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Entering the G-Trailer, Houjou was greeted with the scent of alcohol, meat, and a drunk individual sprawled across the floor. “Omuro-san, what are you doing?”
The other man cracked an eye open and saw Houjou standing above them, his face taut. “Houjou-san…?” They asked, having yet to register who had spoken to them.
Houjou shook his head with a sigh and sat down at the operator’s station, turning on the computer to idly look through a certain operator’s logs. “That’s correct, this is Houjou… I applaud you for somehow making it back to the station, however you are evidently in no shape to work. Please go home, you will be of no use here.”
“Hey It’s fine, it's fine! The Unknown are gone for good now, it’s not like we’re going to be called in anytime soon.” Omuro waved his hand dismissively and sat up, yawning.
Houjou rolled his eyes and tapped a finger on the desk, looking at the papers scattered around. “..So? Why might you be drunk? …I take it it was her farewell party?”
“Yep! Oh, you weren’t there were you Houjou-san? That’s too bad, we all had a blast. Ozawa-san treated us!”
Houjou turned to him with a look of discontent. Why on Earth would he of all people go to that woman’s farewell party? Such a thing was unthinkable. Right? Shaking his head, Houjou swivelled back to face the computer monitor and rested his elbows on the desk. “I see… and where is she now? Ozawa-san.”
“Eh, where..?”
“She officially leaves in two days doesn’t she? I would have assumed she would have to collect her belongings. All her files are still here.” He tapped on the monitor.
“Oh, yeah! I think she went somewhere together with Hikawa-san after we finished up. Don’t worry though, she’ll make sure to grab her stuff before she leaves–and if she doesn’t, I’ll give her a good talking to!”
“Right, I see... together with Hikawa-san..” Houjou stared at nothing in particular and nodded. She was with Hikawa, alone with Hikawa, just Hikawa. He wouldn’t have allowed his skin to prickle this much without voicing his complaint towards the other man, but this time he couldn’t say anything. Not after he had pulled that move regarding the protection of the Unknown.
It still made his blood boil with shame whenever he thought about it, but of course he wasn’t going to let anyone else know about that. Houjou had to admit that he was no match against the other man. Hikawa was a good person, a respectable, brave detective with a pure heart. Hikawa Makoto was someone he was not.
‘I see… Ozawa Sumiko doesn’t fall for the wrong people. Hikawa-san, you’ve won.’
Closing his eyes, Houjou slipped out a small rectangular box from his breast pocket, then gazed at it. There was a women’s watch inside, though considering the circumstances, Houjou came to the conclusion that it wasn’t fitting to go through with his original plans and give it to the intended recipient.
Omuro let out a noise of inquiry as he saw Houjou tucking the box away, “What was that?”
“Nothing really.” Houjou replied quickly and stood up. A small smile tugged at his lips, somehow enhancing the tightness which clouded his chest.
“Eh, but that–”
“I shall take my leave now. Please ensure that Ozawa-san has her belongings out by tomorrow, which of course includes the things inside here.” He tapped the monitor and then approached the door, pausing briefly to turn to Omuro. “Also, please get off the floor and ventilate this place. Your stench is going to make me sick.”
Omuro was then left to contemplate whether he should have gotten offended or not as Houjou left with a smug look on his face.