"Police in a Pod"
"This is a work of fiction, and the characters, organizations, places, laws, and names herein bear no relation to existing entities."
Dad sure is late.
"Dear Dog-Sama"
The missing individual is an 81-year-old male.
His family reported that yesterday,
he went to this mountain to gather wild plants,
then failed to return home that evening.
"Okajima Municipal Fire Brigade"
The police, fire brigade, and local volunteers are working together today,
bringing the total manpower for this search up to 75 people.
We're off duty and haven't slept, yet here we are scouring a mountain.
Fear the police system.
Furthermore, a police dog will be arriving soon.
--Ugh! --Police dog? I can't wait!
I'm a huge fan of dogs.
Hey, the police dog. So cool!
There you are, Dog-sama.
Check the map.
--Okay then... --You ready?
The Minamoto Pair's back for moral support?
Isn't he the ace?
Oh, me?
I'm the investigative genius.
But he's no good at all at paperwork,
so he's the first they dispatch at times like this.
Hey! I need two people to go with the police dog!
Right here! I want to do it!
You guys... We haven't had any sleep, so you know.
We were working all night, too.
Rock, paper, scissors!
Well, take it from here.
I'm excited!
I have to be Dog-sama's escort, of all things.
Um, what is this "Dog-sama" thing all about?
Police dogs have amazing abilities, but they're correspondingly super sensitive.
A loud noise is enough to mess up their semicircular canals and leave them dizzy.
And any little stink can throw off the search.
Can it, Sergeant Minamoto.
Sorry!
Anyway, always obey Dog-sama!
Treat it the way you would a division head.
Oh!
Okay, get that Achilles tendon stretched...
Huh?
Go!
Let's go, Kawai-chan!
Wait a minute!
Go! Go! Don't fall behind!
What?! What?! What is happening?!
Down a trail or through a thicket, follow Dog-sama no matter where!
That's our duty today!
H-Huh?!
This way!
Don't fall behind!
Wh-What was that... loop?
Don't think about it! Just move your legs!
Uh, this is just a thought...
...but judging by Dog-sama's face...
...maybe it's just running around, excited to be out in the wild...
Don't think! It'll just hold you back!
If he's not here, maybe it means he's higher up.
Oh, yeah.
I wonder if Kawai's okay.
Huh? A shamaness, you say?
Yeah. We'll have Minemoto-san see where the old man is.
Is that... Minemoto-san an impressive person or something?
Oh yeah! She predicts the weather all the time.
Wow!
That means Minemoto-san's just an old lady with good hunches.
All right, we'll search over this way.
Please do.
The police even make women take part in mountain searches, huh?
Please don't push too hard.
You firehouse guys...!
What're they talking about?
Firefighters sure are oddballs.
You know, times like this make me think
ours is by far the most exploitative government office.
Sgt. Fuji, let's go.
Hey!
Where are you, gramps?!
Hey!
Mister!
Are you there?!
Hey! Are you alive?!
Gramps!
Mister!
Where are ya, gramps?!
Sgt. Fuji. Should we search, too, based on the assumption that he's alive?
Isn't it the police's job to act based on assumptions people don't want to make?
Well, it's difficult in some situations,
but I do hope we find him safe and sound.
Me, too.
Let's keep at it.
Yeah... That was an empty safe back there.
Someone must have stolen it, looted the contents, and dumped it up here.
Okay, I'll pretend I didn't see it.
It's hot today.
It sure is.
Unlawfully dumped furniture...
...that I can't see!
You know, it really makes you hungry.
Sure does.
"Okajima"
--Where's that old guy gotten to? --Hey! Where are you?!
Oh, my bootlace.
Uh-oh.
I'll re-tie it.
Oh, mine, too.
Let's look for him over there.
--Don't push! --He might be over yonder!
--Oh, police officers! --Officers! Come on, hurry!
How many should be riding on that?
But I've already forgotten how to issue traffic tickets.
--You can catch a ride, too, officers! It's easier! --Officers!
No, thanks!
No way am I getting on that.
Daddy, right now...
...I'm a police officer bolting down a mountain path.
What I'm chasing is no thief, but a dog that's reverted to the wild.
So why do I continue to run?
Because...
Ow!
I'll get lost if I stop.
You okay?!
Come on, get up!
Oh! Dog-sama's getting away!
Let's hurry after!
Huh?
You're crying?
Aren't you an officer? Aren't you an adult?!
I mean, crying?!
I quit...
Huh?
I quit, already!
What?!
Kawai-chan? At least save this for after we're off the mountain.
I don't care anymore!
My throat is all dry, and yet I need to pee so badly!
Never mind the wonders of the human body. Get a grip.
Dogs and men wouldn't understand-- they can just relieve themselves wherever!
Since we were assigned to this force,
we've been going without water or any bathroom breaks!
We're constantly dehydrated!
I bet police leadership never gives a thought to subordinates having to pee!
I'm sorry.
This organization is rotten! I can't stand the stupid police!
"Delicious water"
Here.
Drink your fill, and empty your bladder.
Don't sell the police short. Maintaining your health gets top priority.
I swear not to look, and I'll stand watch so nobody comes,
so go take care of it somewhere.
Go on, pee to your heart's content.
Owwww!
Suspect apprehended at 13:50!
No! Mistaken arrests are never a good thing!
How's it going for you guys?
Not much to say. We're just lost.
So same story as us, huh?
It just results in more missing people.
Hello, Fuji speaking.
Huh? Smartphones get reception even up here in the mountains?
Crap. I'm enshrining mine, when we get home.
Understood.
They found the missing man without incident, so we can head down.
Good!
Dog-sama to the rescue.
