Chapter Text
"Hey, wait up!" Loud, rushed thumping noises of footsteps, a familiar sound that Nagi is always used to as an orphan craving for things he can't afford. "Come back here you little shit! That thing is expensive!" Nagi slowly losing them as he separates into another corner.
The word "expensive" makes Nagi crave for more. He never have any valuable things in his life before, nor he craved one but "expensive" things makes good money and he can feed his pitiful stomach. A cardboard bed under the bridge with some food and selling other stolen things are enough for him to stay breathing. That lifestyle didn't last so long, though.
As Seishiro is resting under his "home". a tall figure wearing all black leather coat with a dark shaded sunglasses approached him, the shadow from the aligned bricks above him casting a shadow that made the man's features barely noticeable.
The man seems to be grabbing a handkerchief from his pocket, Nagi knowing exactly where this is going, "Who are yo- MMFDM."
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"Hey kiddo." Nagi hears a deep voice faintly. "You awake?"
He quickly realize the situation but didn't panic at the slightest, even if he's all tied up with a taped mouth, his expression saying 'My life can't get any worse already', looking around seemingly like a small room with cold concrete walls, two securities and the same figure he saw before. The room also consist a rectangular table and two chairs. The displacement similar to a police interviewing scenes Nagi have seen in the television displayed in a store, selling a limited premium 4K television.
"You seem used to it," the man said, removing the tape on mouth. Nagi stood silent, death glaring the unfamiliar face.
"Woah there, I was just following my boss's order, don't look at me like that," He backed up a bit, "Good luck trying not to die, kid." Nagi questioned that last part, but didn't think much of it.
The man left the room as another taller, buffer man joined the party.
"You seem stuck, how about I help you out." The tall man cautiously untying him and motion him to sit on the chair to talk properly.
"You can tell I'm the boss." He said in a comfortable tone, "I'm recruiting members to join my organization. Your job is to assassinate whoever you're assigned to kill."
He placed his feet on the table comfortably and lit up a cigarette, "... If you refuse, you'll be dead right on the spot. No one can know about this."
"Why did you choose me."
"That's a good question," he look at Seishiro straight in the eye, grey ashes emerges from his lips, "we have been investigating you for quite a while now and your agility and flexibility suits our requirements perfectly."
"What do I get signing this contract," Nagi asks.
"Money, free food and a gooood place to sleep."
"Deal."
That was an easy and quick conversation, Nagi didn't have anything to lose. Soon enough, Nagi was moved to the campus with other assassins who has the same job as him. Cold-blooded criminals.
(Art drawn by me woo Pebbepo on Twt and Instagram)
________________
It was around 3-4 years now. Nagi killed more than four hundred people in his course and he's one of the professionals in the team. He was also educated and taught about basic math or English he wasn't able to accomplish before as an orphan.
"Nagi, I heard your next victim is a rich kid, that's a tough one ain't it?" His red-haired friend hook up around his partner's shoulders.
"Wouldn't be easy, but not hard."
"Sometimes you're a bit bland, you know." Chigiri sighed as he tied up his hair and went over to continue his work. Nagi going back to his room so he can get his assigned work.
"Are you ready for this mission, Seishiro Nagi?" The voice echoes from the speaker in his bedroom.
"Yes, sir."
"Alright. This one is harder so be cautious, your entire career was based from just killing like a headshot but this one requires emotional manipulation. Be careful." The speaker cuts off as a piece of paper rolled down.
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Reo Mikage.
Age: 19
Occupation: College student
Information:
- Mikage cooperation's only child
- Mikage's family owns a company worth $6.8 million
- Popular amongst students
Adress: Tokyo, 17XX XXXXX street. XXXX District.
Mission: Attend his college and befriend him, murder him later in a muted place. Make sure not to leave any trace. We already have the forged paperwork ready for you. Requested from the customer: Please make him feel as betrayed as possible, like his best friend killing him. Try making him feel like you're the most trusted.
_______________
"He's the same age as me, too....
he's filthy rich, this one is gonna be a big catch. It'll be easy."
That was a lie.
