The next morning, Akio woke up from a pillow hitting his face. He groaned and sat up, looking directly at the culprit.
"Finally. Kaelis called me and said I should wake you up. You sleep like a damn rock, you know that?", Makoto complained.
Akio blinked unenthusiastically.
"Yeah yeah, what does he want from me?"
"Us", Makoto corrected. "Apparently we'll have to work together to infiltrate an enemy organization's hideout and kidnap one of their members."
"What!? *That* is supposed to be my first mission!? That is way too hard!", Akio exclaimed.
Makoto rolled his eyes.
"It's basically your entrance exam. If you fail, you're dead anyway, so you better succeed."
"Wow, very reassuring...", Akio deadpanned.
"Don't worry. I'll come with you two."
The two boys turn to the sudden intruder. It was Kouya. And his stoat.
"How did you get in here!?", both of them shouted, startled.
"Not so loud, you two. You'll wake up my little Ermina."
The boys looked at him with a dumbfounded expression.
"Your what now?", Makoto finally asked. "The marten has a name!?"
"She's a stoat. Not a marten", he said, annoyed. "And yes, she has a name. My cute little Ermina~", Kouya cooed, petting her.
"Uhh... Right. So when are we going?", Akio tried to change the subject, awkwardly.
Kouya regained his serious composure and put Ermina on his shoulder.
"We should go as soon as possible. Take a shower and put on fresh clothes. You smell."
Then he spun around to walk away. But before he got a chance to, he turned his head to look at them one more time.
"I'll be waiting outside. Don't take too long."
Akio blushed at being called out like that and muttered a small "Yessir" before disappearing into the bathroom.
He took off his clothes and stepped into the shower, turning it on. He couldn't help but think about the recent events.
He wanted to die and now he's gotten himself into this mess... Either outcome would be alright for him. Whether he'd get killed or not, will be his fate's decision. That's okay.
After Akio was done washing himself, he stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around his waist. He looked into the slightly foggy mirror and then at his scars that were scattered across his body.
Pathetic.
A human hating themselves so much, they start hurting their body on purpose.
No. Not only the body.
The mind too.
You know you've gone the wrong way in life when you start to desire psychological pain. This was a different type of masochism.
"I feel so damn rotten... "
Akio looked down to his hands and clenched them into fists.
"No matter. I have to focus on the present. Not the past. Not the future. Not what was, not what will be. Just what is."
With new determination he left the steamy bathroom.
After Akio finished putting on fresh clothes he got the other day, he met up with the two other men outside the room 000.
Makoto was already leaning against the wall when Akio stepped out, arms crossed, expression as sour as ever. Kouya stood a little further away, Ermina perched on his shoulder, her black eyes gleaming with interest.
"You're alive," Makoto said flatly. "Good. Saves us the paperwork."
Akio rubbed the back of his neck. "You're very encouraging, you know that?"
Ermina chirped, hopping from Kouya's shoulder onto the floor. She sniffed the air, then trotted straight towards Makoto.
Makoto stiffened. "No. Absolutely not."
The stoat ignored him and climbed up his leg with alarming confidence.
"I said no- hey- get off-"
Ermina settled in the front pocket of his hoodie, curling comfortably inside it.
Makoto froze.
"…Kouya."
"Yes?"
"Get your marten."
"She's a stoat."
"I don't care what species of emotional support rodent this is, remove it."
Kouya tilted his head slightly, watching with mild amusement. "Hm. She usually doesn't like strangers."
Ermina chirped again and nuzzled closer.
Makoto exhaled sharply.
"Unbelievable."
And yet he didn't move her.
After a moment, he adjusted his hoodie slightly so she wouldn't slip.
Kouya's lips twitched.
"Anyways", Makoto said, pointedly ignoring the situation. "Kaelis is waiting. We're already behind schedule."
They walked in silence through the corridor. Akio noticed how natural it seemed for Kouya and Makoto to move through the halls, as if they've gotten used to this by now.
They stopped in front of a door Akio hadn't seen before.
Inside, Kaelis stood in front of a large board covered in photographs and maps. He didn't turn around when they entered.
"You're late", he said calmly.
Makoto shrugged. "Blame the marten."
"Stoat.", Kouya corrected again.
Kaelis finally turned, silver eyes briefly flicking to Ermina - still curled comfortably against Makoto.
"... I see."
He said nothing else about it.
"I believe Kouya has already informed you about the mission."
His gaze shifted to Akio.
"You only observe. You do not act unless told."
Akio nodded. "Understood."
Makoto raised an eyebrow. "And if things go wrong?"
"They won't", Kaelis replied evenly. "But if they do, Kouya leads."
Kouya straightened slightly. "Got it."
Kaelis stepped aside and activated one of the screens. An image of an old warehouse appeared, its walls scarred by time.
"This is your destination", Kaelis said. "You leave in five minutes."
Akio's stomach tightened.
The ride was quiet. The van's engine rumbled. City lights streaked past the windows like stars.
Ermina climbed into Akio's lap, sniffed him curiously, then chirped.
"... Is that normal?" Akio asked.
"She does that", Kouya replied.
Ermina then hopped back onto Makoto.
The van slowed.
Kaelis's voice cut through the moment. "We're here."
The doors slid open. Akio stepped out, heart pounding, and stared at the warehouse ahead.
Yesterday, he wanted to die.
Today, he was here, standing on the edge of something far worse.
And he had no idea whether he was ready to cross it.