Never Not
Ch. 80: Is the Minister of Justice Involved?

Shohei and Kei meet again at the usual cafe. Kei suggested that his uncle would opt out of politics before the prime minister's term ends. That means, Mr. Matsumoto will first resign from the position of justice minister.

About that, Shohei was not too surprised, because at the beginning of his meeting with Seina, Mr. Matsumoto once said about to retire from politics and rumors that Megumi Jun will replace him. It's just, it feels strange when the man decided to retire earlier than his term.

"Isn't his term still two years away?"

"Yes, he said he wanted to rest and enjoy his old age. Now I understand why she asked you and Seina to quickly formalize your relationship."

"I will formalize my relationship with Seina if the Black Shadow mission is completed. Therefore, please help me find out the tenth target through Mr. Matsumoto," Shohei said in a serious tone.

"certain. I know, you're actually suspicious of my uncle, right?"

Shohei fell silent, his eyeballs spinning elsewhere.

"Actually I have investigated uncle's connection to some officials that Black Shadow has ambushed. What would you do if it turned out that uncle was involved or might be the tenth target?"

"That should be my word to you."

Kei laughed without a sound. "Didn't I ever answer this question? I was a journalist. I won't cover anything even if my own uncle is involved. The job of journalists is to voice the voices of people who cannot speak in public. But what about you alone? He is your future father-in-law. If my uncle is involved, this will make it difficult for you later on. And again, what about the relationship between you and Seina?"

"Will my answer affect the information you want to tell me?" Shohei asked back.

Kei sighed. "You still don't trust me?"

Shohei replied, "If Mr. Matsumoto is involved or even is the tenth official figure, I still deploy Black Shadow like the previous targets. And it won't affect my relationship with Seina either."

Kei smiled in anguish. "Let's go back to the original topic. I've been looking for information from my acquaintance's prosecutor who has also been with you. He said they didn't want to move with the names of the officials you've been investigating. It's just that they can't go against orders from the justice minister asking for the dismissal of the investigation."

"Judicial minister?" Shohei squinted one eye.

Is it possible to dismiss the case of the intern nurse at the request of the justice minister? But wouldn't it be too funny if they took care of that. Except ....

Shohei recalled the photo Rai sent, in which Akabane Ayumi met the girl the day before the incident.

"I know that the justice minister would not have dared to issue such an order if it had not been from the immediate superior who had requested it. Why don't you get suspicious of the prime minister and the first lady?"

"They're also on my list of allegations. Even so, the justice minister could have acted alone. Especially if he did the same action as the nine officials did."

"So it's true that you're also suspicious of my uncle?"

"In this mission I must suspect people more than believe in one person."

"Yamazaki-san, before you should know my purpose in helping you find out the tenth target not just because of the rewards of Black Shadow's interview exclusively, but because I want to prove to you that uncle is not the tenth target figure you think he is. I know my uncle well, besides officials he also runs a business that his wife left behind. I feel like the actions he took were part of his service to the leader. The proof is, he chose to retire as soon as possible, right?"

"Let's prove it! Hopefully according to your belief," said Shohei while sipping warm coffee.

Kei leaned forward, then said, "By the way, be careful about stepping! Ever since I found out you were Black Shadow's mover, I've been worried about you. Worry if one day they'll find out."

"Arigatou. I really need your help." Shohei lowered his head.

"I will persuade uncle once again to be the source of my show. But, maybe this week will be filled by Akabane Ayumi. He is currently the most powerful candidate for governor of Tokyo. You know, right?"

Shohei was speechless with the small raised corners of his lips. Of course Kei does not know if Akabane Ayumi will be the next target of Black Shadow.

The next day, Shohei comes to Rai's apartment. As usual, the two are devising a strategy to unmask their next target.

"Rai, keep an eye on Akabane Ayumi! Find a gap for us to unravel the ugliness. Our opponent this time is difficult, because he's good at taking the sympathetic public. Society believed in him so much, and his electability continued to skyrocket. For the girl's death, I'll take care of her myself."

"Just calm! I'll go near him tonight. It turned out that the woman often visited a small bar in the Okigubo area." During these two days, Rai disguised himself as a cleaning service in the building where supporters of Ayumi Akabane gathered.

"Bar in the Okigubo area?" Shohei flinched instantly. The reason, he remembered the reports of his men who said that Yamamoto Sasuke was a pramutama bar in the area.

"Tonight he and his supporters will go to Starlit nightclub. I heard they're going to rent the entire second and third floors of that fancy bar" Rai continued.

As the sky began to darken, Yuriko, who had just returned from her campus, came to Shohei's apartment to prepare dinner. He placed his palm on a detection device, so that the elevator access to the floor of the Shohei apartment could open. Upon arriving at the residence on the twentieth floor, he was jolted when he found that Shohei had come home and was sitting on the sofa holding his laptop.

"Konbanwa, Yuriko-san!"

"Kon–ban–wa," he stuttered. After finding out the man he admired had a lover, he could not be as casual as ever. The pain was still in his heart.

"Yuriko-san, you don't need to prepare dinner. I just ordered food."

"Eh?" Yuriko's eyes spontaneously led to the dining table. Yes, there has been neatly arranged serving menu ala resto. Yuriko's body after turning towards the door. "Then ...."

Shohei put the laptop on the table, then stood up. "Let's eat together!"

"Eh?" Yuriko gawked for a moment.

"Ah, let's just say this replaced your dinner that I didn't have time to eat."

"No! Nah! Doesn't matter! Whether you want to eat it or not, it's my duty to cook. You don't have to be that sad!" reject Yuriko while walking backwards.

"Well, I ordered food for the group size. I wanted to invite Rai to join, too, but he has a job tonight. Then pack some of this food for you to bring home!"

"No need to bother!"

"It's okay! You can share with Rai," Shohei said as he picked up a food box to copy the dishes on the table.

This time Yuriko chose silence. How is he infatuated, if the nature and behavior of the man always makes his heart melt.

Suddenly Shohei remembered something he had to check tonight. "Oh, yeah, how about I take you home? Coincidentally, I also want to go to a place that is in line with the location of your apartment."

"Then ... let me wait for Shohei-san to finish eating," Yuriko said.

At nine o'clock in Tokyo, Seina was heading towards her house with a private driver. Suddenly, he remembered the location of the Shohei condominium which turned out to be close to his home. He turned to the window, just as his car was passing by his girlfriend's apartment. However, her pupils widened as soon as she saw Shohei had just walked out of the building with Yuriko.

Seina then looked back quickly and continued to see Shohei who was still walking along with Yuriko to the basement where her car was parked. It makes Seina rewind her memory just as Shohei sucks Yuriko's injured finger.

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