Namida followed Reiki into the kitchen as she opened the tall can of beer she was holding. The sound of something being fried in oil got louder as Namida smelt something in the air, she said. “Reiki, that smells good.” Her gaze wandered to the large plate of onion rings resting on top of a bed of tissues and at the edge of the plate were a pair of long wooden chopsticks. Reiki said. “I added a different mix of spices in the flour and breadcrumb.” He made his way to the frying pan that was filled with hot oil along with some onion rings being fried.
Reiki opened a drawer as he took out a pink oven mitt while Namida picked up an onion ring and took a bite out of it. Namida nodded her head in approval, she gulped and said. “You don’t mind if I take the entire plate, right?” She turned her head and saw that Reiki was using a pink oven mitt to gently move the handle of the frying pan to the side. She let out a chuckle while Reiki used his other hand to point at the fridge, he said. “I made a dip and placed it in the freezer.”
Namida finished off the onion ring she was holding, took a big gulp of beer, and let out a satisfied sigh. She said. “What kind?” Reiki picked up the pair of wooden chopsticks as he moved the onion rings to prevent them from sticking to each other, he said. “Tartar sauce.” Namida placed her can of beer on the counter and took another onion ring from the plate, she used her other hand to open the fridge and took out a bowl filled with tartar sauce. She dipped the onion ring in the white sauce and ate the entire thing in one go.
Namida placed the bowl of dip in the plate of onion rings as she picked up her can of beer and said. “Reiki, thanks for making me a snack.” She made her way to the living room while Reiki turned his head to the side to stare at the plate she was carrying. He thought. She took the plate I was using to dry off the excess oil…
________________________________________________________________________________
Living Room
Namida made her way to the couch as she placed the plate on the couch and sat down beside it. She took off her indoor slippers, put both her feet up on the coffee table, and grabbed another onion ring. Namida dipped it into the tartar sauce as her phone in her pocket started to ring, she let go of the onion ring and left it half submerged in the white sauce, she waved her hand as the remote that was on the coffee table flew to the palm of her hands. She muted the TV, lazily threw the remote onto the couch, took the phone out of her pocket, and answered it. Namida said. “Hello.”
Namida was still holding onto her can of beer as she took a sip of it and said. “Yes, I made sure to get the thing…” She kept her gaze on the silent flatscreen and continued. “... Small heads up, I’m going to return a bit late…” She reached for the onion ring that she left in the tartar sauce, picked it up, and ate the entire thing in one go. Namida used her thumb to wipe some sauce on the corner of her lips, she said. “Where am I?... Cafe, I decided to take an early break today.” She reached for another onion ring and dipped it into the sauce, Namida thought. This show is pretty interesting… If only the TV wasn’t muted.
She said. “Did I run into Reiki at your house? No, why?” Namida shoved another onion ring into her mouth as leaned on the backrest of the couch, she swallowed and said. “He got sent home early? Let me guess, he got into a scuffle-.” Before she could finish her sentence Namida moved her phone farther away from her ear, she thought. If only she was as protective of us during our fights I would be assured. Namida cautiously moved her phone closer to her ear, she said. “... Are you done shouting?...”
She took another sip of her can of beer as a foam white mustache formed on her upper lip, Namida said. “Wow, you’re the one who’s telling me to not take my time with an early break?.” She reached for another onion ring and submerged more than half of it into the sauce, Namida said. “Anything I can get for you two? As long as it's within reason.” She let out a sigh and said. “I said within reason.” She took another sip of her beer as the foam mustache on her upper lip vanished.
Namida said. “Are you two done checking up on me?” She ate the onion ring that was covered in a generous amount of tartar sauce, she gulped and said. “In that case, I lov-.” The phone call instantly disconnected before she could say another word, Namida let out a chuckle and pocketed her phone. She said. “Finally.” She reached for the remote on the couch beside her and turned the volume back on for the flatscreen. Reiki made his way to the living room as he was carrying two large plates with a mountain of freshly fried onion rings.
