The Job

Benjiro made his way home after returning Stella to her original position. His heart wielded a strange feeling. His night was very unusual. First, a dying man gave him a USB, and then he checked that USB, which contained confidential information. It was almost too much for him to handle. He wondered if whoever the owner of that USB was, they would be after his head too.

Benjiro, out of paranoia, was sure to not walk down his normal route to home, where he found the man. He instead took the long way, which brought him home safely.

When he arrived home, the first person to greet him was his father. "Oh, you went out?"

"Y-yes." Benjiro stuttered. "I did."

"Is everything alright? You seem a bit shocked." His father pried.

"Yeah. I am just a bit tainted by how cold it was outside. I'll head to take a bath now." Benjiro bowed.

"But it's 9:00 pm. And why do you smell like hydrogen peroxide?"

"No reason," Benjiro uttered before closing the door to the bathroom.

He then laid his hands on the bathroom counter, leaning his whole body weight on it. He let out a deep sigh and looked up at the mirror that was in front of him. His eyes looked bloodshot and his complexion was pale. No wonder his father asked him if he was alright.

Taking off his clothes, Benjiro threw them into the hamper and walked to the tub after. The water wasn't too hot but warm enough for him to use. It seemed that his family already finished taking their baths.

As Benjiro relaxed in the bath, trying to let the memories of today escape his head, he let out a deep sigh. He could only wonder what tomorrow would bring.

***

"Good morning." A man at the door greeted Benjiro. "Do you happen to be Hayama Benjiro?"

"That is me," Benjiro answered.

"Excellent. May you walk out with us to the vehicle?"

Benjiro then nodded his head. He looked back at his two parents hugging each other, watching their son leave. He was a bit worried about them. He wondered if his mother would eat well while he was gone and if his father was going to be alright while he was at work. However, those were just worries he wouldn't be able to fix.

Benjiro walked up to the car that was pitch black in color and frosted windows where you weren't able to see what was inside the car well. Upon entering, Benjiro noticed a girl, a foreigner, already inside this car. She was very pale in complexion and had blue eyes that were like the color of the ocean in Okinawa. Her hair was a beautiful whitish-blonde color that matched her skin perfectly.

Benjiro sat next to the girl wondering why a foreigner was here working for the Japanese government.

The girl looked over at Benjiro and then spoke to him. "Ты японец?"

Benjiro's eyes widened, causing the girl to laugh. She then coughed to clear her throat. "Are you Japanese?" She asked.

"Oh. So you do speak Japanese." Benjiro blinked multiple times.

"Only a little bit. I'm not the best at the language." She humbly replied. "Anyway. What's your name?"

"Benjiro. You?"

"Alyona. Nice to meet you." She reached her hand out to him for a handshake.

"Oh, nice to meet you." Benjiro shook it back.

"So I heard that you were the one that built that android named Stella and won the contest. Correct?"

"Yes. It is." Benjiro answered but then became shocked when the car started moving. It had been the first time for him to ever be in a car. "Ah."

"Cool, isn't it?" Alyona said with a smile on her face. "I'm excited."

Benjiro was confused why someone would be so excited to work for the government. Although, that was just from his perspective. "So, you are from Russia?"

"Yes. That is correct. I won the 'Women's Mechanical Technology' award in Russia. Then Japan offered to take me out of Russia so I could work for them, and, of course, I agreed."

"Ah, I understand." Benjiro nodded his head, but he did have an uneasy feeling. Why would Russia allow Japan to take a person from Russia. Especially working for the government. Wasn't that too weary on their part?

After a few minutes of driving, the car arrived at the destination. The car door opened for both Benjiro and Alyona, which allowed them to leave. The building was huge. Benjiro was surprised that he was possibly only 1/16th of the size of the door. Possibly even less.

As they stood in front of the door, it opened for them. Waiting for them was an old Japanese man. His hair was white with a matching pair of eyebrows and a mustache. The old man was smiling as Alyona and Benjiro walked in through the doors.

"Welcome, Hayama and Ivanov." His smile was pretty irritating. "I hope you two had a nice trip."

"I did." Alyona smiled.

"Same." Benjiro followed.

"Alright then. We shall make our way to the technology room. I will explain the different things you two will need to know as you work for us."

Alyona and Benjiro then followed the old man as they were told to do.