Chapter 6

There are many things the people who work with Segawa Yasuo knows about his morning habits. For one, he always wakes up at 5 o'clock. Secondly, he needs his coffee to start his day; black with a little stevia; and he always has a cup before his morning jog.

Most importantly, he has his breakfast at 8.30 am. Hence, Maizono Takeru makes sure he arrives at the Guide's home by then.

A middle-aged woman appears at the front door after only one push to the bell button. "Yasuo-sama is waiting for you," the woman smiles warmly. She doesn't ask for his name nor what business he is having there this early on a Saturday morning. She just opens the door wider before leading him into the house.

He steps onto the glossy black flooring, feeling the lightly chilled air, and follows the woman past the short hallway to enter the large living room. They walk towards an artistic partition wall. Behind that partition is a large dining room with a tall ceiling and a glass wall facing the backyard. A long modern chandelier hangs over the center of the long dining table. On one end of that table, sits Segawa Yasuo with a tablet in hand and barely paying his meal any mind. On the opposite end is a teenager with blonde hair.

"I'll bring your meal to you. Please, take a seat," the middle-aged woman bows her head a little before leaving the room.

"No, please don't bother," was what Takeru wanted to say, but she is gone before he finishes his sentence. What greets him is Guide Segawa's stern stare.

Not just anyone can sit next to Guide Segawa and eat with him. At his prime as a Guide, Segawa Yasuo was the most sought-after Guide in his rank. Now, the man is one of Neo Japan's most prominent paramilitary figures. You often find other important figures next to him; and Takeru is nowhere near his level of fame and power to earn such privilege.

Opposite to that man is presumably Segawa Yasuo's rumored youngest son, Segawa Felix. It is obvious from their familiar face lines; although Felix's skin has specks of pink that are foreign to the Japanese typical skin tone and his eyes are a few shades too light compared to the common deep brown. Felix is, after all, born to a foreign mother.

Unlike his oldest son, who is famous for being the son of Asia's once strongest Esper, Kwon Seo Hee; Segawa Felix often pops up in conversations among Council members whenever he pokes his nose into his father's business. Felix is known to silently stalk his dad in the quest of finding out whether the man is hiding a secret love child - a stunt that would've been funny if not for the fact that the Council staff are the ones who have to deal with finding him and kicking him out of the vicinity for bothering with their work.

Just yesterday, Takeru heard that Han had to pick the kid by the back of the neck and sent him out. Takeru, thankfully, has never had to deal with the kid himself. Felix, while appearing almost harmless with his dad's gorgeous features and a pout on his scowl, has a history of making people go insane with his ability to create illusions.

In fact, he did so to his own teacher when he was as young as 7.

"Please, take a sit," the Guide tilts his head towards the seat on his right. Takeru squares up and takes the seat. He catches sight of the many plates of various sizes in front of the Guide; from a small plate of butter and a platter of fruit slices to the plate of crepes in the center. Around those plates are two tall glasses, one for water and another for juice, and a cup of Takeru assumes is coffee.

Not 5 minutes later, Takeru is served the same meal. "Tea or coffee?" The middle-aged woman asks with a soft voice.

"Uh - tea, please," Takeru can't help but stutter. He is more of a toast kind of guy when it comes to breakfast, often times eaten on the way to work. But this, while viewing the sprinklers bursting to life in the middle of the vast green lawn and waving back at the gardener who is trimming a bush outside, is a nice change.

Takeru takes a sip of his tea. That is the most delicious tea I've ever -

"So, Felix right here has met Ren," Guide Segawa's voice disrupts his thought. A little baffled, Takeru turns his head towards the blonde on the other side of the table, who is shoving a dripping slice of crepe into his mouth.

"We're friends," Felix states coolly.

Takeru's jaw drops, "F-friends?" Takeru has heard about Felix crashing Han and Healer Miu's visit, but he didn't hear anything about him actually meeting Hinata Ren. "Do you want me to...?" Takeru gently implies the use of his ability. The Guide's gaze turns sharp.

"No," the man responds curtly, "it is an inconvenience, but a minor one nonetheless - and no, Ren is not your friend, Felix".

