Chapter 181: That Place, Bird Mountain!

Uesugi Muneyuki did not yet know that Japanese netizens had already dubbed him the "Turtle Killer"; after finishing the press conference that morning, he was forced to accept questions from reporters.

Unfortunately, most of the questions the reporters asked had nothing to do with the case; everyone was more concerned about the relationship between Uesugi Muneyuki and Shirakawa Mai.

That day, in order to meet Hironaka Mariko with Uesugi Muneyuki, Senior Mai did not conceal or hide her aura in the Odaiba Building and was noticed.

However, there were no reporters on the scene to interview her at the time; instead, it was afterwards that the top-ranking YKC48 member in the front row, Miyawaki Sakura, posted a photo of herself with Senior Mai on her Instagram. Sakura was extremely excited, posting the same photo five times over and over, detailing exactly how she met Shirakawa Mai, how she struck up a conversation with her, how the other party agreed to the photo, what expressions she made, and explaining clearly how she was unwilling at first but later agreed.

She even took the opportunity to mention Uesugi Muneyuki, turning into a fan who couldn't stop singing his praises.

Uesugi Muneyuki had already been rumored to be in a relationship with Shirakawa Mai, and Senior Mai, the National Goddess, almost never appeared in the public eye and was never caught by paparazzi. This chance encounter and photo really stimulated a great sense of novelty and voyeurism. Sakura's Instagram posts usually only got a few hundred likes, but this one, by riding the coattails of both Shirakawa Mai and Uesugi Muneyuki, saw its likes soar directly to over 10K. She became a minor sensation and couldn't help but repeatedly mention the incident on various programs.

She is a young girl who is very eager to become famous, even though she is only sixteen.

However, her way of riding the coattails was not very off-putting, so Uesugi Muneyuki just laughed it off.

Conversely, when Hirate Sarina from Akasaka was asked about the events of that day, she just said with a cold face, "There was nothing special."

That makes sense; Hirate has been the "Immovable Center" since her debut, while Sakura had to fight her way up, spending two years struggling from being an under to the top position. The two of them have completely different mindsets.

There are different ecological niches within these large female idol groups.

The "Center" position refers to the person who stands in the very middle and very front during stage performances, and Hirate's "Immovable Center" means that she has stood in the center position every single time since her debut.

"Top" refers to the front row, meaning those who stand in the front during stage performances, can be seen at a glance, and have the chance to snag a line or two of solo lyrics during the performance.

Further down are the "Senbatsu" (selected members) and "Under" members.

Generally speaking, large female groups change their Senbatsu members for every single; that is, the people responsible for singing, dancing, and appearing on TV programs to promote the song during its promotional cycle. "Senbatsu" refers to all members active during that single's cycle, though here it specifically refers to the middle and back-row members who don't stand in the front row but can still perform on stage. "Under" refers to members who are not qualified to perform on stage and can only watch their teammates shine on stage from below, "learning," waiting, lying dormant, or filling in when a Senbatsu member is unavailable.

Finally, there is another type of member called a "Wash-foot Maid." This group doesn't even have the qualifications to follow the Senbatsu group to watch performances on-site or stand by when the Senbatsu group is recording programs at TV stations. They can only perform at the underground theater every day to build up a loyal fanbase. If they don't even have an underground theater, they can only practice every day, keeping to themselves and waiting for their time to come.

"Miyawaki Sakura? She really is a very special child!"

"Hirate Sarina? Her temperament caught my eye."

"Senior Mai is my good friend and alumna; I will firmly support her. More program collaborations in the future? I am open to it. Let's see what happens next. Of course, Fuji TV is my benefactor, and I have many collaborations with President Kameyama; his eye for television dramas is incredibly strong."

"Yes, my career focus will shift to criminal scene forensics in the future. I will bring my talents to Sakuradamon. As for my colleagues at the Medical and Dental University, I can only wish them luck."

