It is such a bright day for today. Well, of course, how obvious that statement was. Hours, minutes, and seconds have passed by as the world progresses. There is nothing new in the city apart from how peaceful it was and how civilized it was. People would mostly say it's all the same thing, only different days.
The current day is already in the evening, evidence from the bright orange-yellowish light rays shrouding the whole city. The sky is clear as day with very few clouds forming, floating, and romancing about. The whole streets are still bustling with cars and people walking about. The streets are noticeably crowded with students returning home from their respective schools—a pair of pigeons flying in the sky as they delightfully sound their chirping.
The sunlight happily shone over a building in the city. That certain building is actually a known restaurant in the city. That restaurant is known as COCODES Restaurant (DE decreased in font size). No, they seriously named their restaurant like that. Yet, people would call it as Cocodes Restaurant for simplicity. It's an attractive one-floor building with a vast parking lot at the front and possibly on the side of the restaurant.
The building has been circled with bushes with a height just about the bottom of the walls. The building's rooftop is notably red, while the exterior walls and pillars are whitish in color. Large rectangular windows dominate most of the restaurant walls just above the bushes, showing customers and visitors who are eating by the windows. The restaurant title is placed on the roof as a large sign, and another title placed on the wall just right on the side of the ceilings.
The walls inside the building are yellow. One column of the table is split into two by a row of plants inside a wooden wall, and each backside of the chairs is divided with wooden walls and glass panes. From what it looks like, none of the tables are placed by the windows, for now.
And now, looking through one of the large windows, a particular person is sitting there. The girl is currently sitting there all alone as she looks out the window. Her left elbow is on the table, and her cheek is on her left fist, while her right arm rests like a rock on the table. That girl is, of course, Sakurako Oomuro. The blonde girl is having a trance as she looked out the window and watched people and cars come-and-go around the parking lot.
She had already returned from school and changed into her casual clothes. She's currently wearing a light blue t-shirt, knee-length shorts, black socks, and blue shoes. She has a small satchel hanging around her shoulders to her left side of the waist. She's also currently wearing a cotton dark orchid purple jacket. The jacket doesn't have a hood, save for the collar, and the jacket is thin and made of cotton.
Despite its already evening, the day is warm and a bit colder due to the breezy wind outside. Then again, she's inside the restaurant with an air conditioner, so it makes sense that she wanted to wear a jacket. But from how Sakurako looked right now, there was another reason why she wore a jacket. Something that might've to get herself in trouble with authorities.
Sakurako looks over underneath her jacket just behind her right waist. Tucked safely on the side of her shorts, it was the Walther pistol she stole from that shootout. Moreover, the pistol is loaded with the 12+1 filled magazine, which seems pretty odd from any gun user perspective. Unless she wants to empty that one first before changing mags. The satchel also has the magazines she needs, just under some knick-knacks and her phone.
Sakurako didn't even know why she brought them around. But she had to admit that she's pretty paranoid without something to protect herself, despite that she experienced the shootout days ago.
Sakurako then puts the jacket down and hides her concealed gun. She's pretty thankful she found a jacket that would be high enough to hide her gun tucked in her shorts. It doesn't make sense for her to bring a weapon around unless she's concerned after hearing the news about the rise of criminal activities in the city.
Sakurako is currently waiting for her sisters to come over. Nadeshiko texted her to wait and meet up at the restaurant. Her sister said that she and Hanako wanted to eat at the restaurant, and thankfully for Sakurako, they had booked a table for her to sit. She's not full neither she's feeling hungry. So, she didn't bother to ask for the menu, not even a drink. She patiently waits for her sisters to come over.
If Sakurako remembered her text right, Nadeshiko mentioned that Hanako would be bringing someone to the restaurant.
Sakurako decides to pull out her phone and look over it. Noticing the time is at half to five, but she didn't bother about it. Guess she arrived a bit early since she didn't stay long at the Student Council office. Sakurako spends her time waiting for her sisters to arrive by checking her social media and occasional news. But Sakurako pauses for a moment as her eyes look up before she decides to look over the news instead.
Scrolling over her phone, she found some news inside the city she's in: notably vandalism, anarchy, and the murder of a young man. The news upset her so much, but she's quietly resentful about the three bastards that survived and escaped that shootout. The faces of the three bastards were still fresh in her mind. She didn't find any news about it aside from the fruitless update on Bakimura Store. At least that store owner got arrested for keeping illegal drugs in the warehouse, and can't tell she should be happy about it or not.
She kept looking down on her phone as she waited for her sisters.
"Only three of you?"
"One of us has arrived here. A blonde girl."
Sakurako simply lifts her eyes forward from the phone. The last sentence belongs to Nadeshiko.
"Oh, you mean that girl over there?"
"Ah, yes. Arigato, Ojou-san."
"Doitashimashite."
Sakurako only leans her head against her cushioned seat as she deletes everything she opened on her phone. She then puts it down on the table to her left side. Sakurako takes a deep sigh with her eyes closed as she hears their footsteps coming closer. Once she opens her eyes, she saw her sisters on her right, along with one friend of Hanako's.
"Ah, Sakurako," Nadeshiko called. "I thought you're late."
Sakurako simply turns her head, noticing that her sisters are still in school uniforms. "Just wanted to arrive earlier."
"Hanako can see that," Hanako softly replied before turning her head to her friend. "Where do you want to sit?"
"Next to Saa-onee-chan!"
Sakurako recognized the friend Hanako brought. Her name is Misaki Takasaki or Takasaki Misaki in the Japanese naming system. An elementary student and Hanako's classmate. She has pretty light blonde hair tied into long thin pigtails. Noticing her cute hazel-brown eyes. She, like the old Sakurako, sees Hanako as a rival.
Misaki's stupidity is a matter of conjecture, but she's a Tsundere, and she matters her pride a lot.
"Misaka- erm, Misaki," Sakurako cursed herself in her thought, their name nearly similar. "Good to see you."
Everyone raised an eyebrow to her stutter but didn't mind about it. "K-Konnichiwa, Sakurako-nee-chan," Misaki greeted with a smile, albeit an awkward one.
"How was your school, Sakurako?" Nadeshiko asked as they sat down, and Sakurako shuffled to her left to give a room for Misaki.
"As usual, Nade-chan," Sakurako replied before putting her phone away in her jacket. "And I had a fun time to make a drawing during art class."
"Oh, really?" Nadeshiko asked with a raised brow. "What did you draw?"
"Flowers," Sakurako replied, but then tilted her head. "At least I tried."
"Hmpf," is Hanako's initial reaction.
"Did you buy something for yourself?" Nadeshiko asked again as the waiter come over and gave them the menus.
"No," Sakurako replied with a straight face. "I was waiting for you so we can order something together."
"Huh? Not even hungry?" Misaki asked as she looked at her.
"Nor even thirsty," Sakurako added before reading over the menu.
"What do you want to order?" Nadeshiko asked as she read the menu.
"Mmm…" Hanako then pointed down the food on the menu. "I want Mixberry juice and Ginger Beef."
"I want Tonkatsu and Avocado Juice," Misaki replied before putting down the menu with a proud smile.
"Sakurako?" Nadeshiko asked, noticing that Sakurako seems to be picky on the menu.
Sakurako then looks up to her. "Is it okay if I want to order a Lasagna?"
