|Hurtful Reunion

She took full advantage of the vibrant wind and swung her hair once more for good measure.

“What are you doing here, Sensei?”

“To see how you were doing.”

“You didn’t trust me, huh?”

It was an understandable gesture so she couldn’t help but clench her fists, her lips curled. She knew no one was to blame but herself.

“Don’t get the wrong idea. I came for multiple reasons. Most importantly, I didn’t doubt you. I was just worried. You took an ungraded mission without proper permission, after all.”

“Haha. So that’s it.” she rubbed her nose gently, wearing an embarrassing smile. Even she knew she was fooling no one. She knew her joy was a mere imitation but deep down… she also knew the moment her lips straightened, at that very point she had given up.

“You don’t seem fine.”

She sighed then gave a firm thumbs up.

“I do. I didn’t even do anything.”

“So it was you that handled the case, Aoi??”

“It was the both of us.”

“What are you saying? You went and did everything yourself.”

“You did at least half the work, I simply finished it. Why are you selling yourself short?”

“That’s just an exaggeration.”

“You are one annoying midget. I hope I don’t see you again.”

“I told you to stop calling me midget. I have a name.”

“You really like being called Nausea queen?”

“No. Aiko. A-i-k-o. You called me that a moment ago.”

“Really? I can’t quite recall.”

“You little..”

“Little?”

*ahem*

“You two get along really well. That’s endearing.”

“You know I can handle different types of people fairly easily.”

In actuality, he found the girl repugnant, a worse version than he was briefly exposed to. However he couldn’t take it upon himself to give his two cents, none of them mattered. Not to him and definitely not to her.

All he registered was that the girl, Takano Aiko, was extremely creepy.

“Anyway, what was your other reason for coming here, Sensei?”

“Isn’t it obvious? To recruit an old friend. We need to discuss this somewhere else. Do you mind?”

“Eh….”

“You broke your phone..”

“I didn’t break it.”

“.…”

“But..yeah…”

“Well, good news. I brought you a spare. Because, as I told you numerous times, it was bound to come in handy. I do understand your worries but two at the very least should be a cinch.”

“Right. I concede. I need multiple phones on me now.”

“Sure.”

“You see, I’m flattered but… My wallet’s really teary-eyed at the moment so I can’t really be offering any more free services. Plus, I have a show airing soon. If I miss it, I might be the one actually jumping off a bridge.” just the mere thought of it had him grinning from ear to ear. With that, he turned around and waved, but…

“Huh?” he scanned his immediate surrounding but still couldn’t tell where he was.

However, he was seated comfortably on a wooden chair with headlong trees swallowing the entire space. You could tell that the roots were shallow and simply wrapped around the actual structure.

“That was pretty rude, Aoi.” she crossed her legs and hung her head on the chair.

“Again? At least warn me before you use your dumb powers.”

“When did you even tag this place?” the lady sighed, her tone was slightly muffled due to the position of her head. Even she was surprised by the sudden turn of events.

“Last time I came here.”

“You should have at least told me. To be fair, with you, I usually don’t know what to expect but surely, I wasn’t expecting my own garden?”

“I’m sorry. He was walking off so I just thought of somewhere safe to talk and this came to mind.”

“Hmm. Now what can I do about that?” she placed her fingers on her lips in intrigue.

“Before we shift gears, Aiko.”

“Yeah?”

“You absolutely must tell me all that happened.”

“I see. You simply sensed it.”

“Of course. It felt like a hundred apparitions were rushing out of that door. But that wasn’t the case at all. How did you handle all that??”

“I just told you, I didn't.”

“Huh? Don’t look at me like that. My account of this particular case would be extremely limited due to you. You ought to do it yourself. You said you were watching me, right?”
“Fine.”

While they went over the event in tandem, she noticed the young man click his tongue quite a few times. It sure did take a load or two off the severity of the situation .

“He is responsible for at least half of my troubles.”

“If you didn’t know, I can’t stand you.”

“The feeling's mutual”

“Time to reflect on this mission.”

“Another lecture incoming.”

“Can we skip this?”

“Your desecalation skills were pretty decent. Not perfect but decent enough. Reassurance is all fine and good but you don’t have to sound desperate.You need to be firm while being compassionate. Sure, your desperation is born from a desire to help but it can backfire in many cases.”

“If he didn’t interfere to begin with. I would have persuaded him. He wouldn’t have jumped.”

“Hmm.”

“I’ll stop making excuses. I know I have a lot to work on.”

“On the bright side, there’s something you can never lose, whether you pass or fail the mission. That is experience. It will serve you well in your future endeavours.”

Gazing upon her contagious smile, the young girl felt both defeat and optimism. Even if this feeling wasn’t going to last forever. Still, after seeing that smile, she wanted to try her hardest.