The boy's glare toward his dad is cold and steely.

"You know the closest thing you have to a friend? It's your brother. Now, because I'm sure you intend to prove me otherwise, do humor me with his whereabouts. Surely you'd enjoy the sight of him joining you in your one-month living device-free".

"You monster!" Felix looks genuinely horrified. He then huffs, pouts, and looks away, "No, I don't know where that shithead is!"

Takeru hears Guide Segawa letting out a deep long sigh next to him. Felix does not take long to finish his breakfast. He ends his meal by slamming his empty glass of juice onto the table then rises from his seat. "I'm off to my room," he announces in a gruff tone. Takeru turns to Guide Segawa to see his reaction to the display of rebelliousness.

Guide Segawa puts down his coffee, "He's a little sulky after I took his gaming console. He's also banned from leaving the house for the next two weeks". The man mops his plate clean off of maple syrup with his crepe and puts it into his mouth. "I'm convinced he's lying about his brother",.

"Hide-kun?"

"Yes. That boy has been up to something. He's already out by the time for breakfast," for someone whose son is hiding something, Segawa Yasuo does not look too worried. "My two sons are not the best of friends, yet they never snitch on each other," the way he said it almost sounds like he is proud of the fact.

They go upstairs after breakfast (and boy, that was the best breakfast Takeru has ever had). They walk past a pool table and to a double door leading to Segawa Yasuo's private office. The room, like most of the house, displays a strong touch of modernism with light wooden tones here and there. Segawa Yasuo's desk nestles on one end of the room, in front of a built-in cabinet full of modern statuettes, awards, and picture frames. Before it is a seating area with two white curvy couches and a small round coffee table at the center. On the opposite end of the room is a large flat screen above an electric fireplace.

"Sit down. I have a call I need to tend to before we leave," Segawa Yasuo sits on his chair behind a large white monitor on his desk.

"With the ministry?" Takeru plops down on one of the couches, finding it the right amount of firm for a short nap.

"With Arilio Banks".

Arilio Banks. That is another known name in their line of work. The man has a unique position at the top of Neo Japan's latest Esper Organization. He's American, and unlike most people working in the industry, Banks does not have any background in being an Esper himself. Instead, the man has a background in paramilitary and security laws in another country. Most people with this background would not be put in the same position Ari has, but with YES being an organization that puts underaged youths at the forefront of their battles against mutants, they need an adult spokesperson who understands the legalities behind such a controversial matter.

And while it is easy to mistake Arilio Banks as the head of YES as an Organization, it is wise to reckon that he is just another mouthpiece to Takenouchi Sora; the true leader of YES.

"Is Takenouchi Sora taking the deal, then?"

Segawa Yasuo has his focus directed to his computer screen. It takes about 5 seconds to finally answer, "At this point? No. I don't think so".

Takeru does not expect that answer, "Then why proceed with the plan?" He knows Segawa Yasuo would not have listed Hinata Ren up to the World Guide Association if he hadn't had the guarantee that the boy would be secured with a contract with Sora's little team of 3. Otherwise, there will be a fight over the most powerful Guide that ever touches the history of Neo Japan.

"Have you ever met the Prime Minister, Eru?"

Eru is his codename in the Council. A lot of them who work in the Guide Protection Council use codenames, including Han and Healer Miu.

"Prime Minister Takenouchi? He's Sora's uncle, isn't he?" He responds, "yes, but I've never talked directly to the man. I've only seen him around whenever I am guarding you".

"What do you think about his character?"

Segawa Yasuo has one leg crossed over the other and one fist propping his face.

"He's all rig -".

"Calculating, isn't he?"

Takeru blinks at the Guide. From the very few times, he witnessed him interacting with the Prime Minister, he would say Prime Minister Takenouchi does come off as a very calculating man, "I suppose from what I see, yes he -".

"Cunning, don't you think?"

Takeru pauses again, "in a way, a person of his position would have to be". He doesn't know what the Guide is aiming at, but he looks satisfied enough with Takeru's half-assed answer.

