Retirement and all That Comes With it
2012
Japan: Osaka Continental Hotel.
4:58 PM
*click*
"Hello Yoru." Akira Shimazu- the manager of the Osaka Continental Hotel and the matriarch of the Shimazu clan- greeted as the violet-haired teenager opened the door to her office. "What brings you here today?"
The yakuza boss was quite tall for a Japanese woman, standing at five foot eight inches (172.7 cm) when compared to the national average of five foot three inches (160 cm). She wore a simple gray yukata and her hair was styled into a simple singular braid.
The continental manager's office is well-decorated with a blend of traditional Japanese and modern designs. In the front of the office there's a cherry wood office desk with a pile of neatly stacked papers and a white I-Mac. A small bonsai tree and vintage desk clock adorn either side of the maroon table. A filled wooden pen holder carved with the symbol of the Shimazu clan sat near the stack of documents and a closed red thermos was set nearby.
In the center of the room is a pair of two beige single-person sofas with a low ashwood tea table in the center of the two seats. The continental manager is currently seated in one of the couches and has her hand on the handle of a steaming steel kettle, having placed the boiler on the sofa table just moments before the younger girl walked into the room.
"Akira, I'm thinking of retirement." The assassin divulged after she gently shut the door behind her and started walking toward the taller woman.
"…Retirement?" the mob boss repeated, almost as if she couldn't believe what her friend was saying.
"Can I sit?" The violet-eyed hitwoman asked as her right hand laid upon the top of the empty sofa's backrest.
"Yeah, go ahead." The continental manager confirmed with a quick nod whilst reaching for a tea set from underneath the table. "That's why they're here."
Yoru nodded and settled on the leather couch whilst the yakuza boss laid the ornate tea set on the short table.
"So, Yoru." Akira began as she poured some hot water into the teapot and added some tea leaves. "Do you have a reason for retiring this soon? You've been active for only two years now."
"I found out my twin sister is pregnant." The assassin divulged as she reached into her right pocket and pulled out a photo. "She's 20 weeks in."
The violet-haired teen gently placed the photograph on the ashwood tea table and the older woman gently grabbed and flipped it around to examine the image.
The picture showed Yoru and another violet-haired teenager standing in what appeared to be a grassy field. From the way the photo was framed- with the suit-wearing girl's right hand outstretched and out of view- it's clear the assassin took the photograph.
And the most concerning detail of the image was the other adolescent's bulging and- according to the hitwoman- very pregnant belly.
"Yoru, you're sixteen right?" The yukata-wearing woman asked as she slid the photograph back to the violet-eyed teen.
"Yes." Yoru frankly elucidated as she pocketed the photograph to burn later on; after all, that's what she promised President Saitou in order to obtain it. "I am sixteen years old."
"Damn…" Akira breathed out, her expression one of concern as she poured some tea into an engraved porcelain teacup. "So, you're going to retire for her sake?"
"Yeah." The violet-haired hitwoman affirmed with a nod whilst her friend filled the second teacup with steaming green liquid. "If I retire, then every one of my enemies have to settle their disputes with me before I leave. She and her children would be safe from them."
"I see…" The yakuza boss trailed off with a nod as she slid one of the teacups toward the violet-eyed girl. "Alright, I think I have something."
"Shoot." Yoru conferred as she graciously accepted the offered drink.
"You know as well as I that people won't take kindly to you retiring out of the blue." The hotel manager began after taking a sip of tea. "Two years isn't a long time by any stretch of the imagination."
"No, it isn't." The violet-haired assassin affirmed with a shake of her head.
"However, the underworld may be more receptive if you retire after a huge mission." Akira continued as she set down her teacup. "Something that would completely eclipse your father's retirement mission, an impossible task you somehow completed."
"What do you have in mind?" The teen inquired, placing down her own cup onto the ashwood table after taking a sip.
"Following my father's death and my… subsequent absence, several other gangs have taken power in Osaka." The tall mob boss divulged as she reached into her robes and pulled out a smartphone. "I want you to take care of them."
