Episode 15: Poppy’s Illusion

The city shimmered under the soft glow of the evening, its streets alive with activity as Chou and I wove through the crowd. The air smelled of roasted chestnuts and the faint perfume of blooming flowers from a nearby florist. It felt almost normal—almost—but the tension clinging to us was anything but.

Kaede Hayami's smirk lingered in my mind, her warning echoing like a drumbeat in my chest.

"Do you ever think about taking a break from all this?" Chou asked, her hands stuffed casually into her jacket pockets.

I glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. "You mean from chasing criminals and nearly getting killed every other day? No, never crossed my mind."

She laughed, nudging my shoulder. "You're such a workaholic, Hana. You'd make a terrible florist."

I couldn't help but smile at the absurdity of the comment. "And you'd make an even worse one. You'd probably forget which flowers mean what."

"Hey! I happen to be a flower expert, thank you very much," she said, puffing out her chest dramatically.

"Name five flowers and their meanings."

Her confidence faltered, her lips pressing together as she thought. "Uh… roses mean love. Sunflowers mean… hope? And, uh…"

"Exactly," I teased, smirking as she groaned in defeat.

Our destination was a nondescript warehouse tucked away in the industrial district. Scar's intel suggested it was being used as a hub for smuggling an illegal chemical compound known as "Poppy Dust." The name sounded harmless, but we knew better—it was a dangerous hallucinogen capable of messing with a person's perception of reality.

Chou stopped in front of the large metal doors, giving me a playful grin. "Ready to kick some butt?"

"Do you always have to make this sound like a video game?" I muttered, drawing my weapon.

"Why not? It keeps things exciting!"

I rolled my eyes but couldn't suppress the small smile tugging at my lips. Chou's energy was contagious, even in situations like this.

Inside, the warehouse was dimly lit, the air thick with the acrid scent of chemicals. Stacks of wooden crates lined the walls, each one stamped with the same ominous poppy emblem.

Chou moved ahead, her steps light and deliberate. I followed close behind, my senses on high alert. The silence was unnerving, broken only by the faint hum of machinery in the distance.

Suddenly, a shadow darted across the corner of my vision.

"Chou," I whispered, tightening my grip on my weapon.

"I saw it," she murmured, her tone serious now.

Before we could react, a figure emerged from the shadows—a man in a gas mask, his stance rigid and threatening.

"Well, look who wandered into the lion's den," he said, his voice muffled but dripping with malice.

Chou stepped forward, her usual bravado on full display. "Sorry, were we not invited? We'll leave after we confiscate your entire stash."

The man chuckled darkly, his hand reaching for something behind his back. "You'll regret coming here."

The next few minutes were chaos. More figures appeared, each one wearing the same menacing gas mask. They moved like shadows, their attacks precise and unrelenting.

Chou and I fought side by side, our movements synchronized after so many missions together. She handled herself with her usual grace, her kicks and strikes landing with brutal efficiency.

"Watch your left!" she called out, and I ducked just in time to avoid a swing aimed at my head.

"Thanks!" I shouted back, landing a solid hit on one of our attackers.

Despite our efforts, the numbers were overwhelming. They kept coming, their coordination suggesting they were more than just a random gang.

"Chou, we need to fall back!" I yelled, my heart racing as the situation spiraled out of control.

She hesitated, her eyes darting to the crates filled with Poppy Dust. "We can't just leave this here!"

I cursed under my breath, knowing she was right. "Fine! But we need to move fast!"

We worked quickly, setting up small charges around the crates while fending off our attackers. The air was thick with tension, every second feeling like an eternity.

"Hana, we've got company!" Chou shouted as another wave of enemies poured into the warehouse.

My hands moved on autopilot, securing the last charge before joining her in the fight. We were outnumbered, but we fought like our lives depended on it—because they did.

Finally, the charges were set.

"Time to go!" I yelled, grabbing Chou's arm as we bolted for the exit.

The explosion tore through the warehouse as we hit the ground outside, the force of the blast sending a plume of fire and smoke into the sky.

Chou coughed, brushing soot from her jacket as she turned to me with a grin. "Well, that was fun."

"Fun isn't the word I'd use," I muttered, my chest still heaving from the adrenaline.

She laughed, her usual carefree demeanor returning. "You need to lighten up, Hana. Life's too short to be so serious all the time."

I shook my head, unable to suppress a small smile. "You're impossible."

As we walked away from the burning warehouse, I couldn't help but feel a strange sense of unease. The people we'd fought—they weren't amateurs.

"Do you think Kaede was behind this?" I asked, glancing at Chou.

Her expression turned serious, her gaze fixed on the horizon. "If she is, then we're in for a hell of a fight."

Her words hung in the air, a reminder that our battle was far from over. For now, though, I let myself enjoy the quiet moment, the tension in my chest easing as Chou's presence grounded me once again.