Nadeshiko just sighed in annoyance. "That's not going to happen, Sakurako."
"How about fruit salad?" Sakurako asked again, which caught her sisters off-guard.
"Erm… that's fine," Nadeshiko had known her to dislike salad. "But is there anything else you want to buy?"
Sakurako paused as she looked over to the menu before putting it down. "Chahan Fried Rice... and Mixberry like Hanako-chan said."
Nadeshiko stares at her for a moment before she finally puts down her menu. "That sounds good for me."
Before Nadeshiko could call, the waitress comes over. "What do you want to order?"
"We want to order a ginger beef, one Tonkatsu, one fruit salad, one Chahan Fried Rice, and one Carbonara Spaghetti," Nadeshiko told the waiter. "As for the drinks, we want two Mixberry juices, one Avocado juice, and melon juice."
The waitress wrote down the order and repeated it to them. "I'll repeat the order: one ginger beef, one Tonkatsu, one fruit salad, one Chahan Fried Rice, one Carbonara Spaghetti, two Mixberry juices, one Avocoda juice, and one melon juice."
"Yes, all correct," Nadeshiko nodded to her.
"Alright, I'll take the menus back," the waitress replied as she took the menus into her hand. "Please wait for your order to finish."
"Thank you, Ojou-san," Sakurako thanked with a genuine smile before the waitress left for the kitchen.
Sakurako then turns her heads to her sisters and Misaki. "Already returned from school?"
"We did," Nadeshiko nodded with her eyes closed. "But I never thought you'd got the time to get back home and changed clothes before coming here."
"As I said before, just wanted to arrive earlier," Sakurako replied as she kept a straight face.
"Huh, you're usually late because you always forgot to meet up," Hanako stated, which is a fact about Sakurako.
"I know," Sakurako replied, placing her arms on the table.
"Ooh," Misaki paused as she looked to Sakurako. "You want to make a good example for Hanako-chan?"
Sakurako looks at her for a moment before looking back to her sisters. "No, just wanted to spend some time alone while I was waiting for you."
Hanako raises her left eyebrow with curiosity. "Is there something bothering you, Onee-chan?"
"No, Hanako," Sakurako replied with a shook. "Just wanted peace of mind."
Nadeshiko then winces her eyes as she recalls a report from Himawari. "I called Himako, and she said that you fell asleep in class."
"That's true," Sakurako admitted as she rubbed her eyes. "I… couldn't sleep last night."
For these few days, Sakurako is having difficulty to sleep. She thinks that she might be having insomnia. But oddly, even when she's calm or not stressed, she still can't sleep. For last night, she able to sleep a little at five before waking up again. Well, more like she takes a nap.
"You better stop this bad habit of yours," Nadeshiko stated, already annoyed by Sakurako's statement.
"I'm sorry?" Sakurako raised an eyebrow as her head leaned forward.
"Your habit of not sleeping in the night," Nadeshiko said as she opened a book. "You better stop it."
"I couldn't sleep last night," Sakurako admitted again wearily.
"We don't think you couldn't sleep last night," Hanako stated with disagreement. "Saa-chan must've done it on purpose."
Sakurako pauses for a moment as she rephrases the words that almost exits her mouth. "What did you think I was doing last night?"
"We don't really know what you were doing last night," Nadeshiko admitted with her eyes closed. "But, I'm pretty sure you're doing nothing but to play games last night."
Sakurako can't say much but to sigh with exasperation. She really can't complain much since they know how the old Sakurako always behaves, not the current Sakurako.
"Nade-onee-chan," Misaki called, showing her disagreement. "You can't just assume her like that."
"Misaki," Sakurako stopped her, raising an open palm to her side. "It's alright."
Sakurako then turns her head back to her sisters. "Is there anything else than that?"
"Hanako guesses that you also didn't sleep last night, so you can skip school and get sick on purpose," Hanako stated with a glare. "And so that Saa-chan doesn't have to bother to run your punishment and have us do all the job instead."
Sakurako retook a deep sigh with her eyes closed; this is so typical to hear. "I see."
"So you better stop this habit starting from tonight," Nadeshiko advised as she looked at her middle sister's eyes. "Understand?"
Sakurako stays silent as she wearily looks over her eldest sister's eyes. But, Sakurako never said a word.
"Hey, answer me," Nadeshiko repeated with a severe glare. "Do you understand what I said?"
Sakurako only gives a slight nod and sincerely replies. "Understandable."
The sisters and Misaki look at her for a moment. Hanako looks in wonder over Sakurako's straight face. Nadeshiko is still glaring at her but noticed the sincere tone in her words. At the same time, Misaki is perplexed by Sakurako's current unchildish behavior. They see her eyes looked down to the table without mumbling before she leaned her head back against her seat.
Sakurako and Nadeshiko stayed silent for the current moment while Misaki and Hanako chatted with each other. Hanako feels a bit uncomfortable to see Sakurako didn't even want to interrupt into their chat. Nadeshiko enjoyed that Sakurako stayed silent, but she felt awkward that Sakurako didn't want to speak about anything at all. Nadeshiko could feel nothing but boredom when she looked at Sakurako's face.
After a moment, their order has arrived. A couple of waitresses brought in the order and carefully put them down on their table. Nadeshiko and Sakurako thanked them for the food. They begin to eat once the waitresses leave to serve their next customers.
"Ittadakimasu!"
Sakurako grabs the chopsticks and begins to eat the salad she ordered. Sakurako picks and eats the potato cubes dressed in sauces from the salad. Sakurako takes notice of what Misaki and her sisters eat. But then her eyes stop at Nadeshiko's dish as she serenely enjoys the salad. Before, Sakurako then eats the fried rice with the chopsticks and drinking her Mixberry juice.
Nadeshiko sees the direction of her sister's eyes. "You wanted my Spaghetti, don't you, Sakurako?"
"A bit," Sakurako admitted flatly. "But I have lost my appetite to eat that."
Nadeshiko slightly widens her eyes before she twirls her fork on the Spaghetti. "Shouldn't you be losing appetite to eat a salad?"
Sakurako just shrugs after downing a leaf of lettuce. "I guess so."
Hanako glares at her but with concern. "Is there something wrong, Sakurako-chan?"
"Nothing," Sakurako replied with a shook, before looking over to Misaki.
Sakurako notices her looking over to the salad. "Do you want my salad?"
"U-um, yes, Onee-chan," Misaki nodded awkwardly, not used to the formal side of Sakurako. "Can I have the grapes?"
"Sure," Sakurako genuinely smiled as she grabbed one of the grapes with her chopsticks before feeding it to Misaki. "Open your mouth."
"Aaaup!" Misaki happily ate from her chopsticks and enjoyed the sour taste of the grape, even though Sakurako noticed her wrinkled eyebrow. "Hmm! Tasty!"
"Hanako didn't know Misaki likes grapes," Hanako stated with a curious look. "Isn't it sour?"
"Haha, it is sour," Misaki proudly, lifting her head up with an arrogant smile, and her eyes closed. "It's why Misaki likes it."
"Easy there, don't get too proud about it," Sakurako advised her as she picked a fresh slice of tomato.
"As if you weren't," Nadeshiko flatly stated as she ate her Spaghetti.
"I know," Sakurako really didn't care if it's true or not. She just wanted to enjoy her food.
