Disclaimer: I do not own anything.
AN: Slightly altered. This chapter is more on Haruki's side.
Chapter 1:
After the events that happened in black class, Haruki had figured out that maybe her failed assassination attempt was for the best. She was also glad that she didn't die. There was so much regret that the thought to kill herself even crossed her mind. Even if it was supposed to be for her family, it still counted as selfishness, right? She didn't consider her family's feelings, her mom, Fuyuka, Aki and the others.
She gave up being an assassin as soon as she was expelled from Myojo Academy. She couldn't even bear the thoughts of killing other people anymore, innocent or not. She wanted to go back to her old ways when she worked legal and morally acceptable jobs. Although it was hard, she managed to find jobs that will suffice her family's needs especially her mother's hospital bills.
Haruki worked almost all types of jobs. Sometimes, she'll be working a full-time job, but it usually wasn't enough. She also tried taking multiple jobs at once, but it only exhausted her. Her last was being a full-time maid in a cafe. She only decided to quit because of the long hours she had to work and the distance of the cafe from her house. If she wasted enough time looking for a job, her family will starve. So, she had immediately applied as a construction worker as soon as she saw the advertisement. Sure, the job was not as easy as she thought it to be. But Haruki's a hard worker and with her unusual strength, she managed to carry the job.
Besides, the salary's not that bad. It was enough for her family, but barely for the hospital bill.
'At least, I will still have some for mom's hospital bill. And it's better than killing, right?' She thought to herself, adjusting the beams on her shoulder.
Working throughout the day and five times a week, wasn't a problem either. The only thing that Haruki minded is being unable to continue her studies.
'But if it's for family, I guess it's okay to drop it temporarily.' She sighed, reminiscing about the short time when she was still a student at Myojo.
It has been a while since then. She didn't even hear from her classmates. Maybe because she's just too busy working that she didn't have the time to look for them. It wasn't like they were all close to each other. She was there only for a short time, being the third assassin who failed her attempt. Although if Haruki could choose with whom she had become closest with, she'll say Inukai Isuke. She was her roommate, after all, and maybe because they both value their family so much.
Reaching her destination, Haruki lifted the beams slightly off her shoulder and settled it on the top of the pile. She rolled her right shoulder to ease the impending ache. She was lifting beams ever since she came at work earlier.
"You can take a break now, Sagae!" She heard her superior's shout from above and silently thanked who's in heaven for a very good timing.
"Yeah, thanks!" She shouted back, grinning as she slowly walked away, all the while still rolling her shoulder.
Haruki made a beeline for her backpack. Since it was an early lunch break, an hour before her usual time, and she left the house before Fuyuka could make her a bento, she decided to eat at the sushi place down the streets. She saw it once back when she had a stroll, looking for jobs. She didn't have the time to go there until now.
'Finally! I'll get to taste what everybody's talking about.' She continued to grin, putting her hands behind her head.
It was already past ten in the morning when Isuke woke up. Usually, her mama will be gone before this time, so she was surprised when she saw him at the table.
"Ara, Good morning, Mama~" Isuke took a seat opposite of her mama.
"Good morning, Isuke. Did you sleep well?" He offered Isuke some tea.
"Isuke sure did." She stared at her mama.
"That's good then."
Minutes passed with them just eating breakfast and Isuke was becoming irritated by the lack of conversation. It's not like she could blame her mama though, he was reading a newspaper, after all.
"Mama, Isuke's been wondering for a while now, aren't you supposed to be tailing papa?" She decided to break the silence.
Unbeknownst to her classmates in black class, maybe with the exemption of the Hanabusa heiress, Isuke's family is quite well known in the business area because of her papa. He's already on his way to success when he met Eisuke and still continuing to be more till now.
And because their business was rapidly growing, many rivals became envious that they try to threat Isuke's papa. When it didn't work, they would send people to try and ambush him. They were always unsuccessful because Eisuke always appeared magically beside him. As soon as he learned about his husband's situation, he began following him secretly to protect him from those people. Eisuke's presence lessened the dangers. Now, only a few were trying to get to Isuke's papa, mostly people who don't know them.
"I don't think there are still business rivals who will dare approach him, for now." The look on his face told Isuke not to ask about what he meant by that.
"Well, Isuke still doesn't understand~" Her Mama stared at her.
"Why can't papa just hire a bodyguard to protect him 24/7? We both know you can't always be there."
Even though she might not look like it, Isuke loves her family so much and treasures both her parents deeply.
'Probably not as much as a certain idiot's love for her family though'
Despite of all of the successes of Isuke's papa, he's still oblivious to the fact that his husband and daughter are assassins. He didn't have any idea about the true meaning of black class and how Isuke was expelled with a broken arm and wrist.
Her mama's response to her question was a simple 'hm'.
Still strolling down the sidewalk, Haruki couldn't help but notice a shiny red Porsche Carrera GT. It was parked near an alleyway that no one ever goes to. It was an establishment away from her destination.
Suspiciously enough, there were three motorcycles parked around the luxurious car. Despite being called an idiot by a certain someone multiple times, Haruki really isn't one. She immediately thought that the driver of the car's in danger.
'Really? Causing trouble at this time of the day? Who even does that, anyway?' She shook her head and figured that maybe, she should check if her suspicion is right.
She sped up her walk, then slowly broke into a sprint, rounding the corner and straight to the alleyway. What she saw there was, from what she could see, a tall man with black hair. He was surrounded by five thugs, whom she was sure were the riders of the motorcycles. His back was facing her so she couldn't see his expression.