He said. “How did your talk with Onee-chan go?” Reiki reached the couch as he placed the two plates on the couch while Namida took another sip of her beer. She said. “Pretty good, she only yelled at me for ten seconds this time.” Reiki glanced at the plates of food lying on the couch beside her, he said. “I hope you're not a messy eater. Onee-chan hates seeing crumbs on the couch.” Namida reached for a freshly cooked onion ring as she felt the heat at her fingertips.
She let out a chuckle and dipped the onion ring into the tartar sauce, Namida said. “I think that just means you have to clean up after me.” She ate the onion ring while Reiki took out a flip phone from his pocket and showed her a photo of her sitting on the couch with a plate of onion rings next to her. Reiki said. “That or I call Onee-chan so that she can drag you back to work.” Namida was in the middle of chewing as she stopped to look at the photo Reiki had taken of her.
She thought. When did he even take this picture?... And he actually got my good side… Namida gulped down the food in her mouth as she gave Reiki a pat on the shoulder, she said. “But, since you made me food and did the dishes. The least I can do for you is make sure there’s no mess.” Namida took out a black pouch from her pocket as the two plates of freshly fried onion rings vanished. Reiki glanced at the place on the couch where he placed the two plates, he said. “Onee-chan is going to look for those plates.”
Namida took a sip of her can of beer and said. “Don’t worry, I’ll drop by for breakfast tomorrow to return the plates and leech off for free food.” The corner of Reiki’s mouth curled into a slight smile, he said. “I’m starting to think you like my older sister yelling at you for ten seconds a day.” He quickly made a half turn and made his way to the kitchen, Reiki continued. “If you need me, I’ll be in the kitchen cooking.” From the corner of his eye, he saw Namida’s expression slowly change from calm to disbelief as he let out a laugh.
Namida glared at Reiki who made his way to the kitchen as she reached for an onion ring and dipped it in sauce. She thought. You and that sister of yours share the same sharp tongue. Namida ate the onion ring as she made herself comfortable on the couch, she swallowed and said. “I need to see you two have a verbal match in the future.”
________________________________________________________________________________
Break Room
Ketsueki and Sachi were sitting around a table while Ketsueki placed her phone on the table. Sachi was reading the latest fashion magazine as she flipped to the next page and said. “From how you only yelled at her once, I’m guessing you two had a productive conversation.” Ketsueki balanced the chair she was using on its two back legs as she placed both her feet on the table. Sachi glanced at her friend from the corner of her eye and said. “And you’re the one who keeps reminding us not to place your feet on the coffee table.”
Ketsueki lazily waved her hand at her in dismissal, she said. “It’s different.” Sachi flipped to the next page of the magazine and said. “How so?” Ketsueki used her index finger to tap on the table a couple of times and said. “This isn’t my table.” Sachi kept her gaze on the fashion magazine, she said. “All I’m understanding is, that you don’t care as long it’s not your table we’re putting our foot on.” Ketsueki picked up her phone from the table as she started browsing on it, she said. “Pretty much.”
Sachi flipped to the next page of the magazine and said. “Did you tell our errand boy how many envelopes he should get?” Ketsueki held the phone with her right hand as she tapped on the screen using her thumb, she said. “Knowing him he’ll take everything he can carry.” The two of them sat around the table in silence as the door swung open revealing Ahma in her traditional kimono. The two girls sitting around the table ignored her as every step Ahma took a soft thud came from her geta hitting the floor.
Ahma reached the table as she stood behind Sachi’s chair while peeking over her shoulder to look at what she was reading. Ahma thought. Oh, there’s already a new edition out… I’ll steal hers when she’s not looking. She said. “Girls, someone requested a mission and she specifically asked for this team.” Ketsueki let out a soft sigh and said. “At the very least we’re not guarding anyone… Commander, what is it?” Sachi tried to flip the magazine to the next page as Ahma waved her hand as the page went back by one. Ahma said. “I’m not done reading this yet.”
