Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Mikado is a simple city. A couple of schools, mostly residential houses, and a handful of mom-and-pop type restaurants that flourish here with the community. It breathes in the daylight, children bustling to school, workers with their small trucks harvesting from fields outside its buildings, and a couple of buses come by picking up the older generation for activities at the building center.

There was just one difference…

“Hey! Did you hear?” A voice jumps in the middle of the silence as Nao flips another page through a Medical History of Ten Patients, They had all sorts of unusual to charming books here. There is no sign posted like at the local library – shhh, please do not disturb others in the space – but hung on the cash register in front of her was a sign written in shaky chicken scratch: will take tea in exchange for book rental.

There is no rule, so there is no need for Nao to interrupt their conversation. A boy, with chopped brown hair and a couple sun freckles wears a matching uniform with the girl, a loose bun with a barrette clipping her bands to the side, standing in front of the English section.

“I heard that the Third Mikado District Middle School was invaded by neighbors!” He exclaims as he holds another book for the girl, two thick textbooks already in his arms. She doesn’t seem as amused as him as she just hums flipping another book around.

“The Daisen is not even close to the forbidden zone Daiki.” She replies as if that is the truth. The word Mikado is built on.

He shakes his head rapidly, “No no no- I am actually telling the truth this time!”

“Actually?”

“I mean- uh always!”

Bracing the book against one of his arms he cups one of his hands, like he’s a spy trying to give top-secret information. Nao doesn’t see the point of this, he already shouted half the information to the store and his whisper is as loud as her normal voice.

“I’ve heard a Border agent in the school slaughtered it so bad that half of its body was dissolved,” Nao’s heart starts to pick up, “I heard it was like as big as this store!” and slows as he continues, “PR was there, can you believe the Arashiyama squad was there too! Wow, if only I could see them up close.”

The girl next to him now looks at him, head tilted just a bit, “You do realize we see most of them during co-school sporting events.” She places another book on the pile purposefully pressing it down, so he has to readjust with two hands, “Border agents are like us…just different.”

He huffs a frown on his face, “They are special! You know I tried to apply to be an agent- couldn’t even pass the reading test.” And before she can make a comment he interrupts her, “The physical body reading test Mayu. I can read a book just fine. Anyway, I heard from a friend who heard from another friend whose classmate was IN the incident that it was a quiet boy in class 3-3 who butchered it. No one even knew he was a Border agent either- totally undercover.”

“I thought it was the Arashiyama squad?” she questions fiddling with a summertime pencil bag holder underneath the 25 percent off section. 

“No, they just got there in the for cleanup. Not for the real battle!”

The boy talks aimlessly as he follows the girl, She acknowledges in quiet nods and a couple of comments as she walks around the store and she picks up loose notepads, a couple of pens, and sticky notes before making her way to the cash register. 

Nao starts to scan the items one by one, separating them into categories of big to small, placing smaller trinkets into a small paper bag with the store’s logo stamped on top.

It’s a small ritual for herself and the customer as she folds book covers for the thinner lesson books.

“I’m glad Mr. Hira could find some help to take care of the store.” A voice notes. Nao is glad too. “You always have exactly what I need in stock, really it’s a miracle.”

Nao glances down at the book she has been folding for An Advance Workbook to pass HK English: Question, Tests and Answer Guide. Nao finishes the next crease before measuring out the other side, “I’ll let Mr. Hira know,” and usually Nao would finish a sentence just like that, but she’s been here for months now and starting to pick up on the general inflection of this language, “He can go join his late afternoon tea sessions across the market now.”

Mayu gives a small giggle before placing a couple of bills on the tray, “Why I’m sure that is true. Next time I come back I will make sure to bring some tea leaves from Daiki’s mother.” She gives a small smile to the boy, “Though I am not sure if Daiki will fully use the “book rental” policy for anything less than the latest Jump!Comics.”

“It still counts!” he argues but he doesn’t seem that angry, “Well, I’m sure we will stop in another day. I’ll ask ma to give me a bag.” He says as he plucks the bag by the handles carrying it.

A hint of victory is on Mayu’s face, “Mr. Hira has been running this store since I was a child. He is a little stubborn, but no one can deny this is one of the oldest book shops in the district. It never disappoints.” She gives a small bow of the head which Nao returns, “Please keep him well.”

“Of course.”

The two leave and the bookstore returns to its soothing peace.

Nao flips her book back open, and her eyes trace the pictures of skeleton systems, molecular science, and descriptors underneath them. She takes a lock of her black hair and swirls It against knobby knuckles and skinny fingers. The sun further dips into the horizon as Mikado's breath starts to quieten.

Mothers carrying groceries for the night, some students walking with phones out their accessories clinking together as they look at the newest trends, and couple-tired men lumbering to the izakaya after their stressful shift.

It’s been about six months now.

Mikado is a simple city. A couple of schools, mostly residential houses, and a handful of mom-and-pop type restaurants that flourish here with the community.

