Haru Kato/Synopsis

## History

Haru was initially a member of Investigation Division I and appeared to work well with his junior Ryo Hoshino and division chief Katsuhiro Takei. During a siege incident, Haru witnessed a hostage situation and was given permission to shoot the armed target. After he did so, a woman immediately approached the target, clearly distressed that he had been injured, and aimed his gun at Haru. Acting in the heat of the moment, Haru shot her as well, later realizing that the gun was fake. Despite Katsuhiro's reassurance that he was in the right and the woman was an accomplice, Haru's trauma led to him being incapable of firing a gun, and he ultimately resigned from his position and moved to the Modern Crime Prevention Task Force. Ryo misinterpreted his leave and assumed Katsuhiro had demoted him out of anger over his actions, which eventually resulted in his strained relationship with Haru.

## Synopsis

### **Episode 1**

Haru makes his first appearance carrying multiple binders of unsolved case files, walking in the opposite direction of First Investigation Division members. Here he stops Ryo Hoshino to ask about their case, however, Ryo dismisses his concern.

Entering the Modern Crime Prevention Task Force Preparations Room, he asks his coworker Shinnosuke Kamei if he knew anything about the First Division case, who responded that he didn't know anything in particular. The conversation was short-lived when Haru had to answer the phone.

Putting down the phone, he informs his chief that the Security Department needed some people from their division to be back up at the Classic Car Festival in Ginza. Haru reluctantly agrees to go. After observing his nonchalant coworkers, he persuades Shinnosuke to go with him and looks exasperated when the enticement of "Sacchan" worked.

On their time table, Haru wrote he would return by 1700 (5:00 pm), while Shinnosuke listed he would be heading straight home.

While Haru drives, Shinnosuke remarks that members of First Division like to drink at a place in Ginza. He briefly brings up that Haru used to be part of the First Division before Haru suddenly presses the brakes, apologizing indifferently as Shinnosuke bangs his head against the car dashboard. Shinnosuke then points out a black, sleek, and nice-looking car, to which Haru responds that anyone with a respectable job would never be found driving in a car like that. There is a brief moment where the viewer can see the two protagonists as they pass each other on the streets.

Shinnosuke and Haru talk about the Car Festival and how the "speed demon" prince of Abura Emirates will be attending. Shinnosuke comments on how unfair it is that they get lousy pay when other people get to drive exotic and expensive cars. Haru counters, saying it's not about the money, but the justice, to which Shinnosuke asks if Haru's stubbornness was why he was demoted from First Division. The two spot Ryo at the festival and they quickly follow.

The pair catch up, and Haru immediately asks Ryo about the case, who shuts him down. Ryo's partner tells them that they are not authorized to know. He taunts them when he spots their "Lost Child Guidance" band, and Haru clenches his fist in frustration. Taking Ryo's earpiece, Haru listens in on the bomb case. He angrily asks why the festival wasn't canceled if such a major threat was made, even if the prince was participating since many lives would be at stake. Ryo smiles and notes that Haru has still kept his naive sense of justice. Haru and Shinnosuke eavesdrop on Ryo's earpiece once more where First Division members describe the bomb's whereabouts. Haru quickly spots the vehicle, when robbers Yoko and Hiroshi bump into Motoyama and shoot Shinnosuke, making their getaway in the van. Haru kicks Shinnosuke in the shoulder, telling him to get up. Haru notes that there are only 25 more minutes until noon when he hears a commotion.

To his surprise, the black car from earlier was in the middle of two lanes, bumping out all the cars in the procession. A mother and her son trip in the path of the car, which started to speed up. Haru cursed, and quickly threw himself in front of them, allowing them to use him as a shield. Just before impact, the car swerved into a light post, and Haru opened the door to the car, ready to arrest the driver. However, a cloud of tobacco smoke was blown into his face causing him to cover his face.

Kambe Daisuke emerges from the car, introducing himself as the newly appointed inspector of the Metropolitan Police Detective Division. Haru asks for more details on the bomb case, however, Daisuke ignores him in favor of buying the seventh prince's AC Cobra. Haru runs alongside Daisuke's new car and jumps into the passenger seat just before he sped off.

