2. Looming

- "A familiar ceiling" - Haruka thought as she opened her eyes. She got up and yawned before she went to the bathroom. It was simple: a toilet, a sink, a mirror, a shower and a bath. Its walls were set with pink tiles and it brought a cozy feeling. After really waking up, she left to the living room.

Hers was a small studio featuring her bedroom and bathroom and a living room integrated with a small kitchen. In the living room she had a desk she used to write, draw, read, think and get the briefings for missions. She put on her ear device and turned on the computer on her desk. It was embed on her desk under a huge keyboard. As it turned on, a blue holographic screen materialized on her wall showing a wallpaper of a fox and an welcome message.

- "Hello, OP-san, good morning!" - Haruka touched her ear.
- "Hello Haruka-chan! Good morning!"
- "Any new mission today? Or should I go to the office?"
- "Yes! Today you go straight to the field!"
- "Great! I hate office work!" - Haruka clapped her hands as she replied - "I love these devices, I don't even have to go to the office to be briefed!"
- "Yes, the National In-ear Communications Device (NCID) is such an amazing invention! I also love the National Operations Radar and Sensor Equipment (NORSE), it allows me to be part of the action sometimes, even at the office!"
- "I also love them!" - Haruka celebrated - "So, what is the deal today?"
- "Well, take a look at your screen" - in the screen appeared images of a monster. It was hard to grasp more than a humanoid form and arms that had different lengths in each picture - "we've got lots of reports of this monster in the Shibuya region. It seems to be a furtive predator, able to grapple onto surfaces, floating through the skies and attacking humans and animals. However, we have no clear pictures of it."
- "A little challenge, huh?"
- "To the famed Shocking Blue? I don't think so" - the operator laughed - "you should take it down pretty easily."
- "Thanks for the trust in us! Any other recommendations?"
- "It seems to be more active at night, but the Colonel wants you to investigate first, to find out the damage the monster caused and if it is as the reports have said."
- "Alright! OP-san Have you already spoken to Kazuki?"
- "Of course! He is such and early bird!"
- "Yeah, indeed"
- "He suggested you two meet at noon, so you can investigate during the afternoon and hunt at night."
- "That's a wrap then! I will take some time to exercise and relax and then I will meet with Kazuki! Thank you, OP!"
- "Thank you! I will also take a rest before the mission, but call me if you need anything."
- "Sure thing, bye!"
- "Operator leaving it to Haruka-chan, over and out!"

At noon, Haruka left her room, walked through the metal like corridors, descended the elevator covered with blue holographic screens, and left the building. Her greenish eyes looked straight at Kazuki's grey blue eyes, waiting.
- "Kaa-chan, am I late?" - Haruka said, waving.
- "No, you are just in time. I was ready for you to be late, actually" - he looked down. She approached and slapped his arm:
- "Come on! I am not late that often" - he smiled:
- "Shall we?"
- "Yes!"

Kazuki was readying his motorcycle. It was large, featuring a big, metallic purple power unit, and a shining purple fuel tank. It was pristine. Kazuki sat down on it and put on his silver helmet, which reflected the neon lights of the street and the sun. Haruka sat behind him, putting on her helmet, which was coloured plain white and featured a myriad of randomly assorted stickers. Kazuki turned on the engine and they left for Shibuya.

As they made their way, the sun was at its zenith, its light reflecting on the windows of the buildings and the asphalt. It was already hot, and the streets were silent and mostly empty. That's exactly what Haruka liked about this area of Tokyo, it was barely repopulated since the Reconquest and as such, it was not crowded with people and ads. This allowed Haruka to enjoy her ride, the wind on her body, and the landscape.

Comfortable, Haruka leaned over and hugged Kazuki as they were in a straight line. However, as soon as they stopped on a light, Kazuki gently touched her arm signalling for her to release him. Haruka leaned back, crossed her arms and said:
- "Why don't you let me hug you? It is more comfortable that way" - Kazuki did not react. Haruka held the handles and they continued to their destination.