There was one difference though…

The only thing not simple was the towering pitch-black building placed in the center of town. Emblemed on the outside was the word “Border” and the forbidden zone of abandoned houses and ruins that barred off the rest of the world.

To the world outside, she is Nao. A eighteen-year-old girl who helps run a bookstore off the main street of the shopping district, trying to make a living in Mikado city.

To the inside word, where Border proclaims there are scary monsters or aliens trying to take over the world by abducting people, that is what she is…

A neighbor.

Chapter Text

When the sky did not have enough light to illuminate her reading, Nao knows it’s time to close the shop. Mr. Hira had yet to return from his “daily ritual”–a neighborhood grouping at the local tea shop. On luckier days, Mr. Hira would bring back a special tea and sometimes a heftier pocket.

Flipping the sign on the door, Nao grabbed a small broom in the backroom along with a duster and some rags. There was no need to dust out the store each night, but it was more a rite of formality for Nao and a thank you.

Tidying up the counter, returning books to where they belong in the mess of alphabetical order to where can they possibly fit in the jigsaw of cleaning, Nao would grab a small step stool and wipe off the top of the bookshelves which always had dust on them. She wipes down the windows that peered halfway out into the street. The warped wooden doors creak underneath her weight as they have seen better days, specifically the area near the three pillars holding up the store underneath the weight of four stories above.

Streetlamps flickered on, their yellow mixing with the soft orange of the sunset as it touched the horizon line for the second time in the day. The bus of the district fading into a comforting lull of teens heading to cheap hangout spots and adults fitting into small bars.

A knock on the windowpane broke her out of concentration.

A gruff voice muffled by the pane, “Hurry Nao, these winds go right through my bones.”

Unlocking the door, a short, hunched back man shuffles in, five feet with wisps of pepper and salt covering his head. A small ‘tap’ echoes through the store as grey eyes inspect the bookshelves. He fiddles with the neat stack of books Nao organized, almost two heads taller than him, turning one larger book twisting the pile to an asymmetrical look.

Nao pauses. It looks like one wrong move at the books will careen off the edge. “I’m not sure the customers will be… that delicate Mr. Hira.”

He nods, twisting another pile around. “It’s my store, not theirs,” He says as if he agrees with her.

Nao still has a hard time understanding Mr. Hira as touches the satiability of the book tower. It sways at her touch, then firms, holding its form in place. Another nudge, no movement.
Every book stack Mr. Hira touches, Nao follows, making sure his piles won’t fall on his head. Once he’s content, he gives a nod, “There, now it has some character back in it.” He makes his way back behind the register to a small five by five kitchen big enough for two. “Without me here,, it’s looking ‘too’ organized here Nao.”

“Oh, shall I start placing the books in the opposite order now?” she said while rolling her eyes. A small trait she picked up from the elder himself. Over the past couple months, with her cleaning, more people commented on the bookstore being open rather than abandoned.

A scoff, “Keep your eyes straight.” He flops onto a stool by the table, “All I’m saying is that now the store is busy, mind you. Now I must find peace and quiet elsewhere.” He complains, but there is no real bite to it.

Nao flicks on the button to start the water boiler. She grabs two mugs and a black tea from the cupboard.

“It was rather quiet today. A couple of mothers searching for new recipe books, their toddlers grabbing anything they can-“

“See,” Mr. Hira says while rolling his eyes, “that is too many people for my age.”

Nao disagrees. She has seen the weekend mahjong tournaments Mr. Hira attends. There are at least five tables each holding four people along with an audience. The whistle of the kettle starts to pump, and Nao pours water into the mugs, warming them.

“Mayu and her friend Daiki were here today as well. She told me to ask if you were doing well.”

“I am ‘doing well’ Nao.”

“I know.” She replies, emptying the mugs before steaming the tea leaves pouring light auburn into each cup. She places one in front of him and the other is delicately held in her hands, her palm absorbing the heat.

Mr. Hira gives a look as he tears his eyes away from her and looks down at his cup. Nao can’t read his expression very well. Taking a long sip, he starts.

“I talked to the Okuda’s today.” His hands rolled the mug in his hands, “their youngest is giving them hell of trouble.”

Nao sips her own tea. “the middle schooler?”

Mr. Hira grunted, slamming his mug against the table, “It’s the usual for the kids of this town. That black hole Border is recruiting again and the Okuda’s youngest wants to go frolic there instead of learning the family business.”

“Sounds like a waste.” Nao mutters before taking another sip.

“Sounds more like a fool to me.”

A moment passed and empty mugs were filled as the conversation opened to new discoveries. Today Nao learned that the Yuda’s tabby cat liked salmon more than tuna or how the wife of the vegetable store sold more tomato’s than eggplants today or that Mr. Hira won such a hefty sum today the baker’s son gave him coupons instead of money as an IOU.

