The four of us are now staying at my place. It feels like my house has come alive. I used to live alone in this house for so long. But now, seeing my home, I feel a bit better. Ishikawa and Sho were sitting on the sofa playing games with my console. And Yuki was lying on her bed in her room on her phone. I started thinking,
"Should I show them the thing?"
Then I muttered,
"Let's show it."
I went to my room to get the thing. I opened my drawer and took out a paper and brought it to the living room. Ishikawa saw it and asked what it was.
Then I called Yuki and asked her to come to the room. After that, I told Ishikawa to pause the game. They were still playing, so I unplugged the power adapter from the console. They got annoyed and angry, saying,
"Hey, why did you do that for?"
"I told you to pause the game. Since you didn't, I had to unplug the adapter!"
Seeing their angry faces, Yuki suppressed her laughter.
Then Ishikawa, annoyed, asked me.
"Now, tell me why did you called us?"
"I hadn't told you about this before. Since all of you are here, I'm showing you this now."
Then I unfolded a piece of paper in my hand and showed it to them. They were surprised after reading it.
"初めまして,皆さん! (Nice to meet you, Everyone!)
I'm Rokuta and I'm Kana. We are the siblings and only family of our brother. By the time, you are listening to this, Nii-San might've told you about the situation. Long ago, when our parents got murdered, our brother was the one who raised us after their passing. After we became grown-ups, he sent us outside of this country for our safety. We kept in contact with each other but couldn't meet each other for certain reasons. From the beginning, we always predicted that the 3 of you would return someday to meet our brother. As a little brother and a sister, we are asking for you a favor. Please get Nii-San out of that country as soon as possible. If you need to do forgeries, then do it. But please get him out of there. He is unsafe in that country! I can't tell you the reason now. After getting out of there, Nii-San will explain everything to you. Due to the 'Psycho' case, we are unable to bring him. We apologize to you. We want you to bring him to New York, USA. Please bring him here by the end of February 2031.
Now, Nii-San. Don't be mad at us. We tried our best to bring you here. But failed. Please leave Japan immediately. The big incident is about to happen. Be careful.
Last but not least. Thanks for taking care of both of us all those years. We've been separated for a long time. We couldn't even thank you for what you did for us all these years. Since Mom and Dad passed away, you didn't abandon us. You took care of us like Mom and Dad. You are our parent. You are both Mom and Dad to us. Please take care of yourself. Also, stop smoking. It's bad for the bones. See you soon.
Yours ever
Your siblings"
"Did you ever try to meet them?"
"I did! But I couldn't. Eventually, I gave up and started living alone, heartbroken."
Ishikawa, still crying, gradually calmed down.
"Do you want to meet them?" (Ishikawa)
"I do, but for a certain reason, we can't. Their happiness is my happiness. So, as long as they are safe, I am happy."
Hearing this, they started crying again.
Afterward, I took Ishikawa to the park to lift his spirits. Among the three of them, Ishikawa is the most emotional, so it's very difficult to handle him. That's why I brought him to Hinokicho Park. Then we sat on the bench where I always sit. Ishikawa was still emotional, so I said,
"Aiyo, Bro! Why are you getting so emotional? It's my siblings whom I'm not able to meet. It doesn't have something to do with you!"
"How can you say something like that? Your siblings miss you, and you don't have a bit of compassion or sympathy for them!" (Ishikawa)
After that, I stayed silent for a while. Then I asked him in a deep voice,
"How much longer until you go to the USA?"
Ishikawa looked at me with a bit of fear and said,
"15 days. Why?"
Then I said to him in a deep voice,
"Do you want to know why?"
"Ye-Yes!" - He replied fearfully.
"Then listen, besides the letter I showed you, there's another letter."
"Yeah... HEH?!!" (Ishikawa)
"Yes, they left another letter, in which the incident they mentioned is explained. I'll tell that story another day, but for today, just know that I need to leave this country quickly."
"Why?" - he stood up in fear and asked.
"I'll tell you after we reach the USA. For now, make arrangements to take me to the USA. But quickly."
"All right, I'll arrange to take you as soon as possible." (Ishikawa)
Then, with a smiling face, I told Ishikawa,
"Let's have some coffee."
"Eh...!!!" (Ishikawa)
"Look. There's a café nearby, they make very good coffee there. I really like it."
Ishikawa hesitated a bit and said,
"Let's go."
Then we walked to that café, and after sitting down, we ordered two cups of coffee and 5 Cream puffs. As soon as the waiter left, Ishikawa leaned over to me and said,
"Tell me about that other letter. Really! I can't wait any longer!" (Ishikawa)
"I told you. Let's leave this country quickly first, then I'll tell you. I'll tell everyone together."
