Left Brain: Gets Story Follower Update
Left Brain: *reads fanfiction preview for nostalgia reasons
FanFiction: Updated: 7/20/2020
Left Brain: That's sus...
Google Doc: Modified: Dec 15, 2020
Left Brain: OH NOOOOOOOOO
Left Brain: I'M SORRY I FORGOT TO UPDATE THIS 2 YEARS AGO! (everything below this line was written in 2020)
A few days after renewing his contract, Karma led his fellow agents onto the plane at LAX. He lifted his luggage into the overhead compartment and stole a glance at Fia, who slid into her seat more than a few rows down. She caught his gaze, but the redhead turned to shove his luggage with one last frustrated push.
"Come on, move already," Jelavic said impatiently. Ms. Bitch, notably, had spent the morning boisterously prattling on about only flying First Class, to which Karasuma had responded "Just stay, then."
Sighing, Karma slid into his row, followed by Nagisa. Jelavic and Karasuma brushed by them and took their seas just across the aisle, with Liz sitting towards the back of the plane. Headphones already blasting, she didn't seem to mind though.
Several hours after takeoff, Nagisa sweat-dropped. While Karasuma had his eyes closed and arms crossed, he rested with a stern expression. By contrast, Jelavic was draped haphazardly on her husband and snoozing soundly through the mild turbulence.
Nagisa paused his movie. "Is she… comfortable?"
Karma removed one of his earbuds and raised an eyebrow at their former teachers. "Who knows? At least she's able to sleep," he said.
"Yeah," the bluenette conceded. He rested his head back on the seat and shot Karma a wry smile. "After everything we've been through these last few weeks, I'm honestly surprised any of us can sleep soundly…"
The taller redhead gave Nagisa a questioning glance. "You okay, Nagisa? Look I-" He sighed forcefully "I know I said some harsh things about Haven, but." He grit his teeth, the thought of losing his best friend-and being helpless to change that-was too painful to say out loud (not that he would so readily admit that).
Nagisa glanced down at his hands. "I'm okay, really," he tried to reassure his friend. "Whether or not Haven..." He looked furtively around the plane, but everyone was asleep or preoccupied with their own media in the dark cabin. "Whether or not she let us down, it's not like I wasn't leading her on too. At least, at first."
Karma scowled. "That doesn't justify it."
The bluenette let his head fall back against the headrest as he sighed. "No, but… I can't say I'm mad. Just hurt. What have we gotten ourselves into, Karma?"
The redhead glowered, though at no one in particular. They sat in silence, save for the whir of the plane engine. Nagisa snuck a concerned look at Karma, whose jaw was tightly set.
"Just when you think you're starting to know someone," he muttered.
Karasuma turned his piercing black eyes towards his former students. "It might be hard to face these possibilities right now, but every experience is a tool to clear your path. It was none other than you two who taught me that. Use this experience to move forward, but don't let it define you."
"Heh, thanks, Chief. You might not be so dense after all."
Nagisa and Karma exchanged glances, then shared a good-natured smile with Karasuma. The three lapsed into comfortable silence for the rest of the flight.
"Look at this landing visa! It's a sticker! An actual sticker! Most countries just use stamps. What is up with that? And it's all pretty now! Like seriously a sakura blossom and Mt. Fuji? Why is this country so extra?" Liz gushed over her passport to Fia.
"So what's the deal with housing arrangements, Chief?" Karma asked as they approached the baggage claim. He shot a furtive glance at his former housemates. "We checking into a hotel again?"
"Well…" Jelavic sighed. "This was all very sudden, and you know how much of a hassle red tape is…"
Nagisa and Karma exchanged looks
"Why do I have a feeling we won't like where this is going?" Nagisa deadpanned.
"We're asking that you two return to your prior living arrangements. As for the girls, they don't have a place to stay yet," Karasuma finally said.
"Why can't they stay with you?" Karma suggested. "I know you have a place big enough for them."
Karasuma thought for a moment, "I suppose we could…"
"No! I think I'm good staying with Nagisa," Fia interjected quickly. She latched onto the bluenette's arm and, echoing Felicia, she muttered under a reddening face, "Ma, che sei grullo? (Are you joking/crazy?) I've heard enough horror stories about living with you from my sister!"