Ketsueki rubbed the temples on her head, she thought. Keep your cool… She hasn’t done anything to piss me off… Yet… She slowly inhaled and exhaled while Sachi closed the magazine and placed it on the table with her right hand on top of it. Sachi said. “It’s my magazine.” She turned her head sideways to look behind her and saw that Ahma wasn’t there. Ahma effortlessly stole the magazine right under Sachi’s hand, a chair pulled itself back as she sat down on it. Ahma said. “Then let me borrow it until you three come back from your mission.”
Sachi glared at her while Ahma ignored it and flipped to the next page. Ketsueki placed her phone on the table as she moved her feet away from the table and sat up straight, she said. “Commander, the mission that specifically requested for us?” Sachi moved her gaze onto Ketsueki and said. “What makes you say it’s not a guard mission?” Ketsueki placed her hand on top of her phone, she said. “That’s right… You weren’t with Namida and I when we had to babysit one of the client's grown-ass sons who kept trying to feel me up.”
Sachi’s brows furrowed in confusion, she said. “Teams aren’t allowed to refuse missions.” Ketsueki’s lips curled into a slightly cruel smile, she said. “We, specifically I can.” Ahma flipped to the next page of the magazine while Sachi moved her gaze onto her and said. “Leader, is that true?” Ahma kept her eyes on the magazine as she gave her a small nod while Sachi’s expression became more confused. Sachi said. “And the board just accepted that without demanding anything in return.”
Ahma let out a laugh as she let go of the magazine with one of her hands to cover her mouth, she said. “Pardon me.” Ketsueki chuckled at the increasing confusion on her friend's face, she said. “I told the board if they want to keep their lives, they better not assign my team another guard mission.” Sachi stared at her for a couple of seconds, she said. “Yeah, sounds like something you would do.”
Ahma flipped to the next page of the magazine and said. “She, the client, wants you three-.” She stopped herself mid-sentence to look around the break room. Ahma moved her gaze onto Ketsueki and gave her an inquiring look, Ketsueki said. “Namida took an early break, we’ll pick her up on the way.” Sachi glanced at the magazine in Ahma’s hands and said. “Did Namida even answer when you asked where she was?” Ketsueki picked up her phone, she said. “Cafe.” She tapped on the button on the side as the screen of the phone turned on.
Ahma flipped to the next page of the magazine and said. “The client wants a password to a stock account, she’s paying seven hundred million yen if you get it from her fiance.” A hint of interest appeared in Sachi’s eyes, she said. “That much for torturing someone? She tied the knot with the man for the account?” Ketsueki finished texting on her phone while Ahma was still reading the magazine. Ahma said. “No, she told me her fiance gave all the stocks she bought on her account to him. One of the companies she bought stocks shot up in value overnight hence the big payday.”
Ketsueki pocketed her phone, she said. “Wait, you can give your stock to another account?” Ahma and Sachi exchange glances. Ahma said. “I think you should tell her, she’ll just think I’m lying.” Sachi nodded at her while Ketsueki ignored what she said. Sachi moved her gaze onto her friend and said. “As dumb as it might sound, yes. You can give stock to someone else.” Ketsueki had a hint of confusion on her face, she said. “Why?” Sachi spoke in a blunt tone and said. “To avoid paying taxes.”
The confusion on Ketsueki was quickly replaced with understanding, she said. “Of course it’s taxes.” Ahma flipped to the next page of the magazine, she said. “I told you the details of the mission, you can get the document at the front desk.” Ketsueki stood up from her seat as she stretched upwards, she said. “Sachi, let’s go.” Sachi reluctantly stood up from her seat as she glanced at the magazine in Ahma’s hands from the corner of her eye. Ketsueki walked past her friend and said. “You can go back to catching up with the latest trend after you torture the password out of the client's fiance.”
________________________________________________________________________________
Living Room
Namida was sitting on the couch with both her feet on the coffee table while she was staring at the screen of her phone, she thought. Our team got specifically requested for a mission. She tapped the button on the side as the screen turned off, Namida put the smartphone in her pocket and dipped the last onion ring in tartar sauce. She ate the onion ring in one go, picked up the plate that had the bowl of dip on it, and stood up from the couch. Namida said. “Reiki, sorry for the dine and dash. But the company gave us work.”
