Chapter Text
"Hey... Don't you have other work to do?"
Wise glanced at Shepherd, who was lounging in a corner of Random Play, completely speechless. Ever since the siblings' new Inter-Knot level was enough to qualify for promotion, Shepherd had been eagerly pushing them to raise their tier so he could 'welcome Phaethon's return.' However, unforeseen events forced them to postpone it, resulting in Shepherd showing up at their store daily for the past several days. Even his greetings were repetitive. Wise was startled the first time, as their usual meet-up points were the coffee shop or online. Now, all he could muster was a deadpan expression.
Unfazed by the gray-haired Proxy's remark, Shepherd smiled:
"I do, but today is special. You know, unless there's a "big ticket," I don't usually show my face around."
"You also said that three days ago."
"Let's not get bogged down by trivial details! Now, there's only one last step before you finally regain the title of "Legendary." A return to the throne for Phaethon! Aren't you excited?"
"...Whoa." Wise replied, his face expressionless. Gaining the title of "Legendary Proxy" was only a byproduct of the siblings' search. Ironically, they had gained far more useful connections after shedding that title. As Shepherd spoke, a vivid memory of a handsome face with a yellow headband surfaced in Wise's mind, causing his face to grow warmer.
Ever since that day, there had been no contact between them. Wise hadn't told Belle anything, unsure of how to handle the situation. Her sly smiles, however, hinted ominously that she had already figured something out. On one hand, the lack of contact from Harumasa meant Wise had a little more time to pretend nothing had happened and let life go on as usual. On another hand, he couldn't help but wonder whether the agent had been toying with him.
It would be lying if he said he wasn't annoyed, even just a little.
Wise shook off all his running thoughts before they showed up on his face, while Shepherd still immersive in his speech.
"-and once you've completed the promotion mission, there's a gift waiting for you!"
Wise blinked, did he just miss something?
Even so, it wasn't hard to guess the rest. He just nodded perfunctorily and quickly ushered the Proxy broker out of the store. The way Shepherd kept casually throwing around "Legendary Proxy" in the middle of the shop was too nerve-wracking for Wise. Even if the store wasn't crowded, there were still people around. He had no intention of exposing their other identity just because someone accidentally overheard. That's the most cliche plot device ever.
Finally alone, Wise entered the storage room to prepare for the test. Belle was already there, wearing a smug look on her face, Fairy icon glowing on the screen. The test had reportedly changed significantly since their last attempt, so even the renowned Phaethon needed preparation.
The first time the siblings took the test, it was conducted in the field with real Agents and Proxies. Because of that, the test was very dangerous, requiring participants to place complete trust in one another. However, it also limited a lot of oppotunities, as judges had to prioritize safety. This time, with the great advance in technology, the test was transferred to virtual ground, along with that was the expansion in both the quality and quantity of enemies. It all came down to how much data they could achieve.
Yet, when Wise saw Grace's machine listed as the final boss, he still fell speechless.
...how did they even obtain these data?
Facing an old enemy didn't make the test easier. The once-pile-driving-machine started the round by slamming its pile hard on the ground, shaking the building dangerously. His Agent narrowly avoided the attack by a hair's breadth. Pushing all distractions aside, Wise focused entirely on the fight.
Somewhere midway through the battle, his ocular implants lit up with a blue notification on his Bangboo view, then another one.
How had these gotten through? Wasn't Fairy silence all calls and notifications during the test already?
Having no attention to spare, he called to the other two:
"Belle, Fairy, help me with the messages please!"
Belle's voice chimed in, sounding rather strange, as if she was excited, but holding herself back:
"You sure? It might be urgent."
"Whatever it is, I can't check right now. Just handle it for me, and I'll buy you noodles later!"
"You got me!"
With that, the notification flashing at the corner disappeared. Fairy remained unusually quiet, but Wise didn't have time to ponder. Meanwhile, out of her brother's sight, Belle couldn't hide her smirk. She gave a thumbs-up to the silver eye icon on the screen while clutching Wise's unlocked phone. The name [Asaba Harumasa] glowed in a yellow tag on the display.
