My Boss, A Clear And Perfect Beauty Who's An Elite Police Bureaucrat, Turns Out To Be My Sweet And Doting Childhood Friend Who Loves Me Dearly At Home. - Chapter 3

The Past Incident

Shinichi said to Maho.

“Of course, I’ll keep our childhood friendship a secret in front of the other detectives.”

“That’s right… It would cause trouble.”

Maho spoke softly.

She seemed like a completely different person compared to when she was confidently leading the investigation meeting.

“I was surprised to learn that you were a career-track police bureaucrat, Akinaga-san.”

“I didn’t know you were a detective either.”

“That’s because we didn’t talk about it. There are 40,000 police officers in the Metropolitan Police Department, so it’s not strange not to notice.”

“… It’s been eight years since we last met.”

“To be precise, wasn’t it six years ago at our coming-of-age ceremony?”

“We didn’t exchange a single word that time, did we?”

“Was that the case?”

“You remember it, don’t you?”

The reason the two became estranged was an incident in which Maho’s younger sister, Rikako, who was six years younger than her, was kidnapped.

Shinichi was close to Maho’s family, and elementary school-aged Rikako was also fond of him.

So, one day, Shinichi went to an amusement park with Maho and Rikako. He thought they had a great time.

At that time, Shinichi liked Maho.

She was a beautiful girl, kind, and incredibly smart…

Maho seemed to be uncomfortable with men other than Shinichi and didn’t let them get close to her.

Since the cute childhood friend was kind to only him, there was no way a simple high school boy wouldn’t fall in love with her.

He intended to confess his feelings before graduating.

However, the incident happened on the way back, on a dark street at night.

While Maho was away at the restroom, men appeared and kidnapped Rikako.

Maho and Rikako’s family was a well-known, wealthy food manufacturer in Nagoya.

That’s why Rikako was kidnapped for ransom.

Shinichi couldn’t do anything.

All he could do was watch as Rikako was shoved into the car and cried out for “Shinichi-oniichan” to help her.

In front of the burly men, Shinichi’s legs trembled, and he couldn’t move.

Now it’s different.

Shinichi is a detective. However, back then, Shinichi was just an ordinary high school boy.

After that, there was a great commotion, and of course, the police conducted an investigation.

However, the prefectural police’s investigation was full of mishaps, and they even made the mistake of letting the criminals escape at the ransom handover site.

Neither Shinichi nor Maho could face what had happened.

Their younger sister was kidnapped because of them.

That’s when Maho fiercely blamed Shinichi.

If she hadn’t done that, she probably wouldn’t have been able to suppress her guilt.

A week later, Rikako was released.

It was a miracle that she was alive, but Rikako had suffered indelible physical and emotional scars.

Then, Shinichi and Maho cut off contact with each other.

“Rikako is doing well now. She’s already a college student.”

“I see. That’s natural, considering it’s been eight years.”

“So, Shinichi, don’t worry about it. You’re not responsible for what happened back then.”

“I can’t help but feel that way.”

“Is that why you became a police officer?”

“Well…”

The direct trigger for Shinichi to become a police officer was when he got to know a detective after his bicycle was stolen.

However, the impact of Rikako’s kidnapping was, of course, significant.

“I became a police officer because of my sister’s kidnapping.”

Maho stated clearly.

“I thought so.”

“If it wasn’t for that incident… Rikako would have been happier, and you and I would have…”

She might have wanted to say that they could have remained close childhood friends.

But I think that’s not the case.

From the beginning, Shinichi and Maho were people from different worlds.

Maho was beautiful, the daughter of a prestigious family, and a talented woman who could even get into the University of Tokyo.

She was different from the ordinary Shinichi.

Looking back, it seems inevitable that Maho and Shinichi would become estranged.

Eventually, they arrived at Sakuradamon.

“Here is fine. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. …I’m looking forward to Superintendent Akinaga’s investigation skills.”

Shinichi smiled, and Maho chuckled in response.

“See you later.”

With that, Maho got out of the patrol car.

Thanks to a chance encounter, Shinichi and Maho were no longer estranged. However, Maho was still a distant figure.

Maho, who was in charge of dozens and hundreds of people as an executive, was a high-ranking police officer. Shinichi was a plain detective.

Their paths would no longer cross.

Or so it seemed.

At that time, Shinichi had no idea that he would end up room-sharing with Maho due to a chance encounter.