"The Ishii, the Yashida, and the Omi, right?" The hitwoman answered as her older friend unlocked her phone. "I remember fighting them when I helped the hotel get reconsecrated."
"Yes." The continental manager affirmed with a nod. "I want to contract you to eliminate the leaders of all three clans. Not just the chairmen, but all the heirs and high-ranking lieutenants as well."
"I see, is this an exclusive contract?" Yoru inquired with her head slightly tilting to her right.
"For now, yes." Akira validated as she dialed the phone number of the Osaka Continental Administrative Office. "But a week after the contract goes out, it becomes public."
"A week… Why specifically a week?." The violet-haired assassin questioned after taking another sip of tea.
"If you don't return after a week, that's when I'm sure you're dead." The robed woman honestly replied before pressing her smartphone to her ear.
"Accounts payable." Akira stated as soon as the call went through. "Order One-One-Four-Zero-Six. On the first of next month, Wick Yoru: Recessisset.
Protocol number two, Wick Yoru will be contracted to eliminate the Ishii, the Yashida, and the Omi clans of Osaka. Standard protocol for secrecy, standard protocol for completion of contract."
"…Order One-One-Four-Zero-Six confirmed." The professional voice of a continental secretary from the other side said after a brief pause, approving the yukata-wearing woman's order and expeditiously ending the call with a beep.
"Isn't it bad practice to have another person in the room when you make an order?" The hitwoman sincerely jested with an amused smile on her face.
"Mayhaps." The manager responded with a smile of her own as she laid her phone face down onto the table. "When your retirement mission becomes public, everyone will know and you will experience no peace until the contract is complete. Your contract starts on the first of next month, spend the extra time with your sister and prepare."
'In case it's the last time I'll ever see her.' The teen thought as Akira left that last part unsaid.
"I've already faced hell twice now." Yoru declared after swallowing the rest of her beverage, her voice now having a resolute edge to it. "What's doing it one more time? And it doesn't matter whoever comes to settle things with me, I will take care of them all."
"I'm sure you will." The older woman affirmed with a nod and finished her drink as well. "If anyone could complete this contract, it would be you."
"Akira, thank you." The violet-haired assassin said gratefully while standing up and deeply bowed to her friend. "Thank you for giving me this opportunity to retire."
"It's no problem." The yakuza boss replied with a shake of her head, accepting the younger girl's gratitude. "It's the least I can do for you after all you've done for me."
______________________________________________
Two weeks later
Takachiho Hospital
7:28 PM
The night before the month ends
"So… this is goodbye." Ai melancholically uttered as she walked outside of the hospital behind her older twin.
"No." The violet-haired assassin doubtlessly asserted, stopping in her tracks and turning around to face her identical sibling. "This isn't."
The hitwoman was dressed in a midnight black Italian-style suit, the same style of suit she wore on the night of their reunion. Yoru had gotten this suit from Ayane nearly two weeks ago but this is the first time she's worn it.
The jacket was extremely comfortable and flexible despite the bulletproof armor plating sewn inside the coat, same with the pair of full-black trousers. The bulletproof suit was noticeably heavier, but the added weight doesn't feel restrictive despite the assassin wearing a bullet-proof vest underneath.
The violet-eyed girl's long hair was styled in a simple, but tight bun and slung from the teen's right shoulder was a black FN SCAR PDW: a recommendation from the local sommelier. The 5.56 x 45mm personal defense weapon was barely customized, simply being outfitted with a red-dot sight and a suppressor.
Since she's going to be running and gunning in a crowded city, a full sized assault rifle won't provide many benefits over a more compact automatic machine gun. And, since the SCAR PDW uses the same magazines as AR-15s, battlefield acquisition becomes a viable option.
Simularily, holstered on her right thigh was a custom combat master Glock G45. However, unlike her primary, her sidearm was extremely customized.
