A Guide to Promotion for the Red Team's Cops

At the one-year-old's grab-a-treasure ceremony, Noboru Masaru bypasses the fountain pen, books, and calculator, making a beeline for his father's official seal as a member of parliament.

At eleven, Noboru Masaru writes his elementary school essay, "My Dream," in bold strokes: Get promoted!

At twenty-two, after graduating from Kyoto University, Noboru Masaru enters the police academy through the career-track program, brimming with confidence as he takes the stage to give a speech.

Announcement: Please welcome this year's top graduate, Mr. F.

Noboru Masaru: What?

His blue-eyed classmate, smiling by his side: Do you have a problem with that, Noboru?

He does. A big one.

There are three things a man must protect in his life: his parents at home, the position he holds, and the top spot on his transcript.

Blondie, I'm going to take you down!

*

Six months of relentless cramming, six months of unceasing effort. Noboru Masaru is raring to go, ready to keep competing with Blondie in the workplace.

Blondie quits.

The blue-eyed classmate quits too.

Noboru Masaru sneers: Are they avoiding my edge, or is this a case of kings never meeting?

*

Two years later, the ambitious young man, already promoted to police superintendent, finds an unopened bottle of bourbon on the table in his private residence.

Blondie returns in force with the blue-eyed classmate and a hundred million yen: I have a deal for you.

Noboru Masaru: You recorded evidence of my misconduct to bring me down? Get out.

Blondie: Our organization...

Noboru Masaru: No official positions? That's a crime against the state. Devious, sinister, terrifying beyond belief. Get out.

Blondie: Is he crazy?!

Blue-Eyed Classmate: Well...

--

*As usual, I'm bringing people back. No romance. Promotions, promotions, my eternally single king.

Theme: Climb toward higher peaks.