𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐬

file 036 | intentionally causing problems

Beep.

"Hey, what's going on?"

Suzume's eyes widened. "Vodka?"

"You're there, aren't you?"

Hiro glanced at Suzume, pulling a voice changer from his pocket. "You or me?"

"Don't care. We'll have to pick up anyway." She sighed. "They might have been watching the villa without him being aware."

"Makes sense. They probably weren't thinking that he would receive their mail in a place as unsafe as this," he said.

"Hey, answer me. I know you're at that villa. Hurry up and answer me, Itakura-san. Hey. What's going on? Can't you hear me? Hey!"

Unable to take much more of an unnecessary standoff, Suzume grabbed the phone and tossed it to Hiro, who caught it easily as he let her adjust the voice changer to Itakura's voice.

"Oh, sorry. It's so dark in here that I was having trouble picking up the phone," Hiro lied effortlessly. "It seems that the electrical circuit went out because of the blizzard, so I couldn't open the mail."

Vodka chuckled patronizingly. "That's what you get for trying to receive mail in a mountain villa like that. Hey, wait a minute. How come your answer phone's working despite the blackout?"

Suzume signed at him and he nodded. "Blackouts are frequent in this area because of how much it snows," he excused. "That's why I'm using a phone equipped with a built-in battery."

"I see."

"It's amazing you found out I was here," Hiro continued, signing at her to turn on the lights.

Vodka laughed. "We know all about you."

"Don't tell me you were keeping watch over the villa," Hiro said as Suzume went to find the light switch.

"We weren't, don't worry. Just as promised, we're nowhere near you. You've finished with that system software in question, I hope."

Suzume found the switch and turned on the lights.

"Is there anyone with you?"

They both froze, wondering if Vodka lied about not having the villa under surveillance.

"Hey, answer me! What was that sound just now?"

Suzume put a hand over her heart as it felt ready to burst out of her chest in fear of getting caught.

Hiro smiled at her reassuringly. "It's the wind," he said. "The sound of the wind tapping on the window."

Vodka hummed. "That's right, it's snowing heavily over there, too."

"So, I can't use the computer. I hate to say this, but could you give me the information directly? The time and place of where I should hand this software over to you."

"Alright, then. I'll say it once, so listen well. You know the station that's under construction called Kenbashi? The fashionable station that's going to be added to the Tohto Subway Line. Tomorrow morning at midnight, come and wait in front of coin locker number 0032 located on the basement floor of the station. Don't forget to bring the system software, got that?"

Suzume waved a hand, making a slashing motion over her neck, an easy sign for no.

"No, tomorrow's a bad day," Hiro said, giving her a look.

"What?"

Suzume signed 'hospital' and he nodded. "I'm going to have to be hospitalized from this evening for a health check," he fibbed. "You know about it, don't you? About my bad heart condition."