15. Eye Spy

Day: 5

Afternoon

Naoko POV

Naoko decided to entertain this Daiki and decided to meet up with him in the meeting room. This guy was at least from her social circle, so whatever he was going to talk about could be important to her.

She had decided to quickly change into her casual home wear to confront the guy, something not close enough to her pyjamas but closer to something that is formal yet comfortable.

She was confronted with Daiki once she changed and entered the meeting room, and she gawked at seeing him still in his pyjamas.

Just how aloof guys are....really hurts my brain... 

It did look like he had not a wink of sleep, as his eyes were red and he was shivering.

He probably just tossed and turned in bed, having zero sleep before deciding to beeline his way here.

"Uhhh...are you ok Daiki?"

"Oh good you are here! Let us talk, I have something really important to share!"

Daiki seemed to not even acknowledge her question as he sat on one of the guest chairs and was ready to start this conversation.

Naoko was getting slightly freaked out.

Her butler did say the boy was a bit 'all over the place' but this was not what she expected.

"Look Daiki...I am sure you might have something important to share and all but I would want you to at least wash up or get some rest, you do not look healthy and I think we can postpone our conversation till after you feel better..."

She was about to leave the room, not wanting to deal with whatever this was, until Daiki shouted out to her, "Do you ever feel like you have zero independence from your parents? That they pretend to care for you but only do it to serve their own interests?"

That exclamation made Naoko stop.

She turned back to face Daiki, who seemed to relax a bit more into the chair he sat on, having apparently caught her attention.

"I have gone to all the kids of the other companies from our circle, all 5 of the big ones. The others just ignored me, but they seemed to know more than they let on. I was hoping, you being my last hope, you can give me more."

Naoko did not move from her spot, but she was now paying attention to what he said.

It was true her parents were really invested in her apparent suitor. While they did not hear the details, the finally have decided to give her more space knowing that her issue was apparently solved.

However, she did feel trapped in their authority, and while she understood it was for the better of the company, she did seem to understand that whatever Daiki is willing to share, might be relevant to her desire to have more freedom.

Daiki continued explaining, now looking more composed, "I spend all night yesterday doing my research into my parents and the company, hoping to find some truth. What I basically concluded that much of my exposure, and this applies to all the other kids like us, are focused on the company and its associates. We are forcefully kept in the dark by our parents to further their interests of their companies. Forcefully gaslighted into thinking that the social circle we are surrounded by is the way we are meant to naturally progress our careers or life ahead. I had an epiphany recently that most of my personality and traits have been shaped due to my dependence of them and their need of my obedience. It was all thanks to my friend that I had a quick look into what I was becoming."

Naoko was listening attentively now, moving to take a seat across from Daiki to hear him out further.

"Why then come all the way here, or try and have this conversation with me now? What does this now do, if you have figured out apparently all our parents parenting styles?"

All these questions Naoko threw, it was not that she was not slightly aware of this phenomenon, she had this feeling deep inside. She was also sure the other kids were also aware of this. She really just wanted some assurance from someone who is in the same spot as her to shine some light into the whole thing. Despite the fact they had just met, she felt like if there was a possibility to bond over this with someone, it would be totally worth to take the chance.

"Well this comes to the reason why the other kids were not ready to have this conversation when I showed up to their place. They knew the implications of these meant that their parents were just using them as pawns. Disrespecting them or not obeying them will spell tragedy for the companies, and potentially any bridges we have with the government." Daiki explained, pausing before making sure that Naoko understood him so far before he dived back in.

"The 5 of our companies are all inextricably linked to the government. We provide a lot of the technology or aid in making sure the servers, the live system and the LifeHelper watches all function as they should within the country. This means that ultimately, any of the things we want or desire, are funnelled after our parents have moulded us to be of a personality or type. Despite even if we feel like rebelling a bit, we still play by their rules. It is not unless we have a dramatic change in our lives that...we start thinking out of the box..."

With that Daiki plunged his hand into his left eye, and tugged the eyeball out from his eye socket.

"Holy shit!" Naoko screamed, leaping out of her seat and wailing in fear at what Daiki had just done, which alerted her butler outside the meeting room, who thundered inside to see what has happened.

"Is there something wrong miss!?" The butler exclaimed, but all he saw was a really horrified Naoko and a smirking Daiki, with nothing out of the ordinary.

"Uhh...you can leave us...I thought I saw something..." 

Naoko managed to let that out, her voice shaking.