Nadeshiko only looks at her for a moment before continuing to eat. "What were you doing last night?"
Sakurako then raises her head. "Pardon me?"
"What were you doing last night?" Nadeshiko asked before drinking her melon juice.
"Didn't you assume I don't sleep last night on purpose?" Sakurako asked back, still enjoying her boredom and her meal.
Nadeshiko sighed without opening her mouth, then continued by Hanako. "Just tell us, Nee-chan."
Sakurako pauses her eating as she looks at Hanako before looking up to Nadeshiko. "I read a manga before I tried to sleep at ten."
"You're not lying?" Nadeshiko asked with a raised brow.
Sakurako instinctively tightens her grip on her chopsticks. She blinked once and took a deep sigh. "Why would I want to lie about it?"
Nadeshiko pauses for a moment. "Then you couldn't sleep after you tried to sleep at ten?"
Sakurako acknowledged with a nod as she wordlessly ate her fried rice.
Misaki then turns her tilted head to Sakurako with a curious look. "Is it because Sakurako-nee-chan had a nightmare?"
Sakurako, once again, nods to the answer and does not bother to reply verbally.
"But why didn't Onee-chan try to sleep again?" Misaki asked again, sounding concerned about her favorite senior.
"I did," Sakurako took another bite of her fried rice, sipped her Mixberry before replying. "I just can't sleep after that. Can't even feel sleepy in the slightest bit."
"Really?" Misaki asked with an innocent glance. "Did Saa-chan spend the rest of the hours to read?"
Sakurako nods as she bites her apple from the salad. "I hope you don't mind if I was reading your novel, Onee-chan."
Nadeshiko, visibly surprised, can be noticed that she leaned her head back. "Which one?"
"Hmm…" Sakurako winced her eyes in order to try to remember. "I think it was called… 'Polished Lavender.'"
"Phumm!"
It seems, for once, Nadeshiko startled by what she heard. Nadeshiko pats her chest as to make sure she didn't choke on her Spaghetti. Nadeshiko then looks up to Sakurako, seemingly in disbelieve and aghast for the moment. Misaki and Hanako just a bit frightened by Nadeshiko's reaction, whereas Sakurako remained composed.
"H-hang on, you read that book?" Nadeshiko asked, nearly broken her calm and stifle of her high tone.
Sakurako simply nods but didn't bother to say a word.
"Is there something wrong, Onee-chan?" Hanako asked Nadeshiko, still perplexed at the moment.
"You're not old enough to read that, Sakurako!" Nadeshiko lectured her, barely angry at her.
"I noticed, Nee-chan," Sakurako flatly replied with a low voice, drinking up her Mixberry for a moment. "I knew what kind of book is that after I read the characters were going to do 'that' in the bedroom."
"H-hey!" Nadeshiko turned her head around for a moment to make sure no one hears that. "Don't say that in public. And not in front of the girls!"
They could see Hanako and Misaki blushed at Sakurako's remarks, to which then Sakurako continues. "I didn't know you like to read that kind of book."
"But that doesn't mean you just can read that all you want!" Nadeshiko responded, thankfully, her voice is low that no one could hear her. "You should've asked me about it."
Sakurako just stares at her for a moment before she shrugs. "I don't mind reading a mature book."
"Woah," Misaki awed at her for a moment. "You can read a mature book?"
"Mm-hmm," Sakurako replied, before finishing up the salad.
"Can I read one?" Misaki asked again, at which Hanako appalled at the question.
"Misaki-chi, you can't read that just yet!" Hanako said with concern, she's so worried that she nearly stood up and leaned forward. "You're not old enough to read that."
"Why that would stop me from reading that?" Misaki asked as she proudly smiled to herself. "If I can read that, then I am already grown up."
"Um, Misaki-chi," Sakurako interrupted as she put her hand with chopsticks down on the table. "I agree with Hanako-chan. That is not a good idea for you to do something like that."
For once, Nadeshiko and Hanako show their surprise at her opinion by leaving their mouths open a bit and narrowed their eyebrows. If they knew Sakurako that well, she would've just encouraged Misaki to do something she's not old enough to do it yet, no matter how retarded it is.
"Huh?" Misaki frowned at Sakurako's answer. "But why? Won't I look grown-up to read a mature book?"
"Actually, Misaki-chi," Sakurako replied softly to her, albeit her weary look. "No matter how old you are, there are some things that you shouldn't know, hear and see by yourself. While the book I read is mature and great, that doesn't mean it's okay for you to read. So, you need to be careful to hope for something like that, alright?"
Her sisters stay silent for the whole time. They were pretty speechless of what they heard, and they seem… stunned by her answer. Nadeshiko is so baffled as to how Sakurako could say something logical and wise like that. While for Hanako, she didn't think that Sakurako would agree with her with such calm and straight composure.
Misaki frowned at Sakurako's answer, but then understood by what she meant. "Aw… okay then, Onee-chan…"
Sakurako watches her as Misaki slumps into her seat. But then, Sakurako expresses her genuine smile and gently rubs the top of her head as she lets out a breath from her nose.
"Good girl," Sakurako complimented as she rubbed her head for a while, to which Misaki smiled back at her.
Nadeshiko and Hanako can tell that they're feeling awkward to see Sakurako behave like that, weirded out at the least. They watch Sakurako continue to eat again, apparently finishing up her fried rice and Mixberry juice altogether. Sakurako then puts her chopsticks down to the table and clasps her hands together. She lowly says "gochisosama" to herself. Sakurako then looks over her own hands for a moment.
To which then she stands up from her seat. "I want to wash my hands. Excuse me, Misaki-chan."
"O-okay," Misaki replied as she got out from her seat so Sakurako can get out.
Sakurako calmly makes her way to the restroom as her right-hand stays on her jacket to make sure no one sees her gun. She makes a right turn at the end of the aisle and heads out to the restroom door. Sakurako noticed two particular men in coats, one black and one brown, are standing by the counter a bit far from the restroom. She didn't pay much attention to them as she waltzes past them.
"That dealer is here?"
"Yeah, that arms dealer is here."
Sakurako halts in her tracks. Did she just hear them whisper about an arms dealer?
Sakurako disguised her actions by pretending she forgot to check something on her phone as her ears kept sharp to hear their conversation. She's thankfully a bit far from them to not arouse any suspicion.
"I thought that person is still out of town."
"Nah, that fellow already returned. Saying that there are some 'unfinished businesses' to deal with."
Sakurako peeks her eyes over her shoulders, and she's glad they're not looking in her direction. Also, thinking about what kind of an idiot would talk something like that in a public restaurant.
"I'm surprised you're still working for that dealer."
"We're shipping big guns. How else you think I won't work for them?"
"At least they pay well, from what I heard."
"That's true."
Big guns.
Sakurako couldn't believe what she just heard. Sakurako stops pretending and immediately enter the girls' restroom. She then heads towards the sink and nervously turns on the faucet. She then washes her hands as calm as possible before turning the faucet off again. She then looks at herself in the mirror in front of her. Looking into herself through her own eyes.
If there's another thing she needs, is to get herself a bigger gun than a pistol. It is a bit exaggerating for a girl like her, but that doesn't erase the fact that she killed a criminal with a pistol without even missing a single shot. She looks to herself for a moment, trying to see what's going on with herself.
