Surprise Encounter

He went out for dinner but it was already past midnight by the time he got back to the hotel. He was kind of in a good mood as all people are if they drink a bit more than they are supposed to. He was more tipsy than drunk but even that was starting to wear off as he got off the car in the parking lot of the hotel.

As he was waiting for the elevator to arrive, he thought that no matter what, tomorrow he had to do something. He had the urge to directly ask Winter Breeze to help him, to at least give him a tip on how he should go about getting close to the “enemy” but at last, he decided not to.

Fuyuki was already grateful for this person codenamed Winter Breeze. They found each other at a time when they both needed allies fighting for a cause they both believed in:

 To turn their almost too good to be true, perfect society into an actually perfect one. Because they were both sure that certain things weren’t working that well despite the propaganda the government wanted the people to believe.

Yes, there was no war, no poverty, and no suffering anymore, the population’s satisfaction rate was at an all-time high worldwide and every part, every settlement was relatively equally developed everywhere. But everything had to have a price. The average people might not even notice it at first, not until they want to do something that they weren’t supposed to. Things that are not illegal per se but are not necessarily in the interest of the government either.

And the wristband they all had to wear here and soon everyone in the world has to was just one of the things that outraged many.

Maybe he should really ask for his help. But what if he finds him annoying and decides to go solo and never contacts him again? It’s not that Fuyuki wouldn’t be able to continue alone but it’s just so much better having a comrade you can lay your trust in.

He took out his phone-like device in the elevator to contact Winter Breeze anyway but upon looking at the screen Fuyuki realized that he already had an incoming message from him. It’s just that he didn’t realize as his phone was on mute and forgot to turn it off after the meeting ended.

Winter Breeze to Wintry Tree:

Still up? Or are you sleeping? If not and you’re free, let’s meet.

A link was included where he could look up the address of what seemed like a popular but posh club. Certainly not a place where an everyday Joe went to let off steam. It’s not in his price range.

Fuyuki just stood there in the elevator, too stunned to think. The message was sent an hour ago. He could decide not to go. But then again, they were meant to meet in the first place it’s just that the time was inconvenient at first.

Wintry Tree to Winter Breeze:

Are you still there? I’m coming.

Fuyuki finally wrote when he made up his mind.

He didn’t have to wait long for the reply.

Winter Breeze to Wintry Tree:

I’m waiting.

It was a short and simple answer but it still made Fuyuki’s heartbeat quicken. He couldn’t help becoming excited at the thought of finally meeting his comrade in arms. So, he went back down and hailed a taxi as he was too lazy to go to the underground parking lot for the car he rented.

It took him about ten minutes to arrive at the meeting place which was considered good given the distance. In the old days, it would’ve taken about thirty but now that all cars are far superior technically not to mention that flying is also an option it is now a vastly different experience. And definitely faster.

The club was dimly lit and it was indeed popular. It wasn’t crowded inside there were still a lot of people chatting, dancing, drinking, and whatnot.

Fuyuki looked around looking for a face, who might be looking in his direction, checking out the people coming in as if waiting for someone. But as he looked around he saw not a single soul, who fit this description. Then where is he?

He was just about to send a message to ask him when he saw some people going in through a door at the far back of the club. It must be a VIP room of sorts as two ‘you-shouldn’t-mess-with’ bodyguards were standing before it. He figured that perhaps Winter Breeze decided to pay up to go in there, so that they could have a more private discussion, so it might be better to check if he was there first.

He went up to the bodyguards and was just about to write a message to Winter Breeze asking if he was there before trying to go in when the two brawny men looked at the nametag on his suit and stepped away, signaling for him to go in.

As he walked past them and went in through the door, he realized that it was his luck that he was still wearing that freaking nametag. Perhaps they’re trained to know that those wearing that are either ministers or some kind of diplomat, meaning they’re more high-profile people than the average clubber so they deserve entry.

The VIP room was large enough to have separate tables with waiters and waitresses coming and going between the tables serving the guests. Only upon seeing the waiters did Fuyuki realize just how rich and influential the people who had access to this place are. Normal guests at the club had to make do with proficient humanoid robots with the usual built-in SAI tech. They were perfect but still... In today’s society, only very few people could afford the hard-working, real waiters serving them.

Fuyuki looked around in the dimly lit room that danced in the shades of purple, blue, and other colder colours when his eyes fell on the figure of a certain soldier he didn’t expect to see here. He has changed his uniform to a shirt and trousers since he saw him but he still looked just as handsome as before. Especially now that the lights illuminating the room seemed to highlight his jawline and his dark eyes.

When he saw Feng Liwei sitting alone at a table with a glass of something before him, his first reaction was to contact Winter Breeze but then he realized that perhaps he was no longer even here. Perhaps he saw Feng Liwei coming in and thought this might be a good opportunity, so he asked him to come to fulfill what he had promised.

Fuyuki didn’t think twice but walked straight to his table and sat down before him. Those dark eyes, which seemed to be as hot as a bowl of chili that seemed to prickle someone’s insides when being looked at by them suddenly looked up and met his.

“Why are you here?” he asked with a slight surprise that went away just as quickly as it came.

“I was gonna meet someone but he has already left so it doesn’t matter.”

“It doesn’t? It must be so nice to be your friend,” remarked Feng Liwei mockingly while picking up his glass to drink.

“Ey Major, it’s not me, who is drinking alone at night. But whatever, since I’m already here, I might as well keep you company for a while,” Fuyuki told him casually with a wide smile on his face. Now that luck is finally on his side he will make the most of it.

“Really?” he put down his glass and looked at him seriously. “And what do you have to offer?”