The young police officer rushed in, his forehead dripping with sweat and his eyes filled with anxiety.
"Officer Jason! Officer Jason!"
Urashima repeatedly called out upon seeing Jason.
The already swift pace quickened further.
The young officer reached to grab Jason’s arm, but Jason smoothly avoided it.
Urashima stumbled, nearly falling over.
The elder Monk from Tongshou Temple reached out to steady him.
"Don’t rush, take your time to talk," the Monk said kindly.
His voice was gentle, carrying a soothing quality.
The young officer took a deep breath and began to speak slowly.
"Here’s what happened—"
After firmly declining another late-night kindness of going to ’Glowing Cuisine,’ Urashima went straight home last night.
A hot bath and warmed milk made Urashima appreciate the finest aspects of human life.
With nothing special happening, and once his hair was dry, Urashima fell into a deep sleep.
That was his usual waking time.
After a bit of stretching, Urashima began his exercise routine: jogging.
It was a habit he had cultivated since his student days.
Similarly, there were quite a few others with the same habit.
Therefore, Urashima also had quite a few jogging friends.
However, lately everyone seemed to be busy, leaving only a young girl named Yukiko who insisted on exercising with him every day.
Yukiko was a university student at a nearby college.
To make working easier, she did not stay in the school dorms, instead renting a studio apartment nearby, not in the same residential complex as Urashima’s but still a short distance away.
Yukiko in her white sportswear greeted Urashima cheerfully.
Her smile was friendly and buoyant.
As beautiful as ever.
"Morning, Yukiko," Urashima responded with a smile.
To a beautiful lady, especially the younger ones, few men could resist.
And Urashima was no exception.
However, Urashima was self-aware.
He clearly knew what he could and could not do.
Therefore, he refrained from contemplating any unnecessary thoughts.
He simply regarded Yukiko as a jogging companion.
"Shall we start?" Urashima asked.
"Sure, a steady 5km run!"
Yukiko nodded, and then she was the one to call the start.
The two of them took off at the same time.
There was no race, no competition.
Just the companionship during mutual training.
Under such circumstances, chatting naturally became part of the routine.
Urashima would share some work-related stories.
They were the kind that didn’t break any rules but could raise awareness.
Yukiko talked about campus life.
However, today was slightly different.
"Urashima, do you remember Ashi?" Yukiko asked.
"The girl with the ponytail who’s good at sports?" Urashima inquired.
Ashi was Yukiko’s schoolmate, extremely athletic, participating in clubs like sprinting and high jump, and was somewhat famous in Yukiko’s university, rumored to have won a full scholarship.
She had also jogged with him a couple of times.
She was truly impressive.
He was no match at all.
After being pulled into her pace, he would be huffing and puffing within minutes, forced to give up.
Perhaps because of this, the girl named Ashi didn’t seek him out for jogging anymore after the second time.
"She’s recently run into a bit of trouble," Yukiko nodded with a hesitant expression.
Urashima had seen such hesitation far too often.
It was the same with every person who came to him seeking help.
"Don’t worry," he reassured.
"I will do my utmost to help her."
"What seems to be the problem?"
Urashima wore a gentle smile.
He was reassuring Yukiko, hoping she would tell him clearly and in detail what had happened.
Only then could he better assist the girl named Ashi.
"It seems Ashi is being bothered by someone."
"She says they’re relatives, but I don’t think so."
"Those people look really menacing," Yukiko said.
"After we finish running, I’ll handle it," Urashima said with a slight sigh of relief.
He had thought it was something more serious.
Good-looking girls always encounter troubles .
But, were those guys too bold?
Daring to harass students at a school?
Or was it that Ashi had somehow fallen into their clutches?
Though still somewhat a rookie, having worked beside Ryosuke, Urashima had seen quite a few incidents.
Such lowlifes usually wouldn’t dare to cross certain lines.
It’s not so-called ’faith’ or ’righteousness’ that stopped them.
Simply put, they couldn’t afford the consequences.
So, if they crossed the line,
It was definitely for a reason.
And whatever it was, Urashima planned to intervene.
After all, a girl like Ashi tangled up with those thugs definitely wouldn’t end well.
Her whole life could easily be torn apart.
The worst part was, a fate worse than death.
Perhaps hearing Urashima’s assurance, Yukiko seemed visibly relieved.
Yukiko’s smile returned to her face, and she ran ahead for a few hundred meters before speaking up again.
"Urashima, do you remember Kiko?" Yukiko asked.
"The girl who enjoys outdoor trips?"
"She’s run with us before."