He wasn't able to approach Reo at all, he was always surrounded by everyone and Nagi wasn't even able to grab the slightest of his attention. He tried the "buy him snacks" method, "I live close to your place" method, "I don't have other place to sit, can I sit beside you" Method, but none of them work. Nagi sighed in exhaustion, still can't believe that he haven't been making any progress at all.
"This is harder than I thought." He trotted down the stairs, checking his phone for new notifications. Despite his busy life, Nagi does post pictures of himself for entertainment and he surprisingly have a few fans knowing him for his looks on instagram, probably around 387 or so. Since Reo is his classmate, it's probably safe for Nagi to follow on instagram... "Wow, 820k? That's a lot"
He feel a sudden push from the back and his phone went flying over the stair case, he quickly jumped and catch his phone with the tip of his toe. "That was close."
Nagi turned around who he bumped to and he can feel himself lighten up a bit as his prey is coming closer to him.
"Woah, that was so cool! Wanna play football with me?" Reo smiled widely at Nagi, who is still in a confused state. "He just met me for the first time and he's inviting me to play... what?"
"I guess I should say yes, easy way out."
"Sure."
"Ok, it's settled then!" He smiled widely like no other, Nagi swear he could feel something weird in his stomach for a split second.
_______________
Nagi followed Reo around to each room to get their club verified and completed. Doing whatever it takes to befriend his victim.
"One... two... three..." Nagi murmured to himself, counting his coins in his pockets. "Should be enough."
"Um, hey Reo." He tapped his shoulders lightly as both of them are trotting their way back to class.
"Yea, what's up?"
"Wanna go to the cat cafe later? It's pretty close by." Seishiro himself have a secret soft spots for cute things but he never admits it, that's why he wanted to visit the cat cafe so bad but didn't have the risk to do so, now he's using Reo as an excuse.
"Sure, I'll have to clear my schedule first, meet me at the gate after school will ya?"
"Um, yea of course."
_______________
"Hey, Reo!" Nagi waved his hand to grab the boy's attention.
"You're so early, are you so excited?"
"...not really" (He is)
The sound of the bell rang as Nagi opens the door, sitting his ass down the cushion at a numbered table. A few cats approaching him and Reo one by one.
"What would you like to order?" The lady asks.
"I'd like a butter toast and a mango smoothie, please." Nagi orders.
"A milkshake would do." Reo followed Nagi.
"Coming right up."
Reo sits and wait, looking and observing the cafe while nagi plays with the cats, delighted.
"You look like you really love cats."
"D-Do I." He didn't really wanted to admit it.
"Your expression doesn't change at all but... I don't know, your eyes sparkles when you're around them."
"O-Oh. I see.. Um, I'm not sure why." So that's why. Nagi thought. He's always good at covering his expression but the two weak spots is his eyes and his ears that blush when he lies.
"Here you go, we have a promotion for lovers too? Are you two interested?" The waitress asks.
"Oh- we-" Reo stutters, trying to put his words together.
"Yes, please. My boyfriend would love a discount." Nagi cuts him off.
"Alright, I'll take a photo of both of you with our cafe tagged and post it on instagram or facebook is enough!"
Nagi passed his phone to the lady as she holds it vertically.
"Three... two... one."
"Here you go, sir. Make sure to tag us!"
"Thank you, ma'am." Nagi grabbing his phone back, looking at the picture. Reo seemingly still surprised and confused.
"Nagi... We're not-"
"I know, but it's a small price to pay for a discount, you know."
"I can just pay??"
"Money is special, we can't waste it. It's ok, I'll make sure to caption us as friends. Your 'fans' won't misunderstand a thing."
Reo sighed, "Okay.."
Nagi looked at the table and noticed a pile of tissues, "What."
"Oh it's nothing, just sneezing a bit."
"... I see," Nagi picking his spoon to enjoy his toast and smoothie.
"Hey you got a whip cream stuck on your cheek." Reo pointed out sharply.
Nagi tried rubbing it off, but nothing seems to come out.
"What. Are you gonna help me clean it up now because I can't find the cream? Like a cliche movie scene?" Nagi looks at Reo.
