Chapter 838

The appointment of the Special Mission Division came down quickly, and a week later, after Watanabe Eiji stamped it, the Personnel Division's plan was issued.

Besides Yamada Nanase, who had already greeted the Personnel Division in advance and was transferred to the Special Mission Division under special regulations to serve as an Administrative Female Officer, three others received promotions.

The promotion notices for Date Nagamune and Maeda Toshihide were issued on the same day.

Both were promoted from Patrol Officer to Police Sergeant.

When Date Nagamune received the promotion notice, his expression showed no change.

He folded the notice neatly, placed it in the inner pocket of his suit, then said to the person who came to inform him, "Thank you for your trouble," turned around, and continued organizing case files. Maeda Toshihide's reaction was much stronger—he held the notice up to his eyes and looked at it three times, confirming he hadn't misread it, then turned to Date Nagamune and said, "Date sir, we've been promoted!"

Date Nagamune detected a hint of mockery in his tone, clenched his teeth, and silently cursed.

He should have been promoted long ago; he personally felt that over these years, following Uesugi Muneyuki, he had achieved numerous merits, was present during the capture of the Ghost Guest, and commanded during the pursuit of the Red Goldfinch, had even been specially issued an M9, and even prepared an M4A1 for possible special situations—if he didn't get promoted, who would? But he is a former Self-Defense Forces member.

"You little red bastard, is your brain addled? Seeking west-la?"

There's nothing to be done—Date is a former Self-Defense Forces member, and this group is naturally distrusted and disrespected. Moreover, due to recent frequent independent actions by the Maritime and Ground Self-Defense Forces, seeking to provoke conflict to boost their status, Date has also suffered setbacks.

Finally, I got promoted!

Date Nagamune gritted his teeth, knowing that the position of "Patrol Officer" in Japan's civil service system is not considered "regular employment" and has no official staffing! Only Police Sergeant counts as a proper civil servant!

Compared to Germany, the status of Patrol Officer is roughly equivalent to being slightly above a Deputy Inspector, and after ten years of service as a Patrol Officer, one can usually be made regular, whereas in Germany, a Deputy Inspector wanting to become a regular officer and transfer ashore needs at least a Third-class Merit, disarming bombs barehanded, seizing firearms with bare hands, or performing heroic feats like jumping into a river to save a drowning family—only such glorious deeds might warrant an exception.

And Maeda Toshihide, this guy, has only been here for half a year!

Moreover, not only that, recently Section Chief Minami has also been troubled by looking at the surnames of those applying to transfer to the Special Mission Division.

"Mori, Hayashi, Koizumi, Ampere, Hatoyama, Nakasone, Fukuda." Minami scratched her head: "What the hell did you drag me into, damn it! This is the Special Mission Division, not Nagatacho National Diet, damn it!"

"This just shows that we people are like stars and the moon, orbiting around someone like the sun, Minami Kakaka you?" Uesugi Muneyuki said with a smile from the side.

"Get out of my sight! There can't be two suns! Once these people come in, Miss won't be able to be the sun, damn it!" Minami Ojou-sama, somewhat flustered, ultimately decided to temporarily delay handling it, saying that it involves a new round of personnel adjustments, to be discussed next year.

Nanango Yui's promotion was the most without suspense.

He was promoted from Assistant Police Inspector to Police Inspector, officially entering the middle ranks of the Superintendent.

His father, a Chief Managing Director at Mitsubishi UFJ Bank, only said one thing on the phone: "Not bad."

Nanango Yui hung up the phone, expressionlessly took a sip of coffee.

He had waited twenty-six years for that "not bad," and when he finally received it, he found his heart remained utterly unmoved.

As for Uesugi Muneyuki, he neither received a promotion nor did anyone feel he needed one—he hasn't even graduated yet.

On his desk, he had an additional commendation from the Police Commissioner; this item, Uesugi Muneyuki's office has one of, selling scrap metal could fetch quite a bit.

Of course, Uesugi Muneyuki doesn't mind having few, after all, if someone ever questions himself, he can produce these.

