I braced myself, grabbing my gun and leaning out the window. Up ahead, a tall 10-wheeler truck blocked the road.
The biker slipped under it. While I dropped back inside the car, lying flat preparing myself, as the windscreen frame crumpled on impact and the roof tore loose.
The car shot out from beneath the truck, taillights cutting through the air. The V10 engine didn't whistle, it roared.
The roof ripped away along with the rear panels and the windscreen, leaving it looking like a high-performance convertible, only without a windscreen.
The backrests at the front snapped upright again, ready for whatever came next.
Now we were side by side the bike on the right, us on the left. Kuromaku didn't waste any time and moved in closer.
I raised the AKS, aimed, and fired. With him blocking the rider off, and slowly closing the gap, the bullets easily found their mark.
It hit one of his tires, forcing him to slide sideways just to stop and crash on a nearby traffic light with a loud bang.
Kuromaku also slowed down, eventually coming to a halt only a few feet away from the target.
I got out of the car, walking towards him whilst clicking my tounge, acting cocky.
"Oh, dear. Did the heat get to you?"
My arms grabbed him by the collar, of course I didn't lift him up as my legs still hurt but it was enough as a threat. Behind me Kuromaku aimed his gun at the biker, ready to shoot.
"Who are you?" I asked, calm and cold.
He didn't answer in words, instead choosing to shake his head in response.
"Don't make me repeat myself. Who are you, and what were you doing down... there?"
The biker still didn't respond, so I shot him in the foot, a nice and clean shot. He groaned in pain, trying his best not to scream.
After a while, he finally raised both his arms, admitting defeat.
My voice was firm. "Take it off."
He hesitated for a bit, then dramatically took of his helmet while muttering something.
"You're crazy, man."
"..."
his voice was familiar, no... his face was familiar.
I released my grip and stepped back covering my mouth in shock.
The man took off his helmet entirely, revealing his grey hair and eyes as he released another painful groan.
"Hey Saitou, it's me. Your bestfriend, Yuta!"
At that moment, it felt like the world went silent. Every car's honk, every scream, it all faded away.
And in this defeaning silence, my voice echoed.
"The fuck are you doing here, Yuta?"
"..."
" Would you believe me if I say it was a coincidence?"
***
I clicked my tongue, this time in annoyance. The traffic light flickered from red to green, and I began hearing the world around us scream yet again.
At that point I realised that we were making quite a huge scene. Some people were even filming us like we're animals in some sort of zoo.
"It's... inconvenient here, we're going to HQ, explain yourself there. That bike still works?"
"Of course... not. So, can you give me a ride?"
I didn't answer, and slowly walked back to the car. Waving my hand as a signal for him to follow.
I have a lot of questions for him. So let's just get this over with.
***
Kuromaku drove back to the underground garage, while Yuta and the cashier were passed out, tired.
"So, you're not going to tell me who that guy is?"
"It's better to talk when Mr. Watanabe is here. Actually, where is he?"
"Mr. Watanabe is the prime minister. He's not going to be here all the time, you know?" He said, his voice tired.
The car rolled smoothly into the garage, and Kuromaku got out. I followed him toward the elevator when a hand suddenly clamped down on my shoulder.
I turned around to see Yuta, yawning so wide it nearly hit my face, he'd just woken up.
"~~ I can't believe you guys actually forgot about me. You know I'm the cause for all of this right?"
"Right, you are. Follow us to my office then."
The two of us walked toward the elevator, where Kuromaku was waiting. Yuta supported me, noticing I was having trouble keeping my balance.
We stepped inside just as Kuromaku closed the doors behind us, and the elevator began to rise.
Still, I couldn't shake the feeling that we'd forgotten something.
***
Curled up on the couch, my body sinking into the cushions, as I released a contented sigh. Looking to the side, Kuromaku was sitting besides Yuta on the other couch.
I released another sigh, this one tired and a little frustrated, before calling Yuta.
"Say Yuta, what were you actually doing down at the abandoned base?"
Yuta, hearing my question, hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Well... I was looking for a criminal, a man in his twenties that has been running around selling abandoned buildings for profit. In simple words, a scammer."
"Just tell me the truth." I could tell he was lying. Despite shooting his foot a while ago, we're still technically best friends.
Pausing, he looked around the room, as if watching out for something... or someone.
