18. A Mission Ahead

It was the afternoon, seven awkward days after their kiss, Haruka and Kazuki were called by the operator to receive a new mission. They sat side by side on a table in the office, keeping some distance between them.

- "Hi, Kazuki-kun, Haruka-chan, let's brief your next mission. The assignment itself is simple, you have to capture a deviant called Hachimorph. It is an octopus the size of a car. It is rumoured to be fast, to have tentacles stronger than steel and to release water streams from its mouth. We are not sure about all that, what we know for certain is that it does not need to stay underwater and that it is very dangerous."
- "Alright" - replied Kazuki.
- "For the mission, you will go to the Tochigi prefecture, the deviant is said to be living near Yunoko Lake. You will go by train, and you leave tomorrow at dawn." - Kazuki asked:
- "Tochigi is quite far away. Any special worries for me and Ha... Raikubo-san?"
- "Nothing special so far. We have no strange reports beside the deviant. Tochigi is quite far, but it is under the reach of the Head and our cleaning teams. This deviant seems to be more powerful than average, but nothing out of the ordinary."
- "Understood, Op-san" - said Haruka - "anything else?"
- "No, that's it."
- "Thank you. We will leave at dawn then."
- "Operator handing it over to Haruka-chan and Kazuki-kun, over and out!"
- "Well... Raikubo-san, get prepared because we have a big mission ahead of us."
- "We sure do, Kaa-chan. Let's prepare." - both of them took the rest of the day to prepare and rest. A mission is what they needed to relieve their minds of the stress of their relationship.

***

- "So, Operator-san, anything to report on Raikubo-san and Yukiya-san?"
- "Yes, Colonel. I have suspicions their relationship may have become closer in the last few days."
- "I see. Anything conclusive so far?"
- "Not yet. I sent two undercover agents to keep an eye on them a few times, and I am also collecting all the information I can. When I have a conclusion, I will reach back to you."
- "Good to hear that, Operator-san." - the Colonel paused - "and remember, we must do this to ensure they are working at the best of their capabilities. They are amazing agents and the fate of our people depend on their efficiency and our work as a whole at NUMO."
- "I will be sure to keep that in mind, sir."
- "Alright. Operator-san, keep your eyes open. Always. Dismissed."