Chapter 46 — Intrusion

Hunter shifted back to JJ as he stood in front of Detective Itadori.

​Itadori looked at the crowd gathered around them. 「You know the press and people will have a lot of questions.」

​JJ scratched his hair, clearly uninterested. 「Yeah, well, that's why we have the 'no comment' approach.」

​Itadori chuckled. 「JJ, come on, let's be serious over here.」

​JJ sighed and rolled his eyes. 「Alright, fine. I'll give a written statement, but I won't read it.」

​「Thank you. Oh, and could you crouch down for a sec?」 JJ complied. Itadori patted him on the shoulder. 「Thanks for what you did for that kid.」

​JJ: 「Well, I had to, since I went through the same thing as a child.」

​Itadori: 「Anyway, still thank you.」 He let go of JJ's shoulder, and JJ stood straight again. 「So, where are you going now?」

​「Home, eat, and overseas.」

​Itadori chuckled. 「Don't cause trouble that will involve us.」

​JJ chuckled. 「I ain't making any promises.」 He left, and Fenrir followed with him.

​Fujiwara, a bit concerned, asked. 「Hey, Itadori.」

​「Yah.」

​Fujiwara gave a nervous chuckle. 「You don't think JJ will start a war, do you?」

​Itadori sighed. 「You just had to ruin my day with that thought, didn't you? Besides, we don't get paid that much for us to worry if our partner will go crazy on Japan.」

​Fujiwara: 「Y-yah, you're right.」

​Itadori: 「Hey, I get it. It's stressful working with JJ, but the kid's a man of his word. Don't forget that, alright?」

​Fujiwara sighed in relief. 「Yeah, it's just this year's been more crazy than usual.」

​Itadori: 「I can relate to that.」

​

◽​2 days later◽(Tuesday, 2 August 2050)

​In American, California, Los Angeles, Olivia {California Governor, 32} had the news playing in the background. 

「Huh?」 She sighed. 「Guess this might change our relationship with Japan.」 She left the living room and went into the shower.

◽​In the shower◽

​Olivia: 【Hmm... If this becomes a full-time thing, then... Wait, no, Olivia. You are State Governor of California, focus on the state first. Everything else can wait.】

◽​After the shower◽

​Olivia was drying her hair and walking toward the living room.

​Alexandra {AI System}: ⟦You have one voice mail from, Derek Anderson.⟧

​Olivia sighed. 【I wonder what excuse he'll come up with now.】 「Play it.」

​Alexandra: ⟦Okay.⟧ (Starts playing the voicemail.)

​Derek's Voicemail: ⟦Um... Olivia, I know you don't want to hear from me right now. Err... But please call me when you can, so I can properly explain myself.⟧

​Alexandra: ⟦End of voicemail.⟧

​Olivia scoffed, a tinge of hurt in her voice. 「Yeah, right. I heard that before.」

​Nikolai was standing by the window, watching the city skyline. 「You know, you should get better security, Governor.」

​Olivia jolted in surprise, her heart pounding in her chest. 「Jerry?」 She breathed in and out.

​Nikolai still did not face her. 「The name's Nikolai, but yah, nice to see you again.」

​Olivia slowly calmed herself down. 「Tch. What do you want after all this time?」

​「A favor.」

​「What fav—」 Alexandra cut into the conversation.

​Alexandra: ⟦Incoming call from Derek Anderson.⟧

​Nikolai: 「Answer it. He could have something important to say.」

​Olivia looked at him annoyed.「Tch, shut up, Alexandra. Answer the call.」 Alexandra did, and Derek was on the line. 「Wasn't I supposed to call you?」

​Derek sighed in relief. ⟦I know, but Olivia hone—⟧

​Olivia cut him off sharply. 「Don't honey me after what you did.」

​Derek felt guilt as she said that. ⟦Um... Y-yah, you right.⟧

​Olivia: 「So, are you going to explain yourself or not?」

​Derek: ⟦Y-yah, can we meet up in a café or wherever you want to? I'd like to explain in person.⟧

​Olivia sighed. 「Where are you now?」

​Derek: ⟦I'm currently on Wall Street. The firm called, but by tomorrow I have three days to myself, so how about we meet up tomorrow? I'll come to California, of course.⟧

​Olivia: 「Alright, it will be at my place. I might want to take my spare key you have.」

​Derek: ⟦Thank you—⟧ Olivia told Alexandra to hang up, and the AI system complied.

​Olivia looked at Nikolai. 「So, what brings one of Militia's twin demons here?」

​Nikolai turned to face her. 「Now, there's no need to be hostile, Olivia. Unlike your unfaithful man, I don't have excuses to make.」

​Olivia: 「Tch. So why are you here, then?」

​「It's simple. I'm here to apologize about leaving without saying a thing.」

​Tears instantly welled up in Olivia's eyes. 「Wait, that's it? That's all you have to say?」

​Nikolai went and stood across from her. 「Look, Olivia, USA and Militia are more hostile than usual, and back then, I had to serve my country.」

​Olivia started crying. 「But Nikolai, you left! You didn't call, message, heck, even write a letter! You did nothing!」

​Nikolai hugged her to try and calm her down. 「I know, I know, but I didn't forget about you either.」

​Olivia sobbed softly in Nikolai's embrace. 「What does that mean?」

​Nikolai guided her to the couch, sitting down with her still in his embrace. 「Remember when you said the one dream you couldn't have is because you're a broken woman?」

​「Yah.」 She remembered and felt more sad. 「Yeah, I do.」

​Nikolai: 「Okay, but before that, your boyfriend... he's not on Wall Street!」

​Olivia shot up, looking at Nikolai sternly. 「Nic, don't shit with me!」

​「Olivia, just because Militia has bad relations with the USA, that ain't the same for us.」

​「So, are you saying he's with another woman?」

​「Yes. One woman from one of these big families that don't like when their profits are messed with.」

​Olivia gasped in realization. 「The policies I came up with and executed! But it helped so many people!」

​Nikolai caressed her face gently. 「Oh, my sweet Olivia, that's where you're different from them. They're for the money, you're for the people. So, your boyfriend cheating on you is part of their plan.」

​Olivia felt heartbroken. 「So, these past ten months...?」

​Nikolai sighed. 「A lie. They want you unstable, and if that doesn't work, you'll just 'commit' suicide...」

​Olivia was still heartbroken, but confused. 「I'm not suicidal, though.」

​「That ain't what the papers will say.」

​Olivia sighed into her hands. 「So, the gift you brought?」

​Nikolai: 「The thing that will make your dream come true—your dream of motherhood.」 He took a small juice box out of his pocket.

​Olivia: 「A juice box? Really?」

​「TSA was being a bitch.」

​Olivia: 「So, this isn't,」 she read the label, 「'100% naturally grown apple juice'?」

​Nikolai scoffed. 「So what, it's too be labeled what it is?」

​「And what's that?」

​Nikolai: 「Hmm... I haven't named it, but how about Second Chance? It helps making women fertile. One dose for one baby...」

​Olivia was surprised and blushed. 「Really?」

​「Yah.」 He looked up at the ceiling.

​Olivia jabbed the straw into the foil-covered hole and started drinking the juice.

​Nikolai: 「So what? I know you think I'm heartless, but I made this along with my team, with you in mind. They ain't know...」

​When Nikolai look ed back at her, Olivia had already finished the juice.

​Nikolai sighed disappointedly. 「Fuck!」