"I think we can never stop craving, yearning for those things that are no longer here."

"Haru... ha... ha..."

Your touch is so warm, so delicate, so... it makes me feel happy. Responding to my rhythm, Haru let out soft, fragile breaths, her dark eyes reflecting my image. I kissed every inch of her body, and after a burst of passion, we both reached climax. Breathing heavily, Haru’s small hand clasped over my palm as she smiled at me.

"Why are you making that face now?"* She gently stroked my cheek, as the scent of lavender blooming outside the window filled the entire room.

Damn it. I must’ve fallen asleep. Four consecutive nights of tracking had been reckless.

I forced my eyes open. The cold mist still shrouded my movements, and the target’s scent showed no sign of moving. Lucky. My carelessness hadn’t disrupted the secret operation.

In the distance, I faintly heard the distinctive engine sound of the Secret Operations Division’s vehicles approaching. Judging by the distance, they’d arrive at the target’s location in about ten minutes. It seemed the Security Division was coordinating well with the police.

"You do realize that the entire police aerial investigation unit is on standby for your orders, don’t you? Acting this recklessly will only wear you out. What if the target made a move while you were spacing out? Have you considered how much damage that would do to our reputation?"

A familiar voice, laced with mild reproach, spoke to me. But mostly, I was curious why you had made an entrance just yet.

"Louis." I gave a brief reply. Now wasn’t the time to get distracted. Was the target pacing? From this distance, I could barely make out faint traces of anxiety emanating from them. That wasn’t a good sign.

"And that’s all you have to say? Just a quick hello and think you’re off the hook? Didn’t we agree last time—no more reckless actions like this?" Louis sounded genuinely angry.

"Sorry... I haven’t forgotten. Not to complain, but the aerial investigation unit’s covert abilities aren’t exactly great." I explained as much as the situation allowed. Why was the target suddenly anxious? Was I missing something?

"Calling the ability to monitor a target from two kilometers away 'not great' is a bit much, don’t you think?" Louis walked up beside me, leaning his elbows on the weathered wall and craning his body forward to look at the target.

"Modern crime syndicates have already widely adopted electronic optical devices capable of surpassing avian vision, primarily because the police still rely on traditional investigation methods."

The sound of screeching brakes and metal clashing echoed from the street below. A car crash at this time and place was far too coincidental. The Secret Operations Unit would have to take a detour.

"Is there any activity on the target’s phone?" I activated the microphone on my earpiece and asked the support team at the operations center.

"No detectable activity," the operator replied decisively. I cut the communication and pondered. Maybe I was just overthinking it.

"This isn’t about the investigation team’s capabilities, is it? You look like something else is bothering you. Is your 'mend the relationship with Haruo' mission not going well?" Louis brushed some gravel off his suit sleeve as he spoke.

"No, it’s actually going better than expected. I think my intentions got through to him, at least a little. Normally, he keeps his body language tightly controlled, but he even wagged his tail at me a few times. Lucky I remembered he likes apples. But Louis, you know..."

How should I put this? Would it count as casually invading Haruo’s privacy? What if Hoshikaze didn’t want Louis to know either? But I didn’t have anyone else to consult. I turned to look into Louis’s large, expressive eyes.

"You know Haruo and Hoshikaze... have a good relationship, right?" At first, Louis looked a little confused by my question. Then he burst into laughter.

"You’re the only one who doesn’t know! Azuki and I have been guessing it started during that Black Forest trip, haven’t you noticed how they look at each other like the rest of the world doesn’t exist?" Louis laughed so hard he had to steady his antlers to keep them from shaking too much. So, I was the only one who didn’t know.

"But aren’t you worried, Louis? It’s not a big deal, I guess. You hear about these things occasionally, like they’re happening in some far-off place. But this is our own son. It feels like they’ve chosen such a difficult path... No, it’s not a choice, but still a road full of obstacles." I raised my voice slightly, and when I noticed, I immediately worked to calm myself. It would be troublesome if any nearby residents noticed something unusual and came to investigate.

"A road full of obstacles? You’re the one to talk, you big wolf who ate my foot," Louis said, resting his head on my shoulder.

"No... I just want them to be happy. I want all beasts to find happiness." The ease of letting my guard down in Louis’s presence made it hard to maintain control over my emotions. It was a luxury I couldn’t afford to indulge in. "So, as fathers, shouldn’t we show our support through action? And ensure they understand enough to protect themselves—like hygiene education and clear consent, for instance." My mental to-do list grew longer. Louis placed a hand on my back, silently watching me with an expression of deep contemplation.

"No, absolutely not." Louis turned around, leaning his back against the wall as he looked up at the sky.

"When they feel the time is right, they’ll tell you. What we need to do is be ready, waiting for that moment. And when they’re ready to trust us, let them know we’ve always been here, waiting to be accepted."

What was Louis searching for in the night sky? His big, watery eyes darted around.

"Home isn’t always where the heart resides, but it’s always where the heart yearns to return." Louis took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and spoke. "But don’t you think it’s strange? We haven’t intercepted any communication from the target’s phone, but they suddenly seem agitated. Back to the tech issue—besides phones, there are plenty of ways to communicate in this world, aren’t there?" Louis turned to me, opening his eyes. "Don’t do anything reckless."

A sense of unease crawled up my spine, making my fur stand on end. I activated my microphone. "Aerial Investigation Unit, track my position and provide support."

I took a deep breath of the cold mist, absorbing the scents of Central City, trying to find the best path to the target. Damn it. The target was on the move.

"I won’t ruin our reputation." I nodded to Louis in farewell, tensing the muscles in my legs. A road of scents unfolded before me. Moonlight guided my way as I leaped into the chaotic darkness of the city.