Chapter 7
Idol Dinner Date
Faint blue and purple hues gave the restaurant a cold glow, softened by warm hanging bulbs above the industrial tables below. Aside from the clinking of cutlery, the restaurant had a quiet air of luxury. Murmurs blended from onlookers who couldn't help but stare at one particular table — one with a disguised pop idol.
"Ah, that hits the spot!" Natsumi Sakurai exclaimed as she gulped down from a highball glass.
Sat across the table was the black-haired agent in sunglasses, "You look upset. What's on your mind?"
"You tried to shoot me." Felix answered, his face firmly placed atop his palm.
"That was a long time ago. And those were blanks that you would have avoided." She waved dismissively.
"That was two hours ago, and you would've shot me twice if it was real." He pointed to his chest, then shoulder.
"Yeah, but I didn't, so it's all good."
The agent looked over to the side with an annoyed expression, "I might have retaliated for it."
"But you didn't, so we all good, yeah?" She then perched her head over her hands, "Don't be a downer and tell me more about yourself."
"I'd rather not."
"Fine, I'll just look up your file in the records then." She pulled out her phone.
"…there should be clearances for that info."
"Which I have. Felix Aster, twenty years old, real name—" Heiress that she was, she pressured him into talking.
"Enough."
She faced her phone towards him with the Golden Lion's logo, "Feel like talking now?"
The agent glanced at her and gave a sharp look. He lifted his fork in front of Natsumi, as if she was behind bars. It was a familiar sight, looking at the blonde heiress. But he was looking beyond her, into an older memory behind a cage.
"What if your name was Felix?" A blonde girl smiled at him.
He let out a shaky exhale.
"Are you alright? You look like you were having a flashback." Her voice snapped him out of his daze.
"Ah, yeah, I was just um…you called me the abyss earlier, so let's start with that." He placed the fork back on the table.
"C'mon. Moody, dark outfit, sharp eyes. You must've made the connection. I must say, you do clean up nicely." She eyed him down — his messy hair was slicked back, and was dressed in a sleek black vest. His glowing blue eye hid behind a pair of sunglasses.
"If that's a compliment, I hate it."
"C'mon, let's take a picture while we're here!"
"Aren't you at all bothered by the fact that I'm a bodyguard?"
"Aren't you flattered that I, Yumiko Sakurazawa, am offering to take a photo with you?" She teased, taking his sunglasses off.
"I took one with the rest of your group earlier, so no, not really." He replied, pushing away her face with his index finger.
Her mouth opened slightly, almost insulted. She then pouted. As the waiter approached, Natsumi pulled Felix up by the collar and asked the waiter; "Would you mind taking a photo of us?"
"Ah, certainly, madam." The waiter answered.
Felix stood up beside her, letting out a half-hearted smile, "The food you cooked at your apartment is gonna go to waste."
After the shutter had clicked, Natsumi spoke.
"This drink," she said after a thoughtful sip, lifting the glass, "I like it. Another, please."
With a brief nod, the waiter walked.
The two of them sat back down, and she began to murmur to herself, inspecting the picture, "I'd say you have rotten eyes, but they're actually really pretty. The blue one at least. Don't worry, I'll post it after we've left."
"The other one will change soon enough, and you shouldn't be posting it at all if it involves me."
"Don't worry about it, I'll edit it so that people can't see your eyes."
Felix sighed, putting his sunglasses back on, "You shouldn't get so comfy with me, I'm your bodyguard."
"Why not? We're friends now, aren't we mister super-spy?"
"Sorry, but I only have one friend at the moment, and she's already pretty insane." He shrugged.
"You're tearing me apart, Felix!" She threw her arms outward in exaggerated despair.
Felix leaned away, before she zoomed back in the conversation, saying, "But do tell me more."
"I'd rather not get a headache. In fact, why am I even telling you these things?" He questioned himself.
"Never underestimate an idol's charisma!" She boldly declared before putting her phone down.
"Idol, huh? You sure have it tough. Putting on a mask, trying to stay upbeat and overly cheerful to make fans happy." He echoed Maria's sentiment, only to add, "It's a lot of pressure, to be more than what you are..."
