Chương 28: Chapter 8 How Things Came to This(Part 1)

The next morning, after finishing a cigarette and spending some affectionate time with my wife before bed, the household returned to something resembling normal. Nayuta headed off to school, while Haruka declared she couldn't exactly show up to university after everything that had happened. Instead, she took her beloved motorcycle out for a ride around town. As for me, after breakfast, all that remained was waiting for Itsuki and the others to arrive.

My newly grown hair was becoming a nuisance, but at least it didn't develop bedhead anymore. When I mentioned it to Rina, she simply tied it into a ponytail for me. A short while later, the doorbell rang.

"Mr. Kuroe, it's Miyafuji. We've come to pick you up."

"I'm coming." My wallet was still inside my work bag at the company, so I stuffed some cash into a coin pouch and packed my phone, cigarettes, and resignation letter into a sling bag. Then I climbed into the unmarked police car. Itsuki was already waiting in the passenger seat.

"Has anything changed since yesterday?" he asked.

"Yeah. First things first—mind stopping by a convenience store? Buying cigarettes in this body is a hassle if they ask for ID."

We stopped at a convenience store. When I tried to hand Miyafuji money after he bought the cigarettes for me, he waved it away.

"Nah. I know you're an adult, but taking money from someone who looks like that would make me feel guilty. My treat." Before I could protest, the cigarettes were already shoved into my hands. I wasn't particularly fond of being treated, but free cigarettes were free cigarettes. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. As the car pulled away, Itsuki glanced at me through the rearview mirror.

"The moment we arrive, we'll be heading straight into the task force meeting room. Everyone has seen the footage of your transformation and officially accepts your identity... but there may still be some unpleasant moments."

"At this point, proving who I am any further would be difficult."

"Identity isn't really the issue anymore," he said.

"If someone wants to doubt you, they'll keep doubting no matter what. The real problem is the Gate and the monsters." He paused.

"Oh, and if you have your driver's license, hand it over. We'll update it." I passed it forward.

While staring out the window, I thought about tomorrow. Seventy-two hours after appearing, the Gates would open. Tomorrow. That meant every Gate in the world would become accessible. Could the police guard every one of them? No chance. Nobody even knew how many there were. By the time I finished that thought, we had arrived at the station.

Before the meeting, they updated my license photo. That turned into a disaster. Itsuki had apparently warned everyone beforehand, but every female officer I encountered reacted the same way.

"You're so pretty!"

"How cute!" Head pats. More head pats. Someone even gave me candy. Several pieces. By the time it was over, I felt like a kindergarten student on a field trip.

Eventually I escaped to the smoking room. Just as I finished lighting a cigarette, the door opened.

"You've got guts, kid. Smoking in a police station." The speaker wore a suit rather than a uniform. Young. Sharp features. Well-groomed hair. Confident posture. Definitely a police officer. Unfortunately for him, he had just stepped on a landmine.

"Unfortunately, I'm an adult," I replied, blowing out smoke.

"Making assumptions based on appearance could get you sued." The man blinked. Then laughed lightly.

"My apologies." He lit his own cigarette.

"I honestly thought you were in middle school." After studying me for a moment, he asked:"One more question. Are you Kuroe Tsukasa?"

"That's me."

"And you are?" He extended a hand.

"Tachibana Ryoji. Superintendent. I'm overseeing your case." I shook it.

"In that case, I'll save us both some time. Anything beyond the evidence you've already seen is impossible." Tachibana chuckled.

"No, Inspector Itsuki already briefed me." His expression turned serious.

"Frankly, none of this should be possible. But giant mysterious structures appearing across the world without warning shouldn't be possible either." He exhaled smoke.

"If reality is already breaking the rules, perhaps one more impossible thing isn't worth arguing over." I pointed at myself.

"That 'one more impossible thing' happens to be my entire body."

"Fair point." For the first time, he smiled. Then he crushed his cigarette in the ashtray.

"Regardless, the meeting starts now." He opened the door and gestured politely for me to go first. The escort was probably automatic at this point. As far as the world could tell, I was simply a teenage girl. With a sigh, I followed Superintendent Tachibana toward the conference room.