"Hello... Yes, that's right... Deliver it to the police station at nine... Have the person using this number receive it... The surname is Kunikida... Mm, all right."
It was only five o'clock. Shiraishi ordered late-night food for the Criminal Affairs Division from a restaurant, scheduled it for delivery at nine, and left Kunikida's number.
After that... Shiraishi changed clothes and got off work!
Since they had a direction for the investigation, as the chief, Shiraishi naturally didn't need to investigate it personally. He just had to keep waiting for the results.
However, as he walked down the police station corridor, Shiraishi hesitated again and again before deciding to call Ayako—to cancel their date!
If this continued, he wouldn't be able to relax even on his day off tomorrow. Better to...
"Hello, Ayako. It's me," Shiraishi said first.
"Kuro! Can I come downstairs to Kagemaiha Apartments at nine tomorrow?" Ayako still sounded somewhat excited.
"Big sis... Do you have to be this proactive? For a man... Just pick any dress!"
Shiraishi vaguely heard Sonoko teasing her from the side. He could picture Ayako choosing a dress, but...
"Wait, Ayako... It's like this... Sorry, tomorrow..."
Just as Shiraishi began to speak, he suddenly heard Gen and Kuroki gossiping in the corridor...
"Did you hear? That narcissist guy, who knows what he's doing, actually fell in love at first sight with an investigation target!"
"Huh? What the hell is love at first sight?"
Shiraishi:!!!
"Eh? What's wrong?" Ayako asked, flustered and somewhat disappointed, though she still forced herself to sound calm—she had already prepared herself to show understanding if Shiraishi said he was too busy with work.
"It's nothing. I mean... I've been busy with cases lately. I can make time tomorrow, but I might have to work overtime at any moment." Shiraishi