Chapter 22 — “Planned to Leave”

Chapter 22 — “Planned to Leave”

“This is truly one of the biggest achievement the SCF has ever attained. The Ark’s subjugation, and an OO candidate’s neutralisation at the same time.” Katsuo shakes the Bitter’s hand firmly, “You should take pride of your hard work, Bitter-san.”

“I am more than honoured to receive your commendations,”

“That being said, I would appreciate if no one smoke while still indoor. The smoke may damage the ceiling, after all.”

“I apologise if I’ve caused you any trouble, Yamamoto-sama.” Bitter gave Katsuo a deeper bow. He throws sharp glances toward Todachi, whom shrugged his shoulders

“Please, don’t be. I apologised to ruin the celebration’s atmosphere as well. Sometimes… I just can’t help but notice little details. So please, raise your head.“

Katsuo approaches Lime, who’s still dead silent. She’s slumped forward, observing the landscape of Roppongi while staying still. Bitter studies the both of them, as he approaches Katsuo’s side.

“Still, what a tragedy. To think his own relative be a candidate. Fate sure is cruel,” He keeps his sight toward the nightless city — the city he vowed to protect, “I understand his actions. It is regrettable, but understandable.”

“You have a kind heart, Yamamoto-sama.”

“Oh, please. I know I’ve been but a ruthless man.” Katsuo chuckled, peeking at Bitter “But you…I can see that quality in you.”

. . .

Lemon slumped over on the ground. His mind is lost, and his will is gone. He has racked his brain. All kinds of strategies, all kinds of different scenarios that may lead to a single, slightest light. None. None came up to Lemon’s mind. True to Bitter’s words — He has lost. And now, his blank mind wanders to wherever his intuition lead him to.

The envelopes that has been tainted with dirt catches his eyes, so he picks it up. For no reason, his gut tells him to open it, so he tore it open. And of course, he found the tickets. Two Shinkansen tickets which should be the door for Lime’s safety, departing two and a half hours from now to Fukuoka. They could’ve made it, if they were here. But now, it’s nothing but useless, travel tickets. Nothing but worthless piece of documents…

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

Lemon’s mind picking up something. Something wrong. Something…contradictory. He searches the inside of his envelope again, and he finds nothing. Just two tickets, with the passenger. If Bitter’s intention is really to fool Lemon and Lime, why bought the ticket? An empty envelope itself should be sufficient enough to fool them, as proven.

Hell, if he does want to make up a believable lie, shouldn’t he buy the correct amount then? One more ticket is but a drop compared to the reward he’s getting from The Ark and Lime. Bitter must have understand it as well. He’s a hoarder — hate to spend his money, but never illogical. He’s an opportunist — a cunning strategist. Rarely he ever makes a mistake, especially on critical moment. Why the carelessness? Why the small mistake, right at the moment where he should collected his harvest after fifteen years?

Lemon gets up from the ground as he retraces again. He makes the blank space that in his mind packed with information again. He recalls Bitter final statement to him,

“…Think harder to my final advice here, and back when we’re still in the office. Maybe you’ll find the rest of your answer there.”

Back in the office? His mind tried to extract the records. Specific words that Bitter has said,

“— In times of hopelessness, seek refuge in your safest place. In times of despair, trust no one. In times of confusion, reinspect your logic flow. And always, for entirety of time, trust only one thing — trust your guts“

‘Trust no one, and trust your guts’? Sure, it is a good, general advice. ‘Reinspect logic flow’, yeah, that’s what Lemon’s doing. But ‘seek refuge in your safest place’? Now that he thinks about it, it’s out of Bitter’s character.

A dim light start to shine at the end of Lemon’s dark tunnel. A strength comes back to his feet, and he walks out the precinct. He needs to reach his ‘refuge’ quick. But how? He has a feeling that there’s no time to waste.

A black sedan catches his attention. The car that usually drives them wherever the agency go. He approaches it, and without any extra inspection he can the car key is hanging by the door. What a coincidence. Without further question, he gets in to the car and drives away. Along the way, he can feel his heartbeat getting faster and faster in anticipation. At the same time, he can feel as if his heart has sunk to the deepest trenches of uneasiness.

He has driven over speed limits — speed camera has been capturing his travels, but he pays it no heed. He finally arrived at the cafe. The dumb ‘KyunKyunKyun’ neon is still on, lighting up his way through the stairway. He finds his pace’s getting faster, and faster, as he approaches the door of the cafe —

The bells rings, as always. He has never seen the cafe so peaceful — so serene as moonlight basks half of the entirety. Lemon glances at the corner of the cafe — their office. The towering documents are a sight to see, never he realised how it becomes such a nuisance to the whole cafe thematic. He approaches their table. Step by step. His heartbeat gets faster and faster, ready to launch from his chest. His pace is much, much slower than before. He’s clenching his fist, as he’s getting closer and closer to the cafe —

Lime’s slumped over the table, toppling down a mountain of papers. Her face’s as peaceful as a child taking an afternoon nap, reflecting the bright moonlight. Her arms has become the pillow for her rest, as she slumbers in the dreamy night after a long day.

It is as if he has ran a marathon, back to back. A uncontrollable, loud relief echoes within the cafe, while his feeling on his knees giving up —

“I see that his plan worked.”

A voice came from across of Lime. Lemon didn’t even realised the presence in front of the slumbering Lime. One single glance, and his heart jumps out of his chest. What he has seen, after all, is a very powerful individual. And most importantly, a dead one, with what should be a bullet hole on top of her head.

“Don’t be alarmed,” the black-haired lady said.

“I think that’s not very assuring…” Lemon hands tremble, “How are you still here — still alive, Shem of The Ark?”

“What a mystery, eh?” Shem croaked. Her voice is as dry as a desert, as if she hadn’t drank for days, “But I can assure you, I have no intention in harming you or her.”

Her eyes, surrounded by dark circles, directed to Lemon. The reflection on it somewhat tries to affirm the truth behind her words. Lemon’s knees finally gave up. He sat right on the wooden chair next to the ‘office’.

“…I never thought you’re the kind of guy that gives away trust that quick.” Shem observes the fatigued boy.

“Please… too much just happened. Let me just… take a quick breath.”

Lemon watches Lime’s peaceful face, as he reflexively reaches to his pockets to relax. A lot of things still doesn’t make sense, but right now — it is less of his concern. A smooth sensation can be felt at the tip of Lemon’s finger. His heart sank again — pulling out the thin envelope, and the two tickets inside it. The realisation struck him, as he set the envelope to cover his vision —

“Bastard… He didn’t even —“