Nao liked these daily rituals that filled her life. Waking up each morning to open the store, seeing the multitude of people walking the streets, learning from each customer who stepped into the humble abode searching for new discoveries, finishing up the day gossiping over a pot of tea with Mr. Hira.

It’s nice.

It was like any other day today. The shop opened. Mr. Hira went off to his daily ‘escapades’. A couple of the usuals would stop by making small conversation as they walk out with their purchase, even leaving small gifts behind as Nao brushes keychain hanging by the side of the register.

It was simple…

Supposed to be simple.

Nao’s heart was racing.

Her legs felt like Jell-O wiggling in a bowl as the ground shook the whole store. Books rumbled off their painstakingly assigned shelves, toppling on the floor one after the other. Nao tried to find any semblance of stability as he gripped onto the floor for dear life. It almost felt like she was being shaken at different intervals.

Looking towards the windows, Nao could see a familiar scene. Mothers holding their crying children to their chest as they rush one by one past the little shop. A couple of the elderly being assisted by high schoolers, the holding frail bones urging him to shuffle faster. Alarms filled the sky, giving a sort of muted blare to the chaos unfolding outside.

Her vision shifts as the creaking of the bookshelves starts to tear apart from the walls even with her previous ministrations from yesterday. She points her hand towards it, index and middle finger crossing over each other, thumb touching her fourth and fifth. Quickly she snaps her fingers, knobby knuckles sliding over each other as the bookshelf stills in the chaos.
Her wrist bends towards the opposite side of the store with a quick snap, another shelf stabilizes in the carnage.

Another. Flick. Pop. Reset.

Flick. Pop. Another.

Reset. Pop. Pop. Pop.

Pop!

Nao’s hand feels like it’s on fire, or really, her wrists feel as if they are about to fall off. She stretches around as fingers cross, another pop pop pop. Her wrist goes as the last bookshelf halts in mid fall. Books looking as if they were ready to fall off the edge if gravity had its way, tip barely on the wooden shelf.

She raises her wrist, its red, swollen and looks like if a car- no moped- ran over it. She would have to wear a wrist cover for the next week at least.

Lifting her body from the floor, Nao stumbles to her feet. The foundation is still shaky, but not in immediate threat of the upper three stories collapsing Nao heads towards the door.

Stepping outside, the first thing she noticed was the little house plant Mr. Hira would keep by the footstep of the entrance. Its beautifully crafted pot was now blue shards scattered across the streets. The family of cosmos given as seedlings by the flower shop across the street trampled into the bricks.

Nao hates war.

A couple of buildings have collapsed, thick black smoke bellowed into the sky and there were small craters left in the sidewalk. Nao pauses, craters? A woman’s scream echoes from the plaza and Nao hears the familiar buzz- she can only describe it to how bees would hiss and hum when threatened, ready to attack- coming from above?

She has experienced battle before but that didn’t stop the drop in her stomach.

“A Suicide Angel…?”

In the sky, a trion soldier the size of three building mashed together, used to bomb cities, giving the innocent no time to escape. It was commonly referred to as “IIgar”, a scientific name that all nations used as classification for the floating bomb.

Veterans found the name damning. Instead, the name angel was seen more than a morbid joke, as fitting as it is. The way their feathers dropped onto the earth, leaving craters, desolate of human life. How black thorns would poke out of its white shell lighting the sky in purple before plunging down into the ground, leaving nothing except an expanse of land desolate of life.

[Warning. Warning. Please evacuate to the nearest shelter.]

That’s right. She needed to run, to find Mr. Hira, make sure he was still breathing.

She barley heard the cry coming from the nearby rubble. “Please…Is anyone there…?”

Her heart dropped.

A whisper underneath the pile of rubble of what used to be a local bakery, “I- I don’t want to die. Please! Anyone!”

Nao was already racing towards the voice.

Nao knew that by using her fists to crack apart cement debris was not the smartest idea. Especially with a broken wrist. Her fingers are now bloody and bruised from her moving slabs trying to make a hole big enough the person can climb out.

The more she kept digging the more she kept thinking. Why was the angel taking so long for its final descent? Why did it only drop a couple feathers each time during rotation. It just didn’t make sense.

She grunts pulling a slab on concrete away. Her right-hand stings with each pull, but the adrenaline pumps as her eyes flicker to the sky. The angel was in its fifth rotation, ready to host judgement as she could see the faint outline of purple start to shimmer on its scales.

Another slab, a chink with a pipe she found on the side of the road as Nao leveraged most of the rubble to the side, creating a triangular opening big enough to wiggle a hands through.

Sliding her left hand through the entrance, she waves. “Can you see me?”

A wobble, “I-yes! *hiccup* but you are so far!”

Nao pulls back to peek inside. It's pitch black other than the light reflecting through their eyes. She guesses roughly about two meters, maybe three if she was unlucky.

The haunting murmur in the sky became louder as the angel cries for its final decent. Purple is filling the sky, and Nao starts to see its armor spike with black thorns.
Nao breath out, trying to focus, but her body can’t stop shuddering, her breath coming out choked. She can barely twist her hand now, her wrist swelling to the size of a ball.

