"B-Black Cat won't b-be here tonight," the girl had stuttered. Her voice had been barely above a whisper, and Ayame remembers wondering if she was cold. The child certainly looked it, with the way she had been holding her arm close to her body like it was about to fall off.
"H-He—He's ill," the girl continued.
"What?" Ayame's sure she furrowed her eyebrows so much it became a unibrow. The boy had been perfectly healthy the day before, and capable of jumping from buildings. She still doesn't understand how people's health can fluctuate so much.
"Um…" There was silence, until the girl finally bowed from her waist and fled.
Ayame returns her attention to the Jouishishi crowd, and spots her target near the table of food. He's drinking sake and is tipsy, but surprisingly alone, and Ayame doesn't know any better opportunity. As she grabs her kunai, she feels slightly disappointed that the Black Cat isn't able to watch her skills in fast assassinations; but the mission is too easy, anyway.
Like a set-up, a voice tells her, but she releases her kunai with the usual speed and accuracy.
She escapes before anyone can realize her target is dead.