“And for you. I wouldn't judge a man with his back to the wall.”

“I appreciate that.” he nodded instinctively.
“However, your acting was horrendous.”
“ Ugh.”

“Perhaps it’s because this is a retelling of an event. Your were not convincing enough.”

“I was, seeing as he actually fell for it.”

“Indeed. You were so convincing that only a person either willfully naive or simply mentally distressed would have believed you.” she observed the constituents of the round glass cup with half her eyes closed.

“That’s a bit harsh.”

“Oh? I apologize.”

Those were the emptiest words of apology he had ever heard.

“Aiko, saying that you knew where he lived was reckless. Please refrain from such in the future.”

“Is that illegal?”

“It is not. We are authorized to deal with certain civilian info. But at the same time…”

“It messes with the presentation.”

“Not the word I’ll use but you’re on the right track.Luckily, the man brushed it aside. Let’s say he didn’t have much room for that in his thoughts.”

“By the way, my intentions have always been pure. Ignore that erratic child. I was never trying to cause him harm.”

“That much was clear. For the apparition you spoke of with such disdain, you still managed to suppress her powers while she was on a rampage. You had the chance to kill her. Why didn’t you?”

“At that point, I didn’t think she deserved death. Simple as is.”

“Interesting.”

“The only time I can be non-chalant with these things is when my life is not in danger.”

“What about now?”

“What a way to steer the topic. Let’s switch to my pace, okay?”

“There’s at least one advantage of being here. I’ve got a bottle of Leroy up on a shelf somewhere. You’ll feel rich after a single sip. If that’s not to your liking, I have one gifted to me by a local in Hokkaido.” she flung her head forward like a bobble head.

“Sorry to disappoint but I only stay in Hokkaido at the moment. I’m not from there.”

“Wouldn’t ruin the taste if you ask me. Don’t hold back. ”

“Fine. Whichever suits your fancy.”

“In that case, excuse me.”

As soon as she was out of sight, she leaped over her seat, making her next words nothing less than urgent.

“I’ve been thinking a lot. I understand it now. Aoi. You're a pathological liar, aren’t you?”

“Huh?”

“That's the case, right?”

“I'm not the most honest honest person you'll find. But..”

“That has nothing to do with this.”

“You're not willing to let this go. I know why. But hey, that's not my problem.”

“I can’t let it go. I think your lies are disrespectful.”

“Let’s agree to disagree.”

“Do you honestly think you’re funny?”

“You should take a look at your face. Be careful, the smile is wearing off.”

His composure surprised him. That just meant he had built up a tolerance to her words. From this point on, she could not stir his emotions. Besides, they were not hers to tamper with.

“Don’t you want to know how I met Atsuko? I honestly thought you were going for that?”

“Oh? Why would she be curious about that?”

Before he could offer any rebuttals, the hidden steps, quieter than a whisper of the wind signified the presence of the host. She gave him a quick glance.

“You’re supposed to be relaxed. Your facial expression says otherwise.”

“It must be the wine. For some reason, the ‘good’ stuff never go down well for me. Maybe it’s the price tag that messes with the experience.”

“Hehe, not falling for that.” In his field, this was just as mundane as drinking water. She would have been surprised if he couldn’t down a few glasses.

“Speaking of which, how’s ‘that’ going?”

“Well,not going as well as I thought but it gets better eventually.”

“I fulfilled my promise. But you seem unfazed.”

“Why would I be worried? Seeing you gives me a sense of relief.”

“That’s flattering.Now then, you and I are aware of the main agenda for tonight.”

“We are?”

“Aiko. Good job. In the middle of taking this mission. You managed to find this evasive scoundrel. Thank you.”

“Huh??”

“Aoi, to pinpoint a crucial part of the conversation. I never said anything about free services. I’m not that tasteless.”

“Haaaa…..Straight to the point, I like it. So, what’s the offer?” he stared at her lips, eagerly waiting for her next words. In all honesty, this was more than just a negotiation. This was destiny.

“Anything you want.”

“Uh..”

“Never heard of a blank cheque? Don’t worry about the details. You will be getting every single expense of yours covered by the FISF.”

“The what?”

“The Fujisaki institute of special forces.”

“Did you just say all expenses?”

“That’s your only concern?”

“Shut it, Takano.” he uttered this while shooing her away with his left hand.

“Basically. As long as you’re grounded, these special privileges are all yours.”

“That sounds too good to be true.”

“I knew you’ll say that. The contract is in my office. That should clear any existing doubts.”

“No, that’s not it. I’m not doubting the validity. I just thought. What do you get out of it? Knowing you, you would never act in anything other than your own self-interest.”