No, actually...
...looks like Minemoto-san's prediction was on the money.
Dog-sama was just having a good time, wasn't he?
So where are you guys?
Sorry, we've gotten a little turned around.
We can fix that.
Go on, howl for them.
That way.
Dog-sama to the rescue. For real, this time.
Brrr...
You pulled through great!
An ambulance will be here soon.
Come on, Dad. Tell everyone thanks.
I thought I was gonna die!
I bet.
Good, good. That case is closed.
Not that we did anything.
I really am glad.
For Dog-sama...
...a salute!
"We can finally go home." "Officer Umino went missing during the search." "Ugh!! Another case has started!" "Umino was off duty today, too."
"Kushi-chan Yakitori"
Welcome!
"7-spice blend"
Come again!
"7-spice blend"
Huh?!
Todo-chan, you're quitting the police force?!
Yeah.
But, we've been drinking buddies since our academy days...
That's the part you'll miss?
A childhood dream of mine will come true this Sunday,
and then I can go look after my parents in the country, with no regrets.
Keep drinking with us after you quit.
Please, don't abandon us.
Don't you guys have any other friends?
In any case, you can leave Sunday in our hands.
We'll make sure your career ends on a high note!
"Runner's High"
"25th Machiyama Public Marathon"
Awww.
Just our luck, stuck with marathon traffic control on such a nice Sunday.
If you're not motivated, then take a hike.
Or if you're not mature enough.
Because we're going to defend Machiyama Intersection here!
They're unusually motivated.
As for me, detectives suck at traffic control,
"brazenly just standing there"
As for me, detectives suck at traffic control,
"brazenly just standing there"
so I wanted to join the Traffic Control Division.
How do traffic laws work, again?
Criminal Affairs is providing half the support today.
We all have our handicaps. Put up with it!
"detective = handicap"
We all have our handicaps. Put up with it!
That reminds me. Kawai, this is your first time doing marathon traffic control?
Yes, ma'am.
We control the light manually, so it won't interfere with the race.
You up to it?
I'm supposed to operate a traffic signal?
Messing up the timing would mean a huge accident.
Lives will depend on these fingers.
Cut it out with the pressure.
As for the man's distinguishing characteristics...
What was that call?
...late teens, tall and thin, with a mohawk...
Who're they trying to locate?
You're the only one with a radio, so listen closely.
It's difficult to hear in a place like this.
...wearing a black sweatshirt, and fleeing towards Momokuri Intersection.
Momokuri... That's in the opposite direction.
I'll go have a look.
Just a moment, sir!
I will go.
He's probably nowhere nearby, and now I won't have to work the light!
For an apprentice of yours, her face sure does reveal a lot.
Okay! Time to kill some time!
Late teens, tall and thin.
A mohawk, and a black sweatshirt.
He's probably the one, not that I know why we're looking for him.
Eyeballing it...
"about 20m"
...that's about 20m.
If he runs, I won't be able to catch up.
Okay.
Hello.
Right.
Don't be scared.
I'll try it like I'm approaching a stray cat.
Don't be scared.
I guess that'd never work!
Hold it!
All I wanted to do was skip out on traffic control,
and I wound up finding the radio report guy.
For that matter, what'd he do in the first place?
I don't know why he's running, or even why I'm chasing him.
--But, like... --Look! Look!
What's going on?!
An officer's chasing some guy!
This is drawing so much attention!
Clear the way!
Wrong! Crowd together and stop the guy!
Don't shoot video!
Don't let him get away, Officer!
Don't cheer for me! I'm out of breath and about to give up!
I don't even know what this guy did!
And deep down, I don't care!
With people watching, I can't just not chase him!
Huh?
He's gone?
Officer! The man went that way!
Th-Thanks!
Who asked you?!
And isn't this guy over 180cm tall?!
He looks pretty tough!
Even if I catch up, I don't have a handgun or a baton on me.
Need something that'll work as a weapon...
Oh, the traffic wand!
"This"
When you think about it, it's a red plastic stick!
Which means nothing!
Hey you! Don't run in fear from someone like me!
Please, hit me.
Then I'll have an honorable injury that'll get me off the hook.
Good for you, look how hard you tried.
No...
Huh? He got away?
Guess who's about to take up running in her spare time.
My workplace isn't so kind as that.
Such nice weather.
Pardon me!
Sorry to bother you!
Think nothing of it.
I know! I'll call for backup!
Currently chasing a man! Request backup! Over!
You're breathing too hard for me to make that out.
Request you catch your breath, and report in again. Over.
I'm not! About to catch! My breath!
Oh!
Are you going down there?
D-Dammit!
No way, no way, no way!
Officer!
He went that way!
You can do it!
Daddy. Justice and pride had absolutely nothing to do with it...
--...when your daughter couldn't help herself from falling in the line of duty. --No! No! No! No!
He got away?
Don't worry about it. He was just a motorcycle hoodlum without a license.
Tomorrow, we'll get a warrant and arrest him.
"25th Machiyama Public Marathon"
Kawai's taking forever.
Oh, here comes the leading pack.
Sure enough, this intersection has the best view.
A childhood dream of mine will come true this Sunday...
That's right, Todo-chan.
You became a policeman because you admire the motorcycle police
who show up in marathon broadcasts.
"Okajima Prefectural Police Academy"
You looked great, Todo-chan.
Can I come in?
I'm sorry, I just wasn't feeling it today.
"sweet potato liquor"
Your place is calming, and I kinda like it.
You let yourself in?
Was there any point in asking if you could come in?
Whatever, let's drink!
Here. We'll need some of your glasses.
Dog-sama...
Thanks for hanging out with me, Kawai.