The slide of the pistol has slide serrations for extra grip when priming and custom porting to trim off excess weight. The mag weld of the 9mm x 19 pistol is flared for an easier reload and the grip has been recontoured for a more comfortable grip. The factory trigger of the gun has been replaced by one with a lighter pull of two and a half pounds, allowing for easier and faster rapid-fire shots.
The G45 pistol combines the smaller slide and barrel of the G19 with the larger body frame of the G17, thus allowing more stable followup shots and better grip. The assassin could've chosen the normal G19, but her hands are more used to pistols that were slightly larger.
Glock pistols were an extremely common sight in the underworld, and it's not hard to see why. The Austrian company boasted a variety of models no other gun manufacturer could. From long slides, to sub compact, there's a glock for almost every situation and preference. Because of their variety, glock magazines were plentiful among assassins and criminals alike.
In the assassin's trouser pockets are two automatic knives: a Kershaw Launch 7 and a M48 Spearpoint. Both knives boast slim profiles and durable blades, which are extremely important attributes to have for emergency weapons.
"Ai, I promise you I will come back." Yoru declared as she laid both her gloved hands onto her shorter twin's shoulders.
"I know… but promises won't stop me from worrying." The idol breathed out with a nod.
"Ai, come here." The hitwoman whispered as she pulled her little sister in for a hug, the spare magazines and plastic mag holders jostling slightly as they made contact with the pregnant teen. "Have a little faith in your older sister, alright? This won't be the last time you'll see me. I will succeed and leave my life as an assassin behind."
*step*
Upon hearing the sound of a sudden footstep, the taller assassin instantly broke the hug and jumped in between the source of the abrupt noise and her pregnant sibling. The older twin then shouldered her short-barreled rifle, aiming it at the source of the sound and flicking the safety off before resting her finger on the trigger.
"Yoru, it's just me." a voice called out as the older twin spied a familiar mop of blonde hair.
"Hikaru… long time no see." the violet-haired teen verbalized with a relieved breath while lowering her gun and flicking the safety on again. "How have you been?"
"I've been doing fine." The cyan-eyed policeman amiably replied while his arms dropped to his sides. "I couldn't become an officer right away since I dropped out of high school, but after a year of studying in a teijisei I was able to take the police exams. Officially joined the force around a month ago."
"Yeah, I've heard. How's the family?" Yoru inquired, removing both of her hands from her gun and letting the PDW hang loosely by her side. "You left the moment your older sister's debts were officially paid off."
"Well, pretty good now." The former hitman honestly answered as a fond smile slowly developed on his face. "Three-hundred eighty thousand yen a month isn't much but with our salaries combined, we can pay off the house and save enough to get her kids into college. That's not accounting for the promotions we could get later on."
"Well, maybe not for my niece yet because she's dead-set on becoming an idol." Hikaru commented with a soft chuckle and a mirthful shake of his head. "Quite a chunk of my paycheck actually went into buying her idol merchandise last month, and my sister has been quite vocal about that."
"And speaking of idols… Is that Ai behind you?" The older man inquired, craning his head and pointing to the violet-haired teen behind the hitwoman.
"Oops, I've been found out, hehe." The starry-eyed idol unabashedly laughed, lowering her head and scratching the back of her scalp as if she's embarrassed. "Would an autograph be enough to keep you quiet?"
"Not needed, but greatly appreciated." The officer responded as he reached into his back pocket for a notepad and a pen. "My niece is a big fan of yours and you've been a role model for her for as long as I could remember."
"Ah, I forgot I need to introduce you two." The hitwoman realized as her longtime friend handed her sister his notepad and ballpoint pen. "Hikaru, meet my twin sister Ai. Ai, meet Suzuko Hikaru. My longtime friend in the business."
"I see," Ai commented as she wrote her signature on a page of Hikaru's notepad. "Nice to meet you Mr. Suzuko! Any friend of my sister's is a friend of mine! Here's your notepad."
"Thank you. It's nice to meet you too, Miss Ai." The blonde cop said gratefully whilst pocketing the notepad and pen. "Anyways, heard you're retiring Yoru."