Haru still tries to get information out of Daisuke, who continues to ignore him. Haru questions how Daisuke is going to take responsibility for his recklessness. Daisuke, once again, does not respond and instead tells HEUSC to send reimbursements two times the damage cost. Asking who HEUSC is, Daisuke finally responds that it is his butler. Looking at his watch, viewers see that it is 11:50 am, 10 minutes until noon.

Four minutes until noon, Haru says that they won't make it, and it would be best to evacuate the nearby residents.

When Haru asks what Daisuke is doing as he rams the van with the AC Cobra, Daisuke says that he plans to throw the van into the river. The whole time, Haru looks surprised at Daisuke's recklessness.

One minute until noon, he jumps out of the car and enters the van, taking over the steering wheel so Yoko could jump out.

As the van dips into the river and explodes, Haru grasps onto the edge of the raised bridge, his forehead bleeding. For a while, Haru looks up angrily at Daisuke, who just smirks as he loses his grip and falls into the river as well.

The next day, Haru enters the Preparations Room with a bandage on his forehead. His chief tells him the higher-ups do not need an incident report for yesterday's situation. Sitting down, Shinnosuke whispers to Haru how every cost was paid double for. The door to the room opens, and to Haru's shock, Daisuke appears once again. He glares while the chief introduces Daisuke as their new coworker.

Haru meets Daisuke on the helicopter pad on the roof, telling him that everything he did yesterday was inappropriate for a cop and that infinite lives would not be enough for Daisuke. Daisuke then cooly asks him what would be enough. At first Haru stares in utter disbelief, before running towards him, calling Daisuke a bastard.

### **Episode 2**

Haru rejects Yukihiro Kiyomizu's request to mentor Daisuke, saying that he would not be an effective mentor. The chief accepts, indifferent, and Haru sighs. When Daisuke opens the door to the MCPTF room, he puts on a scowl and returns to his desk. Shinnosuke suddenly yells, and Haru tells him to shut up, only to push himself out of his chair, also yelling in shock when he learns of his favorite model's death. Because her death was caused by a drug overdose, Haru questions why the task force wasn't told about it from the other divisions, and Shinnosuke replies that information just doesn't get to them. Getting up from his seat again, Haru informs the chief that he would be heading over to the Stop Shoplifting Campaign. Walking in the halls, he gets increasingly more irritated as a certain person tagged along behind him. A greatly annoyed Haru very reluctantly lets Daisuke accompany him.

It's already night when Haru, holding a box of merchandise from the campaign, notices a pair of comedians on the street and decides to watch them, much to Daisuke's confusion. Daisuke throws a 10,000 yen bill (~$93 USD) into their hat, to which Haru proclaims that it's not about the money, it's about the experience of performing on the streets and building up their skills. However, when the comedians notice the bill, they stop their act and cheerily head towards the bar for some drinks. Haru begins to chide Daisuke, but he ignores Haru and confronts the comedians about their apparent drug usage.

The next day Haru watches Daisuke's interrogation from the back of Interrogation Room A. When Daisuke offers to buy the information off Yamada Keiichi, one of the comedians, Haru sighs and leaves the room. He meets with Shinnosuke and complains about Daisuke's unorthodox strategy, saying he should learn from Chosuke Nakamoto about getting heartfelt confessions. Watching Chosuke’s interrogation, they learn the name of the suspect and leave the room. Daisuke also steps out of his interrogation room, and Haru, assuming he was unsuccessful, starts to brief him on the case when Daisuke interrupts him. Behind him, Yamada excitedly exclaims that the money had already been transferred.

That night, the two are waiting in Haru’s car when Akira Mita, a journalist and Haru’s informer,  joins them. He explains that Haru had helped him in the past and he has now dedicated his life to helping Haru in return. A proud-looking Haru plays it off, telling Akira not to exaggerate. The trio start to follow the suspect, Yuta Isezaki, as he spends the nights with various models from the company, Millennium Entertainment. An innocent-looking model catches Haru’s eyes, however his infatuation with her is short-lived when later he sees her being seduced in Isezaki’s car. Another car pulls up and they are finally able to photograph evidence of Isezaki’s drug deals. But when Haru goes to arrest them, Daisuke stops him, saying that there’s another man behind Isezaki. Haru asks how he knows this, but Daisuke doesn’t respond.

