"I bring my radiance to you, tonight." (Mayakuro)

Chapter 5: Realization and Acknowledgement

Police Chief Hanayagi Kaoruko. Known as the annoying girlfriend of Isurugi Futaba and another source of headache for Claudine. She has been absent for the past couple of months during the time Tengoku started his first heist. People deemed her as a dumb spoiled brat who always relies on her pink-haired companion, though only to be proven wrong after she rose in the ranks because of her smart and premeditated plans that caught a lot of criminals. Now she came back, with the unexpected surprise of finding Tendo Maya working with Saijo Claudine as partners.

Oh! It's a new source of her amusement.

Just seeing how Claudine reacted when she pulled the major seductively was already a joy for the little blue devil.

"I want you to steal Daffodil my naginata from my household in Kyoto." The chief turned around, facing Maya with a deadly smug look on her face. Maya smells trouble.

The naginata is a pole weapon and one of several varieties of traditionally made Japanese blades. The Daffodil has an amethyst-colored gem between its collar and spacer.

"Pardon?" Maya questioned, alert on what the blue devil will say and on whom can overhear them. Her shoulders were tense, yet she kept her usual composure. The chief sat down on her very comfy swivel chair that was specifically ordered for her or she would throw a tantrum. She spun around, adding more anticipation to the major.

"Oh, you know what I'm talking about, Tendo-han~." She sickeningly smiled at the brunette before speaking again.

"I know your Tengoku."

"Ah..."

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone or arrest you. I just need you to claim what's rightfully mine. Both of us know our weapons are heirlooms passed down to the next generation who will continue their legacy. But, Daffodil was sealed away, and I never received it. They said I was too immature to carry on our bequest. That's why Tendo-han, I want you to and get it, it's okay if you won't, I'll just have Kuro-han handcuff you right now." Kaoruko winked at the Major who was still composed despite the threat. She never ceased to amaze the police chief.

"I understand, Hanayagi-san. But in exchange for my troubles, I would want something in return. Your household is always composed of warriors guarding every single place. I think a payment is a well-deserved treat."

"A box of Baum kuchen it is then. "

"You have a deal, Chief." Maya gallantly bowed down and smiled confidently at the calculating woman.

____

It irritated Claudine. She doesn't know what did the chief and the major talk about that was so important that they need to talk alone in a locked room.

She's not jealous or anything...

She just doesn't get why did that blue devil pulled Maya away like she was about to do something illegal. Not to mention, Futaba was right there! Her own freaking girlfriend.

And Maya was HER partner! Not Kaoruko's!

The two people in question finally came out of Kaoruko's office with their usual demeanor. Kaoruko, the ever so teasing Kaoruko and Maya, the smug one. No, both of them are so smug about whatever they're doing.

"Alright, everyone~! I want to discuss Tengoku's last heist." Murmurs gathered around the room as all officers turned their attention to the chief.

"All of us know Tengoku has two more accomplices who also successfully stole the valuables that were guarded." Everyone nods, is serious, and attentive when it comes to Tengoku, 6 more months left.

"They reported that the blue one is named Kagayaku Shiro and the yellow one is named Kagayaku Kaeru. With Kagayaku Tengoku, they called themselves the Kagayaku Triumvirate. I would assign permanent officers to investigate each one hoping to uncover their identity. Corporal Junna, I know you can deal with Kaeru-san after hearing you successfully shot him, but Tengoku saved him."

"Yes, Hanayagi-san." Junna nodded at the blue-haired girl who struck a smug smile.

"Aijo Karen and Tsuyuzaki Mahiru. I'm glad both of you are alright. You'd be assigned to Shiro-san."

"Yes, Chief!" Karen answered enthusiastically. "Yes, Chief." And Mahiru answered calmly.

"Kuro-han~! Maya-han~!" Claudine was irked at hearing Kaoruko address Tendo Maya so intimately. Of course, Kaoruko was taking advantage of the situation.

"You don't need to tell me."

"Mou... Futaba-han, Kuro-han is too rude."

"Kaoruko..."

____

Maya sips her warm tea quietly as Nana settles down some banana creampuffs on the table. The trio had decided to meet up again in Nana's apartment after learning Kaoruko's suspicious arrangement for their brown-haired friend.

"What are we gonna do?" Nana softly asked her two emotionless confidants, one chomping the creampuffs, the other sipping her tea again.

"We steal it. It's the only choice we have." The stoic brunette replied as she swallows her third creampuff.

"Kagura-san has stated what we need to do. For now, let us leave the planning outside for tomorrow." The three fell into a comfortable silence, eating and drinking their banana-made snacks. A pot of tea and three plates of creampuffs later, the cerulean-blue-eyed girl spoke up.

"Maya, Banana, I have a question." Hikari looked at the two with her still stoic expression though with a glint of interest in her eyes.

"What is it, Hikari-chan?"

"Is the thrill that you were feeling during our heist is actually from a specific officer?"

Maya just choked.

Nana just froze.

Both just died.

"Uh... Hikari-chan, why do you ask?" Banana forced a smile onto her face, eyebrows twitching, and sweat dripping from her face.

"Yes, Kagura-san. Please enlighten us with this unexpected question of yours."

"I like an officer. She's cute." Hikari stoically replied with a slight blush on her face. She is scratching her cheek, smiling like a middle schoolboy in love.

"Is it Karen-chan, your roommate?" Nana asked Hikari for confirmation. She knew the two are particularly close and it won't be a surprise if it's Karen-chan.

"Uh... No. It's her partner Mahiru-san... The one who I saved back then."

——

"Uh... No. It's your roommate Hikari-san... The one with the cerulean-blue eyes." God, Mahiru wanted to run away and hide in a hole from her embarrassment. Her face was red up to the tips of her ears. Admitting her feelings to her best friend was more shameful than she thought.

"Oh. My. God... Mahiru-chan... YOU LIKE HIKARI-CHAN?!" Karen, the red-head who had her suspicions about Mahiru acting weird around Hikari-chan every time she's around had seriously questioned her best friend. Well, she got her answer.

"Karen-chan! Shush!"

"Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God!!!! Why? When?"

"Karen-chan, please slow down..." Mahiru's already dying of embarrassment.

"Ok, why do you like Hikari-chan?" The red-head calmly asked, with a pen and paper in hand, obviously noting her best friend's answer. Where did those come from?

"Eh... She's c-cool? And she's sweet and kind."

"Mm.. Mm. When did you like Hikari-chan?"

"When we went to the amusement park the other...day..." Oh. My. God. That was all Karen thought about this whole time.

"YOU ALREADY WENT ON A DATE?!"

"I-it's not really a d-date! Hikari was just at the amusement park repairing a ride that was broken, and uh... I guess we played together after that?"

"Mahiru-chan! That's totally a date!"