While Uesugi Muneyuki was accepting media interviews, the other parties involved in the Todai Case were receiving a different kind of commendation.

The Superintendent General's Award!

Superintendent General Watanabe Eiji presented it to the several parties involved in the Todai Case: Investigation Division 1 Third Subsection Chief Kosaka Shinichiro, Second Division Chief Shiratori Sho, Third Subsection Chief Kashiwagi Jin, Special Mission Unit Chief Watanabe Minami, and Special Mission Unit Acting Unit Chief Okada Masayoshi.

Police Inspector Kosaka survived the ordeal, Police Inspector Shiratori felt unworthy of the honor, Miss Minami achieved a total victory, and Police Inspector Okada looked grave.

The mental states of the several important detectives were completely different; there is no need to mention the first three.

Police Inspector Okada's expression had not been good the whole time. The fact that he had used his father's connections to request assistance from Investigation Division 2 Chief Duan Zhi Da Hui had become known to his father, Financial Services Agency Commissioner Okada Masahide, who had called him in and scolded him severely. Naturally, Okada Masahide was also a University of Tokyo graduate. Fortunately, this matter was handled relatively well; after the Financial Services Agency Commissioner finished scolding him, he told him that since he had chosen this path, he should follow Minami and Uesugi well at the Metropolitan Police Department and stop causing trouble.

To Okada Masayoshi's memory, this didn't seem much different from a compliment.

What truly made the Police Inspector fall silent was that he had also gone home to check his accounts, only to find that not only could he not make sense of them, but his wife had pointed at the news and scolded him for earning too little, stating that "Xiaoxinmingmiao" was right—not even ten million a year, how could they live in Tokyo? It's a pity you're a Career Track officer, you don't earn any more than anyone else!

As expected, I still need to earn more. Miki abandoned everything to follow me; I can't let her suffer or be poor.

Our Police Inspector Okada made up his mind to work hard on cases and strive for promotion.

As for our Police Inspector Kashiwagi Jin, his expression was a bit dazed right now.

He had gone to that soapland shop again yesterday.

Hmm? Why say "again"?

Because ever since that time during the investigation at the University of Tokyo, when he was forced to agree to the conditions of that female Todai student Hayakawa Nanami and went to a sex industry establishment to book her once, our Police Inspector Kashiwagi had been unable to resist Hayakawa Nanami's "enthusiastic invitation" again, and had "sacrificed" himself once more for the sake of "solving the case."

This time, he finally regained his vigor and soundly defeated this female student who worked in the sex industry.

The reason was simple: Hayakawa Nanami really admired Kashiwagi Jin and really liked this star inspector. She acted like a little fan girl the whole time, praising him, and every "Senpai Suki" she said sweetly made Police Inspector Kashiwagi feel ecstatic, so naturally, he was full of energy.

But the result of this was that Kashiwagi Jin discovered that his affair with Hayakawa Nanami was completely unstoppable. He had only known her for a few days and it was already his fourth time going to that sex industry establishment. Moreover, Hayakawa Nanami had given him her private phone number and address, suggesting, "Kashiwagi-senpai, we don't have to meet at the soapland next time; come to my place."

Kashiwagi Jin knew this was an affair and knew it wasn't good, but after getting used to Hayakawa Nanami's admiration and infatuation, he found that when he went home to face his wife, the previous generation's Face of the Metropolitan Police Department, Kashiwagi Misa, he couldn't get aroused at all. After all, they had been married for several years, and his wife had already discovered what kind of person he was at his core.

He only wanted to be admired, to be in the spotlight, and to stand under the stage lights enjoying flowers and praise. The previous generation's Face of the Metropolitan Police Department was just a medal he used to decorate himself; likewise, the identity of "husband" was the same.

"Kashiwagi?" Just then, Watanabe Eiji's voice interrupted Kashiwagi Jin's thoughts. The Superintendent General patted him on the shoulder: "Still worried about that matter between you and Uesugi?"