Haru begins to spend his nights staking out Isezaki’s nightly routines on his own. One evening, Akira asks a very sleep-deprived Haru if he’s gotten any leads, and Haru quickly shows him a photograph of Isezaki with another man — Mikio Umezu. Haru also suspects that the women from before must be a liaison for them. Akira, glancing at the inside of Haru’s car and plugging his nose, tells Haru to go home and at least take a shower. But when Haru sees the mysterious lady exiting a parking garage, he defers the plan and follows her to a luxurious and impressive-looking building outside the city. Standing on the building’s doorstep, a black car pulls up behind him, and Daisuke steps out.

They question why each other is there, but Daisuke invites him in, telling the butler at the door to prepare two meals. The two enter an elevator heading for the bottom floor, and Haru uses this time to brief Daisuke on his speculations. The floor they reach is full of advanced technology, and Haru can’t help gawk, especially when the mysterious woman, introducing herself as Suzue Kambe, emerges from under an armored vehicle to greet him. Noticing her last name, Haru bewilderedly asks if the building is actually Daisuke’s home.

For a moment, Haru is distracted by a Patrol-kun mascot outfit as Daisuke and Suzue detail their findings on Isezaki. Bringing his attention back to Suzue, he tenses when she mentions using Umezu’s drug party to crush the entire Gondawara-gumi crime organization. He opposes and criticizes Daisuke’s strategy of using his immense wealth, and declares that the two go their separate ways for the case. Suzue, noticing Haru’s lack of basic hygiene, cautiously asks him if he’d like a meal and a bath before leaving, but he continues to storm off.

He meets with Akira, who gives him more details on the upcoming drug party he intimidated off an underling of Millennium Entertainment. Akira then tells him that it’d be dangerous for him to go, but he just smirks and drops Akira off, saying he’ll pay Akira back sometime.

Haru, clad in a teal suit and bowler hat, flashes a business card to a camera and introduces himself as Kouchiyama, aka “Whiskey.” Meanwhile, the real Kouchiyama struggles in his bonds, trapped, almost entirely naked, in the back of his car. Haru enters the party wearing a mask, but not before his belongings are confiscated by a bodyguard.

He spots Umezu placing his phone down to give more attention to the girl in his lap. While the two are coupling, Haru sidles up next to them and nabs the phone, making his way back out. Unfortunately, as he was just about to leave, not only did the bodyguard stop him to return his items, but Umezu quickly realized his phone was missing. Even more to Haru’s misfortune, the bodyguard easily catches up on Haru’s suspicious behavior and barely reacts when Haru lands a good punch to his face. He manages to pin Haru on the wall by the wrist, and the phone drops out.

Just then, a beer bottle hits the bodyguard in the face, and the now-free Haru looks over to see the mascot costume from Daisuke’s home, picking up the phone and making a run for the roof. Haru, believing it to be Daisuke in the suit, follows the costumed man and tries his best to help him, tearing off a pipe to bar the doors to the roof shut from pursuers.

Haru gets ready to berate Daisuke for panicking, when the head of the suit pops off to reveal Akira instead. Looking stunned, Haru begins to think that he had unintentionally put Akira’s life in danger since he had worried him before and starts to formulate a story so Akira would get out of the case uninvolved. This turns out to be a misunderstanding when Akira apologizes to Haru about only having one gas mask. An attack helicopter arrives, hovering over the roof, with Suzue piloting and Daisuke, leaning out the window of the vehicle, preparing to fire a missile launcher.

Haru just barely dodges one projectile that almost shot straight through his chest when a poison gas leaks out, and Haru, along with the pursuers who had just made it to the roof, faint.