"I mean, gotta do what I gotta do, you know." Reo leans over to his face close. Nagi froze. He could see Reo's features so clearly, his delicate lashes, his purple lavender eyes. Everything is just so perfect. It felt like time just froze. He SWEAR it did. The only thing he could hear was his loud thumping heart that dances in a beat of drums, hopefully it wasn't loud enough for the person in front of him to hear.
"There you go, it's off." Nagi snapped back to reality and quickly unfreeze from his position.
"T-Thanks." He said as Reo pulled another tissue to wipe his nose, "It's a bit cold isn't it. Aha"
Nagi quickly finish his dessert, squeezed a cat for one second, paid the check and quickly drag Reo out of the restaurant.
"What's the rush?"
"Your allergy would've gotten worse if we don't leave faster."
"Ah, you noticed."
"Why didn't you tell me you you're allergic?"
"It's just... your face looks so happy when you mention the cat cafe, it's not a common sight, you know?" He looks at the Seishiro who's a bit surprised. Who would've though he had been secretly peaking at the white haired boy from afar?
'Rule number one: Never grow an attachment'
Nagi could hear his boss's voice echoing in his mind as he starts to feel a sensation of comfort around Reo. He never knew it's going to be so hard trying to follow the rules, slowly gritting his teeth as Reo looks over, confused.
'Shit.'
"Today was great! Thank for accompanying me, Nagi."
"No um... take a good rest."
"Thanks, I'll get better in no time, don't worry." He said as he walked over to his car, a formal driver waiting for him. Reo waved good bye and rushed to the car. Not aware that it'll be the last good bye for a while.
Nagi waved lightly back, the vehicle travels away as his face looks a bit stressed.
'Gosh if I only I knew it was this hard...'
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As soon as Nagi got back to his campus he signed again. 'How many times have I sighed today.' Opening his dorm room as Chigiri sitting on his bed with his phone.
"What are you doing here?"
"Yo, didn't know you have instagram."
"That's not important... what are you doing here."
"I heard you're giving up on this one."
Nagi groaned again, "It's a tough one."
"Yo what? To think I'll hear that coming from you. He's worth a lot too, you know? I could probably buy so much oranges assassinating him."
"You're getting so much money and all you can think are oranges?"
"Shut up, it's the first thing in mind. I'll be taking him then, since you can't bare to get your hands dirty on him."
"Tsk, good luck." Nagi said as he pushed Chigiri out of his room and flopped onto his bed for a long time. Decided to close the lights and properly went to bed.
_______________
The next day, Reo arrived at school with his packed lunch made especially for Nagi but shocked at the sudden announcement from the teacher.
"Good morning class, Seishiro wouldn't be attending school from here on because of his family, though Chigiri Hyouma will be accompanying us from today on instead! Please be nice to each other."
Chigiri immediately replace Nagi's seat as Reo is still taking some time to process.
"Hey, I'm Chigiri."
He snapped, "Ah, I'm Reo. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you, too."
Reo is disappointed in a way he can't describe, it's a lot to take in when his only treasure isn't here anymore, even if it was only two months of knowing each other and oh did he forgot to ask for his phone number. What a dumbass.
Without Seishiro, the football club feels... empty, no energy, grey. It wasn't as fun as he was with Nagi at all. The memory of Nagi trapping the ball so majestically floating mid air still lingers in Reo's mind.
"Oh, Reo! What a coincidence, I'm also in a football club," Chigiri shouted, though it wasn't a coincidence at all.
"Oh hello, welcome to the club." He welcomed him but in a monotone voice. Chigiri can see that Reo has also grown an attachment to Nagi and he could possibly replace that.
Hyouma was amazing, really. That's what Reo thought. But... it feels different. His speed, his passing skills, his defending skills, it was really cool. The only thing different is that Nagi isn't here, his secretly-delighted face when he shoots a shot, or when his eyes sparkle noticing a cat passing by the football field... or when he acts like he doesn't care when he does. Reo saw through it all.
It wasn't all bad hanging around Chigiri though, Reo would consider the Hyouma a close friend but not as a best friend.