If she wants to be honest, she is in a bit of disorder. She already felt weary, scared, panicked, and… chaotic. Sakurako stays silent for a moment before she slowly reveals her shoulder wound under the jacket and shirt. The wound is fully healed, but it left a permanent scar. The scar is a small circle colored in a much darker shade than the original color of her skin.
Her eyes shrouded in the dark just to remember what had happened at that time. She kept having this feeling for a long time, especially when she couldn't sleep at night. The kind of feeling that kept stabbing her heart numerous times for no reason. That such feeling that made her feel nothing but to be nauseous. That feeling of desire…
Images of the dead people she saw flash inside her eyes. Prominently, remembering the stares, the blood, the gunshot wounds she saw. Images of what had happened inside her nightmares occurred in her mind as well, especially about Misaka, whom she saw dead in one of her nightmares. Sakurako bows her head down. Both of her hands clamp into fists as tight as she can.
It occurs to her to remember that three particular criminal scums who started that shootout. The bastards that escaped from that shot-up store and left dead innocents on their trails. That their henchmen attacked and hurt everyone, including herself and Misaka. Eyebrows narrowed with such tense before she looked back to herself through the mirror. Looking into her shrouded eyes once more.
Seeing at her own dilated pupils, she realized what this feeling was all about. What kind of desire did she keep feeling for this whole time? What kept stabbing her beating heart from the inside? She found an answer to the question.
She would be lying to herself if it was justice. It was vengeance.
She knew it's something too much to ask for. But, if it's not that, what else?
Sakurako then turns her head towards the restroom's exit. She needs to trail that man in the brown coat since he's the only person that could lead her towards the arms dealer. But for that to happen, she needs to tell her sisters and Misaki that she would leave earlier than she should. Now, with her goals in mind, she slowly takes a couple of steps away from the mirror.
She then turns her body around and hastily exits the restroom. She notices that the man in the brown coat is still talking with the man in the black coat. She maintains her calm composure and patiently returns to her table. Sakurako is happy that they're still there. But also takes notice that they are almost finished with their meals.
Nadeshiko looks up to her as Sakurako stops next to the table. "Ah, you're done with washing your hands?"
"Um, Onee-chan," Sakurako ignored her question. "I'm going to leave early."
"Huh?" Hanako surprised by her remark, with Nadeshiko and Misaka slightly widen their eyes. "Why?"
"I forgot that I have an appointment with a friend of mine in the next ten minutes," Sakurako replied, keeping a straight face. "I'm sorry that I'm suddenly telling you this."
"Oh, t-that's alright," Nadeshiko sounded her concern. "When you'll be home?"
"Late, I'm afraid," Sakurako replied, expressing her agitation. "I hope you don't mind. I'll be coming home around that time."
Nadeshiko pauses as she looks at her. If there's one thing she doesn't want her to do, is to let her roam around the town at night. Nadeshiko sighs at the thought as Hanako and Misaki look up to her with discomfort.
"Are you sure?" Nadeshiko asked. "I just don't want you to be home at night."
"I'll be fine," Sakurako nodded with a straight face. "You can give me a call if you're worried."
Nadeshiko stares at her for a moment before giving a small smile. "Alright. Go on ahead. Just don't be too late at night."
"Understood," Sakurako then looked over to her younger sister and Misaki. "I'll be off now."
"Be careful out there, Onee-chan," Misaki said with gleaming eyes.
"Have a safe trip," Hanako added in, looked a bit upset with her leave.
Sakurako simply bows to them before she proceeds to leave the restaurant. She walks towards the exit and onto the parking lot. Once she is confident that she's a bit far from the restaurant, she hides herself behind two station wagon cars. Sakurako spends her time waiting for the brown coat man to exit the restaurant by looking over her phone. The only problem was, she doesn't if he'll be leaving in a car or on foot. She hoped it would be the first; if it's latter, she'll be having a hard time thinking about how to hide inside his trunk.
A full minute has passed, and still waiting for the suspected man in brown to exit the restaurant. It looks like she doesn't have to wait for him any longer. Sakurako raises her head up once she heard footsteps from behind the cars. Someone just walked past next to her. She immediately recognizes the man in the brown coat is leaving on foot. Sakurako stores her phone back into the satchel, keeping the suspected man in her sight.
She stands there for the moment until he's at a considerable range from her, to which then Sakurako found her cue. She begins to tail the man from behind as she keeps a reasonable distance, not to arouse suspicion. Sakurako follows him down to the road, then walking along the sidewalk. Sakurako is pretty happy that this man has not decided to take a taxi just yet. When she followed him until the end of the road, the man in brown turns left, and Sakurako follows suit.
Sakurako notices that the man slowly halts in his track. Sakurako looks to her right, and the first thing she had in mind is to lean her back against the lamppost. She quickly leans her back onto the lamppost and faces in the opposite direction of the man. Sakurako pulls out her phone, puts it on selfie mode, and looks at it to see the reflection of the man she's trailing. The man indeed looks behind him, but it seems he hasn't noticed the blonde girl at the lamppost yet. The man turns around again and continues on his way.
Sakurako stores her phone away and begins to follow back at him, maintaining a good distance away from him. She followed down to the four-way intersection, seeing that he's waiting for the green light for the crossing pedestrians. The traffic light turns red, prompting the green light for the pedestrians. The man in brown crosses the crosswalk in the moderate crowd, Sakurako still able to catch up with him a bit far from the crowd. The man splits off from the crowd and continues to walk forward.
Sakurako could feel she's getting closer to her goal. She has been following him around for three minutes until they reached an inevitable end of the road, and the man turns right. Sakurako follows suit and halts in her tracks. She watched him crossing the empty road, not even bother to use the crosswalk towards a particular building. As the man reached the other side of the road, Sakurako finally figured out which building he was heading for.
And her guess wasn't wrong.
The building he's heading for is a four-floors building in the middle of the street; she can't tell if it's a warehouse or an apartment block. It looks a bit dilapidated due to a visible change of color on the purple walls, stained with black color. The building seems to be in an appropriate state otherwise save for the tainted color. The windows looked clean but have been shut with curtains that she couldn't see the building's interior. On the front, upon a couple of steps of stairs, is a wooden door with a small metal slit at the height of an adult.
Sakurako stays on her side of the street and quickly gets in front of the building. Watching from across, she watches him approached the door and knock twice. She leans onto a nearby lamppost and pulls her phone out, trying not to be noticed by the man and the occupants of that building. Her head turns a bit to her left, and out of the corner of her eyes, she could see the door open, and the door guard greeted the man in brown. The man in brown then enters the building, and the door shuts.
She stores her phone away again as she observes the surroundings of the building. She widens her eyes wordlessly to notice there's a small alley next to the color-tainted building. She watches the road both ways before crossing the street before running down the empty tight alley in haste. In her opinion, the alley is rather long, suggesting to her that half of this building is an apartment, the other half is the warehouse. The suggestion is pretty apparent for her when she could see how long the building reached down to the end of the alley.
Sakurako could see the opening at the end of this dark alley, guessing that the time is either at half-past five or nearly at six o'clock in the evening. She walks towards the end of the alley, carefully stepping forward heels first to avoid making any noise. She hugs her back onto the purple building's walls and walks sideways to the left. She leans her head a bit forward to scout out the area ahead of the end of the alley as she walks sideways. She stops short when she reached the end of the alley and peeks her head out a bit from the building's corner to the left.
