Deep beneath Shinjuku lay Ground Base, the stronghold of the UCIA Japan Branch. Inside the Director’s office, Hardy was reviewing a multitude of data, occasionally glancing up at the ceiling. Then, there was a knock on the door.
“Come in.”
It was Kamikura. With a grim expression, he walked straight up to Hardy’s desk.
“What is the meaning of this? Why was Himemiya assigned to the UCIA? I heard nothing about this.”
Kamikura glared at Hardy with a piercing stare. Hardy took a sip of the coffee resting on her desk.
“Do you think I have the authority over UCIA personnel? Himemiya’s recruitment was decided by the higher-ups. If you have a complaint, go take it up with the Pentagon.”
“…Don’t screw with me. Send her back to the FBI. She doesn’t belong here at the UCIA.”
“…Well, she is a sweet girl. I read the report from the FBI. It stated she possesses extraordinary intuition, which has contributed to solving numerous cases. It seems you’ve also had your life saved on various occasions thanks to that.”
“Are we so desperate for personnel that we have to rely on something so uncertain? I’ll say it again: send Himemiya back to the FBI. She is not a soldier!”
Kamikura raised his voice.
“And as I just said, her assignment to the UCIA is a decision from above. We’re already treating you with exceptional hospitality here. Even we are kept in the dark about the details of the incidents you were involved in.”
“…What are you trying to say?”
“You know what CODE:AW really is, don’t you?”
Hardy stared at Kamikura with an icy gaze. But Kamikura glared right back at her as he continued.
“…I know nothing about that.”
“Is that really true?”
The two glared at each other. For a moment, time seemed to stand still as neither of them moved an inch.
“…Well, fine. I have a fair idea of which agency you used to belong to, and I have a grasp of what happened there. I understand your concern for Himemiya. However, the fact of her assignment cannot be changed, and I cannot send her back to the FBI. Let me make that perfectly clear.”
“……”
“One more thing. I don’t know what happened, but refrain from acting recklessly on your own. Unless you want to repeat the same mistakes…”
After a brief moment, Kamikura left the Director’s office without a word.
“…Good grief, we have too many problem children here. It gives me a headache…”
Hardy muttered to herself with a sigh, gazing at the personnel data displayed on her monitor…