"That is the kind of people Takenouchi Sora grows up with," the Guide turns slightly in his office chair. His head is tilted up as he watches the ceiling. "People like them do not take favors from people whose motives are unknown to them. They find more comfort in knowing that they're making a deal with someone who wants something back".

"But you do want something back," Takeru voices. The deal is for Sora to take in Hinata Ren, and in exchange, he will get both of the Segawa boys on his team.

"Yes, but he doesn't trust it," Segawa Yasuo smiles, "It's a 1 for 3 deal. He gets the Guide and he gets the two S-Class Espers. It seems as though he reaps all the benefits and there is nothing in it on my end. To him, it looks like he will still owe me. And here's the thing about the Takenouchis; they don't like owing something to someone beyond their control".

"But you and the Prime Minister know each other," Takeru reminds him, "wouldn't Takenouchi Sora trust someone close to his uncle?"

To that, Segawa Yasuo laughs. For a split second, he has a glimpse of the infamous face that used to be so idolized among Espers. Minus the long cold stare, Segawa Yasuo is truly a beautiful man. "Oh, Eru. You really have no idea," the man shakes his head, "My close relation to his uncle is the number one reason why he cannot trust me. He doesn't like Shuichirou. At one point Sora even swore he would kill his uncle".

"... w-what?"

"That was years ago. Honestly, Shuichirou thinks it was cute".

"O-oh, you mean when he was a child".

"No. It was 3 years ago".

Three years ago Takenouchi Sora was a 15-year-old and an established Esper. Someone like that should not be sending death threats to their relatives.

However, if that is the case, then it makes sense that Takenouchi Sora is willing to wait until Hide is of age to recruit him. Recruiting Hide now while he is still underaged would mean asking for Hide's parent's permission, which is Segawa Yasuo himself. Perhaps Sora is not willing to even do that.

"So...," Takeru looks around awkwardly, "why do you think Arilio Banks requests for correspondence with you?"

"Probably to process the study I sent yesterday. I believe Sora would be on the brink of agreeing. But knowing him, he is still debating it. Banks is probably being ordered to speak to me - oh, here he is".

The large screen on the wall lights up to show Guide Segawa's computer screen. You can see the incoming call pop up in the bottom right corner of the screen. Segawa Yasuo presses the answer button from his PC and a new window showing Arilio Banks face pops up. The man seems like he's also sitting alone in his office, still dressed in a nightrobe. Then again, it is a Saturday.

For a moment, that face appears absent of any expression but a thoughtful one. The way he instantly lights up after he notices Segawa Yasuo's camera feed is pure skill; it is almost as if the guy always has a mask he can put on and take off with a flick of a finger.

"Hello! Good morning, Guide Segawa!" The American English rolls out through the built-in speaker, "Wonderful morning, isn't it?"

Arilio Banks' toothy grin is a stark contrast to Segawa Yasuo's calm composure as seen in the smaller camera feed window in the corner. "I have to admit, it is indeed a beautiful morning".

"It is! Beautiful day for a golf game, which I might do later today!"

Segawa Yasuo crosses his arms, "and I have a meeting in about 2 hours". It's his cue for the manager to cut to the chase. The wide smile on Arilio Banks' face shrinks by a tiny millimeter.

"That document you sent yesterday. I've never seen something like it," the smile has fully disappeared now.

Segawa Yasuo throws himself back to the backrest of his office chair. "I had to go through a long line of negotiating to get my hands on that paper".

"It's insane, okay? You're telling me, this Class F woman -"

"Ms. Malleswari, yes".

"Yes. You're telling me...," the American manager is bent over his computer screen, with his finger pointing at his own desk to stress his points, "she can heal any ailment".

"Almost any ailment, yes".

"And she can lower any symptoms of rampaging".

"Yes".

"And she technically has a 100% matching rate with any Esper she's ever been in contact with".

"That is true".

"How does that even work??" Arilio Banks shakes his head, eyes open wide at the screen, "Not even Class A can achieve the same feat! And I know my wards would require 10 to 12 different Guides guiding them over a few meetings! And you're telling me a Class F Guide could do this so easily?" 

Segawa Yasuo turns slowly in his seat as he regards Banks. "What sets Class A apart from a Class C, Mr. Banks? Could you humor me?"

