On September 1st, she left her house on foot, headed for the nearest subway station. When she reached her office, her superior would return her badge, her gun, and her handcuffs. The thought was a little embarrassing, and she felt a few butterflies in her stomach, but when it was over she would be back to her old life.
She had spoken to 707 only once after the killer was arrested. He thanked her for helping to solve the case, and told her just a little about the background of the case. That B had been a candidate to work under 707, and that the pressure of that had driven him off track.
At last she felt that she could understand Sebastian's previously incomprehensible actions, but she also felt like she only imagined that she could. It all boiled down to the entire case being a challenge for 707 and he had killed people, and tried to kill himself, for that alone... but while murders could be dismissed as simple madness, committing suicide for such a stupid reason could not. Before he became like that, if only someone had stopped him... but that just shows ho intent he was on his purpose. His own life was as meaningless as the lives of his victims, nothing but a tool in Beyond Birthday's quest to surpass 707. It mattered more to him than his own life. Perhaps he was less intent than desperate. Nobody could have stopped him.
That was his resolve.
Which made him... so very strong. Had he really been strong?
Germain wondered, remembering how he had nervously chewed his thumbnail. Strength.
Strength Germain could never hope to imitate...
The station entrance had just come into view, and standing in front of it was an awkward, uncomfortable-looking man.
A young man, with an intense expression.
"Um, have we...?" she asked, even though he was hardly blocking the entrance bodily, and she could have simply ignored him and walked on inside.
The young man instantly leapt at her.
Leapt at her? No, that's not right. He actually tried to throw his arms around her. "Huh?! No!"
Germain instantly bent backward, brushing off the man's embrace, and moved smoothly on to the offensive. She lowered her upper body backward, spinning once in the air and raising her back legs like a scorpion, slamming both heels down onto the man's shoulders. Both blows hit hard, and the impact knocked him off balance.
With a thunderous crash, he tumbled down the subway stairs. Whoops. A little overboard.
Certainly, he had assaulted her, but Germain quickly righted her- self and ran down after him. "Are you okay?" she asked.
He was lying on his stomach like a crushed frog.
"I see," he muttered, seemingly talking to himself. "Watching videos and seeing it for real is quite different, but now I think I understand."
"Hunh?"
What was he talking about? Had he hit his head on something? Her first day back at work, and already in trouble... "Um... can you stand?" Germain said, reaching out toward him. The man looked up at her, his eyes in shadow, as if two holes were staring at her.
"Thank you," he said, and took her hand. Germain pulled him upright. "Are you injured? Does it hurt anywhere?"
"I'm fine, thank you," the man said, not letting go of her hand. Even on his feet, he did not attempt to move away. They appeared to be shaking hands. Like warriors on a battlefield, exchanging a firm handshake after surviving yet another bloody fight.
"You are very kind," he said, with something like a smile, and at last let go of her hand. Then he tottered away as if nothing at all had happened, slowly climbing the stairs again.
"Ah. . .w-wait! Just a second!"
Germain had almost let him go, but a moment later she ran after him, circling around in front of him again. She was an FBI agent and could not let an assault crime go unpunished.
"If you aren't hurt, then you'll have to come with me. Sexual assault is a serious crime. You can't go around throwing your arms around women. What were you thinking?"
"Don't just stand there. Say something. This attitude won't make things easier for you. What's your name?"
Tabitha Germain had asked his name. The young man nodded.
And answered.
"Please call me Sebastian," he said, unperturbed. Just like someone else had.
