Mom walked down the stairs with my luggage to the living room, while I'm preparing myself.
It's obviously tough to be away from your parents, especially when it'sso unexpected.
Putting my luggage in the car trunk, I hopped inside the car ofcourse not forgetting to put on my seatbelt.
As the trip goes on, my parents kept acting more and more weird. Even my dad who's usually calm, kept pressing the horn on accident.
"What's the matter, dad?"
Dad sighed deeply, as he tightly gripped the
steering wheel for a few seconds. He asked me with a concerned face.
"Are you really sure about this, Uno? Son?"
I hesitated, but knowing that I only have one answer, I gained the courage to slide the words out of my mouth.
"Yes... yes I am."
"Well if that's really your choice."
***
As we arrived at the airport, I noticed several armed guards drawing closer but not too close to us as if avoiding unnecessary attention.
Finally we reached a private government section with the helpnof Mr. Watanabe giving us directions beforehand.
Mr. Watanabe was in the room sitting on a red couch. He looks old yet has a lean tall body, black hair neatly combed, and grey eyes.
Wearing a formal grey suit with a red tie, he stood up and walked towards my parents with calm and steady steps.
"Don't worry, Hiroshi, Aiko. I'll take good care of your son.
Dad chuckled, with a bit of an angry expression on his face.
"Didn't you tell us the same thing years ago?"
"But what happened?"
"Times were different back then. The battle with politics was intense, and I didn't have much political power."
Mr. Watanabe then looked
at mom.
"But please, give me another chance. It might be selfish of me, but I promise won't let you down again."
Aiko sighed. "Just, please, Isamu, Please."
"Your palm, Aiko."
Mr. Watanabe grabbed pocket knife from his... well pocket. And cut his own palm making his blood trickle and fall down into Mom's open palm.
'Weird.'
My mom seems to have thought the same as she wore a strange expression on her face.
Mr. Watanabe ignored this and spoke in his usual cold and calm manner.
"I promise, in my position as prime minister, I promise tonprotect your son."
My mom, wiping the blood off her palm looked at Mr. Watanabe before walking to me saying:
"Just be safe out there. Come back home alive."
Hugging me one last time, but tighter. So tight that it was getting hard to breathe. My dad seeing us also joined in.
"Yes mom, dad I'll return alive."
Mom began to tear out, while dad put on a brave face. I didn't wipe the tears, didn't
grab a handkerchief or anything.
"Tears are meant to flow and fall down, mom. Every single one should."
"Hell yeah, my philosophical era has come."
"You're really a good son. Don't be dead."
Although that sounds very ominous, I just followed with a nod. As for dad,
he only said these sentences.
"Just have fun out there. Work... maliciously or something."
I smiled once again to them, not sure if it's going to be the last one or not.
***
Some time later, my parents were going back home. And so only me and Mr. W remained, walking towards his private jet.
Just then he suddenly patted my back with a chuckle saying.
"Trust me, you will like it there."
"Great. I'm the only merc in this trip, aren't I, also what you did back there with the whole promise thing was weird man, seriously."
I ran off to the jet immediately when it came to sight not waiting for his reaction.
Getting on the jet I hear someone munching a plate of croissants. He
spoke, not quite clear but still barely understable.
"Bowyourr, Shaitou!"
I put my luggages aside and rushed to the couch. I then hugged Naoki tightly, as he's still chewing on the plate.
"Wait, Why are you here?"
"Oh, the old man called my parents last night to come with you, so here I am.
"Alright I can accept that, but... why are you eating a plate of croissants?"
"Why? It's delicious you know."
"Yeah croissants are delicious, BUT YOU'RE EATING THE PLATE!"
Naoki, completely ignoring my outrage, continued as if nothing strange is going on.
"I still can't believe we're going to Paris."
I patted Naoki's shoulders, and chuckled with a bright face.
"We're not going to Paris, Naoki. We're flying to England."
"Oh, even better... so what's the difference?"
"I think France is bigger"
"Oh..."