After watching Fia's reaction, Liz replied quickly, "I'm staying with Karma then!"
"Ah, you girls are so considerate," Jelavic beamed as the two girls blanched slightly. "Giving me alone time with my hubby."
Karasuma coughed, "It'll only be for a day or two, I promise." An astute viewer might notice the red tinge on his ears. His four subordinates were astute viewers.
"Wow, your place is so nice!" Liz said as she walked in. The apartment was clean and simple. There was a living area off a small kitchenette and two doors. One lead to a small bedroom and the other to the bathroom.
"You can drop the act," Karma sighed as he headed for the kitchen.
"Oh, so you noticed," Liz replied, a little surprised.
"Kinda hard not to, to be honest," Karma opened the fridge. It was empty, of course. He closed it.
"I was doing it for morale. But it's not like it was completely an act. I just layered on the positive attitude," Liz stuck her tongue out in jest.
Karma hummed in acknowledgement. "As for sleeping arrangements, you can take the bed."
"Nah. I'll be more comfortable on the couch," Liz replied as she flopped onto said furniture.
"There's nothing here for dinner," Karma said. "But we can pick some stuff up at the convenience store nearby."
"Mkay. Afterwards can we play Mario Kart? I saw it on your shelf," Liz asked as she followed Karrma out of the small apartment.
"That depends, are you going to play fair?" Karma asked with a smirk.
Liz smiled, "Never!"
"Then you're on," Karma smiled as they headed out, the sun still far from setting.
The convenience store was a bit of a walk away, but the time passed quickly with relatively friendly chatter. It continued in the store as they picked various items to eat over the next few days. Karma checked out first, standing by the doors while Liz interacted with the clerk.
"Ne ne, sore wa kareshi desu ka?" the young clerk winked as she handed Liz a bag.
Liz choked slightly. "Chigau! Chigau! Niisan desu!" Liz replied with an awkward smile before walking towards Karma who was waiting by the door.
As they walked back to Karma's apartment, he smirked. "So how do you know Japanese so well? Calling me your brother back there?"
"I'd rather not be seen dating a guy five years older than me, and I'll bet it wouldn't look good for you either," Liz replied with annoyance, "But to answer your question, it was one of the perks of the old family business. We had… associates over here."
The two fell into a tense silence for a bit, until Karma abruptly took off at a quick pace.
"I'll race you back! Last one there has to sort recycling," Karma called as he began to jog ahead.
"No fair! You have all the advantages!" Liz called as she chased after him, laughing.
Ruminating on Jelavic's ironic suggestion that she should try to blend in, Fia found herself crossing the threshold of a stately library with Nagisa. The bluenette smiled patiently at her as she gawked bewilderedly in every direction.
"Where do I even begin?" she asked meekly, dropping her gaze to the floor.
Nagisa pointed towards a back row of books. "The language learning books should be right over there. Will you be okay while I look for some books of my own?"
Fia nodded, slowly then eagerly. She could do this. Probably. Before she lost her nerve, she turned on her heel and strode dramatically towards the shelves.
She thought, What is Jelavic always saying? Fake it until you make it? No, no. A wrong answer will result in a kiss! Yes, that was it. Fia shuddered. Failure to learn Japanese was not an option.
Tentatively, she picked up the first book, which had a smiling anime girl on the front. Hesitantly, she put it back. Each book she picked up was in Japanese… for other languages. English. Chinese. Chinese. English. Fia sighed exasperatedly as she placed the last book on the shelf.
"Nani ka o-sagashi desu ka?" a voice asked.
Eyes wide and cheeks red, Fia turned around to see a slender woman with waist-long, wavy black hair and thick eyelashes. "O-Oh. Um…"
The woman smiled at the obvious foreigner in front of her. She repeated, in English to Fia's relief, "Are you looking for something?"
"Y-Yes!" she stammered. "A book to learn… Japanese?" Fia said it like a question, like a timid offering to a wolf about to devour its prey.
The woman quirked a brow, but gestured for Fia to follow anyway. "This way."
