Volume Three, Chapter Seven: My Job Interview
During home-room, there are eyes on me everywhere I look, it's rather embarrasing. Now you may be wondering how someone like me, a moody git, is attracting so much attention. Well, the answer is rather simple.
"Govvy, remember that you can wear something far more casual when you come over Sunday. No need to try too hard, okay?"
"Alright. I'll remember it. By the way, could you please stop sitting in my lap?"
"Why are you asking?"
"Because it's causing a scene.."
I'm glad that she's speaking in English so that people can't understand us. My mates in front of us can understand more than most, though, barring Aoyama.
"You two are pretty romantic this morning, aren't you?", Aoyama asks teasingly.
"We usually are, Aoyama-san. Govvy is just too shy to show it in front of people."
"Excuse me, class."
That voice, it belongs to our class representative, Hisakawa Shizuku.
"Please settle down, Nakano-sensei will be here soon. Renford-san, please do return to your seat."
The class immeadiately does as she says. As for Sunni, I have to give her a little push.
"You heard her, go to your seat. You're right next to me, so don't worry.", I say reassuringly.
Sunni relents and goes to her desk. Gege, who's sat in front of me, whistles quietly so that only I can hear.
"Hisakawa-san sure gets a lot of rescept, doesn't she?"
"She sure does.", I nod, "It's probably due to that refined air she has about her."
"Yeah, you're right.", Gege agrees, "Oi, remember, my dad wants to see you after-school."
"How could I forget...", I mumble.
I've got a uneasy feeling about this, and I can't explain why.
After-school, I managed to break free from Sunni and Yoko. Sunni's ride came to collect her, and Yoko had to leave early for some reason. So the only one who's sticking around is..
"So, Gege-senpai, what does your dad want to talk with Daisuke-nii about?"
Gege shrugs. That's comforting...Now I don't know what to prepare for.
"Oi, oi. Don't worry about it, Daisuke! He probably just wants to ask a few harmless questions!"
Takai says this as he slaps me on the back reassuringly.
"Sorry we had to spill the beans, Govvy.", Naoya says, "But sis and Sunni were both acting scary, so we had to yield."
"Geez, that was so scary...That look in their eyes. Yeesh.", Takai mutters fearfully.
Sorry for having to put you through that.
"I was prepared to see that from Yoko-san, to be honest.", Akai smiles wryly, "It still creeped me out, though."
Gege yawns loudly.
"Renford-san was a surprise, though. I would've never expected that out of her."
"In situations like that, I definitely do.", I declare.
"Why's that?"
"Don't worry it. I'll tell you all some other time."
Reflexively, I rub the back of my head. I wonder how things would be if that day never happened.
"Well, all I know for sure is that you seem to be a yandere magnet, Govvy.", Naoya smirks, "How'd you manage that, eh?"
I couldn't tell you.
"I couldn't tell you."
Akane stops in her tracks, and faces our group.
"Well, Daisuke-nii doesn't have to worry about that!", she says proudly, "I'll protect him from such strange girls!"
There's a slight pause after she said that. I can understand why.
"Yeah, seeing as how that's your MO, you should be able to spot them easily, right?"
"That's ri-HEY! I'm not like those two, you know!"
"Yes, I know. You're worse."
That earned me an angry, but adorable pouting glare from Akane.
"Good afternoon, Daisuke-shounen. It's nice to see you again."
"It's nice to see you as well, Mr. Watanabe."
I'm here at the police station where Gege's father works as the chief. I'm familiar with his narrow build, and sharp facial features. Gege definitely takes after his mother in the looks department.
"So, I've heard from my son that you're caught up in some trouble. You're the last person I would expect that of."
"Yes sir. I thought that as well.", I reply, trying to hide my despondence.
Mr.Watanabe smiles slightly at me, as he reaches into the inside pocket of his grey suit and pull out a box of pocky. He gestures to the box as if he's asking if I want one. I shake my head, and he takes one out for himself and sticks it in his mouth.
"Well, often times in life things don't go the way we think it ought to. But what makes us is how we handle those situations."
Mr.Watanabe leans back into his chair, and sighs.
"Before I continue with that, I should let you know what you're dealing with."
I sit up straight, this is something I need to listen to.
"Shade is the leader of a relatively small, yet moderately powerful organisation called 'Mid-night Fox'. Their list of offenses varying from petty theft to arsonry, from arsonry to murder. "
"They sound like a friendly bunch..."
Mr. Watanabe continues.
"Them being after you is very concerning. Gege has told me that you're formidable in your own right, but I'm here to tell you now that you'll need to be more than formidable to survive Shade's wrath."
Suddenly, I'm starting to feel violently ill. My luck has always been a bit dodgy, but goddamn. This takes the cake and the bloody table it was rest upon.
"So what do I do?", I say, trying not to sound nervous.
Now Mr.Watanabe leans forward. He lighty gnaws of his stick of pocky.
"Recall what I said about handling situations? Let me tell you a secret that I haven't even told my children."
A secret? Really? My trepidation is momentarily pushed back, and now curiousity has taken the lead.
"Back went I was young, I used to smoke a lot. There wasn't a day gone by where a didn't have a pack of cigs in my pocket."
"I see."
"Well, my girl-friend at the time hated it.", Mr Watanabe continues reminsciently, "She said that she would break up with me if I didn't quit. We had a good thing going, I didn't want to risk calling her bluff. So I started to quit, and it was hell. Withdrawal symptoms were killing me and was as irritable as a hornet's nest."
Mr.Watanabe smiles, suppressing a chuckle.
"But I got through it, with the help of my loved ones and pocky. And now that girl-friend and I have been married for a little over twenty years."
Suddenly, I can feel myself smiling as well. It's definitely a feel good story.
"So now, I want to ask you, Daisuke-shounen. Are you willing to go through a trial that's far more ardous and treacherous? Not just for your sake, but everyone you care about in here in Japan?"
"Yes, sir.", I answer determinedly.
I'll do it. If it means I can protect my loved ones, then I'm willing to go through anything.
Mr. Watanabe nods, and sticks his hand out to me. I firmly grasp and shake it.
"Well then, that's that. From this point on, you, Colen Daisuke, are an Enigma Squad Leader."