Tokyo: After years of stagnation, the heiress of the yakuza arrives.

A mother's love can blind a person.

This will also cause those at the top of the Japanese judicial system to temporarily abandon the rules of evidence and begin to trust their intuition.

Previously, Shimotsuki Takari didn't quite believe that such an irrational thing could happen to the overly rational Miyazaki Ritsuko...

In retrospect, she was still too young.

Ritsuko doesn't use this kind of reasoning at work. She can use a three-page list of evidence to shut down all of the other party's arguments. But with Kiyoshi, how come as long as there is one possibility that cannot be ruled out, she can skip the investigation, evidence collection, cross-verification, and expert consultation, and immediately start the closing statement?

"Ritsuko-neechan, the most important thing right now isn't to name this state, but to identify the trigger source," Shimotsuki Takari quickly steered the conversation back to a more analytical scope.

"Xiaoqing's lifestyle used to be very stable. She wouldn't stay up late for no reason, nor would she change her plans in the morning. Something must have been occupying her attention last night, and her going out this morning is most likely related to the same trigger."

"The things on your phone?"

"Um."

"But what would be on the phone?"

Ritsuko Miyazaki subconsciously opened her daughter's chat window. The last message was from a few days ago, in which she asked Kiyoshi if she would be home for dinner that night. Kiyoshi replied with just a simple "Mm," concise and accurate, showing no sign of any problem.

Shimotsuki Takari didn't answer. Miyazaki Ritsuko continued to recall along the lines of the phone. Recently, Xiaoqing had been looking at her phone while eating, before going out, and often holding it after returning to her room. She would even immediately put the screen away when she got close.

On that occasion, she saw a boy with crutches on the screen.

A name slowly emerged in my mind.

Ritsuko Miyazaki remained silent.

On the other end of the phone, Shimotsuki Takari seemed to have followed the exact same route and arrived at the exact same destination.

There was a moment of silence on both sides.

"Xiao Gao."

"Ritsuko-neechan."

Who came to mind?

"Ritsuko-neechan, you go first."

"Kuroba-kun."

"……Me too."

really!

After this name appeared, all the scattered clues seemed to be quickly strung together by an invisible hand. When Miyazaki Kiyoshi first exhibited abnormal behavior that resembled a second personality, Kuroba Shido was present.

Later, he began to actively participate in club activities that he had no interest in before, with Shido Kuroba present.

While eating, I kept staring at my phone, and the screen still showed Kuroba Shido. I had insomnia last night and changed my plans at the last minute this morning. The prime suspect on my phone is, unsurprisingly, still Kuroba Shido.

Ritsuko Miyazaki gasped.

"Why is it always Kuroba-kun?"

Shuangyue Gaoli did not answer immediately, because if this sentence were interpreted in another way, it could lead to a very simple, very normal conclusion, so normal that it would not require the involvement of medical experts.

Xiaoqing cares about Heiyu.

However, considering that the person in question is Kiyoshi Miyazaki, the normal conclusion seems to be the least likely answer.

Frost Moon High Li could only speak cautiously: "Kuroba is indeed the only person who can consistently cause changes in Xiao Qing's emotions and behavior. He may be the trigger source, or he may be the external anchor point that keeps these changes within a controllable range."

Ritsuko Miyazaki understood.

half.

"So, this whole thing was caused by Kuroba, but Kuroba is also the one who can resolve it?"

"We can't say for sure that he caused it."

"Can that be resolved?"

Shuangyue Gaoli remained silent for a few seconds.

"At present, if Xiaoqing's abnormality is indeed related to a specific person, it is best not to forcibly cut off the connection before clarifying the situation. Rash intervention may cause her to close herself off again or make her more resistant to the outside world."

"So, we still need to send Kuroba-kun?"

"……yes."

The topic went around in circles.

From insomnia to breakfast, from breakfast to second personality, from second personality to high-functioning closed structures, and then through a professional analysis of external stimuli, behavioral drivers, memory sharing, and emotional breakthroughs, we finally returned to the conclusion we had already reached once before.

As things stand, it has to be Kuroba.

As Miyazaki Ritsuko looked at the breakfast that was mostly left on the table, her expression grew increasingly serious.

"Xiao Gao, we can't delay any longer."

This time, Shuangyue Gaoli did not refute: "Yes, at least we need to find out as soon as possible why Xiaoqing had insomnia last night and where she went today. Before we figure it out, do not arrange for anyone to follow her, and do not ask her directly. She will find out immediately."

"What should we do then?"

"Contact Kuroba once he wakes up."

Ritsuko Miyazaki paused for a moment, then asked, "Why wait for him to wake up?"

Shuangyue Gaoli: "..."