The Italian-American scampered after the woman and struggled to think of any of the phrases Nagisa had gone over with her during their walk from his place.
This is a cat. The cat is black, she thought as they crossed the library foyer. She didn't notice Nagisa checking out the manga from a low shelf. Where is the bathroom? Where is the library? You idiot, we're already in the library.
"O-Onamae wa nan desu ka?" She sounded the words out loud, much to the other woman's surprise. Fia started sweating and internally kicked herself. The woman had just spoken English to her. Why did she attempt to botch Japanese?!
Just kill me now, she prayed to the gods of awkward interactions.
Still, the woman smiled, bemused. "Hazama." Kirara Hazama handed Fia a book. A children's book with a cute bunny on the front. Ears burning but no worse for wear, Fia took it with a sheepish smile. "Start there. Come back when you're ready for the next one," she explained.
Fia covered her red face with the book. "T-Thanks…"
She lowered the pages to give the woman a proper thanks, but Hazama was already gone. Instead, Fia saw Nagisa smiling and giving her a subtle wave from a few aisles away. She rushed over, eager to check out.
A little while later, Fia laid on her back on Nagisa's floor. Her hair created a comfortable auburn halo around her head, which was good for her because she knew she would be there awhile. She squinted through her reading glasses as she attempted to flip the page with the hand already holding the book-a maneuver which resulted in her dropping the book straight onto her face with a thwap!
Nagisa sat a low table beside her and looked up from his manga as he heard Fia sigh. "Having trouble?" he asked. "You know, I… Thought about being a teacher once, so maybe I can help."
Fia smiled as she sat up. "No, I didn't know that. A teacher, really?"
Nagisa smiled fondly. "Yeah, I guess you could say that I had a pretty inspirational teacher once. He believed in us when no one else did." He brought his azure gaze to hers. "I wanted to be like that too."
"But… You chose to work for the government instead?" she asked, tucking her knees under her chin.
"Yeah, I thought I had a talent for this… kind of work," he explained thoughtfully. "What about you?" he asked.
"Me?"
"You said your family is former mafia," Nagisa began. "I'm still trying to wrap my head around it, but do you ever think about that life?"
"Says the assassin-agent?"
Nagisa laughed. "Okay, you got me there."
Fia shifted in her seat as she contemplated his question. "Well, the key word there is was. My family was a lot of things. I've thought about it, sure, but my family sacrificed a lot to leave that life behind. And before you and Karma showed up, I was happy to just be a nerdy chemist ordering Chinese take out with her roommate!"
Nagisa deflated slightly. "You really think Haven is innocent?"
"I do," Fia replied, "You don't?"
"I'm not sure," Nagisa admitted. "I want to believe in her, but it's hard to."
"It is." Fia nodded in agreement, to Nagisa's surprise. "But I'd like to trust in Haven. I'd like to believe that she sent out that SOS because she cared about getting you to safety. I'd like to believe in the Haven who took our new Japanese roommate to the bookstore the day we met."
Nagisa let out a startled laugh. "Things come full circle, don't they?" He didn't know what to believe yet, but that was okay. "You know, Karma is still pretty upset…"
Fia sighed softly. "I know… I know it's hard to think that someone so close to you would betray you like that."
The bluenette shook his head. "No, I mean, I'm upset at Haven for that too. Even if you're right, and she hasn't betrayed us, she's still been keeping things from us this whole time." He smiled mirthlessly, then shook it off. "I meant he's upset with you, Fia."
"Oh." She bit her lip. "Yeah, I know I messed up there, but I'm also not going to be dishonest."
Nagisa waited for her to continue, but whatever she had left to say was surely meant for Karma and Karma alone. He shook off the bit of tension with a playful smile. "It's all fun and games until things get real."
His companion burst into a startled fit of laughter. As the two relaxed, they shared a smile, and Nagisa gestured to the book again. "Anyway, what are you struggling with?"
Fia groaned and waved her hand wildly through the air. "Why are there three writing systems?!" she demanded. "Three!"
"W-Well…"
"Well, look who's finally back in Japan!" A blonde man with scruffy hair and dark eyes approached Nagisa and Karma's table with two large bowls in hand.
