Ending the Omnipotence Paradox

Chapter 3

The day went pretty much as Officer Hanashiro had said it would, but Kogami was still surprised by how busy he'd stayed from the moment he walked into headquarters that morning. Compared to the lesser developed countries he had taken refuge in over the years, being back reminded him how much faster the pace of life in Tokyo is and it made his head spin. While he didn't doubt his expertise in combat or investigation, he hoped life behind a desk would come back to him more naturally than it felt it would.

After getting his security clearance and preliminary health assessment done, Hanashiro took him to the housing department where he received documentation for his newly assigned residence. Of which he'd deemed too spacious and far too immaculate for his needs the moment he had stepped through the door.

Using the funds loaded under his new employment identification, he splurged on something to eat from a nearby street vendor and found his way to a local market where he purchased two cartons of his preferred brand of cigarettes and enough groceries to last him a few days.

And then like most nights, he found sleep elusive despite his unusually comfortable surroundings.

He took the opportunity to go through the files Frederica had sent to his device earlier that day, spending hours meticulously reading every detail until his eyes began to blur from concentration and he'd indulged in more than his fair share of nicotine vice. After doing a rigorous circuit of calisthenics in hope of tiring himself out, he decided to shower; the clean, heated water that fell over his skin more soothing than he'd been able to enjoy in recent memory. He finally dozed off for a fitful couple of hours rest as the sun began to once again light up the horizon. The routine would set in before too long, this was just another change he'd have to get used to being back in a controlled society.

It didn't take him long to settle into his desk in the Suppressing Action Department on the fourteenth floor and at five till 0900, Hanashiro called over to let him know where they would be meeting with Director Yabuki.

Being introduced to his new superior went quickly but easily, the man seeming both practical and enigmatic. Kogami wasn't surprised to hear that he would mostly be answering to Officer Hanashiro for most day-to-day operations, but he was intrigued when the director didn't bring up any actions of his past or recent fugitive status. His two superordinates began discussing the upcoming assignment that SAD was advising on and he found himself almost hopeful that the decision to return had been the right one. The director was soon called away to begin greeting the other cabinets for the impending collaborative meeting, reminding Kogami that soon he could very well come face to face with some of the teammates he'd left behind.

Frederica led him to a spacious conference room with a panoramic view of downtown where they proceeded to be served coffee as they sat at a plain, oversized table to await the arrival of others.

As much as he'd thought he didn't need to prepare himself, he wasn't ready when his former Inspector walked through the doors of the conference room he sat in. Followed closely by Ginoza and Kunizuka, she greeted Director Yabuki and Officer Hanashiro cordially before looking around at the others around the lengthy table. Her gaze froze on him from across the room, the surprise evident on her face. Noticing her sudden change in demeanor, Ginoza's expression tightened as it met his with a mix of suspicion and consternation. He dipped his head down to whisper something in the Inspector's ear, her eyes fluttering closed briefly before she nodded slowly, taking a deep breath and not looking at Kogami again.

'Guess Hanashiro didn't feel the need to tell my former colleagues about her new hire,' he thought to himself with a rueful smirk, unsure whether to be upset or pleased about her oversight as the PSB agents were instructed to sit so the interdepartmental discussion could begin.

Throughout the meeting, Kogami's attention was drawn back to her - not only because she was giving valuable feedback in the conversation, but because Akane refused to look back at him at all. Ginoza on the other hand seemed to be having a hard time not staring at his former friend, the menacing glares he threw at the detective enough to keep the tension between them palpable.

Obviously, the Enforcer was not pleased with his unexpected presence; but Ko couldn't be concerned with him now, finally finding his voice to ask a question of the younger Inspector.

"Inspector Tsunemori, from reading over the dossier on this upcoming joint mission," he began as her attention slid hesitantly to where he sat, her eyes careful to not meet his again. "It seems a fair amount of reconnaissance went into the information that's being shared here today. Am I mistaken that most of it was compiled by your team, perhaps even by you specifically?"

Her eyes snapped to his again finally, the realization that he still knew her investigation style after all this time flashing in her bewildered gaze.

"I can't think of any reason why answering that question would be pertinent to this meeting, Mr. Kogami," she rebuffed, her expression changing to one of distrust.

"Because Inspector, if your team has been primarily responsible for the assembly of this data, shouldn't it be another agency's turn to step up for the next phase?"

"You're exactly right, Officer Kogami," Frederica responded as he and Akane watched each other for a few more moments. He could vaguely hear Frederica taking over the next part of the committee's discussion, knowing that she was presenting the plan for how Foreign Affairs would assist in the mission he had memorized just hours before from this point.

Akane scrutinized him intently and he wished he could read her mind at that moment. But that time, when her attention turned away from him, neither her nor Ginoza looked his way again.