Soon they arrived at Shibuya. Kazuki slowed down so they could take a look around, and the place was crowded, lots of vehicles and people crossed the streets and the buildings were covered with holographic screens showing all kinds of ads: games, restaurants, financial services, all sorts of things. They proceeded until they found a parking spot near a restaurant that they already knew, the Shibuya Lunch.

Kazuki and Haruka got up and removed their helmets. As soon as she could, Haruka hugged Kazuki's torso. She looked up at him and said:
- "Why didn't you let me hug you?" - he looked at her and replied:
- "I've already told you that once, I have no problems with your hugs, but I prefer not to have then while driving. I feel safer that way." - she pouted and kept holding him. - "what are you doing now? We need to fulfill our assignment."
- "I am compensating" - he facepalmed, but waited until she released him and both entered the restaurant.

The restaurant looked clean, a mixture of light grey walls with blue holographic screens and not a spot of dirt. The agents sat down on a table for two, also light grey, it seemed to be made of steel. They pressed on a button and a holographic screen showed them their options. Kazuki called a waiter, who approached and said:
- "Hello and welcome, I am Shirou, what would you like today?" - Kazuki replied:
- "Good morning. For me just a lamen and a soda please"
- "And you, lady?"
- "I'd like a special pork lamen and a peachy pineapple ultra fizzy soda!" - said Haruka
- "Sure, got your orders. Anything else?" - both nodded. - "The orders will be coming soon, thank you"
- "Thank you" - they replied.

Kazuki lowered his head and Haruka was staring at him. He asked:
- "You know this special order is worthless, don't you? The pork, the peach, they are not real, they taste the same!"
- "Yes I know" - Haruka looked down briefly - "but you know, I just want some fun! Some colors, a slightly different taste" - she paused - "maybe something to remember the past."
- "I see. Well, honestly I prefer my food as simple as it can be. If I cannot eat real pork, let it be plain lamen, no sweat."
- "As if I didn't know that!" - she replied smiling.

They continued talking and after a few minutes they received their dishes. They ate it and Kazuki called for the waiter to pay. Then, he said:
- "Was it worth it, your pork lamen and peachy pineapply fuzzy pinky drink?"
- "It was!" - Haruka smiled. The waiter arrived and asked:
- "Are you two satisfied?"
- "Yes, we are" - Kazuki replied. - "We are ready to pay."
- "Sure." - Kazuki gave him his National Centralized Payment Device (NCPD). While they waited, Haruka asked:
- "So, Shirou, do you like working here?" - she looked into his eyes with a smile and sympathy.
- "Well, I guess. I've been here for four years, the salary is decent and the work is not too much. It's enough for me."
- "I see." - Haruka took a final sip from her soda - "and the place itself, Shibuya? Do you like working here?"
- "Well, some days I do, some days I don't. I like that it is busy, I like to meet new people and find out a little about how other people live. However" - he pouted - "sometimes I feel that trouble always brews here and it makes me anxious."
- "I see, that is interesting. Did anything problematic happen lately?" - Shirou looked around and got close before answering:
- "If you are asking, you might know, but there have been reports of a strange creature scouring the skies and buildings at night and attacking people."
- "Indeed, I have heard of that. I am very skeptical of those sort of things, but I am curious enough to ask." - she gazed into his eyes - "Have you personally seen anything?"
- "Actually" - he hesitated - "I did." - he paused again - "a few nights ago I left work quite late at night, the streets were mostly empty. As I walked to the station, a shadow covered me and I felt a shiver run down my spine. I started running and the shadow seemed to follow me, as I didn't see the lights' reflections on the street. I only stopped inside the station. Whatever it was, it didn't follow me inside."
- "That's scary, I'm glad you are well."
- "Indeed. Since then I've been avoiding leaving work late." - before he continued a cling sound was emitted from his machine, the payment was complete. He returned the NCPD and said - "well, it's been good to talk, but I must get going. Thank you very much." - Kazuki said:
- "Thank you for your service." - Haruka also thanked him. The two agents got up and left.