Arilio Banks lets out a blatantly fake boisterous laugh, "Well, they're stronger, obviously!" He says with an exaggerated eyeroll.

"In what way?" When Arilio Banks blinks multiple times, twitching his head as if he's a little taken aback why someone of his caliber is being asked such a mundane question only reserved to the rookiest out of all Espers, Segawa Yasuo adds , "Is it the amount of ability? The type of ability?"

"Well uhh, I don't know why you're asking this to me but...," A deep heavy exhale, "It's control".

"Exactly, Mr. Banks. It's how much control a person has over their ability; the raw potential in them. An A-Class would be able to reach deep into that energy and extract it, manifesting it into the world and manipulating it. Moreso for Class-S. They can reap all of that raw potential and manipulate it to its utmost potential. You, Mr. Banks, have witnessed this time and time again - the likes of Sora, summoning any element with the ease of lifting a finger, shaping them however he likes," he then continues, "Yet not so much for a C-Class, who probably can dig deep enough to reach the surface of their potential and is only able to manifest a little of them. Most C-Classes cannot manipulate this power to their whims; perhaps it will only show up in desperation, or times when they least expect it. A C-Class elemental being chased by a dog might cough out a small fireball in fear".

"As for Class F; Class F cannot reach any of their raw potential, nor can they extract it to bring it to life; but it is believed that they contain the same potential as everyone else. They simply cannot use it".

The tips of Arilio Banks' lips are pulled to the sides of his face as he takes in that explanation. This man is someone who has been in the industry for decades. He does not need a lecture on how one's ability works.

"For a Guide, your class implies how much guiding energy you can use to direct to someone else, how much effort and contact is required. An A-Class such as myself can guide an Esper by a touch and I can direct as much energy as I want to a particular spot of that Esper. I can give them a little guiding or intense guiding. Unlike many Guides, I can opt not to sleep with my clients," Yasuo stops with a smile, "If I desire so".

"This, of course, does not work well with the control also exuded by other A-Class. You see, a plus and a plus does not always work. When an A-Class Guide is guiding an A-Class Esper, both are fighting over the control of the guiding energy flowing between them. In a Guide-Esper relationship, one needs to take and the other gives; one dominant, one submissive. Hence, you don't often see a high matching rate between the two".

"So what happens when a Guide is Class F?" Segawa Yasuo stares at the screen, "That is a potential just sitting idly in a person's body that they cannot use nor control. Anyone who manages to reach inside would be able to just take".

Arilio Banks sends the camera a long suspicious stare. "Okay, Guide Segawa, what is this? If there is such a composition for the perfect Guide, you have it described to the T. Why have we not heard of this? An F-Class Guide? Such an answer to a big big problem! And yet, it's unheard of until I receive this paper!"

"Calm down. I understand you are overwhelmed," Guide Segawa calmly states, "but the existence of such a Guide has been a well-kept secret among Guide Associations since our first formation just after the Great Battle. There have only been 3 such Guides on the record who have offered their hands to the cause, one of them is over a century old, and another is in his 90s. Priyanka Malleswari is turning 68 this year".

"So what - they're old? And that means they would be invisible to us?"

"You need to understand, there are many people behind these Guides that are highly, I repeat, highly protective of them. Their nation, their corresponding Guide Council, their families, and their Espers. Without that level of protection, Mr. Banks, trust me, there would be a fight over who deserves more rights over them. They are valuable assets to another Great Battle. So, yes, they are extremely protected to the point that mentioning their names could be considered a taboo".

Arilio Banks twitches a couple of times, looking like he is trying to figure out what to say. "All right. Fine. And you are sure this boy's blood can do the same as these 3 other Guides?"

"We don't know yet," Segawa Yasuo answers honestly.

"You don't know yet".

The Guide nods, "Hinata Ren is still in recovery, and doing tests with his blood feels unethical at this stage," he sends Takeru a look implying that they are going to cover the fact that the boy actually rejected the blood withdrawal they scheduled yesterday. "But you were there. You saw how quickly that boy heals".