Around the corner are wide open warehouse doors since she could see some small crates inside-at least at the end of a corner of the building's interior. There is a pick-up truck carelessly parked in the middle of the concrete road. Some crates are placed next to the truck and on the back of the truck. She could see two visible men talking on the other side of the truck. She didn't bother on the details of their faces; what's important is that they didn't see her yet in the dark corner of the alley.
She retracts her head back when she is nearly surprised by another burly man carrying a crate, walking out of the warehouse suddenly. She peeks out at least her left eye to see he's carrying a big rectangular crate about that size of two piano keyboards. The man puts it down on the truck before walking over to the chatting men.
"Oi, what are you doing here standing and talking?" the burly man asked.
"Ah, there you are! We were waiting for you," one of the two men replied. "Come on, our car's busted."
The men began to walk away from the truck as the burly man replied. "How the hell the car's busted?"
Sakurako watches them left until they are out of hearing distance, observing them heading for the other car in front of a bit far from the truck. An advantage appeared before her while the men are busy with their busted car. Sakurako peeks around the corner again to ensure the coast is clear before she silently skidded towards the open warehouse door and turns sharp left again through the door. She crouches down as she moves through an aisle of crates. The aisle is thankfully dark, but her tension increased to see suspicious men walking around the warehouse.
Sakurako was nearly frightened to see a couple of men walking along with the crate racks next to her. Happy that she remains unnoticed, she continues down the aisle until she reached the end of it and make a quick cross into between the stacks of crates. She keeps her head down as she sneaks her way through the maze of crates. She walks forward, turns left, right, and finally left again before stopping. A man happened to pass by her position and thankfully didn't look towards her.
But Sakurako took notice that the guard is holding an Uzi in his left hand.
She swallows her saliva before peeking her head a little out from the crates. If the guard has a gun, that means this warehouse has guns as well, and she's determined to get one. Her best bet is to get to the storage/workshop rooms at the end of the warehouse. With her path is clear, she then turns right and moves towards one of the workshop room. She crouches and hugs the walls as she moves, eased her that the crates cover her appearance.
She halts after reaching the end of the small path, hugging her back against the crate. She peeks out her head to the right and sees a forklift drives by. Fortunately, the forklift drives away from her position while she could see some men working on packing the crates up. She then turns her head to an unusually small room across her on the right. It was a wooden box-shaped room and had a window on its left.
She looks over to the busy men once again before making a run for that room. Sakurako quickly grasps on the doorknob, and conveniently, it wasn't locked. She enters the room and quickly shuts the door behind her. Momentarily sighs in relief before looking over her surroundings. There was nothing much except another doorway, crates, a couple of chairs, a table, and tools. But what piqued her attention is the sight of weapons on the table and the walls.
She takes a couple of steps forward to see a rifle left unloaded on the table before diverting her eyes up to the walls. Pistols and Submachineguns are placed on the walls using nails. Her eyes then look down on the rifle again, amazed at the size of the rifle. The rifle didn't look like an M4 variant, but it looks like an AK but not the popular AK47 due to the black color and different model. But the rifle itself is enough to make her tempted to grab-no-steal one for herself to wreak havoc on those who killed the innocents. Sakurako reaches her hand towards the unloaded rifle.
*CKLAK*
She suddenly freezes on the spot; her peripheral vision spotted a burly man just entered the door she came from.
The man stops in his track and quickly draws his pistol to her. "Hold it right there!"
Sakurako slowly turns her head to him. Much to her surprise, it's the man in brown she was trailing before. She noticed his tan skin and his square face. He has a near-invisible mustache and buzz-cut hair. Blue eyes, short jaw width, and his cheeks are stubby and muscular. His body is rather vigorous, and probably he went to the gym often.
The tan man widens his eyes to the familiarity of her face. "Hang on a minute, didn't I see you back at that restaurant?"
Sakurako nearly widened her eyes, but the man added. "Because I only saw one girl who has the same color hair like you, even if I didn't see her face."
Busted.
Sakurako sighs to ease herself before lowering her hand away from the unloaded rifle.
"I knew I felt someone was following me, but I didn't expect that it was you, girl," the man added, before motioning his drawn gun up. "Put your hands up."
Sakurako couldn't see a way out from this. The only last thing she wanted is to get shot if she pulls out her gun. With a frown of defeat, she raises both hands in the air.
"Alright, face at the doorway," the man ordered, Sakurako complied. "Good girl."
The muscular man then approached her from behind and places his left hand on her left shoulder, lowering his gun a bit but kept his finger near and off the trigger.
"You just found yourself in trouble, girl," the man told her, his ragged voice is of an American accent. "I gotta bring you to the boss."
"I screwed too much, didn't I?" Sakurako nonchalantly asked with admittance.
"Yes, you did, girl," the man agreed to her before moving her through the doorway. "Now, move it, girl."
The man then escorts her from the weapons workshop and enter the next room to exit the warehouse area. He escorts her through a couple of rooms past several guards and henchmen relaxing inside. They share their stare at Sakurako, which tensed her much but able to maintain her composure. The man who escorted her by gunpoint looked pretty glad about his current obedient captive, but still keeping a sharp eye on her and makes sure no one bothers them.
The man then escorts her up the stairs and then walks her to their left down the hallway. They then turn left again once they reached an intersection of the hallway. There is another intersection in the middle of the hallway, at which they turn to the right. It's a gray wooden double-door in front of them. And she could feel something… foreboding to see it.
"Is this your boss's office?" Sakurako asked the obvious.
"Yes, it is, girl," the man replied politely. "Get in the office."
Sakurako complied with his order without resistance, and they both enter the office. The first thing she sees in the office is the two people inside. One of them is a skinny white man in his rugged white formal shirt and blue pants. His dark brown hair slicked to the back, no mustache nor beard. The man looks like in his early 20s. And he is currently sitting on a crate.
Another one at the desk is a woman, but she couldn't get a clear picture of her, save for the long violet hair reaching her back since she's facing her back to her. The woman's hair tied into two separate ponytails just below her neck. Before she could describe more, the burly man gently and forcefully sits her down on the chair in front of the woman's desk. Sakurako figured this woman is the boss of this show.
Her captor then stands behind her and takes her satchel away before tying her hands up behind the chair. She is sure-100%-a dead girl. Guess it was a fool move to sneak inside a suspicious warehouse on her own. At least for now, she doesn't get shot again.
"Well, well, well, look at what the cat brought in," the skinny man grinned his teeth, putting his elbow on one of his knees. "A little girl."
"That's so sweet," the woman said in her vague high tone before turning around towards Sakurako. "Where did you find her?"
"Found her at the workshop, boss," Sakurako's captor replied, standing firm beside her. "Thankfully, she doesn't give much of a fight."
"Huh, is that so?" the woman boss asked again, crossing her arms and leaning her waist against the desk.
Well, Sakurako just shrugged at the boss's appearance. She had to admit, the woman has a pretty face, except that she doesn't use lipstick. A couple of sharp long hair bangs on her front fringe, one slicked to the left and another to the opposite, exposing her middle forehead. Sakurako could tell she had an oval face. Her body posture is curvy, and she has such a large bust.
