Tokyo: Rabbit Officer and Her Evil Partner

Retribution comes too fast, Minamoto Tamako is a bit caught off guard.

She just finished an ice cream scoop when a sensation of fullness hit her lower abdomen, with pain radiating to her waist, legs, and inner thighs, making her feel like her lower half was collapsing.

No more, I can't eat anymore...

If I keep eating, I might not be able to work tomorrow.

Minamoto Tamako put the remaining limited edition blueberry chocolate ice cream back in the fridge, planning to eat it when she felt better tomorrow night. Fushimi Roku reminded her again that the fresh milk would spoil by tomorrow, so it would be best to finish it today.

"No worries, my stomach is strong... Besides, this is your heartfelt gift, how can I waste it?" Minamoto Tamako didn't heed the warning and returned to her room clutching her stomach.

Fushimi Roku didn't mind; he enjoyed his rare leisure time, transforming into a couch potato glued to the TV.

Taira Sakurako had also finished her ice cream, but she wanted another, so she set her sights on the ice cream scoop Minamoto Tamako had put in the fridge.

But she knew Minamoto Tamako would never give up that ice cream—Super Frutto's limited edition ice cream was super hard to get. Many customers queued even before dawn; if you missed the relaxation day, you'd have to wait until next year, and you might not get it then either.

For Fushimi Roku, a super lazy person like him, to line up for hours to buy these few ice creams meant he was probably lucky to get the last few... Understandably, Minamoto Tamako treasured that frozen cream sweet to the utmost.

After tasting it, Taira Sakurako realized how delicious it was. If she'd known, she would've asked Fushimi Roku to buy another one; eating just one wasn't enough!

She sneakily got up and pretended to tidy up the coffee table, stacking the ice containers together, taking them to the kitchen to wash and dry them, and then quietly opened the fridge.

A warm yellow light shone on Taira Sakurako's face, cool mist spread everywhere, she stared in awe at the top glass shelf, where the ice cream shone like a dragon's treasure under the fridge light.

Slurp.

Taira Sakurako licked her lips, nervously peeked, confirming Fushimi Roku was still watching TV, seemingly unaware of her little actions; Minamoto Tamako was resting in her room, it was the perfect time to sneak a bite!

But she knew in her heart, stealing was wrong.

If Minamoto Tamako found out she stole something, she'd be very angry and disappointed—she could imagine Minamoto Tamako saying something like, 'Sneaking a bite is minor; loss of dignity is major,' 'If you want to eat, just tell me, why steal?' 'Sakurako, how did you become a thief?'...

For a moment, Taira Sakurako was caught in an internal struggle.

She recalled Fushimi Roku's teaching: as long as you're not discovered, it doesn't count as stealing; and even if you are, find a way to argue...

In less than three seconds, Taira Sakurako devised a perfect stealing plan:

—Scoop out the inside of the ice cream ball, fill it with milk and blueberry juice, with the opening facing up. Soon, the milk and blueberry juice would freeze, making it indiscernible from the outside.

When Minamoto Tamako tastes it tomorrow and finds the taste off, she might just think it's because the fresh milk expired.

Taira Sakurako thought this plan killed two birds with one stone: it satisfied her cravings and prevented Minamoto Tamako from getting a stomach ache... The milk and blueberry juice she refilled would definitely last a day in the fridge without going bad.

She almost convinced herself.

If it were Fushimi Roku, an action with such benefits and little harm, he'd absolutely do it without hesitation.

But she ultimately wasn't Fushimi Roku, she couldn't deceive herself, stealing is stealing, even if it's a righteous act, it's still stealing, no way around it. If she did such a thing, she'd feel guilty facing Minamoto Tamako.

Taira Sakurako quietly shut the fridge door and walked back to her room with a solemn expression.

Between conscience and ice cream, she chose a middle ground.

"Uhm," Taira Sakurako cleared her throat and mumbled, "Can I have some more dessert?"

"No, you won't have appetite for dinner if you eat at night." Minamoto Tamako curled up in the quilt, only her head poking out, looking like a huge snail.

"I promise to finish it all, there won't be leftovers at dinner." Taira Sakurako tried to negotiate.

"Really?" Minamoto Tamako turned over, "Then do as you like."

"Really do as I like?" Taira Sakurako quietly confirmed.

"Don't eat too much." Minamoto Tamako, clutching a hot water bottle, lay on the bed, her mind a complete blur, thinking Taira Sakurako just wanted some cookies or candy, unaware that her close friend was eyeing her precious ice cream.

"Okay!"

Taira Sakurako felt elated, she intentionally didn't clarify, if Minamoto Tamako misunderstood, that was her issue... Anyway, she had asked and got Minamoto Tamako's affirmation, so it wasn't stealing.

She openly opened the fridge, washed a spoon, and finished the last blueberry chocolate ice cream in the living room, feeling her stomach pleasantly cool.

How comfortable.

