Sumire and Oofuji, the detective behind her, both catch their breath. They're not just affected by Shuto’s words but also by the pressure he’s unconsciously exuding due to his emotional state and the inadvertent activation of his skills.

Shuto is also somewhat intoxicated by his own righteousness. Since the bullying began, he's redefined justice, making it his ideal. After gaining power in the otherworld, he became certain that he could achieve that ideal. He revels in his newfound strength and abilities, believing he’s done nothing wrong. However, only Shuto thinks this way; the adult detectives do not.

"…A typical thought for a boy his age. No, more like immature."

"What was that?"

Shuto reacts to Oofuji's words, glaring at him. Oofuji exhales softly and continues.

"You're still a junior high student…very young. The world is full of unpleasant things that will inevitably befall you.

Bullying is wrong. I understand wanting revenge. But acting on impulse can lead to consequences, as you’ve seen today. What you did could have easily resulted in murder."

"Humph, I wouldn’t have minded if those guys had died."

"…Do you understand what you said?"

"Of course. They're the lowest scum, hurting and framing people without reason. I didn’t kill them in my revenge only because they didn’t kill me. If they’d stabbed me and pushed me to the brink of death, I would have killed them without hesitation."

"And are you willing to become a criminal, spending decades, maybe a lifetime, in prison?"

Sumire intervenes.

"Of course. I believe that revenge is about returning what was done to you, with a little extra."

"Even if it means sacrificing your life…everything?"

"If it saves me, I’d gladly do it." (TN: No doubt. He is a sociopath.)

Both detectives frown at Shuto's unwavering response.

"Don't answer without thinking. You seem to believe you can get away with anything. Assault is a serious crime, even more so when you inflict it on multiple people…"

"I can get away with it. I have incredible power."

"Even as a junior high student, you attend a prestigious school, don’t you? It’s unbelievable that such a student would say something so childish."

"…What’s your problem? When you were a student, you probably had a carefree life, without any unjust bullying, with plenty of friends. You couldn’t understand what it's like to suffer unjust bullying, so you can say such things!"

Shuto averts his gaze from Oofuji, done talking.

(His intellect and mentality are age-appropriate…or maybe below. Arrogant, dislikes being ridiculed, and holds childish ideas…a truly immature child.)

Oofuji excels at judging people, quickly discerning Shuto's immaturity.

"…As Detective Oofuji said, Mitsuki-kun is a minor. It's too soon for you to make such decisions. You should take your time to think about whether what you did was truly right."

"…"

Shuto scoffs inwardly at Sumire's words. He believes he should decide what's right. He dismisses their words. Sumire watches him with mixed feelings.

(...What's important to him? What does this child truly value? If I could understand that, I think I could persuade him better…)

Silently writing in her notebook, Sumire thinks about Shuto.

(Justice... if this is what he values, it's troublesome.... He believes he is justified in eliminating anyone who tries to harm him, regardless of the means.

Many adolescents have destructive tendencies. But most mature and realize that their fantasies are physically and logically impossible. Their destructive thoughts gradually fade. That's ‘normal.’ But…)

Sumire glances at Shuto, noticing a slight sheen of sweat.

(But…the confidence he exudes, the power he supposedly possesses—I haven't witnessed it firsthand—his arrogance and destructive tendencies, the danger he represents…

He might actually fulfill his dangerous desires in the future.

He’s still a teenager, so he has a certain purity. He's likely easily influenced and absorbs things quickly.)

Sumire has dealt with numerous juvenile delinquents, but Shuto might be the most problematic she's ever encountered.

Sumire and Oofuji are unaware of his otherworldly powers, seeing him only as a boastful child, but Sumire suspects everything he said was honest.

As Sumire finishes writing, the phone rings. Oofuji answers and announces it to both of them.

"Your parents have arrived at the station. Even though you contacted their workplaces beforehand, that was fast."

Shuto isn't surprised. They wouldn't leave him at the station. It would also damage their reputation.

"I thought I’d be detained, maybe even sent to juvenile detention."

