Summary

In Chapter 13, Mikami went to see Ishii who worked in the Secretariat office. Ishii was not at his desk, so Mikami sat down on a couch to wait. He glanced at the office to his left; the station captain was inside as indicated by the lit lamp outside the door. Those around Mikami were working hard. Mikami asked a desk employee who was inside with Ishii. He was with Inspector Futawatari.

Mikami remembered knowing Futawatari in high school; they were “both members of the kendo club” (82). In one incident, Mikami had snapped at him: “Get me a fucking towel” (83). Futawatari obliged and concealed his feelings. Mikami then remembered being older and seeing Futawatari in the examination hall, taking the entrance exam to join the police force; Mikami had never before considered Futawatari his equal. Now, Futawatari was still a mystery to Mikami. Mikami...