One of Belle's hands hugged her face, grinning so devilishly that no one could think that was the face of someone who was about to help her family:
"Don't worry brother, this little sister of you will make sure everything goes smoothly~"
By the time Wise completed the promotion mission, it was already the story of two hours later. Rubbing his eye tiredly, Wise turned off his connection to the system. Belle had left earlier for a snack. As he stretched, another notification popped up on his phone with a faint 'ding.' Recognizing the sound, he mumbled in confusion:
"Didn't Belle say she'd take care of it?"
Had her love for noodles waned?
Fairy's sassy voice corrected him:
"Incorrect. The second assistant fulfilled her promise. This message is from someone else."
"Oh."
Wise swiped the screen, it was Zhu Yuan.
Zhu Yuan: Store manager, I have finished the film you rented me. It's really hilarious. That guy actually started snoring halfway through solving the case! That kid must have the toughest job in the world.
- I'm glad you like it. I thought as a professional, you would find it ridiculous.
Zhu Yuan: How else can you make people laugh if not by making it ridiculous? I'm not so out of it that I expect everything to be done by a book in a comedy.
Zhu Yuan: besides, I've actually gained a lot of inspiration from it! In the episode, the culprit cleaned the scene very thoroughly in an attempt to cover up his wrongdoing. He did manage to get rid of the evidence, but it wasn't enough to cover his tracks completely.
- Why not?
Zhu Yuan: Anyone checked his utility bills would've noticed something was off. With the amount of cleaning he did, his water usage would be unusually high. We Public Security Officers would've focused our investigation on the family members of the victim first, instead of immediately treating it as a missing person case.
- I'd never thought of that! You're amazing!
Zhu Yuan: Haha, it's not about us being particularly skilled. The crime itself is just inherently flawed. Evil never goes unnoticed in this world, and the more sophisticated the deception, the easier it's to uncover.
Zhu Yuan: Thank you for finding me such an intriguing movie. I'll recommend this place to my colleague!
- Thank you for your patronage!
Putting the phone back into his pocket, Wise exhaled in relief. It seemed Zhu Yuan's mood had improved significantly. The revelation of their hidden identity and the betrayal of her boss, who turned out to be a traitor and criminal, had shaken her deeply. The siblings had initially thought it would take her a while to recover, but it seemed she was back on track.
Heading to the door, Wise called out to his sister upstairs:
"Belle, let's celebrate, what do you want for dinner?"
"Red Chilli Meat Noodles!"
***
Crimson rain's falling.
Harumasa was well aware he was dreaming.
A child's wailing, begging somewhere amidst the drenching rain.
It was an old dream, one that always followed him. The manifestation of his deepest fear.
Standing at a crossroads, countless people are chattering, whispering among themselves.
"Ah, poor child."
"I heard the murderer isn't even human..."
"So cruel..."
"Only a monster could leave such wounds..."
No matter how many years passed, he still couldn't face this dream calmly.
A sharp 'snap' echoes after him, almost buried under the chatter and the patter of raindrops, yet as loud as a gunshot in his ear.
Golden eyes glanced back.
Everyone on the street has turned their gaze in one direction, their phone cameras pointing at him. Their words mix together in a murmur:
"Mommy, what's that..."
"Shh, don't get too close..."
"Look over there."
"Hey, don't stare, what if..."
Just a dream, Harumasa inhaled slowly. Yet, he unconsciously grabbed his own neck, feeling the black choker.
Vision twists, countless camera light flashes, blinding him. White light swirls with green, magenta, and yellow. The people around him warp and flicker, transforming into countless Ethereals, then into humans again.
In a split second, Harumasa saw black crystal sprouting from his arm, spreading to his chest like an infectious disease. He felt as though he'd been shot in the back of his head. His eyes widened as he staggered back, reflexively raising his hands to cover his face.
His voice doesn't sound like his own.
"I didn't become an Ethereal, it wasn't me, it wasn't---"
"Harumasa!"