"Unfortunately, we have no physical evidence that you assaulted the students. We can't send you to juvenile detention without evidence. However, since you confessed, that could certainly change."

You didn't tell me. Shuto thinks angrily.

"Oh, man, I wonder what they’ll say…"

"Just apologize for the worry and trouble you caused. It’s only been an hour since they were contacted. They must have rushed here."

Sumire advises him, but Shuto is worried about something else—how his parents will react to his rapid growth. They haven't seen him since his growth spurt. He regrets that this is how they'll see him again.

"Come on, let's go. The interrogation is over for now. Go home with your parents and have a good talk."

Sumire pats Shuto's back gently. A pleasant scent, not perfume, wafts from her. Shuto glances at her.

(This female detective seems like a decent person. Unlike Sunny from the otherworld, I feel like I could get along with her. She wasn’t condescending and seemed genuinely concerned. She spoke to me at my level…it didn’t feel bad.

That middle-aged detective, though, was a jerk. A self-righteous hypocrite who doesn’t care about the feelings of someone who’s been bullied.)

At this moment, Shuto assigns them value in his mind. Hanamiya Sumire is a good person to be helped if in trouble; Oofuji is useless and doesn't deserve help, even if he's in danger.

Downstairs in the lobby, Shuto sees his father and mother.

First, his mother, Mitsuki Haka Ri, apologizes to Sumire for her son’s actions. Then, she looks at Shuto and her face is one of shock.

Sumire is puzzled by Haka Ri's reaction. Shuto's father, Mitsuki Shoji, only glances at his son with narrowed eyes, silently bowing his head like his wife.

Shoji shows no significant reaction to Shuto's changed appearance, while Haka Ri clearly shows her confusion, repeatedly asking in a low voice, "Is this really Shuto?" It takes her time to realize the boy before her is their son.

"…."

Shoji’s lack of reaction is due to his lack of interest in his son. Since Shuto started junior high, they've rarely seen each other. Even at home, Shoji barely looks at Shuto.

He doesn’t even remember Shuto’s face properly, only registering the growth spurt as, "Something like that."

He is considered far less involved with Shuto compared to his mother.

"Then…that's all."

As soon as the conversation with Sumire ends, Shoji turns and leaves the station. Haka Ri bows to the detectives and urges Shuto to go home, following her husband.

(Ugh…this is going to be a hassle at home. My first family conversation in ages, and it’s going to be annoying.)

Shuto sighs and is about to leave, when Sumire speaks.

"Mitsuki-kun, if you go back to school, please get along with Akemi. And please don't do anything extreme again."

Shuto bows silently and leaves. Sumire watches him, and Oofuji speaks.

"That boy…leaving him unsupervised in the future will be dangerous… We need to consider how to prevent him from committing more crimes. Hanamiya, you seem to be concerned about him."

"Yes…I’ve dealt with many juvenile delinquents, but he was unlike any of them. He…feels different somehow."

Sumire replies, showing some concern about Shuto's future.

(I don't want him to cause any more incidents, but I can’t ignore him either. His parents didn’t seem to get along with him well….

I'm worried about whether he will find the right balance in the future.)

Sumire wonders why she's so concerned. Is it because he attends the same school as her niece Akemi, or is there something else?

(I don't know if I can guide him in the right direction. But I want to make sure he doesn’t go off the rails…if I have any further interaction with him.)

Sumire hopes to meet Shuto again (outside of the interrogation room).

Hanamiya Sumire

27 years old, 169cm tall, Bust: E-cup, a typical hourglass figure, black hair in a ponytail (long enough to reach halfway down her back when let down),

Akemi Hanamiya's aunt (Akemi's mother's sister), recently transferred to Tokyo, Police experience: about 2 years,

Joined the Kendo club in junior high, won the All-Japan University Championship in college, and won awards in the National Sports Festival and the All-Japan Kendo Championships.

Hobbies include watching movies (especially romance).

Has a proven track record of reforming juvenile delinquents, and is highly trusted by her superiors, colleagues, and subordinates.

• The quintessential adult heroine. She'll be appearing again.