Chapter 34
Interlude: Interlude
The Territorial Divine Offenses Special Investigation Unit had no assigned location.
The only place they were permitted to exist was a special classified archive that stored massive amounts of data.
Meetings and reports by the investigators were held in whatever vacant room was available at the time.
At those times, all that was written on the whiteboard hanging on the door was 'Meeting in progress, do not enter.'
That alone created a quiet barrier within the government office.
A knock broke the silence.
"We're in the middle of a meeting right now..."
Before Katagishi, who had documents in hand, could finish speaking, the door opened.
A man in a suit he didn't recognize stood there.
His sharp gaze, upright posture, and stance with feet shoulder-width apart made Katagishi think he might be a detective or a soldier.
"Kiruma-san."
Miyaki's eyes widened slightly.
"What were the results of the investigation on The Unseen God? Another 'nothing unusual,' huh?"
The man called Kiruma glared at the two of them.
"You went to that village and felt nothing?"
The low, interrogative voice and gaze were directed at Miyaki. Katagishi stepped forward.
"There was nothing worth writing in the report—"
The man let out a breath that could be taken as either a sneer or a sigh of disappointment.
"Miyaki, I expected you to come back with something."
"Sorry to disappoint."
Miyaki lowered her eyebrows and gave a strained smile.
Katagishi pressed the documents onto the desk.
"Hey, sorry, but who the hell are you? Didn't you see the sign? This isn't a place for outsiders to butt in for fun."
"Katagishi-san."
Seeing Miyaki try to mediate, the man shrugged.
"Miyaki should know. That is, if she actually remembers who I am."
Leaving those words behind, the man opened the door with a loud sound and walked away.
In the room, now silent again, the only sound was the whiteboard swaying and scratching against the door.
"Who the hell was that guy? Looked like a punk but sure acted high and mighty."
Katagishi spat.
"Kiruma-san was part of the predecessor to the Territorial Divine Offenses Unit, back when we were still under police jurisdiction. That was about twenty years ago."
"So he's one of the originals. That means he's nearly forty?"
"Yeah, though he doesn't look it. He's always looked the same since back then."
Miyaki scooped up the documents on the desk.
"Since back then? You know him?"
"Yes. Apparently he knew my parents. He helped me out with school expenses and such. My father disappeared, you see."
Miyaki laughed as if it were nothing.
"You've had it rough, huh?"
"It's a common story. I had a patron, so I was actually pretty lucky."
Katagishi sighed and glared at the other side of the steel door.
"He's totally involved and a superior to boot. I called him an outsider."
"And you spoke so casually too."
Miyaki burst out laughing.
The man walked down the dark hallway.
The fluorescent lights flickered with a buzz, and he casually pressed down the window blinds with his fingers.
"Nothing unusual, huh..."
The man muttered in a low voice.
"Like hell there isn't."
Outside the window stretched the sky of Tokyo, unchanged from twenty years ago.