Slender fingers gripped his arm. Gray bangs cast shadows over part of the young man's soft features. A pair of emerald eyes met his, filled with worry. Harumasa could almost see his own reflection in those eyes.
He blinked, his eyes widening in shock. Reflected in those clear emerald eyes was an Ethereal, glowing in neon shades, its crystallized claw reaching toward the young Proxy.
Behind him, people are screaming.
***
Harumasa jolted awake. Sweat dripped down his chest and forehead. The dizziness from sitting up too quickly overwhelmed him. There was no light in the room, despite the curtain only half-closed.
I want to see him.
It was still workday, the day when his earliest clock-in record was 11:00 a.m., yet Harumasa couldn't more wide awake. He grabbed his jacket, wrapping it hastily around himself before sprinting out of the apartment.
Luckily, the metro was already running, though the few minutes on the train felt like an eternity. As soon as he got off, he sprinted toward the dark street. Until a familiar figure sweeping up trash in front of Random Play appeared that he stopped, a sharp pain attacked his chest, forcing him to bend over, panting heavily. He belatedly asked himself.
...What am I doing?
The sight of a figure in dark blue jacket slowly calmed his racing heart down. Harumasa watched the store manager from the shadow of Coff Cofe walls in silent, as if being hypnotized. Like an illusion, that in this moment before sunrise, there were only two of them left in this world.
A low chuckle crept up his throat.
...I really am pathetic.
Composing himself and putting on his usual smile, Harumasa walked toward the store manager.
***
Wise woke up early today - a lot earlier than he had expected, even Belle was still fast asleep. Somehow, he had the nagging feeling he'd forgotten something, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
Maybe it was the rare sense of satisfaction that came from waking up before his usual time, that he was even energetic enough to tidy up the front of the video store. Don't get him wrong - Sixth Street followed strict regulations on street sanitation. Still, there were exceptions for trash stuck in the corners, which required human effort to clear. Although in the dark, when the sun hadn't even up like this, maybe he woke up too early.
While debating whether to surprise his sister with an exquisite breakfast or crawl back into bed, a voice suddenly broke the quiet:
"Good morning, store manager~ Any chance you're still hiring here at the video store?"
On the quiet street with not a single soul, this voice was comparable to the classic scene in Disappearing Elevator. Pulling the soul that almost escaped his body back, Wise turned to face the renowned Agent in surprise:
"Asa-"
"It's Harumasa."
"..."
Wise's expression shifted, his face turning a faint shade of red—barely noticeable under the amber streetlight—as he recalled the memory from a few days prior. Part of Harumasa's face was hidden in shadow, obscuring some of his features, but Wise could still detect the uneasiness behind that foxlike smile, and the few drops of sweat glistening on his brow. That was when he realized that he wasn't wearing the usual yellow headband, even his clothes under the thick jacket seemed... too casual?
Did he just run here right after waking up?
Wise expression was a bit complicated, masked the puzzled feeling away:
"...What are you doing here at this hour?"
"I'm here to pick up the copy of "Sleepwalking" I told you yesterday, although the thought of bring it home, pop it into the player and hit play... I'm getting tired just thinking about it~ So, if you're still hiring, what do you say about giving me a shot? I just need 21.75 of annual leave every month~"
...Movie? what movie?
A hazy memory floated up-Belle had left a movie box on his table last night, and some messages that he had left for Belle to handle. Wise mirrored Harumasa's smile and returned it right at him: "Graciously received and tenderly declined.", while pulling out his phone and secretly swiping to open [Inbox], an ominous feeling crept in.
Tilting the phone screen so the other person couldn't see the content, Wise swiftly skimmed his messages, piecing together the situation. He sighed inwardly before addressing the Agent.
"Even so, you came too soon, we haven't even opened."
This person's concept of time must have some problems, he thought.