The butler stood for a few seconds, seeing that he was not going to get any further explanation, bowed before he decided to take his leave, leaving the two of them alone.

"Sorry I should have warned you.." Daiki said sheepishly.

"Warned?! You did not even say anything before pulling out your eye! And then you managed to shove it back in like it was nothing! Why did you not tell me you had a fake eye?!" Naoko exclaimed.

Daiki smirked before he continued. "I thought it would be a bit funny scaring you but...I have had a mechanical left eye for almost 7 years. Had an accident as a kid and they basically constructed and fitted me in with a eyeball that works perfectly. All linked to my brain so it does not even ruin any of my vision, almost as if I had gotten my original eye back again."

Naoko was now more calm, but still looked bewildered, he continued his explanation.

"There is only my best friend who knows about this, but it was something I have had for a while. What made me even bring this up with you is because recently during the school break, my parents did some servicing on my eye. They said it was getting old and that it needed an update. I did not feel any different and like usual I agreed with them, but after my research last night I decided to check it out and viola, after taking it apart carefully I was able to find a device within the compartments of my fake eye. It seemed to be a signalling device that is streaming whatever my eye captures. I guess the cat being out of the bag now means that they know I know, which just means that they are probably going to be more careful now in not only monitoring me but if my hunch is correct, in monitoring you too..."

"Whoa whoa wait hold on, you are saying they are monitoring...who our parents or the government?" Naoko asked.

"Could be our parents, could be the government, could be both. The fact is that we are not free to do what we like, they might have even tampered with our watches. All I am asking is, knowing that you are willing to listen, that I would like to you shed whatever is driving you to be like your parents and rather help me, be independent and do things for yourself."

Naoko listened and considered what Daiki was saying. This guy knew that whatever information he had gathered was all what the government knew regardless. However any independent research he did from here on out might be out of their watchful eyes. He was simply asking if he could trust her to help aid him. 

"How do you know to trust me?" asked Naoko.

Daiki just smiled before saying, "I have heard that you apparently have linked up with my friend Kenzo and his other club members, if he trusts you then I would too. Besides, I know how it feels being neglected or ignored by your parents. If you were an actual spy or loyal to your parents, my necessary background check would have stopped me before I even made the trip to ask you."

"Does that mean you are trusting the other companies kids too when you went to propose this alliance to them?"

"Yeah, they are all much like us, but their loyalties can change. They may not be willing to do anything about the situation now, but the closer we get to our inheritance, the more loyal to their companies they might get. We team up now and we have a greater chance to survive if they decide to do some civil war bullshit and form alliances to stop the other rebellious kids like us."

Naoko listened to all these new revelations and took a minute to process it all.

Daiki could have come and made this all up, but the eye and the clearly desperate show he was putting on with the risk of being labelled a problem by the government, all of this indicated that he was trying to find the truth to the relationship the companies had with the government. 

Naoko sighed before saying what she decided.

"I agree to helping you out and being your ally, I have felt the need for my own independence and it feels like whatever you are proposing, might be genuinely helpful with that...I have one request though.."

Daiki was beaming hearing her accept his offer, he asked what her request was.

"Since you are friends with Kenzo, make sure you wingman me well with his friend Hiro alright?"

Daiki looked at her, he had a face of faux confusion before saying, 

"You mean the Elephant?"

A long awkward pause.

"Did you just insult my boyfriend?"

Daiki made a face of agony before he muttered "I still suck at bantering..."

*****

Day: 5

Afternoon

Hiro POV

"Hey Rin, are you ok?"

They had walked a bit away from the café, away from where Kenzo was. Rin had now stopped walking away was now facing Hiro, frowning at him.

"Why did you let that guy say that shit to piss me off?" Rin asked, "I am not mad at that, was just curious as to why you didn't interfere."

Hiro took a moment to understand what she said, before responding.

"I am sorry if it looked like I did not care, despite how me and him treat each other, I can sense that he has certain intentions and drive. I usually let him do his thing, even if I widely might disagree with what he does, he has his weird way of looking out for people..."

Ever since he declared Kenzo his rival of sorts, this was the nicest thing he had said to him.

His sister listened patiently before responding.

"Sounds like you see parts of yourself in the guy, the drive to do better and all for the people around you. I have to admit, the way you phrase this seems like you got a crush on this dude..."

Aw hell nah

Hiro did not bother clarifying since he knew Rin was joking, she continued.