"Yeah. I am." Yoru honestly verified with a nod. "My retirement mission starts in four and a half hours at twelve."
"You need anything?" the cyan-eyed officer politely offered the assassin. "I may be officially 'out', but there must be something I could do for you."
"…How about a ride?" The violet-haired hitwoman suggested after taking a brief pause to mull over his proposal. "Just like old times."
"Well, my bike is parked around a block from here." Hikaru divulged after he softly chuckled in amusement. "Where do you need to go?"
"Osaka. Just drive me to the airport and I'll be fine." The assassin replied. "Been a while since I'd rode on your Ducati Multistrada. Had to rely on taxis to get around ever since you left."
"I'd imagine that'd be an issue." The former hitman jocularly remarked as he turned and started walking away. "Come on, let's go."
"Bye Ai, I love you." The violet-haired teen sincerely said before she briskly walked toward her longtime friend.
______________________________________________
"Yeah… Bye Yoru." The pregnant teen quietly reciprocated as the pair of assassins walked out of earshot, whatever they're talking about now a complete mystery to the girl.
Ai's almost ever-present bright smile fell as she watched the backs of Yoru and the officer disappear around a corner. The idol knew despite what her twin promised, there's a real chance her taller twin wouldn't come back from her 'retirement' mission alive.
"I… love… you…" Ai repeated her twin's words under her breath slowly, trying to capture the same tone her sister used. "How could you say it so honestly?"
Ever since she had reunited with her long-lost sibling around half a month ago, Ai hadn't stopped comparing herself to her twin. And with those comparisons inevitably came feelings of inadequacies and jealousy. The same emotions the idol imagined her group mates felt about her.
Contrary to what some may believe, the violet-eyed teen wasn't blind to the fact that she was- by far- the most popular member B-Komachi and the sole reason for their success. In fact, she knew how selfish it was of her to go through with her pregnancy. The group essentially couldn't function without her being the centerpiece and the six month absence would undoubtedly hurt their popularity and relevance, the two most important elements of success in the entertainment industry.
'Despite us being identical twins, we're essentially polar opposites.' The idol glumly thought with a sigh. 'She's basically everything I'm not.'
Yoru was freakishly strong, having casually picked up and shaken a vending machine that didn't deposit her drink while Ai struggled lifting anything over ten kilos. Yoru was also extremely honest; from what she heard from the old doctor- Okana? Ai wasn't quite sure what his name was- her older sister was a rare breed in the underworld, being one of the few honest people in a world built upon deceit and backstabbing. On the other hand, Ai is a liar through and through; her entire career is built upon falsehood after falsehood, every 'I love you' she ever said held no semblance of truth within them.
The idol could go on, listing every difference that existed between her and her sibling. But, the most important question would still remain unanswered: Does the pregnant teen still love her sister despite her feelings of envy?
It's extremely obvious the assassin wholeheartedly loved her; even if the feeling was faint when they found each other again, the hitwoman's sisterly love only grew potent the more time they spent together.
The half a month after their reunion was undoubtedly the happiest she's ever been and her taller sibling's unconditional familial love had a large part in that. In fact, the pregnant teen was sure that she's the reason her older sibling was retiring.
Yoru was risking her life and throwing away her entire career for the idol and Ai doesn't know whether or not she loves her. Some sister she is.
'And his name is Hikaru as well.' Ai thought as she recalled the blonde cop who shared the same given name and hair color as her ex-boyfriend. 'It's almost as if the universe made us meet as punishment for being such a bad person. Their relationship is what I wished Hikaru and mine would be like.
And those eyes… they're the complete opposite of the Hikaru I know. Despite being a former hitman and a killer, his eyes still held kindness within them. While Hikaru's… they're turbulent and hold a certain darkness. A-'
"Hey, Ai." The familiar voice of her gynecologist called out, snapping the idol out of her internal musings. "It's time to go back inside, Yoru and the officer left quite a while ago."
