Police in a Pod

After finishing high school, Mai Kawai sets her sights on a steady paycheck, determined not to repeat her father’s path. She sits for one civil service exam after another, only to be turned away almost everywhere—until a police academy offers her a place, and she joins despite her misgivings.

Working as an officer proves no kinder. Mai finds herself on the receiving end of nonstop complaints from irritated citizens, and the constant hostility wears her down enough that she prepares to resign just months into the job. That same day, she’s assigned a new instructor: Seiko Fuji, a former Criminal Affairs Division standout. Captivated by Seiko and her presence on the force, Mai hesitates to quit and decides to give police work one more try.