Episode 17: Garden of Anemones

The aftermath of the mission lingered longer than it should have. Chou and I didn't talk much on our way back to HQ, though her usual upbeat hum filled the silence. The rhythm of the train car swayed me into a daze as I stared out the window, watching the city blur into a collage of lights and shadows.

"You're awfully quiet," Chou finally said, breaking the silence. Her voice was casual, but I could feel her eyes on me.

I shrugged. "Just… thinking."

"Thinking about how we totally nailed that mission?" she teased. "Because we did, Hana. We crushed it!"

I couldn't help the small laugh that escaped me. "Sure. Crushed it. Except for the part where Dahlia got away. Again."

Chou leaned back in her seat, folding her arms behind her head. "Eh, minor detail. The important thing is, we stopped the shipment. That's a win in my book."

Her ability to see the bright side of things never failed to amaze me. It was frustrating, but also… comforting.

Back at HQ, the debriefing was tense. Aoi Takamine, our commanding officer, wasn't pleased.

"You let her escape," Aoi said, her voice sharp as her piercing gaze shifted between us.

"We completed the primary objective," I replied, trying to keep my tone steady.

"That's not good enough, Hana," she snapped. "Dahlia is a dangerous figure. Every time she slips through our fingers, she grows bolder. Do you understand what's at stake here?"

I nodded, swallowing the frustration bubbling up in my chest. Aoi wasn't wrong, but her words still stung.

Chou, on the other hand, didn't seem fazed. "We'll get her next time," she said with a confident grin. "Don't worry, boss."

Aoi sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Next time, you two had better be prepared. No mistakes."

As we left the room, Chou leaned close to me, whispering, "She's so scary when she's mad."

I shot her a look. "You're not helping."

Later that night, I found myself in the training room, trying to work off the lingering tension. The sound of my fists hitting the punching bag echoed through the empty space, a steady rhythm that matched the pounding in my chest.

"You're going to wear yourself out," Chou's voice cut through the quiet.

I turned to see her leaning against the doorway, her arms crossed and a small smile playing on her lips.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, wiping the sweat from my forehead.

"Couldn't sleep," she said with a shrug. "Figured you'd be here."

She wasn't wrong.

Chou walked over, her steps light and purposeful. She reached out, gently placing a hand on my shoulder. "Hey. You okay?"

I hesitated before nodding. "Yeah. Just… frustrated, I guess. Aoi's right. We should have caught Dahlia."

Chou frowned, her hand sliding down to her side. "You can't keep beating yourself up over every little thing, Hana. We're doing our best. That's all anyone can ask for."

I looked at her, really looked at her, and for a moment, the weight on my shoulders felt a little lighter.

"Thanks," I said softly.

She grinned. "That's what I'm here for."

The next day, we were sent on a lower-stakes mission—a simple surveillance job. It was meant to give us time to recover, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right.

We were stationed at a small café near the park, pretending to be just another pair of high schoolers enjoying their weekend. Chou insisted on ordering a ridiculous amount of sweets, much to my dismay.

"Hana, you have to try this," she said, holding out a forkful of strawberry shortcake.

"I'm fine," I muttered, sipping my coffee.

"Come on, live a little!" she urged, practically shoving the fork in my face.

With a sigh, I gave in, taking a small bite. It was… surprisingly good.

"See? Told you!" Chou said, her smile bright enough to rival the sun.

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't help the small laugh that escaped me. "You're impossible."

"And you love it," she shot back, winking.

I froze for a moment, caught off guard by her words. Did I?

Before I could dwell on it, our earpieces crackled to life. "Target sighted," Aoi's voice came through. "Stay alert."

Chou and I exchanged a look, the playful atmosphere evaporating in an instant.

The target was a mid-level informant connected to Dahlia's network. He was sitting a few tables away, casually reading a newspaper. He didn't look like much—just an ordinary guy in a suit—but we knew better than to underestimate him.

"Ready?" Chou whispered, her voice low.

I nodded, my hand instinctively moving toward the concealed weapon at my side.

We waited for the signal, the tension between us thick enough to cut with a knife.

When the moment came, it happened fast. The informant stood, his movements smooth and deliberate. Chou and I followed, keeping a safe distance as he exited the café and made his way into the park.

The trees provided plenty of cover, but also plenty of hiding spots for anyone who might be watching. My heart raced as we moved deeper into the park, the sound of our footsteps muffled by the soft earth beneath us.

"He's heading toward the fountain," Chou murmured.

I nodded, keeping my eyes on the target.

But just as we closed in, everything went sideways.

A group of armed men appeared seemingly out of nowhere, surrounding the informant. They were heavily armed, their weapons gleaming in the dim light.

Chou and I ducked behind a nearby bench, our breaths shallow as we tried to assess the situation.

"What do we do?" Chou whispered, her usual confidence replaced by a hint of uncertainty.

"We wait," I said, my voice barely audible. "We need to know what they're planning."

But waiting wasn't an option. One of the men spotted us, his eyes narrowing as he raised his weapon.

"Go!" I shouted, pulling Chou to her feet as bullets tore through the air around us.

We ran, the sound of gunfire echoing in our ears. My heart pounded as I searched for cover, my mind racing with a thousand thoughts.

"This is bad," Chou muttered, her voice tight with fear.

"We'll be fine," I said, though I wasn't sure if I believed it.

The fight that followed was chaotic and brutal. Chou and I worked together seamlessly, our movements synchronized in a way that could only come from months of training.

When it was over, the park was silent once more. The armed men were either unconscious or fleeing, and the informant was nowhere to be found.

Chou slumped against a tree, her chest heaving as she caught her breath.

"Well," she said, her voice tinged with exhaustion. "That was fun."

I couldn't help but laugh, the sound surprising even me. "You're unbelievable."

She grinned, her eyes shining with a mix of relief and exhilaration. "And you love it."

This time, I didn't argue.