Kuromaku drove back to the underground garage, while Yuta and the cashier were passed out, tired.
"So, you're not going to tell me who that guy is?"
"It's better to talk when mr. Watanabe is here. Actually, where is he?"
He said in a tired voice. "Mr. Watanabe is the prime minister, he's not going to be here all the time you know?"
The car smoothly parked on the garage, and Kuromaku got out. Following him to the elevator, a hand suddenly grabbed my shoulder.
Turning around, there was Yuta whose yawn washed over my face as he had just woken up.
"~~ I can't believe you guys actually forgot about me. You know I'm the cause for all of this right?"
"Right, you are. Follow us to my office then."
The two of us walked towards the elevator, where Kuromaku is. Yuta was supporting me, as he realised I was struggling to walk.
We then stepped into the elevator, right on time as Kuromaku closed the doors behind us, and we started going upwards.
Still, I cant help but feel like we've forgotten something else.
***
Curled up on the couch, my body sinking into the cushions, as I released a contented sigh. Looking to the side, Kuromaku was sitting besides Yuta on the other couch.
I released another sigh, this one tired and a little frustrated, before calling Yuta.
"Say Yuta, what were you actually doing down at the abandoned base?"
Yuta, hearing my question, hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Well... I was looking for a criminal, a man in his twenties that has been running around selling abandoned buildings for profit. In simple words, a scammer."
Pausing, he looked around the room, as if watching out for something... or someone.
"I'm... not supposed to tell you this, but Mr. Watanabe is hiding something from you."
At this point, Kuromaku had enough, and slammed the table in front of him, before standing up.
"Enough, Saitou we can't trust him."
"Wait Kuromaku, let's let him explain first."
"Seriously? After what he said."
My gaze met his, a strong determination in my eyes, asking him to at least try and understand Yuta first before doing anything rashly.
Kuromaku calmed down, and sat back on the coach. Still he eyed Yuta from time to time.
Yuta has a point, I do trust Mr. Watanabe but he's keeping too many secrets. And also, is Yuta a mercenary as well? I have to ask him later.
"Then I'll continue, this is concerning our main enemy, about who it is exactly."
My voice was impatient. "Then tell us already."
"Our enemy isn't someone, it's something... it's AI."
"..."
"..."
After Yuta's dramatic introduction of our main enemy, an awkward silence ensued.
"You're joking... right?"
"No, in summary, a government AI went rogue, and now it's wreaking havoc in the city. This doesn't mean our only enemy is AI of course. Some people worship them thinking they're the new generation that will save the world, while some criminals chose to side with them for more freedom."
My thoughts are in shambles, a multitude of questions going trough my mind. How does Yuta know about this? Is Yuta a mecenary as well? And what does Kuromaku think of this?
Well, it's better if I just ask. Looking at Kuromaku, he avoided directly looking at my eyes, his body stiff and uncomfortable.
It seems like the part about our enemy being Ai is true. Now why would Mr. Watanabe keep this a secret? I have to ask him once he gets back.
"Yuta, I'm assuming you're also a mercenary like Naoki and I, meaning Mr. Watanabe likely never told you this information as well. If so, how do you know about it?"
Yuta shifted awkwardly on his seat, as if embarresed by what he's about to say.
"Well yes, I'm also a mercenary. Sorry for keeping it a secret but I was ordered to."
"Yeah, I had an idea you were a mercenary, you were always on that part time job of yours after all."
"Now, for how I know about this. An... informant of sorts told me."
I raised an eyebrow, is that really all he's going to say?
Out of the blue, Naoki burst into the room, slamming the doors to the side. He was holding a big white plastic bag, while wearing a... chicken suit?
He looked around the room, eventually locking eyes with Yuta. A schocked but happy expression on his face.
"Yoo! It's my boy Yuta!" Immediately after saying this, he dapped Yuta up, before shaking his hands.
"You really know how to make an entrance huh."
Kuromaku, who was beside them, stared at both of them, before raising his eyebrows.
"So all three of you know each other? And also are we just ignoring the chicken suit?"
Naoki tossed the plastic bag on the table.
"Yes, and yes we're ignoring the chicken suit. Anyway, Saitou look inside the bag, it's for you."
My body leaned over to the table, grabbing the bag, and looking at what's inside.
"A suit? I already have one."
Naoki clicked his tounge a few times, while wagging his finger at me.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Not just any suit, a fine tailored dining suit. What? Were you planning to wear... That."
Naoki said, pointing at the suit I'm currently wearing. I couldn't deny it, as he was right.
"Seriously man, you need to dress up properly. You're meeting royalty later."
Yuta almost fell from his seat after hearing what Naoki just said.
"Hold on, a date? With royalty?"
Naoki grinned from ear to ear, as if he was the one showing off that he got a date.
"You heard it, Saitou's got a date with the princess"
The once awkward silence of the room suddenly turned to boisterous laughter, as Yuta laughed like there's no tommorow.
"N-no, I'm sorry, hehe- it's just that, You on a date? And with a princess? Hahahhha."
Naoki joined in the teasing. "I know right? It's the least you'd expect from someone who got rejected in highschool."
"Shut it!" Yet they didn't, even Kuromaku is laughing now. Is it that unexpected? Everyone gets rejected at least once in their life.
Having had enough of their jokes, I carefully walked out the door planning to reat in the bedroom.
"Wait." Yuta slid his hand inside his jacket, grabbing a two inch suppressor and threw it into the air. I catched it with one hand then asked, "What's this for?"
"Just in case something goes wrong." Yuta followed with a grin.
"Thanks." I slid the suppressor inside the bag.
"You going to sleep?" Naoki asked, still having that huge grin on his face.
"Yeah, I still got a couple of hours before the date so it should be fine." With that I walked out the room, leaving the three of them on their own.
***
The walkie talkie in my hand released an uncomprehensible distorted muffle. Yet, somehow I understood it.
It was my mother, asking for help. Rushing trough the twists and turns of the corridors, I arrived at a long hallway.
At the end, my mother was tied and gagged with a cloth, sitting on a wooden chair. A masked man twice my size was looming over her.
"Let her go!" I screamed at the man, and rushed towards them. Yet the closer I get l, the further they go.
My hand reached out trying to grab mom or even the man. It was so close, but then...
My alarm went off. I opened my eyes and saw the familiar ceiling above. It was a dream.
Looking to the side, the clock says 7:45, the date starts at 8:00. I quickly put on the suit Naoki brought, and brushed my teeth.
Heading straight to the underground garage not even waiting for my brain to calm down from the dream I just had.
Kuromaku was sitting by the side of the car, his arms crossed once again.
"What are you witing for? Start the car. And did none of you think to wake me up?"
Not bothering to answer my question, he started the car and I quickly got on. Heading towards the date spot, my head was filled with excuses, and ways to apologize. Completely forgetting the dream I just had.