_______________
It was about 4 months since Chigiri replaced Nagi and it was already about time.
The red-haired assassin joins his partner's dinner and sat beside him.
"Seishiro, just saying that your fav victim is being killed at tomorrow 9 o'clock in the morning, I'm luring him to the abandoned factory nearby." Chigiri said as he stuffed the last pork piece into his mouth.
"...and why are you telling me this."
"Just in case. You literally took a two month break because of this guy bro," He looked at Nagi, "and honestly, he wasn't that tough. I don't know what you see in him."
Nagi sighed as he walked back to his dorm, "Do what you want to do."
Seishiro lying on his bed that night, curling up in his blankets, unable to ignore the unsettling feelings. It was warm. It was really warm when he's around Reo. It's like there's only two of them together in this whole world. The way Reo caressed his cheeks during that cat cafe, or the way he used his jacket to cover both of each other's head and rushed to the campus during a rainy day, or the way he smiled was already enough for Nagi to feel heat up against his cheeks.
He got up from his bed, looked over to the digital clock lying on his night stand. '5am', he put on his gear, his turtle neck sleeve-less shirt and his black face mask. A new mission that is not for the sake of his income, but his own will.
Opening his window and silently making his way out unnoticed. He's very skilled at mountain climbing gears so he make his way out pulling himself down. Trying not to attract any attention and making his way to the Mikage's house. The security is high, a lot of cameras and guards but that wasn't a problem for Nagi at all. He sneakily made his way to the rooftop, dropping the rope down to the sleeping beauty's balcony. A bit of knocking woke the slumber boy up from his sleep.
"Nagi?!" He quickly open the door, "What are you doing here?? It's 5:49!.. and that outfit too..."
"I don't have time to explain, you'll have to listen to me for a while." He carried Reo in a bridal style, Reo was always the one giving Nagi his piggy back rides, suppose this is a payback for Reo.
It was a bit embarrassing to be honest with Reo, His head being under the boy's chin, hearing every heart beat and the small groans every time Nagi jumps from a wall to another. It's like a prince rescuing his princess from the monster in a castle.
At last, they arrived at a motel, it wasn't actually bad, but it couldn't be compare with the hotels Reo had been to. A twin bed, a small bathroom and a desk, just enough for them to spend the night... well, not really. It's already 6am.
Nagi took off his mask and gears and motion Reo to sit on the bed as he lays his head on Reo's lap.
"H-Hey!"
"Just a bit."
"Alright, now explain everything right now. My parents would kill me if they found out, I'll have to come up with a lame excuse."
"You have many question, right?"
"Of course." He fidgets and ruff Nagi's snowy hair.
"If I tell you I'm an assassin, will you believe me."
Reo stopped. His hands froze just as his palm is on Nagi's hair.
"What... are you saying?"
He quickly push Nagi off his lap and stand in the corner of the room.
"I'm scared, Reo." Nagi sat up and looked at his friend who is shaking.
"I'm scared to tell you. That it'll ruin our friendship. I couldn't bare killing you. It's too much for me. After all, you're my best friend."
"How would I know that you're not attempting to kill me right now." He choked out.
Nagi stood on top his bed as he takes of his shirt and trousers. Leaving him with his last piece which he was about to-
"T-THAT'S ENOUGH!! I BELIEVE YOU," Reo covered his eyes with both of his palms, flushed red. Nagi put his clothing back on as Reo slowly sat beside him again on the bed. It was a bit awkward but Reo decided to ask his question.
"That topic is another story but.. why do we have to come here again?"
Nagi breathes in, "My partner... oh, you know him. Chigiri Hyouma. He's luring you to the abandoned spot today morning... but... I was against it. I didn't want that to happen and..."
Reo didn't seem surprised, as if many people had attempt to kill him before.
"I see." was the only thing Reo said.
BAM BAM BAM
There's was a loud banging at the door. Nagi and Reo flinched in sync, turning to the dark oak door.
"I know you're in there." A sound of a grown man calling Nagi and Reo, it wasn't a sound of a teen assassin, more like a professional experienced assassin coming for his ass.