"Hey Shinobu that was quick! Printing something already?" Reiji walked over to the violette after dealing with the troublemakers in the library. They were still making a lot of noise, Reiji really wanted to leave this level their cries and screams were becoming unbearable. How was Shinobu so calm? Anyone would probably go insane the longer they stay here.
Before Reiji could even ask Shinobu if she found anything informative, he noticed the violette staring into space. Sometimes pacing around while waiting for the printer to finish its job. Seems like she found something. Reiji thought, glancing at the documents that the printer was collating.
However Shinobu's sudden change in behavior was still up for question: Why was she looking so distraught? The violette was alright a while ago what could've made her like this? Reiji was starting to feel unsettled he didn't know how to phrase his worries without sounding intrusive.
"Uh why the worried look on your face? I think you're doing well with the research and if there's anything you need me to help you with I'd be glad to lend a helping hand." Reiji reassured her with a hopeful look on his gleaming face that didn't last long either.
Slowly, Shinobu turned to look at Reiji for a while and then faced the other way again in a hurry. This was weird, his friend was avoiding him for whatever reason. Reiji was sure he did nothing wrong this was totally out of the blue especially with the objective they swore to accomplish by the end of the day.
"Certain things just don't need an explanation that makes sense. How I'm feeling right now doesn't need to be addressed because it's not a concern." The violette suddenly spoke with a quiver in her voice. "If you know what I mean because I don't know how to make sense of it either this is just hard to get through."
Right now she just sounds straight up petrified. There's something bothering her and I'm not going to let it slide. Reiji narrowed his eyes at Shinobu, giving her the indication that he wasn't going to buy her cover-up. It has something to do with the documents she's printing which means she found something but is too afraid to reveal what it is.
"This is no time to hide stuff from each other Shinobu. What did you find? You're not even telling me what you're printing over there how do you expect me to brush this off like it's nothing? There's something you don't want to tell me and I just don't understand why. Aren't we working on this together?" Reiji didn't want to sound pressurizing but it's the truth, this is supposed to be teamwork no one is alone in this and Shinobu suddenly distancing herself was starting to make him furious to the point where he was questioning her sincerity. He was sure Shinobu wanted to put an end to this catastrophe just as much as he and Douma wanted to. So why was Shinobu acting this way it's not adding up.
Shinobu was still staring into space motionless. Even though she didn't respond Reiji was sure she heard what he said clearly.
The sound of footsteps coming from the reception area got closer. Reiji panicked and spun around in the direction of the footsteps.
A few feet away from them was the large figure of the librarian approaching them. She didn't look very happy in fact she had a malicious smirk on her face. Now who wouldn't get mad if someone used their belongings without their permission. Reiji understood her standpoint but Shinobu standing there wasn't going to solve anything she already printed out the documents so the only thing they could do now was abrupt.
"Shinobu the librarian is coming we're gonna get into trouble if we don't do something!" From that he meant run since there was no other way to get out of this mess.
Immediately, the documents were snatched with much force by the violette. Reiji ran up to her as she took off running towards the stairs. Following closely behind her, Reiji didn't even want to look back.
The librarian stood there watching the two friends take their 'leave'. She found it amusing that they were so close to getting caught, too close but she still couldn't even deal with their nuisance.
~~~
Both Shinobu and Reiji were walking briskly in the streets of the city. Reiji was catching up with the violette who was quite fast. It was almost like she was the center of everything while everyone else was in the background not interfering with her plans.
"Are you serious right now? Shinobu slow down!" Reiji yelled but Shinobu wasn't listening.
If you decide to leave me behind like this we're never going to get this done and over with! At that instant Reiji grabbed her arm and waited for his friend to turn around which she did with an irritated expression.
"What do you think you're doing?! Leave me alone you're so annoying." Shinobu flailed her arm away from Reiji and quickened her pace.
Frustration was starting to build up within Reiji, no matter what he did to stop her she was reluctant to listen and explain to him what happened. Reiji sighed and continued pestering her so she would stop.
"Could you at least explain to me what you found and why you're so distressed all of a sudden? Don't think you can hide anything I can see it through your face, something's bothering you and you can't continue keeping this to yourself."
Shinobu ignored him and continued walking towards an ice cream truck that had people lining up to collect their order. It caught her attention for a while. The eager and gleaming looks on people's faces reminded her that both she and Reiji still had a lot of time in Tokyo before his neighbor picks them up.
"How do you expect me to explain everything to you clearly if you keep-" The violette bumped into someone standing in front of her. She didn't notice this person while she was talking with Reiji. She was walking too fast at the same time that she wasn't mindful of her surroundings.
"Watch where you're going scrap!" A snarky voice shouted.
Both Shinobu and Reiji looked at the ice cream that was now on the ground, the fruits and sprinkles splattered on the concrete floor. Everyone looked at the scene happening right in front, particularly at the woman who was now screaming at the top of her lungs calling Shinobu all sorts of degrading insults.
"I'm sorry." Shinobu responded feeling both embarrassed and petrified she wished she had been more careful with her direction. Maybe this is what she gets for treating Reiji like a nuisance when he was just trying to help her. Embarrassment flooded over her, she couldn't even look at Reiji.
