The very next day as Fujima woke up from a deep sleep, the first thing he thought of was the voice that whispered to his ears last night. He never got the chance to think of it thoroughly yesterday as he was enveloped by his tiredness both physically and mentally.
"Who was that? I can't even tell if that person is a male or a female. One thing is for sure, that person knows my true identity. If that is the case, I should eliminate that person as soon as possible."
Fujima came to his senses and slid the curtains open to let the sunlight inside his room. He was moving slowly not knowing that he was already late for classes. As soon as he checked the clock, it was already 9 AM.
Instead of rushing like most people would normally do, Fujima just sat on his bed and daydreamed for a few minutes. He had already accepted that he is late after all. A few minutes after getting lost in his daze, he remembered that he would have to deal with a person that is more terrifying than the scolding of his teachers. Mio, their class president.
"Now how do I deal with her? What excuse should I come up with this time?"
After another few minutes of racking his mind trying to come up with a plausible excuse as to why he is late, he gave up.
"There's just no debating with her. I guess I'll just call in sick today."
Fujima went to grab his smartphone lying beside the only pillow in his bed. He then contacted the only person that is in his contacts. Mr. Takamura.
"Hello sir."
"Fujima? I'm in the middle of a class so please make it quick."
"I'm calling in sick today."
"That's fine. But are you okay? Does your body ache that much from last night's mission?"
Fujima knew that his body indeed aches but not to a point where he can't go to school. But he also can't tell his homeroom teacher that he is ditching school just to avoid Mio's confrontation so calling in sick is the best option he could think of.
"Yeah. Sorry for calling you in the middle of work."
"No problem. You get well. You don't have any missions today so just take the time off and rest."
As soon as the call ended, Fujima lied back to his bed face up as he stared at the blank ceiling.
He contemplated on how dull his life is. A high school student with one old man in his contact list. How sad for a teenage guy. But he also thought that it might be better this way. His life is too complicated to get acquainted deeply with anyone his age who are living their youth like normal people. That being the case, he also is a kid who wants to form connections such as friendship with his peers.
With nothing to do, Fujima stood up and dressed himself with a plain white t-shirt and track pants to go for a walk.
The only peace he got ever since he became a member of the organization is the morning walks he would do on free days.
Fujima went out of his apartment as the sunlight that touched his skin wasn't painful but warming like a hug. The streets around his apartment were deserted. On a weekday like this, most people have already gone to school or work so the only one left traversing these streets is him.
As he reached a nearby park, he was about to sit on a bench until he saw a kid wearing a uniform that looked like a nursery student, crying. Still, he tried not to mind it and sat at the bench trying to ignore the kid but his guilt brought him to his feet and approached the kid.
"Are you lost?" Asked Fujima.
The kid crying looked at him and nodded.
"Who were you with?"
"My mama told me not to talk to strangers."
"Well, how can I help you if you won't talk to me? May I see your ID at least?"
The kid showed Fujima his ID. The kid is slowly started to try and stop his crying.
"I see, so he's a nursery student. This nursery school is not too far away from here. Just a few blocks away. Guess I'll take him there." Fujima thought to himself.
Awkwardly, Fujima reached out his hand but the kid just looked at him as if disgusted.
"What?" Asked Fujima.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm taking you back to your school. Won't you need to hold my hand for that?"
"I can walk just fine. You're weird. So you're not suspicious."
Fujima felt insulted but he can't just go and be mad at a nursery kid. So Fujima just asked the kid to follow him.
The two walked as silence accompanied them. Fujima was never the talkative type so he couldn't possibly initiate an entertaining conversation to anyone let alone a nursery kid.
"Are you a high school student onii-chan?"
"Yeah. I'm amazed you can tell."
"Well, you look too young to be an adult and too old to be a middle school student. Then why are you ditching school?"
That question struck a nerve as Fujima remembered his archnemesis in school named Mio.
"I'm sick."
"You don't look like you are."
"I am."
They reached the kid's school and a woman in his late twenties who looked like the teacher of the kid was standing at the front gate holding a phone, panicking. As soon as the woman saw them, she looked relieved.
"Where have you been, Shintaro?"
"I'm sorry sensei."
"As long as you're safe. Come inside, your parents are worried."
The teacher faced Fujima and took both of his hands. "Thank you so much!" Said the teacher before going back inside with the kid. Shintaro then waved at Fujima one last time and shouted "Thank you onii-chan. Don't ditch classes again!"
"I swear, I really can't handle kids."