"Ah, sorry I didn't notice." The pregnant teen answered, a smile quickly formed on her face as she reapplied her idol persona. "I was… busy thinking about stuff."
"Well, you shouldn't worry about Yoru." The doctor consoled, immediately assuming the violet-haired girl was worried for her sister. "From what I've heard, she and her father had the penchant for making the impossible possible. If anyone is going to come back, it's going to be her."
"Yeah…" The teenager muttered as her stomach suddenly uneasily twisted at the thought of her sister not coming back.
"Come on, let's come inside." The messy-haired man suggested as he held open the door. "It's chilly out here."
"Coming." Ai said as she turned around and followed her doctor inside the hospital. Although, not before turning around once more to take another look at the direction her taller twin and her companion went in.
______________________________________________
December 2004
Viggo's mansion
New York
2:57 PM
"Hello John," Viggo Tarasov calmly greeted his executor as the soviet hitman opened the door to his office. "Might I ask about why you wanted to meet with me out of the blue?"
Viggo was the head of the Tarasov mob, a russian criminal organization stationed in New York. The crime boss inherited leadership of the organization after his father's passing and his younger Abram begrudgingly resigning himself to managing a chop shop for mob vehicles. The mob leader had hired John as one of his henchmen after witnessing him kill three men in a bar with nothing but a pencil.
"…Yes." The well-dressed assassin affirmed with a nod as he stepped into the room. "…I want to retire."
"…Come again?" The soviet mob boss asked after taking a moment to process his subordinate's request as the door closed behind the hitman.
"I want… to retire." John repeated, staring his superior straight in the eyes.
The two suit-wearing men held each other's gaze for an ineffable amount of time before the mob boss broke their staring contest and breathed out a sigh.
"John, take a seat." Viggo ordered as he reached for a drawer beneath his chair. "I presume we will have a lot to talk about."
The assassin nodded and followed his superior's orders, grabbing a nearby chair and sliding it up to the soviet mob boss's desk.
"Retirement… for a man like you, John?" Viggo commented after the hitman sat down. "Never thought I'd see the day."
"Now, tell me." The crime boss continued as he gently placed a bottle of bourbon whisky on his table. "Why would you want to retire now, and not two years ago? You've brought a little girl into your home, and- as a father myself- I would've understood if you retired then and there to take care of her."
"…But I didn't." John stoically answered while observing his boss pop off the glass cork of the bottle.
"That's right John, you didn't." The younger soviet echoed with a shake of his head whilst pouring the orange liquid into one of two glasses. "You only requested fewer and different hours. So, what changed? What happened in the last two years that made you reconsider?"
"…I met someone." The hitman replied after taking a deep breath. "Her name is Helen and Yoru likes her."
"Am I right in assuming you want to marry her,?" Viggo inquired as he slid a glass around a third full to his subordinate. "Here, have a drink."
The older assassin wordlessly nodded and accepted his superior's drink. After both men raised their glasses in a toast, John downed the glass of bourbon.
"John." The suit-wearing crime boss began after setting down his own empty glass. "You must understand, I cannot let you go just like that, not anymore at least. I will let you retire, but only under one condition."
"…Name it." John stated with conviction. "Name it and I will complete it."
"Alright." The Soviet mob leader said while crossing his fingers together. "I want you, John, to kill all of our enemies in one night. Kill them all by morning and you'll have your retirement."
The older hitman stared at Viggo for a couple of seconds, studying his superior's expression as the crime boss awaited his answer. Eliminating an entire rival gang with membership in the hundreds by himself is something John would struggle with; however, the time limit Viggo gave him made his retirement mission a truly impossible task.
'Unless I…' The soviet's eyes widened at the solution line of thought had led to. 'Yeah. That could work.'
"…I accept." The assassin declared, nodding his head as his boss studied his determined face. "How much time do I have to prepare?"
'And say goodbye,' John left that part unsaid, not daring to say that last part out loud lest it come true.
