Matsuda Jinpei did not dare have too much contact with Miwako Sato.
Strictly speaking, even before his death, the two of them had not interacted much. They had only known each other for a short week and had never become especially familiar—after all, Miwako Sato could still say that Wataru Takagi resembled him—but Matsuda Jinpei still did not dare get too close to her.
Miwako Sato was no fool. In fact, she was often quite perceptive.
Naturally, her father's connections had played a role in her becoming a police officer. By all rights, the orphaned daughter of a police officer should have received some care. But if her personal abilities had not been sufficient, there was no way the First Investigation Division would have recruited her.
Just a few passing encounters without any real contact, along with their exchanges beneath the false identity of Tōru Adachi, had already made Miwako Sato suspicious.
Now that he had to openly put on an act in front of her while wearing his own face, Matsuda Jinpei truly felt uneasy.
"I don't mean anything else by it, Mr. Adachi. I just wanted to thank you."
Miwako Sato's voice was much calmer than Matsuda Jinpei had expected.
He paused, then slowly turned around and looked at the woman standing two steps away from him.
Looking carefully, three years had passed since his death. Separated by those three years, the twenty-eight-year-old Miwako Sato had changed considerably from the policewoman who had briefly partnered with him three years ago.
"...For Officer Takagi? There's no need to thank me separately. Your boss already thanked me on your behalf just now." Having realized that, Matsuda Jinpei relaxed for some reason. "I told you, I merely have my own mission. There are reasons why I can work at the Metropolitan