But. It was a life.

If worst came to worst, she would have to leave.

…

She reaches again and feels her bones pop pop pop as she prepares herself. It feels like fire lapping around her wrist as she braces against the stories of rubble. She feels the warms flowing through her hands as she is about to flick out in the darkness-

“Miss! Let me help you!”

Nao's head snaps behind her, heart racing as all warmth cuts immediately.

Behind stood a boy dressed in a white uniform speckled with dirt. Square glasses crooked on his nose with a short black hair complimenting the frames. He dropped next to her, sweat dripping off him. On his arm there it was- the familiar border that haunted her Border in black text with the logo.

Nao really feels unlucky today.

He must have caught her staring because he nods in reassurance. He repeats, “Is it your family stuck underneath there? It’s alright I can help.”

“I-“, Nao stammers out, her previous cool losing her, “no- he just needed help.”

Nao is not sure why, but the agent's face softens and his lips break into a slight smile.

His eyes flicker to the rubble before calling out, “Excuse me, sir! Please cover your head as I move the rubble.”

“Border! Oh, thank god, yes I’m ready!”

Black gloves grip the small entrance Nao has made before he lifts gently, rubble rubbing together. “Can you grab him?”

Nao was already on it, slipping underneath the entrance. With half her body in the cavern it was much less distance to grab the civilian. “Grab my hand,” she says, extending her left and right ready to brace the weight.

It's uncomfortable but tolerable as she shuffles backwards, leveraging so that they can both shimmy out. A young man was tugged out of the rubble, blood pooling from his temple and a nasty gash on his right leg.

It was a rush of words that escaped him as he profusely thanked Nao and the boy, blessing them both for generations.

The agent looks abashed, if that was the correct word to describe it, as Nao saw him take the boy's hands in gratitude. The boy stutters, clearly not used to this sort of praise, “I was only doing what anyone else would do.” He says, eyes glancing towards Nao, which she immediately refuses to make eyes contact and instead looks at the sky, her heart stills again. It was almost by the bridge again, ready for its last descent.

“You two need to hurry to the nearest shelter! Have you seen anyone else hurt?”

The man shakes his head, but Nao keeps her eyes focused on the angel. “I’m not sure if we can outrun that.”

The two look into the sky to see the angel making its last rounds before turning Mitako city into what soon will be known as a wasteland. Its body shimmering purple in the afternoon sky, coming closer and closer…

“Don’t worry.”

The boy’s voice doesn’t wave or stammer. He’s confident? Nao couldn’t tell if he was just green or an idiot. Suicide Angel’s. armor thickens at least five times before making its decent. A ticking time bomb ready to murder.

He places a hand over his heart, giving his best smile.

“I believe in Border.”

Chapter Text

The Border agents’ words are true.

Mikado city survived and miraculously the Suicide Angel was dragged into the river before exploding, leaving a huge waterfall shooting up into the sky. 

Nao never knew Border agents had that type of power.

A couple days have passed since.

According to the emergency broadcast system that would spew out monotone directions for the citizens every couple of hours; those who were injured please find shelter at Sakura Gymnasium, those who need food and water please find a local checkpoint, those who are missing members of their party please report to any Border agent.

After a couple more announcements and a long line of placidity worries, they would first roll a list of names of those missing, then at the end would be names marked in red of those who have died. Eighteen so far.

In all honest, Mikado should be thankful for Border. She has seen casualties up to the hundreds due to "suicide angels." Undescribed damage done to homes, bodies that were not even revocable, lasting scars that were not just physical.

On a brighter note, Mr. Hira is scheduled to be picked up by his son.

The first night at the shelter, Nao could hear Mr. Hira arguing on the public phone. His son lives a couple prefectures north of Mikado. They argued about what Nao imagined, people who didn’t live in a war-torn zone would argue about. The safety of continuing to live in Mikado, that teens to literal children, barley out of middle school, are the city’s only savior or if the majan night were worth the cold tea and extra company.

Mr. Hira didn’t stop shouting until Nao barely overheard the whisper of a plea crinkle on the other line.

“Dad please.” A long pause. His son five hundred kilometers away pleads, to convince Mr. Hira- the kindest soul Nao has ever meet, to leave the same bookstore he raised his kids in and the resting place of his late wife. “I need…please come home. Just till things settle.”

It’s a longer pause as Nao sees the back of Mr. Hira’s head tilt upwards to stare at nothing but the blinding over lights as if it held the answer before breathing out.

“Just until things settle.”

Mr. Hira is a kind man. Nao knows so with 100% certainty. So a day later with two duffle bags swung over her shoulder, an old grocery bag filled with tea leaves and a couple picture frames, she stands in front of Platform 2 at New Yumite District.

Nao releases her hold on the bags as the voice announces the train. Three minutes till departure.

