Disclaimer: I do not own Oregairu or any brands mentioned.
Previously on Match Point: Haruno tracks down the detective investigating Hiratsuka to see everything he knows. She ends up at the Kyle Smith Residence, where she impersonates Akane Smith. Right as Touma leaves she reveals her true identity and threatens to hurt his family if he does not comply with her demands to forget about Shizuka Hiratsuka. The detective begrudgingly accepts and she goes off. With her promise to Yukinoshita and Hikigaya fulfilled, Haruno puts this all behind her.
Over on the other-side of Chiba - Yui, Hachiman and Yukino had dinner with their language teacher after finishing off the decorations for the upcoming festival. As they left, Yukino found herself alone with 8man where he confirmed her suspicions of him being the assassin who performed the hit on their uncle. They made a truce and parted ways. What will happen next? Find out!
Sunday - Yuta Hiratsuka Residence – 02:19
A window clinks as Hikigaya pulls it up, and silently climbs into the massive house. Once inside he kneels down and looks around. He sees large bookshelves hugging the walls and a desk in the middle of the large room. After feeling around for a bit he eventually finds a light switch. Hachiman gently flicks it, and a small chandelier on the roof lights up and illuminates the home-office. His eyes quickly adapt, and he walks over to a desk and sits down in the chair.
Currently he is wearing jeans and a black polo-shirt. He is also currently breaking into his teacher's father's home.
The bookshelves surrounding him are made of smooth oak, and there is an expensive carpet covering the floor. On the table are some files, all neatly packed together. None of them seem of any interest so Hikigaya ignores them and opens one of the drawers. Inside are several pencils and a fudepen. He opens the next drawer, which houses even more documents. The assassin sighs and stands up.
'Hiratsuka's not going to give me what I need to know about her father anytime soon, and for better or worse this mission is nearing its end.'
He walks over to the door leading out the office and begins picking the lock.
'I've been taking too much time and now it's catching up to me. Yukinoshita was one thorough background check away from figuring out who I am and if I didn't do something about her she'd have comprised the mission. Even now it's up in the air for how long she'll keep my secret, but we both know Hiratsuka finding out wouldn't be good. So maybe she'll be quiet about it.'
As he finishes, he pulls down the handle and exits the study, switching the light off behind him.
'The judge lives alone - not including the security guarding the property - so I'll have enough time to go through most of the rooms. I don't know if I'll find anything though, but it's worth a shot.'
Outside the study, is a hallway connected to several doors and a staircase leading downstairs. Knowing he can't start flicking switches in every room Hikigaya takes out a small flashlight and shines it over the area ahead of him. He walks to the stairs and begins descending to the next floor. The walls to his left have photos hung up. The assassin takes a moment to look at them.
One of the photos is of three people. A man, a woman and a young girl. The girl looks about fourteen years old and has a big smile on her face. The two adults are also smiling albeit it more reserved. He continues to walk down the stairs, looking at the different images. Another one is of the same woman holding a baby, standing in front of a monkey exhibit at a zoo.
As the photos go on, the woman begins to appear in less and less pictures and then none at all. The photograph at the bottom of the stairs is of Hiratsuka at her graduation. She's standing next to a boy, who's holding her hand. Just like in the rest of the photos she's smiling. Hachiman doesn't waste too much time examining them and begins going through the rest of the house.
Opening drawers and cupboards leave very little trace you were ever there. It's moving things around that makes people suspicious, so he makes sure not to touch anything. This limits what he can find, but he needs this to be clean.
As suspected, the house holds nothing that he could want, and after about thirty minutes of perusing he heads back up the stairs and checks the last few rooms. When he is done, the assassin returns to the study and climbs back out the window. After sneaking past security and getting off the property, he begins his trek back home. Upon his arrival, Ryuzaki gives him some very bad news.
1 Year Earlier
Hikigaya pulls out his pistol and turns off the safety, before gently placing his finger over the trigger. After raising his left hand, he makes a fist and bangs on the door in front of him.
KNOCK
KNOCK
He looks to his left, then to his right, preparing for the task at hand. Right now Hachiman is standing in the hallway of a hotel in Moscow, Russia. To the average citizen or tourist, this hotel is nothing more than a warm bed to sleep in but for the Federal Security Service this building acts a safehouse checkpoint when transferring persons of interest - namely political prisoners.
If a civilian were to enter looking for a room they'd simply be told by the front desk that the hotel was overbooked, however the hundreds of empty floors are indicative of the buildings true nature. In room 304, two agents sit at a table playing cards as the time passes. Their encrypted phones are placed next to them, and they are waiting to be contacted. The room they're in is a bare, with just the table and chairs.
Unfortunately, their game of Go Fish is brought to an abrupt end when they hear the knocking. Wasting no time, the two of them quickly stand up and take out their hand guns. One agent walks up next to the door and raises his firearm whilst the other goes up to the peephole and looks through.
PSEW
PSEW
Two silenced shots echo slightly through the baron hallway as the bullets are fired through the door and into the agent's legs. He falls down clutching his wound as the door gets kicked open. The other man's eyes widen as he sees a cannister fly in and bounce of the floor.