“I wonder what I’ve done to deserve such remarks.”

“I’m just saying,it sounds pretty illogical from your side.”

She put both her hands by her hips then nodded several times as she stood up.

“You do have a point, however!!” she snapped her fingers in objection.

“You’re offering up your life so it’s not illogical at all.”

“You’re right. As he said, I have to look after myself first. My primary condition is..” he glanced at the girl beside him and sighed, his gaze returning to her.

“Is to get my debt cleared immediately. It’s a huge sum of money. Pretty burdensome for someone of my financial stature. It will be nothing for you.”

“That’s too vague.”

“It’s fine. Consider it done.”

“Huh?”

“If it’s the specifics, I would hear about all of that when it’s time to pay.”

“Haha. Now you’ve got me feeling nervous.”

“Took you long enough.” his flushed faced filled her with a sense of pride.

“..Oh well. Guess I have no choice, do I?”

“Exactly what I wanted to hear. You won’t regret this.” she tapped his shoulder.

“That’s that then.”

Aiko then drew the both of them close and brought out her phone. She extended her right hand and struck a pose for the camera. Immediately he found himself at the end of an unfamiliar street.

His eyes were instinctively shut upon the view. The blinding lights that radiated from the building in front of him made him turn. It was a gigantic building with two others behind it nearly as tall but definitely wider. From a distance, it formed the shape of a crown.

Calling it a small village wouldn’t have been too far fetched. There was a garden at the center which formed the giant shape of a rose if you observed closely. How come he had never heard of such an absurd place before.

He was subconsciously calculating how much the electricity bills would cost around here.

“Welcome to the primary HQ of the FISF. I don’t want to be too forward but hopefully this would be your new home.”

“Feels like I just unlocked nineteen years worth of luck in one day.”

“It’s really huge, huh?”

“That’s an understatement.”

“Well, let’s speed things up. I haven’t had my dinner yet.”

“Have you looked at the time?” he glanced at his watch.

“This is when she typically eats dinner.”

Despite the confusing situation he now found himself in, he walked forward without hesitation. To him, this was heaven.

As they walked through the entrance, the young man nearly stood still in a daze mainly due to the fact that everything sparkled.

“Woah, it looks even better on the inside. How did you manage to get this?”

“Money.” her plain response didn’t faze him.

“This building reminds me of something. Yeah, the Tokyo city hall.”

“How?”

“To be fair, it’s a little similar.”

His crimson eyes moved from side to side, admiring the aesthetic that stood out. The glass elevator located at the center of the building was a perfect example. He loved the capsule like shape and the gold exterior that gave it a futuristic feel, similar to the ones he usually saw in movies.

“I knew you were rich from the first time we met but wow.”

“We’re special. We deserve this much at least.”

“ ‘Special’, huh? That’s a word for it.” he finally regained his composure as the ground became further away in distance.

“You'll get used to it sooner or later. Anyway, let’s hear those questions you’ve got.”

“First question. From my understanding of things, this is supposed to be an institute for people like us. So, what is the operational structure like?”

“Haa.” She chuckled silently along with Aiko as his voice went lower and lower to the point that it was a murmur.

“Now you’re laughing? Takano, not you too.”

“You do know she’s not looking for an ops manager right?”

“Have you been pushed out an elevator before?”

“Both of you are pretty lively. I’m sure you’ll say you hate each other but I think you should consider forming a team.”

“Sensei. I trust your judgement but what’s the rationale behind that?”

“Who wants to be in a team with you in the first place?” he retorted.

“Huhh?? Why does it sound like I’m the one being rejected?”

“Because you are. I don’t want to work with someone as disoriented as you.”

“And I don’t want to work with someone as delusional as you.”

“We have our answer then.” she sighed in defeat.

They got off the elevator and walked through the hallway. The corridor was the most normal sight so far. All brown doors with a stylish red, a dark red carpet and yellow lights. The door in front of the elevator was white. This led to one of the dining rooms.

There were also vending machines on each floor for the snack junkies. They stopped halfway through and Atsuko pointed at one of the doors beside them.

“This will be your room. I hope you like it. There are other rooms both north and east of the dining. If you are up to it, you can explore.”

He barged in his new room, his brows raised. Every nook and cranny of the place had to be just right, he was risking his life, after all.

“I love it. It has a TV. Also a huge bed. Since I roll a lot, it fits me perfectly. A spacious bathroom, well I certainly don’t mind. A tall mirror and an enormous wardrobe, I don’t have a lot of clothes so I probably wouldn’t be needing that but that’s nice too. Frankly speaking, there’s nothing to dislike.” he held his chin and nodded while feeling the soft texture of the bed.

“Is that so? I’m glad to hear that.” she smiled in response.