Based on her understanding of Kuroba Shido, Shimotsuki Kori subconsciously assumed that at this time, he was probably still lying dead in bed. After all, the incident at the villa was a good example, comparable to, or even worse than, that of her beloved student.

Only after saying this did Shimotsuki Takari realize that she seemed to know too much detail.

If I continue like this, I'll definitely arouse suspicion, and the things I've been hiding might be exposed...

"Young people sometimes stay up late, so it's safer to send a message first," said Shimotsuki Kori, offering an impeccable explanation.

"That makes sense." Ritsuko Miyazaki nodded.

Without a shred of doubt, Miyazaki Ritsuko looked down at Kuroba Shido's chat box, and just as she was about to type, she stopped: "But what should I ask? If I just ask him if he knows where Kiyoshi went, won't that scare him away?"

"meeting."

Frost Moon High Li answered with unusual certainty: "Don't mention Xiao Qing, don't mention her mental state, and don't say that we suspect her second personality. If Kuroba knew that we were treating Xiao Qing as a problem that needed treatment, he would most likely pretend to be stupid first, then deny it, and finally choose to remove the SIM card or run away depending on the level of danger."

Ritsuko Miyazaki: "..."

Isn't this defense mechanism too comprehensive?

"Then let's ask him if he's had breakfast?" Miyazaki Ritsuko tentatively suggested.

"Okay, let's start with casual conversation, find out his plans for the day, and then gradually steer the conversation towards that topic."

Shuangyue Gaoli approved of this opening, since such an opening was very similar to two long-lost friends in Green Bubble suddenly wanting to borrow money, starting with "Are you there?"...

While the behavior itself is extremely impolite, at least the phrase "Are you there?" is somewhat polite...

At least that's what Shimotsuki Takari thinks. If it were Kuroba Shido, he would have blocked, deleted, and liked the message "Are you there?" the moment he saw it.

After all... based on Kuroba Shido's extensive experience with being broke, this situation usually doesn't end well; it's either something sinister or theft, and if something good were to happen, it wouldn't be his turn.

Can it really be called a good thing when it's his turn?

Ritsuko Miyazaki nodded solemnly, feeling that they had finally devised a sufficiently sound intervention plan. Her finger landed on the input box, and she began to edit a seemingly aimless morning greeting.

None of them knew.

The guy they identified as the trigger, the external anchor, the only one to break the deadlock, and the one they couldn't do without at the moment, was not only still asleep, but was also fast asleep in his high-class apartment, which was getting closer and closer to Miyazaki Kiyoshi.

I have no idea.

The situation they described was very bad and required immediate intervention, so Xiaoqing had already gone there in person to intervene.

……

The black sedan smoothly drove into the residential area where the luxury apartments were located.

The morning rush hour traffic was avoided by the pre-planned route, and there was almost no noticeable bumps inside the car. The air conditioning maintained a comfortable temperature, and the morning sunlight outside the window filtered through the roadside trees, constantly brushing against the back seats and Miyazaki Kiyoshi's long, black hair.

The driver parked the car in front of the apartment building, pulled up the electronic parking brake, and habitually looked at the back seat through the rearview mirror, preparing to remind his young lady that they had arrived. Before he could even speak, his expression froze, which was unusual for him.

Kiyoshi Miyazaki leaned back in his chair, his eyes closed, his backpack beside him, and one hand still holding his phone with the screen still on. His breathing was light and even, and his usually alert face showed no signs of wariness. He had actually fallen asleep on the short journey from his home to his apartment.

driver:"……"

Since he started taking over the pick-up and drop-off service, he had seen the young lady reading, organizing materials, and handling club documents in the car, and he had also seen her close her eyes to think about problems, but this was the first time she had actually fallen asleep.

Should we wake him up now?

According to the usual schedule, as soon as the car stops, the young lady will notice the change in environment before he even speaks, so there is no need to remind him; but today, Miyazaki Kiyoshi is clearly sleep-deprived, and it might be better for his health if he rests for a few more minutes.

But in just a few more minutes, it will be too late to get to school.

The driver glanced ahead and carefully checked the rearview mirror, preparing to keep the noise down as much as possible, when the eyes of the person in the back seat who had been closed opened.

After the vehicle stopped, the engine vibration, the subtle changes in the tires' contact with the ground, the pause in airflow inside the car, and the driver's breathing rhythm quickly woke Miyazaki Kiyoshi from his light sleep. However, his eyes were clearly still sleepy when he first opened them, and it took him a short second to regain his usual clarity.

"Have we arrived yet?"

"We've arrived, young lady."

Miyazaki Kiyoto glanced out the window to confirm his location, then looked down to lock his phone, which was still stuck on the surveillance camera screen. He picked up his bag, pushed open the door, and got out of the car.

