12. A Sincere Toast?

Haruka and Renegade walked for a few minutes and walked into a bar. It was dimly lit with dark yellow bulbs, and was mostly decorated with dark wood, on the walls, tables, chairs and the balcony. The two sat in front of each other on a table by a window with two benches with red cushions.

- "A beer here please" - asked Renegade to the waiter.
- "And a passion fruit and strawberry sake drink, please" - asked Haruka.
- "Oh, what an elaborate drink." - Renegade's eyes widened.
- "Life is too short not to enjoy the small and artistic things" - Haruka blinked.
- "Even if the fruits aren't even real?"
- "Well, we fight with the resources we have." - Haruka tilted her head and spread her arms.
- "Um I see." - Renegade got a little closer - "But don't you prefer the real thing? If I can't have the real thing, I prefer simpler things, like some good old beer. And talking about that" - the waiter arrived bringing their drinks - "thank you" - Haruka also thanked the waiter, who left.
- "Well" - Haruka raised her colourful glass - "a toast then?"
- "Yes, a toast." - Renegade blinked. - "A toast to a heist!"
- "I can drink to that" - they clanked their cups and drank.
- "Ooof I was needing that" - Renegade said, relaxing on her seat.
- "So did I" - Haruka copied her movements to generate rapport. Renegade looked at her with a smug smile:
- "So is it tasty?"
- "The drink? Not much, but is is beautiful" - Haruka showed her glass. It was hourglass shaped, and had bright yellow and deep red layers. On the top it had ice cubes and a toy umbrella - "and loads of fun" - she smiled and acted comfortable already. Renegade laughed, stroke her hair and said:
- "So, tell me. Have you ever had the real thing?"
- "Hmm" - she touched her chin - "you mean real sake with real fruit?"
- "Exactly."
- "Well, I did, once or twice."
- "Where?"
- "I won't tell exactly, let's keep it a secret. But it was on a place for the wealthy." - Haruka talked looking at her nails - "With my job I can sometimes afford this, however I despise the attention. I prefer to keep low key, away from prying eyes, so I never did it again."
- "You are really reserved, Velvet-san" - Renegade took another sip of her beer. - "one day, if you like us rebels, you should go to one of our havens. We have some real food and at much cheaper prices."
- "Well, I've heard the rumors. However, my job already attracts police attention. I'd rather not do other things that may draw their attention."
- "Really reserved, I see" - Renegade giggled.
- "That's why I am called Velvet and not something like Truck" - both laughed.

Both enjoyed their time. Haruka relaxed and let the moment sink in, before leaning a bit on the table and asking:
- "So tell me one thing, Renegade-san, why have you joined the rebels?" - Haruka was genuinely curious.
- "Straight to the point aren't you? Well, this one asks for another beer. Waiter! Another round here" - she waited for the beer before continuing. She took another drink and breathed deeply.

- "So, I was raised with my older brother in a hardworking family. He was always the troublemaker, disobedient child and I was the calm, responsible and obedient one. When he got older, my brother started to revolting and being disobedient against the government, not only our parents. Our parents disapproved it and the situation escalated until he left our house and became a rebel himself. In secret, I kept contact with him and even though we disagreed I gave him a hand from time to time." - Renegade stopped and sighed.
- "I smell this is where things are going to derail." - Haruka looked into Renegade's eyes to show her interest.
- "Indeed. One day, my brother was arrested in a rebel operation. As you may know, our government propagates humane prisons, caring treatment and reformation."
- "Yes, I've seen lots of these propaganda, but never wanted to test it myself."
- "You are correct. These are all fake." - Renegade's visage got gloomy - "The thing is, my brother escaped. And he met me, as I was the only one he felt he could trust. And the things he told me" - she hesitated - "scared me. Abuse from the guards, isolation, and tortures I could never imagine. I felt shivers on my spine, it was terribly nauseating. So, I gave him all money I could spare and he fled. He went straight to the brumes, to an isolated skerry. He said he preferred to die trying than return to a state prison. I've never seen him since." - Renegade sighed, leaned over the couch and drank more.
- "I'm sorry." - Haruka said nodding her head - "I can see your pain, but at the same time, you seen prepared to tell this story."
- "Yes, I had to tell it many times already, because... after that, I joined the rebels and I had to convince them I was the real deal. The truth is I abandoned my life and family in order to avenge my brother. Or, at least, to fight against the monster that is the Nouveau Head." - Haruka hid her disagreement:
- "I see now, a rather personal motive."
- "And you" - Renegade stared at Haruka - "tell me then Velvet-san, why would you take part in our heist?" - Haruka took a sip from her drink before replying:
- "Well, Renegade-san, I am sorry if you expect something interesting, but it's simple: I'm in it for the money." - Haruka raised her shoulders.
- "I don't believe it." - Renegade took another sip - "This heist is already risky and you risk a lot by allying yourself with rebels."
- "Well, I cannot help myself. I like a good challenge, I am not too fond of the government also." - she blinked - "The job does fit me well."
- "Now I understand you!" - Renegade lifted her cup and drank ecstatically - "Challenge, excitement! Safe crackers, hackers, adventurers, you are all the same, you like the challenge and excitement and want the good pay, so you only work with what you really like!" - she sighed and drank more - "sometimes I wish I were like that." - Haruka replied, not affected by Renegade's excitement:
- "You can live your life, you know? You don't need to carry the burden of your brother's decision and suffering."
- "I know, but I avoid thinking about that. I want to do something to carry his legacy. Before that, I have no. Life. To live." - Renegade's eyes were dead serious.
- "I see, I empathize with you."