Nagisa smiled widely. "It's good to see you, Muramatsu!" He glanced around the ramen bar, Matsuraiken, which was brimming with laughing customers.
"You too," he chuckled, placing the bowls on the table. "What are you doing back? I heard from Mimura you were working on something in the States."
"We were," Nagisa explained, "But that project led us here, so we thought we'd stop by. This looks amazing!" Muramatsu flourished with the compliment.
Beside him, Karma sniffed at his bowl of ramen and took a tentative bite before breaking into a grin. "Well, would you look at that. You finally improved your old man's recipe."
He laughed good-naturedly. "It really was bland, wasn't it? I tried a lot of things out after the School Festival. Itona helped a lot- Despite the insults, he really knows his ramen." Muramatsu threw his hands up with a smile.
"I can tell!" Nagisa beamed. "This is really good!"
"You don't say." Karma teased, "Nagisa, we're sitting in the presence of a grade-A chef!"
"Just you wait. I'm on my way to owning a chain of ramen bars. Soon, you'll see a Matsuraiken in every major city!"
"I don't doubt it," Karma said with a smile. "Just remember to save a seat for us now and again."
"Only if you promise to come around more often! We missed you at the last reunion!"
After that, Muramatsu rushed back to the kitchen, but not before packing a bag to go for his former classmates from 3-E. Karma and Nagisa ate cheerily together, the heavy memory of L.A. and the mission now seeming miles and miles away.
While Nagisa was out with Karma, Fia wandered around the city with Liz in search of food. After being gone for so long, Nagisa's fridge was, unsurprisingly, barren. Fia wanted more to eat than instant noodles, and Nagisa hadn't wanted her to walk around alone, so she had called Liz.
Thus, armed with Liz, a dictionary, and a few translation apps on her phone, Fia felt equipped to walk the city streets. Or, at least, desperate enough for a break to chance it.
The pair wove their way around the city, stopping at various tourist spots like Tokyo Tower and the Meiji Shrine.
Eventually, they found themselves sharing a booth in Kunugi-kaze, a small cafe. The bright atmosphere, polished wooden tables, and verdant planters that separated each booth had caught their eye.
Fia took a spoonful of a miniature pastry and slid the plate over to Liz to share. As Liz dug in, she pushed the children's book, cute rabbit cover and all, back towards Fia in exchange.
"Alright, so it looks like you've mastered counting to ten and colors," Liz covered her mouth to suppress her laughter as she teased.
Fia pouted back, just before she broke into laughter too. "Alright, I know it's bad. It's hard! And, before you start-" she wagered her spoon threateningly, "-performing in plays is different than learning a whole new language! There aren't enough thees and thys and thous in the world that could have prepared me for this."
Liz rolled her eyes but smiled. "Whatever you say, Guinevere."
Fia shot Liz a look. "I don't know what Brian told you, but I'd much rather perform La traviata or La bohème because it's much more heartbreaking and emotional to watch when-"
"Well, look, Kanji!" Liz flipped open the book to a random page and pointed. Fia flinched, all of her excitement shot dead with one word.
"No more, please!"
The server about to pour the exasperated woman more tea looked started, and Liz quickly had to step in. Smiling, the server poured the tea, bowed her head, and then greeted two middle-aged women by the names Harada and Ito. Liz cocked her head, listening for a moment to their conversation.
"What is it?" Fia asked.
Liz blew a few stray strands of dark hair from her face. "Nothing, really. They were just gushing about how some Prince Charming used to work here."
"Prince Charming or not, thish place shure does know howta make cake~" she chimed cheerfully.
"Hey, I thought we were sharing! Rude."
"I've been studying all day; I deserve this!"
After talking for a while longer (and ordering another cake as an apology), Fia stretched in her seat. Noticing this, Liz spoke up.
"Wanna go visit Harajuku?" she suggested. "The boys aren't expecting us for a few hours more."
"Sure! I've always been curious about the street fashion there," Fia grinned. "It was never quite mama's style, but that didn't mean she didn't keep up to date on the trends."
"Watashi tashi ga iru mani hon'yakushi masu (I'll even translate while we're there)," Liz smiled.
