[Author Note]
Discord: HrPrTeam
Upload jumpscare.
Wacky upload schedule go brrr.
__________
Six Years Later
In an abandoned building, a group of thugs in suits surrounds a girl with blue hair, tied to a chair in the middle of a room.
While the girl looked distraught, the presumed leader of the group was on the phone.
He glanced over at her and sighed. "Yeah, yeah, don't worry. We've got the girl. It was surprisingly easy considering who she's related to."
The unknown voice on the other line spoke up. "Dumbass, just bring the girl as soon as possible. If the other one shows up, you're all dead."
That statement caused the group to go silent. However, the leader eventually shook his head and hung up the phone.
He turned toward his colleague and nodded as the girl spoke. "Who are you guys, and why are you doing this!?"
He walked toward her with his hands in his pockets and a neutral face. "Since it doesn't matter, I won't explain the useless details. All I'll say is, blame your eyes."
She looked at the floor. "At least tell me why I'm here. I want to know that at the very least."
The leader sighed once more and closed his eyes. "My master wants you so he can study your eye ability. What's it called again? The Pass? Pace? Pact? Right, it was Paths."
Tears welled up in her eyes. "I can't believe..."
...
...
...
Her distraught appearance disappeared. "I can't believe I didn't learn shit from this. I even went through the trouble of figuring out how to pull off the part. The damsel in distress doesn't fit me after all."
The leader's eyes opened. "What are you yapping about?"
However, he was shocked that the girl was no longer bound to the chair, instead stretching her arms with a smile.
The group looked just as shocked. It hadn't even been a second before she stood, freed from her bindings.
The girl looked around, taking in her surroundings and counting each member.
As everyone stood, the girl tilted her head to the side. "Hmm, I count thirty-two. Are you all going to keep staring, or are we going to do this thing?"
As if it were a bell, many of the thugs pulled out pistols hidden in their suits.
Her eyes started glowing bright yellow, and she smiled as the world around her slowed.
*WOOSH*
They took aim, but she disappeared from her previous spot, weaving through the group faster than they could react.
She followed thin lines directed to precise points on the thug's bodies.
*tap*
The first thug she reached received strikes to his wrist and neck with only her pointer and middle fingers.
*tap*
She instantly moved toward her next target, striking the underside of his jaw with her two fingers.
The goons didn't have time to fire their pistols before she reached them.
...
It wasn't even a minute before thirty-two alive, but paralyzed, bodies were lying on the floor.
The girl wiped the sweat off her brow. "*Phew*, I'll give myself a 9/10!"
_______________
Akira Akao
Age: 18
Occupation: Trainee Assassin
_______________
After receiving Rion's no-kill rule, Akira developed her signature version of the Paths.
Usually, the Paths show the lines one must follow to kill an opponent. However, Akira uses it to discover specific contact points that paralyze her targets with pressure points.
Although she is allowed to kill if her life is in danger, that doesn't apply to this situation.
Her life was never in danger, after all.
*pat*
When Akira felt a hand on her head, she spun around and kicked at the newcomer's side.
However...
*grab*
The newcomer had black hair, a goofy smile, and an extremely punchable face. He also had a briefcase strapped to his back.
Akira yelled as he held her leg in his right hand. "DON'T DO THAT!"
The man tilted his head and gave her a closed-eye smile. "You've got to be on guard, Akira~."
Her eyes narrowed as he let go of her leg. "Don't give me that crap! Even Auntie has a hard time seeing you!"
He shrugged and stuck his tongue out.
_______________
Yoichi Nagumo
Age: 27
Occupation: Order Leader
_______________
Nagumo huffed a laugh and looked around at Akira's handywork. "Well, I've got to test my student. If I hold out on you, you won't learn. In any case, nice job taking out the garbage."
Akira mumbled, but Nagumo could hear her loud and clear. "Why couldn't Rion be the one to take me on missions?"
Nagumo returned a small smile. "You know you can't be with her forever. Besides, why don't you want to go with Toji? He's been taking jobs even though he isn't directly affiliated with the JAA."
Akira had a darkened look. "Ever since that day, nothing has been the same."
Flashback
*click*
Akira opened Rion's door. "Hey, Auntie..."
However, she paused when she saw the sight in front of her.
Toji was lying on the right side of Rion's bed while Rion was on the left.
A million things were running through Akira's mind, but one thought stood out.
Hatred.
After the door opened, the two had already woken up and awkwardly stared at Akira in the entryway.
Toji spoke first with a deadpan expression. "You've got a bad habit of walking in on people."
Akira was too shocked to speak. 'But this is Rion's room, asshole!'
*inhale*
*exhale*
Akira left the room.
Toji turned to Rion, who was scratching her hair. "Haah, this isn't going to end well."
Not even a minute later, Akira returned holding something.
She spoke as she loaded her M1911. "TOJI...YOU'RE DEAD!"
