Psycho Pass FanFiction ~ The Perfect Society.

Chapter 10: A New Player in Town.

     After the deep conversation between Shinra and Ginoza happened, things had been getting chaotic once more. Whether it was Makishima's doing or not, was the question. Everyone was far too busy to even think about it, at least most of them. Others had their mind set on Makishima, no matter the case they worked on.

     Due to how much work was getting called all around, Division 1 was divided into three groups. First team was Ginoza's with both Kunizuka and Kagari, and then came Tsunemori's with just Kogami and last but not least it was Shinra's with Masaoka. The two females being left with male Enforcers just to be safe when they shall be working in pairs. The cases assigned to them supposedly being less dangerous or easier. Little did they know, one of the cases was far more complex than they first came to believe.

     In a car with the auto-drive in place, Shinra sat on the left seat on the front seats while Masaoka sat right next to her. They were on their way to a location which threw an alarm of high levels of stress. Though, by first looks the area appeared to be quite normal. "This is odd..." Shinra commented but mostly to herself.

     Masaoka picking up her voice turns towards her and asks. "What is, Inspector?" The man asked in his usual polite but gentle tone.

     Shinra turns towards him a little startled, only noticing now that she spoke out loud. "Mmm." She hums a little before facing ahead. "I was just thinking out loud...is nothing." She replies while she subconsciously placed her hand over her right thigh, where under her work pants rested the scar left behind of the stab. She clenches onto the fabric slightly, unable to stop herself from thinking that all these chaos could also be Makishima's doing. No... It doesn't feels like him either... She thinks to herself.

     Masaoka observed the young Inspector before he let out a quiet breath escape, turning to face ahead as well. "You're wondering if all this cases are related and planned by Shogo Makishima?" He asks casually.

     Shinra blinks a bit surprised before her eyes turns towards the older Enforcer. A small frown forming on her face as she asks. "Am I losing my poker face or something?" She says but at the same time adding a bit of humor, though she was starting to worry about it a little.

     Masaoka faces her while giving her a warm smile. "When you reach my age, it becomes easier to read people. Even those that try to hide what they truly think." He told her casually, leaning his arm slightly to the door. "Besides...it seems lately everyone has been on edge ever since the last encounter with this Makishima guy. Is not that hard figuring it out." He adds.

     Shinra listens while slowly the grasp on her pants loosened up and she felt a little more relieved. A chuckle almost left her but stopped it on time, instead a faint smile formed over her lips for a second. "I guess that's true." She agrees before rubbing her right cheek a little. "For a moment there I thought I was losing my touch." She admits with a faint laugh.

     Masaoka chuckles some before he reached over and patted Shinra's head reassuringly. "Sadly, fooling an old man like me is hard to do; that I act oblivious is another thing. But don't worry; I'll keep your secrets as long as they won't cause you any harm." He spoke with a wide smile, he was somewhat being playfully-kind.

     It caught Shinra a little by surprise but he does turn to look over at him by his gesture. Though, instead of feeling troubled with this she actually found herself relaxing again. Whether it was his fatherly warm touch rubbing her head or his usual kindness what relaxed her, it was unknown. Yet she was starting to believe it was probably the combination of both. Slowly an eyebrow rises as she faces the other. "What secrets?" She asks quietly, acting oblivious.

     Masaoka laughs as he moves his hand away and fold his arms before his chest afterwards. "You really going to act that now?" He pauses for a moment but then properly replies casually. "I'm talking on how you like to hide what you are truly feeling or thinking. I'll keep those a secret, until you decide to show them yourself." He spoke kindly, while a warm smile lingered over his scarred lips.