𝐈 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐄𝐍𝐃

ii | scientia ipsa potentia est

translation — "knowledge itself is power"
song recommendation — no friends by cadmium & rosendale

" i have no friends but that's okay

i don't need them anyway

i do my best all on my own

and i'd just rather be alone "

present time, 2023
beika city

"Tatsuya, you need to get going if you don't want to be late for your first day of school!"

"Coming, Mama!"

Tamaki blew a piece of hair out of her face as she stuffed her badge into her inner jacket pocket. She winced as she heard a thud and a muffled 'I'm okay' from her son's room. Always clumsy, that kid. A little reminiscent of his father in his teenage years, she supposed.

She grabbed the bento she made and handed it out to her rushing child, who thanked her quietly as he put on his school bag. She reached down and ruffled his brown hair, earning a whine and swat from Tatsuya.

"Ready to go?" she asked, slipping on her shoes at the front door.

"Yeah," he said, doing the same. "Do I really have to go to school, Mama? I've been doing fine with you as my teacher."

"Yes, well, your mother is also officially off of medical leave, so I can't teach you anymore," she pointed out gently as they left the apartment. "And I can't leave you alone in the apartment all day. Who knows who could come around and try to break in."

"Okay," he muttered, disappointed but not surprised. He had made this argument for the past couple of days, but his mother shut him down every time.

"Remember what to do when you get out of school?" she asked.

"Text you and let you know school's out and I'm leaving. I will also text when I get home and lock the door behind me," he rattled off tonelessly. It was their common routine since Tamaki worked uncertain hours every day. "And if you say you'll have to be out late, I'll call Uncle Kenji to stay the night or pick me up."

"Good boy." She nodded. "And he'll let me know when he's with you."

They got inside Tamaki's car, a pale blue 2022 Dodge Challenger with a black racing stripe down the middle, which had been a gift from Yukiko for Tamaki's twenty-seventh birthday. She turned the car on and the local radio station played a random song that neither occupant really cared for.

The drive was silent, which wasn't abnormal for them. Thankfully, they didn't live too far from the school, Teitan Elementary School. Yukiko had been the one to recommend the school since it was where Shinichi went to school as a child, and Tamaki couldn't argue with the woman.

"Be careful, kiddo," she said as Tatsuya hopped out of the car. She rolled down the window as he walked around to the other side to walk through the school gates. "Call if anything comes up, okay?"

"I know, Mama," he assured her with a bright smile, making her heart settle slightly. "And I promise not to look at the ghosts too much."

She chuckled as he walked towards the school and drove away. She had to report for duty at the First Division headquarters, of course. Couldn't be late for that, though Inspector Megure may look the other way just this once.