Mission 2, Part 5

After helping Akito up the ceiling, Yata made it back to the room one step ahead of the Blue Coats. Homra side didn’t resist, and even helped in searching the building. Totsuka seemed peculiarly lively and slippery as an eel when answering questions.

“Ah. Sorry. I know how much you guys want to catch him. Too bad he still got away. You see, we were betrayed too. The twins aimed for our boss. That’s why we reported him to you.”

When they later got in contact with Suoh, who was sleeping in the bar, Hayato was nowhere to be found. He ran from the bar as soon as Akito contacted him.

Everyone gathered in the bar as morning came, including those who weren’t at the scene a couple hours ago.

“Hayato escaped as well. I’m afraid this substantiated Fushimi’s inference.” Shrugging, Totsuka concluded. He didn’t have trouble conveniently using this inference to baffle the Blue Coats to begin with.

“I am sorry. This is inexcusable. I brought the trouble in here.” Kusanagi hung his head.

“Now, now. If the twins had attacked King while he’s sound asleep, what do you think will happen to King?”

“Haa… Nothing, I think.”

“See? So there’s no need for Kusanagi-san to be so depressed.” After backing Kusanagi up with a flippant att.i.tude, Totsuka tightened up.

“Those two ran away after spitting in our faces, and in the face of Shiotsu-san too, since he turned to us for help in saving them. Better not let the word get out and become the laughing-stock of this neighborhood. We should make them pay, with our own hands. Kusanagi-san, what do you say?”

“That’s right. If we settle this with the twins by ourselves, at least they could come in handy in negotiation on improving Shiotsu-san’s conditions. That’s the only thing I can do for him.”

The other members listened to Suoh, Kusanagi, and Totsuka’s discussion. Most of them openly showed their anger toward the twins, and impatiently waited for orders to go into action.

Sitting at the same table with the top three, between Kusanagi and Totsuka, was Niki with a sardonic smile.

“What a timely distraction! My little monkey never fails me. No one suspected what you really saw before you attacked.”

Get Lost.

Fushimi recited in his mind, staring at Niki.

Get Lost. Get Lost. Get Lost. Showing up in broad daylight? If you’re a ghost, then have shame and act like one.

“Fushimi… Fushimi?”

Suddenly hearing someone call his name, surprised, he turned to where the voice came from. Totsuka was looking at him in wonder.

“There’s one thing I want to ask. Was that the only reason you attacked Akito?”

“… What’s your point?” He replied in a low voice, and looked to Niki again.

“I mean… Say, where are you looking at? You’ve been doing that for a while.” Totsuka tilted his head and came into Fushimi’s view. Kusanagi, with a “huh?”, also followed Fushimi’s gaze and looked beside him. Suoh, who was listening quietly all the time, turned his gaze a little while he lit a cigarette.

Niki wasn’t there, but stuck out upside down from above his head.

“Hey, he said, ‘Where are you looking at?’ You got them worried! Now why don’t you tell them? Tell them that you see a ghost. This ever so friendly but thick-skinned bunch will ask about every detail, including what you don’t want to talk about most: everything about me! Then these thickheads are all gonna say "poor Saruhiko-kun’, pity you, and want to do something for you out of some comradeship. They’ll make a mountain out of a molehill, disregarding your opinion and of course your pride. Aah. Merely the thought of this…”

Niki suddenly ceased his fanatical ridicule, and lowered his voice,

“…is so depressing that you’d rather die.”

Fushimi noticed how that face resembled his own. No. It’s the other way around. Since when did they look this alike? That man stopped aging two years ago. It’s himself who’s getting closer to that man, year by year.

What a future without hope.

Fushimi looked at Suoh, Kusanagi, Totsuka, and those who were in high spirits. “Nothing. Nothing at all. What is it?” He replied emotionlessly.

“If you say so. Alright then.” Totsuka showed a lonely smile.

Suoh casually looked toward the spot where Niki vanished. Fushimi’s heart skipped a beat. But he only exhaled smoke at that direction, and didn’t seem to suspect a thing. A strand of violet smoke flown through the spot now left empty.