"Basta, non capisco! (Enough, I don't understand!)"
"What do you think?" Liz grinned as she walked out of the changing rooms wearing a cute red and black gothic lolita outfit. She gave a twirl and made a cutesy pose. "It's only like 50,000 yen for the whole outfit."
"If you like it, go for it," Fia smiled, brandishing a credit card.
Liz deadpanned, "You have too much spending money."
"Well, with my family background…" Fia embarrassedly took to inspecting a clothing tag.
Liz thought for a moment, "Then again, I guess, a few years ago, I would have said the same." She returned to the dressing room, "So are you going to try anything on?"
"I'm not sure anything will fit." Fia sweatdropped.
"I'm sure we can find something," Liz called from the dressing rooms. "Let me dress you up."
Fia flushed. "Oh, um, sure! I was just planning on looking, but I can try something on."
"Well, what style are you looking for? I'm pretty familiar with lolita, but Harajuku style's kinda all about just wearing what makes you happy." Now dressed in her usual black and red hoodie and jeans, Liz smiled as she walked back to Fia. "Honestly, I'll probably just find some accessories to go with what I'm wearing now and call it a day. Maybe find some platform boots..."
She shrugged, but her gaze lingered on a swath of soft green fabric. Liz plucked the skirt off its rack, grabbed Fia by the wrist, and towed the flustered woman around. By the time she was done, Fia, dressed in an abundance of flowing pastel green with delicate flowers and vibrant butterfly pins woven into her hair, could have easily been described as a woodland fairy.
"You look great!"
"Thank you!" Fia beamed. "I couldn't have done it without you."
The younger woman just gave Fia a curt nod. "Wanna get crepes?" She suggested.
"Please!" Fia rushed to disrobe, and the duo walked out of the shop towards the nearest crepe stand, about two blocks down.
"So is everything good between you and Karma?"
"Not yet, but I hope they will be," Fia started, taken aback by the sudden interest. "We have a lot to talk about."
Liz looked like she was about to respond when she yanked Fia onto a side street with her and whipped out her phone, taking a quick picture.
"What's going on?" Fia asked.
"Shhh. Look over there," Liz pointed down the road and crossed the street. Fia's eyes widened as she spotted a pale girl enter a store.
"Is that?"
"I think so. We should see what she's up to," Liz paused and then gave Fia a determined look. "I'll be up front. If we follow her, and it is her, I'm reporting everything to the rest of the team."
"That- Yeah, okay, that's fine by me."
The two girls entered the store, looking towards various items while keeping their target in their periphery. She was easy to keep track of in her poofy black dress. The pale girl they had seen entering the store was swiftly joined by a girl with pastel pink hair. She was dressed in a frilly pastel purple dress. Liz inhaled sharply.
"What is it?" Fia whispered.
"I recognize the other one. I need to get out of here ASAP," Liz put her hood up and headed for the entrance of the boutique. "Text me when you confirm if that's Haven."
Aiming to keep hidden, Fia turned and began meandering around the store a bit. She was pretty sure that was Haven, but she would need a clear view of the girl's face to be certain.
The girl in black suddenly excused herself. Fia followed, led towards a secluded hallway.
Stopping at the end of the hall, the stranger turned around, arms crossed. "I know you're following me. Keep doing it and I'll tell the guards keeping an eye on me."
Left Brain: We're finally in Japan! Sorry for the late post, I was dying because of moving and grad school…
Right Brain: Sorry if this wasn't as exciting or fun a chapter as you hoped, but we'll be back into the action soon! I'm so glad we finally got to see some more Class 3-E students! We're hoping to bring more in future chapters~ Are there any students you're really hoping to see? ( o w o )*
Narrator: Next time, we jump back into the action and a 50th chapter special about being stuck inside!
Right Brain: Too relatable right now… (T ^ T)
Left Brain: ALSO I hate to do this, but I am in grad school hell and my schedule is whack. That lovely little uploading schedule we tried to maintain is gone.
Right Brain: I was lucky enough to finally find a job after 6 months of searching, which I started today! I can't guarantee anything, but we'll try not to disappear too long this time!