"No problem, I was just thinking maybe I can just watch it here. In a video store this big, you must have a place where you can watch movies in here, right? Don't worry, I'll pay for everything. Just give me a chance, Boss~"
Harumasa was persistent, and Wise couldn't leave him outside in the cold. In the end, the Agent followed him in. The temperature inside and outside showed stark differences right when Random Play's door closed, making Harumasa felt like he was standing in a heater. Couldn't help but shed his jacket immediately, he glanced at the notebook on the table, an idea popped into his head.
"Hey, I'd like to register to be a member. What do I need?"
Having somewhat used to the Agent's hard-to-follow line of thought, Wise decided to not wonder too much and just went with the flow:
"Just your name, phone number and-"
By the time the two seated comfortably on Wise bedroom's sofa, the sky had begun to shift into a muddy honey hue. To not affect their experiences, Wise had drawn all the curtains, leaving the bedroom pitch black, with the only light source from the monitor.
"Sleepwalking" is an incredibly intense thriller. The main character realizes that his daytime fatigue stems from his transformation into an Ethereal at night, wandering through Hollows. Following a string of events in search of the truth, the main character realizes he's a victim of an experiment, yet in the end, he cannot escape his fate of turning into an Ethereal.
Harumasa was completely engrossed in the movie, watching in silence until the credits rolled. As the movie ended, he lowered his head, his slightly long bangs obscuring his eyes, seemingly lost in thought, appearing deep and melancholic. The closest time Wise had seen his mood change this much was at Reverb Arena, when he'd spoken about sweetness.
Is this movie related to him in some way?
In fact, this movie also related to the siblings in a sense, but Wise usually avoid dwell on things he couldn't change, rather, he was more interested in planning his next steps.
Just as Wise was debating whether to break Harumasa's contemplation, the Agent suddenly leaned to the side, losing his balance and falling toward Wise, ended up falling right onto his thigh. Only then did he belatedly realize this guy wasn't sad, he'd just fallen asleep!
Still, did this guy do this on purpose?
Wise, dumbfounded, finally let out a long-held sigh. The sofa was narrow for a grown man, so he gently shook the guy.
"Hey, don't sleep here, at least get on bed."
Harumasa snuggled against the store manager's stomach, making Wise freeze. This guy definitely is doing this on purpose!
But then, he noticed something amiss. The Agent’s body was sweating, his eyebrows knitted together in discomfort. His hands gripped his own neck, where the black choker rested. Startled, Wise quickly intervened, fearing Harumasa might harm himself. But instead of letting go, Harumasa grabbed Wise’s hands with such force that the store manager feared his bones might be crushed.
This time, there were no glowing Ether particles, but the situation felt eerily similar to that night.
Is he... having a nightmare?
The memory of a song slowly surfaced, a song from the distant past that he thought he had forgotten. There were nights like this, in the middle of the dark, when there was no one around. The siblings would sneaked off their sleep quarter and ran to their aunt's room. She always slept late, so there were always a faint light emitted from below the door. No matter how quiet the two tried, she always noticed them first hand. She would sigh, then bring them to her bed, where she would sing them to sleep before returning to her work table. Aunt's bed wasn't big, and messy most of the time, but there was always something about it that calmed Wise and Belle's scared heart.
He took a breath, then, a low, soothing tune, gently unfurled in the dark room. Just like how a long time ago, she would sing for them, whenever the siblings couldn't sleep. Wise couldn’t clearly remember the lyrics anymore—they didn’t seem to belong to any language he knew—but he had never forgotten how the song never failed to put him and Belle at ease.
Slowly, Harumasa’s rapid breathing eased, and his grip on Wise’s hands loosened. Yet Wise didn’t pull away. Instead, he continued to hold those hands and kept on singing, until he could feel the Agent fall peacefully asleep.
At the sight of the renowned Agent on his laps, Wise sighed.
Asaba Harumasa is a kind person.
There weren’t many clues, but beneath that cheerful facade, Wise could sense the burden he carried. The way Harumasa would swiftly changed the topic, avoiding certain questions related to his health. The way he would always smiling, saying there was no problem despite coughing nonstop. Wise could tell that he wasn't ready to open his heart on this matter, but he knew it wasn't the time to push the Agent just yet.
