An Uncertain Future

Rei, masquerading as Yuan Fu, was apprehended, and the conference was unceremoniously cancelled, blaming Akayama’s alleged health issues.

However, Rei’s true identity was never revealed, and he soon died in custody under abnormal circumstances.

Jian Wei returned to China and Yuan Fu’s death was explained away as an accident.

These strange circumstances were questioned by some, particularly Kiki Motomura, but they were blown off as conspiracy theories.

Akemi had disappeared just as fast as he had appeared. In fact, it was almost like he was never even there at all…

The entire assassination attempt and the intervention by Naoki, Akemi, and Yoji, had been completely swept under the rug.

Although the powers at play took note of the event…

***

“Naoki, Yoji. You two have been temporarily relieved of your duties.” Hamazaki sat at his desk, his eyes as cold as ice. “This comes from the top, but I agree with the ruling completely. You may have narrowly avoided an international crisis, but you both disobeyed orders and colluded with the enemy.”

“I understand, sir…” Naoki bowed slightly.

Yoji bowed as well, but he didn’t say anything.

“I understand why you did it, and maybe it was for the best, but I want you both to know…” His gaze narrowed. “You’re walking on very thin ice…” Hamazaki stood up and walked to the door. “I have some other things to take care of. Hopefully you can see yourselves out.” Without another word, he left.

“Well… That’s that…” Yoji sighed and then sat down. “Could’ve been worse, right?”

Naoki sat across from him. “I suppose so…”

The thoughts raced through his head. Akemi said that the assassin worked for the government, or at least a faction of it. Could that have really been the case? And if it was then this wouldn't be the end. If the people with power wanted war, there wasn’t much an SSU captain like him could do about it.

“It’ll be nice to have a vacation, though, right?” Yoji rested his chin on his hand. “I can finally catch up on some manga.”

“Yeah…” Naoki looked out the window. “There’s a few things I’d like to do…”

But Naoki’s train of thought was interrupted by the door to the office bursting open.

“Naoki!” It was Yukari, mostly healed and just discharged from the hospital. She sat down right next to him and leaned in. “I heard you met with Akemi! What happened!?” Her eyes were beaming.

“I’m sure you’ve heard. He stopped your dad and the Chinese foreign affairs minister from getting assassinated.”

“Is that all? He didn’t leave you with a message like ‘Please tell my beautiful rose, Yukari Akayama, that she is my one and only true love’ or something?”

“No…”

She scowled at him. “Okay then.”

“You know, shouldn’t you be more concerned that your dad almost died?”

“Come on. You really think my dad’s gonna die like that? He’s the kinda guy who could survive a nuclear bomb by climbing inside a fridge.”

“What is he? A cockroach?”

“Hey!” Chiaki was standing at the door now, having been left behind by Yukari. “What are you doing!?”

“Nothing at all.” Yukari stood up before crossing her arms.

“Chiaki…” Naoki looked at her. Despite trying, he hadn’t seen Chiaki since the SSU HQ attack. “You look great…”

“Oh?” She blushed slightly and looked away.

“I-I mean, you look healthy…!”

“Th-thanks…!”

Yukari and Yoji both rolled their eyes at the exchange.

“Anyway!” Yukari said loudly. “Now that we’re all unemployed, how about we go and get some food? I have a reservation at this crazy sushi joint in Ginza.”

“What are you talking about? None of us have lost our jobs and I’m still on duty,” Chiaki corrected.

“Okay, then you can stay here. Yoji, Naoki, let’s go,” Yukari called over the other two.

Yoji got up immediately, not one to turn down free food.

Naoki sighed and followed her. It wouldn’t be so bad to hang out with Yukari a bit.

But as Chiaki watched Naoki follow Yukari, she called out, “Wait! I’ll come too!”

“Oh?” Yukari looked over her shoulder, smirking. “Miss On Duty wants to come?”

“I just want to make sure you don’t spoil the SSU’s good name again!”

“Yeah, yeah. I’m sure. Just hurry it up.”

Together the four left. Each had their concerns for the future, especially Naoki. But as they feasted on premium sushi, those concerns disappeared for the evening.

***

It was midnight and Akemi sat at the top of a skyscraper, staring at the Tokyo skyline below.

With Naoki’s help, Japan had avoided a war. But while one issue was avoided, many still remained.

Japan was a nation festering with chaos, and that wouldn’t change as long as the system that created it remained.

But sometimes fire could only be fought with fire.

Whether it was right or wrong, whether it was done by him or another, if Japan was to prosper yet again…

More chaos was still needed.

Akemi turned on his phone.

The Demon App gave anyone the ability to rebel. To fight back.

But it was time to go even further…

For the first time since he released the Demon App…

He would update it…