How...?
How can this be?
So, everyone's off duty today.
Good morning!
Whoops.
What are you doing here, Nanatsuki?
Huh? Where is everyone?
Off duty.
We cleared up that terrorist business,
so I thought we'd better lie low for a while.
Politics, you know.
Oh, you mean me too?
You too.
Now that you mention it, I think you did say something like that.
No use crying over spilled milk.
Well, you're here now.
If you really have nothing to do, would you mind coming with me?
I guess I wouldn't mind.
Thank you.
Just think of it as a little date.
Isn't my superior demanding a date workplace harassment?
Excuse me.
Would you please accompany me, if you don't mind?
I guess so?
"Special 7: Special Crime Investigation Unit"
I'm sure that you and I can both become good guys.
We'll have the strength to protect people
and the strength to fight for others.
We'll be men of justice!
Yeah, me too!
I'll be one too, Luka!
We'll get through life together.
We are brothers, after all.
Yeah!
Luka!
Kujaku!
You look great.
Come hang out with me sometimes.
Sorry. I've had lots to do since I joined the police.
Listen to you.
I bet you're ditching your whole private life.
Honestly, you're hopeless.
Enough about me.
What about you, Kujaku?
What do you mean?
I'm talking about your future.
What are you going to do once you get into university?
That's a secret.
Hey, don't tell me you're planning to follow in my footsteps.
I was thinking I'd like to make a career out of it.
Anything but that.
Having you for a boss would be a nightmare.
Still...
I do want to be like you, Luka.
I'm flattered!
We're almost there.
"Mizuma Family Grave"
Is this it?
That's right.
A former member of Special 7...
He's considered killed in the line of duty.
And was he?
"Mizuma Family Grave" His body was never found.
He went missing in the terrorist attack nine years ago.
Nine years ago...
I want to believe he's alive, but I've almost given up hope.
What was he like?
Like, his name and stuff?
Luka Mizuma.
He was a wonderful officer.
He was courageous, energetic,
had excellent judgment,
and most importantly, he was sincere.
Sincere...
I think that sincerity is the most important quality for a police officer.
If officers become too proud,
people won't be able to trust them... or the law.
I see.
Listen,
the system called "the police" that humanity has made
is a truly wonderful thing.
To carry out justice not for high reward, but for honor and duty.
That is the proof of your wisdom and evolution.
Is it really such a big deal?
I believe it is.
And if possible, I would like you to as well.
After all, it's your duty to control that power.
What power?
You have a mysterious power.
One day, the time will come for you to use it properly.
Do you mean that thing at the mall...?
Maybe you have something else in mind?
You'll be able to understand one day.
That's how fate works.
And when that time comes, you'll have to make a choice.
Um...
To be honest, I have no clue what you mean, Boss.
I suppose not.
Yup, that's how it is.
The weather's lovely today.
Even God would want to take a rest.
Everyone else in Special 7 must be enjoying their day off.
You should rest if you're still sleepy.
Oh, I'm fine.
I'll wake up sooner or later.
Do you want to hear about work?
You came home safe. That's enough for me.
Oh, I'll listen if you want to grumble, though.
Okay, thanks.
How's your hobby going?
My post the other day got the comments section riled up.
What genre is the novel, by the way?
Well...
It's set in a medieval-fantasy-ish world.
It starts just as a villainess is about to come to a bad end, and...
Hmm, I see...
You don't really get it, do you?
As long as you enjoy it, it's fine by me.
Are you done yet, Dad?
Just another three...
...two...
...one...
Done!
Honestly...
Damn it, I really am getting old.
I'd have recovered quicker in my prime.
Just hurry up and get changed.
You smell all sweaty!
Yeah, yeah.
One "yeah" is enough!
I guess I've got another two years of active duty in me.
I hope someone comes along to inherit my skills before then.
Stop staring in the mirror looking gloomy and hurry up!
I know.
Mom will get mad again, you know?
We only get to see each other once a month!
I know, I know!
What did you get into an Elf-Dwarf romance for?
She fell for me.
Mom says you fell for her.
Damn her! We're having words.
What are you two, little kids?
Do you have the present?
Ah...
Hey.
No, I bought it. I did.
I just... don't remember where I put it.
Unbelievable.
All right!
Hello?
Hey there, Belle.
Sorry, this is Ninja.
You're not Ninja now that we're off the clock.
No, right now I'm Ninja!
Oh, you're playing a game?
I'm the best in the world!
Is that so?
Anyway, how about dinner together?
I thought we could eat out.
Okay! I'll head over to your place at dinner time.
Would you like curry? Or maybe Hamburg steak?
Hmm...
Oh!
Fresh spring rolls!
Now there's an idea...
Oh.
--Huh? --Hi there.
What are you doing here?
He's on a date with me.
My condolences.
Oh, I don't mind. I had nothing better to do.
Is that so?
Do you come every month?
No, I've only come once.
How cold-hearted of you.
You said it.
Didn't you bring flowers or anything?
Nothing like that.
--Um... --Yeah?
Nothing.
Just, what was Mizuma like?
He was a cop who stood for justice.
Justice...
Well, justice can mean a lot of things.
You can have self-righteous justice, too.
That's all too common.
But he did his best for victims, confronted people who committed crimes,
and refused to give in to pressure.
I couldn't do that.
Rookie, I'd like a word with Boss.
Yeah?
I'm asking you to give us some space.
Oh, right.
Understood!
What's the matter?
How much do you know about Rookie's power?
Huh?
Nijo?
I wish you wouldn't glare like that.
I've got a fair idea of it.
Is he going to be okay?
That's for him to decide.
All I can do is to watch over him.
