Chapter 43: My mask and I (2)

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Sojiro POV:

Standing in front of the office, Aoi seems to be waiting for me.

"Did I make you wait long?"

"Of course you did! You have the balls to ask me after leaving a lady waiting?"

"Nobody asks you to wait for me though."

We walked towards the train station as we chat, she keeps bragging about how cute her daughter is. I found it mood lifting, strange enough, maybe I should have one someday, as a certain girl's image entered my mind. Well she never did call me father but hey she's a good kid.

"Hey quit smirking like that! I might arrest you for sexual harassment!"

"Huh?"

"Don't 'huh' me! Wait, Don't tell me you're interested in kids! Officer we have a lolicon here!"

"Wait wait Aoi-chan cut me some slack will you."

"Oh"

A sly smile crept up unto her face.

"Then if you tell me about the woman you've been seeing, I may stop."

"What wo---"

"OH OFFICER!"

"OKAY OKAY!"

As a close by police officer came to us

"Yes mam? Is this man harassing you?"

"No, no, not that, I've been meaning to ask if there's any bar near this area."

"Oh, you shouldn't ask a police officer this, but, if you turn left towards that intersection there's a bar called moonlight."

"Ok, thanks officer."

"No problem."

Damn you Aoi. I'll get you back one day.

--

"So who's the lucky woman"

Asks Aoi as she sits beside me inside the bar.

"Wakaba Isshiki, the most beautiful woman I met."

"WOW! Better than those from the showbiz?"

"Wait how did you kno--. Nevermind, if it's that Zenkichi I bet he can't get his mouth shut."

"Do you have a picture? Of course you have now let me see ~ "

As she's trying to grab my wallet which I put in the table, I hurriedly hide it in my suit, but to my dismay, she got to it first, and open it up.

"Oh! She's definitely a looker. And who is this? She's cute. Might even start calling you daddy after this."

She took out a photograph I had recently with Wakaba and Futaba. We are out in universal studios in Osaka, Futaba smiling as I hold her in my arms and Wakaba beside me smiling like a flower.

"Give it back." as I snatch both my wallet and photograph from her. "I think you had enough to drink today, come on, let me walk you home."

"No !!! NOT YETT!!!" as she pouted, I forgot how much of a hassle it is handling Aoi when she's drunk.

----

Today, I learnt that negotiating with a drunk woman is not a good idea. As it somehow turns into what looks like a couple's argument. And we are somehow asked to leave. But looking at it from another angle, I don't have to pay. Which is a silver lining.

I finally managed to make it to Aoi's house, after taking the cab. Looking at it with the lights off, it seems that Akane's asleep. Akane being the name of Aoi's daughter. And from what I remember Zenkichi's off to Tokyo today for an investigation.

I manage to find a key beside the garden pot, which I immediately use to open the door and proceed to carry Aoi inside, placing her on top of her sofa. I decided to leave. She may experience back pain tomorrow morning, but it's the best I can do at this moment.

"HEY STOP THIEF!"

I heard a voice behind me, as the lights suddenly turn on. The lights blind me, It took me a second before I can make out a shape of a kid. Ah it's Akane.

"Oh it's you."

Why did you sound disappointed? Would you rather a thief come in? Kids these days.

"Hi there Akane-chan. Why aren't you in bed?"

"And why aren't you home but here?"

Kids these days are so sharp.

"Your mom's tired, so I ended up helping her back here."

"You smell like a liar, and you stink of alcohol Uncle Sojiro."

"Ugh…"

I felt like I've been a bad example.

"But at least you come unlike a certain someone. Hmph."

Well that's on you Zenkichi.

"So, why aren't you in bed?"

"Because I had nightmares Uncle Sojiro. I waited for mom to come home, so she could read me a bedtime story. OH I know YOU read me a bedtime story, Uncle Sojiro!"

"Why would I ---"

As I wanted to deny her, she gave me the most pitiful look I had seen today, maybe it's the alcohol speaking but I can't say no to that face now can I.

"Fine… but help me carry your mom to her room first."

I can't leave her like this now can I. Being a gentleman is hard.

--

I finally tuck Aoi to her bed, as I quickly borrowed their bathroom to clean myself up. Working long hours inside a civil office has its perks too, as I usually bring spare clothes. So changing into my spare clothes, I finally made my way inside Akane's room.

I found Akane inside her room as she's already tucked in with only her bedside lamp on.

"So, you have any stories you want me to read?"

"Nope"

"Okay, let me see what have you been reading…"

I said as I walked towards the pile of books on her desk. Let's see, there's your typical romance; Cinderella, beauty and the beast, etc. and surprisingly a shoujo light novel. But among them there's something that caught my eye. [The Call of Cthulhu]

"Akane, did you read this?"

"Ah no, that's my mom's. She loves reading horrors."

"Okay then… I don't think there's any story that you haven't read that I know. How about I tell you a story about a certain man."

"Okay what is the story about?"

"About a Thief."

"A Thief like Robin hood?"

"Yes, But do you know anything about Arsene Lupin?"