The next day, Haru is sleeping at the booth in the MCPTF room, another bandage slapped on his forehead. He jolts awake when Daisuke enters the room and goes to tell Daisuke to come with him. In a stairwell, Haru once again tells Daisuke that how he solves crimes is inappropriate for a cop. Daisuke asks him why he’s a cop, and Haru responds that he does it nab criminals, without relying on money as bribes. Daisuke does not reply, and instead mentions that he heard Haru used to be in the First Division, until an incident where Haru misfired and a target was seriously injured. Haru grabs Daisuke by the collar, angered that he so nonchalantly dug and brought up his past. But his anger fizzles away, and he lets go of Daisuke, calling him a bastard, and walks back to the office.

As he enters the room, Yukihiro earnestly asks Haru to please attend a symposium in Honk Kong over the weekend to discuss an international crime. He half-heartedly accepts, and Yukihiro thanks him, telling Haru to talk to Daisuke for the details. Just as he sits down at his desk, Haru realizes what he said, and suddenly finds himself as a passenger in Daisuke’s private jet, heading for Hong Kong.

### **Episode 3**

Back from their trip to Hong Kong, Haru, Daisuke, and Suzue are seated in a traditional Japanese house, when Daiskuke’s grandmother, Kikuko Kambe, introduces herself.

Complimenting Haru’s name, she thanks him for supervising Daisuke at his new job. Admitting that Daisuke grew up to be somewhat selfish, worriedly asking if he’s been any trouble, to which Haru assures her that Daisuke has been very helpful. However her calm demeanor vanishes when he sheepishly comments that the differing financial viewpoints between coworkers often creates chaos on the scene, and he witnesses Daisuke be sternly reprimanded. Turning back to Haru, Kikuko requests that he diligently coaches Daisuke. Haru eagerly accepts, earning him a dirty look and a forced thank you from Daisuke just as their butler, Hattori, passes by. Hearing that he’s their butler, Haru offhandedly asks if he is the same person who Daisuke constantly talks to, but Suzue corrects him that that butler is actually an AI named HEUSC. Driving back in Daisuke’s car, Haru informs him that tomorrow he’ll be on a business trip to Nagoya. Teasing him, Haru reminds him not to cause any trouble for other coworkers. Daisuke accelerates the car in response.

Eating onigiri on a shinkansen, Haru hears his seatmate’s stomach growl and offers him some. Although he declines, Haru insists and gives the boy the rest of his food, reassuring him that he would be getting soba at the station in Shinagawa. Haru confesses that he himself failed his first college entrance exam, and begins small talk with the boy. Asking what music he was listening to, the boy replies that he was actually listening to a conversation spoken in English in order to take his younger sister to the United States. As Haru prepares to get off the train, he hands the boy a souvenir good-luck charm from the Atsuta Shrine in Nagoya.

Just as Haru enters the platform and the shinkansen departs the station, an emergency alert rings from the intercoms. Rushing to the nearest employee, he pulls out his police badge. The employee explains that there was a stand-off inside one of the trains. Hearing this, Haru leaves behind his bag and jumps over the railing to run over the tracks. He shows his badge to an employee evacuating passengers, who once again explains that there is a stand-off in car 16. Entering the car, Haru recognizes the boy as the young man holding multiple old women hostage and tries to connect with him. Although he denies it, Haru quickly notes the weapons in his bag and the bike lock cable around the opposite door before exiting the compartment car. In car 15, Haru phones Shinnosuke to ask for any intel when Ryo and multiple other members of Division I step in. Before Ryo could say much, Haru briefs the group about the perp and explains that only a few moments ago he was sitting right next to him. Ryo tells Haru to take his leave, but Haru argues that he wasn’t a stranger to the perp and would be better fit for a negotiator, until Ryo calls into question what authority he had in the scene.

Flashing back to his time employed in Division I, Ryo stared wide-eyed as Haru leapt off the building they were on and onto the roof of a bank, diving into a roll to cushion his fall. Looking backwards to Ryo, Haru grinned and threw a thumbs-up. Inside the bank, his gun is directed at an armed robber, waiting for the signal to shoot. The robber collapsed when his arm was shot, however a bank employee rushed over to see if the robber was okay, before picking up the gun and aiming it at Haru with a horrified look on her face. Alarmed, he shoots her without thinking. Later, Haru is seen sitting on the ground,  Katsuhiro and Ryo beside him, still shaky with regret. In the Division I office, Ryo watched as Haru packed up his cubicle and walked down the hallway.

