Morning light filtered through the gaps in the curtains. In a room of the Furuse Detective Agency, three bags of melon bread sat unopened on the desk. Beside them, Pome lay curled up asleep, her ears twitching occasionally.

Hayato leaned back in his chair, his eyes fixed on the book in his hands. He stopped turning the pages when the door knocker sounded from the entrance.

...Hmm? Is that a client, I wonderrrr?

He closed the book and pushed up his square glasses with his fingertip. A single cowlick bobbed playfully.

Assistant-saaan, could you get that for meeee? My glasses are all fogged up, I can't see a thingggg.

Looking closely, the lenses were perfectly clear. A genius at lying even early in the morning.

The knocker sounded again. This time, it was louder. The force was enough to make the wooden door creak—clearly the work of someone who was irritated. Reacting to the sound, Pome's white ears perked up.

Pome wagged her tail and jumped off the sofa, her small paws pattering as she ran toward the door. The clever dog understood perfectly that "someone is here." The only problem with this genius dog was that she tended to act on that understanding immediately.

Ah, Pome! You mustn't open it on your ownnnn!

Hayato's voice echoed through the office, but it was too late. Pome skillfully scratched at the door handle with her front paws, and the lock clicked open.

Whaaa?!