Tokyo: Rabbit Officer and Her Evil Partner-Chapter 831 - 501: Things Change, People Change

October passed in the blink of an eye.

Since the wedding, Minamoto Tamako had not seen Fushimi Roku again.

No phone calls, no messages, no voicemails; the mansion was unvisited, the savings untouched, even Sakurako was nowhere to be seen.

The Road Police in Hokkaido, even though reluctant to reopen the case, began a formal investigation under the support of Kujo Mutsumi, establishing a search team to hunt down Fushimi Roku.

Minamoto Tamako wanted to apply for a joint operation, suspecting that Fushimi Roku might return to Tokyo.

But the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department was overwhelmed, busily dealing with the Cat Island incident. As long as the accomplices of Horie Kei remained at large, public opinion would continue to ferment.

So far, three section chiefs had resigned, and countless press conferences had been held. Kujo Yua, as the Director of Police, had to bow and apologize in front of the camera.

Joining her in bowing and apologizing were the head of the Criminal Department, the current Prime Minister, senators, and others... demonstrating how severe the public opinion provoked by the tape was. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

In desperation, Minamoto Tamako had to fly back to Tokyo personally to investigate the whereabouts of Fushimi Roku.

Meanwhile, the Road Police in Hokkaido issued a nationwide manhunt, setting up checkpoints at every transportation hub. Should Fushimi Roku appear, a trace would surely be left behind.

...

By evening, the streetlights turned on, and pedestrians hurried along.

Nowadays, ordinary people in Tokyo couldn’t afford a taxi anymore and had to commute via train daily.

Yokoi Ayako, holding a bag of groceries, walked on her way home. Nearby, she heard shouts as young college students waved posters, chanting slogans: ’Reveal the list’, ’Forty thousand signatures’, ’Severely punish participants’...

Finding the noise jarring, Yokoi Ayako lowered her head and quickened her pace, only to be stopped by a college student:

"Ma’am, have you heard about the Cat Island incident? Or about the people going missing around you? For everyone’s sake, for this community, let’s petition and protest against the government..."

"Sorry, sorry, I’m in a hurry!" Yokoi Ayako waved her hands repeatedly, unable to look directly at him, and squeezed through the crowd with her head down.

She jogged, rounded the street corner, leaving the group of students behind, and finally let out a sigh of relief, gradually slowing her pace.

How could such a thing happen?

Couldn’t those with power and money just live peacefully? Why do they always have to harm others...

Yokoi Ayako’s mind was stirred.

Passing by the Nakagawara Police Station, she couldn’t help but stop, standing still and staring blankly at the station’s entrance.

The figure of an old acquaintance overlapped in her mind, causing Yokoi Ayako’s eyes to moisten a bit.

Her son used to be a patrol police officer at this station.

Yokoi Ayako would always pass this road after work; sometimes, she might see her son standing at the entrance, smiling and waving at her.

If she saw him, she would go over for a brief chat.

Her son would earnestly say, ’No chatting during working hours’; then ask, ’Does Miss Yokoi need any help?’

Hearing this, Yokoi Ayako would roll her eyes, crossly reply: ’Is this how you talk to your mother?’, ’I made hamburg steak today’, ’Don’t forget to bring a bottle of soy sauce home’...

Such ordinary, mundane things suddenly seemed precious at this moment.

In front of the Nakagawara Police Station stood only a signboard, with a banner notifying Sugamo residents "Do not spread rumors," "Inspection by Police Department," "Please voluntarily submit illegal tapes"...

Yokoi Ayako sighed deeply. Just as she was about to turn away, she saw a man standing by the streetlamp, also staring at the Nakagawara Police Station.

’Is he also reminiscing about someone?’ Yokoi Ayako wondered.

She gave the man a second glance, didn’t speak, hastily wiped away her tears, and continued walking home.

As she passed by the man, he suddenly asked:

"Excuse me... Are you Mrs. Abe?"

Yokoi Ayako’s heart felt like it was being squeezed. No one had called her that since her son passed away.

She looked up, sizing up this complete stranger, trying to guess his identity, fearing what he might say about her son’s past, yet secretly hoping he might share something about her son—Yokoi Ayako had a feeling that the man standing before the police station might have something to do with her son.

"Yes, and you are...?" Yokoi Ayako asked, holding the grocery bag.

"I used to work with Abu Rokuro." The man paused, doffed his hat, revealing an unremarkable face: "My name is Higashiyama Kiyoshi, nice to meet you."

"Higashiyama Kiyoshi..."

Yokoi Ayako thought carefully but had no recollection of that name.

"I’m sorry I couldn’t attend Rokuro’s funeral." The man who called himself Higashiyama Kiyoshi pressed the hat against his chest, showing a mournful expression.

Yokoi Ayako instinctively took Higashiyama Kiyoshi as her son’s friend and slightly bowed, indicating her understanding: "Your sentiment, I can accept on his behalf."

Higashiyama Kiyoshi hesitated, seeming to have a question.

Yokoi Ayako waited for a moment, noticing that Higashiyama Kiyoshi didn’t seem like a bad person, and that he might be too shy to speak, so she proactively invited him: "Why don’t we talk at my home? It’s not far, just one more block."

"Won’t it trouble you?" Higashiyama Kiyoshi asked politely.

"It’s nothing, I’m the only one at home now," Yokoi Ayako thought it would be nice to have someone to talk to, and started to chatter: "A few years ago, my husband passed away from lung disease, and recently... anyway, the house feels empty."

Higashiyama Kiyoshi listened for a while, following silently behind.

The two crossed the street, heading to the West Sugamo Residential Area.

Yokoi Ayako invited him upstairs, and Higashiyama Kiyoshi glanced at the nameplate—’Abe’ had already been removed.