Back at the Shinagawa station, Haru walks past aggravated crowds, overhearing two people talking about a viral livestream on Chaintube that was causing the evacuation. He stops for a moment when another couple talks about the promo campaign Chaintube is currently offering money in exchange for views for, but is surprised when he turns around to see Daisuke, here to pick him up and arrest the perp.

Suddenly accelerating the car, Daisuke instructs HEUSC to pick up the dialogue being relayed between Division I earpieces. Listening in, they learn that one of the women collapsed on the ground and is assumed to have been shot. Division I suspects mental derangement is also involved, and the order to position the SAT *(Special Assault Team)* is given. Seeing the SAT already making their move, Haru yells at Daisuke to stop the car. After hearing Haru proclaims that the perp isn’t one to kill people, Daisuke opens a compartment under Haru’s seat with a briefcase inside.

Haru watches as Daisuke launches his grappling hook and lands on top of a building effortlessly. Frustrated from not getting a proper explanation, Haru also throws the grappling hook. Wanting to impress the school-children passerbys, he smirks when his grapple catches the target, but is soon hurled upwards rather humiliatingly.

Hiding behind a wall in the railway, Haru states that the moment they go out there, they will be the ones arrested. Daisuke tells him to change his watch to channel three, and Haru’s earpiece is filled with Division I orders to ready the sniper to kill. By Haru’s request, HEUSC instantly connects him to the line. Ignoring Katsuhiro’s questions, Haru demands to know why they aren’t properly negotiating. Katsuhiro replies that the perp is obviously enjoying the stand-off, and is in no mental position to be negotiated with. Unsatisfied, Haru argues that the boy he met on the train was not like that. Ryo cuts in, reminding Haru that he had no right to be an officer and informing him that perp is streaming the hostage situation on Chaintube as they speak. Daisuke, who was also listening in, tells HEUSC to pull up the footage, and a projection of the livestream is casted out of his watch. While Haru asks himself, “what should we do,” Daisuke asks back, “what do you want to do?”. Thinking about this, Haru declares that he just wants the boy not to die.

Daisuke cautions Haru that the incoming smoke screen would only last for about 8 minutes and 30 seconds before the missiles hit and the two rush forward to the front of the shinkansen. Haru watches as Daisuke uses a laser cutter to open up a panel in the glass of the train.

Making it to car 16, Haru can be seen through the locked door window and is quickly contacted by Chief Katsuhiro. The chief informs him that due to the smoke, the sniper no longer has a visual on the perp and that he should be the one to shoot instead. Daisuke also offers him a pistol, and Haru hesitates, reflecting back to the incident. Instead, he asks HEUSC to access the perp’s emails. As he reads one email about an immediate need for a surgery, Chief Katsuhiro tells Haru to just do what needs to be done. Haru takes the gun from Daisuke, and tells him to break down the door.

Haru enters the car and although threatened with a hostage at gunpoint, he urges the perp to think about what his sister would’ve wanted. But while Haru tries to negotiate with the perp, the old women taken hostage suddenly rally together to no longer let the stand-off delay their trip to the Yokoights farewell concert. When the Yokoights appear outside the shinkansen, all the women quickly get up to see. The woman who was collapsed on the ground also jumps back up, but carelessly knocks Ryo’s pistol out of his hands. The gun lands right by the perp’s feet, but as he goes to grab it, Haru shakily points his gun towards him. However, Haru puts it down as Daisuke begins to walk straight up to the boy to arrest him. Haru stands, stunned, as Daisuke casually comforts the perp, takes the lowered gun, and removes the bullets out of it.

Leaving the compartment car, Haru is met with Chief Katsuhiro who commends him.

Back in Daisuke’s car, Haru asks how he knew the boy wouldn’t shoot him. Daisuke responds with Haru’s own words, “He’s not the type to kill people.” Haru is momentarily astonished by this, until Daisuke abruptly accelerates his car once again.

## References

1. ↑ *Fugou Keiji Balance: Unlimited Anime*: Episode 2
2. ↑ *Fugou Keiji Balance: Unlimited Anime*: Episode 9