Akira froze on her seat after hearing Ren's unexpected response. She clenched her fist tightly under the table.
It was true that there were humans who were aware of their existence, however, they were very rare. She only knew three humans who were knowledgeable about the kind of beings that they were, and one of them was actually already dead.
Their world was not something that humans should dwell in. Akira knew very well that getting involved with them would only bring pain and misfortune to humans. Afterall, they were cursed beings, and no matter how hard they tried to cleanse themselves, their blood was tainted.
Instead of answering Ren's question, Akira asked back a question. "What makes you think that I am like Miyamura?" she said to Ren.
She remembered what Ren mentioned earlier. If he knew things about Miyamura and even the mysterious man named Tomo Ogawa, then it was not impossible for him to also know something about Akira. In fact, it was very possible that he already knew who Akira was before they even met that night at Miyamura's mansion, or perhaps, he could actually see Akira's life force and everybody else's in the room! Realizing that, Akira couldn't help herself from getting more suspicious at him. Was he really just a human or was he someone like them?
Ren flashed her a small smile. "That night - at Miyamura's" he responded.
Akira's brows furrowed at his response. "What do you mean?" she asked, obviously not getting what Ren meant with what he said.
"Weren't you the one who knocked me off that night? You see, I am a well-trained assassin and I have already killed a couple of people like Miyamura before. I'm well acquainted with the abilities of people like Miyamura - that nonhuman strength and speed - there could only be one explanation for that, and I am certain you know what that is."
His eyes looked fixedly at Akira as he couldn't work out the meaning behind the expression on her face. He waited for Akira's reply with a bathed breath.
'Does she not believe in me?' he thought to himself.
"I see", Akira uttered after a few moments later. "You're one lucky man though. You're very fortunate that you're still alive after facing a couple of people like Miyamura. Although I don't think that will last long. You see, humans who involve themselves with creatures like us do not always have a good ending."
Ren let out a weak chuckle. He found it a little funny that Akira was commending him while threatening him at the same time. "Is this perhaps a threat?" he said, still wearing that taunting smile on his face.
Akira shook her head in response. "No. Instead of a threat, I would like to think of it as a warning. I'm just warning you of the more dangers that may come on your way. After all, I have witnessed it myself - humans losing their lives because they got involved with beings like us. You surely don't want that for yourself, do you?"
"Well, I guess that's for me to decide. Do you have anything more to say or ask? Because honestly, I'm dying to lay on a comfortable mattress now. You have no idea how sore my back and my neck are after days of being tied up in a chair in that room. Have you ever experienced that before? I doubt you did though. But seriously, it was one of the most uncomfortable feelings of all. " Ren had the image of himself sleeping soundly on a bed displayed in his head as he spoke, and he didn't bother hiding the fact that he was so thrilled like a little child who was about to visit his favorite candy store.
After days of being around him and conversing with him, Akira still found herself astonished at how easygoing Ren was. She couldn't really work out if the guy even took things seriously or not. She had realized that Ren had no wariness: he didn't really care much for his own life, and he would say and do whatever he wanted to, without thinking of their possible consequences. It almost reminded Akira of a stubborn and carefree child, something that she had long forgotten.
'I don't think I'll ever get used to this guy', she said in her head.
"I have no more to say. You may proceed to your room", she finally replied to Ren.
Ren's eyes twinkled at her reply.
"Thank you, Akira." He made sure to slowly utter the words, especially her name.
The sound of loud gasps echoed in the room. Ren hid the huge smile that was about to escape his mouth as he enjoyed witnessing their different reactions. To him, it was truly entertaining.
'This guy...', Akira thought to herself.
She was both irritated and disgusted at Ren. She was so sure that he was intentionally provoking her.
'God forbid, I might not keep our end of the deal for I might actually kill this guy.' She then started to question why would fate allow her to meet Ren. He was everything that she despised in a person.
Haru finally opened the door and led Ren outside of the room.
After the door was shut close, a very loud and boisterous laugh resounded throughout the room, taking everyone in the room by surprise.
"Oh my gosh. That guy is really something. I like him." Nao wiped a tear below her eye that was a result of her excessive laughter. "Is he perhaps smitten by you, Akira?"
The idea gave Akira shivers. If she would ever date anyone, it would be someone who was the exact opposite of that guy. She could not imagine being with someone who was as arrogant and as crazy as him.
"Well, I hate that guy", Kaito threw in the conversation.
"I'm with you on that", Akira followed.
Hours later after their meeting, Akira, together with Sato and Kaito proceeded with their schedule to scout at Tomo Ogawa's property. His house was located almost at the heart of the city, which was something they found ironic considering how secretive the man was. There was a small coffee shop situated right across the street where Tomo's house was located.
"Hmmm. That was surprising", Sato commented as he sipped into his cup of coffee. "I'm not usually a big fan of coffee because I don't like how strong it usually is but this one is actually bearable for me." His eyes scanned Kaito and Akira's cups that were almost untouched.
"Guys, are you not going to drink your coffee?" he asked of the two. He felt somehow bad that their coffees would go to waste.
"I didn't come here to drink coffee", Akira replied without looking at Sato. Her eyes were fixated at the house across the coffee shop. "Two...", she followed to say.
Sato frowned at her. "What? What do you mean 'two'?" Sato asked in confusion.
"There are two men guarding the entrance, and good news, they're humans. We'll have Nao take care of them tomorrow."
Sato took another sip of his coffee and made sure to savor it. "Oh", was his only response.
"Crap. It's starting to rain. We better get going. You know I don't like rain", Akira declared as she saw the raindrops falling through the glass wall of the coffee shop.
Sato was downcast at her statement. "But my coffee!" He argued. He had not even drunk half of it, and he was actually hoping to finish it.
Akira let out a sigh then said, "Just take it with you, Sato."
Realizing what Akira meant, Sato's face lit up. "Of course!" He stood from his seat and took his cup of coffee with him as he walked up straight to the counter. Akira and Kaito followed him. They stood a few meters behind him as they waited for him to finish his business.
Sato cleared his throat. "Excuse me, miss", he said to the female barista. "Let me just say that your coffee is really good, that is why I'm taking this one with me", he raised the cup that he was holding to show to the lady. "Here's the payment for the coffee mug."
The lady's eyes widened as she saw the amount of money that Sato placed on the counter. "Sir, this is too much", the lady said in disbelief.
"It's alright. You can keep the change", Sato replied with a bright smile on his face.
Meanwhile, Akira and Kaito waited impatiently for him. "I don't think it's a good idea to allow him to do something like this. He's going get spoiled", Kaito remarked.
"It's fine. You know how he easily gets attached to things that he likes or finds interesting. What I'm more concerned about is this rain. It's getting stronger and stronger. Is he not finished yet?" Right after Akira said these, Sato thanked the cashier and turned around to face his companions.
"What took you so-" Akira wasn't able to finish her sentence as she felt something crashed against her back. She turned around and found a man wearing a coat and fedora hat standing behind her. She also noticed that the man had a mustache.
"My apologies, ma'am. I didn't see you there. I was on my phone, so I was unconscious or where I was going. Again, I'm sorry", the man said in a very gentle tone.
Akira moved her eyes at his hand and found that he was indeed holding a phone. Not wanting to prolong the scene, she gave the man a small smile then said, "No problem, sir. If you'll excuse us, we need to go."
The man nodded and Akira quickly took the opportunity to leave the building. The rain outside was getting stronger and she wanted to get in the car as quick as possible.
As the three ran in the streets, the man they encountered in the coffee shop was still standing in his same spot. His eyes followed the three as their figures retreated in the rainy evening. Then, a grin appeared on his face.