Because of their heavy secret, the siblings used to also always keep a distance from people they knew. They avoided asking overly personal questions, offered support whenever possible, but never allowed themselves to take another step closer. It had taken them a long time to finally make real connections.
He pulled the blanket to drape over the Agent's tall, yet seemingly slender figure. The toughness and weight of Harumasa's muscles, felt both when Wise had carried him inside and when Harumasa had embraced him that night, chose this moment to float back into his memory. Wise thought of his own body, which seemed to share the same body build as the Agent, yet couldn't be more different. He quietly pitied himself.
... Humans and humans really shouldn't be compared with each other.
***
Belle wandered over to her brother’s room when she noticed a faint blue light spilling out from the crack under his door. Did he fall asleep watching a movie again? she wondered. Still, something about it felt off, so she quietly pushed the door open and slipped inside, planning to wake him up—only to pause when she saw two figures on the couch.
Wise wasn’t asleep. Instead, he was on his phone when he noticed his sister sneaking in. The situation felt like being caught red-handed, and he froze, before quickly regaining his composure. What could be worse anyway?
He raised a finger to his lips, silently signaling her to keep quiet. Belle immediately gave him a thumbs-up and retreated as silently as she had entered, not forgetting to close the door behind her.
Since her brother clearly wouldn’t be moving anytime soon, it was Belle’s turn to open the store. She came downstairs just in time to see the door open, and a familiar police officer walked in. Zhu Yuan greeted her:
"Good morning. I hope I'm not coming too early."
"No problem! We just opened as well."
Zhu Yuan took the videotape out, and the two went through the usual routine of returning a rented film, while chatting back and forth casually. Just like every other times, when Zhu Yuan hadn't learned the truth. Belle commented:
"You came earlier than I expected. I thought you'd drop by after work."
"I planned to, but I had some work nearby, so I took the chance."
She glanced outside through the door's window, sunshine had started to cast some of its faint silk onto the wooden floor. Looking more relaxed than Belle anticipated, she remarked:
"I've always wonder how strategically placed your store and Master Tin's Coff Café, overlooking the roads in both horizontal and vertical direction. If Coff Café also have two exits on adjacent streets lead to four different direction, then... Wait, could Master Tin also be...?"
Zhu Yuan trailed off, a realization dawning on her, while Belle shook her head, internally sweating.
"No, I'm sure he is not!"
Probably...
The two exhaled at the same time, Zhu Yuan's eyes then drifted to a peculiar jacket behind the counter. The moment she entered, she instinctively scanned the first floor and noticed the jacket hanging near where Bangboo 18 usually sat. What caught her attention was an ID card peeking out of the pocket, bearing an unmistakable handprint design and an even more familiar last name. She asked curiously:
"Was Executive Officer Asaba here?"
Belle followed her gaze to the jacket, thoughts drifting to the two upstairs. She silently clicked her tongue at the Agent's carelessness, while still acting as casual as possible.
"Oh? Yeah, he came by for a movie he reserved this morning, before you."
"I see. How long ago had he left? If necessary, I can help you return it."
"Huh? There's no need! He can pick it up himself."
"Eh? But it's close to work hours. Wouldn't he be late by then?"
While speaking, Zhu Yuan mentally recalled the metro map. If Executive Officer Asaba were heading to the H.A.N.D. headquarters from here, he'd have to take the route through Lumina Square - the same one she needed. If she hurried, she might even catch up. Come to think of it, no one had ever seen Commander Asaba run outside of a mission...
Belle blinked, blank for a moment, finally realizing what she had missed:
"...You work on Saturdays too?"
"Yes, police work runs from Monday to Saturday... Uh..." Zhu Yuan trailed off, then realized something.
"...Is Executive Officer Asaba still here?"
"..." The blue-haired store manager had to use every restraint she had to not look up. Will this cause a scandal? The famous Section 6's Executive Officers slept on her brother's laps? She thought to herself.
If it was just a normal sleepover, she wouldn't even bother. But there is indeed something going on!!!