She made her way to the kitchen and saw two large plates of french fries with the skin on along with two plates of deep-fried battered fish. Namida placed the plate she used in the sink and said. “That’s a lot of fish and chips.” Reiki used a pair of chopsticks to pick up a large battered piece of fish in the frying pan, he said. “Don’t turn the faucet on, I’m going to use the bowl for the dip.” Namida picked up a couple of fries and dipped them into what was left in the bowl of tartar sauce.
She used the two fries in her hand to point at him, Namida said. “I’m fairly sure cod is used for this dish.” She ate the two fries and thought. Man… Why did they have to give us a mission now? I could’ve asked Reiki for more food. Reiki placed the fried piece of fish on the pile with the others, he said. “It does, but we had a lot of mackerel so I used that instead.” Namida picked up the freshly fried piece of fish and used the tip to scrape some of the sauce on the sides of the bowl.
She waved at him and said. “Thanks for the meal and remember to prepare another plate for breakfast tomorrow.” Namida made her way to the front door while Reiki placed a few more battered fried fish onto the pile, he glanced in her direction and thought. Looks like I need to prepare something sweet for Onee-chan. He placed the pair of long wooden chopsticks into the sink and put the pink oven mitt he was wearing back into the drawer.
Reiki continued his train of thought. Ender… Uragiru was a lot more durable than I thought. He made his way to the fridge and took out a large plastic tub filled with tartar sauce. Ender’s voice rang in his head, he said. [He invested his stats to be a warrior.] Reiki pulled on a drawer as he took out a spoon, took the lid of the tub, and gently tilted the tub sideways to pour the sauce into the bowl. He used the spoon to control the amount of sauce going into the bowl, Reiki thought. In a world of magic, he wanted to wield a sword and stand at the front… What a fucking idiot.
He stopped pouring sauce into the bowl that was still in the sink and placed the lid back on the tub as he made his way to the fridge. Reiki said. “Can’t be too harsh on him, Uragiru might’ve lacked talent to be a mage.” He opened the fridge and carefully placed the tub inside to avoid touching the cake. Reiki thought. Onee-chan needs to eat the cake, it’s already stale. He used his pinky to gently touch the exposed layer to learn it was still soft, he continued his train of thought. Or not…
Reiki closed the fridge and made his way back to the kitchen, he picked up the bowl from the sink and wiped off the water on the bottom using his shirt. He placed the bowl on top of the pile of battered fried fish, picked up both of the plates and made his way to the living room. Reiki reached the couch as he saw that the TV was still on, he placed the two plates onto the coffee table and sat down on the couch. He started doing mana string with his left hand and picked up a couple of fries with his right.
Reiki threw the two fries into his mouth and easily made a triangle with his thumb, index, and middle finger. While chewing he slowly moved the tips of his fingers closer and spread them apart as the three strings turned into a small circle floating between his three fingers. Reiki slowly inhaled and thought. Slowly. He moved his fingers away from each other as the mana circle grew in size. The mana circle grew past the size of his palm as it spun in mid-air, Reiki let out a sigh as he moved his hand away as it stayed in the air.
He said. “Finally…” Reiki reached for a large piece of battered fish and dipped it into the bowl of tartar that was on top of the pile while eating, he thought. Roughly two days, it would’ve been faster if I had more control over my left hand. He finished off the fried fish and reached for another one while Ender’s voice rang in his head, he said. [Keep practicing until you can do it by instinct with both hands.] Reiki dipped the fish into the sauce as he glanced at the mana circle spinning in the air, he thought. Shit.
He took a big bite out of the battered fish as the mana circle next to him slowly started to vanish, Reiki thought. I don’t have a drink. He stood up from the couch and finished off the battered fish in his hands. Reiki made his way to the kitchen while doing mana string with his left hand, he opened the fridge and stared at what was inside. He said. “I could make juice but my food would be cold by then… I would do anything for a glass of whisky...”
