"Damn it, thanks to you guys I didn't sleep at all last night."

"We didn't even do anything. And someone like you doesn't need sleep anyway."

"Humans need sleep. I'm human. Therefore I need sleep. Argument complete."

"You're using 'I'm human' as the premise…"

In the forest on a mountain, Rinji and Fusui lay on a slope, covered in thick grass.

Both held high-precision sniper rifles aimed at the Shinomiya main estate below.

"By the way, what was with you yesterday? From the fight with your brothers onward, you seemed… different. Like suddenly weaker," Fusui asked.

"The reason's complicated, but this state might happen daily now. No idea how long it'll last."

"Ohh…"

"Don't get any weird ideas. Even if my personality changes, my strength doesn't," Rinji said, still watching through his scope. "See anything?"

"Since we got here, almost no movement. In three hours, only three people left, five entered… Why are we even staking out a conglomerate's main house at dawn?"

"If you're bored, leave."

"No way."

She grinned, continuing her watch.

Rinji glanced at her—today she wasn't in casual wear but in the tight assassin's suit that perfectly outlined her figure.

Noticing his gaze, she smirked.

"Oh? Interested in my body? We could do it here—no one to interrupt."

"I'll admit you're sexy, but I'm not planning anything."

"Huh?"

Surprised, she said, "Rare for you to compliment me. I thought you weren't into women at all—despite having two girlfriends, you've done nothing."

"I'm still a man. I look when I see a curvy woman. But I stop short out of restraint and responsibility."

"Oh, I don't need you to take responsibility—just give me your chromosomes," she said with a grin. "Let's just stay pure friends-with-benefits."

"Shut up. How did I end up with a friend like you?"

He went back to observing the Shinomiya estate.

"To answer your first question, I'm just watching to see how they react after my moves. Like chess—you only see their intent when they make their move," Rinji said.

From his observations, the Shinomiya family clearly intended to hide Gan'an's illness, and until the culprit was found, they were reducing movement in and out of the main house.

"They didn't even call the police. Very cautious."

"Did you do something, Rinji?"

"It seems I fed something to their family head and forced the Shinomiya clan into an early power struggle."

"Oh~ now that sounds interesting."

"Doesn't it? I thought so too, which is why I came here early this morning to watch their reaction," Rinji said with a grin.

Fusui, standing beside him, seemed to recall something. "Come to think of it, four years ago it was also the Shinomiya family who hired us to assassinate you. Everything you're doing now—is it for revenge?"

"If I just wanted revenge, I would've dropped a single thermobaric bomb on New Year's Eve and wiped them all out. I've done things like that plenty of times," Rinji replied. "But four years ago I made certain agreements with Japan's higher-ups, so I can't use such direct methods."

"You're really the type to obey an agreement?"

"Of course not… It's mainly because Ai wouldn't want me to do something like that. So I'm dealing with the problem in a way that doesn't hurt innocents," Rinji said. "Besides, the Shinomiya family's industries cover all of Japan. Using proper methods, I can funnel a little bit of it toward IW."

"I see… you're still doing work for IW? I thought it was always IW working for you. After all, you're the founder's son, and the entire organization has to call you young master. If you're suddenly thinking about IW's business, does that mean you're planning to inherit the family business?"

"…Fusui, that's not exactly wrong, but your entire way of thinking has always been backwards."

"Huh?"

---

Early morning.

In an apartment building in Minato, Tokyo, Sagara Sousuke put on the suit hanging on the rack. He glanced at the meteorite fragment on the table, slipped it into his pocket, and opened the door.

Just then, the bedroom door opened.

Sagara Kaname, her hair messy and still in pajamas, yawned. Seeing Sousuke, she rubbed her sleepy eyes. "Heading out?"

"Yes, it's about time I returned to headquarters. There are still matters I need to handle."

"Mhm. Then work hard. I'll come see you again when school's out for break."

"Right."

Having been married for years, the couple didn't exchange many sweet words during farewells. Usually, a few simple lines were enough.

Kaname poured herself a cup of coffee in the living room, sipped it, and said, "I heard Rinji went to Kyoto?"

"Yes, he left yesterday noon."

"The Shinomiya conglomerate's headquarters are there too. Hopefully he doesn't stir up too much trouble," Kaname said with a smile. "Honestly, aren't you people spoiling him too much?"

"No. The only ones spoiling him are the elders in the council. My actions are always for the organization's benefit."

"True. Still, good thing he chose to let you inherit IW in the end. Otherwise, with those old men's personalities, they'd spoil him so rotten the whole world would be in danger."

"…Actually, you've misunderstood."

"Huh?"

Seeing Kaname's puzzled expression, Sousuke said slowly, "Many people think IW is Rinji's backing. But it's not like that. The entire IW's backing is Rinji."

"…You're serious?"

"I once traveled with the expeditionary force and the instructors. I've seen with my own eyes the methods and power Rinji wields," Sousuke said.

"To say without exaggeration—his very existence is more terrifying than the entire organization itself. That's why both I and the council want him to inherit IW."