"Goddamn this’ll be a big one—"

Mira tried dodging the incoming wall of water to no avail. Sitting on a stone bridge’s railing above an offshoot pond, Chantou reeled a koi that flew upwards and into a basket. Its body flapped against the inner weave in a futile attempt to escape, but the lid she placed prevented that.

“Y—You should have warned me you were gonna do that!”

“I did warn you though. And what’s the harm in getting a little wet now and then?”

Pouts didn’t work against her, but she did it anyways. Ignoring it, Chantou reeled in another and the same process occurred. After a couple rounds of this, the fish grew sparse, somehow learning that taking the bait would mean their demise. As such, the allocated time between bites allowed for Mira’s thoughts to wander away from incoming waves.

Ripples from their lines spread out until it reached the opposing rocks. Mira watched them solemnly.

Should I tell her?

Assassins were not allowed to reveal the target nor time nor location of assignments to each other unless it was a joint operation. Doing so, even by this remote pond, could mean their termination as the division’s ears reached even to the most unsuspecting places. Seeking advice was impossible. The assassination required completion in a week, leaving her with all the time for anxiety to unfold.

“Oi, earth to Mira, you gonna reel that baby in?”

“Huh? Oh—!”

She jerked her arms but the moment she did, the line lost all its weight.

“Ah… It got away.”

The koi skirted across the pond bed to escape behind its fellow fish comrades. Now with the state of the pond, fishing anymore would be impossible.

"Something's on your mind?"

"N—Nothing…" Nerves made Mira’s lie come out shakingly.

“Nothing. With that expression, there’s something.”

“I—I mean it…”

“You’re bad at lying, you know that?” Chantou scooted over and leaned forward, almost touching noses. “You're so precious Mira. Maybe I don't need a boyfriend after all."

Too… too close!

But before Mira’s face could burn up, Chantou's gaze grew distant into her own. “You received a new mission, didn't you?”

Without backing away or pushing her to get some space, Mira only let her posture fall as she nodded. Even her friend’s observation skills in the minds of others were unmatched. “What would you do if you were in my position?” she asked hopelessly.

Of course, it was a needless question that required more context that she cannot give. She had blurted it out reflexively, knowing there was nothing to be gained. And yet—

"Be glad I got another chance. This is what you wished for." A response came naturally as always.

“Can’t say I’m happy about this…” Mira admitted.

Chantou raised an eyebrow. There was more to unpack in her friend’s reply than the typical cast of doubt she’d sometimes display. Given that she almost failed to assassinate the professor, it wouldn’t be a surprise if she feared the same happened again. Yet Mira walked in with Chantou with the utmost confidence earlier. Was she worried about the consequences of failing, or something else? It all happened right before they dropped from that airway…

“I’m happy for you.” Chantou said, perishing the thought. “Just do the best damn job I can and hope for the best.” She stood up on the stone railing looking out at the pond which now seemed insignificant from that height. “Even if they don’t acknowledge our efforts, that’s the pride that we have as people.”

“If only it was that easy…”

Morale hardly was a matter for the assassin division. Even through countless bloodshed, screams, and terror, they see through missions without hesitation. Full composure came easy to the members, despite any initial backlash or hesitation that came before.

After jumping into the main bridge’s walkway, Chantou twirled to face Mira, sword out of her sheath in hand. “Then let’s make sure you’re not rusty.” An offer for a little bout. Chantou frequently challenged her at the most inconvenient times and yet Mira found herself succumbing into accepting every time.

“Do we really have to do this now? I’d rather eat our catch raw.”

“You’ll puke.”

“Want me to puke on you right now?”

“You’re gonna puke after scrubbing the toilets in your first shift.”

Mira sighed and hopped into the walkway across from Chantou. “Only because I don’t want to lose my job, alright?” She tossed the fishing rod to the side and unsheathed her own sword.

And to not scrub toilets...

“Suuuure.”

The two took their positions with the thoughts of restroom facilities still fresh in their mind. For the brief moment of stillness, they stood motionless and watched. Only loose ends swayed with the wind, Mira’s scarf, Chantou’s hair, and it ended there.

Until one moved.

In an instant, Chantou disappeared.

The division was trained for fast, precise strikes and that meant—she was going for a powerful blow. Mira shot her right arm up and immediately felt the force of Chantou’s kick followed by the wind knocking her hair back. The next moment, she returned a similar kick.

It too missed its mark but…

Mira’s right leg followed her left. Mobility came naturally to her, and so the air became her dependable ally. Twisting off her feet, her body sprung towards Chantou’s chest. The perfect line of sight, Chantou’s disadvantageous pose after the dodge, her surprised look, Perhaps this was finally the time where Mira delivers the blow—.

In the split moment she thought that, a sudden pain shot from Mira’s backside. Somehow bending back far enough, Chantou planted her hand on the stone ground and veered her own leg upwards, lightly enough to avoid critical damage.

Falling face-flat on hard stone, she cursed in her mind for letting herself accept another bout yet again. She was definitely going to feel that the next morning.

“As expected of the Reaper—” Mira immediately bit her tongue after blurting that. She’d always uttered that same line after getting pulverized by Chantou, but after the sudden display yesterday, it might’ve not been appropriate this time. Wincing, she turned her head upwards expecting a betrayed look. Instead though, it was the opposite.

“...Don’t call me that. I cheated after all.” Chantou pouted in return, giving Mira a hand. “I’d say you’re well-equipped for the job. Don’t be nervous.” Her eyes didn’t lie. She truly had every bit of confidence in her. “You’ll carry it out with flying colors.”

With the help of Chantou’s heave, Mira sluggishly rose to her feet and failed to give another punch to her shoulder, dodging inches away. The best friend one could ask for. She let off a relieved sigh that whatever came about her friend yesterday didn’t seem to continue today.

