HA1 9.1 - A Piece of Memories

  Shizuka looked in admiration as Takeo used two small iron bars to unlock the door to the rooftop.

  "It's hard to imagine a Twig like you have a bad boy side."

  In a flat tone Takeo responded, "Hide can do it three times faster. He also will teach you the trick."

  "Noice, I can't wait for it."

  Shizuka have a small smile before following Takeo to a corner on the rooftop. Then, she asked softly, "Do you remember that at kindergarten and elementary school we were always together?

  I would take care of children who bullied you, and you would bring me lunch and lend me your homework for me to copy. But then… suddenly you became a stranger.

  When Tenma and his friends beat you and Hide ignored you. I was happy to help you and hoped we could be friends again. But you shouted at me, 'I don't need a help from a Yankee girl like you.' And now, you get along with Hide pretty well but remain a stranger to me."

  “Well…” Takeo let out a deep sigh but didn’t continue his words

  After waiting for a moment Shizuka then asked in a lonely tone, "Tell me darn Twig, why did you start avoiding me after our first summer in junior high?"

  Takeo looked at Shizuka's dark brownish and long hair before answering, "It's because you started hanging out with Yankee Kuroki and dyed your hair. I thought you would be a bad influence for me."

  "Bad influence because of my hair huh?" Deep remorse filled Shizuka's heart, but she was able to calm it. "My hair color is natural by the way. My mom is half Americ, so I have a bit of a Caucasian gene, even though I don't know why it's changed only after I entered junior high.

  For Kuroki, you are absolutely correct. Recently, I found out that he was an absolute cockroach. But at that time, we were just friends from the same dojo."

  For some reason, Takeo could feel a thick regret, anger, and bitterness in Shizuka's tone, and it bothered him.

  "I'm sorry. It seems I made some idiot judgment."

  "Yeah, you did," Shizuka muttered in a regretful tone.

  Silence then enveloped the two.

  ---

  When Hide arrived and saw the awkward silence between Shizuka and Takeo, he immediately asked, "Are you two fighting?"

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  "“No,”" Shizuka and Takeo answered in unison.

  'What a couple,' Hide muttered inwardly. "Then, listen to me carefully. I’ll explain a few things."

  Shizuka immediately gave Hide a nod. "Okay."

  "Basically, we have a few roles when carrying out a hunt. Planner, executor, transportation, info gathering, and logistics. I take the role of planner and executor while Takeo took the rest.”

  "Wait a second," Shizuka tilted her head to the side as question mark appeared on her forehead. "I thought you are the muscle and Takeo is the brain."

  Takeo calmly said, "I told you. I'm just an errand boy."

  "U-ugh... Okay."

  Hide pointed at Shizuka before continuing, "Depend on the situation, you will assist me or Takeo, and to make it easier for you two to stick together I want you two to date, and it doesn't matter if it's a fake or a real one."

  "Why?"

  "Okay."

  Two opposing answers were heard at almost at the same time, and Hide casually explained, "It’s to make sure that everything looks natural when you two are together, be it inside or outside the school."

  "Fine."

  Takeo reluctantly agreed while Shizuka hummed softly.

  "I and Takeo will slowly explain how we communicate or work. But first, you need to take a motorbike course, any model as long as it’s no lower than 300 cc class with cruiser features. We have operational fund to pay it, so keep the receipt."

  "Okay."

  Shizuka nodded firmly three times, while Hide handed him a piece of paper.

  "This is a list of standard outfits when you go out hunting with us. Takeo will take you to the store and pay the bill."

  "So, this will become our first date."

  "It's a fake relationship, remember?"

  "I know, but it's still fun for me."

  "Whatever."

  "Well." Hide cleared his throat before turning his gaze to Shizuka. "Can you wait downstairs? I need to talk with Takeo for a moment."

  Suspicion and worry instantly rose in Shizuka's heart. "Why do you want to talk without me?"

  "It will not affect the decision to accept you to the team, but I need to know Takeo's honest opinion about it."

  "Okay."

  Without delay Shizuka left the rooftop, while Hide turned his gaze to Takeo.

  "If you have something in mind, please say it."

  "Hide, honestly, I don't like it, but in general I don't have complaints except for her reason about her father. At least, we need to check it."

  Hide firmly replied, "She didn't lie about her father. However, I have something else that bothers my mind."

  "What is it?"

  "I will explain it later. For now, I want you to find out if there is someone in Shizuka's social circle who was missing or dead in the last six months, and I want you to check it quietly."

  Puzzlement filled Takeo's face, but he answered firmly, "Okay."

  "Also, don't tell Shizuka about Knosses or our broker."

  "Understood."

  "And... Even if it's only a fake relationship, please treat her nicely."

  "Why?"

  "It’s hard to explain it, but someday there is a chance you will thank me for this."

  "I doubt it, but I will try my best because you ask me to."

  Hide smiled before saying cheerfully, "Thank you, now you have a date so have fun."

  "It's a fake relationship, remember?"

  "Yeah."

  Takeo then left the rooftop, while Hide looked into distance.

  'Well, it's not cost me a penny, so why not do it.'

  Based on memories from his previous life, Hide knew that in a few months Shizuka's father would die in hospital. She then moved out of the country to live with her mother.

  On her last day in the school, Shizuka confessed her feelings to Takeo. But Takeo rejected her with a cold and flat answer. After that, Hide never heard anything about her again.

  'Well, this is how far I can do it for you two, for in the end everything is up to your own feelings."

  *****