Back when my ancestors followed the Minami Imperial Palace into the pass, you brat weren't even born yet!

The celebration party was set for the third night after the promotions.

The venue was a members-only club in Ginza 1-chome, with no sign, no door number, just a black iron door set into the side of an unremarkable building.

At the door stood a man in a black suit, seeing the Special Mission Division party approach, he gave a slight bow, and pushed open the heavy iron door. It is said that this was arranged by Okada Masahide's father, Okada Masayoshi, Administrative Vice-Minister of Finance, and he didn't even consult Okada about it.

Very much in the style of that Finance Ministry official.

The club interior is not large, but the decoration is exquisite.

Warm yellow light shone on the dark brown wooden walls, several sofas arranged in a semicircle, with a low coffee table in the center, holding previously prepared sashimi platters, grilled wagyu, tempura, and several bottles of already-opened Daiichi Sake.

Uesugi Muneyuki was the last to arrive.

"Let's begin." He said.

No one needed a second round of urging.

Maeda Toshihide was the first to stand up, holding a cup filled to the brim with Daiginjo Sake, his face with those two dimples smiling three times deeper than usual: "Cheers!"

"Cheers!" Everyone raised their cups simultaneously, even Uesugi Muneyuki raised his cup of oolong tea, swaying it in the light, counting as participation. "Brothers, brothers!" Kai Toru put his arm around his girlfriend Debuki Etsuko, facing the crowd with a mischievous grin and said: "I announce something!" Everyone: "???"

"Date, he's got it!" Kai Toru laughed loudly.

Everyone: "??????"

What does that mean?

Uesugi Muneyuki also froze, thinking Date must have gone to Chéngdū, awakened the feminine in his heart, then gone to Thailand for surgery? Minami Ojou-sama and Eirina also stared at Date Nagamune with shocked expressions, only Yamada Nanase, dressed in simple everyday clothes, huddled in the corner, her face full of tearful, ashamed, and enduring humiliation.

Be honest, don't tease, please let me go.

She didn't want to come, but she had to, because Minami Jie kept emphasizing this was the first gathering, and one couldn't not attend.

"You bastard! Tell me clearly!" Date Nagamune shouted angrily.

"Kai this idiot drank too much, everyone ignore him!" Maeda Toshihide had already drunk his third cup, the flush on his face spreading from cheekbones to ears, his voice eight degrees higher than usual: "It should be, Date chased down his goddess! His Akane-chan, agreed to date him!" Now understanding, Igarashi instantly became the first to raise his arm: "A" A" O~"

"A~A~0~" The whole venue erupted in cheers.

"Since you announced it here, when will your Akane-chan arrive?" Nanango Yui smiled.

Date Nagamune raised his cup, took a sip, put it down, his tone calm as if reporting case details: "Seven thirty."

Maeda Toshihide lowered his head to look at his watch—seven twenty-five.

He shrank back to his seat, raised his cup again and took another sip, his face showing an "I want to watch the show" anticipation.

At seven thirty-two, the door was pushed open.

Moriya Akane stood in the doorway.

She wore a black velvet dress, the hem positioned three finger-widths above the knee, revealing a slender section of calf.

Her hair was medium-length dark brown, slightly curled, loosely draped over her shoulders.

Her features were of the type that doesn't seem striking at first glance, but grows more appealing the longer you look—eyes not large but very spirited, nose bridge not high but with soft lines, lips not thick but with a clear curve.

She overall looks nothing like an entertainment industry person, more like a girl one might encounter in a university library. But in fact, she is a member of Akai Saka 46, that group whose motto is "not pandering to otaku, not selling cuteness, not trying to please anyone," the most uniquely independent and recently popular national idol group in all of Japan.

"Sorry to disturb." Moriya Akane gave a slight bow, her voice soft and polite, then her gaze swept over the crowd, accurately found Date Nagamune, and the corner of her mouth lifted slightly in an arc only Date Nagamune could read.

