Story:

Kenji glanced toward the doors. Most of the hearing’s participants had left now; those remaining were occupied with documents or private conversations.

Reika continued.

“So far, the only location of interest they have visited is a jinja. We haven’t identified any other outside contact.”

Her grandfather looked back at her immediately. “A jinja?”

The change was slight. Reika noticed it anyway. “Yes, sir.”

“Which one?”

There was no hesitation between the question and its demand for an answer.

“Tensho Jinja,” she said. “The one adjacent to the Royal Palace.”

Kenji said nothing.

For several seconds, he stood with one hand resting against the edge of the testimony stand.

Reika had seen him review alarming intelligence without changing expression. She had watched him listen to casualty estimates, contradictory briefings, and confident explanations that collapsed under a single question.

This silence was different.

His attention seemed to have moved beyond her report, toward something he had not expected to encounter in it.

“Minister?”

His hand left the stand. “Understood.”

Reika waited.

No instruction followed.

“Should I expand surveillance of the shrine?”

Kenji looked at her. “Continue your existing investigation. Report any further contact.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And distinguish observation from inference in the written update.”

“Of course.”

His gaze rested on her face for a moment longer. Only then did something of the grandfather show through the minister’s composure: a brief glance at the water she had not drunk, the tension she was holding in her shoulders.

“Take your break, Lieutenant. We still have the second session.”

Reika inclined her head. “Yes, sir.”

He stepped aside to let her pass.