"What's a princess doing inside a warehouse?" the woman boss asked as she menacingly approached her with a sharp grin. "Spying on me?"
Sakurako gives a confused look, but her captor answers her. "She was about to take a gun at the workshop."
The boss looks up to him with an exciting look. "Well, that is new. You're trying to steal from me?"
Sakurako only tilts her head to the question. "I did."
"Honest. I like it," the boss then took the satchel off the captor and returned to the desk. "Most people I asked would insult me for asking petty questions."
"That depends on what question you are asking," Sakurako added indifferently.
"Hey, shut up!" the skinny man retorted. Sakurako felt a bit annoyed in her heart. "You'll talk when the boss's askin'!"
The boss just chuckled as Sakurako leaned against the chair. "Either way, that's a nice point."
The woman then unzips the satchel and pulls out the phone. "Ah, looks like you're not going to need this anymore."
"It's not locked with a password," Sakurako admitted. A fool move on her part, but she knew she wouldn't stay alive for long.
The violet woman stares at her with mild surprise, but she guesses Sakurako knew she screwed. The woman turns on the phone and right her words, the phone is not locked. Sakurako guesses she'll be looking over the phone calls first. The boss smiles at the phone calls before putting the phone on the desk.
"And you didn't have the thought to call the police when inside the warehouse," the boss commented with a devious smile and shook her head. "What an idiot you are."
The boss then ticks her chin. "Unless…"
She then approaches Sakurako and stands in front of her, shrouding Sakurako in her shadow. "You're doing a dirty job for that detective."
"I'm sorry?" Sakurako's confused with her empty stare.
The boss chuckles at her response, to which then she gradually circles around her like a careful tiger. "Spill out what you got, numbskull. There's no point in keeping things away from me."
"I don't know who you are talking about," Sakurako responded, tilting and facing her head to the right.
"Liar," the woman hissed. "Now, talk about what you are keeping from me."
Sakurako only stares at her with discontent. "I don't know why I should tell you about it."
"Oh, there is one," the boss replied as she stopped in front of her. "Unless you don't mind about pain."
If she knew everything from movies, it's the unpleasant part. "You're going to torture me?"
"Smart answer," the woman complimented, looking sharp at her. "Why even want to be a detective's rat? She promised you a reward for running an errand to get intel and steal an evidence so she can put me behind bars? That stubborn bitch doesn't know how to quit, using you as another puppet for her scheme to put me out of business."
Sakurako stares at her with confusion, ignoring the cuss she just said. "Forgive me, but I don't understand what you are talking about."
"Don't bullshit me, kid!" the skinny man retorted before walking up to her. "We know you're working for her! Open up your trap!"
"Why do I have to open a trap?" Sakurako asked with a raised brow. "I don't see any rat traps to open around here."
The skinny man was about to point and retort at her when he halts at Sakurako's understanding. The boss and the captor deadpanned at her, perplexed at what she said.
"Wait, did you take that literally?" her captor asked.
"Huh?" Sakurako puzzled at the question. "Isn't that what traps are for?"
The skinny man's fist then rubs his cheek with frustration. "Goddammit, girl. That's not what I meant. I was telling you to open your damn mouth and tell us what the detective's planning to do."
"I don't know who you are talking about," Sakurako admitted again before looking up to the boss.
The woman puts her hands on her hips. At least, they glossed over the awkwardness of the blonde girl's response. The woman then deviously grinned as her dreaded eyes look down at hers. The boss is so sure that this little girl is working for someone she suspected of working for the detective.
"No use in lying, little brat," the boss taunted at her face. "Now spill it out, or…"
The woman boss then grasps Sakurako's front fringe and pulls it to behind her, approaching her face closer to hers. Feeling her breath landing on her right ear as Sakurako silently sighed deeply and instinctively looked away after feeling her tingling skin closer than she should. Sakurako, somehow, maintains her calm and indifferent composure.
"I'll make sure you scream, and no one can hear you."
No flinch visible in her reaction. Only her diverted eyes slowly moved to her face. The woman's face slowly pulls away as Sakurako stares at her, oblivious to her threat. Frown visible on her face as she half-shut her weary eyes. She takes a slow, deep breath with her eyes closed, being sincere and compose to the fate that befell her.
"This is it then… I'll be dead anyways…"
"So?" the boss asked as Sakurako gradually looks back at her. "Make up your mind?"
Sakurako then stares forward into emptiness, oblivious to the woman in front of her. "Search my right waist."
The skinny thug raises an eyebrow while the boss and her captor look at each other with mild confusion. The burly guard then uncovers her open jacket on her right side and leans his head back to the discovery of her gun. The boss widens her eyes but leaves her mouth shut; she's more surprised as to why Sakurako was too honest about her hidden pistol. The captor hands over the handgun to the boss, and she inspects it.
"A Walther P99," the boss said before smiling to her and holding the pistol on the side. "A reliable gun. But, it looks like you won't need this anymore."
"Walther P99, huh?" Sakurako thought, finally relieved at the pistol's name.
Sakurako then looks away towards her captor. "Shoot me."
"What was that?" the boss asked, misheard Sakurako's low voice.
She then turns her head to the boss. "Shoot me."
It's the boss's turn to be perplexed at her words. "Why?"
"Isn't that what you want?" the blonde asked, lacking a strong emotion on her face. "To make me scream as loud as I can without worrying anyone else hear me. Torturing me as much as you want as my blood bleeds from my veins down to the floor. Giving me as much pain as you can until I couldn't feel it anymore."
The boss fell silent at her words, never she thought to hear her words so sincere and defeated like that. This girl is enough to raise both of her eyebrows, winces forehead, and barely opens her mouth. The captor leans forward only to be apprehensive and concerned about the blonde's behavior. The skinny thug puts both his hands on his waist, putting aggressiveness to become passive, with confusion overlapping in his mind.
"Just shoot me already," Sakurako requested, looking away once more as her face became depressed. "I'll be dead anyway."
From all of their cunning competitors and probably fuzz they caught and interrogated, this is the only person who's willing to die and is so sincere to feel that way. No… not willing… she doesn't care if she's dead in the woman's opinion. The boss deadpanned at her, showing her teeth beyond her open, frown mouth. The boss returns to her desk as the skinny thug, and the burly guard glance at her with curiosity. The boss then puts the blonde's gun on the desk and looks back at her.
For all she knew, the girl wasn't working for any competitor nor police. "What's your name?"
Sakurako then glances at her, still not concerned about her life. "Why do you care?"
"I'm curious," the boss woman replied, shrugging as she put a hand on the desk. "I think you weren't working for anyone."
Sakurako sighs at the statement. "Do I need to repeat it again?"
"Now, now," the woman then leaned her waist against the desk with her arms crossed. "What's your name?"
The blondie stares at her for a moment before replying with a flat tone. "Sakurako. Sakurako Oomuro."
"Good…" the boss then observes her teenage body. "You look too young for me. Are you a student?
Sakurako pauses at her query before nodded. "At Nanamori Middle School."
"Alr-," the woman suddenly paused before getting her waist off the desk. "W-wait, Nanamori? Did you just say Nanamori?!"
Confusion and mild surprise visible on her face, the two men, show the same expression. "Yes, Nanamori Middle School. Why?"
The boss quickly looks at the strong guard. "Untie her."
