Thud

Yami’s eyes opened to see that Frank had returned, this time with a large metal briefcase in hand.

“Come. Sit.”

Yami picked himself up from the ground and ssat himself in the chair. Heart pounding, he watched as Frank opened the briefcase.

“Well, Yami, I watched the news and kept track of the media. What do you think happened?”

“If I had to guess, I’d say they hated me.”

Frank pulled out a single piece of paper from the briefcase and slid it over to Yami. Yami looked down at the ground and gritted his teeth.

“This is your criminal history sheet. Yami Shinpai, you are being tried for two accounts of first-degree murder, as well as twenty-two accounts of attempted homicide. You are also being accused of vandalism of the entire school, along with student belongings.”

Yami set the paper on the table.

“Frank, please just turn your back. I’ll be gone in a few seconds. You can say I overtook you.”

Frank looked sternly at Yami.

“Yami, I told you I would get you out of this. You just need to wait a little bit longer.”

“No offense, but I’ve been sitting in this room for a day now. There hasn’t been any change in the situation at all!”

Frank placed the paper back in the briefcase.

“I understand your anger, but you must refrain from making your situation any worse. If you do anything in here while I try to help you, you WILL go to prison.”

Yami stood up from his chair and walked away from the table and began pacing.

“Well? What is your plan, Chief?”

“I’m not quite sure as of yet.”

There was a knock on the door.

“What is it,” Frank asked towards the knocking?

The officer positioned outside of the door opened into the room.

“Sir, another visitor for Yami Shinpai.”

“Tell them no. He’s already had one, and he’s supposed to have none.”

“But Sir, the visitor is the mayor’s daughter.”

Frank looked at Yami, but Yami’s face of shock reassured him that he had no idea who this was. Frank turned back to the officer.

“Let her in.”

“Right away, Sir.”

Frank turned to Yami.

“Who is this girl? I had no idea the mayor even had a daughter.”

“I don’t know myself.”

“Ahem.”

Both Yami and Frank looked at the door as they heard the young girl’s voice.

“I heard Yami got himself in a predicament, so I figured I’d come down to the station and see if I could help out.”

Frank stood up as Yami’s eyes widened.

“Yo-You’re…”

“Yup, it’s your beloved Shinki!”

Shitto slept in his bed. A knock on the door woke him up.

“Come in!”

The door slid open. Shippai’s red hair flowed with the breeze.

“Hey, Shitto. How are you feeling after that beating you took?”

Shitto let out a small chuckle.

“I’ve been better.”

“Give me a second and I’ll help you out.”

The green life essence flowed down Shippai’s arm and began to crawl itself around Shitto’s body. Within moments, Shitto let out a relaxing sigh.

“Man, Shippai. You are better than any of the doctors here.”

The green life essence disintegrated into the air.

“I fixed up most of your bones and some of your worst wounds, but things like scratches and bruises are still there. Any more healing would ruin your lifespan.”

“Nah, this is plenty enough. Thank you. Maybe I’ll be able to leave sooner than expected.”

“About that,” Shippai began, “it’s best if you pretend that you are still immobilized. Need I remind you that you are under arrest?”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right. Have you heard anything about Yami?”

Shippai took a seat in a chair near Shitto’s bed.

“I was watching the news before I came, and yes, I did. You’re both fucked.”

Shitto sighed.

“I figured as much. Hopefully Phil’s dad can get us out of it.”

“Posche’s dad?”

Shitto laid back.

“Yeah. Phil’s dad is the Chief of Police. He took Yami in, but pulled some strings so I could stay here and rest.”

“I see. Well, that’s all I came to do. I’ll be leaving now.”

“Already?”

Shippai stood up from her chair and began to walk towards the door.

“Shitto, I’m not your friend. I’m doing this because we’re partners, and we’ll likely be attacked again soon.”

Shitto was lucky that the bandages covered his grin.

“Understood.”

“Shinki, you’re the mayor’s daughter?”

“Yup!”

Frank rubbed his chin.

“I had no idea the mayor had a daughter. How old are you?”

“I’ll be turning 14 next month!”

“You’re the youngest in our class then, right?”

“No, there’s actually a boy that’s a month younger than me.”

Frank sat down.

“Anyways, what’re you doing here?”

“As I said earlier, Mr. Posche, I heard that Yami had gotten himself in trouble, so I decided I’d come to see what happened.”

“Well, as you already know, your school was attacked by terrorists. Yami came to help dissolve the situation, and now he is the scapegoat for the entire case.”

“Wouldn’t the evidence be compelling enough for Yami to be cleared of all charges?”

“Well, yes, but… how do I word this?”

“What he’s trying to say,” Yami said, staring at Shinkai, “is that your father is pinning this whole thing on me. There is no evidence that I coordinated this, but I am still being targeted.”