"Oh, so now these Guides have the superhuman ability to heal themselves too?" Arilio Banks rolls his eyes, seemingly still in disbelief over the whole thing. Segawa Yasuo does not respond to allow the silence to fill in Arilio Banks' working mind.

Slowly, you can see the realization sinking in in the American manager's expression. "Oh God, he was supposed to die that day, wasn't he?" He wipes his face tiredly, "I didn't sleep at all last night. That kind of power, do you know the amount of legal battles required to protect that?"

Hands joined, Segawa Yasuo smiles at the manager through the camera on his computer, "I'm glad you've got the idea, Mr. Banks".

"So what do we do? What should I do?"

It seems that the manager has recognized how much such an ability can bring to the table for Sora's team. "For now, you need to convince Sora. As for later," Segawa Yasuo pauses, "prepare your best legal team".

**

When they arrive at the President Wing of the hospital, a number of The Council's Security Unit are already present, speaking to some of the Secret Police's undercover agents. The latter can be seen leaving the room one by one, still in their roles, acting like just another patient after a visit to the doctor.

Meanwhile, Takeru is standing by Guide Segawa's side. They have just finished a meeting with the Hospital's Director and are now finalizing the transfer of their subject.

"Good afternoon. I hear Hinata-kun is leaving the hospital today?"

A male nurse addresses them from behind the front desk. Masaharu is the name written on his tag. Without waiting for any response, the nurse continues, "I just heard about Hinata-kun's enlistment as a Guide yesterday. I have to say I was a little surprised, but I wish him good luck. Oh, I would also like to apologize for yesterday's mishap. I didn't know that Hinata-kun would be... averse to the idea of giving out his blood so I failed to keep the situation under control. He was lightly sedated last night to allow better rest".

Takeru exchanged a quick look with Guide Segawa. The latter gives him a little nod as a signal, and Takeru understands what he needs to do.

"Good job. Thank you for informing me. I will be checking on him now," the Guide says to the nurse before proceeding to Room 207 without Takeru.

Takeru turns to the male nurse. "You're the nurse in charge of Hinata-kun's care!" He smiles warmly.

"I am, you are?"

"Oh, sorry about that," Takeru offers his hand, "Eru. I'll be in charge of Hinata-kun's security after his transfer".

"Like those two bodyguards! I'm surprised they're not the ones who will be watching him after this," the nurse appears a little excited somehow as he grabs Takeru's hand in a handshake.

"No, they're different," Takeru says airily. The Security Police was only there because Segawa Yasuo took his time deciding whether he would enlist Hinata Ren to the Council. Enlisting him would mean establishing him as a Guide, and the man does not want to do so before having Sora agreeing to talk about some deals.

Guides have a specialized unit formed to protect them under the Council called the Security Unit. Both Han and Eru are part of that unit, and unlike the police force, they have the same kinds of training Espers do.

"Then you must be... - you're from the Guide Protection Council! Sorry if I sound too excited. Generally, us medical staff are all very impressed by Guides and Healers. The sacrifice they give and the things they have to go through," Masaharu rambles on. Behind him, a female nurse pokes her head in and smiles. "Oh, here is my friend. She is also very pleased to hear that Hinata-kun has enlisted. We were all so excited when we first found out".

"We were!" The female nurse exclaims, "But no wonder the security has been so tight. I still don't fully get it, but it makes more sense now! I'm so happy to be of help!"

There two other nurses besides these two that also work in this wing. Of course, none of them worked as closely with Hinata Ren besides Masaharu, but Takeru still needs to deal with all of them. The other two nurses he has dealt with in the meeting with the Hospital Director. The physiotherapist was given a visit to her dorm just last night. These are the two people left on his list.

"Great," he looks into both their eyes, "but you will forget about Hinata Ren as soon as he leaves this wing. You will not remember the event that took place in the ICU or any detail of his recovery rate. You will think you are moved to this wing due to the demand of an insistent rich patient, and you will connect the high security with the patient in Room 209, Abe Koukichi under the alias of Matsuda Kou".

The two nurses' eyes go blank as they nod idly like zombies to his words. "There are no Guide Protection Council's members ever visiting this wing and you know no Guide that ever visited this wing". After another nod, Takeru continues, "and you will see me and everyone that is leaving today as just normal visitors".