"I'm sorry?" the captor asked, blinked once before raising her eyebrows.
"Untie her, now!" the woman ordered with her finger pointed.
"Y-yes, ma'am," the captor then untied the blonde's hands and dumped the ropes away.
"Hang on, why untying her?" the skinny thug asked straight to the boss. "Just because you know her school?"
"No," the boss replied, looking over to Sakurako is waving her sore hands around. "It's because I ever worked there a year ago."
Everyone freezes at the statement before they all look straight at her; emptiness is apparent in their eyes.
"Pardon me?" Sakurako politely said after blinking once. "You were a teacher at Nanamori?"
"Erm…" the boss seemed to be at a loss to the question.
"You've got ta'be shittin' me," the skinny thug swore with disbelieve. "You're a teacher?"
"Damn," the tanned-strong man commented. "How come you become a weapon dealer in the first place?"
"Well, it's not like I'm working as a weapon smuggler that quick," the woman responded. "I was taking a long time off from selling weapons."
Sakurako frowns her eyebrows, sensing something illogical in her work. "You became a weapon smuggler and then temporarily changed job as a teacher?"
"Yeah, for a year and a half until I quit one year ago," the woman replied with a nod. "Pretty much because I suck at teaching the kids."
"Huh," Sakurako leaned her head back once, she then dryly joked. "Teaching the class to start school shooting?"
"W-what? No," the woman responded, while the burly guard and the skinny thug chuckled at her joke. "I was teaching maths."
"Oh, God," Sakurako, of course, became discontent with the former teacher.
"Anyway," the woman then changed the topic. "Is Nishigaki-san still teaching at Nanamori?"
"You know her?" Sakurako asked wearily.
"Yeah," the woman replied with a nod. "So, she's still teaching there?"
"Pretty much," Sakurako replied with a nod. "Probably researching nuclear energy at school, right now."
Both men chuckle at her comment while the woman fakes her laugh. "You're joking, right?"
"Well," Sakurako then shrugged. "I hope so."
The bright eyes on the woman's face become darker as she keeps her fake smile. "Wait, she's making the nuclear…?"
Sakurako then raises an eyebrow at her, whereas the men deadpanned at their boss's reaction. "I've told the Student Council about it, so… I hope she's not doing it."
"Okay… okay..." She sighed long enough that she looked like that she came out from the public Onsen. "Thank… GOD…"
For the men, their boss is pretty much out of character about Nishigaki. "Is this NIshigaki-sensei dangerous?" George asked within his half-heavy voice, but a tone of concern was heard.
"Hmm… she blew the science lab many times as usual," Sakurako replied with her head bowed. "Including today."
"Huh, I'm not really surprised. But, I'm still wondering how she survived those explosions," the woman commented before she changed the topic. "Anyway, how about we start over with the introduction? Looks like… we got off to the wrong foot."
Sakurako nods at her, curious about their names.
"My name is Shiba Matsubara. The leader of this weapon smuggling operations," the violet woman then pointed at the skinny thug first. "The man beside you is Maru Marishiki. He handles the shipping."
"Just call me Maru if ya' want," the said man replied with a smile, waving his arm to the side.
"And the guard next to you is George Gilzamo," Shiba said as she pointed to him. "My chief-security."
George bows his head to Sakurako. "Forgive us of our mistreatment since we are running a… questionable business."
"I can see that," Sakurako replied with a sigh, that was already obvious since they said they're running a weapon smuggling operation. "Are you American, by the way? Your accent…"
"American-Italian, Ms. Oomuro," George replied politely.
"Nice to meet you, George-sama," Sakurako replied, looking at her.
"Just call me, George," he replied with a nod.
"Alright, enough with the introductions," Shiba then changed the topic. "Now, I'm curious. How did you know this warehouse?"
"I heard George talking with someone else about the 'big gun' and the dealer," Sakurako admitted, leaning her back against the chair. "I followed him and snuck in through the warehouse doors."
Shiba then turns her head to George, staring at him as if he screwed up many times. "Really? Didn't I tell you about what not to talk in public?"
"I'm sorry, boss," George apologized with a bow. "I just can't help it. I won't make the same mistake again."
"Anyway… you tried to steal a rifle?" Maru asked with a raised brow. "Whatcha wanna do with it?"
"For personal gain," Sakurako then tilted her head for a moment. "Or… personal matters, if you would."
"Wow," they looked back at Shiba to see her pulling two additional magazines out of Sakurako's satchel. "Where the heck did you get a gun like this along with extra ammo? I don't remember I supplied this exact gun for these few days."
"Stole it off a criminal I killed."
What she achieved is their look of surprise, albeit it was mild in Shiba's account.
"What happened?" Shiba asked curiously. The idea for a Middle School student to have a gun is foreboding even for a weapon smuggler like her, and, oddly, she is concerned about Sakurako's well-being.
"Bakimura Store."
George now staggered a bit of her answer while Maru was amazed by her response. The violet woman covers her mouth with her hand as she narrows her eyebrows. Those two words were enough to remind them of the news about the shootout a few days ago. Shiba is a weapon smuggler, but she knew exactly what kind of line that shouldn't cross. So in the blonde girl's case, that shootout alone was too much.
"I see…" Shiba pitied her. "Did you get shot?"
Sakurako simply shows her left shoulder to Shiba. George is pretty much speechless to the sight. Maru is amazed and also impressed that she survived the gunshot. Shiba felt uncomfortable to see a too young girl like her has a gunshot wound. But the violet woman is too familiar with the size of the wound.
"It looks like a 9mm caliber," Shiba then looks back at the P99 on the desk. "Did you get shot by that?"
"Yes," Sakurako replied to the smuggler. "I had to stab him with a pencil before I grabbed that pistol."
And yet, they deadpanned at her again as if they just misheard her.
"Hang on a minute. You stabbed a gunman with a pencil?" Maru then laughed a bit like she's joking. "No, no way, man."
Sakurako then stares at him, emptiness in her eyes like she's oblivious to the matter.
Maru then ceases his laugh before pointing his finger to her. "Oh… you weren't joking."
Sakurako then stares back to Shiba with such a depressing frown. "I was the one who killed two of the gunmen in the scene before I fled."
Shiba then tilts her head at the last part of the sentence. "You fled? The police don't know you were there?"
Sakurako pauses as she thought for a moment. "I just don't want everyone to know what I did."
"You could've just told your family what had happened," George stated, showing his concern for the girl's state of mind.
"And tell them what I did?" Sakurako shook her head at the thought. "No… what they would think about me?"
It is understandable for the three of them what kind of trauma she just went through. While Maru is pretty much a load of bollock, he shuts his mouth but pretty much because of the boss's presence. George only scratches the bottom of his neck as his eyes show concern. Shiba can't help but be curious about why she's here.
"You should consider yourself lucky that you met with me," Shiba commented, crossing her arms again. "But why are you here? You told us that you almost stole a rifle. Something tells me there's more than just personal matters."
Sakurako blankly stares at her before sighing to herself. She could feel her eyes become sleepy again. Guess she couldn't say she's already weary. This conversation itself was something that hurting her mind.
She decided that she just admit what's going on in her mind. "Vengeance."
Shiba narrows her left eyebrow, grabbing a chair before sitting down in front of her. "Sakurako, right?"