Shinkai covered her mouth as she gasped.

“I’m sorry! I had no idea my father would do such a thing! I will have a word with him, if that will help you?”

Frank stood up and bowed to Shinkai.

“It would help us greatly. Please do.”

“No need to bow, Mr. Posche. I’ll do anything to help Yami.”

Shinkai knocked on the door. The officer promptly opened it, and Shinkai waved as she exited the room.

“I’ll let you know how it goes, Yami!”

As she disappeared from around the corner, the door shut. Frank turned to look at Yami.

“We got very fortunate that you are friends with the mayor's daughter. Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“Didn't you hear me? I had no idea she was his daughter! I just met her a week ago!”

“In any case, you sure are lucky, aren’t you? I would have killed for a girl like that when I was your age.”

“What are you talking about, chief?”

“Nothing, just an old man rambling on.”

Posche opened the door to the interrogation cell.

“Hey, Yami! How are things going?”

Yami slept on the floor. Frank was sitting in his chair.

“That poor kid was so bored he fell asleep again. We’ve been waiting for someone to come back for an hour now.”

“I don’t blame him. He’s been through a lot recently.”

Posche sat a plastic bag on the table. Walking over to Yami, Posche shook his shoulder.

“Hey, get up.”

Yami opened his eyes slowly.

“Oh, hey Mr. P. What’s up?”

“I brought you some food. Eat up.”

Yami jumped up and before Posche could react, Yami was already eating the food in the plastic bag, shoveling as much into his mouth as fast as possible.

“Were you giving him food at all, Father?”

“I asked him, and he kept saying he wasn’t hungry. Besides, all the station really has is coffee.”

“Anyways, who are we waiting on?”

Yami paused his feast to answer Posche.

“Shinkai Acuta. She’s a girl in my class. Apparently her mayor is her father, so she was going to speak with him.”

“Shinkai? I didn’t even know the mayor had a daughter.”

Yami resumed his hunger fueled rampage. Frank pointed towards the door.

“Thanks for bringing the kid food, but you really shouldn’t be in here. You’ll just be seen as an accomplice.”

“I know. I’ll leave now.”

Before Posche had time to exit the room, the door slid open. On the other side was an old man, looking about 10 years older than Frank. Wiping the sweat off of his forehead with a cloth, he introduced himself.

“I’m sorry for being late, everyone. I came as soon as my daughter told me what happened.”

Frank stood up and bowed for the mayor.

“Good afternoon, Sir.”

“At ease. I presume you are Yami Shinpai?”

Yami set down his silverware and wiped his mouth with his arm. With a stern look on his face, he stared into the mayor’s eyes.

“You’re correct.”

“I see. I would like to start off by apologizing for what has happened thus far. I was blinded by my fear for my students’ well being. I did not intend for any harm to come to you.”

Yami became more relaxed in his chair.

“You’re not forgiven, but I will not hold any ill feelings towards you.”

“Thank you very much, Mr. Shinpai. As I was saying, I had completely overlooked any evidence that was sent to me and continued to burden you with more and more charges. I’d like to happily say that all charges have been dropped.”

Frank and Posche let out a sigh of relief. Yami continued to look at the mayor.

“You are free to go whenever you please, Ya-”

Yami held his hand up to Frank.

“Not intending to change your decision, Mr. Mayor, but what exactly did your daughter tell you that made you change your decision so quickly?”

The mayor did not change his expression.

“Frankly, everything. I truly had no idea of the circumstances and blindly blamed you. You have my deepest regrets and sorries.”

The officer that had remained posted at the door walked in with a blue plastic box.

“Yami, these are your belongings.”

Yami stood up from the chair and took the box from the officer.

“Thank you.”

Yami sat the box on the table. Out of it, he pulled his wallet. Then, his phone. After that, two bloodied knives. Placing the items in their respective places on his body, Yami walked towards the door. He stopped as he was next to the mayor.

“Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And tell your daughter I said thanks as well.”

Yami walked out of the room and disappeared down the hallway.

“That is certainly on impressive young man,” the mayor spoke.

“Yessir, he is,” Frank responded. “Good job teaching him, Phil!”

“Haha, thanks. He really is one of a kind!”

“But something is off. What did Yami pick up on?”

Shitto slept in his bed. He was awoken by the sound of rattling in his room.

“Who’s there?!”

Yami peaked up from behind one of the beds.

“Sorry I woke you up, pal!”

“Y-Yami? You got the charges dropped?!”

“No. I broke out of jail. It was a bloodbath. So many innocent men’s lives were lost…”

“Yami, what have you done?!?!”

Yami broke out into laughter.

“I’m just messing with you dude! I really had you there, didn’t I!?”

“This isn’t funny at all! Why are you here?”

“I got all of the charges dropped, obviously.”

“Really? How?”

“Shinki.”