"Akayama Cemetery"
Rookie.
Oh, are you done talking?
Yeah.
You know the trials for the terrorist attack nine years ago
will be coming to an end soon?
Yes, I know that much.
I'm betting there will be another incident during it.
So is Public Safety.
Like what happened at that mall?
That's right.
The time that froze nine years ago is going to start moving again.
It scares me to think what will happen when it does.
What's going to happen?
The bank robbery, Hisamichi Goto's terrorist bombings, and the attack on the mall
weren't just Nine devotees acting alone.
They've started to act with a definite purpose.
In which case, something will definitely happen at the next trial.
After all,
it's going to decide the sentence of Nine's leader, Warlock.
They may make a desperate attempt to get him back,
or launch a terrorist attack and make demands.
But there's very little we can do.
Too little.
Public Safety has their eyes on this one.
It's a scramble for credit.
I wish we could all work together to do something about it.
We are all police officers, after all!
We will, someday.
"Someday"? When's that, Boss?
It's someday.
Bye, Dad. We're going to get dinner.
Have fun.
Honestly... No matter how old you get, you never learn to keep neat.
Hey, you're embarrassing me.
Thanks.
Now, I'd better grab a bite myself.
"Vietnamese food" What do I feel like today...?
Hmm...
I'm going out to dinner.
Have a nice time.
I'm going to borrow Akane.
Make sure you bring her back; she means a lot to me.
Oh, you!
I didn't expect you to call for me so late.
Have I ever told you why I deal in information?
No.
Our world is filled with deceit.
We humans,
including rare races like elves, dwarves, and vampires, of course,
have come to feel as if we rule this world,
but that's a delusion.
I want to know the truth.
By gathering information about you,
I will inevitably reach that truth.
Well then.
It's all in the basement.
Take a look.
Kujaku Nijo will make a choice.
Will you fall to evil, or submit to good?
Whichever you choose,
it will be useful to me.
I'm sure it was right around--
--Whoa! --Whoops. Excuse--
Oh, my.
Huh?
Fresh spring rolls!
All right then, it's time we got going.
I guess you're right.
I'm starving, for one thing.
What, you're hungry?
Fine. It won't kill me to act on a whim every once in a while.
What are you trying to sound fancy for?
I'm saying it's my treat.
For real?! Are you running a fever?
Okay, deal's off.
Oh, no, just kidding.
As your junior officer, I'd be happy to accept your offer!
Thank you. What a welcome surprise.
You pay for yourself.
I'm only treating Rookie.
That's too bad.
Oh, can I invite Nijo, too?
Fine by me. He won't come, though.
So, what are we going to eat?
Vietnamese. I feel like pho today.
What's pho?
Rice noodle soup.
Pho...
Doesn't ring any bells?
You've never had pho?
I've only had ramen.
How basic can you get?
All right, let's go.
Pho! I can hardly wait.
You expect me to believe that?
I figured you wouldn't.
But you never lie.
If you doubt me, bring Shiori Ichinose.
You can use his power to discern the truth to check if I'm lying.
If this is correct,
then Special 7... is finished.
Exactly. The countdown has already begun.
Now, what will you do?
I...
Don't use a hasty decision as an excuse.
Think it over carefully.
Where are you going?
Goodbye, Kujaku Nijo.
Huh.
Oh.
Well now.
Ah!
I really felt like fresh spring rolls today.
Me too.
I'm here for pho.
Pho!
If Nijo were here, we'd have all of Special 7.
I told you he won't come.
I told you I invited him.
He texted me that he's coming.
Do you guys get along now?
No, not at all.
Yes, we don't get along well at all. What about it?
Whoa! You startled me!
Now this is a weird combination.
Kindly drop that probing look.
Am I the last one here?
This isn't like you.
Once in a while won't kill me.
Call it a whim.
A lot of people are having whims today.
Fresh spring rolls for everyone before the pho.
You got it, Ichinose honey.
What?!
Will you treat us, Boss?
Sure!
I'll treat all of you to mark the occasion.
Lucky! Thanks for the food, then, Boss.
You don't miss a beat, huh?
All right then, give us the most expensive thing on the menu!
Enough for all of us!
Shrimp and avocado bánh xèo , please.
A large order of mì Quảng .
Cơm gà for four! Vietnamese curry, mild!
Steamed whole squid.
I'll have the bún bò Huế .
Seriously?
Cheers!
Oh, it looks delicious!
Listen,
try to savor it a bit more.
Thank you for the meal!
"File.07" "The Seventh Day is for Idleness"
So, this is it.
The flames are intense.
Even my lungs must be burned.
I hope that kid is safe, at least.
You...!
Congratulations, survivor.
I went looking for stubbornly struggling vital responses,
and it looks like I hit the jackpot.
You bastard!
Surprised?
This is the power of magic, the blood of the dragons.
Dragons...
I planned to offer up a lot of sacrifices, but I got less than I expected.
Why? Because the police took action.
Because Special 7 took action.
Because you acted boldly, swiftly, and resolutely, most of my sacrifices got away!
I guess I can't expect everything to go my way.
Still, it wasn't a total loss.
Yes...
I gained this, for instance.
You don't know, do you?
The blood of dragons will grant you immortality.
Immortality...
Still, even so...
A single drop will only give you a few seconds of relief.
At this rate, you'll die.
S-So... what...?
Humans are funny things.
They'll accept death due to their own weakness...
...but when someone they care about dies because of them,
their hearts break.
Stop! Please!
Don't hurt my brother! My partner!
Absolutely! Just do as I tell you!
Don't worry; I'll use magic on you right away!
Magic to erase your pangs of conscience!
Next time: "The Eight-Foot Escape Route."