"How do you know she is a girl?" Akira asked.
Kana looked confused. "She is a girl." Then Kana realized. "Wait, are you hiding that?" She bowed again and begged. "Please forgive me, I didn't know that."
"Stop bowing and just answer us," said Akira with an annoyed tone.
"Yes, sir. I know," Kana replied with extreme politeness.
"Who said it?" Akira asked eagerly in a demanding tone.
"He was called Black Mamba by others, but the man who took me called him Little Black Snake. I think this Black Mamba guy is gay. He looks handsome, and I think he is 19 years old."
'Shinichi, so he became Black Mamba. As I suspected, he already knew White Rabbit was a gi...' He suddenly slapped his forehead. 'Shit, doesn't that mean he investigated our house and already knows our identities? That day when I beat the association guards too, he must have confirmed our identities then.'
"What happened, Black?" Haruka asked, looking at his mask slap.
"Kana, did you have transformation ability before the man took you?" Akira asked.
"Yes," Kana replied. "I got it from a tower which I raided with my school friends right after the tutorial."
"Then he fooled you," Akira continued, "he took you because you have the transformation ability. He must have seen you transform and followed you. When he saw your sister got raped, he must have said those words.
When the game descended, many perverted bastards went on a rampage and your sister must have been a victim of them. It will be impossible to find..."
"I already figured it out," said Kana, getting depressed.
"Then join us," Akira asked, hitting Haruka very hard, and she just realized he kept on calling her by her given name since the beginning as if he got used to calling her like that.
'Don't tell me she is the girl that separated us,' thought Haruka. Haruka expected she would come at some point, but that was too sudden and unexpected.
Kana looked up in surprise. Why would he offer her to join when she tried to harm him? Well, technically she didn't harm him, but still, she deceived him. But she was reminded of the slap that man gave, which made her cover in fear. "No, he will torture me."
"We will protect you," said Akira with assurance.
Kana looked at Haruka with uncertainty.
'Don't fall apart yet, Ruka,' thought Haruka and said, "Yes, join us." Her voice lowered as she said it.
"Why are you helping me? I will just be a burden to you," said Kana.
"It's not about usefulness," said Akira, "we need members for our organization. You are a perfect fit. You don't have anyone close to you, so it is easy to train you and protect you. You are a perfect employee for our organization."
"Don't mind his words," said Haruka with a weak voice, "he doesn't know how to put his thoughts into words. He meant we will give you a place to work and earn your living while protecting you."
"What happened?" Akira asked with concern. "You suddenly became weak."
"I think exhaustion hit me. I want to go home," said Haruka.
"Let's go then," said Akira, "by the way, you should take Kana to our house. She doesn't have anywhere to go. Introduce her as your friend to our parents."
"Ok," said Haruka and thought, 'so you are trying to make us friends. That's a good idea I guess, this way, she won't be able to separate us in the future as friends. I will help you dominate her so that she won't suppress you this time.'
"I still didn't agree," said Kana.
Akira took out a sword. "Well then, just die."
"What?" Kana was shocked.
"If you won't come with us, they are going to find you anyway, which will be one more enemy for us. So we have to kill you right now."
"No, I will join."
"I don't trust you anymore," said Akira.
"What should I do to trust your gain...no, I mean gain your trust."
"Just do as I say, no questions asked."
"Yes, sir."
They went home, and their parents agreed for Kana to stay there. They gave her a room.
Haruka closed her door and crumpled onto her bed with tears streaming down silently. 'It happened too fast. I should have been ready, but I forgot.' Regret consumed her.
'Today's wasted because of me. I'm sorry, Aki.' For that day, she surrendered to her grief, seeking comfort in the familiar atmosphere.
Akira also lay down on his bed. 'My mistake put Ruka in danger. Shinichi knows who we are now. But I am 90% certain he didn't tell anyone. At that time when he knew White Rabbit was a girl, he misinformed his superior, which means he had an interest in Black Bear.
He most likely will use that to get close to me. It seems in both lives he is fated to fall in love with me. But I can't let my guard down; Shinichi is the leader's favorite assassin. Shinichi has a diary-like system where he inserts new information each day. If he doesn't log in for 24 hours, that whole information will go to the leader.
I know the location, but if I destroy it now, Shinichi will know it and if I kill him at the wrong time, the information will reach the leader before I can destroy the system. I guess I can only ask Mr. Yamamura for help. I hope Shinichi hasn't told anyone yet.'
The next day, Akira and Haruka took Kana to Antarctica. They wore warm clothes, but Akira purposefully didn't give Kana anything. She wore normal clothes in the cold climate.
"Black, this is too much," said Haruka, unable to see Kana shiver.
"This is her training," said Akira.
"Then you remove your jacket too." She unzipped his jacket and took it off, but he still stood the same as if there was no cold. 'Wait, how could I do that in front of her, what if she misunderstands us?' Thought Haruka and she also removed her jacket. "That will teach you." She didn't know how to cover it up.
"Ok, now everyone is equal, let's go hunt."
For 2 days, Akira and Haruka helped Kana to learn how to fight. She got training in only acting from her previous boss.
Haruka seemed to have recovered well from her mental breakdown upon Kana's arrival.
The day before the D-rank version descended, they planned a few things that evening.
After the planning was finished, which consisted of raiding more dungeons, Haruka asked, "Kaneko san, what is your profession and which rank is it?"
"My profession is a spy," said Kana, "it is a B-rank profession but I promise I will earn on my own to improve my levels later on, Haru sama."
Haruka awkwardly said, "I already said to just call me Haruka. I want to be friends with you, not a boss."
Kana became embarrassed. "But it is too disrespectful after all you have done for me, Haru Sama." She meant all the times Haruka had saved her from Akira's bullying.
"Technically, he is the one who calls the shots, and my parents doubt us because of your calling. It's fine to call him 'Sama,' but we are supposed to be friends, and I also want to become friends with you."
"I will try, Ha...Haruka," Kana said, "then you should also call me Kana. By the way, what is your profession?"
"You don't need to know," said Akira with a harsh tone. He has not been nice to Kana since she came. He purposefully caused her trouble like making her dig for crystals from all the monsters he and she killed.
"So...sorry, Hoshi Sama." Kana was scared. He had traumatized her, and she knew he was going to bully her more for what she had asked just now.
Haruka squinted her eyes at him. 'Geez, no matter how harshly she treated you in your futuristic view, she is just a little lamb now. Show some leniency.'
"What are you looking at?" Akira asked Haruka, observing her unsatisfied expression.
"Nothing." She got up and left the two alone, which made Kana feel worse. She had already resolved not to be alone with Akira ever.
"Is your hand okay?" Akira asked apathetically.
"Yes, Hoshi sama," she answered quickly.
"Don't hide it if it isn't. It will be inefficient for us."
"I am telling the truth, Hoshi Sama, I swear."
"Good, take care of yourself." Akira got up and went away.
Kana relaxed. 'Phew, he's too scary. Haru sama...I mean Haruka is like an angel and Hoshi Sama is like a devil. How did they complement each other so well? No, no, I shouldn't think about my saviors that way.
I don't understand, why is Hoshi sama too harsh towards me. Is impersonating Haruka a taboo or something? Wait, aren't they a couple? Sometimes I feel like they are, sometimes not.
Even the way their parents behave around them doesn't confirm whether they are a couple or not. It's like they are all acting to confuse me. No way, why would they do that? Something is going on in this family that I can't figure out.'