Chapter 5

After the Kido Rescue Mission ended, things became awkward for me and Tsugumi. We had to work together everyday in that small cramped room, and our constant bickering only made it worse. We were extremely adept to retorts and comebacks 2 weeks in. However, we eventually got to a somewhat professional level after 2 months. I was nearly finished with the new encryption for the Undertaker's base, and Tsugumi managed to get the Enclave system up to an even higher senstivity.
Eventually, I had to do a proper entry test, even though I was practically a full-time member. My challenge was simple. I had to beat Tsugumi at a one-on-one duel. I passed with flying colors, catching her off-guard. To this day, she's extremely salty about it, saying she wasn't ready. And now, Shu's going to do his test to become an official member, as well.

"Come on, Shu!" I cheer.

"You know he's gonna lose, right?" Tsugumi asks, right next to me. We're both watching.

"Yeah. I know. He's screwed." I say, depressed. Unless that guy pulls off a miracle, he's not going to officially join us.
"You want the grape or cherry?" she asks, refering to my drink preference.

"You already know I live on grape juice."
"I know, just asking." she hands me a bottle. "What the- look over there!" she points towards the battle.
"Holy..." Shu just used Argo's void to win!
"Get in!" I scream, running towards Shu, clearly taken aback by his win. "Congrats man! How the hell did you think of that!"
"I don't know, I just-"
"Good job!" Tsugumi yells, as her cheerful self. Only to other people, just not to me.

"Well done. Didn't expect that." Ayase says, now in her wheelchair.
"How'd you lose to this punk?" I say jokingly.

"When Tsugumi lost to you, that's when I believed anything was possible." she replies.

"Hey guys!" I hear a voice. "There's a meeting on the next operation! Saul, Tsugumi, get the video ready!" That's our cue.

"Alright Shu, I'll see you later."
"Where are you going?"
"I need to set up some stuff."
"Ok, see ya!" Shu starts talking to Argo.

Tsugumi and I start walking down the corridor to our workroom.

"The cameras are set up correctly, right?" Tsugumi asks.

"Of course, exactly as Gai wanted them to be. We can look at the Leukocytes perfectly from my angle."
"You and your angles. How much work do you put into your cameras?" she pouts.

"Cameras are everywhere! Might as well get them right. I put up so many cameras in this place, it's impenetrable! Not to mention when my new firewall kicks in."
"I bet there's a camera here too, isn't there?"

"Of course! I bet there's one that has live feed focused on your breasts." I tease.

"Hey! Don't joke about that!"
"Come on, don't be so pushy. It's just a tease."
"How about this- woah!" Tsugumi trips while trying to push me over.

"Ah!" I yell, falling over. "That's just being a-"

She's right on top of me.

"..." I stare at her.

"..." She stares back.

We both stand up and compose ourselves within the span of 2 seconds.

I cough. "Don't do that kind of stuff, ok?"
"Noted." she's blushing heavily.

"BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!" I hear warning bells.

"What the hell?" Tsugumi says, looking around.

"My God..." I say, turning the live feed on for the entire building.

She turns, then turns back. She doesn't want to see it.

The Leukocyte has struck, and our hideout's in shambles. I don't see any movement or sign of life.

Gai's been murdered by GHQ.