Zhu Yuan gave her an awkward smile.
"Maybe I'm mistaken. H.A.N.D.'s Executive Officers probably have a different work schedule than us. Haha..."
"...Just in case, what's your usual clock-in time?"
"8 a.m."
Belle handed her the tape and sent her off before sending a message from her smartphone. Upon receiving the message, Wise shook the person sprawled on the sofa. Just from how Harumasa was drooling, he could tell that this guy had a really good sleep.
"Hey, wake up. It's already 7 o'clock."
The Agent rolled over, mumbled:
"...Just 7... I'll get up in... another 5 hours..."
"Isn't that already past your morning work hours? Wake up."
In the end, Harumasa was still being forcibly waken up. Facing Wise's questioned eyes, the Agent yawned, hugging his blanket tight as if missing the warmth in it:
"Boss, you're so cruel~ How could you wake someone this early in the weekend?"
"It's still weekday to police officers."
"...I'm not a police though."
"But I know your schedules are the same. Hey, don't continue sleeping!"
Harumasa closed his eyes, his face scrunched together, completely throwing all 'Masa-sama's demeanor away. Wise struggled just to keep the Agent from burrowing back under the blanket:
"If you aren't going to wake up, how about telling me why you came here that early in the morning?"
Harumasa looked at Wise with a sorrowful expression.
"...Has anyone ever told you that you really know how to make things difficult for people?"
Wise wanted to retort, but his instincts told him to stay silent. Instead, he waited patiently. Eventually, Harumasa's shoulders sagged, and he spoke:
"I actually had a dream similar to this movie last night. I dreamt that I turned into an Ethereal, and it happened on the street, in front of everyone..." He paused, his throat dry as though he hadn't had water in days."...Including you."
Ethereal, Ether particles... Wise had a feeling that whatever was happening to Harumasa's body was deeply connected to these. But instead of voicing his thoughts, he only asked:
"What was my reaction in the dream?"
Harumasa smiled faintly:
"You killed me without hesitation."
"..." Wise eyes show not a hint of belief.
Upon seeing Wise's unfazed reaction, Harumasa chucked:
"Just kidding. In the dream, after I became an Ethereal, everyone kept their distance, gazing at me with looks of horror on their face. That's a normal reaction, of course. If I saw someone suddenly turn into an Ethereal, I'd run away pronto. But at that moment, a person approached and grabbed my hand - no, I should say grabbed by Ethereal claw." He looked into Wise eyes: "That was you."
"...When did you build such trust in me?"
"I don't know. Maybe when you stayed with Chief Miyabi even when she was controlled by her katana? Or when you helped Caesar? The list is long."
They really had gathered a lot of information about them. It wasn't anything the siblings had intended to hide, so Wise wasn't fazed. Considering Section 6's recent discovery of their Proxy identities, it was unlikely they knew anything deeper.
At least, they aren't who he needs to worry about.
Still, Wise found it hard to look into Harumasa's golden gaze:
"Well, that does sound like something I'd do. I mean, I'm a good person after all."
"Haha, looks like you know yourself very well~"
Wise tried to lighten the atmosphere with a casual tone. Harumasa smiled back, yet Wise couldn't tell whose smile was more genuine. Somehow, the store manager felt that while their relationship looked like it had returned to square one, something more intimate was going on, pulling him down deeper.
"In any case, I came to see you after my dream. I ran all the way here, so I'm kinda tired. But--"
At some point, the distance between them had grown remarkably close, though Wise hadn’t noticed. The look in Harumasa’s eyes was intense—serious, without a trace of romance—and it wasn’t until the Agent’s hand reached for his, their fingers intertwining, that Wise finally became aware.
"If you see any Ethereals in the future, don't get ahead of yourself... they're dangerous."
***
In the end, Harumasa was still being sent off.
The story he told Wise actually still has a second part, which continued after he dozed off in the middle of watching the movie. The half first followed the same path, until his Ethereal claw almost pierced the Proxy, that he heard a melody.
