Operation: Holiday

9:39 P.M.

Kara and Katon both saw Rurouni's message.

Neither of them asked him anything.

Instead, they started chatting privately.

Katon:

There's definitely something wrong with Rurouni right now.

It's so obvious that even you understand that much.

Kara:

Yeah, I understand that much.

According to me, it most likely happened because that pathetic kid got traumatized by the after effects of losing.

It's not that easy for an introvert kid to propose to someone, right?

Katon:

You say that like you're not a kid.

But what you said makes sense.

Anyway, come to the location I just sent you.

I have a plan in mind.

Kara:

Roger that, Mr. mastermind.

14 April 4080 - 10:12 P.M.

The town had almost fallen asleep.

Most of the lights inside the surrounding houses had already gone out.

The streets, usually filled with students and passing cars during the day, now lay completely deserted.

A cool breeze moved quietly between the rows of houses, stirring the leaves of roadside trees.

Somewhere in the distance...

A dog barked twice.

Then silence reclaimed the night.

Beneath the shadow of a large peepal tree...

Two figures stood without making a sound.

One wore his academy uniform beneath an unzipped blue jacket.

The other kept both hands casually tucked into his pockets.

In front of them stood a large two-story house.

Its garden was neatly maintained.

Its windows reflected the pale moonlight.

A small wooden nameplate beside the gate confirmed what they already knew.

Principal Takeda Residence.

For several seconds...

Neither of them spoke.

Kara slowly looked from the house...

To Katon...

Then back again.

He let out a quiet sigh, a little bit worried.

"You know..."

"I'm pretty sure this counts as a crime."

Katon kept his eyes on the house.

"Probably. A small one."

Kara acted like he got a heartattack.

"That somehow makes me feel less comfortable."

"Really?"

"Very really."

Katon asked while observing his surroundings.

"Has your mother ever specifically said that throwing a rock through the principal's window is a crime?"

Kara tilted his head.

"No..."

A grin slowly spread across his face.

"...Now that's comforting."

Without another word...

Katon reached into his pocket.

A small silver coin rested between his fingers.

He held it up.

"Let's leave it to probability."

Kara raised an eyebrow out of cuy.

"Probability?"

"Heads."

"You throw."

"Tails."

"I write."

Kara folded his arms like he'll say something important.

"That reminds me of your weird habit of settling everything with coin tosses."

"It prevents unnecessary arguments."

"It's not like we were arguing."

"Exactly."

"I'd like to keep it that way."

"Efficiency is my first priority."

"Bro..."

"You're a little too different."

"No. We're actually quite similar."

Kara couldn't understand how they are similar.

"What?"

"Me?"

"Similar to the guy whose life revolves around efficiency?"

Katon nodded very little.

"Fine."

"Then answer this."

"Would you rather spend thirty minutes arguing with your mother over whether to watch dog videos or cat videos..."

"Then spend another thirty minutes watching what you decided..."

"...Or would you rather just watch whatever she wants for an hour and enjoy the time together?"

Kara answered immediately.

"Obviously I'd just watch whatever she wants."

"Exactly."

"That's efficiency."

"You value spending time together more than winning the argument."

Kara thought about it for a moment.

"Huh..."

"That actually makes sense."

Then he decided to agree with him.

"Alright."

"Let's leave it to fate."

Katon rested the coin on his thumb.

With one smooth motion...

He flicked it into the air.

The coin spun beneath the moonlight.

Round and round...

Before dropping neatly back into his waiting hand.

He glanced down.

"Heads."

Kara immediately dropped his shoulders.

"Of course."

He looked toward the night sky.

"Sorry, Mom..."

"Looks like fate wants me to become a criminal tonight."

Katon slipped the coin back into his pocket.

Does this idiot realize he was waiting for heads or tails even though he's going to throw anyway?

"Congratulations."

"You're tonight's projectile specialist."

Kara looked at him in complete disbelief.

"That's officially the worst title anyone has ever given me."

"Perhaps."

"But it's accurate."

"I don't know whether to feel proud or insulted."

"That's a minor detail."

I think I heard that dialogue before.

Oh, that's right. It's my dialogue.

Kara muttered to himself as he walked toward the roadside.

"Projectile specialist..."

"I was such a good kid growing up..."

"Where did my life go wrong...?"

He crouched beside the curb and picked up the first stone he found.

Katon glanced at it.

"Too small."

Without a word...

Kara tossed it aside.

He picked up another.

"Too light."

"Seriously?"

"Accuracy matters."

"We're just breaking a window."

"Exactly."

"Accuracy matters."

Kara sighed dramatically.

"You actually have standards for committing crimes."

"Naturally."

"I guess I shouldn't expect anything else from someone whose favorite manga is about serial killers."

He searched for another minute before finally finding a smooth, fist-sized stone.

He held it up.

"How about this one?"

Katon examined it for a moment.

Then nodded.

"Acceptable."

Kara let out a sigh of relief.

"Finally."

While Kara tested its weight...

Katon quietly removed a folded sheet of paper from his notebook.

He uncapped a thick blue marker.

For several moments...

Only the scratching of ink disturbed the silence.

Kara glanced over out of curiosity.

"Done?"

"Almost."

Katon folded the paper neatly.

Wrapped it around the stone.

Then reinforced it with several strips of tape.

Only after making sure it wouldn't come loose...

Did he hand it back.

"Don't lose it."

Kara accepted it with a grin.

"Got it, master."

He weighed the stone again.

"Feels heavier now."

"Because it is."

"Fair point."

Both looked toward the house once more.

Every window remained dark.

No movement.

No sound.

Only the peaceful stillness of sleeping people...

Who had absolutely no idea what was about to happen.

Kara rolled his shoulder once.

Then twice.

"Ready?"

Katon gave a small nod.

"Three."

"Two."

"One."

Kara inhaled.

His arm moved in one clean motion.

The stone sliced through the cool night air.

For one brief moment...

Everything remained silent.

Then—

CRASH!!

The sound of shattering glass echoed through the sleeping neighborhood.

For exactly one heartbeat...

Neither of them moved.

Then Katon spoke in the calmest voice imaginable.

"Run."

"Already doing it, bro."

The two sprinted down the empty street.

Their footsteps echoed softly against the pavement.

Halfway around the corner...

Kara couldn't stop himself from grinning.

"That..."

"...Was a perfect throw."

Katon didn't even look at him.

"Please save your review..."

"Until after we've escaped."

"...Yeah, fair enough."

They managed to escape successfully.

But the real question is...

Would it actually work...

 against the most reputed principal...

...in Hashito city?