"Wait here."

"clear."

The driver got out of the car to close the door for her, but Miyazaki Kiyoshi had already walked towards the apartment entrance. Her steps were still steady, and it was hard to tell that she had been asleep in the back seat just a few minutes ago. Only the blink of an eye, which was slightly slower than usual, when she entered the gate proved that she was still sleepy.

The apartment lobby's access control system identifies visitors, the glass doors open automatically, the elevator ascends, and numbers change continuously in the quiet space. Miyazaki Kiyoshi stands in front of the mirrored wall, his gaze falling on his slightly tired reflection, and he comes to the same conclusion once again.

I absolutely cannot stay up all night watching Kuroba Shido anymore.

At least you can't watch the whole process.

Ding.

The elevator doors opened.

As Miyazaki Kiyoshi walked to the apartment door, the smart lock's sensor light automatically turned on. She didn't enter a password or ring the doorbell; she simply stood naturally in the recognition area.

A blue scanning light swept across her face.

[Administrator authentication successful.]

Click.

The door lock opened directly.

When Shido Kuroba registered his fingerprints and face here, he seriously considered a question: Did the department head have the authority to enter this apartment?

The conclusion at the time was that it was unlikely.

The reasons are also quite valid.

Since this house has been given to him as a benefit of the community, according to normal privacy boundaries, the minister should not be able to enter and leave at will without notification, let alone retain the status of an administrator with higher privileges than the residents and who does not even need to ring the doorbell.

Unfortunately, Shido Kuroba clearly overlooked one thing.

The hidden cameras in this apartment range from the living room to the bedroom, and can remotely magnify what he looks at in the middle of the night, who he chats with, and what appears on his phone screen. Under these circumstances, continuing to think about whether Miyazaki Kiyoshi can open the door is like someone who has already been moved into a transparent fish tank and is still seriously studying whether the tank lid belongs to private space.

The door opened.

Miyazaki Kiyoshi walked into the entryway, closed the door behind him, bent down to take off his shoes, neatly arranged them with the toes pointing outwards, and then took out a pair of indoor slippers from the shoe cabinet that had not been worn by Kuroba Shido.

The apartment was quiet.

The living room remained exactly as it was last night. The unfinished takeout containers on the table had been put into the refrigerator, the sofa cushions were askew, the door connecting to the bedroom was ajar, the curtains were not drawn, and only the motion-sensor lights in the hallway turned on one by one with each footstep.

Miyazaki Kiyoshi did not linger in the living room, but went straight to the bedroom door and pushed it open.

In the dimly lit room, Shido Kuroba was still lying on the bed.

The blanket, which had been neatly covering my chin last night, had turned into a tornado-ravaged mess of fabric. One leg was sticking out, the other was buried inside, half my face was sunk into the pillow, and my hair was so messy that it was impossible to tell that I had tidied it up before going to bed. My breathing was steady, and I slept without any psychological burden.

Kiyoshi Miyazaki stood by the bed, watching quietly.

A minute passed.

Kuroba Shido did not wake up.

Two minutes passed.

There was still no movement.

Just as Miyazaki Kiyoshi was about to step forward, the person on the bed suddenly frowned and made a muffled sound.

"I went to walk the horses... Rice Ball... You cheated..."

Miyazaki Kiyoshi stopped in his tracks.

Completely unaware that there was someone else beside him, Kuroba Shido was still in his dream, fighting for the throne of the Wood King with some evil rice ball head. He tapped his fingers lightly on the blanket twice, as if operating a non-existent game controller.

"Using a guide isn't cheating; the rules... if the rules allow it, then it's considered wise..."

After a few seconds of pause, the match in the dream seemed to have entered a heated phase. Kuroba Shido's brows furrowed more and more, and his tone became increasingly exasperated.

"Ito, you damned opportunist! You were just saying you supported me, and now that rice ball-shaped bun has given you a fried noodle bread, you've betrayed me. Is your soul only worth 300 yen?"

Kiyoshi Miyazaki: "..."

The person on the bed turned over, rolled the blanket tighter, and the corners of their mouth gradually turned up again.

"Hehehe... The hidden route... You guys didn't discover it, did you...?"

"Sending an umbrella in the rain, blocking the door on the rooftop, and after a power outage, first pushing your childhood sweetheart into the storage room, then escaping through the drainpipe... that's truly high-level maneuvering."

"Rice ball head, you only pick the ones with big breasts. You don't understand the plot, you don't understand tactics, and you don't understand human nature..."

Shido Kuroba raised his chin in his sleep, a smug look on his face that was obvious even with his eyes closed.

"I am the true King of the Cornerwood!"

Kiyoshi Miyazaki: "..."

This guy is hopeless...