“Though, you’re still a thousand years behind me in that department, Mira.”

“...Was this supposed to give me confidence or lose it?”

Luckily, or unluckily, Chantou still appeared to be her usual, arrogant exclusive to her close friends, self. That also meant she was keen on not being caught. She urged Mira to begin collecting all of their fishing gear. Being seen illegally fishing in the village’s natural ponds would not be the best scenario. Allowing those waves of waters to splash all over the bridge had left a dark patch of evidence behind, but that was okay if those stumbled on the mess thought someone took a dip.

And yet while gathering up all of their rods, the constant weight in Mira’s chest kept her mind busy. She still couldn’t shake off the undeniable feeling that she could still change the course of her path.

“Say… Why do we have to end other people’s futures for the sake of ours?”

Chantou stayed quiet, staring at the assortment of fish hooks in the case she held. The thought of such a question manifested even in her mind time and time again. No answer ever came to her.

“I wonder…”

・・・・・

“And that is all your complaints, I presume?”

Teijian's icy gaze pierced through Mira’s confidence as she stood stiff. Probably as stiff as the room itself.

The headquarters of the assassin division existed separately from the residential and commercial district. HQ itself was more of a walled-off space that contained the main building as well as the armory and the field used for training. Having funded the division from commissions over the course of decades, it quickly expanded into a notorious empire that many people throughout the nations grew wary of. The camouflage of forest that spanned kilometers was perfect for such a base, as well as a livable community from potential attackers.

Were its inhabitants satisfied by the fact their village’s main asset was taking the lives of others? It was a question they asked themselves, and time and time again, they wish they could say yes. They convinced themselves it was only necessary for the sake of not only for their living, but for the world itself. Eliminating the bad for the sake of the good. A blinded justification. The problem was not of its people, but its main means of support. They had no choice but to rely on the unethicality of the assassin division.

“Then I do not see the issue with your assignment.”

“At least tell me who this target even is.” Mira rebutted not a second later.

Questioning the status-quo might have been common for the young early in their career, but the more they progressed, the more they were stripped of their morals. Which was why it surprised even herself that Mira was standing face to face with the leader and director of the assassin division.

Teijian’s silvery hair and constant, slanted gaze made for an appearance that could draw attention. His silent disposition did not give any room for Mira to breathe in. The room itself was nothing more than the desk Teijian sat behind and the light that enshrouded his back. Of course, this wasn’t the true command room, nor the office of any elite member. The real office was hidden somewhere inside the headquarters away from even Mira's nor Chantou’s knowledge. There housed the most advanced technology available to mankind unknown to the inhabitants and lower ranks. Where they discussed was just another cover.

“You should be able to gather any information necessary to do your job.” He said as if this was common knowledge.

Not even telling me that much, huh?

“But killing one of the people you had offered a life… It doesn’t matter who it is. That’s like betraying them.”

Teijian remained unshaken. Even the one who provided care for so many people would be willing to sacrifice one of them for whatever reason? Mira couldn’t believe it.

Is there even a reason at all?

Giving him the benefit of the doubt, she racked her brain for any possible semblance of an explanation. No ordinary person would have the skills necessary, nor foolish enough, to disrupt the chain of command. Then, could there have been a spy that managed to infiltrate Menuai? The location of the village itself was a highly guarded secret known only to a select few individuals in the world, aside from the inhabitants themselves. Surely being put on the hit list was not worth revealing their location.

The only other explanation would be…

“Is there a traitor?”

Mira heard of the stories of attempts to assassinate Teijian himself. All of them ended up with lacerations of varying intensity all over their bodies. It didn’t take a wild guess what or who could be the cause of that.

“...Simply put, having one intercept the message can have devastating consequences that doesn’t need an explanation for why that is. Anonymity is merely another layer of precaution due to the nature of this job.

“I’m sure you are already aware of your rather—appalling—performance as of late. It just so happens that the stars aligned. This should prove to be your final test.”

Mira gulped. She didn’t, or couldn’t, ask what this target had done to deserve their life silenced. She’d expect no answer back, but even if it was a traitor, it still felt wrong.

“May I request a transfer of assignment? This job… isn’t worth the price.” Mira found herself clenching the hand used to ease the fall in the bout so tightly that the pain flared up again. It was a hopeless request. Once you were assigned a job, you were expected to see it through. As expected, Teijian’s unbreakable silence told her the answer was no.

“Any further complaints and I will have your path end here. I need not remind you of the consequences of failing this, given your standing. If you so choose, I can have a severance package made available to you right now or—” Teijian leaned his chin on his clasped fingers.” —Have you eliminated myself.”

The chills in the air brought goosebumps to Mira’s arms. She never could tell if it really was the cold or her imagination. Either way, once she experienced the goosebumps, she knew any wrong move could mean her death.

“Either… won’t be necessary.”

“Then I expect a swift completion.”

Those final nails in the coffin struck her with dread greater than the anticipation of termination. Giving up ceased to be an option. She just had to kill the traitor.

What brought me to do this kind of work, again?

“I will carry on.”

Mira walked out in defeat. Out of the main building, a cloudless sky stretched out overhead which was well-needed after the brief, but calculating and mind-numbing discussion with the assassin division’s sole commander. Staring off, she finally remembered. Mira had convinced even herself and allowed Chantou and Emerald to peer-pressure her into this world—that it was only natural to follow the path that everyone else treaded.

Letting out a sigh that was more of a groan, she could feel her stomach churning from the pressure. The sense of dread did not let up.

Maybe the universe is giving all the signs it could possibly create.

Mira shook her head and patted her face’s cheeks with both hands. What will happen will happen. Then the past will be the past. There was no choice left but to complete the mission.