"I'm... not supposed to tell you this, but Mr. Watanabe is hiding something from you."
At this point, Kuromaku had enough, and slammed the table in front of him, before standing up.
"Enough, Saitou we can't trust him."
I looked at him then back at Yuta. Pretty curious what he has to say, I decided to let him continue
"Wait Kuromaku, let's let him explain first."
"Seriously? After what he said."
My gaze met his, a strong determination in my eyes, asking him to at least try and understand Yuta first before doing anything rashly.
Kuromaku calmed down and sat back on the coach. Still, he eyed Yuta from time to time.
Yuta has a point, I do trust Mr. Watanabe but he's keeping too many secrets. And also, is Yuta a mercenary as well? I have to ask him later.
Plus, it's still up to me whether to believe him or not.
"Then I'll continue, this is concerning our main enemy, about who it is exactly."
My voice was getting impatient. "Then tell us already."
"Our enemy isn't someone, it's something... it's AI."
"..."
"..."
After Yuta's dramatic introduction of our "main enemy", an awkward silence ensued.
"You're joking... right?"
"No... well... I don't have proof but-"
"That's enough out of you." Kuromaku interjected once again, this time I agree with him.
"Yuta, I'm assuming you're also a mercenary like Naoki and I. Yes, let's start with that.
Yuta shifted awkwardly on his seat, as if embarrassed by what he's about to say.
"Well yes, I'm also a mercenary. Sorry for keeping it a secret but I was ordered to."
"Yeah, I had an idea you were a mercenary, you were always on that part time job of yours after all."
"Now, for how I know about this. An... informant of sorts told me."
I raised an eyebrow, is that really all he's going to say?
Out of the blue, Naoki burst into the room, slamming the doors to the side. He was holding a big white plastic bag, while wearing a... chicken suit?
He looked around the room, eventually locking eyes with Yuta. A schocked but happy expression on his face.
"Yoo! It's my boy Yuta!"
Immediately after saying this, he dapped
Yuta up, before shaking his hands.
"You really know how to make an entrance huh."
Kuromaku looked at the both of them, confused, raising an eyebrow.
"So, all three of you know each other? And also, are we just ignoring the chicken suit?"
"Yeah, you should've gotten a white one you know. It'll look much cleaner." Yuta added.
He stared blankly ahead, his eyes unfocused, as if trapped in a memory he couldn't escape.
"Hey, you okay?" I asked concerned.
Thankfully he snapped out of it. Blinking twice before tossing the plastic bag on the table.
"Yes, and yes we're ignoring the chicken suit. Anyway, Saitou look inside the bag, it's for you." He paused before continuing.
"And I did buy a white one, but... some stuff happened so it got a tiny bit dirty."
My body leaned over to the table, grabbing the bag, and looking at what's inside.
"A suit? I already have one."
Naoki clicked his tounge a few times, while wagging his finger at me. His arm strangely stiff.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Not just any suit, a fine tailored dining suit. What? Were you planning to wear... That?"
Naoki said, pointing at the suit I'm currently wearing. I couldn't deny it, as he was right.
"Seriously man, you need to dress up properly. You're meeting royalty later."
Yuta almost fell from his seat after hearing what Naoki just said.
"Hold on, a date? With royalty?"
Naoki grinned from ear to ear, as if he was the one showing off that he got a date.
"You heard it, Saitou's got a date with the princess"
The once awkward silence of the room suddenly turned to boisterous laughter, as
Yuta laughed like there's no tomorrow.
"N-no, I'm sorry, hehe- it's just that, You on a date? And with a princess? Hahahhha."
Naoki joined in the teasing. "I know right? It's the least you'd expect from someone who got rejected in highschool."
"Shut it!" Yet they didn't, even Kuromaku is laughing now. Is it that unexpected? Everyone gets rejected at least once in their life.
Having had enough of their jokes, I carefully walked out the door planning to rest in the bedroom.
"Wait." Yuta slid his hand inside his jacket, grabbing a capsule with a clear gel-like substance inside before throwing it into the air.
I catched it with one hand then asked, "What's this for?"
"Eat that before you sleep, hopefully it'll heal you right up."
"Thanks... I guess." Is it a snack? I'll eat it later.
"You going to sleep?" Naoki asked, still having that huge grin on his face.
"Yeah, I still got a couple of hours before the date so it should be fine." With that I walked out the room, leaving the three of them on their own.