No matter how beautiful, it was impossible to hide nature’s mark on the body. Those dark corners beneath her eyes told its own story.

“So, Aoi. Concerning the details of this debt..”

“We can talk about it some other time.”

“Really? Shouldn’t we talk about it first? I can at least take notes.”

“All that can wait. I trust you so we call it a night and resume discussion tomorrow.”

“Sensei, I think he’s right. There’s no rush.”

“Aiko?”

Aiko crossed her arms, pouting as she glared. At times, she had no way of telling what this young beauty was thinking due to their age gap. However, that was not entirely the case. Takano Aiko’s thought process was something indecipherable to pretty much everyone in the organization, even herself.

“Fine, fine. It seems like I’ll be skipping dinner. Time to rest up. Please look after him.”

“Sure.”

“Goodnight.”

With only the two of them in the room, Aiko sat at the edge of the bed facing the TV that was mounted in the opposite direction of the bed.

“She’s a worry-wart but you’ll get used to her in due time.”

“I know.”

“Hmm? It seems like you have an active switch in your head for when to be caring and when not to be.” she crossed her legs and tilted her head to meet his gaze.

“Even I have a conscience. I give people what they deserve. Kindness for kindness and vice versa.”

“Then can you describe what you gave me? That was undoubtedly hostility.”

“If you saw someone randomly appear just to look down on you, how will you react?”

“That’s cool and all but aren’t you hungry??Let’s go eat dinner together.”

“Did you just…I’ll join you later. I have a show to watch right now.”

“You could always record it.”

“Don’t want to. I have the chance to watch it now so there’s no point recording it.Kills the magic.”

“You really are stubborn.”

“And you’re short.”

“I have a feeling you’re not gonna stop the teasing.”

“Correct.”

“I’ll see you later then.”

“Wait.”

“Hmm?”

“I have a question.”

“Do I have to answer now? I’m pretty hungry.”

“Fine. knock yourself out.”

Immediately she shut the door, he laid on his bed and rolled round it in excitement. The difference between his former, worn out bed and this was painfully obvious.So obvious that the immense comfort he felt while he laid down was so unusual that it almost became uncomfortable.

“Look at the robe. It feels like a 5 star hotel. For free!!! Well, my life is on the line. But I’ve gotta say, this is on another level compared to my days as a rent a friend.I lived by my own rules, with as much freedom as a bird, maybe that’s precisely why I haven’t been earning much lately. I shouldn’t be saying that.

Anyway, it seems like I’ll be giving away that freedom all the same, to a purple haired beauty.” he undressed in the meantime, staring at his smooth skin in the mirror.

“Government ties would be a deal breaker. Although, it’s very hard to think of a company with such notoriety not being supervised by the government. Wait, they might need their permission to function on such a scale but that doesn’t mean they are subservient either. Well, I hope not.” he flexed his muscles but despite his efforts, nothing much could be seen.

He finally gave up and turned on the TV in front of him and crossed his legs as all of today’s events crossed his mind. He was responsible for a death, a human one. It wasn’t the most pleasant thought but it was necessary. Of course,shifting the blame was another form of denial which would have been unacceptable. Accepting the actions and the weight resulting from those actions were the only way to move forward. But what if…

“Just what if…There’s something that I just can’t accept? Under any circumstance??” the sounds from the TV brought his thoughts to a halt.

“I don’t have any brain power to think about this right now. Takano was right. Maybe I will need to record this.”

He laid on his bed and fell sound asleep in little to no time. The girl in question was returning and stopped by his door.

“He didn’t even show up. Jeez, I was pretty lonely out there. Well, he must also be hungry.”

She knocked on the door multiple times but there was no response.

“Perhaps I should cool off a bit. I don’t want to create a misunderstanding.” she stepped away from the door.

“But then again, I’m just being nice. This shouldn’t be enough to make him think I might like him, right? I don’t know him, but he looks like the type of guy that would be freaked out if anything.” she stopped and smirked.

“That’s a good thing. Hmm. The door is open? Hey, I’m coming in. Any objections?”

“.…”

“Too easy.” she opened the door and saw the young man turning on each side.

“He’s so peaceful when he’s sleeping. What the hell. Why did he leave the TV on?”

She switched off the TV and left the sandwich she packed on his table. She turned to leave but noticed a frown on his face.

“That’s weird. Maybe he’s cold.”

She attempted placing the covers on him but the outcome was unprecedented.

“There you go. All done.”

Everything around them levitated. His eyes flickered and glowed red. His aura leaked, pulsated, drowning the room in a deadly pressure. His unconscious body leapt up, taking hers with him.

She tried reaching for her phone which also floated but ended up gripping her neck for dear life….

“Aoi!!!!!”