Inozuka Saburo glanced at Hashimoto Maya and muttered to himself, What subordinate? As someone who had been forced to take that photo, I think that black-clad, curly-haired man was clearly "that thing" himself.
Inozuka Saburo: "..." Could Hashimoto Maya still be clinging to the belief that Torimaru Naoko was "that thing"? Was this guy secretly in love with that woman?
Of course, Inozuka Saburo only thought it quietly and did not say any of it aloud. Every time he tried to deny it, Hashimoto Maya's reaction was terrifyingly intense.
So in the end, Inozuka Saburo only refuted what Hashimoto Maya had actually said. "Not quite. You're exaggerating."
Through the rearview mirror, Hashimoto Maya, seated in the back, gave him a sympathetic look, carrying the subtle implication of, When they drag you to the Police Station for training, don't take me with you.
Inozuka Saburo: "..." So annoying. Maybe they should go back to discussing Torimaru Naoko instead.
The thought had barely crossed his mind before Inozuka Saburo remembered the difference in combat ability between himself and Hashimoto Maya, and immediately became alert.
He quietly dismissed that dangerous idea and let out a weary sigh. Though he was consciously trying not to let it affect him, he could not deny that the earlier topic had dragged him back into those agonizing memories—his idol dead, his comrade dead, encountering that terrifying thing face-to-face, and even being forced to take a photo with it.
Desperate to escape this dreadful low mood, Inozuka Saburo suddenly looked out the window and saw a bustling scene of pedestrians and traffic ahead.
Inozuka Saburo's eyes lit up. "What a coincidence. It looks like there's an event going on at the park up ahead. Let's go check it out too."
"I don't want to hear the word 'coincidence,'