On the morning of October 12, Kawai, whose night shift was nearly over, stood in front of the 5-chome Koban, yawning as he wiped down a patrol car, when...
Whoosh—
A huge figure sped past right in front of him.
Kawai: ???
"Section Chief Fuji! I think I just... saw the chief!" Kawai hurriedly turned to Fujisato Seiko inside the koban.
"It's not like it's your first time seeing him. What's so strange about that?" Fuji was working on last night's dispatch reports and did not even look up.
"But... wasn't the chief bitten by an orca?" Kawai wondered as well—That happened the day before yesterday, right? I remembered correctly, didn't I?
"Yeah, so... sigh, it won't be easy to request work-injury leave in the future!" Fuji complained.
After injuries like "bitten by an orca" and "over seventy stitches," the chief had only rested for two days—and those two days even included the day he was injured. How was anyone else supposed to request leave after this?
Kawai: ...
Sure enough, as Igaki, the chief of the 5-chome Koban, arrived for duty, he reminded them, "Kawai, Fuji, remember to go to the station for the morning meeting after your shift. I'll stay behind on duty... The chief is back from injury leave today and will speak at the meeting, so don't be late."
At the morning meeting, after Chief Shiraishi led by example and taught everyone what it meant to remain on the front lines despite minor injuries, they began the day's work.
His immobile left arm still affected him somewhat. His efficiency at "stamping documents" had visibly slowed—Shiraishi was far from recovered, after all. It had been less than forty-eight hours since he had been bitten!
His left arm was still wrapped in bandages...
It would not have