It was Mr. Hira that speaks up first. “Nao I’m sorry that I cannot bring you with me.”

“It’s alright. I am more comfortable at the shop.”

A lull in the conversation. Nao must have said something wrong, but Mr. Hira continues again.

“There is some spare change hidden on the second cabinet of the kitchen. If you need anything, the Okuda’s will look after you.”

“I know Mr. Hira we went over this already.”

“Don’t be sassy to me. These old bones may be kilometers out but I’m only a quick 100 yen call to straighten you up.”

Nao smiles as the train pulls in. “I feel as if I have learned well from you already.” She hands him the grocery bag and placing one duffle on his shoulder. “You will be back soon Mr. Hira and I will be here as well.”

He steps on the train waving her off. “Make sure all those renovations are worth it. Not a yen wasted you hear me!”

“Of course, Mr. Hira.”

“…Take care Nao.” And the door slip shuts.

On her way back Nao walked along the river’s edge. Boats with Border’s emblem floated along the water. Some had cranes attached to the rear as they brough up debris from the aftermath of the emergency.

The black-haired girl has not been here long, but it was strange the last couple of attacks. She rubs her hands together speeding up.

Two weeks ago, at a local high school, a Marmod attacked. At least that what Nao could recognize from the blurry photos leaked to the new company. Its long spiny legs, disproportionate body and the eye that was cut in half. They were dangerous, used to climb walls, overpower the enemy, and had claws so sharp they tear apart flesh if you found yourself being stampeded on.

An enemy used for killing. Not like the usual capture target Trion soldiers that would sometimes erupt from the forbidden zone.

Three days ago, a suicide angel descended from the sky. Used to take out any landmasses; primary used against blockades or resistant bases.

Again, why would they bomb a shopping district? They are not designed for killing civilians.

People are too precious these days.

As Nao passes a local shop in the rubble of Mikado shopping district the TV broadcasts small hexagon creatures with a banner above its head.

If seen this type of creature, do not fear. Please report your sighting to the nearest Border agent. Thank you.

Border labelled them as “Rays”, probably because of their mechanical tail reminding Nao of the aquatic life she has seen in a marine biology book. Small, hexagon creature with what seemed to have its eyes on the top of their back. To Nao, they were plentiful but not life-threatening creatures that even the average citizen could take care of.

What was strange is the multitude of said creatures as she hoped over a garbage bag filled with said creatures.

Nao is curious.

It is almost like Mikado is going through some sort of test.

Nao did not have time to think more about her theories. The next day a man comes knocking on the unhinged door of what remains of Mr. Hira’s bookstore. Crawls over a makeshift bridge of upturned book cases and trying to not get glass stuck in her shoes from a broken vase she opens the door.

The man wearing heavy geared construction clothes, a safety vest and goggles looks shocked, as if he did not expect anyone to answer him.

“You’re living here!?”

An embarrassing, long conversation later of how yes Nao lived here and yes it was safe by demonstration- Nao kicking a pillar just to show how ‘so-and-so building is NOT about to collapse on top of her’- that she was effectively mandated to stay away from the bookshop until ‘proper examination’ was done on the swaying four stories.

After a handful of paperwork and a quick stern talking to, Nao rolled her eyes as she adjusted the backpack on her shoulders. It’s not like the walls would fall down; she enforced them every night just in case.

Then she realized, already halfway to the nearest shelter:

Nao enforced the walls every night.

“How unfair.”

There were two options Nao could choose from:

One, sneak back to Mr. Hira’s shop from the shelter- road filled with Border agents in rotation every night patrolling for threats and Nao did not want to be seen as anything like a threat. Plus, she really did not want to get scolded and put on Border’s ‘uncooperative list’.

Option two, she asks for a returner’s slip. It was a procedure implemented two years ago when Border first set up forbidden zone. Mr. Hira berated her after she admitted to having found refuge in the zone during her first days in the city.

Since, forbidden zones were labeled as red zones for civilians they could not travel there by themselves. This led to many civilians having a sort of homesickness during the first months of implementation. Some wanted to grab forgotten trinkets or on a more serious note some wanted to visit the graves of loved ones.

Therefore, for civilians to travel to the location, they would require an active Border agent to escort them. Nao could believe it brought closure to the community after she read about Mikado’s first invasion. It was very- human- that Border did this for their citizens. That was something she could respect.

Walking alongside a river bend Nao tried imagining any scenario that would lead her towards even receiving a returner’s slip; unfortunately, her imagination for this type of thing wasn’t very strong.

She really did not want to go with option one.

“Ah! Are you okay?” A voice asked from below. Looking down towards the river was a girl running over to her friend wearing a purple sweater who fell over on his bike.

It didn’t seem that bad. Maybe some bad bruising but from the looks of how he sheepishly was rubbing the back of his neck nothing looks broken.

“Are you two alright?” Nao calls. Two pairs of eyes looked up. One wide eyed and the other gives a wave, “We’re good. Thanks Nee-san!”

