Partners

[Author Note]

Disc: HrPrTeam

Writer's block sucks.

__________

Elsewhere: 3rd P.O.V.

Kindaka spoke up. "So, what's our next move?"

Ever since he and Satoru Yotsumura were labeled as traitors, they've needed to go into hiding.

It's already been a few months since the incident, but their situation still hadn't changed.

The two others were silent, lost in their thoughts.

After his 'betrayal,' Satoru's entire personality changed. He had to do something he never wanted to do.

Kill his wife in front of his kid.

His wife was conspiring with Sei and even took her own son hostage. He was only a child, so he wouldn't understand. Amane would hate him, and Satoru would no longer be an assassin after 'betraying' the Order.

He lost everything.

The group tried to find a way to eliminate Sei, but the more they considered it, the more impossible it seemed.

Outmaned and outgunned.

They would have to plan in a dusty shack away from the public eye to avoid suspicion.

The JAA's assassins are everywhere, so appearing in public is a no-go.

In addition, some of the higher-up JAA members wanted Soichi dead.

...

They were out of options.

...

Soichi put his chin on his fist. "We lost. Even if we knew it was coming, we couldn't stop it. Asaki already had too much influence, and now my family is in danger."

The only 'win' the group had was getting Soichi out of his office alive.

As long as Soichi is alive, Sei cannot access the database because he is still a temporary chairman.

Satoru spoke with an expression that had no emotion. "Kindaka, if I remember correctly, you were in contact with those three assassins in the Order. They were the ones who figured out what Sei was up to, right?"

It would've been four had Soichi not screwed that plan up.

Kindaka sighed. "Too risky. It was the first plan I thought of, but they live in the JAA's apartment complex, and I doubt they care too much about a conspiracy. Showing ourselves to anyone in the Order or people associated with the JAA leaves us wide open."

Their time together was short, making them business associates rather than buddies. If the JAA wanted Kindaka and Satoru dead, the group of three was likely to go through with it.

After all, who led the JAA didn't matter to them. They were still getting paid for their services.

They weren't getting paid enough to care about an organizational conspiracy. Even with a conspiracy, the JAA still functioned, with or without Soichi.

Soichi leaned his head back. "At least it's a plan."

Just when they were about to give up hope, Kindaka had an idea.

It wasn't a good one, but it was an idea.

He rubbed his forehead. "Someone strong enough to make a difference, not associated with the JAA anymore, and probably wouldn't be opposed if we paid him enough."

It didn't take a genius to figure out what he was hinting at.

Soichi crossed his arms. "If you think Toji will help you because of money, then you're mistaken."

He offered Toji more money than he had ever been paid to stay by him as a bodyguard.

Kindaka raised an eyebrow. "But I'm not someone who put a hit on his head and treated him like shit."

Soichi gave a defeated expression. "You keep bringing that up, huh?"

Kindaka huffed a laugh. "Because it was the dumbest thing you did as the chairman. He single-handedly defeated Takamura and most of the superhuman guys who invaded the JCC."

It was, in fact, dumb.

Satoru, sitting in the corner, finally spoke up. "Let's talk to him and see if we can get his help. Maybe we can figure something out. We can only hope he doesn't sell us out."

Kindaka waved it off. "He's too lazy to do that."

Soichi raised an eyebrow. "Doesn't that also mean he would be too lazy to help us?"

Kindaka froze.

He shook his head. "God damnit. It's worth a shot, at least."

Little did their group know that Toji was already heavily involved in this battle.

Since Atari told Sei his fortune, he started planning to remove Toji, even if his only action related to the JAA was living in their apartment complex.

Kindaka continued. "I'll get in contact with Toji. Satoru, stay with Soichi."

Satoru didn't care if he was being ordered around. It wasn't the time to fight about useless things.

He nodded as Kindaka left their makeshift shelter.

...

Okutabi Lab: 3rd P.O.V.

Sakamoto sighed when he saw a specific 13-year-old in the lab.

He told Shin not to work with him for this job, but that didn't mean Shin couldn't visit his adoptive father.

Shin had a smug smirk. "Wow, what a coincidence."

After taking a picture with his friends, Sakamoto was mentally exhausted. He had been supposed to be working on an important job but had gotten sidetracked.

He genuinely cared about his friends, even if he didn't show it.

If it were anyone else, except for two others (Aoi and Akira), Sakamoto would have ditched or shot them for getting in his way.

Sakamoto pinched the bridge of his nose. 'You know damn well that this isn't what I meant.'

Instead of continuing to mess with Sakamoto, Shin's face turned serious. "I've got intel on Ando."

Sakamoto looked around, not seeing Asakura.

He raised his eyebrow with a face that doubted his words. 'Where's the researcher guy?'

Shin gave an awkward smile. "We have an interesting relationship. We had a falling out, so he sorta blew me off when I tried asking some stuff. He's in the secret basement right now."

Sakamoto pondered for a moment. 'And how does this relate to intel?'

Shin pointed at his head with a smirk. "Shin, the clairvoyant, remember? Even if they don't verbally answer the questions, their thoughts are loud and clear to me."

Sakamoto put his hands in his pockets. 'What'd he say...or think?'

Given Asakura's feelings for Ando, Sakamoto doubted he would get anything of substance without torturing or scarring him with interrogation.

If he was being honest, torturing or interrogating his partner's adoptive father didn't sit right with him, even though he didn't know him.

Aoi also started planting her policies in him, stating that there were some ground rules for going out with him.

One time, he met her for a chat and was covered in blood from a previous assassination.

That's to say that never happened again. Aoi made sure to remind him.

Shin continued. "Turns out that I'm practically a human detector. If I focus hard enough on a few keywords, I can increase my range while filtering the random garbage."

Sakamoto blinked. 'That's convenient.'

Shin crossed his arms with a smirk. "I know, I'm awesome. I normally filter thoughts based on people's emotions, so it's a lot tougher, but I can lead you to him!"

He gave Sakamoto a pleading look.

Sakamoto paused momentarily while he thought it over.

Regardless of whether Shin would get in his way when he found Ando, Sakamoto would need to find the unknown researcher first.

In short, he was stuck with Shin.

Sakamoto sighed and spoke out loud. "Fine. Just help me find the guy."

Shin hit his own chest with a fist. "I won't let you down, Mr. Sakamoto."

Sakamoto started walking out of the lab. 'If we're going to be partners, then just call me Sakamoto.'

Shin nodded with a wide smile as they walked out of the museum.