"Do tell me more." She leaned in closer, placing her face atop her hands.
"Stop it. There are people watching us."
"Yeah. Not the good kind." Natsumi smiled without a care in the world.
Felix raised an eyebrow, "You could tell?"
"A performer has to be perceptive."
"People keep glancing because they vaguely recognize you, but the only threat now are the three men watching from over there." Without moving, his gaze shifted to a silhouette window.
"How could you tell?"
"They keep glancing at us…" He turned the glass, seeing the three men's reflections behind him, "They don't look like they want an autograph."
"Should we leave?"
"Nah, there's no need to worry."
"You're pretty confident, aren't you?"
"I may not be Anastasia… or David." His fist squeezed, "But I'm pretty strong. Besides, there's another one outside. We'll have to be careful going outside.…"
Her green eyes widened, "I'm surprised you could tell. Is that an esper ability, too?"
"No. It's called Bloodlust." He poured creamer into his cup of coffee, "It's a gut feeling, a sixth sense that we were trained to sharpen."
"How do you… sharpen a sense?"
"How do you get better at singing, or any skill?" He answered before taking a sip.
She crossed her arms, replying, "I feel like that's not a good comparison at all."
Before Felix could reply, the waiter returned, setting down a glass of lemonade, before hesitantly asking, "Excuse me, but you wouldn't happen to be Yumiko Sakurazawa of Starry Sweethearts? Would it be alright to shake your hand?"
"Of course, of course. In fact, could you get me something to sign on?" She smiled.
"I told you to wear a disguise." Felix grumbled.
The waiter handed her a marker and a glass, which she signed on, before shaking the waiter's hand. All while Felix rolled his eyes behind his sunglasses.
As the waiter walked away with a hint of excitement, Natsumi spoke, "Not my fault he recognized me, besides you're here with me, aren't you?"
"Your confidence in me is unnerving."
"It's why I tested you."
He lifted his coffee cup close to his face, arguing, "You're still testing me, aren't you? Putting yourself out here where it's vulnerable." Another sip.
"I've heard that they even allow ex-convicts to be agents, so I want to see how necessary they really are."
"But I'm not—"
"I know you're different. I've looked over your records, at least, the parts papa had access to… Your life is…" She gazed at Felix with a hint of pity in her eyes.
The expression on her face bothered him. The way she looked at him, he squeezed the handle, snapping the cup instantly and spilling the coffee all over the table, "I don't need that look."
She paused, looking at her reflection in the dark-brown substance, "You're right. Maybe I've taken things too far." There was a hint of melancholy in her voice as she ran her fingers through her ponytail.
"What a waste…" He grumbled.
"Don't worry, I'll pay for it. Let's just get the check. I wanna go some place else."
"Hm? Where?"
She popped a smile and raised her index finger, returning to her peppy self as if nothing happened, "I'm craving for some ramen next."
"Alright." Felix pulled out a bunch of napkins from the side, wiping off the spilled drink.
"Waiter, the check please!"
As soon as they packed their things, three men in suits stood up and blocked the door, all taller than the idol and the agent.
The mustached man at the front spoke, "Excuse me, you wouldn't happen to be Yumiko Sakurazawa, would you? From Starry Sweethearts?"
Felix's eyebrows curled.
Why does everyone just happen to speak English?
He scanned the three men. One had a mustache, the other bald, and the last one had a piercing on the bridge of his nose.
"I get that a lot." She snickered with an unfazed smile, "I guess I really do look like her."
"No, I'm pretty sure we saw you sign a glass." The pierced one frowned.
Natsumi leaned in closer, "Is that so, then I take it that you're all fans of mine then?"
"We are, and we would like to borrow you for a moment — in private." The third bald one responded.
"That's tough." Natsumi smirked, "I'm here with my bodyguard. Anything you say to me, you say to him."
"Bodyguard, eh?" The bald man sneered, revealing a gun tucked inside his suit.
The heiress tensed up at the bloodlust exuded from the trio. But Felix's disinterested expression turned into one of irritation, turning towards them.
"Obsidian owes us a debt." The mustached man grabbed her by the arm, "And you're gonna pay it."
"H-hey— watch it!" She yelled out as they dragged her out of the table.