Loud tone and not winded- he was fine.

Nao gave a quick nod as she continued her stroll hoping her mind would create some sort of epiphany that would fix her solution so Mr. Hira would not have to come home to a buried shop. Especially, after promises of renovations.

“Hello~ Earth to Miss cutie over there! How are you doing today?” A hand waves in front of her face.

Instinct broke the crevices of her mind as she takes two steps back. She blinks, Nao could have sworn nobody was in front of her. Hair styled back in brown waves with a pair of googles hanging on his neck-

“Ah~ Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.” He gave a quick chuckle hand in pocket.

Nao retracted, getting a better look at him. Blue coat jacket with a couple stripes by the neckline. On his shoulder though was made Nao’s heart stop- the same symbol Border used to brand its agents. She readjusts her glasses taking a deep breath in. It’s alright they have nothing against her.

“You are…” she trails off. She had never seen this uniform on television before.

“Jin. Yuichi if we get to know each other better.” He says, flashing a boyish grin at her. Nao eyebrows crease in confusion. “Why would I get to know you better?” she questions frown on her face.

Her apathetic answer doesn’t stir him away because Jin Yuichi takes a step closer. They were only an arm’s length apart. “Because I’ll be able to help you, Miss Cutie.”

Nao paused; a multitude of thoughts ran through her head, but it felt like a game of cat and mouse. The Border agent was looking at her like how a cat played with a mouse. Stepping on its tail before it went in for the kill-

She breathed in keeping herself centered, “You must have the wrong person.”

“Nope!” He pops the ‘p,’ “I’m sure you’re the right one. So lucky you’re such a cutie to boot!”

Nao frowns, she had heard that term of endearment being used at couple within the bookstore, but she did not realize it could be used in such a brazen way between strangers.

She takes a step to the side, circling around eyes never leaving the symbol on his jacket. “Unfortunately, Mr. Jin Yuichi I have to continue on with my day, excuse me.”

His eyes open wide, “Ah ah ah! Wait I’m an Elite Border agent don’t you want to hear what I have to say?”

“Elite?”

“You know, like: super cool, extraordinary, best of the best?”

“That is not the definition of elite.”

“Oh really. How would you define it?”

“A group or individual selected by society, that is superior in terms of ability, qualities, or monetary value. They can also be displaced in-"

He waves his hands, “Ok ok! Sorry I’m just a regular person then trying to get a cute girl’s number.”

“I don’t have a phone.”

He doesn’t stop, “A name?”

“…Nao.” She replies.

“Nao…?

“Just Nao.”

He looks significantly happier as he rolls on the balls of his feet, “Then Nao how about we do a brief exchange here? I have something you want, and you have something I want.”

At this moment, Nao’s brain can’t supplement her with anything that she ‘needs’ right now. Maybe a heater because the shelter is cold even with the multitude of bodies sleeping there. But curiosity gets the best of her. “We’ve just meet. How could I have something you want?”

Instead of explaining Jin just laughs. “I knew you say that.” He rummages through the pocket attached to his left hip before pulling out a rumple piece of paper, holding it out to her. “Here.”

When Jin realized that Nao wouldn’t be coming closer, he invades her personal space. “It’s not like it’s going to eat you.” He mumbles, before taking Nao’s hands in his and depositing the slip of paper. “Here. Read it. I want to see your reaction.”

With a reluctant sigh Nao pulls the paper open:

This document will allow (Miss Cutie (>. <)/)

It should say Nao.

To allow said attendee(s) to be escorted by following active Border agent: (Super Duper Elite Jin <3 ).

Super Duper…?

With accompaniment the attendee will be allowed to visit the allotted locations: (Mikado Shopping District #3) during the following hours….

Nao blinked, and reread again and again and again. Then she flipped the paper over.

Border Returnee Slip

Her fingers were shaking, she couldn’t help herself as she held the paper. She only had this thought less than a couple hours ago; she peers at Jin’s face behind the paper- he looks sad? Nao scrunches her eyes together as if she wakes up from this nightmare.

His voice is softer this time, “Can’t say I wasn’t expecting a reaction like this.” He murmurs before exhaling running a hand through his hair. “Miss Nao, sincerely, an elite like me needs your help. Just as your in need of mine.”

He gave a bitter smile; it felt like the only time she saw him.

“There’s a reason you haven’t left Mikado yet, isn’t there.”

Chapter Text

Nao forgets how to breathe somewhere in between Jin’s smile.

There are other, more concerning worries Nao should be stressing about first. Like the rapid decay of all rational thought- her brain rattling around chanting, he knows what you are, in a varying amount of words, orders and rhymes bottlenecking into the base of Nao’s head.  

But then Nao feels a tightness in her chest like a balloon slowly expanding until she can feel it pop, ringing through her ears as her vision starts to tunnel slowly into green eyes.

Again, Nao was the mouse trapped under the cat’s paw, writhing for its life.

