With Every Step

3. Determination

In a lonely graveyard, amidst rows of grey polished stones, stood a man dressed in black. He dropped a bouquet of flowers at the foot of a gravestone, straightened up and then went into a rigid stance with his arm folded below his chest.

"Mr. Mado, sir, I'm here for my progress report!" Amon said.

Just as he would have if his mentor had been right in front of him, he narrated about the current ghoul cases in the 20th Ward, mentioning his promotion at the end.

There was something to be said about how people were thought of more fondly after their death. Amon had always been grateful for Mr. Mado's presence in his life, but it was only now that he realised just how much he had come to rely on his mentor.

And just how much his mentor had cared for him.

"Mado had high hopes for you."

Was he living up to them? he couldn't help but wonder.

"Do you have any business with my father?" A sharp female voice pulled him out of his thoughts. "Koutarou Amon."

Amon startled, turning around to meet the equally sharp gaze of a blonde woman, who held a bouquet of white carnations in her hands.

"Your father?" he asked dumbly. Mr. Mado had a daughter?

She smiled, but it wasn't anywhere near warm or friendly. Rather, it was a bitter twist of her lips, a disdain that sent a painful pang through Amon's heart. All this while, one of his greatest motivations for working in the CCG was to stop people from losing their family, and here he was, having failed his mentor's family of all people.

She had every right to hate him from the bottom of her heart.

After a short heavy pause in which Amon had the feeling he was being judged and found wanting, she spoke at last, "I see. You haven't been told yet."

Her smile turned even more pointed as she raised a hand to her chest and bowed to him. The angle and timing came off as robotic with how perfect it was.

"Starting from next week, I'll be your subordinate. I am Akira Mado, Second Class, but you can just call me Akira."

Her feelings towards him were as plain as if she had shouted them aloud, and her veneer of politeness only made it worse. At first, he hadn't seen a single resemblance between the two, but now he noticed how the intelligence lurking behind her violet eyes was scarily similar to Mr. Mado's.

"It's nice to meet you, First Class Amon."

So this was his new partner... the guilt and pain he was feeling was quickly overridden by determination. As her superior, he would take care of Akira Mado. He wouldn't fail her. No matter what it took, Amon would do his best to keep her safe.

It was the least he could do.

With that will to protect burning in him, bright and focused, Amon nodded to her.