Silently, Felix moved. In one swift motion, he kicked him in the face. Glass and other dinnerware scattered as he crashed into one of the tables.
Shouts of panic followed, echoing in the restaurant.
A bead of sweat rolled across the other two's faces, staring at their unconscious companion. The agent got up from the table, gesturing for them to come closer.
"What the fuck?!" The pierced man stepped back. But the bald man snarled, aiming his pistol, "Bastard!"
Felix swatted the bald man's hand away and grabbed him by the collar, pulling him in for a headbutt. But as their heads collided, the bald man grinned, unharmed. He struck back, slamming his head into the agent's and making him reel back with a throbbing red mark on his forehead.
Gun still in hand, the bald man once again aimed. Facing down the barrel of a gun, the blue agent darted away on the tables. Windows and bulbs shattered, and glass shards rained down as the remaining diners scrambled towards the exit.
"Let go! Let me go!" Natsumi shrieked as the pierced man pulled her arm. As Felix noticed, he grit his teeth and he dived forward, grabbing the bald man's face in the air, before immediately slamming him into the ground.
Under the flickering light, the man could see the blue light pierce through the agent's sunglasses. An otherworldly glow stared down at him.
But as the agent got up, huffing —
"Blue!" The heiress shouted.
Pop. Pop. Pop. Pop.
Four consecutive shots rang out.
As the blue agent turned to look at the heiress, he saw the smoke flowing out of the pierced man's pistol. Only for him to feel heat in his chest. Slowly, he looked down and saw red stains forming on his white polo — three marks on his torso, one on the arm.
His sunglasses slid off his face and clattered to the ground.
Natsumi's heart pounded as her bodyguard collapsed in front of her. Each beat louder than the gunshots echoing in her ears.
She grabbed a cup from a nearby table and splashed the lemonade on her captor's eyes.
"Argk!" The pierced man yelped as his eyes stung.
As he wiped the lemonade off with his sleeve, the idol almost slipped from his grasp, only for him to grab her ponytail and pull her back.
"Felix—!"
The pierced man squinted, from his burning eyes, he saw the bodyguard, still standing, covered in blood. The lights flickered, and from it, he saw the blue light stare at him from the darkness.
He locked his arm over the heiress' throat and pressed a pistol on the back of her head, "I'll shoot her!"
Felix, fueled by rage and adrenaline, staggered over, using a table for support.
A smile formed from on the pierced man's face, and dragged the heiress out the door.
But as soon as he turned around, three transparent, concentric rings shot through the air — an overwhelming sensation rippled through his body.
Frozen in place, he squeezed out his voice, "What… the…"
He tried to turn around, but his body refused to budge. Every forced motion jolted him back to his tense, stiff position.
Natsumi bit into his hand — her teeth sank through his fingers, letting her escape.
"You bitth!" He shouted, turning his face back towards the restaurant, only to be met with the barrel of a gun.
The heiress rushed back towards her bodyguard, who was barely standing.
"She has… no business with you." Felix declared, lifting his cobalt gun. Natsumi nodded, glaring from behind him.
As he pulled the trigger, it released another wave of invisible energy, and the pierced man collapsed into the pavement like a statue.
"Wh-what'th going…" He convulsed on the ground, the inside of his mouth thick and dull.
"Now, you're going to answer me honestly… are you with the Jackal?" Felix glared, blood streaming down his mouth.
"Jackal?" He mumbled, barely able to form the words as he gurgled on his saliva.
"I'll take that as a 'no'." Felix holstered his cobalt gun, "… But just in case."
Red and blue lights illuminated the restaurant, and police sirens howled against the silent night.
*
The streets were brimming with bright lights all around as the agent and the idol left the restaurant, traveling through an unpopulated park together. Felix, who was heavily injured, made little sound in his steps while Natsumi nonchalantly hummed the entire way.
He looked at his palm, closing and opening it, muttering to himself in a barely audible voice, "Enhanced human…"
"What was that?" The heiress turned towards him.
"Hm? Oh… just thinking out loud." He replied.
"So, how are you doing?" She asked lightly as she leisurely strolled beside him.
