Three people stood at the back alley of a moneylender building. The two men is patiently listening while the woman is telling a story.
"He's usually not like this" the woman sobbed. "I'm sure something came up. Please give him another week"
"That will double the interest, miss" Tanaka tom said trying his best to be calm unlike his blond companion.
"But if you double the interest then he really can't pay you back" the woman furrowed her brows, tears glittering in her eyes. Tom gave a frustrated sigh.
"Tom-san, I'm leaving" Shizuo pocketed his hands to calm him down and started walking. He really wanted to threaten her but he don't hit women.
"Ok. Just make sure he pays next week" He heard Tom say before walking after him. The two quietly walked on the street of the city fishing the other people who exceeded the deadline in paying. Once again, Shizuo thought of the girl then his conversation with Izaya the other day.
"You've been spacing out a lot these days" Tom remarked looking at Shizuo.
"Just thinking about some things" Shizuo answered.
"I wonder what could that be"
"Nothing important"
Tom looked at his companion curiously, Shizuo don't space out with something unimportant. "Is it really unimportant or you just thinking that it is?" Shizuo gave a shrug and went back to his own thoughts.
Darkness started to swallow the streets of Ikebukuro but the numerous neon signs easily countered it and the light posts scattered all over the city. Shizuo is finally alone walking home since his job is done until he heard the neigh of Celty's motorcycle. Just like the others, he also looked at the direction of the sound. From the direction she's going it looks like she's going home. He thought and continued to walk home until an idea hit him. Shizuo looked back at the disappearing dullahan and the name Kirigaya Seven crossed his mind. He turned back and walked towards the place of a certain doctor.
It's been a while since he visited the two. The last time he went there is during the yellow scarves accident and it wasn't even considered a visit. Now that it reminds him, Seven used to be the one treating his wounds and Kasuka is the one calming him by giving him milk. Like Shinra and Celty, he was also surprised when she suddenly appeared in the Kishitani household. Knowing about her circumstances, Shizuo and his brother just go with the flow with her weirdness. It wasn't that long that the brothers got attached with Seven despite her being twisted, Shizuo gained a sister while Kasuka had a rival. Until 5 years ago, Shingen forcefully dragged her away and months later, they were given a news that Seven became an underground transporter, Kirien. Shizuo nearly killed the older Kishitani for that, unfortunately, Kasuka stopped him.
He haven't seen Seven since she left Ikebukuro, just news about her being the mysterious and the best transporter in Kanagawa. At least that time he knew she's doing her best, until 3 years later she disappeared. Since then he didn't know what happened to her. Shizuo ran his hand through his blond hair and sighed. Since Shinra is also from the underground, he might have some news about Seven.
Shinra crossed his arms and started to think, Celty sat beside him, waiting for him to talk. Shizuo just stared at the doctor expecting some useful news.
"I thought she already visited you" Shinra said. "It's been a week since she last came here"
"So she's here in Ikebukuro?" Shizuo asked and Celty confirmed it by typing a yes. "How is she?"
She looks fine. Celty typed. She looks healthy.
"You really do care for her even though she's not you're real sister"
"Anyway, why is she here?" the blond brushed off the four-eyes remark.
"I don't know. She just cooked for us then left" Shinra shrugged. He left the part that Seven confirmed she's behind the suicides and deaths, he should know that by now.
"Killing spree?" Shizuo asked Shinra shook his head. "Where is she?"
We don't know. Celty answered.
"She came here and you didn't even ask where she stay?" Shizuo tapped his finger on the table.
"He might know" Shinra answered in an instant hoping to lessen the blond's anger but he remembered those two are not in good terms.
"You expect me to ask the flea?!" Shizuo bellowed and stood up.
He's the only one who might know, since he's also from the underground. Celty panicked in explaining seeing Shizuo already lifted the table.
"Celty's right, ypu want to know where Seven is right?" Shinra put his hands up in surrender.
"Fine. You two will come with me" Shizuo sighed and put the table down.