"What upset me though was seeing him act like that and...it made me worried for you. I fear that given time you might start to act like him. Your main character syndrome paired with your grandeur delusion to make the world or universe a better place...it all seems like a fantasy a kid in primary school would make up. It could push you far enough to be stuck in a personality you might not like, like Kenzo."

Hiro carefully took in what his sister said, processing what she meant by that.

Kenzo did have pretty much a reduced social circle. He was a lone sheep with no flock with him. While Hiro was not at his best reputation, he did have his little gang who trusted he did the best for them. 

Maybe Kenzo's attitude is what drove away his ability to make new friends.

It was true Hiro was ready to bear the work of helping as much people as possible. What he did not realise that whatever path Kenzo did take, is probably the one that shaped his asshole personality. In his eyes though he probably assumes he is doing the right thing.

"Look bro, I know you haven't told mom and dad about your watch issue, but I know of it. I saw the moments you try to hide it from the family what exactly it says on your screen. You might be sneaky enough to fool mom and dad, but I know what you are in. I want to help you out as much as I can, but if you keep shifting me away from the 'main plot' as you call it, then I cannot help. Just trust me and don't let stupid characters like the Kenzo dude try and influence you."

Hiro was quiet as Rin stared at her elder brother, waiting to see his reaction and anticipate what he might say.

After a long pause, he decided to answer.

"I think Kenzo has some issues he might be dealing with, some past trauma. He pushes people away but in a roundabout way, tries to help them out simultaneously. It makes him very difficult to work with as he is part selfless but also selfish, but I see why you may be worried I might end up like that..."

Hiro now made eye contact with his sister, keeping a reassuring face.

"Do not worry sis, I understand that the path of doing good for most people is a difficult path and it is the path I have chosen regardless of the consequences, but I will not also shed off any of the good qualities as I have and reduce myself to an asshole persona. I will make sure to look out for myself and I will ask for your help for my situation, thanks for letting me know."

Rin nodded, and gave a little smirk when he was finished.

"Thanks for the reassurance bro, I am glad we were able to get this out...I know we usually just banter but I guess the cat is out the bag now. Thanks for hearing me out and considering what I had to say."

Rin started walking away back home,  a skip now in her step as it felt like she was able to appropriately communicate how she felt with her brother.

Hiro had a smile on his face as he followed his sister home.

This asshole Kenzo...he really is something....

*****

Day: 5

Afternoon

Shadow POV

"He what??"

The shadowy figure was called back into the Observation Room, apparently one of the subjects they were monitoring had got rid of the camera they had planted on them.

Right now, he was bewildered and asked a staff member in the room what he had missed.

"He removed the camera in his eye sir..."

"Goddammit, this stupid government internship of mine might go sideways!"

The shadowy figure was now slumped in one of the empty chairs in the room, his hands in his face as he contemplated the fact that they just had lost one of their subjects movements last night and had only been reported this afternoon.

"So...what happens now?"

The other staff member just shrugged his shoulders as the shadowy figure glared at him before coming up with a plan.

"I have a commitment on Sunday but I want you to be able to come up with an alternative to tracking Daiki, I know we can't hack the watches as that would be an international law breach, but I would like to find out a way to track him and report that to HQ. If they find out we have lost him and that he now knows of us, we are so screwed..." 

He paused before scratching his head, thinking deeply, before an idea manifested in his mind.

He got up to leave the room, the staff member following the figure, the question of where he was going posed.

He turned back to answer.

"I am still a student, I have school commitments and my community commitments with my boss Epsilon, but I think I know someone who can help aiding us on keeping an eye on Daiki."

The shadowy figure had one name in his mind as he exited the secret room.

He had to check in on the new member in his gang who has proven to pull in excellent results.

Airi.

*****

Day: 5

Afternoon

Kenzo POV

"Well that went well..."

Kenzo was still at the table, the 3 empty cups of coffee still lying on the table.

Well, might as well pay it...

As he was going to get up and pay the bill, a girl with a deerstalker hat decided to sit across from him, her eyes trained on him as her demeanour ready for a conversation.

"Woah...sorry miss I was about to leave...if you wanted to ask for my number though Mrs Holmes, I can give that to you..."

The girl just held a hand up and before she spoke.

"My name is Airi, I already paid the bill so you don't need to worry about that, I just have one request."

Kenzo was a bit disappointed in being ignored completely, but he did appreciate that she paid the bill so the least he could do was hear her out.

"Well what is it that you want miss Airi?"

"I want you, Mr. Average to introduce me to Hiro please, him and I have some matters to discuss."

Well...that was unnecessary...