"I'll give you one day to prepare and get your affairs in order." His boss stoically asserted, blinking in surprise at his subordinate's acceptance. "You'll tomorrow at sunset and have until sunrise the day after."
"…Thank you, Viggo." The assassin said appreciatively as he stood up from his chair.
"Don't thank me just yet John." The mob boss called out as the older soviet pushed his chair back into place. "Thank me when you've actually retired."
"…Yeah. I will." John affirmed as he closed the door to Viggo's office behind him.
______________________________________________
Ruska Roma
5:28 PM
"Again."
The stern voice of The Director rang out to the sole performer on the stage as she finished her performance.
Though sweaty, sore, fatigued, and panting heavily, the violet haired girl nodded at the soviet woman's order. She stood up and repeated her performance for what felt like the hundredth time that day.
'One two three four.' Yoru silently counted as her arms and legs worked together in synchronized and nearly perfected motions, each limb rising and falling according to the choreography carefully taught by the instructors. 'Five six seven eight. One two three four, five six seven eight.'
The violet-haired girl then shifted her weight and began dancing on the tips of her toes. Her arms rose and fell elegantly as she carefully stepped around the stage.
'One two three four, five six seven eight.' The young girl continued counting as she shifted her weight onto her right foot and prepared to spin. 'One two three four five six seven eight."
After two more eight counts, the violet-eyed child stopped spinning, gracefully planting her feet on the ground and curtsied to show she's completed her performance.
"Yoru, you're done for the day." The soviet woman called out while the juvenile stood up. "Rooney, you're up."
Yoru nodded at The Director's command and exited the stage to her left.
"You did good." Rooney whispered in Yoru's ear as the shorter girl walked up the center aisle of the theater room.
The violet-haired child whispered a quiet thanks to the older girl and the two of them parted ways, Rooney to the stage and Yoru to the changing room. Or at least, that's where the violet-haired girl was supposed to go.
"Yoru, come here." The leader of the New York branch of the Ruska Roma called out to the violet-eyed girl. "Your father will be running late today."
The juvenile nodded in understanding and altered her course, walking over toward the soviet woman instead of the changing rooms.
"Director, what do you need me for?" Yoru politely inquired as she took a seat next to the older woman.
"To talk." The Directly answered frankly, her sharp eyes not leaving the stage.
The Japanese girl silently nodded and waited for the director to start speaking.
"I'm sure you're aware, but your circumstances are very different from your peers here." The soviet woman stated as she observed Rooney's dance like a hawk. "Apart from you, everyone here is an orphan, your father included. To be frank, I was very close to rejecting you before we even met face to face."
"What changed, ma'am?" The violet-haired child curiously inquired as she turned to face the female crime lord.
"Simple, I decided to humor Jardani's request." The Director impassively replied, her eyes narrowing as she spied a mistake in the American orphan's choreography. "After all, he was- and probably still is- one of our best- his word meant something. You remember our first meeting, no?"
"Remember it clear as crystal ma'am." Yoru respectfully responded while nodding her head. "You were talking to John and you turned to me and asked why I wanted to step into the underworld."
"снова Руни! (Again Rooney!)" The older woman loudly ordered the older orphan to continue in russian. "Yes, that's right. When you answered 'I want to protect people,' I almost burst out laughing.
I was thinking: 'is this who Jardani's vouching for? A girl whose entire motivation sounds like something straight out of a superhero comic book.'
Jardani had informed me beforehand about the tragedy you've gone through, about how your own mother had attempted to murder you. When I looked into your eyes, I expected to see a burdened child who's only clinging on to those naive dreams as a way to cope with her trauma."
"However, that was not what I saw." The crime boss divulged and for the first time in their conversation, broke her view of the stage and met Yoru's gaze. "Instead, I saw a child who genuinely admired those foolish dreams. A girl, whose eyes are filled with nothing but conviction and stubborn determination. You had the same eyes your father did back then. At that moment, I decided: 'What's the harm in letting her in? Despite her foolish beliefs, she had the determination to go through anyways.'"