Haruka looked down, took a sip and paused for a bit, before continuing:
- "Apart from your motivation, do you enjoy being with the rebels?"
- "In a way I do. I don't like the work, but at least I enjoy passing most of my time in their havens."
- "And what is so good about those?" - Renegade replied smiling:
- "Well, we have some real food for a change, we have music and instruments and places to dance! We have all sorts of art and fun things like skateboards. But what really gets me is how people seem happy there. There is not much money or abundance, but people feel free and happy."
- "I must admit, this sounds fun" - Haruka touched her chin - "maybe when I'm done with heists I will retire in one of those havens."
- "Please do! It will be lots of fun!" - Renegade looked at a clock on the wall and sighed - "well, look at the time, I guess we should be leaving. Tomorrow we need to be ready early" - as she was getting up, Haruka touched her hand and said:
- "Renegade-san, a quick question before you go." - Renegade sat down again - "why didn't you invite Eisubel-san and Hammer-kun?" - Renegade sighed and looked around before replying:
- "Well, as you may have seen, Hammer-kun is all about brawn and I'm not too fond of those kind of people. I understand why I have to work with him, but I prefer to keep it on a strictly professional level. And Eisubel, well" - she got closer - "just between us, he scares me. He seems to me like someone who cares only about himself and sometimes he says things that send shivers down my spine. He feels rough and heartless like a military general."
- "Wow" - Haruka's eyes widened.
- "So, I preferred just the company of a fellow girl. I am glad to have shared these drinks with you, Velvet-san."
- "It was good for me too, thank you Renegade-san."
- "Yes. Well, let's call it a day then?"
- "Sure" - both called the waiter, paid and left the bar each on their own ways.

On her way back to the apartment, the operator called Haruka on the NCID:
- "Good job, Haruka-san."
- "You do listen to everything, don't you, Operator-san?"
-"As long as you have the NCID on I pay attention to all I can hear and all the NORSE sensors. That is my job after all!"
- "Well, please do always take care of me, Operator-san."
- "Of course" - she paused - "can I ask you a question?"
- "Go ahead."
- "Did you really like the idea of living in a rebel haven?"
- "Well, I just did what I needed to play Velvet. I don't believe in any of those things."
- "As I expected."
- "Now" - Haruka turned around as if she was walking with the operator - "my turn."
- "To what?"
- "To ask a question."
- "Sure, go ahead."
- "All these claims about us torturing the rebels and all that. They are all lies, correct?"
- "Oh those." - the operator paused - "Yes, sure, all lies. It is possible that Renegade's brother may have been mistreated by a bad agent, but the Head keeps an eye on those and takes severe disciplinary action. Furthermore, torture is completely out of our methods."
- "As I expected, that's great to hear. Thank you Operator-san."
- "No worries."
- "Well, I am returning and will finish the day, keep and eye on me and tomorrow is the great day."
- "Sure thing. Operator leaving it to Haruka-chan, over and out!" - Haruka returned to the apartment, took a bath, relaxed and went to bed. Her mind was troubled with the mission and a bit full of ideas about Kazuki and rebels and life. Despite that, the drinks and efforts of the day helped her to sleep soon.

***

On his bed, Kazuki had a hard time sleeping. On his mind he saw a shooting in the bank, then the alarm going off and the rebels fleeing, then Haruka knocked down. He tried to forget all this, but on his mind the image of a chaotic heist was hard to erase. And then Haruka, close to him was another thing he was unable to forget. It took him a long while to finally relax his body and get to sleep.