Birds with One Stone
A few days passed after the whole Klint-hating-Nicco thing.
Seriously, I have no other thing to call it other than that. Well that or Klint-being-childish-and-jealous event.
Anyway, these days those two are more like competitors rather than having a one-sided hate with one another. But then again, Klint was the only one with the problem with Nicco's presence. Unfortunately, Nicco seems to like egging him.
Nothing serious happened though so I suppose that's a place.
But enough about that…
At the moment, I am standing in front of Sakura-nee's office. I'm contemplating whether I should barge inside or just shut up and don't bother her. Behind me is Nicco, who looks as chill as ever, doing his duties as my observer.
Speaking of Nicco, I noticed the past few days that he doesn't really always stick with me 24/7 like the first few days he came. He seems to have been respecting my privacy and personal space which I am very grateful for. I'm not sure how he keeps a tab on me though but he seems to always know the stuff happening around me.
Creepy?
Totally.
Maybe it's a part of his skill set? But the last time I checked his stats nothing about observing others came up though. I should probably ask him at a later date.
Anyway, back on the situation at hand.
"Aren't you going to knock already?" asks Nicco in his usual monotone voice.
"Doesn't she have a guest right now?"
"You? Worried about her having a guest? Since when did you even care about that?"
Wow. Am I really that rude?
*SIGH*
Nicco might be monotone and stoic most of the time, but that does not hide his blunt personality. That's what actually makes him annoying.
"If you drag this any longer, you're going to lose the lead you just found."
Of course he's got a point.
Oh well. Here goes nothing.
I knock on the door.
"Sakura-nee?"
"Come in April. You too Nicco."
Wow. She even knows that.
I open the door and see Sakura-nee on her desk, signing paperwork.
Uwah! The bane of those in the upper echelons.
"So this is April?"
Right. She has a guest.
I turn to the source of the voice and I see a man, probably Sakura-nee's age, whose drinking tea leisurely on the sofa set.
Slayer, run
Name: Hirato Osaki
Age: 25
Level: 25
Title: [Blessed by the Fox] [Lord of ???]
Oh my gods. He's one of those whose stats are hidden in question marks as well.
Stats:
>Strength: 15400
>Intelligence: 13879
>Agility: 15786
>Stamina: 16765
>Defense: 16394
Skill List:
Hirato-san then. He's one of those really strong ones huh.
"Ah. That guy's called Hirato Osaki."
"'That'? Seriously?" I hear Hirato-san grimace. "I'm one of your only two oldest friends."
"Nobody's asking Hirato."
Pfft! Are they really friends?
"April, what did you need?"
Ah right.
"Sakura-nee, can you give me money?"
I know it's out of the blue but I actually really needed he money.
"Sure."
Waah! Really?
I can already imagine my eyes sparkling at her answer.
"Sakura? Are you really going to-" Hirato gets cut off by Sakura-nee.
"What do you need it for?" she asks me.
"Plane tickets. Four of them; me, Nicco, Sylvia and Klint."
"Elaborate."
Hmm… Elaborate huh.
Should I really ask her for something like this?
Steel yourself April. This is for the sake of your revenge.
"I saw an article last night."
I show her my phone where I have a screenshot of the article that I found last night.
"'Hikers Found Dead at the Foot of Mt. Kanlaon'." she reads out loud. "This is…"
"The hikers died the same way everyone at the orphanage did. I also found a video about it on YouTube last night and using my
Sakura-nee remains silent, her eyes glued to the photo.
"Sakura-nee?"
Oh no. She probably won't let me. After all, what will a bunch of kids be able to do at such a scene?
"Sakura-nee, I-"
"Sure."
"But I need to-"
Wait… Did she just-
"Did you just agree? You're letting me-? I mean, you're letting us go?"
"Yes. I think it's a better way for you to get some closure. I mean, you are planning revenge even I know that much." she hands me my phone. "I already know about the incident and have a few leads. I was going to tell you about it and send you to Negros with Hiiro and Himeko."
Those two?
"Why are they going there?"
"Department Thirteen, the secret department of the Philippine government that deals with the supernatural, asked for the Onmyouji Union and Sector Zero's assistance because of another incident. Somehow yokais teamed up with their local supernatural creatures, the engkantos, and stole an important artifact kept at a sacred temple connected to Mt. Kanlaon."
Engkantos?
"Hiiro is already in Negros to help with the investigation and Himeko will be following him tonight. You can go with her if you want."
I haven't even told her anything, and yet she already has everything prepared?
Did she somehow know about this beforehand? Does she have some sort of foresight or something? Wait, Ryuuji-san has the
It's too convenient that it has become too suspicious.
"Are you sure?"
"That's what you want me to say and do right?"
"And you're letting me?"
"I'm pretty sure you'll find a way to get to Negros to check it out. You have always been too mischievous for your own good. Other than that, you always seem to find ways."
True. I guess she already knows a lot about me.
"Rather than stopping you and hearing you give nonstop complains and throw a tantrum over it, you should go and explore this lead of yours. I know how important everyone at the orphanage for you is and their deaths are something that will always haunt you. The least I can do is let you do this with guidance."
Sakura-nee… I'm speechless! I can't believe how much you thought of it, caring for my feelings!
"In return, if I need you to run an errand for me or I have a mission for you, I expect you'll accept it wholeheartedly. Especially missions that involve slaying monsters. You said before that you like slaying your enemies right? I'll give you the bad guys, you kill it. Two, no, it's three birds with one stone!"
Oh…
I take that back. She's a scheming little mink with sadistic tendencies.
"You should go and prepare your things. The flight is tonight at ten and Himeko will go with you."
"Uhm… Thanks I guess."
"You're welcome. Oh and Nicco?"
Huh? Why is she calling Nicco?
"Yes Lady Sakura?"
Dude!
"Keep an eye on them for me. I know you're technically working for the Vatican as his observer but I'd appreciate it if you give me updates about him as well. Think of it as me thinking about his well-being as his guardian."
Sakura-nee! I'm not some uncontrollable destructive kid!
I can't really say that one out loud.
"Of course, that goes to Sylvia and Klint as well."
Nicco is silent all of a sudden. Probably contemplating about his answer. He's probably going to decline, after all he's-
"Very well."
EEEEEEHHHHH? He agreed?
Why?
"WHY?!"
"Run along now boys. You don't want to be late."
It's official. Sakura-nee is one enigmatic lady I don't want to cross with.