"I can't believe it..." (Kohaku)
"You've said that twenty times since we left. You're ruining my good mood!" (Kimiko)
"This time I agree with her. Can't you at least pretend to be happy? Honestly, it might have been better to leave you at home." (Kuro)
"Kohaku-chan, maybe it wouldn't be so bad to have some fun." (Cloe)
"Kimiko-chan has taken charge... and turned my team against me... so much madness in all this..." (Kohaku)
"You're a bit too melodramatic." (Hajime)
"Now even Hajime is on her side... it's a nightmare." (Kohaku)
The five teenagers were all inside a bus, heading to the destination Kimiko had chosen for their summer holiday.
The bad mood of the only esper in the group was, in a way, understandable.
The 17-year-old was so fed up with the insistence of the younger girl on her team that she decided to contact her superiors to ask if they could take a break.
Sure that they would say no or suggest staying on standby.
But, since Fumio had gone off somewhere to do who knows what, the alert atmosphere of the Black Corps prevented all teams from carrying out missions in the central district. Their request was granted.
Much to Kohaku's dismay, who had to endure the victorious smile of her teammate, which lasted for two days—two very long days.
From there on, it was a difficult few weeks for the esper. Kimiko took command, becoming a sort of dictator, deciding alone when, where, and how they would spend their vacation, just her and her team.
Hajime, Kuro, and Cloe mostly remained impassive and neutral about the matter.
Deciding it was better not to interfere in the struggle for leadership between the mage and Kohaku.
For the three of them, it was quite amusing (a bit less for Kuro's stepsister, who acted as a peacemaker between them), especially when Kimiko tried to convince the esper to use the money that the New Dawn had in a secret account to fund their stay in a five-star hotel.
"But are you crazy!? We can't use that money!" (Kohaku)
"Why not!? We're not paid to risk our lives and work our butts off for them! At least we deserve some money!" (Kimiko)
"Kimiko! No! That money's for missions!" (Kohaku)
"This is a mission... theoretically! We need to relax and recover after months of night shifts risking our skin!" (Kimiko)
"Oh God! Can't you be serious for a second!? Do you have any idea how many problems we'd get into if someone found out!?" (Kohaku)
"Nah, it won't happen!"
"Oh yeah? And why?"
"Simple, our ex-leader is a super hacker capable of transferring money from one account to another without getting caught! Just hack into some Black Corps accounts and replace what we take with her money!" (Kimiko)
"...She's gone completely crazy! Her brain's rotten! And you three! Say something!" (Kohaku)
Hajime and Kuro kept eating while watching the quarrel, completely disinterested. Being lazy and indifferent teenagers for a couple of weeks was doing wonders for their mental health.
Cloe, on the other hand, really didn't know which side to take. She decided to let things flow, for once, after being diplomatic too many times.
She also needed a break.
"You're right, Kohaku. Let's vote! We'll decide whether to go through with the plan!" (Kimiko)
"I'll never agree to that!" (Kohaku)
Somehow, perhaps miraculously, Kimiko managed to convince Kohaku to enter an account belonging to a member of Goto's forces, who had more than enough money for the salary of a simple Black Corps member, and transfer it in place of the money they had "stolen" from the New Dawn.
Thanks to her skills, probably no one would ever notice.
**************************
And so, two days later, the boys woke up early to catch the bus.
"Will you bring me a souvenir, big brother?" (Kaede)
"I hope you have fun. My parents and I aren't going anywhere this year, what a drag." (Kaori)
Kaede and Kaori, of course, wanted to say goodbye to their friend and older brother the day before his departure.
"But you didn't tell us where you're going." (Kaede)
"Well... I didn't because I don't know. One of my friends in our group chose the destination without telling us. She wants it to be a surprise." (Hajime)
"Will your 'friend,' Cloe-san, be there too?" (Kaori)
The implications of that name almost made the boy choke on his saliva.
(How does she know about that... oh no! I completely forgot I told her!) (Hajime)
He had completely forgotten that he had told Goto's daughter and his mother some time ago that he had a pseudo-relationship with a girl.