"Ah? Oh, no, sorry, Superintendent General, I was just..." Police Inspector Kashiwagi realized he had been distracted and quickly apologized: "Advisor Uesugi has already forgiven me, no need for the Superintendent General to worry."

After the Todai Case, Uesugi Muneyuki, considering Kashiwagi Jin's key contribution, told him he would let him off for now, but not to let it happen again.

"Is that so? That's good. You and Muneyuki-kun are both talents of this department; it's best if you can reconcile. Tired, aren't you? I'll approve two days of paid leave for you; get some good rest!" Watanabe Eiji said with a smile, while presenting him with the Superintendent General's Award: "Spend more time with Misa; you haven't been home for a few days these past few months, have you?"

"Yes, I am deeply grateful!"

However, the first thing Police Inspector Kashiwagi thought of after receiving the award was not his beautiful wife, but that Todai soapland girl who was far inferior to her in both looks and figure.

I have time to go to her place! Should I go tomorrow?

Naturally, Police Sergeant Ikeda Erena was also presented with the Superintendent General's Award, but Erena didn't feel much about it. She knew she hadn't had any chance to perform in the Todai Case and had been a peripheral figure the whole time.

Moreover, Erena noticed that Uesugi Muneyuki seemed to have been intentionally avoiding her these past few days.

This made Erena very anxious; I am your partner!

So, when the Superintendent General's Award was presented, Erena was completely out of it, but Watanabe Eiji didn't care much. To the Superintendent General, she was just a non-career track female Police Sergeant; if it weren't for the fact that Uesugi Muneyuki had specifically requested her, she wouldn't even have had the chance to speak to him.

Just then, the awards ceremony ended, and as several people came out, she heard the conversation between Police Inspector Okada and Miss Minami.

"So, it's settled?" Okada Masayoshi clearly knew something and said with a smile: "Congratulations."

"Hee hee, thank you, Brother Okada." Miss Minami also replied with a smile.

"What's worth congratulating? Let us share in the joy too." Police Inspector Kosaka had survived the ordeal, and his face was also filled with joy.

"What else could it be? Police Inspector Watanabe seems to have officially started dating Advisor Uesugi!" Police Inspector Okada said helplessly.

"Oh, really?" This sentence shocked Police Inspector Shiratori and Police Inspector Kashiwagi. For a moment, everyone looked at Miss Minami.

"That's right, we are officially dating!" Miss Minami announced triumphantly, and then she took a key out of her police uniform pocket: "This is the key to Muneyuki-kun's tower mansion, and now it belongs to me!"

"Eh?"

The moment Ikeda Erena heard this news, she was completely stunned.

Dating? A key?

What on earth is going on?!

This, this isn't right, is it?

The tall beauty felt as if she had instantly fallen into an ice cellar.

With a dizzy head, Eirina almost instinctively wanted to go find Uesugi Muneyuki to ask for a clear explanation.

But at this moment, Miss Minami stopped her: "Ikeda, I need to go to the Oji Police Station in the North Ward to take care of some business; drive me there."

"Uh, alright..."

Just like that, the unique pair of Minami and Eirina set off from the Metropolitan Police Department.

Along the way, Eirina was preoccupied with her thoughts; she wanted to say something, but didn't know how to bring it up, and she had to focus on driving, so she could only remain silent.

Meanwhile, Miss Minami in the backseat was formulating a "battle plan" in her heart.

After finishing the business at the Oji Police Station with Miss Minami, Eirina finally found an opportunity: "Um, Section Chief, can we talk? About you and Uesugi-kun..."

"Of course, I think we should have a good talk."

Miss Minami also felt it was necessary to have a talk with the tall beauty; the two women looked up and saw a nearby station.

Asukayama Station.

Asuka, isn't that the name of Asuka?

Miss Minami felt it was quite a coincidence, and she took a casual look at the map.

"Let's go to the park."

"Mm."

(End of chapter)