Chapter 21 Those Awkward Conversations
Is it a play on probability? Or is it just a stroke of luck? The woman whom Tatsumi could never forget is currently standing right in front of him. The poor boy has forgotten all of the beatings he had received in the last hour, while excitement and anger slowly saturate the young heart.
It feels like the second when you realize that the item for which you are looking in hours is just resting in your hands.
"Ugh… I finally found you! You big busty blond thief! Everything is your fault! I had to sleep on the streets, and then became abducted by a family of sick people, and almost beaten to death by their devilish daughter… Everything, everything, everything is your fault!" Seeing the familiar enemy, Tatsumi's blood starts to boil.
If one must find the ultimate reason for Tatsumi's misfortune, then that answer would lie within this attractive lion-like lady.
"You! It's you! That blond woman! I have found you! At last!"
Tears of contentment starts to flow down Tatsumi's cheeks.
"I will not let you get away this time! I will show you what it means to cross me!"
It seems like someone does not understand the difference between bravery and stupidity.
…
Finishing observing the idiotic Tatsumi, Akame turns to look at the blond lion again. Voices are not going to come out of her lungs, but her eyes are expressing everything: why wouldn't you let me kill this baffling idiot?
"Ah… yeah… about that… oh come on…. As a young man, you should be open-minded with your own coins when it comes to fair ladies."
…
Observing the situation in front of him, his own predicament has just become incredibly complex. Judging from the casual entrance of Leone, it is clear that the guards outside of the warehouse has been eliminated. Considering the ease shown on her face, it is right to assume that either the blond and the black-haired ladies are expert killers, or they have a backup team waiting somewhere outside.
"External factors inserted. Further information requires to be taken before calculating the more efficient course of action."
"Electron manipulation – Type Delta."
"?!"
Just as the entire world view changes from the dark room into a space of particles, something unexpected spontaneously materializes in Hei's eyes.
Instead of a world of moving electrons, something silver rushes into Hei's range of sight. Observing the incomplete shape, Hei can tell that the silver object is gradually forming into the outline of… a person?
What?
Is it?
The lack of understanding is making Hei logically unstable. He would not feel any standards of discomfort, but the unknown is always unsettling to a certain degree when combining with Hei's thoughtful planning behind his actions.
Observing from the silver light itself, it is not just simple photons. It cannot be classified as electrons either, as it does not process any negative charge. It is something that Hei has not seen before.
Rationally speaking, Hei should have his caution initiated when facing the unknown form of energy, but something about it… something inside this ray of light… something seems…
Intimate.
"Hei."
"?!"
Is it illusion? Is it hallucination? Did the silver energy just… talked?!
Being an artificial human, Hei is not supposed to sense emotions; however, his eyes widened at the calling of his name from that silver shadow… that form of a person.
Who is it? No, what is it?
Staggering forward, Hei unintendedly raises his eyes toward the center of the figure of light.
Becoming more and more stable, the figure begins to settle down upon the ground. As the silver light becomes more and more concentrated, the outline of the figure becomes more and more clear.
"Hei."
The calling is heard again.
This time, it is clearer, louder, and simpler.
It was not misconception or delusion – the figure did speak.
The outline is judgable now. The silver shadow has formed into the figure of a person. From the high intensity of the glow, one can conclude that this figure resembles a girl. The flowing long hair, the slender arms and legs, and the voice of femininity can all contribute to her characteristics.
"Hei."
Unanticipatedly, a small glimpse of purple arises.
And then, everything resolves back to the dark room again.
What the hell just happened?!
…
Searching almost inconceivably to find that glimpse of purple, Hei soon discovers that what resides at where the silver figure appeared is only a shade of crimson.
That familiar red eyes.
…
At the same time, the other members of Night Raid gradually move out of their hidings, and steps into the black room.
"It seems like we are having some problems. The empire soldiers are rushing this way," Mine looks at the blonde with an irritated expression while holding her Teigu in her arms, preparing to fire at any time, "Leone, you must speed it up. We have to go."
"Ugh, fine. Well, I guess we can take this boy with us," Leone smiles at Tatsumi playfully, and turns to look at the stoic Hei, "care to join us? You are severely outnumbered here."
"Hey! What are you saying? What do you mean by 'take this boy with us'? Where are you going?"
Looking at the gathering team, Tatsumi feels as if he has just gotten himself into a new string of trouble.
Surveying his surroundings, Hei notices that the woman named Leone is telling the truth. He has absolute confidence that his perfect calculations of manipulating his body movements can be utilized to overcome the girl he fought eventually, but too many additional factors are presented at the moment. It is hard to devise a plan when too much are unknown.
In addition, who was that silver figure?
Intentionally observing the black-haired girl again, Hei has just made his decisions.
A small nod is all he is showing.
"Perfect! Hey, Akame, let's have a competition on which one of us can bring the newbies back to our headquarters," formulating a big smile on her face, Leone jumps at the innocent boy, "I will take this one!"
"Wait! What are you –"
BANG!
And Tatsumi is back to his state of unconsciousness again.
"…"
Looking at Leone with her prey, Akame slowly walks up to the masked man in the room with Murasame in her arms.
"Why didn't you attack?"
This is probably the first time for Akame to ask a question like this. It seems like she is embarrassed by the fact that her enemy did not take the previous pause to propose a sneak attack on her or her teammates.
The crimson eyes are not conveying a stare of death anymore. Instead, they are showing a burning fire of confusion, anger, and disappointment.
"You are not an enemy."
Surprisingly, Hei decides to answer that question, and the emotionless deep voice in turn echoes around the room, greeting the other incomers with cold shivers.
"Oh?" Akame tilts her head to her left side, and hesitantly stretches out her right hand, "You, are weird."
"You, as well."