The ride pulled away, leaving Rina at her house gate. She practically floated to the door, her heart still humming from the warmth of the kiss.
"Mom? I'm home!" she called out, but only silence greeted her. She found her little brother, Kenzo, sprawled on the living room rug, absorbed in a noisy game on his PlayStation.
"Why am I calling and you stay quiet like you didn't hear me? Hey, Kenzo, I'm talking to you!" she demanded.
Kenzo, stubborn and focused on his screen, only flickered his eyes up. "Oh, hey. Mom went out looking for you. Said you were late and not answering your phone."
Rina's excitement immediately soured. "What? That's not true! I didn't even get any calls!" she snapped, knowing Kenzo was just being his usual playful, lying self. Pissed, she ignored him and headed straight for her room.
A few minutes later, her mother's voice called from the kitchen. "Rina, are you back?"
"Yeah, she's back," Kenzo mumbled.
"Rina, sweetheart, come help me with the kitchen chores!"
Rina went to the kitchen, a sheepish smile on her face. Her mother studied her, noticing the giddy lightness in her daughter's eyes. "Well, look at you. You're practically glowing. What made my daughter so happy today?"
Rina blushed, her shyness returning. "I… I went on a date today," she confessed, her voice barely a whisper.
Her mother's smile widened. "Tell me everything! Who is this boy?"
Rina's excitement took over, and she described Sanemi in a rush. "He's so nice, Mom, and he's so handsome! He's really smart, too—he sometimes scores first on tests, you know." She embellished the truth, desperate to paint the perfect picture. "Look, let me show you a picture I took secretly." She showed her mother the stealthy photo.
Her mom nodded, supporting her indirectly. "He seems like a respectable young man, Rina. Just be careful."
The moment was interrupted by Rina's phone ringing. It was her dad.
"Hi, Dad! I'm home, yes."
"Why weren't you picking up your calls, Rina? I was worried," Chief McKay's voice was firm.
"Oh, the phone went completely dead, Dad. I forgot my charger at school," Rina lied smoothly.
"Alright. Well, I'm not coming back tonight. Tell your mother I said goodnight. I love you."
"I love you too, Dad. Be safe." Rina hung up, relieved to have dodged the subject.
***
Meanwhile, Sanemi was walking slowly toward his own house, his mind a battlefield. Mia Ivanovna. Who was she?
He spotted a sleek black car, his new neighbor's, pulling into a parking spot near her unit. He quickly stepped behind a sturdy wooden pole, using the cover to observe. Mia emerged from the car. She was wearing a tight white mini-dress and high heels, her posture immaculate. Sanemi couldn't help himself. His gaze was locked, observing every curve of her figure. She had a striking, almost powerful form. He noted the way the dress hugged her hips; she had a backside that was undeniably worthy of a second look.
He snapped himself out of it. Since when did I become a 'girl's person' he silently chastised, shaking his head at the unwanted distraction. Just then, she bent over to retrieve something from her backseat. The mini-dress rode up, briefly revealing a long, smooth expanse of thigh. "Damn," Sanemi muttered, completely lost in the moment.
When she was safely inside, he waited, let his heart rate normalize, and then headed into his own house.
He found his mother watching a movie in the living room. They exchanged greetings, and she asked about his day. He kept it brief. "It went just fine, Mom."
Then, he casually asked, "Did you, um, talk to the new neighbor today?"
His mother smiled. "Oh, Yes! She's lovely. But she did mention you, Sanemi. She complained that you didn't even say hello to her this morning when she greeted you."
Sanemi seized the opening. "Oh, really? I feel bad about that. I must have been distracted."
His mother's face brightened, pleased by his sudden display of manners. "Well, you should go over and apologize! Take a plate of cookies or maybe that fruit basket we got. A peace offering."
Sanemi feigned reluctance. "A plate of cookies? That seems… weird." But he quickly agreed—it was the perfect cover.
"Yeah, I remember," his mother added, recalling the name. "She said her name is Mia."
"Mia?" Sanemi asked, the name dropping from his lips with a jolt of genuine fear.
His mother frowned slightly. "Yes. Why are you surprised? Do you know her?"
"No, no, Mom. Just… a nice name," he lied, forcing a smile. His mother told him to go eat, but he excused himself. "I have to take a shower first."
He went to his room and collapsed onto his bed, too wired to shower. He stared at the ceiling, thinking about Rina and everything he went through today.
The phone in Sanemi's hand buzzed. He glanced at the screen: it was Rina.
Rina:Did you make it home safe, sweetpie? :)
A pang of warmth—and simultaneous dread—hit him.
Sanemi:Yeah, I just got in. You too?
Rina:Of course! And guess what? My mom saw you!
Sanemi sat up straight on the bed, a cold wave washing over him. Saw him? How?
Sanemi:Be serious. You're joking.
Rina:I'm not! I showed her the picture I took of you!
The realization hit him. He was supposed to be a ghost, untraceable, yet here was evidence of him on her mother's phone—evidence her Police Chief father could easily see.
Sanemi:Picture? When did you take a picture?
Rina:Hehehe. When you weren't looking. You're not the only one with secrets, handsome. ;) Anyway, she said she likes you!
Sanemi leaned his head back against the wall, a mixture of disbelief and grudging admiration for her stealth. I can't really stand this girl, he thought, but she's impossible to ignore.
They chatted about a few more trivial things, creating a final, fleeting bubble of normalcy. Finally, Sanemi typed:
Sanemi:I have to go for real now. I'm taking a shower.
He dropped the phone and headed to the bathroom. He stripped out of his clothes and stepped into the shower, letting the hot water pour over him. The heat was soothing, but it couldn't wash away the cold dread gripping his mind.
"Mia," he whispered to the sound of the running water. "Is this a coincidence, or what? My task name is Mia Ivanovna, and my neighbor is Mia. Who I should find out. Why does my life have to become so difficult as the days go by?"
He found himself thinking about their new neighbor, her striking figure, and the moment outside the car when she bent over. The memory was vivid, sharp, and sensual, completely overpowering the terror problems he was facing for a brief, dangerous instant. He looked down at himself, suddenly aware of the physical effect the memory had on him.
"Oh no, what is this?" he groaned, furious at his body's betrayal. "Not now." The physical reaction felt like a weakness, a humiliating distraction from the murderous task and the love he was supposed to be protecting. The dilemma was complete: his body was drawn to the woman his task required him to kill.