"You’re wrong! I didn't—a robbery? I didn't do anything like that!"
"A robbery...?"
Yugo frowned, muttering the alarming word under his breath as it spilled from the tearful En’s lips.
She was desperately pleading her innocence, but the men in Security Force uniforms standing before her seemed to have closed their ears to her cries.
"Don't play games with us. There’s been a string of muggings in this area recently. What’s more, we have eyewitness reports placing you at several of the scenes."
"It would be in your best interest to just admit to your crimes now. You really did it, didn't you?"
"I didn't! I would never do something like that!"
"In that case, why don't you tell us what you were doing when the crimes took place? And feel free to mention if there’s anyone who can actually vouch for your alibi."
"But... it was the middle of the night! I was at home sleeping, obviously! I live alone, so there’s no way I could have someone prove my whereabouts...!"
"See? Just as I thought. You really are the culprit, aren't you!?"
The Security Force members pressed their accusations with harsh, overbearing tones, seemingly convinced of her guilt.
While their confidence likely came from the eyewitness reports, Melt, being En’s friend, couldn't stand by and watch them brand her a criminal without a second thought.
"Wait a minute! You can't just decide En is the culprit like that! That’s completely unfair!"
"Ah, Melt!"
"Hmm? And who might you be...?"
The Security Force members shot suspicious looks at Melt as she cut into their heated interrogation. Undeterred, the indignant girl stepped forward to confront the officers.
"En is a normal girl who works hard at her job! To just decide she's a criminal and harass her like this... don't you have any shame!?"
"Melt...!"
En’s voice caught in her throat, clearly moved by Melt’s bravery in standing up to the guards on her behalf.
However, the Security Force members merely dismissed her words with a derisive snort.
"Judging by that uniform, you're a student at Luminous Academy. Why don't you let the adults handle this? This is a job for professionals, so stay out of it."
Of the two guards, the middle-aged man who appeared to be the senior officer spoke down to Melt with mocking condescension.
Melt opened her mouth to snap back at him, but the cafe Master stepped in, cutting her off to join the fray.
"Rommelo, was it? Sorry, but I don't believe En is your thief, either. This girl is a hard worker who helps with the opening prep from the crack of dawn and cleans the place top to bottom before heading home after closing. Just because she has a record doesn't mean you get to pin this on her."
Protesting while glaring down the officers with his intimidating, rugged face, the Master succeeded in making the guards flinch.
Even so, the middle-aged man called Rommelo refused to back down from his aggressive stance.
"That doesn't change anything! As it stands, she is our primary suspect! To conduct a formal interrogation, we'll be taking her into custody!"
"That’s insane! If you take En away, you'll just keep cornering her until she admits to something she didn't do! There’s no way we're handing her over when we know you're just going to force a confession out of her!"
"The young lady is right," the Master added. "As her employer, I can't hand her over to people like you."
Rommelo and his partner were determined to detain En, while Melt and the Master were just as determined to protect her. Neither side showed any sign of retreating as they remained locked in a tense standoff.
In the middle of this, Yugo had completely missed his chance to join the conversation. Just as he was beginning to feel a strange sense of alienation, a new voice echoed from behind him.
"Why don't you leave it at that, Rommelo? Honestly, you’re being a bit too heavy-handed."
"Hmm? You're...!"
Yugo reacted with a start, turning around to see a middle-aged man standing there. He had a somewhat disheveled air about him, yet he radiated an undeniable sense of good nature.
As Rommelo let out a bitter groan at the sound of the newcomer's name, Yugo felt a prickle of recognition.
"Jinba, huh? What’s your angle here? Are you planning to shield a criminal?"
"Right now, we don't actually know if this girl is a criminal or not. Without any decisive evidence, we don't have the authority to take her in by force. I think it would be best if you withdrew for the time being."
"Tch...! Fine, we're leaving. But mark my words—I'll find the proof that shows you're guilty."
With his momentum crushed by Jinba's arrival, Rommelo clicked his tongue and spat out a final warning to En before walking away.
The situation had been settled—more or less. Yugo, who hadn't actually done anything but felt strangely exhausted nonetheless, let out a sigh of relief. It was then that Jinba called out to him.
"I didn't expect to run into you in a place like this. Seems like you’ve been caught up in another strange mess, Blaster boy."
"Huh? Uh... wait... Ah!"
The man clearly knew him, and the fact that he knew about the Blaster meant he wasn't an acquaintance of the "Yugo" from before his reincarnation. Yugo searched his memories for the man's identity... and it suddenly clicked.
"You! You’re that Security Force captain from the Skull Incident...!"
"So you did remember me. It’s a bit strange, but it seems fate has tied our paths together."
He hadn't recognized him immediately because his clothes were so different from his Security Force uniform, but Jinba was indeed the captain who had fought alongside him against the Bull Golems.
Between the accusations against En and this sudden reunion, a flood of information was hitting Yugo all at once. Jinba laughed understandingly at the boy's confused reaction and addressed the group.
"It sounds like things have become quite complicated. To get our facts straight, why don't we sit down and talk for a while?"