Chapter 18: Strange man
A week has passed since Kazumi and Yuuki's absence and today, They will be attending as usual. When they arrived at the office, their table is full of paperworks. "This is really, Stacked up hehehe." Misato talked to them when she saw them in the office. "Are both of you okay now?" Kazumi and Yuuki replied "Yes". Misato advice them to not push themselves too much. After that, Kyousuke suddenly gets in front of them. Kazumi and Yuuki was surprised.
[Kyousuke]: What happened to both of you? You really enjoy your vacation, don't you?
[Kazumi]: It's not really a vacation hehehe. (smirked)
[Yuuki]: Kazumi got sick and after that I...
[Kyousuke]: I?
Aoi suddenly pulled him at the back to their worspace. "Don't bother them. You're disturbing them." Kyousuke looked and replied to her "But i was just greeting them". "Just go back to your work". Kazumi smirked at while Yuuki started to work. When Kazumi looked at Yuuki, She already finished many papers. "Whaaaaaa???". Since he is just getting in Yuuki's way, he gwent out to buy canned coffee for them.
While walking, he saw a Max's vending machine. "Ohh, Maybe i can try this". He bought two. In the alleyway, he saw a partner, Both of them wears a Machina Limited corp. Uniform but different color. The man is hurting is hurting his partner. "Because of you, Our salary got cut in half. You useless piece of metal. He kick and kicked his partner many times. Kazumi can't hold himself so he approached the man and pushed him, Shielding his partner.
[Stranger]: Don't butt in on us!
[Kazumi]: But you're hurting your partner. It violates our company's agreement!
[Stranger]: You sure talked big, scum.
[Kazumi]: Who is scum here!?
The man attempts to punch Kazumi but his partner stopped him. "It's enough, Let's go". The man agreed and they both leave. "What a scumbag."
He is sweating when he went back to the office. He leaves the coffee to Yuuki. "Drink one on it." And Kazumi called Misato and Naegi for an unofficial meeting.
[Naegi]: What do you want to talk about?
[Misato]: For calling us suddenly, It is urgent right?
[Kazumi]: Yes, Then i will get straight to it.
[Misato]: Go ahead.
[Kazumi]: When i bought a coffee outside, i saw a man abusing her partner.
[Misato]: Did they wear the same uniform like us?
[Kazumi]: Yes, But different color.
[Naegi]: It's red, right?
[Kazumi]: How did you know?
Naegi opened the projector and show some pictures. In the picture, Kazumi saw the face of the same man there.
[Naegi]: This is him, right?
[Kazumi]: Yes, that's him.
[Misato]: This is his 3rd time doing this.
[Kazumi]: Then if we report it, he will be fired?
[Misato]: Yes, What will we do Naegi?
[Naegi]: Of course we will report it, but assuming that Kazumi coincidentally saw them then he didn't get evidence.
[Kazumi]: I got one.
[Naegi]: Where is it?
[Kazumi]: Here, in this phone. I started recording it and hide it on my pocket when i saw them.
[Misato]: Then we can file a case now.
[Naegi]: Thank you Kazumi. Then, Dismissed.
Kazumi went back to their workspace and started to work. Yuuki asked him what they are talking about but Kazumi didn't tell her. "Sorry Yuuki, But that's confidential for now". Yuuki understands it so she didn't pry anymore. While Kazumi is reading, He saw a retrieval file.
Retrieval File
Name: Rina
Gender: Female
Age:19yrs.old
Family: Hanagi family
Address: Quarter 3, block 4 Hanagi residence
Expiration: 30 days (x) hours
"Yuuki, look at here a second. Isn't it early to givw it to us?" Yuuki was also surprised, "Oh, You're right." Yuuki asked Naegi about it. "Ohh, The owner request that we should consult them early". Yuuki asked for the reason but Naegi just tell her that they will know it when they got there.
[Kazumi]: What did he say?
[Yuuki]: He said that it was requested.
[Kazumi]: The reason?
[Yuuki]: I don't know
[Kazumi]: Hmmmm.
[Yuuki]: Let's hurry and finished it all today.
[Kazumi]: Yeah, Let's do that.
Kazumi and Yuuki cram the files all day until dusk's. Kazumi and Yuuki stretched and got relieved when they finished it. "Finally, We finished it Yuuki." Yuuki looked at him and smiled.
Before they leave, Misato called Kazumi to the meeting room.
[Kazumi]: Go ahead of me Yuuki, There's something we need to talk about.
[Yuuki]: I got it, hurry up okay?
[Kazumi]: Yeah.
Yuuki went ahead of Kazumi and Kazumi entered the meeting room. Naegi told Kazumi that The meeting will be tomorrow and he needs to be there. Misato also told Kazumi to prepare for tomorrow since it will be hard to justify something like this. "Got it". Then Kazumi went to their room.
When he got to their room, The dinner is ready and Yuuki is sitting there waiting for him. "Sorry i waited you for too long". Yuuki looked away and blushed, "Just eat already, and i didn't wait you". Kazumi smiled at her. While eating, Kazumi suddenly thought about the history of machina and asked Yuuki about it.
[Yuuki]: Ah, It's not interesting.
[Kazumi]: I want to know.
[Yuuki]: Then listen to me.
[Kazumi]: Yeah.
[Yuuki]: It happened 140 years ago, time of war. Everyone This this country, or what we call a terminal, is divided into 4 factions. Some genious scientist created Machina's prototype and used against other factions. The Machina's destroyed everything, since it Machina's are a perfect tool for destruction. They can fly, equipped by advanced weapon, and indestructible that time. It is also rumored that they lived longer than humans before.
[Kazumi]: Longer than humans? Then what happened next?
[Yuuki]: No one know's, The record is not existing today after all.
[Kazumi]: So that's what happened.
[Yuuki]: Now finished eating and rest already, You got some work to do tomorrow after all.
[Kazumi]: You know?
[Yuuki]: I don't know but i know.
[Kazumi]: Huh?
[Yuuki]: Nevermind, just rest already
[Kazumi]: Yeah.
End of chapter 18