PING
It explodes and the man's view is filled with a bright white light, accompanied by a deafening ringing sound. Completely disorientated by the flashbang, he begins shooting frantically hoping to get lucky. As his gun empties Hikigaya enters the room and kicks the weapon out of his hand. He then punches the man in the face knocking him to the ground.
The wounded agent attempts to reach for his gun, but Hachiman pushes it away from him before taking a pair of zipties out of his coat pocket out and binding the operative's hands behind his back. The other agent rolls around on the floor as his vision and hearing slowly return. Wasting no time, the assassin binds his hands and legs as well, then pats him down for weapons.
Once satisfied, Hikigaya pulls both men up and sits them down on their chairs by the table.
"Вы допустили ошибку, за которую вы умираете." The wounded agent says angrily as blood pools by his feet.
Hachiman aims his gun at the man.
"I don't doubt it."
His response is in English.
"If you plan to kill us, do it. We have no words for you spy." The other agent says with a thick Russian accent and a scowl.
The man looks young and has a buzz-cut and a bit of stubble on his face.
"What's your name?" Hikigaya asks, now pointing the gun at the younger agent.
"Yuri." He responds, spitting at his captor's feet.
"Well Yuri, you and I are about to take a trip together."
"And why would we do that?"
Hachiman gets close to the man and looks directly into his eyes, before speaking fluently in Russian.
"Если вы не будете сотрудничать, Мария, Ольга и Люси, которые живут на улице Валпре на 79, завтра не проснутся. Вы понимаете?"
Yuri's eyes widen as he hears the assassin list the address of his wife and two children, before threatening to kill them if he doesn't cooperate.
Present Day – Rorona's Apartment – 07:46
Rorona looks at himself in his bathroom mirror, as he pulls a razor blade down his face, giving himself a clean shave. The bathroom is still steamy from the shower he took and has the smell of hot water and AXE body spray being very prominent. Once he is done he rinses his jaw and begins getting dressed. While he isn't ripped, his body is in good shape and he keeps relatively healthy. After getting his clothes on, Rorona exists the bathroom and walks into his small living room.
Sitting happily on the couch is an eight-year old kid wearing a red shirt with crocs. He is dangling his feet off the edge and watching TV. The lights on the roof are broken, so there are several lamps placed on tables around the apartment. There are also a few different clothing items lying around on the floor.
"Hey little man, you eat your breakfast?"
The kid looks at Rorona and nods with a smile. On the glass coffee table in front of the couch is a paper plate with some crumbs and ketchup on top.
"Great, is your bag packed?"
Another nod.
"Then we gotta get outta here or mom's going to freak."
He waddles up to the kid and picks him up, then puts him on his shoulders. Rorona kneels down by the television and turns it off at the switch, then grabs a small Ben 10 backpack off the ground. As he leaves the apartment and locks the door, an overweight man in a vest at the end of the hall calls out to him.
"Aye, Rorona! Imma need that rent soon man. You can't keep me waiting."
"Yeah I'll pay you tomorrow!" He responds as he turns into the staircase.
"You say that everyday Rorona…"
The landlord shakes his head before knocking on someone's door.
Soon Rorona and the small child are out the apartment building and getting into a car. The car is a Maruti 800 and is far from easy on the yes, but it works well enough. A few moments later they start driving down the road. Eventually the child says something.
"Dad… How come I don't see you everyday."
Rorona looks at his kid, then back ahead.
"We already spoke about this. Every second Friday and Saturday we have to ourselves, then you're back to your mom for the rest of the week."
The child looks out the window.
"Yeah… I know that, but I wanna know why. Someone at school told me they see their mom and dad every day. It doesn't seem fair."
"Just trust your mother, Deishuu."
This is not the first time they've had this conversation and Rorona feels pretty awkward even speaking about it.
"Okay…"
They drive in silence for the rest of the way before pulling up in a nicer neighbourhood, across from an apartment block. A Caucasian woman wearing a green blouse and jeans walks out to the car and opens the passenger door. The lady has short black hair and very little makeup on.
"Hi sweetie." She says as she hugs Deishuu. "Hurry up inside, I'll be there in a moment."
The child does as she says and gets out the vehicle, before heading into the building while she stays leaning into the car.
"You're a bit early this week, well done."
"I didn't want you biting me head off… Again."
The two of them make little eye contact throughout the exchange.
"Have you got a job yet?"
The question annoys Rorona.
"Does it matter?"
"Yes. You need to support your son and yourself."
There is an awkward silence.
"Yeah I got some work. I'll see about sending you some cash."
"I can take care of my bills, Rorona. What I want to know is whether or not you can."
His phone starts to ring.
"Who's that?"
"Doesn't matter."
"You need to stop being so sec-"
"Listen, I've gotta take this call: It's work. We can speak another time..."
She reluctantly pulls out and walks away from the car, looking back once before entering the building. Rorona clicks the green answer symbol and raises his phone to his ear.
"Hello?"
"We need to meet."
It's Hikigaya.
"Now's not really a good time."
"One hour. Hatake bar. You better be there."