A familiar whisper speaks to her.

To breathe in…

…To breathe out.

That’s it. You work better when you’re focused.

There is a tingling sensation that wets her eyes as the smell of frankincense and clove wafter behind her nose. A small wooden table covered with books, tools and salts meticulously placed.

Nao feels her fingers again as air pumps blood throughout her body. The word becomes clearer with each exhale until she can focus. She runs her thumb across the edge of the paper. It’s crinkled, and taking a closer look at the paragraphs, some of the wording isn’t aligned as neatly compared to the bills and brief forms she went through because of Mr. Hira’s worsening eyesight.

Strangely enough, there was no familiar official seal declaring the document authorized by Mikado’s city government.

Though Border is one of the largest benefactors of the city- which benefactor is a loose term as they try to prevent the attacks that could mean almost certain death to any civilian- most of their funding according to a variety of sources, aka Mikado’s gossip circles, came from the citizens themselves.

Most would think that Border would be subsidized or underneath a government identity, but when Nao heard a mother gushing of how a Border agent saved their boy from a wary neighbor and how she made a lump sum donation as appreciation, she realized the citizens were more active in Border’s survivability.

Which, strangely enough, made sense if the government did not want to publicly announce alien life. It’s more common for the other side to have wandering neighbors who go from planet-to-planet trading resources and other agreements. Here, she feels that is not the case.  

For Nao, policies were a labyrinth of convoluted words which purposefully held double meanings that would eventually deface the actual purpose of said policy. Border for how tangled it is within the city, Nao could break down their status into three points.

First. Though Border seemed to have major influence over Mikado, not just it taking a fourth of the city space, they are likely comparable to any other business who needs to go through the city procedures to be effective. Property owned by the city (e.g. Mikado shopping district) is placed upon city property and though Border runs as its own identity for ‘otherworldly disasters’, not having an approved seal on Jin’s crinkled letter could be considered a form of unlawful intrusion in the eyes of the state.

Second. To dismiss the point above, there is no need for Border to follow rule one. The shopping district may not be owned by Border; and there may be a bylaw that states the organization to be on par with the “law” that allows agents to have some sort of executive power if needed. Though agents in Border do not seem aggressive, that doesn’t mean that can change. Nao has seen countless countries deny diplomacy for force. 

Third. The first rule must be followed for the third to exist- Is that where power is usually equivalent to trion in the outer worlds; here it is equivalent to coin. For Border to remain operational, a small tax of less than 1% had been imposed on Mikado businesses, on top of the usual bombardment of television and newspaper ads asking for donations. However, after the first attack, many citizens had either abandoned their homes, died or disappeared leading to a large-scale argument of the credibility of Border. Mr. Hira had told Nao Border almost shut down during its first year of operation because of these protests, which in his opinion was ridiculous, you cannot protest if you are dead.

A simple conclusion. Happy people give Border more money. More money leads to a happy Border. A happy Border means the peace is kept.

There was just one more question that bothered her. The name ‘cutie’ written with blue ink on the signature line. It’s messy, unorganized and not hers.

“How do you know me?”

Jin looked startled, as if he wasn’t expecting her to speak out loud, let alone ignore his previous question. Nao felt a sudden hint of bitterness at how quickly Jin tampers down his surprise and gave a small upturn of the lips. “I know as much as anyone else does.” He looks off to the side, and Nao, already not accustomed to reading others, can not place the emotion on his face. “Small town, everyone talks. You’ll get used to it.”

Nao feels there is another meaning to his words, but she pushes more. “That’s not what I mean.” She says, gesturing to the open grass area along the river's edge. “It’s not that common for others to be here.” And it was semi-true. Other than crowded holidays or special weekends, most citizens choose to stay at home or closer to the areas Border would patrol.

The topic of unusual gates, the reliability of agents and the safety of all Mikado had led the riverside to become barren landscape of life as most stayed home.

Additionally, a handful of people knew Nao from the bookstore, but Nao couldn’t even name a single person who ‘knew’ her.

So, for Jin, this so-called elite, to know where she favored spending her time off and intercepted her with exactly what Nao needed was terrifying.

But then again, Jin didn’t seem to be aggressive. His arms were folded against his chest, leading to an uncomfortable position for him to draw any hidden weapon from. Cute fringe that was in style nowadays and a boyish smile that would have charmed Ms. Umino towards loading him up with extra snacks. She frowns, uncertain.

Nao is a neighbor. She is not protected by the rule set Border follows. In fact, there is no logical reason that Jin should be talking to her as a civilian…

Then it clicked.

She had originally assumed that Jin knew she was a neighbor; from how he fooled her, she might add. But how could he prove it? Nao’s manners might be lacking; she has studied enough to be considered maybe strange but not an outsider to this planet’s standard.

A young girl moved into town, working at the oldest bookstore in Mikado City. An agency named Border, which needs to follow the demands of the citizens to stay active. A small town where everyone talks.

