Angel, who had been silent, gave a half-smile. "If they double their training, maybe I can get out of mine?" he drawled lazily.
"Nice try, Angel," Hiroshi shot back, smirking. "Nobody escapes morning drills. Not even you." Angel sighed dramatically and sank deeper into his chair as if mortally wounded, earning a few chuckles.
A soft laugh came from Himeno's direction. She stepped forward, eyeing Hiroshi with a playful glint. "So this is the infamous 'Elusive Fox' in the flesh," she mused aloud, loud enough for all to hear. She gave an exaggerated once-over from Hiroshi's polished shoes to his silver hair. "Gotta say, I expected someone… older. Scarred. Maybe with an eye-patch and a villainous mustache."
Hiroshi chuckled at that, raising an eyebrow. "I can grow a mustache if it helps morale," he offered lightly. "Maybe add a scar or two—"
"Oh no, you're perfect as you are!" Kobeni blurted out, then instantly turned crimson as all eyes shifted to her. She slapped both hands over her mouth. "I-I mean— not perfect perfect— I just—!" Mortified, she slid down in her seat, wishing she could disappear.
Laughter rippled through the group, gentle and good-natured. Even Hiroshi had to bite back a grin at Kobeni's unintended compliment. Himeno chuckled and came to Kobeni's rescue. "Relax, Kobeni, we're all thinking it," she teased, giving the younger girl a friendly elbow. "He is much more charming than we thought our 'legendary spy' would be."
Several agents nodded or murmured agreement. Arai, cheeks a bit pink, adjusted his glasses hurriedly. "It's true. We've all heard so much about the great 'Fox' who never shows his real face," he said, earnest and a touch awed. "I didn't expect our hero to be a silver-haired youngster with a movie-star smile."
Hiroshi felt a tiny flash of heat in his own face now. He rubbed the back of his neck, feigning embarrassment. "Alright, alright. I suppose I should apologize for not being a grizzled old man," he joked. "I can start chain-smoking cigars and scowling if it'll make you all more comfortable."
Kishibe barked a laugh at that. "Don't you dare, kid. One Kishibe is enough," he said, referring to himself. The older man gave Hiroshi an approving nod. "Truth be told, I met Hiroshi once when he was a kid. He had a face too innocent for this line of work… probably what makes him so damned good at it." Kishibe's gravelly voice carried a rare respect. "Don't let the baby face fool you. He can literally impersonate anyone with his creepy realistic latex masks. The Fox bites hard."
There was a collective murmur of assent. Hiroshi dipped his head humbly. "I had good mentors," he replied, meeting Kishibe's scarred gaze gratefully, then glancing toward Aki, Himeno, and finally Madoka and Yoshimura's empty chairs at the very front. "And I've heard a lot about each of you these past months. Honestly, I'm the one who's impressed."
He began to pace slowly, catching each agent's eye in turn as he spoke: "Hayakawa – taking down that Eastern European lab with barely any backup? That was one for the textbooks."
Aki, ever modest, simply responded, "Just doing my job. But… thank you." The praise made him stand a bit straighter.
"Himeno," Hiroshi continued, "infiltrating a high-society party and stealing intel right under the target's nose? Brilliant. I hope you charged Dr. Schneider extra for the pleasure of your company before you picked his pockets."
Himeno laughed, pretending to toss back her hair glamorously. "Oh, he paid plenty – he just didn't know it. I'll give you some tips later, if you want."
"I might take you up on that." Hiroshi winked, then turned to Kobeni. "Kobeni, I read about your work in that jungle. You stayed alone in deep cover for days gathering intel on traffickers. That takes nerves of steel."
Kobeni's eyes went wide at the compliment. "M-my nerves were more like jelly, to be honest," she stammered. "I was so scared the entire time—"
"But you did it anyway," Hiroshi finished kindly. "Bravery isn't not being scared; it's doing what you have to even when you are. You showed real bravery." Kobeni's face flushed, but this time it was with shy pride as she ducked her head, a small smile on her lips.
Hiroshi's gaze shifted to Madoka. "Madoka, you unraveled an international intel web and liaised with the Americans without sleep, from what I hear. Outstanding work. We might not have half our leads if not for your analysis."
Madoka gave a faint, tired smile. "Just thorough research, Assistant Director. I'm glad it helped." Behind his glasses, relief shone – relief that his painstaking desk work was seen and valued.
Next was Arai. "Hirokazu Arai – you managed surveillance on dangerous people completely on your own. Got key evidence too. That's impressive for someone barely out of training."
Arai looked startled that Hiroshi even knew his first name. He straightened, pushing up his glasses. "I-I still have a lot to learn," he said earnestly. "But thank you. I won't let the team down." Kobeni patted his arm supportively.
Hiroshi then made a show of squinting around. "Has anyone seen a surly man with white hair and an eyepatch? Grumbles about kids these days… Ah, there you are, Kishibe!" He snapped his fingers, as if just noticing the older man. Everyone chuckled. "Seriously, though – Kishibe, thank you for keeping these maniacs," he gestured broadly at Denji and Power, "alive and relatively in line during training. We owe you."
Kishibe shrugged, scratching the scar on his cheek. "They've got guts. I just hammered some technique into 'em. You've got yourself a solid squad of misfits here, Assistant Director. Don't screw it up," he added, the corner of his mouth lifting in half a grin.
Hiroshi gave a mock salute. "I'll do my best not to." Finally, he looked to Angel, who sat with his arms now folded, eyes closed again as if napping through the meeting. "And Angel… nice work in central Africa. I read your debrief; neutralizing that arms deal with minimal fuss – elegant as always."
Angel lazily opened one eye. "Mm, thanks. It was nothing special," he replied flatly. But a tiny pleased smile ghosted across his lips. "Glad someone noticed though."
"I notice everything," Hiroshi said in a playful ominous tone, waggling his fingers spookily. Angel actually snorted, and a couple laughs broke out in surprise – making Angel laugh was no small feat.
The room's atmosphere had transformed in minutes. What began as taut uncertainty was now warm with camaraderie and the buzz of reunited friends. Hiroshi felt it clearly – the relief, the admiration, the collective strength – and it buoyed him. If anyone could do what was about to be asked of them, it was this ragtag group of eccentric, brave fools.
Suddenly, a new presence filled the doorway – commanding, quiet, instantly sobering.