"Isn't it easy for you to buy that again if you're in that crazy organization? Isn't IHPS backed by the government and the biggest elite arms companies?"
"Hey! Young man! I can indeed buy it again but the memories that are stored with me and my darling cannot be erased!"
Inanimate objects are still inanimate objects— he wanted to answer that but Suga tightly shut his mouth. Letting the man reunite with the inanimate object he called 'my darling'.
It had been a long time since he opened this room, he kept some of the clothes from his father and mother here. Suga looked at the box containing Danny's toys when he was little, at that, he smiled.
"My lovely dear Suga, thank you for taking good care of my darling."
Suga looked at the man who was now putting four guns in a big suitcase, ah, turned out that was what the suitcase was for.
The image of his father who often hugged his telescope, then giving the object a name, made Suga cringe.
Don't tell me that this man also gave a name for his guns— maybe.
"Did you give them names?"
Damn, he should not be asking this.
At the question that left Suga's mouth the man lifted his head, the glow on his face grew even brighter, and it made his brows furrow. He should not have asked.
"Ah! Of course this is Sarah, and this one is Kimberly, and then this is Julia and—"
Okay, okay— of fucking course weird people are still weird people.
Suga and the man walked to the exit door but then "Ah!", Suga's foot hit a wooden table, Mr. Jason held his hand, holding Suga's body to prevent him from falling.
"Thank you, Mr. Jason."
Mr. Jason crouched down to help tidy up the fallen files, but his eyes immediately widened when he saw the contents of the paper.
"Suga, you ... Are the drawings on this paper yours?"
Suga looked again at the scattered paper from inside the file, ah, this reminded him of his childhood memories, Danny often drew robot and machine designs, though Suga did not understand— Danny always showed his drawings with a happy face.
"That's Danny's."
"Danny?"
"My little brother."
Hmmmm, Mr. Jason muttered, he rubbed his chin then muttered again, eyes focusing on the paper. "I didn't know your father had such a genius son."
"Excuse me?"
"How old is he?"
"14. He's almost fifteen now—"
"I mean, how old was he when he drew this?"
In the past, at Danny's sixth birthday to be precise, they planned to celebrate his birthday at home but his father was late and at that moment Danny came into Suga's room with a sullen expression, grumbling and then he sat down on the bed.
'It's already 8 pm and dad still hasn't come.'
Seeing Danny who was pouting with his round cheeks, Suga closed the book he was reading, then drew closer to sit beside his younger brother, chuckling trying to cheer him up.
'Aha, maybe he's still looking for a perfect present for your birthday.'
'Then why is it taking so long, if it's just looking for a present it shouldn't have taken this long!'
Gritting his teeth, Danny then stood up, walking to Suga's study table and took an A4 sized paper, he then spent time drawing in Suga's room.
He already knew Danny's habit when his mood became unpleasant, he always came to his room be it to read a book, or simply like this—drawing leisurely in his room.
No matter how many drawings of robot Danny had made, Suga always kept each piece of the paper in a file, saving it as if his younger brother's work was the most valuable thing. Though he had no idea whether the design was accurate or not, he still felt happy to see Danny who had a hobby, Danny's character was indeed almost the same as his father's.
"Why do you want to know? Are the designs drawn inaccurate?"
Suga did not answer the man's question, instead he asked back.
Mr. Jason's eyes were still looking alternately at the various papers in his hand, he raised his eyes, finally looking directly at Suga.
"Your brother is a genius ... Suga, why are you keeping someone like him in a small house like this."
"What do you mean by that?"
Slightly offended by that statement, Suga's tone rose slightly. While it was true that the apartment they were living in was small, at least this building was livable.
"Wait, no ... What I mean is— ... Danny, that kid—"
Clack— the sound of the door opening from outside, the footsteps were familiar to Suga's ears, he snatched the paper from Mr. Jason. Tidying the paper back into the file.
Danny's steps halted in front of the store room door, eyes scanning inside, confusion appeared on his face when he saw Suga standing with an unknown person, Danny stepped into the room, his eyes were sharp on Mr. Jason. As if he knew he was being stared at with suspicious eyes, the man opened his mouth, but before he could explain— Danny had already spoken.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?"
"Ah, let me introduce myself. I am a former student of your father. Jason Sint from the IHPS headquarters in Canada."
