We Are Not Naive

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The Superintendent stood on the top step of building number five of Minami-ku, pressing the doorbell of apartment number thirteen while Maki and Hirabayashi watched from the bottom step.
"Who's there?" Miyoshi's voice asked gruffly through the speaker.
"Police. Open up," Superintendent Hino demanded.
The familiar click of the front door being opened for visitors was heard soon afterwards. The Superintendent stormed inside and made her way up the stairs until she reached Miyoshi's apartment, Maki and Hirabayashi following close behind. The door had already been opened for them by the time they arrived, so they were free to advance inside.
"What is the meaning of this?" Asked Miyoshi.
"Miss Miyoshi," Hirabayashi said, "this is Superintendent—"
"Susumu Hino. We need your fingerprints." The Superintendent finished.
"This is absurd. I had nothing to do with Sawa's case," Miyoshi protested.
"Then you have nothing to worry about," retorted Superintendent Hino.
Miyoshi made no further protests and sat down on the sofa. Maki watched with Hirabayashi as Superintendent Hino placed the fingerprint kit on the coffee table and went through the process of collecting the older woman's fingerprints....
One of the doors within the apartment opened, then pale young man made his way into the living room, very nervously. One of his eyes was twitching slightly, Maki noticed.
"Umm... mumsy?" He asked, blinking at the sight of the unfamiliar people in the room. He looked taken aback once his eyes focused on Superintendent Hino's police uniform.
"Oh... umm... I didn't mean to interrupt."
"No, it's fine," Superintendent Hino reassured. "Who are you?"
"Seiichi... Miyoshi..." the man muttered.
"My son, he lives here too," said Miyoshi.
"Your occupation, Mr Miyoshi?" The Superintendent asked.
"I'm a barber," Seiichi replied. "Umm... why do you ask? Do you... need a trim, perhaps?"
"No... thanks..." said Superintendent Hino, a bit taken aback the question.

"Did you know Misaki Sawa, Mr Miyoshi?" Asked Hirabayashi.
"Misaki Sawa... her name is on the tippy-tip of my tongue..." Seiichi mused pensively. "Oh, oh! The former model? I met her... uhm, a few times. Years ago."
"I'd like your fingerprints too," said Superintendent Hino.
"Why? Oh, uhm, ahem... has something happened...?" Seiichi stammered.
"Yes. We found her dead yesterday," Maki said bluntly.
"Death is sad... so very sad..." Seiichi mumbled, more to himself than to anyone else, it seemed. "But, uhm... what does this have to do with me and mumsy?"
"You're both connected to the victim," Superintendent Hino said, holding out her hand. "Don't worry, this is just a formality."
"Do as they say, Seiichi. We have nothing to hide," Miyoshi said sternly.
"Well... uhm... if you say so, mumsy," Seiichi said, as though he'd rather not do it, allowing the Superintendent to take his fingerprints as well. He then situated himself on the sofa whilst his mother patted him affectionately on his crown.
"We may call with follow-up questions..." said Superintendent Hino formally.
"I hope not!" Miyoshi said in an uncouth voice, placing her hand on her son's shoulder.
"Let's go you two, we're done here," Superintendent Hino said, rounding on Maki and Hirabayashi. The three of them left the building after a polite bow.
"They're hiding something. I know it," Superintendent Hino said as soon as they were outside. "I'll get these to Yamamoto for analysis."
"Looking forward to hearing the results," Maki said happily.

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As January wore on, the square of unkept trees in the middle of Kyushu had shed all their leaves until they were naked and brown. The employees of the Hawks Agency could be seen exiting the building in droves by the people who were passing through the square. Each of them were tricking off into their groups that had been assigned by Clear Blade, the sidekick who was always placed in charge of the agency's daily runnings whenever Hawks was absent, which was often these past few months. Most of the ordinary people who passed them were used to the eccentric dress-style of Pro Heroes and took little notice, though occasionally one of them might glance back, wondering why there were more of them around than usual. Over half a dozen Pro Heroes and sidekicks were heading towards the city boulevard, along with several local police units. Once they arrived, they were met with a maelstrom of people marching down the road, their chants and shouts swallowed all sound in the area. Many of the people were holding pickets signs with slogans like: We Demand Work or Wages and We Are Not Naive among others. They were gathered for a socialist demonstration against the current administration, law enforcement officials were thus required to be present in case the demonstrators turned violent and started an all out riot.
Meanwhile, in the boulevard, Maki was stood beside Tokoyami, silent and watchful, gazing at the stream of people advancing past them and down the road, but the two of them were gaining little satisfaction from their task, and thing they were keeping an eye out for still appeared elusive. Occasionally, one of them started forwards excitedly, as if they had seen something interesting at last, only to relax into their previous state of inactivity, looking frustrated and disappointed.
"So..." Tokoyami said, breaking the silence that had lapsed between them once again. "...how's this case you're working on going so far?"
"Frustratingly slow," Maki answered. "This killer always seems to be one step ahead of us, and they're a complete nut-bag on top of that."
"What about Miss Miyoshi and her son?" Tokoyami asked.
"That'll have to wait until forensics results come back," said Maki loudly over the jeer of the crowd. "However, Superintendent Hino's fairly certain the family's hiding something. She may be right, but I just don't see any connection whatsoever between them and the Dada movement. Furthermore, Seiichi Miyoshi may be eccentric, but that does make him a killer. I just can't help but feel I'm missing something...."

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