidari waved her hand in frustration. The situation clearly bothered her. They had been just one hour away from capturing Shika and bringing him to justice. Yet, as if he had greased his heels, he managed to escape right before their arrival, boarding a train bound for Chiba City.

Now, he was undoubtedly somewhere in Chiba, hiding in some corner. The police tasked with his capture had already arrived in Chiba City and begun a thorough search, but so far, there had been no updates on his apprehension.

"I guess it's too soon to relax," Kotomi sighed in frustration. She had thought the matter was coming to a close, but with the second suspect, Shika, still at large, peace of mind seemed a distant hope.

"There's no need to worry too much," Officer Hidari reassured. "Right now, Chiba City is patrolled by numerous uniformed and undercover police officers. Train stations, airports, buses—every mode of transportation has been sealed off by the authorities. For Shika, Chiba City is now a natural cage, and he won't have any chance to escape."

"I hope they catch him soon," Kotomi said with a shrug. "I'll tell Iroha about this when we get back and remind her to stay cautious."

"Shika might target Iroha and her father, as they were the husband and daughter of Iroha's mother, Yuuha. Starting tomorrow, we will assign additional surveillance around their home until Shika is caught."

"You think he'll try to kill someone? Even with such heavy police presence in Chiba City?"

"As I've said before, both Yuuha and Shika are deranged individuals who take pleasure in killing. They've lost all semblance of humanity. You can't use rational thinking to predict the actions of criminals like them."

Officer Hidari spoke gravely but then softened her tone, realizing she had perhaps said too much to Kotomi.

"That's the situation for now. Just make sure you stay safe. Leave the rest to us. If there's any danger, contact me immediately. I'll be stationed in Chiba City until Shika is apprehended."

"Hearing you say that makes me feel a lot safer," Kotomi said, laughing lightly to ease the tension.

"As for whether Shika will face the death penalty... Honestly, after all these years as a police officer, I've wished for every heinous criminal to receive the death sentence. But time and again, I've seen death penalties reduced to suspended sentences, then to life imprisonment, and eventually even to fixed-term sentences."

Though Officer Hidari didn't explicitly state it, Kotomi understood her implication: while Shika might be sentenced to death, there was a high probability it would be commuted, making the actual execution unlikely.

Kotomi's expression darkened, and an unsettling thought arose in her mind: Shika should meet the same fate as Yuuha, a death so brutal that he becomes unrecognizable.

The cruel thought flickered into existence and just as quickly faded, disappearing into the depths of Kotomi's mind. The sudden shift in her emotions left her momentarily dazed, staring blankly into space.

"Kotomi? Kotomi?" Officer Hidari called out, snapping her out of her thoughts.

Shaking her head, Kotomi forced a smile and said, "I was just thinking... when the law fails to deliver justice to the victims, personal revenge becomes justified—even noble. Maybe this world really does need a dark hero."

Officer Hidari looked at Kotomi in astonishment, surprised that a high school girl would utter such words. But at the same time, she couldn't entirely deny the truth behind Kotomi's statement.

"You might be right," Officer Hidari admitted. "But as a police officer, if there were ever a dark hero who punished criminals through killing, I would pay them my utmost respect—then take my gun, handcuffs, and badge and arrest that dark hero myself."

...

When Aimi and Iroha returned, the three didn't linger any longer. They boarded the train back to Chiba City, leaving Tokyo behind.

"Iroha, do you want to come to my house for dinner tonight?" Aimi asked softly as they sat on the train.

"No, thank you, Aimi. I know you mean well, but I'd like to spend the next few days alone to think," Iroha replied with a faint smile.

"Think?"

"Think about the road ahead. Haha, it's impossible to move on so quickly. Even now, I still feel lost. I don't know what kind of life lies ahead for me. My mother was a murderer... How will people treat me if they find out? Will they avoid me, misunderstand me, or harbor malice toward me? I just don't know."

As Iroha's bitter smile appeared, Kotomi opened her mouth to offer comfort. But before she could speak, Iroha suddenly clung to her arm.

"But aside from feeling a little lost, I'm not scared at all! Because I have Aimi and Senpai!"

A faint smile appeared on Iroha's delicate face once again, resembling her usual mischievous expression. Yet, traces of sadness still lingered. Time would gradually soften those edges.

Aimi, happy to see her friend's resilience, frowned as she noticed how close Iroha was to Kotomi. Pouting slightly, she muttered, "Don't you think you're sitting a little too close to Iroha, Onee-chan?"

"Is Aimi jealous?" Iroha teased with a mischievous grin.

"N-no way!" Aimi, who had been puffed up in annoyance a moment ago, blushed furiously.

Caught between the two younger girls, Kotomi could only chuckle awkwardly. She quietly ate her red bean bun, careful not to get involved in their "battle."

...

After leaving the station, they walked Iroha home. At her doorstep, Kotomi couldn't help but remind her again:

"Iroha, this is as far as we'll go. Once you're home, make sure to lock all the doors and windows. Check who it is before opening the door. There's still one suspect at large, hiding somewhere in Chiba City. If you notice anything unusual, call Officer Hidari immediately. Or me."

