The first part of your story was SOOOOOO AWESOME AHHHHHH. I'm super stoked to read the rest. When I first read the summary bit I thought the two leads were going to get together, detective/criminal romance, but I think you said earlier you were going in a different direction, so I already have no clue which I LOVE haha keep it UPPPPP!!!!
I am so glad you liked it! With an ensemble cast, it can be hard to balance ships and characters, but I think you guys will like where it goes, at least romantically speaking. To me, relationships (platonic and romantic) can really inform what characters do, and so the plot is really going to be relationship/character-driven.
There is definitely going to be a strong connection between Chiyo and Jules, though.
The second part is almost finished, and I've already started part three, so unless something goes wrong, I should be updating fairly regularly.
Some teasers for part two:
“I work for the good of the planet. My job is tough but necessary.”
“They changed the keycode, Dr. Zhang.”
“What about the obituaries?”
“Maybe it really is what it seems.”