Harumasa's memory was always good. It was one of the reasons he was considered a genius. In that half-awake, half-asleep moment, he realized that it was a song he didn't know, by a language he had never heard before.
It's Wise's voice.
The song and that sense of awareness felt like a barrier, shielding him from the countless cameras pointed his way, until all the silhouettes were gone, leaving only him and the Proxy before him on the empty street. Despite the Ether crystals continuing to grow on his body, Harumasa’s mind calmed down — yet oddly hazy, as if he was in a trance.
...But, that's how dreams should be.
The knowing of this being a dream was like drug, and before he knew it, he already saw himself on top of the gray-haired proxy, his Ethereal claw pinned Wise wrists over his head. The heavy rain still falling on both of them. His other claw then lifted Wise's shirt up, revealing the fair skin. The Proxy still wore a stupefied yet worrying expression, and Harumasa could hear himself sigh, as he leaned down.
Then he was wakened up.
In that moment, as reality came rushing back to him and regret passed its peak, Harumasa was grateful that he was woken up on time. Had the version of himself in the dream gone any further, he might not have been able to hide his reaction. The rest after that was just buying himself time.
...Call him being old-fashioned, but Harumasa had never enjoyed the thought of having sex with someone just after a few meetings. Rather, he preferred taking one step at a time, savoring every moment possible.
Since time was already tight, Wise quickly reheated and packed some mixed rice and karaage from last night’s “snack” before driving Harumasa back to the parking lot from earlier.
That day, the whole H.A.N.D headquarters were shocked to their core. Rumors spread around at lightning speed.
"Hey have you heard, Executive Officer Asaba came to work on time today!"
"Holy--is another hollow disaster gonna erupt soon!?"
......
Inside Hollow Special Operations Section 6's office, even Yanagi was no less shocked, to the point the first thing she did was approach Harumasa to inspect him closely:
"Harumasa? Did you stay here overnight?"
Soukaku placed a hand on his forehead:
"Harumasa, are you sick again? Your temperature seems normal, though..."
Even Miyabi joined in, leaning closer to inspect his food box:
"Where did you buy this? I’ve never seen a store wrap their food like this before."
Soukaku’s eyes lit up with sudden realization:
"Ah! Is it because of this food? Does it give him the energy to come to work this early? Can I try one, please?"
Yanagi quickly stopped her:
"You can’t, Soukaku. That’s his breakfast. And didn’t you already have four bowls of noodles this morning?"
Harumasa let them do as they pleased, focusing on finishing his breakfast after a brief greeting. Only once he was done did he respond to their questions:
"I came here from home, I'm not sick, it's not the food, I didn't buy it, a... friend gave me. Rather, aren't you going to announce something? I saw 'classified' on your papers."
Yanagi raised her eyebrows, and started briefing:
"Public Security recently seized a batch of illegal pharmaceuticals. Supposedly, they can temporarily boost Ether's aptitude. This is a highly important case and could be transferred to us soon. When that happens, you won't have the flexibility to take any more time off."
Harumasa crossed his arms, glancing to the side:
"Drugs that can boost Ether aptitude... Where were they seized?
Yanagi passed him a copy of the report:
"In the Hollow at Port Elpis. This is new, are you actually interested in the case?"
Harumasa immediately put his hand up in denial:
"Oh please, you know I'd never be interested in work. But a drug like that sounds perfect for slacking off. Wouldn't it be useful on missions?... Why was it banned?"
Yanagi pushed her glasses up, light gleamed on those amethyst skeptical eyes:
"Because it's too good to be true. And even if it's real, there must be some unforeseen consequences."
Harumasa didn't continue, instead, it was Miyabi:
"I've heard of this drug before, but it was years ago. It can boost Ether's aptitude temporarily, but the side effects are severe. It worsens corruption symptoms and can even cause the user to turn into an Ethereal."
Soukaku gasped, covering her mouth in fright:
"Th-Those are the consequences Nagi was talking about!"
Miyabi concluded:
"...In any case, seeking power like this is pure opportunism. Real strength comes from hard work, not shortcuts."