But judging by the looks of the two thugs whose faces she could see and the way they were clutching their weapons, the unknown man seemed like he was mocking them?!
Haruki sighed at the sight in front of her. Ridiculously enough, the man's actions reminded her of a certain someone.
She cleared her throat, deciding that now is the time to interfere. "Uhh, is there any problem here?" Haruki continued to grin, scratching the back of her head.
The men whose backs were facing her immediately turned around when she spoke. After what seemed like a minute, the thug in front began to advance towards Haruki but stopped when he was a meter away. He had a dangerous smile on his face.
Haruki narrowed her eyes.
"No problem here. We're just being friendly. So, why don't ya just turn around and walk away? I'm pretty sure ya wouldn't want to get involved here." The filthy thug smiled with his yellow teeth, staring at the redhead.
Haruki took that moment to look at the dark haired guy. He was looking right back at her with surprise glinting in his eyes. Then, in a split second, he nodded at her. She shifted her gaze back at the first thug.
"Nah, I think I'm pretty much involved now. Try me." She adopted a fighting stance, waiting for him to charge at her.
"Why you arrogant little bi-!" He didn't get to finish what he was going to say because Haruki already lunged at him.
'Well, so much for waiting. He talks a lot.' She grinned when her fist hit his gut and he fell on the ground, unconscious.
"I still got it, huh? And I haven't been in a fight in a long while." Haruki chuckled while cracking her knuckles.
The remaining thugs stared at her, jaws sweeping the floor. 'How could a seemingly innocent grinning girl do that?' Their supposed leader dropped on the ground in one punch.
"So, wanna go on?" Haruki's yellow eyes glared at them.
They all simultaneously sweat dropped.
"P-pick Kashi up! We're leaving!" One of them shouted as they scrambled to exit the alleyway, pulling along their fallen leader.
"Hah. And I was thinking they'd be a good company before I eat lunch." Putting her hands behind her head once again, Haruki sighed.
A cough was heard from behind her.
'Oh shoot.' She forgot the man whom the thugs were ganging up on.
She immediately turned around.
Haruki's ever present friendly grin was replaced by a confused one.
Her hands were suddenly snatched by the unknown man. On his face was an expression of pure admiration. He looked like his eyes were twinkling.
'Wasn't he the same guy who was mocking those thugs a little while ago?' She thought.
"Uhm, dude?" Haruki let out a hesitant little laugh.
"May I know the name of my savior?"
"Err, Sagae Haruki. And, uhh, would you mind, dude?" She made a gesture towards their hands.
"Ah. Sorry, Sagae-san. I'm Yasashi Daiki, by the way." The man laughed nervously and let Haruki's hands go.
"Thank you for saving me." He bowed.
"Nah. It's no problem. Though you have to be careful next time, yeah? There are many people like that around here." Her usual grin was back.
She took a glance at her watch.
"Ahh. Sorry, but I have to go." Daiki looked up at Haruki's smiling face.
When she was about to walk away, a hand on her wrist stopped her. 'Oh man. I'm hungry.' She sighed inwardly. She turned to the man again and shot him a questioning glance.
"Didn't you say earlier that you're about to eat? So, would you mind if I treat you to lunch? Just think of it as my way of expressing my thanks."
Haruki's face lit up. Free food meant she could save her money.
"Not at all, dude. I know just the right place."
And she led the way.
Haruki and Daiki ended up at the sushi place that the former wanted to try.
After some light talks while eating, it turned out that Daiki is a businessman. Being approached by the bad guys was not unusual. He didn't really have any problem with it until now. Someone always comes in before they can get to him.
"So, Sagae-san, by the clothes you're wearing, I assume that you work in a construction site. How did a young lady like you end up working there?" Daiki put his elbows on the table. He had finished eating a while ago, now just watching Haruki to finish hers.
Haruki swallowed the last of her food.
"It's the right job fit for me. I didn't finish my studies so I don't have any choice. And my family needs me so... yeah." She trailed off.
"But what about your parents? Where are they?"
"Well, my father's gone and my mom is currently hospitalized." She lightly scratched at the side of her cheek.
"Oh." Daiki was saddened by this. He could tell that Haruki is a good daughter. What had made her better is that her love for her family is evident when she talked about them.
The redhead didn't miss his reaction.
"Don't worry about it, dude. We're doing well now." She flashed him a reassuring grin.
When Haruki noticed that her lunch break was nearing its end, she bade farewell to Daiki and thanked him sincerely.
However, a hand on her wrist stopped her yet again.
"Wait, Sagae-san." Daiki gestured for her to sit down for just a moment.
"Just Haruki is fine, sir." She complied, feeling that the man went into serious-business-mode.
"Well then, Haruki, I must say that I admire you."
Haruki's eyebrows went up. "Uhh... thanks?"
She was ignored.
"And because of that, I want to offer you a job that I think will suit you better. So, please, take this card and go to the address written there if you're interested and I will tell you the details." The businessman handed the card over to her.
Without waiting for her to reply, Daiki stood up. "I'll be going now. Oh, and you can just call me Daiki. And, please, consider my offer, Haruki."
Haruki could only stare at him as he exited the establishment.
'What a strange man.' She thought.
Then her gaze shifted at the card she was holding.
AN: So sorry if there were any grammar mistakes. Hah! So sorry again if they were kind of OOC.
So... uhh... what are your thoughts about this?
*chuckles nervously*