"Now Yoru, what do you think is the number one reason why someone would be an assassin?" The Director asked while turning her head toward the stage once more. Yoru tilted her head at the sudden question.
"Is it… for vengeance?" The violet-eyed girl tentatively answered the soviet's question.
"That's right, for vengeance." The older woman affirmed with a nod. "For revenge. All of your peers here are orphans and many of them seek revenge on those who wronged them: your father was no different. His reason for joining was to avenge his murdered friends. снова Руни!"
"Yeah… John told me as much." The Japanese girl verified after the soviet woman commanded her older peer to restart her set.
"There's a reason why so many veteran assassins are empty, your father being a very notable exception." The Director continued as her expression minutely shifted. "The ones that completed their revenge have nothing to live for anymore, their only goal in life finished. In fact, I'd say John was very much the same before you came into his life. He put his all into his job and missions because that was all he had.
But you? Your reason will never go away. There would always be someone who needed to be saved, someone who needed help. Despite how stupid and illogical your desire is, it would keep your spirit alive for longer than everyone else."
Yoru remained silent at the soviet woman's remark and waited for her to continue.
"You're immensely gifted with guns and knives, and you're also extremely strong for someone your age." The older woman said, stating her personal observations to the Japanese girl. "Strong enough to wrestle boys twice your age to a near stalemate. Talent and genetics like that cannot be nurtured with a gentle hand.
Art is pain and life is suffering, Yoru. The road ahead of you will be one filled with thorns, are you ready for that?"
"I am fully prepared for that, ma'am." The violet-eyed girl declared, now with conviction infused in her tone. "No matter what happens, I won't quit."
"Good." The Director plainly asserted. "I'll be personally in charge of your training from now on."
"Thank you ma'am." Yoru gratefully said as she slightly bowed in her chair.
"You should go to the changing room." The soviet woman suggested. "I've kept you here long enough, your father should be arriving very soon."
______________________________________________
The next day
Half an hour before sunset.
*Click*
The door to John's room unlocked and he stepped out fully dressed in a black suit. The well-dressed man's hair is neatly combed and his beard is trimmed just as properly.
Beneath his already bulletproof suit, the soviet wore a kevlar vest and at his waist, he carried several magazine pouches filled with extra ammunition for his various weapons. An HK-416 was slung over his shoulder and a HK P-30L was holstered at the long-haired man's hip. Alongside his guns, two folding knives are present in both of his pockets.
"You look good, John." Yoru complemented her adoptive father as she inspected his outfit.
"…Thanks." The hitman said, nodding at his adoptive daughter's comment.
"You have everything ready?" The violet-haired girl asked; she knew the assassin had everything he needed to complete his retirement mission, but she couldn't help but worry for her guardian.
"…Yeah." The bearded man replied with a nod.
After checking himself over one last time, John walked toward the entrance of the house and Yoru followed. A black car was parked in the front of the white building, and a driver was patiently awaiting the veteran's arrival.
The hitman opened the door and before he could walk outside, Yoru raised her heels and tapped him on his shoulder twice.
"…Dad…" The violet-eyed girl softly uttered after a lengthy pause as her guardian turned around; the word felt foreign on her tongue yet also simultaneously felt right. "Come home safe, alright?"
"…Yeah… I will." The soviet promised with a gentle smile.
With that, John fixed his slung assault rifle and walked down the steps of the house toward his ride. The Japanese girl could only watch as her adoptive father climbed into the car and the vehicle drove away. She had faith in her father's abilities, but a nagging voice in the back of her mind kept reminding her that there's a chance John wouldn't come back, that she would be left alone all over again.
Yoru took a deep breath and fervently shook her head, silencing the voice. It would not do her any good to think like this, her guardian will come home tomorrow. After all, what kind of hero would leave their loved ones behind?
Teijisei: Part time schools that allow people who drop out to earn high school diplomas later in life.