Chapter Text
Ako is a perfect second-in-command of the Gehenna Prefect Team.
She’s efficient with her work, maintains good professionalism, and most importantly, she’s loyal to Hina the Head Prefect.
Which is why she’s on a mission of stalking her during her only day off of the year.
The adult she "invited" acts as an excuse; the fact that he’s good at being low-profile and sneaking around is a nice plus.
In addition, the Intelligence Department has several modified vehicles specifically for surveillance.
Extra utilities such as window tints, an official number plate and a killswitch for the lights are all good to have when tailing someone.
The car is parked at a suburban area, near the border of Gehenna and Abydos; they’re on the Gehenna side, of course.
Hina is down the street, waiting.
She’s in a simple black dress, a beret and a pair of shades. Didn’t even bring her trusty machine gun here today.
One would even go as far as to say, she’s on a date.
“This is of utmost importance!” Ako slams her hands on the dashboard.
Sensei in the driver seat takes a sip of the gas station coffee. “Sure. Utmost importance.”
“President Hina gets one day off a year! ONE! And she takes it because we pretty much forced her to!”
“We must make sure the president gets the most rest out of it! And let no one and nothing get in her way!”
The secretary of Gehenna Prefect Team adjusts her shades in the creaking passenger seat.
The office lady outfit suits her; short-sleeved black blouse, tan short pencil skirt finished off with a pair of black stockings.
It's kind of funny to see her like this though.
Clearly, she’s not used to field works like this, makes sense why she wanted him to be here.
And in his honest opinion, this is probably not the best approach to spy on someone like Hina.
She may be sensitive to tradecrafts since she’s a former intelligence officer. Plus, she may recognize the special vehicles.
But still, it’s funny. “Whatever you say.” The adult snickers.
He’s not that worried about being compromised.
One, he can always resort to “work” since Ako is here, and vice versa.
Two, Ako is one thing, but there’s no conceivable way Hina will be mad at him if he busts out the magic words. You look cute today and all that.
And three, the most crucial reason; he knows who Hina is going to spend her time with.
“Heads up.” He nudges his passenger with an elbow. “Got a partner.”
The blue-haired girl perks up. “Eh!? President Hina is with someone!?” Other than me!?
“Looks like it.” The snicker on Sensei widens. “At least you know who that is.”
“BUT-” Ako flusters looking at the figure approaching her supervisor. “Why...?”
“They have their reasons.” He takes another sip of the shitty coffee in his hand.
“She’ll keep Hina distracted. By accompanying her and hanging out with her.”
“Uuuuuu...” Ako makes a bitter expression, and she didn’t drink any coffee.
Sensei glances at her with his special eyes. Is that envy, jealousy or worry I sense?
He puts the coffee into the cup holder. “Well, would you rather Hina spends her day off on her lonesome?”
“Wha- No?” She shakes her head in response. “I mean, if President Hina can recharge from that then sure...”
“What’s the catch then?” He wakes the electric car they’re in up to life. “I’m fine with the person I like hanging out with others.”
“Well that’s...uuuuurgh! ” Ako slams her hands on the dashboard again. “It is what it is! Let's just leave it at that!”
“The hell does that supposed to mean...?” Sensei simply drives their way on the street and blends in with the traffic.
They must be one step ahead of Hina and her “date” from now on, otherwise, she may notice that there’s a tail.
Besides, it’s not stalking if they’re ahead of them.
Sorasaki Hina is facing an imminent issue.
Usually, it’s something she can work her way out with a mug of coffee, or blast her way out with her machinegun.
This is neither of those.
She needs to socialize with a peer. On a one-day vacation made possible by her caring subordinate and teacher no less.
Not just work partners like Ako, or criminals like Kasumi or Haruna. No, an actual third-grader peer, on equal ground, one-on-one.
And most importantly, it's as Sorasaki Hina the individual, rather than the Head of the Gehenna Prefect Team.
Hina tenses at that, it’s been too long.
Her reputation and occupation bind her. What if she says or does something out of the ordinary?
The answer to the said question resurfaces. She won’t mind. If anything, I think she’d like it.
“Do what comes natural.” She mutters the line given to her by the same person who offered the answer.
Before she can make more mental preparations, a voice interrupts her.
“Ah! Hina-chan~”
“...Takanashi Hoshino.” The one and only, right before her eyes.
The whole vacation thing was originally Sensei’s idea.
This way, Hina gets to gain some rest and relief, since she hasn’t taken any after that annual party of Gehenna.
Furthermore, this can be a way of Sensei repaying her… so many things, really.
Plus, Hoshino gets to thank her for her assistance and for helping FTF in the Abydos desert back then.
And, officially, this can also be a show of force; a sign that Abydos now has a tie to Gehenna, with the strongest person of all Gehenna no less.
It’s a quadruple-win.
“Oh~ You look cute today!” And she starts off strong.
She’s in her usual uniform, with her iconic shotgun and shield slung over her shoulders.
“It- Sensei suggested that I should change my outfit...”
Which was a reasonable idea. Showing up in the Gehenna Prefect Team outfit would raise attention.
Still, Hina feels like she’s going to stick out like a sore thumb in Abydos streets.
“Do- Do l look weird...? You’ve been eyeballing me.” She carefully prods.
The opposing pinkette sparkles. “No~? I just said you’re cute!”
“!...” Sensei has been a bad influence on you...!
“Hina-chan?”
“...It’s nothing. Where are we going again, Takanashi Hoshino?”
“Eh~? I thought we were on the first name basis~”
“Are- Are we...?”
“Yes we are~ Just call me Hoshino! It’s fine!” She offers a handshake with a bright smile.
There’s a part of Hina’s impression of Hoshino remained in the reports from the Intelligence Department two years ago.
Which, Takanashi Hoshino is marked as an elite genius of combat. And a potential threat to Gehenna.
And yet here she is, smiling and brimming with kindness. It contradicts that part of hers.
Hina hesitates, hovering her hand right before Hoshino’s for a second.
People change, Hina. You, me, her. Now you can take a closer look.
Their palms meet before she can make her move.
Hoshino gently tugs her. “Alright~ Let’s start the date~”
“DAT- What!? We’re just hanging out, aren’t we!?”
A surge of heat rushes up from her neck. Must be the Abydos’ sun.
“But there’re only two of us!”
Hina’s sanity and vocabulary are dropping by the seconds.
So much for relaxing...! Sensei... Help!
Too bad he’s the one putting her in this situation.
And if he finds out she crying out for help for this, he’s gonna laugh his ass off.
Options are off. Hina reaches the conclusion. “Hah...”
“U-he~ Still no ‘Hoshino-chan’ for me~?”
“...Maybe later.”