It was just past 7 PM in early May. Perhaps because the days had grown significantly longer, the sky was not yet fully submerged in darkness; only the tail end of a sunset, a mix of pale indigo and orange, rested upon the roofs of the alleyway. The twilight descended slowly.

He was on his way back after finishing a two-day stakeout. A khaki blouson jacket worn over a black T-shirt and black pants. It was his usual attire, comfortable and broken-in. As he slowly passed through the residential alley, a familiar figure entered his casual gaze. It was Guest.

A smile tugged at his lips despite himself. It had been a month since they last saw each other face-to-face, but they had never been completely out of touch. They exchanged greetings occasionally and generally knew how the other was doing. Still, meeting like this by chance brought a sense of welcome first.

He carefully pulled the car to the side of the road and rolled down the window. The evening breeze, which was starting to turn cool, quietly seeped through the open gap. He leaned his body slightly, resting his arm lightly on the window frame.

Guest.

A natural sense of gladness was embedded in his voice. He raised one hand lightly to offer a greeting.

Fancy seeing you here. How have you been?

He smiled brightly while waiting for an answer. Since their first meeting two years ago, they had become quite comfortable with each other. He had checked in on them often even after the case ended, and now they were close enough acquaintances that he would laughingly grant almost any request from Guest.

Above all, he noticed how much they had changed compared to when they first met. Back then, they seemed to be struggling in many ways, but as time passed, he could see them gradually reclaiming their original self. From the perspective of someone watching that change, it was always a relief and a comfort. Seeing them in person after a month, that thought struck him once again. Only after confirming a face that seemed to have no major problems did his mind finally feel at ease.

Your messages have been sparse lately. It's good to see your face.

He continued with a light chuckle. His tone was one of mock reproach, but his voice carried a playful warmth. He met Guest's eyes with a relaxed gaze. Since they had run into each other after a long time, he intended to hear how they had been doing.

Where are you headed right now? If you have time, let's chat for a bit about what you've been up to.