The two nurses blink multiple times in confusion the moment Takeru takes his hand away and releases them from his hypnotic hold. "So, where's room 207 again?" He asks Masaharu.

"It's that way," Masaharu points to his left, where Takeru knows the room is located.

"Thank you," he walks away and enters the room. The two Security Police guards are already on their feet when he sees them.

"Ready to leave?" He asks them. One of the guards nods.

"Yes. We've said goodbye to Hinata-kun too, so we're ready to go," the guard checks behind Takeru, "and Han?"

Goodbyes, huh? "Han is feeling bad about yesterday, so he's keeping watch from outside the building," Takeru pats the shoulder of the guard twice, "All right, you're relieved from your station. I'm taking over".

Both bow their thanks and leave through the door.

And so here it is. Takeru will finally meet the boy who returns to life; the boy who will be able to change the tide of their continuous battle against mutants. All these years, Neo Japan never had the ultimate Guide and Healer such as this. But soon, they will probably become the only country with such an asset.

Takeru walks towards the opened door to the bedroom.

**

3 hours later

Matsuda Kou has tricked his guards yet again to let him walk around the hallway and the lobby on his own - not that he can escape with the amount of undercover agents loitering around. His mother has truly outdone herself on this one.

And once he takes a turn towards the lobby, he is surprised. For one, there are not as many undercover agents today (maybe Sora has gotten through to his mother?). And two, he sees someone familiar.

Very familiar, although they rarely see each other with Kou out of his mecha armor and with the other person out of his Esper uniform.

It is Matsuzaka Kei, clad in something as casual as a pair of jeans and a white shirt as he starts a mini argument with the nurse stationed at the front desk. The man is holding a child-sized brown teddy bear in one hand and looks awfully ridiculous carrying it. His wavy hair is tied up in a messy bun and it appears that he is somewhat dressed up.

"What do you mean there's no one here under that name?" Kou hears Kei talking to the nurse. He sounds frustrated.

"I'm sorry, Sir. I really really can't help you. There's really no one here under that name".

"Then who have I been sending flowers here to?"

The male nurse looks nervous, "We haven't received any flowers under your name either, Sir".

Kei does that lip-smacking he often does whenever he's pissed. That is when he finally caught Kou staring.

The older Esper stops. "What are you doing here?" He asks Matsuda Kou - who he knows by his real name; Abe Koukichi.

"Me? What are you doing here?" Kou, or Koukichi, squints at the teddy bear, "Please don't tell me you're here for me. Not even my own mom has visited me".

Kei rolls his eyes but then walks closer and shoves the teddy bear into Koukichi's hands, "You know what, you have that".

The man then briskly leaves the wing, looking disappointed. Koukichi looks at the bear. Its dark brown fur and round brown eyes remind him of someone it bears a close resemblance to. Perhaps this bear does not belong in Koukichi's room, but it might fit in the room of another patient with brown hair and brown eyes.

"Uh, excuse me," Koukichi addresses the male nurse and checks the name of his tag. It says 'Masaharu'.

"Yes?"

"Yeah, Masaharu-san, do you know any boy around my age, maybe younger by 2 or 3 years, who is also treated in this wing?"

"Sorry, Matsuda-san," Masaharu clears his throat at the mention of Koukichi's false name, "There's only one other patient in this wing beside you and he's an old man in his 60's".

Koukichi frowns, "Really?"

"Yeah, he was in Room 207, but he just left today".

That's unfortunate. Something has been bothering him ever since he found out he's almost completely healed from all of his injuries. Koukichi has a feeling he might figure something out if he talked to that boy. Then again, he knows nothing much about him but his appearance and a little about his name.

Koukichi remembers looking at the other boy's tag, but his memory of that day is muddy at best due to the influence of the medicine they gave him. Was it Tanaka? Tachibana? Himawari? Koukichi isn't sure.

"Ah, okay. Thanks then. I'll go back to my room".

As he crosses the lonely hallway, he tilts the teddy bear's head playfully around. "Too bad! I guess you're stuck with me for now, buddy".

**

To be Continued