He wanted to see his sister badly. Shinra and Celty thought in surprise.
"What are you two doing? Let's go" Shizuo ordered and left the room. The two followed relieved that they were spared from the wrath of the great Heiwajima Shizuo.
Seven slouched back on the couch in Izaya's office while the man is sitting on his office chair, busy talking on the phone. She is slowly getting bored of waiting for Izaya to finish speaking with his minion but in the same time, she's enjoying watching Namie read. The woman doesn't even care anyway. Namie checked her watch, closed the file and stood up.
"I'm going to prepare dinner; do you have any food in mind?" Namie asked Seven who stared back.
"Can I cook, Namie-san" Seven suddenly asked out of boredom.
"Huh?" The woman stared back and looked at Izaya who is still busy on the phone and didn't hear the girl's request.
"I know how to cook and I won't do a cliché act like mixing poison" Seven assured the woman and looked at the busy man. "But I can put some on his"
"No poisoning" Namie said. "Just call me if you need help," she then went back to reading.
"Sure thing" Seven then happily stood up and headed to the kitchen.
Minutes later, Izaya finally finished talking on the phone and looked at the clock curious to see Namie returning the files not cooking. "Where's Kirien?" he asked and Namie gestured to the kitchen.
Izaya entered the kitchen to see Seven concentrated in cooking. Unlike her usual messy hairstyle, she put her hair up neatly and wearing an apron. Unknown to them two a knock was heard and Namie was the one who opened the door.
"What seasoning do you want? Insecticide, pesticide… bleach?" Seven simply asked noticing the man behind her.
"I hate you too" Izaya replied with an irritated tone.
"Good, the feeling is mutual" She nodded to herself, changed the fire to low, and raised her brows to Izaya. "So?"
"They started to recruit notorious criminals, looks like your last threat alarmed them" Izaya started. Seven thought back, her last threat is hanging the man in a large tree after being fed alive to rabid dogs. She also put the usual white flower in his wounds. "This time you killed him slowly, you're cruel, Kirien. You're interesting but I'm starting to dislike you"
"That's good news for me," The girl smiled. She then picked a softened beef in the pot and faced it to Izaya. "Taste test"
Izaya reached for the fork and took a bite "It's good". Seven gave a look of 'okay' and turned the stove off. Izaya looked back to call Namie but was greeted by an unexpected guests.
"Shinra, Celty and-" Izaya smiled playfully "Shizu-chan. What a surprise."
"I came here for a reason flea" Shizuo gritted his teeth to control his temper. After seeing the scene earlier, his anger multiplied.
"The reason is?" The flea smiled.
"Sev" Shizuo said with his low voice, Seven tensed, he then clenched his fists and glared at Izaya. "You're threatening her to be your cook?!"
"Wait Shizuo" Shinra stepped between the two parties stopping the blond from executing a punch. "Let's hear Seven's side first"
The girl's mind calmly thought of a lie, simple yet believable. 'I just offered to cook for him? I happen to meet him outside? He's an old friend who helped me in the past and I'm just returning a favor. Yes, that's acceptable. "Shizu-nii, he-"
"You still did not tell them?" Izaya cut her sentence and smiled at Seven, she looked at him confused.
"What?" Shinra asked looking at Izaya then to Seven and back to the man. Seven thought about her real objective and started to signal the information broker not to say a word. Namie watched from the sidelines.
What is it? Celty typed getting anxious as the clock tick.
The information broker lovingly smiled at Seven "Seriously, you can't find courage to tell them"
"What?!" Shizuo growled obviously fuming.
Izaya walked towards the girl, put his arm around her shoulder and smiled at the three. "Is it bad for a girl to cook for her boyfriend?"
The three guest's gaped in disbelief. Namie laughed silently and muttering 'this is hilarious'. Seven forced herself to smile shyly to keep the gig from failing, but deep inside she wanted to bang her head so hard hoping that this is only a bad dream. She secretly glared at Izaya.Where is the damned knife when I need it?!