Chapter 20 — “Golden Age”

Chapter 20 — “Golden Age”

“Back so soon?” Bitter scoffed.

The bell rings as Lemon entered their ‘office’. In contrary of its usual cheerful and cute atmosphere — deafening silence and gloom fills the edge of the cafe. Lemon approaches the table, where Lime and Bitter sat on their usual place. Behind Lime, sat what used to be the leader of a leading revolution army — sank into the cushion.

“…Yuzu’s not here?” Lemon scanned the dimly lighted maid cafe.

“Of course not. Why would she be in the middle of the night?”

“Yeah figures…”

Lemon takes his seat next to his sister, who has been unusually quiet. An uncertainty raises in his heart, as he glances to the back of his seat.

“Don’t worry, he’s not going to do anything.” Bitter shoves the documents in front of him to the side, adding it to the mountain of papers.

“You gave him a dose?”

“No, it would be a waste of money.” Bitter takes out a chewing gum, tosses it to his mouth, “He won’t do anything stupid. Trust me.”

“I see…”

The scene of Bitter, shooting the black-haired lady returns fresh in Lemon’s mind again.

“Seriously though, why did that Katsuo called you instead of me? I’m the boss, not you. It doesn’t make any sense.”

“Does it even matter right now?”

“Does it? Of course it does. I feel like my spot as the leader is being threatened.” Bitter chews his gum aggressively, “So? What did you guys talk about?”

“…He commended us for our mission. And he told a little bit of his past,”

“He could’ve told me that.” Bitter barked at Lemon with an annoyed face, “So why he didn’t summon me instead?”

“Look, does it really matter right now?” Lemon cut Bitter’s complain, “We have Lime now. Do you have the tickets? Like we’ve discussed? ”

“Yeah, yeah…”Bitter lifts a document up from a pile of papers. Hiding beneath it is a thin envelope,

“It’s inside. Three tickets to Fukuoka. We’re leaving around 4 hours from now.”

“Great…” A relief gets out from Lemon’s nostril. He felt a sudden relaxation in his muscle, as he caved in the to the softness of the cushion, “…Great,” He repeated himself.

“We should fill our belly first before going. I told Yuzu to make us the final grubs,” Bitter reaches to the table next to him, where four fried rices reside on the top. Lemon studies at the fried rice — the yellow hint on each grains, green peas, and sliced hams decorating the dish. Truly a work of culinary arts.

“— But still, fifteen years huh?” Bitter is caught reminiscing, as he fiddles with their crooked sign which replaces the table number. He takes out the laminated sign on the top, flipping over and over again. He just realises there’s oil marks across the paper, and how filthy it has been.

“It’s quite sad, but it’s time to say goodbye…” He put down the sign down, sliding it toward the mountain of paper. Bitter takes a spoon of his fried rice, before meeting with Lemon’s blank stare.

“What?” Bitter chomp down on his dish, “Don’t worry, I make sure Yuzu put her magic spell on yours as well.”

“…I don’t like fried rice.”

“Who cares? It’s out of my generous pocket. Get some nutrition in, you bratty kid.” Bitter points with his spoon, “You too, Lime.”

Lemon sighs, as he put one spoon in to his mouth reluctantly. As for Lime —

“You too. Don’t just watch it. It’s going cold,” said Bitter with a mouthful of delicacy.

“…It’s already stone cold anyway.” a retort finally gets out from Lime’s mouth.

“What’s wrong with you guys, seriously? Nothing will change even if you put your best grumpy face. You just seem like you just got kidnapped by a bunch of terrorist.“

As a matter of fact, she did. But Bitter did tell a little fact. Nothing will change. Mistakes done left its marks, and lifes taken is gone forever. She takes a spoon to her mouth. No matter how she wants to enjoy it, no flavour tingles her tongue.

“…What have we been doing?” Lime’s spoon going back and forth on the dish, playing with her food.

“You are so sentimental today. Just eat your food.” Bitter almost finishes his plate, “This is not the first time we shot someone.”

