The Proximation of Hello and Goodbye

23

Most of the people he passes in the hallway seem to avert their gaze, not wanting to upset him, as he's already giving off frustrated sentiments. He walks into his office to see that Ichika is already sitting in front of his desk. Also waiting for him is a stack of reports and paperwork that he has to get through before morning. At least it's smaller than it used to be. He must've really gotten through to Riku.

Good .

He takes his seat and pulls out a pen from the top drawer of his desk. "Is there anything else I should know before calling Haru?" he inquires.

"I don't believe so."

"Alright. You're dismissed for now. I'll send for you when I need you again. Make sure to get those samples from the lab and have them sent up here before lunch. I have some things to take care of before the day is done, and I can't get it done without those samples."

"Yes sir."

His eyes watch as the woman leaves his office and closes the door behind her. He waits a moment longer before reaching for the phone that rests at his right hand and lifting it to make a call. He's not sure that Haru even waited for the phone to ring before answering the phone. He must've been watching and waiting, as he had been instructed to. "Good morning, Haru. I hear that you were able to get your hands on two of the people I needed to get a hold of. How'd you manage to pull that off?" Shinobu starts.

Haru's voice is quiet as if he's trying to avoid being overheard. "Well, the first target, Izuku had left town to go to Musutafu. I caught him while he was on the bus into town and conversed with him for some of the ride. That's when he'd told me that he was going to visit his mom. Initially, I was just going to lay low and keep tabs on him until I felt like the time was right, but after finding that out, it just seemed as though there wouldn't be a better opportunity. I caught them as they were leaving her apartment in the early morning a day or so ago."

"Good to hear that someone takes some initiative and pays attention around here," he drawls. "So, what of them now? Where do you have them?"

"Well, that's the funny part," Haru starts. "We're out getting some breakfast, right now."

"And why is that?"

"No reason, in particular. It just felt like too much to just up and go with them. That, and I'm trying to think of something to deter his friends from being too suspicious about him just disappearing. They've all called numerous times, so I doubt they'll let him go easily. A few have even called his mother."

Shinobu rests the phone between his ear and the shoulder, reaching for the top file on his stack of paperwork to look through. "Why does that matter? It's not as though they won't end up here as well. You are aware that you were supposed to get those two before you got him, aren't you?"

"Well, yes sir, but I thought you sent some lower-level people after them?" he asks. "I guess that isn't the point. The point is that it isn't just Ena and Akasuki trying to get to him, it's a couple of other people as well."

"Oh? Such as?"

He can hear the sound of a door opening and closing, and the abrupt sound of wind rushing against the microphone of the phone for a moment before he hears Haru's voice again. "Well, for one there's someone on his phone under the name 'Kacchan' and there's someone else named 'Enmei'."

Shinobu swears that he can feel his body temperature drop in an instant. The blood in his veins feels similar to what he'd imagine having ice run through them would be like. Why do those names sound so familiar? "Give me a moment," he answers. He sets the phone down on his desk and makes his way across the room to the door, opening it slightly. He can see Ichika typing away at her desk, not far from the door. "Ichika," he beckons. "I need you to get a few reports from the archives for me. Specifically, anything on Ms. Miyamoto and the attempt made to capture her. I need those immediately. Make it a priority."