It was the stupidest lie he could have told, since the consequences would have been devastating if one of the two wanted to find out about Kuro's stepsister.
"Ehm... yes, Cloe will be there too." (Hajime)
"...Then have fun! I want to hear everything when you come back!" (Kaori)
"And be careful. I've heard from dad that the White Corps has been strangely on alert since all those agents were killed." (Kaede)
"I'll be fine," (Hajime)
"Hajime..." (...)
Another voice, not belonging to the two girls, called the 17-year-old. It was, of course, his mother, Mikoto Aina.
The woman had been more "alive" in recent weeks. She had also started to go out again.
This improvement was due to the absence of someone.
Naturally, it was Goto. After Yuki Mikan's death, he hadn't been seen around the house much.
He was always busy with work, coming home late and leaving very early. Often, he wouldn't be home for days.
Even his own daughter had seen him less than five times in the last two weeks, barely catching a glimpse.
Hajime was secretly proud of himself. Knowing that, thanks to his actions, his mother was doing better while his stepfather was going through a rough patch.
"Coming, Mom?"
"Have fun, I'm counting on you. You deserve it; this year has been tough for you. Be responsible." (Mikoto)
"I will, Mom. See you later!" (Hajime)
With those last words, the boy left the house. He set off for a well-earned vacation.
************************
"We're almost there!" (Kimiko)
"Will she finally tell us something? Your surprises don't sit well with me!" (Kohaku)
"Oh, just wait and see!" (Kimiko)
Finally, the bus that the group was on stopped at a bus station after Kimiko signaled the driver to halt.
"Nice... I'll spend a week in this dump?" (Kohaku)
"No, party pooper! We need to catch another bus!" (Kimiko)
"You're kidding, right? We've been inside that iron box for hours! We're at the edge of the central district!" (Kohaku)
"Okay, now I want to know where our final destination is." (Hajime)
"I agree." (Cloe)
"Spill it, Kimiko. Where's our final destination?" (Kuro)
Under pressure from her teammates, the 16-year-old finally decided to tell them.
"Alright! Alright! I booked a place in the south district! The beaches there are the best on the island!" (Kimiko)
Without another word, the mage rushed off toward the next bus, leaving her friends to think about only one thing.
"Are we right to let her take command?" (Kohaku/ Hajime / Cloe / Kuro)
It was too late for regrets now; in the end, the four followed Kimiko toward their destination.
************************
Meanwhile, deep within the heart of the southern district, Fumio was carrying out his mission.
Weeks ago, he had found some survivors from the [New Dawn] teams who had hidden in a secret bunker.
From their stories, the 30-year-old had more or less understood how things had gone.
The [Black Corps] of Kugutsu had attacked all six bases of the group across the entire district simultaneously.
Such coordination required very detailed intelligence and a spy inside.
But what raised more questions in the mage's mind was why no one outside Goto's loyalists knew what had happened.
Not even Goto himself, who was too busy after Yuki Mikan's death, knew what had occurred.
Nor the White Corps. Fumio was making sure of that.
"Then they call us at 3 a.m., asking us to set up checkpoints all over the city!"
"Damn [Black Corps]! They're nuts! Who organizes an exercise like that!?"
"They didn't even pay us overtime! My colleagues are furious!"
The master of Hajime and the other members of the New Dawn was talking with law enforcement officers in a bar.
It only took offering drinks and flattering their egos to make them talk.
From their words, it was obvious that no one thought anything major had happened that day.
(Maybe not even the head of the White Corps around here knows the truth... but what the hell is that woman thinking?) (Fumio)
After speaking with at least fifty of them over a few weeks, Fumio was certain that only a big fish from the Black Corps could give him the answers he sought.
(I'll have to take a risk... but I have no choice... someone must have noticed I'm asking too many questions now.)
As he left the bar, Fumio immediately noticed that someone from above was watching him.
(It seems I'll have to fight today.)
Heading toward a secluded place, as the sunset painted the city streets with its glow, the man quickly tried to identify who was following him and how strong they were.
(Just... they must be sure they can handle me... arrogance or confidence? Well, I'll find out soon enough.)