---

After narrating a short story about Lupin, Akane finally fell asleep with a happy smile. I slowly walked out of her room, as I found myself in the living room, I turned towards the clock above the TV. Shit it's 3 A.M. My hope of getting back is not realistic anymore, as there's almost no Taxi at this time, and the trains have stopped a while ago.

With no other options, I decided to make myself comfortable on the sofa, not long after sleep claims me.

---

*ring ring*

An alarm sounded beside me. As I jolt myself awake. Taking a look at the time it's still 5 A.M. But it's enough, I pack up my stuff as I readied myself to leave. Making sure to make no sound I leave Aoi's house.

I'm not sure where I will go, as it's still too early to be heading to the office. And it's Thursday. Should I head back first before I go to the office? No, I shouldn't show my face today as I'm sure hell will break loose in a few days. And to keep myself from spilling something out accidentally, might as well head to Tokyo. It might be earlier than scheduled, but it beats spending the day in the office.

I always traveled light, as I usually just buy clothes that I need in my destination. I wouldn't need to pack going from Kyoto to Tokyo. So making up my mind, I decided to head to Kyoto's train station and buy the earliest Ticket.

---

What a mistake that was. I was unprepared, didn't shave, my hair was all disheveled, and I didn't get enough sleep, I must have looked like shit. But there she was in the same train as me. Now how am I going to impress her. Turning around wasn't an option as she had seen me and waved at me. Now I wish I could travel a bit heavier.

"Sojiro! You're here too?! What a coincidence"

"Fate is a cruel mistress Wakaba-san"

"Whatever do you mean Sojiro, anyway meet my new assistant, researcher, and student, Izanami-chan!"

Wait what did she say? My previously sleepiness seems to disappear with the shock of her mentioning one of the Dossier's mentioned names.

"Ah, nice to meet you Sakura-san, I've heard a lot about you."

"Ah, the pleasure is all mine Izanami-chan."

As I looked closely at Izanami, she doesn't resemble a Yakuza at all. With hair as white as her clothes, She's dressed with a shirt with a research coat on top. One might just pass her up as a Civilian.

"Is there something on my face Sakura-san?"

"Ah, it's nothing, I envy the guy who is your boyfriend that's all."

"Thank you for the compliment, but sadly, I'm spoken for you see."

As she shows me her ring. It's a beautiful ring, but why do I feel like there's a lot of souls screaming from inside that ring? Nah maybe my lack of sleep gets the better of me today.

*Bonk*

A dull object hits my head with quite the force.

"OUCH!"

"S o j i r o, why are you hitting on my Assistant? If she quits because of you --"

"Calm down Wakaba, please, I'm not hitting on her, I'm just ---"

I paused as I think for a moment: Is telling them what I'm going to do help them in any way? I don't believe so. Your fiance might be our target but that doesn't undermine the danger of dragging both of you down as collateral. Fuck.

"Just what Sojiro?"

As wakaba pouts cutely.

"Ugh. I'll tell you later, the train isn't the safest place you see."

I tried to reason with her.

"So how's your research Wakaba, have you gotten any big breakthrough"

"Oh you won't believe this Sojiro, listen here ---"

She rambles on and on about her research. I couldn't understand even a quarter of it. But there's a part that piqued my interest. And with this I successfully diverted the topic.

"--- If, hypothetically, what Izanami-chan said was correct, we could rehabilitate everyone in jails. And make them a part of society again. Imagine it Sojiro! If you can slap a person back to being a good guy, wouldn't our world be better everyday?"

Fuck isn't that just brainwash? Are you seriously researching that? Wait if the government got a lead on her research it will be bad, fuck.

"And what's more, if we are able to quantify the process of decision making through cognitive psience, we could with the power of modern science make a machine to simulate the outcome that's best for everyone! imagine Sojiro, a unified future where everyone will be happy! No minority will be left out in every political campaign."

Hey hey hey that's a red flag right there. Enough to put you in my watchlist. A machine that makes decisions for us huh…. That'll be one hell of a story.

"Wakaba you should tone down your research for a bit you know. Spend a little more time with Futaba."

"But I can't do that! I'm on the verge of a breakthrough! Oh I know how to convince you! I'll show you myself."

I can see the determination in her eyes. Oh no, this can't be good.

--

We chatted for a while as the train arrived in Tokyo, as I was somehow being dragged by 2 women to a research facility, I didn't apply as a lab rat. But here I am. I am stripped of my clothes and made to wear a surgery patient dress. Right now, I'm in a room with top of the line medical equipment, laying down in the bed, Wakaba places a lot of sensors on my body, but mostly my head.

"Wakaba?"

"Yes Sojiro?"

"Is this safe?"

"Of course …. *Not* "

The last part is barely audible, hey, isn't this the part which you convince me otherwise.

"Isshiki-sensei, we're ready to start the test."

"Then administer anesthetics."

Wait what anesthetics? I didn't sign up for this! Hey wait!

"Mam, the patient seems to be resisting, what should we do?"

A researcher said with a matter of fact tone, HEY DON'T FUCK WITH ME! I CAN STILL DRAG YOUR ASSES TO J-----

*BONK*

That's the last thing I felt before everything turned black.

---