chapter 19: Welcome to team disaster (regret optional)
The next morning, Hotaru woke up to something worse than a nightmare.
Her tiny living room had been converted into a disaster zone. Tora's laptop, wires, and at least three illegal-looking gadgets were sprawled across the floor. Ryuuji had turned her balcony into his personal sunbathing spot, shirt wide open like this was a beach vacation. Jin was already deep-frying something unholy in her kitchen, even though it was barely 7 AM.
And Kuro? Kuro had claimed her pillow, curled up like a king, glaring at her when she tried to reclaim it.
"This is hell," Hotaru muttered, rubbing her temples. "I'm living in hell."
Mira, the only sane one, was already up, sweeping the floor with a defeated smile. "Good morning! I made tea—though I had to fight Jin for the kettle."
Hotaru sat down, accepting the tea like it was medicine for her soul.
"So," Mira started carefully. "Since we're officially 'Team Disaster' now, we should probably figure out what to do next?"
Tora's head popped up from behind his laptop. "Already done! I hacked into Kurogane's lower-level network while you were asleep. They have something big planned in two weeks—a VIP shipment arriving at Port Nariko. Guarded like crazy."
Hotaru perked up. "What's in the shipment?"
"No clue," Tora said proudly. "That part's encrypted tighter than a government scandal. Which is exactly why we should steal it."
"Why is 'stealing from a deadly organization' your first suggestion?!" Hotaru yelled.
"Because it's fun," Ryuuji offered from the balcony, sunglasses reflecting the morning sun. "And it'll make them mad. We love that."
Hotaru's head slammed into the table. "I'm going to die before this mission even starts."
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The Game Plan (Which Will Definitely Go Wrong)
Mira pulled out her notebook, ever the responsible one. "Okay, so we need to find out what's in the shipment first. Maybe some undercover work?"
Ryuuji twirled a toothpick between his fingers. "Leave that to me, darling. I'm a natural at blending in."
"You flirt with every breathing thing. That's not blending in," Hotaru grumbled.
"Hey, jealousy's not a good look on you."
Before Hotaru could throw her cup at him, Jin slammed down a giant wok. "Enough flirting. Eat breakfast. Plan after food."
They all froze, knowing better than to argue with the old ramen warlord.
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Breakfast Chaos 2.0
The 'breakfast' was a horrifying fusion of ramen, deep-fried tempura, and something that may have once been a pancake but now looked like a crime scene.
Mira whispered, "Do we have to eat this?"
"Eat or fight me," Jin growled, eyes narrowing.
They ate in silence.
---
Meanwhile, Kuro…
Kuro sat on the windowsill, tail flicking as he stared down at the alley below. His sharp eyes caught a shadow slipping through the fog. A Kurogane scout, lurking too close for comfort.
The cat hopped off the sill, marched up to Hotaru, and swatted her shin with his paw.
"What?" Hotaru blinked.
Kuro meowed—long and serious, like a dramatic warning in a samurai movie.
"What did he say?" Mira asked.
Jin stroked his beard. "He said we've got company."
Tora's fingers danced across his keyboard, pulling up the alley cam feed. "Yup. Kurogane's watching the place. Guess our war speech made some waves."
Hotaru groaned. "Of course. Can't even eat cursed breakfast in peace."
---
Sudden Genius Plan (By Accident)
Ryuuji leaned back, grinning. "Perfect timing. Let's give them a little show."
Hotaru eyed him suspiciously. "What kind of show?"
"The kind where we act way scarier than we actually are."
Tora cackled. "Ooh, psychological warfare! I love that!"
Mira raised a hand nervously. "Just…nothing that breaks any laws, okay?"
They ignored her.
---
Operation 'Scare the Spies'
Ten minutes later, Hotaru stood on her balcony in full black cloak, face half-covered by a scarf, with a plastic katana painted to look real.
Tora set up fake sparks from his laptop, making it look like her hands were glowing. Ryuuji stood behind her with sunglasses and a toy gun, aiming at the shadows below. Jin stood at the door, flexing his arms like a yakuza boss, and Kuro perched dramatically on Hotaru's shoulder, glaring into the fog.
Mira whispered, "This is ridiculous."
Hotaru raised her hand dramatically. "Kurogane, listen well! I am Hotaru—the one who will burn your empire to the ground. Come for me if you dare!"
Tora added a thunder sound effect for flair.
The scout in the alley? Ran for his life.
"…That actually worked?" Hotaru blinked.
"Fear is power, baby," Ryuuji grinned.
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Later That Night
After the chaos died down (a little), Hotaru sat with Mira on the roof, looking up at the stars.
"Are you really okay with this?" Mira asked softly. "This fight…it's dangerous."
Hotaru took a deep breath. "I don't have a choice, Mira. If I don't fight back, they'll keep hurting people. My parents…they didn't have allies like these. But I do."
Mira smiled gently. "Yeah. You've got the weirdest allies ever."
"And the loudest," Hotaru muttered.
From inside, Tora yelled, "WHO ATE MY LAST RICE BALL?!"
Kuro meowed smugly.
Hotaru sighed. "This is my life now."
Mira laughed. "Yup. Welcome to Team Disaster."
---
End of Chapter 19
WARNING
This is the original version of the webnovel "Hotaru's assassin" by the author "Hanagaki Ryuka". Please don't copyright or upload it in your name
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1O1cON4UEjsjFPMZxqNSY425-fdHW19779uAKscbDsy8/edit?usp=drivesdk