When it was dinnertime, Taira Sakurako kept her promise, completely finishing her meal, and even helped clean the dishes and trash to avoid Minamoto Tamako discovering anything amiss in the fridge.

Fushimi Roku noticed, but he didn't say anything. Stealing an ice cream, what a big deal, at most Minamoto Tamako will complain a couple of times.

After dinner, the three of them went back to their respective rooms to rest.

Before going to bed, Minamoto Tamako expressed her gratitude to Sakurako. She felt that Sakurako's initiative in ordering bento, tidying up the dishes, and cleaning the trash was her way of taking care of her during her period, which made her particularly touched.

"It's nothing, it's what I should do," Taira Sakurako said as she lay down, turned to her side, and faced away from Minamoto Tamako. "It's getting late, I have school tomorrow, go to sleep."

Minamoto Tamako said 'Good night', closed her eyes. She also had to work the next day, and the day after tomorrow was Fujiwara Homare's trial. Truly, when it rains, it pours. She planned to rest well, so at least she could attend the trial.

Nothing happened overnight.

The next morning, Minamoto Tamako's condition improved a lot.

She usually only had stomach pains on the first day of her period, after which she felt much better. Apart from some emotional fluctuations, she was mostly back to normal.

"Stop sleeping! Get up and take Sakurako to school!"

After washing up and getting dressed, Minamoto Tamako called Fushimi Roku to get up and take Taira Sakurako to school. Anyway, Fushimi Roku didn't have work, staying at home meant he should do something, right?

She already compensated him yesterday for what was needed. With her excellent massage techniques, surely Mr. Fushimi had recovered almost completely. She wasn't forcing Mr. Fushimi to work, just to take Sakurako to school. He could sleep after coming back, surely this small task was doable?

Fushimi Roku turned over in bed. He wasn't fully rested yet and, with his leg injury, he really wanted to dodge this task. But Minamoto Tamako wouldn't take no for an answer. Only after he groggily got up, opened the door, did Minamoto Tamako take her briefcase, adjusting her tie as she left: "There's breakfast on the table. Make sure she eats. I'm off to work!"

"Oh," Fushimi Roku yawned.

"Oh? Just an 'oh'?" Minamoto Tamako raised her eyebrows slightly, thinking of how hard she worked to earn money just to pay Fushimi Roku's rent, feeling like she was just working for Fushimi Roku... and now as she was leaving for work, he only gives an 'oh'!

She was in her period, and her emotions were quite volatile, even a small spark could explode.

"Thank you for your hard work... please do your best today too..." Fushimi Roku said weakly.

Minamoto Tamako snorted, thinking that was more like it. Her tone softened, asking Fushimi Roku what he wanted for dinner so she could pick up groceries on her way back from work.

Fushimi Roku casually brushed it off with a few words and sent Minamoto Tamako on her way, then turned to ask Taira Sakurako: "Can you go to school by yourself?"

Taira Sakurako was already dressed in her Waseda Industrial Primary School uniform, wearing a little yellow cap, and carrying a big red backpack with an alarm on the side that could sound a siren with a pull.

Just from her appearance, she was already an adorable proper elementary school student!

If Taira Sakurako was left to walk alone, she might attract some creep... thinking of this, Fushimi Roku felt a bit irresponsible.

"No problem."

Taira Sakurako pulled a fruit knife from her uniform pocket, pulled up the scarf stuffed in her collar, covering half her face, immediately turning her from a proper grade-schooler to a grade-schooler assassin.

"Forget it, I'll take you,"

Fushimi Roku said blankly, confiscating her fruit knife.

As usual, he had to take a wheelchair when going out, so nominally he was taking Taira Sakurako to school, but in reality, Taira Sakurako was pushing him to school.

Even sitting still, he had to complain a bit: "Isn't there a school bus? Such a short distance, don't teachers guide students when going to and from school? I see it on TV shows!"

Taira Sakurako pushed as she said: "All the classmates go to and from school in private cars, so the school simply canceled the school bus and teacher escort services."

"Darn capitalists!" Fushimi Roku cursed fiercely.

Then he realized, it seemed a bit special that Taira Sakurako was pushing him to school. All her classmates took private cars, and she was pushing her paralyzed brother to school, she might get isolated or ridiculed.

Hmm, it felt like some sort of guilt.

Fushimi Roku simply stated this, and then said: "If you want to ride in a car, I can secretly hire a private driver, but you need to find a way to keep it from Minamoto Tamako. If she finds out, I won't be able to explain where the money came from..."

"No need," Taira Sakurako interrupted.

"Oh? Have you become capable of normal social interaction?" Fushimi Roku worried about her old issues flaring up: "What if someone verbally attacks you? Can you handle it?"

"I am confident I can integrate well with peers on my own," Taira Sakurako said earnestly.

"Really?"

Fushimi Roku was very surprised, a feeling of parental pride welled up inside him.

But then he thought again and had some concerns, Taira Sakurako didn't seem to have much charisma... she wasn't even psychologically sound. How could she blend in with kids her age?