"Got it, got it! Senpai, you're such a worrywart, like an overprotective big sister," Iroha replied, playfully but with warmth. "You've reminded me of this three times already on the train, and now you're saying it again."

"That's because it's really dangerous!" Kotomi said earnestly.

This kind of uncertainty—knowing there was still a killer out there, unaccounted for—was the most troubling. Especially when the suspect was a cold-blooded murderer. Shika's presence in Chiba City felt like an unstable bomb, ready to go off at any moment.

But there was nothing more Kotomi could do. She could only hope the police would quickly locate Shika and bring him into custody.

After watching Iroha enter her home safely, Kotomi and Aimi finally left, sharing a single umbrella as they walked and chatted.

"Did you complete your polar bear collection with the capsule toy you bought earlier?" Kotomi asked.

"Not yet. I got another soda-holding polar bear. That's two of the same one now! Ugh… When will I get the angel bear with wings? That's the last one I need to finish the set," Aimi grumbled, shaking the capsule toy in her hand.

"Stay calm. It's all about patience," Kotomi teased lightly, shrugging with a smile. Having been obsessed with collecting capsule toys herself back in middle school, she understood Aimi's frustration all too well.

When they finally reached home, Kotomi took out her keys to unlock the door. Just as her hand left the doorknob, her heart skipped a beat. A sudden, icy sensation crawled up her hand and spread to her arm. Her pupils narrowed as an internal alarm rang loudly in her mind.

Though it lasted only a moment, Kotomi didn't dare dismiss the feeling as a mere illusion. She had the overwhelming sense that danger was heading toward Iroha.

"Aimi, I just remembered something I forgot to buy. I'll run to the convenience store real quick!"

Grabbing a black umbrella from the stand, Kotomi bolted out the door without any warning, sprinting toward Iroha's house.

"Onee-chan! Where are you going?! The convenience store isn't even that way! And use the umbrella!" Aimi shouted after her, worry etched across her face. She clutched the unused black umbrella tightly in her hands, watching her sister disappear into the rain.

The rain drenched Kotomi's clothes and soaked her snow-white hair, but she didn't care. Mud splashed as she ran through the puddles, and her mind was singularly focused on one thing—running faster, breaking through her limits, and reaching Iroha's house as quickly as possible.

...

Iroha's Home.

After returning home, Iroha thought about the trash bag she hadn't taken out that morning.

"Come on, pull yourself together!" Iroha patted her cheeks to psych herself up.

She decided to throw out the trash and then stop by the nearby restaurant to pick up dinner. Considering her father was still at the police station giving his statement, he'd likely return late. Buying dinner in advance would save him the trouble of cooking and allow him to eat as soon as he got home.

Though it was still raining, the garbage collection point wasn't far—just across the street. She prepared to toss out the kitchen trash bag.

Opening her umbrella again, Iroha carried the trash bag in one hand while holding the umbrella in the other and headed toward the trash collection point.

Perhaps because of the rain, the streets were eerily quiet. After disposing of the trash, Iroha walked back alone, feeling a little lonely and bored.

Tap-tap-tap-tap—

The previously silent street was suddenly filled with the sound of footsteps.

They came from not far behind her.

"You must be… Yuzuki's daughter?"

Hearing someone mention her mother, Iroha instinctively turned around and saw a bespectacled man standing near an electric pole not far away.

"Who are you?"

Iroha frowned slightly. She didn't recognize this man.

The bespectacled man chuckled, but his voice suddenly shifted as he started walking toward her.

"You're the one… the daughter Yuzuki regretted giving birth to, the one she wanted to kill with her own hands!"

The bespectacled man's demeanor abruptly changed as he pulled a sharp knife from his pocket.

Shika?!

It was at this moment that Iroha realized who he was. His long bangs made him look different from the photos, which was why she hadn't recognized him immediately.

It was the second perpetrator of the serial killings, the one who had conspired with her mother!

Iroha instinctively stepped back, terror written all over her face. Her heel caught on a branch left on the ground by last night's typhoon, and she fell to the ground.

"I love seeing the terror on people's faces before they die," Shika sneered as he slowly approached, brandishing the knife. "That's why, after every kill, your mother would take photos for us to enjoy together. Too bad she won't get to see this one now. She wanted to see the look on her daughter's face before she died more than anything."

As he moved closer, waving the knife, Iroha's wide, terrified eyes suddenly changed. The fear evaporated, replaced by something resolute as she gazed past Shika's shoulder. In her heart, she whispered: Senpai.

Noticing the sudden disappearance of fear from Iroha's expression, Shika paused, puzzled. Just as he was about to ask why she wasn't scared, he felt an overwhelming killing intent emanating from behind him.

Before Shika could turn around to see, a black umbrella filled his vision.

In the next instant, the force of the black umbrella slammed into him, sending him flying into the wall on the side of the street.

The impact left Shika's ears ringing. As his hearing slowly returned, he heard the furious roar of a young girl:

"I'm going to kill you!!!"

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