When I opened the door, the big U separated, allowing for a dramatic entrance.
The inside impressed me even more with dark oak flooring, a scarlett square carpet in the middle of the room, crimson walls, bookshelves, a comfy red couch, my own desk, a high-back office chair, and an empty bulletin board on the wall.
Naoki seemed to be more surprised than I am.
"Forgot to mention, you two will be sharing the same office, and the same room. Except for your weapons... and your clothes."
Naoki's face struck with disappointment, but we don't really have a choice.
"Wait, this is the office?" Naoki asked.
"Also why is there a giant U on the door when we're sharing the same room?"
"Yeah, I guess so since there's no bed. Also you're the sidekick remember? That's why there's a U on the door, for Uno obviously."
I patted Naoki on the shoulder with a smug grin resting on my face.
Sitting in my... well our office chair and exploring the desk, the drawers swiftly caught my attention.
Curious what's inside, I opened it and saw two briefcases, A large one and a smaller one.
Having an idea of what the smaller briefcase held. My gaze quickly shifted to Mr. Watanabe.
He didn't say anything and only responded with a slight nod.
Inside the briefcase, a custom-made handgun. Featuring a sleek, modern design, an ambidextrous handle, while still keeping the matte polymer frame.
Along with seven spare magazines for the gun, and surprisingly not a single suppressor inside.
I closed the briefcase and put it on top the desk beside the lamp, grabbed the bigger one and laid it on the table.
"That's for later. We should go downstairs
and prepare for your... warm up."
A small part of me was dissapointed. But still, I stood up and stretched my arms, and cracked my neck. Preparing for the warm up.
"Let's go Saitou, Mr. Watanabe already left."
***
On our way to the underground garage
Naoki curiously asked with a slight smirk on his face, acting like a clueless child.
"So... do I get a gun?"
"Yes." Mr. Watanabe answered.
"Is it also customized or special?"
"No." Mr. Watanabe answered with the same cold tone of voice.
"Well, that sucks."
Turning to me he asked yet another question.
"Say Saitou, is it really an underground garage if we're already underground?"
"No, no it's not"
As we reached the garage, a guy leaning on the back of a car in a cocky but cool way, was waiting for us.
With his eyes closed and arms crossed. Like he's sunbathing but upright. He had a menacing aura surrounding him.
"Who's this guy? Some sort of an ex-convict
street racer?"
I followed with a mild chuckle.
Yes, he's wearing a literal red racing suit, with his long black hair tied to a pony tail, tanned skin, grey eyes of an experienced fighter, and looking to be about 25-30 years of age. He really looke like an ex-convict.
The street racer looked at both Naoki and I, as if judging if we're the right people for this kind of job. But before he could say anything Mr. Watanabe cut him off.
"Not quite. He will be your personal driver. Kuromaku, ex-hitman and ex-personal driver of mine. He's a living ghost that is... reawakened, for this specific mission."
"Is he really an ex-hitman? He looks too young."
"..."
"Fuauahhauahahahah."
Naoki laughed mockingly, not even trying to hold it in. Nobody even said anything funny.
"A ghost in a racing outfit? What in the actual fu-"
Kuromaku cut him off before he finished.
"Got a problem, sidekick?"
Naoki's laughter ceased immediately, but the mocking grin still remained.
"Awww, is someone mad they couldn't retire?"
Kuromaku put a slight smirk on his face. Looking at Naoki for some time before he finally turned to Mr. Watanabe, then to me.
"So, this is the new guy, sir?"
"Yes, this is him."
Kuromaku took a few steps towards my direction, his eyes scanning me from top to bottom.
"Heard we'll be working for a few months. Sure you can handle it?"
"I've handled enough. More than enough." My voice confident.
"Warm up starts in two minutes. Better get ready."
Mr. Watanabe gestured on his clock, signifying it's time to go.
"Yes, sir."
We then got inside the car and strapped our seatbelts on. Kuromaku started the car. The royal blue manual BMW E60 M5 growled to life.
"Naoki you have a different mission, come with me."
For the last time, Naoki asked.
"Do I also get a cool car? My own car? And my own driver?"
"You'll ride in my vehicle, no questions asked."
"Is it cool?"
"No."
"...Woah I suddenly hate my life."
Naoki walked back to the elevator,
just hating on himself and the prime minister.
Mr. Watanabe released a deep sigh while rubbing his forehead.
"Kids nowadays. Quite ungrateful for unnecessary reasons."
Shaking his head, Mr. Watanabe went to the elevator as well, following Naoki.
Left alone with Kuromaku, he didn't say a word the whole time and we just drove upward a very long tunnel, until finally we were out the base and now on the streets of England.
"Alright, what do I do?"
His eyes met mine trough the rear view mirror.
"According to Mr. Watanabe, you are tasked with eliminating a specific target on the road. I'll tell you when the target is in view, and when I do, utilize the firearms located under the seat."
"Firearms? Aren't we out in punlic right now? Using a firearm seems like a bad idea."
"Don't worry about that. Focus on your mission."
I doubted him for a few seconds, but since this is Mr. Watanabe's mission, I'm sure he has taken this into account and has a valid reason for it.
In the middle of the drive, a convoy of a black Mitsubishi Lancer Evos was zig-zagging on the road recklessly. The car was also very attention grabbing.
"I've located it."
"That's not the target, probably just a drunkard."
I exhaled a profound sigh, still incapable of discerning where the target actually is. Until Kuromaku pointed something out.
"Do you see that?"
"What? Is it the target?"
"The red vehicle, next to the pavement."
Seeing a painfully ordinary red hatchback brought profound disappointment, almost prompting a reevaluation of my life's choices.
"You must be joking. Is my target someone who works nine-to-five. Some dude who still has student debts."
"I know this is probably you're first mission but learn not to underestimate anything like that."
As my lamentations persisted, I checked under the seat to see what type of gun I'll be using. An M4 Carbine with an underbarrel grenade launcher was just below me this whole time.
"Hey is this thing loaded?"
"Yes."
I immediately put the M4 at a safe distance and pretended nothing happened. At the same time, the target emitted black smoke from its exhaust, resulting in a sudden vanishing act amidst the traffic. Kuromaku and I both froze momentarily.
Did the driver already notice us?
"What are you hesitating for? You're the one behind the wheel. Go get it!"
Kuromaku floored the throttle and shifted the gears. The V10 engine howled louder and higher. Until we spotted the anonymous red car again. Since the target basically smoke bombed the road back there, there's not much civilian cars around.
"Hold on tight."
"Why?"
"Just hold tight!"
"You're not gonna do what I'm thinking, are you?"
"I'm gonna do what you're thinking, so hold tight and shut up."
Kuromaku charged at the target like an angry bull in an arena. I cursed in shock and lashed back, as the tinier red car launched and rolled over from the impact.
"Turn back!"
He reversed back to the road. I grabbed the M4 carbine with the underbarrel launcher in the backseat, and jumped out of the running car. Then immediately rolling on the road to lessen the impact, and fired a single shot, a single shot of the launcher. This of course resulted in a large and attention-grabbing explosion.