The call ends and Rorona throws his phone to the passenger seat.
"Asshole."
1 Year Earlier
Hikigaya walks behind the FSS agent, pressing the barrel of his gun against the man's back. He is wearing jeans and big coat along with thick boots while the agent is dressed in a dark-grey suit. Yuri's hands have been unbound and they are now walking down the hall towards the elevator.
'My briefing stated that the Russian operatives are supposed to meet with another agent. From there they would be given the location of the next checkpoint at which they would be given custody of a prisoner. The prisoner is being taken to the same place as my target.'
The assassin continues to run through the orders in his head as he presses the button next to the elevator doors. As they open the two of them walk in and wait for it to descend to the ground floor.
"My partner will be bleed out if he doesn't get medical attention." Yuri says, gritting his teeth.
"Your partner looked pretty old. I'd hazard a guess he's in his late sixties, right?"
"So what?"
"That means he's probably ex-KGB. A zip-tie and a few bullets in his leg won't stop him."
Yuri chuckles as they feel the elevator begin to drop.
"Then you must be an idiot. If you know how dangerous he is, you should have killed him."
"When he does get out of his restraints, he'll head to a hospital. Once his wounds have been treated, I have no doubt he'll come after us but by then my job will be done."
"And what is your job? You are a spy, no?"
"I'm an assassin."
The elevator dings and doors open, revealing the hotel lobby. There are several people walking around and looking at the art on the walls. Some people are sitting by the bar whilst others are relaxing on the sofas. The floor is white and reflective, while the walls are wooden and shiny.
"If you're an assassin then who is your target?"
Hikigaya shakes his head as the two of them begin walk towards the exit.
"Why would I tell you?"
Yuri sighs as they reach the large revolving glass doors. Once out the hotel a wave of cold air hits them while they walk across a snowy Moscow street, filled with people wearing similarly large coats and hats.
"You are making a big mistake; my partner will alert our superiors when he escapes. You think you can deal with a hundred agents looking for you?"
"Honestly? It sounds like a fun challenge, but that won't happen. This is a clandestine operation, and the only way for you to get into contact with other FSS agents is to use your encrypted phones, which I now have both of in my pocket."
The Russian looks down in defeat as they continue along the sidewalk, feeling the snow drop from he sky and onto their clothes.
"I guess you've thought of everything."
"All the more reason for you to just do what I say and let this get over and done with."
Present Day - Hatake Bar – 09:21
Rorona sits in his car staring at the bar across the street. The area isn't too busy, with just a few pedestrians walking around, along with the odd bus or taxi. He leans back and looks at the time on his phone, before taking a deep breath and closing his eyes. Not a moment later the side door opens and Hikigaya climbs into the passenger seat. The older of the two is surprised for a second, before seeing who it is.
"When you called me it sounded like an emergency, what's up?"
Hikigaya is wearing the same outfit as earlier and looks straight ahead at the bar. The building is wide with large black tinted glass windows, and a heavy looking door.
"There are a few things you need to know about me, Rorona."
His tone is low and there are bags under the assassin's eyes.
"Oh, really like what?"
"First of all, my name is Hachiman, so you can start addressing by that. Secondly, I have a younger sister who is twelve-years-old."
A confused expression grows on Rorona's face.
"Why are you telling me this?"
"My sister's name is Komachi and she is the only person I care about. A few hours ago, someone told me she's been captured."
"Shit."
"Yeah, shit."
"I still don't understand why you're telling me this."
"I'm telling you this, Rorona, because the people who kidnapped her are very, very powerful. These are the same people who hired me to find information on Shizuka Hiratsuka's father and then eliminate her."
"Why are you suddenly being so trusting with all this information?"
"Because I need you to understand the full gravity of the situation. They told my handler they took her to make sure I don't," He makes quotation marks with his fingers. "Try something stupid: Like betray my employer. That means somehow they found out I traded information with those women last week."
Rorona looks ahead.
"So, what are you going to do?"
"I'm going to find out where they are holding her and then I'm going to get her back. The problem is I'm not going to be able to do it alone. They'll suspect I'm coming and heavily guard the place she's in. My capabilities only stretch so far."
The older of the two chuckles slightly.
"You need my help…"
"Correct."
"And what's in it for me?"
"You said you wanted pay: If everything works out, I'll make sure you get a handsome reward."
Rorona nods indicating he accepts the deal.
"Do you know where she is?"
"Not yet, but when I took this mission I did a bunch of research on my employer. After having a bad experience a few months ago, I learned it's best to know exactly who's paying you. I have a lot of criminal contacts who gave me a run down on the the guy who hired me. Apparently he has no legal name but goes by the alias Komanda. He resides in Tokyo and is pretty much untouchable. Luckily he has an assistant."
Hikigaya points over to the bar across the street.
"The assistant comes here every day, and I'm certain he'll know where my sister is being held."
"How do you want to go about this then?"
"I have a few ideas."
Hachiman opens the car door and exits the vehicle. Rorona gets out as well, curious to see what he means.
Authors Notes: Looks like 8man is on top of things. Can he and Rorona get Komachi back? Chapter 26 will be up next week!