"Yes," the blonde replied.
"I just want to know," Shiba paused for a moment. "Do you know what are you going to do?"
Sakurako stays silent for a moment. "Yes…"
This is something that Shiba doesn't like. She knew she's a criminal because she's a weapon smuggler. But she doesn't bear to the fact that children would be willing to kill people if she remembered her short trip in Africa outside the civilization. This might seem funny for other criminals, but it's the kind of thing that George respected her
"Look, you should stay away from this kind of thing, kid," Shiba convinced her.
"And let those bastards roam freely in the streets?" Sakurako felt a bit glad that she could swear like that. "I can't…"
"Sakurako, I'm not letting you do something like that," Shiba convinced her again, holding her right shoulder. "Do you realize how dangerous to do that?"
"Yes," Sakurako replied with certainty before she shook her head.
"That's not going to happen, Sakurako," Shiba replied with a shook. "A girl like you must not get involve in stuff like this."
Sakurako stays silent, already dissatisfied by her convincing. Shiba notices her empty eyes looked down. It seems that convincing alone wasn't enough.
Shiba then sighs and blinks once. "You won't leave that alone, do you?"
"I have no idea," they're not sure if Sakurako's being vague or not. "After that shootout I… I keep feeling something is stabbing me from inside. It just keeps annoy me so much, like… I'm walking through floors of spikes… and I'm just sick of it. I can't sleep at night."
Sakurako then looks up to Shiba. "I can't sleep without experiencing that nightmare again. I remember their faces… including a girl I saved."
Maru looks at his boss, being so attentive to her words. George recalled the news about a girl the police found at the warehouse behind that store, and he figured she must be referring to her. Shiba covers her mouth to hear every word that came out from her mouth. Never thought that she's feeling hurt so much that what she had seen on that fateful day came back to haunt her. Shiba should be careless of what she said, but she wouldn't do the same for a middle school student
"I know this is stupid of me to ask towards a criminal like you," Sakurako admitted with her bowed head, then looking up to her eyes with such shining eyes. "All I ask from you… is to give me a chance to deal with this pain. I would be willing to do a deal with you if you want."
George looks back to his boss with such a concerned and unsure look. Maru was even so sure that ain't going to happen. Shiba could send her away from this place, but the last thing she wants is to have her return to this warehouse.
Shiba sighs at the thought. "Fine…"
"W-wait-wait-wait, boss, are you serious?!" Maru then gestured his hand at Sakurako. "Are ya' out of yo' damn mind?! That's the same thing as death sentence to give her a gun!"
"After she just killed two thugs with a pencil and a gun?" Shiba then stood up from the chair. "From what I see, she has the potential to do what she needs to do."
"I have to agree with Maru, ma'am," George added, politely placing both his hands in front of his waist. "Even if she managed to kill a couple of gunmen, that doesn't mean she can fight in a shootout. She must be just lucky to even survived that shootout at the store."
"I agree with his opinion as well, George," Shiba admitted with a nod before looking back to Sakurako. "But we're talking about a girl who wanted revenge. Not some arrogant punks who want to have a gun because it makes them look cool. And from what I see about Sakurako…"
Shiba then looks down into her eyes. "You'll just do anything you can to get a bigger gun before hunting them down, right?"
Sakurako didn't reply, but she nods at her.
Shiba softly sighs as she looks away momentarily. "How about this? I'll give you a chance for your personal matters. But… you need to learn how to use firearms before I can let you scot-free. And then we'll see if you can do it or not. So, what do you think?"
Sakurako stares at her for a while before replying. "Understandable."
George is very concerned about the decision but didn't protest his boss's decision. Maru is convinced there's no way a middle schooler like her would be willing to dirty her hands. Shiba gives a small smile to her. Shiba, as a smuggler, could say that she's an asset. Knowing that she's a Middle School Student, it would be wise to treat her like a student.
"Also…" Sakurako paused for a moment. "Can I get a job from you after I learn to shoot?"
"Huh…" Shiba was taken off-guard by the question. "That's a bad idea. You do know what kind of business I'm running now."
"Actually, I was curious if you got any job that helps people and the police," Sakurako added. "Not working so I can help you expand your shady business."
"That sucks. Those kinds of jobs are hard to come by, kid," Maru responded. "But, I think boss can handle that one."
"That's right," Shiba then returned to the desk to grab the pistol and the satchel along with the magazines, returning them to her. "You can have these back. And George…"
"Yes?"
"What rifle she tried to steal?"
"An AK-103."
"Good, that would be your rifle, Sakurako." Shiba then looks back to Sakurako, who is surprised by her generosity. "How about we train tomorrow evening? Is it okay with you?"
"At what o'clock?" Sakurako asked.
"It's up to you," Shiba replied with a shrug. "But make sure you come over here after five."
"Sounds good for me," Sakurako replied with a nod.
"All set then. I'll make sure your AK is ready by tomorrow," Shiba stated with a smile, which satisfied Sakurako with a sigh of relief. "It's already late now. Do you want a ride home?"
"Yes, please," Sakurako replied politely. "But… don't you want Nishigaki-sensei's number first?"
"Ah-erm, no, no," Shiba nervously replied, waving her both hands at her. "But I left a number for you in the satchel."
"Thank you," Sakurako then stood up from the chair. "I think it's time for me to leave."
"George, can you get her home?" Shiba asked to her chief security.
"Of course, boss," George happily replied with a nod.
Shiba then crosses her arms with a smile. "It's nice to talk with you, Sakurako."
"It's a pleasure to speak with you as well… Matsubara-sensei," Sakurako replied. Though she joked about calling her a teacher, they still can't get over Sakurako's indifferent tone. "I'll see you later tomorrow."
"You too, Sakurako," Shiba then looked up to George. "George."
"Come on, Sakurako," George then opened the only door of the office. "It's time to go."
"Be seeing you tomorrow, kid," Maru gave a two-finger salute. "Let's just hope boss was right about you."
Sakurako nodded to him before looking up to Shiba. "Bye."
Shiba only bows to her, to which then Sakurako turns around and leaves through the door, followed up by George along the way. Once they are out of sight, Shiba sighs to herself before sitting down on the chair. Maru then scratches his head to his boss.
"You sure that's a good idea, boss?" Maru asked. "A little kid like her would get herself killed like the other jackasses."
"Not really," Shiba then leaned against the chair. "But I'm happy that I don't have to deal with rookies who are too arrogant and too eager to work on their job that they ended up killing themselves. Sakurako is not one of them."
"But you know she's still a Middle school student," Maru reminded her. "What makes ya' think she could hold up with her actions? The last thing we want is to attract more attention to ourselves if she got killed."
"Shit, I don't know about that," Shiba admitted. "But… let's hope she stays true to her words."
Maru then looks away from her but then chuckles at the joke. "Matsubara-sensei."
"Oh, shut the hell up already," Shiba rolled her eyes in irritation. "Just get your damn ass back to the warehouse."
"Oh, sure, Sensei," Maru joked once again before leaving the office.
It's been a long time to have herself called Sensei. She missed her teaching days, but then again, annoyed that one of her men just called her that. For what is worth, she's glad to finally have a student willing to learn with her about something dangerous beyond the school lessons. What makes it surprising is that the student is apparently studied at her former school.
She'll be looking forward to teaching her that.