The woman with velvet hair snickered. There was something familiar about this woman, Shinobu recognized that voice and hair color. It was starting to make her feel very uncomfortable just standing in front of her.
That was until another familiar figure approached them, eyeing both Shinobu and Reiji with the same look of recognition.
"Are you alright?" The man asked the woman, still looking at the two friends who stood there in silence.
"Yeah I'm fine ugh." Brushing her shoulder to get rid of any potential dirt, the woman looked disgusted.
Shinobu and Reiji exchanged glances at each other, wondering if they should say anything or wait for the two to clear this matter upon themselves. They could sense the prying eyes of onlookers watching the scene to see what was going to happen next.
The malicious look on the woman's face confirmed that both she and the man had indeed crossed paths with the two friends. She wasn't going to let them off this easily now that they have met the second time.
"Listen brat, next time keep those eyes of yours open, or you'll be the embarrassment of the year." She warned with humiliation in her tone of voice. "Not that you already aren't, just treat this as a reminder."
Shinobu curled her fingers into a ball of fists. Although this wasn't big of a deal, this woman still had the audacity to pin her down in front of a lot of people, she doesn't even know anything about her. This woman was literally an assassin working under one of the most wanted criminals in the country, she shouldn't be given such empowerment over others.
"That's enough Akira forget about it." The man whispered with a reassuring hand on her shoulder to which Akira moved him away with the same disgusted look on her face.
"Don't get in my way." Akira snapped. She was just scolding the man the whole time even though he was just trying to calm her down. "These kids have been interfering with our plans Kaito. Do you think I'm going to let them get away with it this time?" She whispered harshly.
"But it's just ice cream it's got nothing to do with our mission." Kaito whispered back.
Akira crossed her arms and waited for Kaito to finish talking. She was getting impatient and Shinobu could see it. What she was about to say next wasn't going to be nice to hear. There wasn't any need for them to even hide their identity with their masks anymore, both Shinobu and Reiji have now seen their actual selves, taking a walk down the streets of Tokyo like ordinary people when they've actually done more harm than good to society.
"You've apologized now you gotta clear the mess."
Both Shinobu and Reiji looked at the ice cream on the floor. It wasn't going to clear itself but the woman's attitude made them reluctant to even fix their mistake.
"So pick it up than we can call it a day!" Akira laughed mockingly.
This made Shinobu mad than ever. She wasn't going to take orders from someone who's just plain rude.
"Don't expect anyone to do so with that awful attitude of yours. Pick it up yourself."
"Oh really? But I wasn't the one who dropped it."
Both Shinobu and Akira eyed each other, one with a sinister smile and another with a serious look on her face. Both Reiji and Kaito tried to break the ice but it was no use.
"Someone's bold, but still a little pipsqueak."
Shinobu bit her lip. Truthfully she didn't know what to do now, the crowd was still watching them.
"If you don't pick this up and decide to leave, you will be seen as the brat who doesn't take accountability for their actions." Akira went on. "Now I'm sure you don't want to walk around with the title of being that unfavorable coward who makes a mockery out of people, because you are one so clear your name now before that happens and don't come crying to me if it does!"
As much as Shinobu didn't want to she didn't have a choice. She had to save her image and walking away was only going to make people despise her. The crowd was surrounding them, she could feel their eyes on her waiting for what she was going to do. Shinobu wasn't hoping for her pity but she wanted some time to think of a wise decision that won't scar her at the same time.
"Shinobu... you don't have to she's treating you like trash." Reiji said with concern. "Don't do this to yourself."
Looking at the mess on the floor, Shinobu thought about what Reiji said. He does have a point but there's no other way to fix this, not with people having the wrong impression of me. She's still going to treat me that way regardless, people will eventually see her as the problem.
Slowly, the violette bent down and scooped up the ice cream with her bare hands. Reiji watched in horror, his friend clearly embarrassed by what she was doing in front of a whole audience. She was clearly grossed out by the mess on her hands but there was nothing she could do about it, she made her decision.
This is interesting. She really cleaned it up! I wouldn't want to be in her shoes. Akira found this entertaining. She didn't expect the violette to be so gullible.
With the melting ice cream in her hands, Shinobu reached out to keep it at a distance. She then looked up at the velvet-haired woman in anger and shoved the ice cream at her, staining her clothes with pink and blue.
"HOW DARE YOU!" The woman yelled, now holding the sludging mess in her hands. "YOU'RE GONNA REGRET THIS!"
Shinobu walked away, a little relieved that she got the job done. It was unbearable back there.
Immediately, Reiji caught up with her, congratulating her for the act of bravery she did. "That was sick! Who knew you could be so cold?"
"Yeah and I wanna go home now." Shinobu said in a dull tone. Reiji guessed she was still in a bad mood and it might have gotten worse after what happened. He was hoping to spend more time with her.
"We still have to discuss-
"I know will you be patient Reiji?"
"Of course!"
Reiji looked around, searching for something. "I'm gonna find the phonebooth." He quickly began his search from there.