Date Nagamune stood up, walked over, took the bag from her hand—a black one with no logo at all, a small crossbody bag—and placed it beside the sofa.

The two interacted with no unnecessary physical contact, not even eye contact beyond "polite social distance." Yet everyone present, from that deliberately maintained politeness, sensed a deeper, unspoken understanding. Uesugi Muneyuki couldn't help but chuckle, and in a low voice told Minami Ojou-sama beside him: "Date now has official staffing, she'll start dating him right away." "The compilation is Jerusalem, the compilation is the only song in this barren world, the compilation is the only light in this silent night sky, the famous poet Zhou Acquaintance once said: any fate, no matter how long or complex, actually reflects only in a single moment: the moment of passing the exam and landing ashore." Uesugi Muneyuki said with a laugh.

"Go!" Minami Ojou-sama wrinkled her nose: "Compilation is a siege, outsiders want to get in, insiders want to get out."

"? Why? Uesugi is here, why do we need to go out?" Ikeda Erena said foolishly.

"Go go go, drink your drink, Uesugi Muneyuki trained you to be beautiful, you're so happy you don't want to leave Shu!" Minami covered her face.

Maeda Toshihide leaned close to Nanxiang Yui's ear, speaking in a voice only two could hear: "Date-sama actually helps his girlfriend carry her bag?"

After three rounds of drinks, the karaoke screen finally lit up.

The first to grab the microphone was Maeda Toshihide.

The song he sang was the theme song "irony" from "My Little Sister Can't Be This Cute."

Looking at Kousaka Kirino on the screen, Uesugi Muneyuki recalled her most famous line: "Our Electronic Light Novel Library might go bankrupt, but we will never sell out."

The second to grab the microphone was Nan'gō Yuiichi, who sang Nakajima Mika's "Snow Flower," competently but not spectacularly, neither embarrassing nor impressive, just like him.

The so-called love of Minamoto no Yoshitsune and Shizuka Gozen, the distance between Izu and Oshu, is life and death.

The third to grab the microphone was Date Nagamune.

When he stood up, everyone fell silent for a moment.

He grabbed the microphone and glanced at Moriya Akane.

Moriya Akane lowered her head, raised her wine cup, took a sip, and her ears flushed slightly red.

Date Nagamune selected "Beloved Person."

"Whether now, or in the distant future"

we each protect our love today~

no matter if wind and rain come again or not

from now on we will never be hurt again"

my dream will no longer wander"

we each keep that love~

no matter if wind and rain come again or not""

When the chorus came, Date Nagamune suddenly reached his hand toward Moriya Akane, who was both shy and helpless, stood up, and finished the last part with him.

"We all use Feminine Cleanser~"

"Wash more healthy"

The whole room burst into laughter, Kai Toru, Nanxiang Yui, and Minami Ojou-sama nearly laughed themselves unconscious, and even Yamada Nanase couldn't help covering her mouth. The next to grab the microphone was Uesugi Muneyuki.

He casually selected a song.

"Deep feeling rain haze, how many pavilions in smoke and rain"

"………Remember when you and I were like flowing water and dragons like horses"

"Ah ah deep feeling rain haze world only in your eyes

meeting not late why rush mountains and waters countless layers."

Yamada Nanase sat in the corner of the room, a glass of orange juice before her.

She doesn't drink much, nor dare to let loose in such settings, she merely wore a white cotton shirt and navy wide-leg pants, her hair naturally falling over her shoulders.

She sat quietly, smiling as she watched everyone sing, toast, and joke, occasionally chatting a few sentences with Erena, but most of the time she was a quiet, unobtrusive background.

This made her feel safe. In the background, no one notices her, no one asks her questions, no one makes her speak, she can slowly drink her orange juice in the background, then at the right time clap with everyone, then go home, bathe, sleep, and the next day continue being that quiet, unobtrusive affairs section officer.

But someone doesn't allow her to do that.

Yes, just as Uesugi Muneyuki finished singing, a newcomer arrived.

It was Saito Asuka, Shirakawa Mai, and Namita Erika!