"...But in this world, those with real strength are always a rare minority." Harumasa mumbled, so low even Miyabi's exceptional hearing couldn't catch on. Her fox ears twitched:
"Did you just.. say something?"
"Nope, nothing~ Ah right, here is my sick leave form, same as before. You know the drill."
Harumasa handed the filled form to Yanagi and Miyabi. The other two didn't even bother glancing at it. Miyabi just nodded:
"Three sick days this week. Got it."
"Chief, please don't go along with him. This isn't like ordering at a restaurant." Yanagi said in a serious tone. "Asaba, I have reminded you several times now, you've already used up your leave for the year. In theory, we can't approve your request anymore."
Harumasa covered his mouth and started coughing, so swiftly as if he just waiting for this moment, somehow, his talking was still fluent:
"Theory is just theory, it's not like I can control this. You all know I've been sick since I was a kid and I still get flare-ups every now and then. That's why my family abandoned me..."
Soukaku chimed in:
"Huh? Didn't you say last time you had no parents, just a master?"
"Yeah, after my parents abandoned me, my master took me in. I passed all the tests for the Hollow Special Operations, but got rejected because of my health. Thankfully, Chief Miyabi took pity on me..."
Miyabi retorted:
"I didn't choose you out of pity. It was simply because you were the strongest candidate."
Harumasa showed a flattered expression:
"Aww, you're too kind. What can I say, I'm a genius."
Yanagi sighed at the sight of Section 6 members tossing words back and forth like a well-rehearsed performance:
"...Fine, I'll figure something out for your leave, but three days is the absolute limit. And don't pull what you did last time, sending me a fake thermometer picture at midnight on the third day, asking to extend your leave."
"Correction: That wasn't a fake. It was the actual reading. Though... it was my cat's temperature~ Anyhow, I'll get out of your hair now. See you after my leave. Take care, everyone~"
After Harumasa had left the office. Yanagi folded her arms, her delicate eyebrows furrowed in dissatisfaction:
"This guy... He doesn't even try to fake it anymore."
Soukaku put her hand under her chin, posing in a detective pose:
"He takes a leave like this every month. I bet he's just sneaking off somewhere and stuffing his face with tasty food!"
Meanwhile, Miyabi looked at the closed door, looked somewhat admiring:
"Harumasa just has something he has to get done. If possible, I'd also like to..."
Yanagi put one of her hands on her Chief shoulder, smiling sweetly, yet Miyabi flinched:
"Oh, no you don't, Chief, we have a very important meeting tomorrow. Please make sure you attend it... and don't be late."
***
When Wise saw the familiar face he had just sent off three hours ago reappear at the video store’s front door, 'confusing' wasn't enough to express his feelings anymore.
"...Did you get fired?"
"Of course not~ I need your help with something... Or to be more accurate, you're the only ones who can help me out."
Wise furrowed his eyebrows, already guessing what Harumasa was about to say. The thought surprised him so much that he almost felt like pricking his ears up comically to express it. Realizing how impolite that would look, he only imagined doing so. Instead, he let the Agent in and flipped the sign on the door to Closed.
After greeting Belle, who was standing by the counter, the Agent got right to the point.
"I need to go into the Hollow for a case, but my Carrot's acting up... You're the only Proxies I know that I can trust."
As expected, although he still could not help but put his hand under his chin in shock:
"No way, this is actually for work...? Since when did you become so passionate about your job?... Is there something you're not telling me?"
Harumasa’s eyelids lowered, looked somewhat hurt:
"Ouch, that's hurt. As a professional Executive Officer, I have always been proactive at my job, haven't I?" he then swiftly changed to the usual exaggerated demeanor before Wise could buy that act, "Besides, this is an excellent opportunity for you to see me in action. I'm sure the experience will come in handy if you run into any 'trouble' in the future~"
Wise stared at him emotionlessly, while Belle sighed, as if resigned to the situation.
"We don't want any trouble with the Executive Officer... Anyway, what's this case that you're working on?