*bang*
*bang*
*bang*
End of Flashback
Nagumo looked up and pondered for a moment. "Honestly didn't think those two would end up together."
Akira started walking out of the abandoned building. "Whatever, I still don't approve."
Nagumo just smiled as Akira left the building.
...
Shibuya
After Sakamoto retired and the assassins got older, they eventually moved out of the Order's apartment complex.
Toji and Rion moved into an apartment together in Shibuya.
The JAA's main base of operations is in Tokyo, so Rion still needed to stay fairly local, even if she did slack on her assassinations.
...
A woman with light green hair, a loose jacket, and a tank top was on the phone in an apartment.
And she was irritated.
The voice on the other line spoke. "Mr. Nagumo won't be able to protect your position forever. You need to remember that being in the Order means meeting certain standards."
Rion scowled. "Don't lecture me, Oki. I get my work done and show up."
He continued. "The bare minimum to keep your license. The Order is a serious organization. If these habits don't change, there will be consequences."
Rion leaned forward with a malicious smile and a tick mark on her forehead. "Is that a threat?"
Oki instantly replied. "Take it however you like. I've gotten my point across."
The line went silent.
Rion put her phone down on the table before yelling. "Why the hell did Asaki hire some nitpicking asshole as the vice leader of the Order!?"
_______________
Rion Akao
Age: 27
Occupation: Order Assassin?
_______________
Given her work ethic, she knew he had a point, but she wanted to put more time into her personal life.
Being an assassin wasn't her priority, even if she was in the Order.
After the incidents and the constant worry of attacks, her 'duties' have been put off even more so when she was 21.
Rion shook her head. "Well, I guess I should start moving so I don't get a call from Nagumo. He can get real scary when he's pissed."
She glanced over to the digital clock on the wall. "I should've gone with him. It would be nice to see Sakamoto. Although I doubt bringing unwanted attention to his store will be a good idea."
...
Sakamoto's
*ding*
A man with black hair walked through the automatic sliding doors and glanced to his right.
His eye twitched. 'This will never not be weird. Well, Rion did say to 'support your local businesses'.'
Sitting at the cash register was a 27-year-old fat man who had just so happened to be a legendary assassin six years earlier.
The 'legendary assassin' glanced up from his newspaper and nodded at the newcomer without uttering a word.
_______________
Taro Sakamoto
Age: 27
Occupation: Sakamoto's Owner (Retired Assassin)
_______________
The man with black hair raised an eyebrow. "Still don't get why you chose that look."
Sakamoto ignored him and kept reading his newspaper.
*step*
*step*
*step*
Sakamoto turned his head and saw a little girl with a broad smile turn around the corner.
She ran up and hugged him. "Daddy!"
_______________
Hana Sakamoto
Age: 6
Occupation: Elementary Student
_______________
Unlike his usual expression, Sakamoto had a slight smile.
The man huffed a laugh as he realized that Sakamoto had truly become a family man if he was going that far for his kid.
Although the man couldn't speak about becoming a 'family man'.
A few seconds later, Hana turned toward the man. "Hi, Mr. Fushiguro!"
He did a two-finger wave. "Yo."
_______________
Toji Fushiguro
Age: 27 (Mental Age: 35)
Occupation: Part-Time Assassin (Unemployed)
_______________
Toji looked at the ceiling in thought. 'Having a kid...huh? Not yet. I still have things I need to do. Adding a kid to the equation opens myself up to a ton of problems. Besides...'
It went unsaid that he couldn't be there for his biological son, let alone both of the kids he had.
He was broken out of his thoughts when another woman joined the group.
The lady smiled. "Well, we don't see you come around here too often."
_______________
Aoi Sakamoto
Age: 26
Occupation: Sakamoto's Owner
_______________
Toji leaned on the checkout counter. "Sakamoto's previous job complicates things, so I rarely show up. Main reason is that Rion wanted me to check up on you guys."
While the assassins and ex-assassin were all friends, being around Sakamoto too much could paint targets on his family's backs.
Aoi sighed. "You're his only friends, so please don't hesitate to stop by."
Sakamoto recoiled behind his newspaper.
Her eyes narrowed as the atmosphere shifted. "That reminds me..."
...
She pointed at Toji with a frown. "When are you going to propose!?"
...
He recoiled in shock. "Wha...?"
Aoi crossed her arms. "It's been six years, you live together, and you obviously match. Don't you think it's about time!?"
Toji would be lying if he said he hadn't thought about it.
He rubbed his forehead. "I really don't want to have this conversation right now."
Aoi turned her head to the side and huffed. "She actually called me today before you got here."
Toji gave a slightly worried expression. "What did you two talk about?"
He didn't know if it was his sixth sense acting up, but he could tell something was wrong.
Aoi smirked as she reached behind the checkout counter, where she brought a green apron in front of her.
But it wasn't just any standard green apron.
'Fushiguro.'
...
...
...
*WOOSH*
He disappeared from their sight without purchasing anything on his shopping list.