"You'll tell after we leave? Don't forget!"
"Of course not, you fool. Why would I forget? I have to tell you at some point."
After that, we both stayed silent for a while. Then Ishikawa told me something that I couldn't have even imagined.
"I'm going to tell you a secret now, don't tell anyone, okay?"
"What is it?"
"You know how big we work in the USA." (Ishikawa)
"I know so?"
"If you look at us from the outside, you'd say we're executives of such big companies, we're very busy, and most of the company's work is on us! That's the common thought among people." (Ishikawa)
"Yes, it is, but what does this have to do with the secret?"
"From the outside, we may seem like this, but we're not actually like that!" (Ishikawa)
I was a bit surprised, then I asked,
"What are you trying to imply?"
He looked down seriously for a moment, then said with
disappointment,
"Last year, it was reported in the media worldwide that an organization kidnaped 4 of the top world leaders along with the US military general. That was the headline."
I tried to remember for a moment. Then it came to me.
"Yes, I remember. The world government is trying to track down those assassins."
"Yes." - he said seriously.
"What is the secret related to this?"
"You can't even imagine who is involved in this story," he said eagerly.
"Why? Who is involved?"
"In this incident, the organization involved is the biggest anti-government assassin organization called "The Alchemist". (Ishikawa)
He also said,
"The diplomats, senators, politicians of the world government, executives, owners, and shareholders of the world's largest companies who are opposed to government systems, together formed 'The Alchemist'." (Ishikawa)
"How do you know about all this?"
Hearing this, I was not only surprised but shocked by what he said next.
"Because I, Sho, and Yuki are members of it." (Ishikawa)
At that moment, I felt like I had fallen from the sky to the ground!!! Then I stammered,
"S-So you guys are the ones who did all of these?!!!"
Then he looked down.
"Yes."
I was astonished at that moment.
"Then, who is the leader/president of 'The Alchemist'?"
"I don't know. Rumors say that he is the most legendary assassin of the history! But―" (Ishikawa)
"But?"
"But we don't know his true identity except our clan masters." (Ishikawa)
"Clan masters?!"
"They are like Captain of different groups." (Ishikawa)
"Then, don't they tell anyone who the president is?"
"No. But they bring the president's messages or orders to us." (Ishikawa)
Then I fell silent, and by then our order had arrived. Ishikawa took a sip of his coffee, leaned his head towards me, and said,
"We've received a new Intel. Our president is currently in Japan!!!"
I was shocked. Then I asked,
"Do you know where he is?"
"As I told you, no one knows him! So, he could be anywhere." (Ishikawa)
He continued,
"I've heard a rumor that the president monitors every member of his organization. And if he finds someone to be a traitor, he declares them as 'XO' right then and there."
Out of curiosity, I asked him,
"What does XO mean?"
"XO is a code in our language that means 'May the almighty keep you happy!'" (Ishikawa)
"What??"
"It means the traitor is immediately executed!!"
I was terrified upon hearing this.
"Let me tell you, our president is the most dangerous and ruthless assassin in assassination history. He is very Terrifying. At the same time, he is a very cheerful person." (Ishikawa)
"How do you know? How did you find out he is like that?"
"Our clan masters once said—' he is like water in the fire and fire in the water. That's his behavior.' They also said he loves to have fun. They mentioned that if you talk to the president, you will not feel that he is the most terrifying and strongest assassin." (Ishikawa)
Then I smiled at Ishikawa.
"Do you remember, how big philosophers we used to be?"
"How could I forget? Our every philosophy was about stupid topics." (Ishikawa)
"Do you remember once we gave a philosophy on zombies?"
"Yes, I remember." (Ishikawa)
"Then I started making fun of you, 'These are all the signs of the matrix. You were affected by the matrix.' Annoyed, you told everyone not to stay with me. Then Matsuda and I laughed until we were satisfied.
Afterward, I sat back comfortably, took a deep breath, and proudly said,
"Those days were so beautiful; we all used to have so much fun together!"
He also said like me,
"Yes, those days were so fun."
This is how I spent a beautiful time with Ishikawa. While coming home, I bought some Cream Puffs for Sho and Yuki. As soon as I came in, they asked,
"So, how's Ishikawa doing right now?"
"Yes, he's all right now. I need to talk with you two."
Then I started a conversation with them about The Alchemist. My conversation with them was going on and on. But I learned one thing, they are good people. They would never cause harm to anyone. But they reveal all the secrets. I guess everyone has secrets. But some secrets should be revealed. But they don't know that I have a bigger secret hidden inside of me.
I'm just thinking about what would be their reaction when they learn that secret.