“I know…” Lime taps her plate with the edge of her silverware, “But, do you think what we’re doing is…wrong in essence?”

“I told you the first time you were about to take your first job. We’re not some heroes that saves the world, that the world will praise. We’re not the same with all the normal people as well. We’re called scums — the people look down to. Cleaning filth that no one dares to touch. Living our best everyday. You know, and enjoy it very much…until recently, anyway.”

“I-I know that, you don’t have to remind me again,”Lime stammered, “It’s just — maybe it’s time for a better change. For us.”

“You go on ahead.” Bitter puts his silverwares down, his reflection shown on the cleaned plate, “I don’t plan to do that, though.”

Lime’s lips quivered, as his cheeks get a bit red. In frustration, she gobbles her food up — rushing her spoon down to her mouth.

“That’s it. That’s a good girl,” Bitter nods in acknowledgement. He turns his head to Lemon, who keeps eating at his own pace.

“What did Katsuo tell you?” Bitter asked Lemon again.

“I told you already, Bitter. Stop bothering me.”

“No, no. Don’t give me that. How long do you think I took care of you?” Bitter leans closer to Lemon, asking a more specific question “ — What do you think he’s been telling you?”

Lemon bites the lower part of his gums. He knows he can’t hide anything from the observant man in front of him.

“I guess… he’s been telling me that he knows about Lime,”

Lime’s listening, but she doesn’t care. She keeps shovelling hundreds grains of rice to her mouth.

“And…?”

“And, he wants us to deal with her,”

The sounds of utensils clattering with plate are speeding up.

“I see…So what’s your plan then?”

“What are you insinuating?”

“You were given the opportunity of a lifetime. To be the next hero. Slain the candidate, and I’m sure it will get you whatever you want in your life. In fact, isn’t your goal is to prevent another OO’s ascension anyway? People will stop looking down on you, and instead admire you like a god. Like Katsuo. It’s like killing three birds in one stone, you know?”

“Are you actually saying what I’m thinking? You’re suggesting we give Lime to the SCF?”

“I don’t know. Am I? The Kuzumi Agency’s main objective is to catch all powered people — especially a candidate.”

“This is stupid! I don’t ever give Lime to the SCF. Not now, not ever.”

“You realise you’re contradicting yourself?”

“I don’t care! No matter what happened, I will protect her!”

A smile raises on Bitter’s face, “…That’s good to hear.”

*Clunk*

Their conversation interrupted by the sound of something blunt falling. Lemon glances at the source of the sound. Lime’s almost finished her food, maybe about five more scoops until she’s done. Though her face is now buried in the remaining — staining her smooth skin with the oily food.

“…Lime?”

A sudden nausea hits Lemon’s head. He even struggled to have his head straight. As if his spirit left his body, the sensation in his body has left completely. He knows what it is. He’s familiar with it. The numbness, the fatigue rising. He takes quick look to his food — to the tools used.

“This—! Bitter!”

“I’m glad, Lemon,” Bitter smile transforms to a cunning smirk, “It would be a little bit disappointing if I have to share my prize. Even for you.”

“Yuhhh—! You bhasthard! You’ll phay for this!” Lemon’s speech started to slur.

“But I am still a little bit disappointed. How many times have I tell you to grasp any opportunities whenever you have it? Especially a rare one. Now, you have to pay for the consequences.”

Bitter grabbed his gun from his holster, gripping it by its barrel. He then moved Lime’s head, sticking her right ear on the table. In one slam, he hammered Lime’s right ear — crushing it as blood spurts from her earlobe. Yet her eyes are still closed.

Lemon’s speech now isn’t distinguishable to a drunk mumbling in the middle of a lonely night. Lemon tries to reach toward the bastard, but his own body drags him down — dropping him on the table. Bitter grabbed Lemon’s head by his hair, looking straight to his drowsy, yet intense eyes.

“Patience is truly a virtue. I’ve sown, and it’s time for me to reap my long-term investment. Sleep tight, Lemon. You’re going to witness Kuzumi’s Agency golden age. My—“