Chapter 2: Petals Born on Spring, pt. 2

"Uhm... Ok~" A grin raises in his face as Chimera finishes her torrent of questions, "But only if you promise not to tell the officer lady; she's kinda scary..."

"You see, I'm some kind of vigilante myself, you know? I have tricked multiple crooks and mobsters throughout the years and, well, happen to have helped myself with a bit of their, uh... Illicit fortune." He explains, whispering.

"Of course, if you were to ask them, they'd say that I'm a scammer and robbed them, while they're just innocent businessman... You know, the kind of lie a criminal would say!"

"So, that's how I amassed my humble savings and property! Well, of course, all of that should better be kept out of the official books, you know?" He winks.

"Besides that, my parents came from the countryside, and were very keen themselves... Or so I heard, I never met them. They never bothered registering any documentation on me! Of course, the orphanage I grew up on did instead, but I took care to disappear with everything! You see, as a free spirited man, I don't enjoy having any government or organization keeping tabs on me like..." He then crumbles and sighs miserably, "Like they're doing right now..."

---

On the meanwhile, Shizuka finally leaves for her patrol.

The night seems calm enough, just as she predicted; not that police patrols on the capital where that eventful to start with, not since her father crippled most of the yakuza in it.

When her stomach starts growling and she happily stops to enjoy her mean, she finally meets the night's commotion:

Through the window of a local café, her gaze locks on some shady figures, middle-aged man in extravagant suits and cool hairstyles, having expensive food and drinks, and laughing loudly; the usual suspects!

Suddenly, a young man comes at them, completely unintimidated by their menacing stare. He declares, loud and clear: "Keisuke Nagawa, bounty hunter; your times of dodging the law are over, Kushinaga-san! I've came to enact justice!" He says, before lunging at the man, who look ready for a fight.

For Shizuka's surprise, the time she takes to register and approach the situation is enough for the man to already have taken out the henchman, with graceful Aikido techniques, leaving them on the ground with twisted wrists, being face to face with the older one now.

He grabs the man by his collar and turns to her, as she dashes close, "Oh, great, the police have already arrived. Here miss, you can take him in, he's Itadori Yagazaki, the infamous mobster and smuggler.

As always, you can send all of the bounty money to charity." He says, gently pushing the man to her, with tied wrists, before he starts leaving, just to notice her holding her weapons in their holster and sheath. He stops again.

"Yes? Anything else I can do for you?"

---

Otoya is disarmed by Chimera's question, he stutters a little until he finally admits, "Oh, come on! Presuming that I do, it's way cooler if no one has a clue that I do and, maybe, eventually catch a glimpse of me in the orphanage, sliding some cash to the caretaker or something!"

---

Despite her interest in talking with Otoya during the week, Claude's politeness to not interrupt him while he has work to do really hindered her: he constantly procrastinates most of his duties and never gets to the point where he's free from them, or allowed into the dinning room... He's either sneaking into the kitchen when no one's looking, or someone is sneaking him some meals, she could presume.

Despite the opening play that would happen on the other week, the current weekend would see the theatre having an inauguration ball, which would perfectly fit with Claude's desire to get along with the local aristocracy and to promote the play; of course, she could also make some moves beforehand, to take better advantage of it. On the meanwhile Homura would be appalled to know that Yuki Adachi had received an invitation!

"Hmm... my mistak-" He doesn't end the world, as if repulsed by it, "I see you're new at your job... That oversight is worrying, but passable..."

He turns his back to her and starts, "I, Keisuke Nagawa, have been a blind agent for justice since I was nine years old. As an eagle, I've never ever erred in my hunt, not a single of the criminals I've taken were later proved innocent by court." He slightly turns his head to her, "I hope that suffices..."

He then starts walking away again.

---

Still on Shizuka, later in the week, as she spends her free time working on her barista skills, Mr. Hoshikawa gladly assists her as the, apparent, great coffee master he is, of course, "Now, you must let the water come as closely as possible, but not over, the boiling point... Then, you first pour quickly about a third of the water in the center and wait for most of it to strain; this will add the base of the aroma, the first notes... Then you slowly pour the second third, in gentle circling movements, so the water slides on the filter's walls, absorbing the main body of flavor... Finally, left the last third for pouring after that, quickly; this part is responsible for giving it the sourness at the bottom, so you must not let it take too much time..." He explains, calmly, while making a fine bottle of coffee.

After he finishes that explanation and starts about how a drop or more of liquor can enhance the taste, Shizuka is surprised by the appearance of Otoya, "Ahem... Sorry to disrupt your lessons, Shizuka-chan. I was just thinking: I owe you one for hurting your leg the other day and... Oh no, the kick in the face was wholly justified, hahahaha!! At any rate, I felt like giving this to you." He shows a small wooden box, with ornate wavy corners and a small crank at the side which, once he turned thrice, opens the lid and revels a miniature girl playing a small clavecin, while a simple but sweet melody, with the impressive fact that the girl's arms more or less move and press the right keys for it (not that Shizuka would know that).

---

After a little investigation, Chimera could pinpoint that the shamon-man (who frankly failed to introduce himself, and whose name wasn't ever asked =P) had a little workshop set up in the lower Ginza district, where he repaired violins and some other instruments. She also knows that, after the incidents with him, he humbly requested his violin to be given back to him, which is currently safeguarded on the Steel Petal's headquarter.

He could be find in that minuscule workshop, a mere corridor, separated from the street by curtains, chiseling a small and fine wooden board into a violin body.

---

Picking up to Homura's and Abenanka's flower gazing at Ueno Park, where the partially cloudy sky and the sweet breeze made it a pleasing day.

As the spring have just started, the cherry-trees are packed with flowers, which gently rain upon the onlookers. The place is somewhat packed, by families and young couples, but pockets of quietness could be easily found, with just the occasional group of children passing by, running, as they play.