Chapter 8: Officer
Evening fell quietly over Kaminari Ward, the last golden hues of daylight slipping beneath the skyline, giving way to the blue-black stretch of night. Streetlights flickered on with lazy rhythm, casting long shadows over the sidewalks. Most people were heading home, escaping the day's heat and burdens. One of them was the off-duty police officer from earlier that morning.
He walked slowly, weaving just a little—half from exhaustion, half from the sake lingering on his breath.
"My wife's going to have my head," he muttered to himself, lips curled into a wry grin. "Drinking on a weekday again… This isn't the time for that."
But his grin didn't last long.
The face of that sharp-eyed boy flashed across his memory—Jin, or whatever his name was.
"Tch… damn brat," he spat under his breath. "Doesn't know what he's talking about."
He turned the corner, nearing the small street that led to his residential block. That's when he heard someone.
"Officer, I need your help."
The man paused mid-step. The words felt too intentional, too calm for a casual request. He turned his head anyway.
Behind him stood a hooded figure, the face half-shadowed by a streetlamp.
Shit.
"Bastard giving me scare . The station's a block away," the officer said, forcing a lazy tone into his voice. "Go there if you need help."
"No," the figure replied. "I think only you can help me."
The officer squinted. "What are you even talking about—?"
But as the hooded figure stepped closer, his voice dropped to a whisper.
"I recognize mine voice. " officer shake his head trying to streamline his thoughts . " Not mine—yours. From earlier today."
The officer's eyes widened. "Wait… you're…"
Before he could finish, the figure was within arm's reach. Recognition hit him too late.
Jin moved like lightning.
A sharp strike landed cleanly against the officer's throat—he choked, staggering, gasping for air. Before he could recover, Jin shoved him hard into the adjacent construction site .
A solid right hook cracked across the officer's jaw. He collapsed like a sack of bricks, unconscious before he even hit the floor.
Five minutes later.
The officer stirred. Cold water splashed across his face, dragging him back to consciousness with a startled groan. He tried to sit up, but his hands were bound behind him with nylon cord. His legs were tied at the ankles. He is being bounded in chair .
Jin is sitting in front of him .
Officer tried to speak " Brat!!! "
Jin then too a small blade and thrust in man thight .
Blood stained his right pant leg. A small blade was embedded in his thigh.
officer jolted awake all drunkness gone .
He tried to scream—
Jin's hand was already covering his mouth. After a minute of officer thrashing around .
"Breathe through it," Jin whispered coldly. "You scream, I make it worse. Nod if you understand."
The officer nodded, his face pale, sweat pouring from his temples. Jin removed the cloth from his mouth and slowly sat back on his heels.
"Alright. Now that you're listening—here's how this is going to work. you are not going to speak until i give you permission other wise you get another blade stick into you ."
His voice was calm. Flat. Deadly.
"You already know why I'm here. "
The officer opened his mouth to speak, but Jin casually raised the same blade, just slightly. That was enough.
"No interruptions," Jin said. "You're going to answer my questions. If you comply, you walk out of here. If you don't, I'll make sure you don't walk anywhere again. Your family, your job—that's not my concern."
The officer's lips quivered. "They'll kill me," he whispered. "If I talk—"
"Shut. Up."
Jin's eyes were cold steel. His voice cracked like a whip.
" i know you want to say if they know i got intel from you , you and family would be in danger . You listen to me
One—they won't know, unless you tell them.
Two—you're a desk jockey anyway. This leg injury won't stop you from shuffling papers.
Three—you're not taking time off. You go to work like nothing happened. I'll bandage it for you. If you act scared, you'll die. If you play it cool, you survive."
He leaned closer.
"Now, answer the damn questions otherwise this time this blade is finding its home."
The officer clenched his teeth, eyes darting around the dark skeleton of the half-finished building. {what the fuck }
Jin asked again, slowly.
"Who took the father and daughter?"
A long pause.
Then—
"Kenjiro Muto , 35-40" the officer said quietly.
Jin narrowed his eyes. "Gang name?"
"They call him Kaji-san. He's part of a new outfit—they moved in about a year ago. Started small, now they run three districts around Tsubaki Heights. Gambling, loan sharking, smuggling, and… worse.killed a officer and his family ti set a example to us ."
"Address?"
"Abandoned apartment block on the south edge of the ward. Natsume Flats, building B. It's their front. They use the top floors for storage and… keeping people."
Jin's jaw tightened.
"How many men?"
"Hard to say," the officer muttered. "Thirty? Give or take. A few are former yakuza. And cops—plenty of them are on payroll."
Jin stayed silent for a long time. Processing.
The officer's breathing had steadied, but the fear in his eyes remained.
"They'll kill me," he repeated, quieter now. "You don't get it, kid. They're not street punks. They bury people. You walk in there alone, you'll die."
Jin finally nodded.
"Maybe. But they took the wrong people."
He reached into his backpack, pulled out gauze and tape, and began bandaging the officer's leg. It was tight—too tight—but functional. The bleeding slowed.
He cut the ropes binding the man's hands.
Jin " if you go to them expecting mercy telling them what happend there . they will kill you "
The officer sat there, stunned.
Jin stood up, slinging his hoodie back over his shoulders.
"You'll go to work tomorrow like nothing happened. You'll forget about me. "
Then he walked away.
Behind him, the officer sat trembling in the dark of the unfinished building—bleeding .
Jin disappeared into the shadows of Kaminari Ward, one name locked in his mind:
Kaji.