"First, I get fake shot at, then I get real shot at. I've definitely been better." He sharply responded, a tinge of ache in his voice.
"R-right… but you had fun at least, right?"
"Mhm…"
"Again, I'm sorry. If there's anything you want to say to me, just say it."
"We should head back to your flat." His response was distant yet calm.
"The night is young! You should relax!"
"Aren't you at all bothered by the fact that you could've been kidnapped… or died tonight?"
"You've already taken care of things, so no point in me worrying now."
"This isn't a joke, Natsumi. Your life is at risk."
"It's always at risk, but with you… well, having an esper taking care of things, I feel like I can finally breathe."
"Ah… that so."
"In fact, we should actually head to the hospital next. I'm surprised you're still in one piece."
"I'm not." He groaned, "The bullet-proof vest had to fit under my suit, which was so thin, I felt every impact."
"… And you're absolutely sure you don't need to go to the hospital?"
Felix clicked his tongue at the thought of the other agents, "If this were enough to keep me down, then I wouldn't be an Elite Agent, would I?" He pulled out a bottle labeled Golden Lion, and popped a painkiller into his mouth.
"I let my guard down because my partner usually covers for me." He grumbled, crunching the pill.
"Is that so?"
"Don't be glum, sugarplum, our date was fun... before the last part. I know I definitely enjoyed it."
Maria's voice echoed in his ears, "Huh? You really don't know how to flirt with a girl, do you?"
Felix changed his expression, his eyes open and the edges of his lips reach his cheeks. "You know Natsumi, you're really cheeky." His voice was unusually upbeat.
"You're… smiling?" She blinked.
"Yeah, I just thought maybe this'd be a little better, is there something wrong?"
"Okay, okay. Not bad, you almost seem human. It's difficult to tell that you're faking it."
"Really now, that's cold, Natsu-chan. I don't think there's anything wrong with what I said." Felix beamed with a positive smile, his grin growing wider.
"N-Natsu-chan?" She stammered, cringing slightly, "Okay, stop. My bad, I'm sorry. Stop being sociable, it's really creepy. Please don't call me Natsu-chan ever again."
"I wasn't trained to be a spy for nothing, y'know. Besides, I thought you wanted to see the night at the town?"
"Oh, I see what this is! You can't wait for your next date with the cool and cute Yumiko Sakurazawa~"
"I'd be honored to stay with a star such as yourself." He replied with a tone smooth as silk.
"Eugh, right. You win, just stop." She shuddered in disgust as her retort backfired.
"Stop what?" He grinned victoriously, his eyes full of condescension.
"Enough!" She snapped as they made it to the bridge, visibly irritated, "What I want to know is your powers. How did you stop that guy from moving?"
"I used an energy gun. Like a taser, or a stun gun, basically." His voice snapped back to normal.
"So it wasn't your esper powers that stopped him?"
"Nope."
"And that gun you used, it doesn't kill people?"
"You only kill if it's necessary. Agents who kill without reason are 'unprofessional.'" Felix scoffed, pulling out the cobalt gun.
"Can I take a look at it?"
"No."
"Yoink!" The idol snatched the weapon out of his hand and hopped away.
"That's not a toy!" Felix groaned, reaching out, but his body ached too much to pursue her.
She giggled mischievously, bouncing around with the weapon in hand, "Lighten up, it's not like it can kill—"
— CRACK.
"Eh?" The idol's playful expression froze mid-step, her eyes were toward the source of the sound.
A freshly dented bullet shell clattered on the bridge's rail.
Before she could process what was happening, Felix shoved her out of the way. His body then hit the ground hard.
"Blue…?" Her voice shook, unable to move, "BLUE?!"
Her face was a filled with fright as she lifted the cobalt gun tightly in her hands, her eyes darting between him and their surroundings.
Felix, disoriented and with a sharp ringing in his ears, could only watch her through blurred vision.
"S-sniper fire…" He spat out blood, could barely voice out.
"Wh-what?"
Felix forced himself back on his feet and picked her up, instructing, "Hold tight and hold your breath."
"What are you doing?!" He catpassed over the bridge, jumping straight down into the river.
The idol and agent disappeared with a dark splash.
~