If Jin were to enforce rule two and detain her with force during the recent scare that just happened a couple days ago; Nao’s disappearance may be enough cause of concern for the people who knew her well within the district.  

It would lead to the effective derailment of Border’s image. Taking in Nao, without her consent, would be Border chopping off their own leg.

Unless a high-ranking official struck a deal with her.

Jin’s voice catches her off guard. “Coin for your thoughts?” He’s not looking as frazzled as Nao, but she can tell he wants to know what is happening in the inner working of her mind. As if, she let him get the upper hand on him again.

“No,” she states, folding the paper matching edge to edge. “You have the wrong person. My name is Nao.”

Jin made a face. “No, I know that. It’s a joke, you know. Cutie, Nao, same person?”

Nao frowns, holding the paper towards him. “I have only been Nao.” When she notices Jin not putting in any effort to take the paper back, Nao takes two small steps closer, brushing against his collar as Jin lets out something akin to a squeak, delicately placing the paper in his jacket’s breast pocket. “Thank you for your time today, Mr. Elite, but I have to be on my way.”

With a small sidestep and curt bow, Nao doesn’t look to see Jin’s reaction as she steps down the river’s edge. 

In the distance, Nao can faintly hear Jin shout. “You can be cute and Nao at the same time, ya know!”

Nao ignores him and rushes along the river back towards the safety of Mikado city.

Nao thought that she had had enough surprises today. From her being displaced from the crumbling bookstore- which she still argues is perfectly safe-, to a Border elite tracking her down pressuring her to sign a bribe.

That’s why Nao wasn’t expecting to see Jin three hours later with a bouquet and a small plushy bear holding a sign saying, ‘I’m sorry’ at the local diner she had been huddled up in thinking of ways for her to sneak back into the district.

He’s still in his uniform, hair a bit more ruffled, but otherwise a picture-perfect smile on his face as he holds out the flowers towards her. It’s a mix of thick yellow peonies and a couple of springs of greenery mellowing out its absurd brightness.

A group of girls squeal across from her, exclaiming how they wish their boyfriends would bring them forgive-me flowers before one hush the other. Another older man nods in approvement and even her waitress, seems to have a look of gloom in her eyes as Jin joins Nao at the booth.

He gives a shy smile, which Nao thinks looks very displaced on his face, and says, “Forgive me?”

The squeals turn into shouts of excitement until half the restaurant is gawking at them. Nao didn’t know what to make of this sudden predicament. She had met Jin only a couple of hours before.

Nao doesn’t fully understand what Jin is planning, but he takes her moment of hesitation to grab her free hand across the booth. The squeals become louder until she can faintly hear others scooting their chairs closer. “As an apology, let me take you out on a date?”

Nao’s face opens in utter shock as the restaurant gushes at their on demand rom con as everyone quietens into hushed whispers.

“Are you serious?” She leaves out the ‘they just met’, as she feels it will add more fuel to the fire she was trying to control. Too bad a cup of water can’t quell a wildfire.

“Extremely,” Jin says with a wink. “You’re the only one for me after all.”

Please let a black hole swallow her up. This cannot be real. And why does that sound so familiar? She is scans the room for an escape, but Jin has a viper grip on her hand and what feels like half the population is staring at her, waiting for her to either say ‘yes’, that will probably lead to a happy conclusion for the onlookers as they continue on with their day - not Nao though - or she says ‘no’ and the rumor mill will churn this story for weeks on end if she is lucky.

Nao glares at Jin, who ever so innocently bats his eyelashes like one of those leads in the dramas that are playing on TV.

It hits her like a freight truck. He’s trying to cement his place in her life before the public, creating an alibi for himself to talk to her anytime he like. Say ‘no’ and it leads to an eight-season series of the guy bothering the girl or say ‘yes’ and cut to credits.

This isn’t even a bribe, it’s blackmail.

Nao wants to cry, mourn, even jump to the nearest floating nation because anything is better than being perceived.

She presses down the urge to scream and gives her best smile. Albeit her smile comes out a bit more crooked and any caring person could read it as: no way in hell; but frankly she’s learned Mikado citizens do not care as long as they get their entertainment, and Jin does not seem to care as long as he gets his way. If only he was facing the crowd, then maybe the audience could see the delighted look in his eyes.

“Where shall we go?” she grits out.

Like the cat that ate the canary, the elite beam as the whole restaurant gives cheer, congratulating. The waitress, who was originally serving Nao, comes over with watery eyes and a red nose, holding a slice of cake and two forks as she gives a ‘congrats’ more directed towards Jin than Nao as she speeds away.

Jin scoots onto the bench, victory all over his face.

“Small town, you know.” Jin says as he takes the first bite of cake, delighted, either by the dessert or Nao’s misery. “You’ll get used to it. Promise.”

Power of gossip as the king falls- checkmate.

Nao lets out a disgruntled mumble as she stabs her side of the cake. Vanilla. She would rather stick to her books than play these games.