Still in doubt, Danny stood beside Suga, stretched out his hand and motioned for Suga to stand behind, "What business do you have with my brother?"
This was the first time for Suga to see his younger brother speak with cold intonation, seeing Danny acting like he wanted to protect him. Suga tilted his head, looking at Danny with half proud half astonished expression.
Is this what it feels like to be an older brother? Watching your brother grow up? Watching how he's getting more and more mature?
Sadness and joy mixed together. —What kind of feeling is this?
"Danny, he is not lying."
Suga tried to break the tense atmosphere, showing Mr. Jason's business card to his younger brother.
"Huh, that's even more suspicious, what is the purpose of the IHPS person coming here?"
"He wants to take his weapon that dad confiscated."
Danny's face looked a little relieved, the sharp look in his eyes subsided, however there was still a bit of suspicion light left behind.
"Danny? Danny Reeves, God, you look so much like your father. Your hair, the color of your eyes, people could tell instantly who your father is..."
The man put his suitcase down slowly on the floor and then reached closer to give Danny a hug.
Suga held back his laughter watching the reaction of his younger brother who was being hugged, the wrinkles on Danny's forehead increased due to the physical contact with a middle-aged man.
Mr. Jason let go of his hug, squeezed Danny's shoulders and gave him a warm look, Danny snorted then got away from the man.
"I heard that this month children his age are having school break."
"Um." Suga nodded, "Soon Dan will enter high school."
"Oh, then ... Danny, where do you want to apply—"
"I want to go to the bathroom."
Danny purposely ignoring Mr. Jason's question, walked towards the bathroom nonchalantly.
"Sorry Danny lately ... for some reason, he is a bit grumpy."
"Ah, youth. Haha," Mr. Jason laughed causing his eyes to narrow, he picked up his suitcase that was lying on the floor. Walking towards the exit, before opening the door he turned his head, looking back at Suga.
Checking something in his pocket, he then handed Suga a business card. "After leaving IHPS, I work for Arkan's japanese branch. Give me a call if you want to talk about Danny."
Suga took the business card. and read the name of the company. Arkan Corp. What a familiar name.
"Someone as genius as Danny shouldn't live in a place like this."
"Huh?"
Looking at Mr. Jason's expression that turned serious, Suga tilted his head. Mr. Jason smoothed his tie and bowed his head. Suga was still staring at him, trying to figure out what this man meant by saying that.
"Mr. Jason ... Danny shouldn't live in a place like this ... what do you mean?"
"Ah! I, no— I mean..., someone like Danny should be somewhere that can support his talent. I wish you will contact me further, I want to help you."
The thought was already in his mind, day and night he always thought about the future of Danny. Even without being told, he was fully aware that someone like Danny had a potentially brighter future than him. If he let Danny stay in a place where he could not hone his wits, then Danny would end up like him— Suga never wanted that to happen to his beloved brother.
Noticing Suga's changed expression, Mr. Jason pulled him and gave Suga a hug, patting Suga's back lightly, "It must be difficult for you, raising your little brother alone. I hope you will allow me to help you, take it as a reward for your father's kindness."
A few moments later, he let go of the hug, the man pinched his cheek with a smile, "Also, thank you for taking good care of my darling."
"Ahem." Suddenly a fake cough echoed from behind. "Don't touch my brother."
"Ah! Danny! Do you want me to hug you too? Come here."
"No." an immediate answer without hesitation, Danny was still giving Mr. Jason a death stare.
Opening the door and smiling broadly at them both, Mr. Jason grabbed his suitcase and waved his hand.
Tuk— When the door was tightly closed, Danny looked at Suga and clicked his tongue.
"You're out of your mind, Suga. You let a stranger into our house."
"Well, Mr. Jason is kind of ... not a stranger."
Danny scratched his head, he sat down on the sofa. "You've always been like this, no .... ever since I was little, you've always attracted the attention of crazy people."
Clicking his tongue as if he was remembering something, Danny's face looked annoyed. Suga had no idea what kind of memory was on his mind right now so he shrugged. Glancing at the clock, realizing that his stomach was very hungry.
"Me, attracting crazy people, huh? Well, Mr. Jason is a bit weird because of his obsession with guns..."
Muttering to himself, Suga snorted. Entering his room to keep the business card that Mr. Jason gave him.
There were two business cards lying in the small drawer now. Both were from IHPS people.
Maybe Danny had a point.