Sakamoto days : The Heinous Flower

Chapter 7

A Month Later

For the past month, nothing interesting had happened—just the usual boring lessons that felt like a complete waste of time. I couldn't help but wonder if any of this would actually matter in my future. Hidden steps? Pointless. Controlling my aura, or what the others called "killing intent"? Even worse. The only thing I'd mastered was the art of looking handsome while sleeping.

The instructors droned on about techniques and philosophies, but most of it felt like fluff. Sure, a few of the students were excited, eagerly practicing every word they were taught, but me? I just coasted by. If I needed to fight, I'd fight. If I needed to win, I'd win. No amount of lectures or drills was going to change that.

Rion didn't make it any better. She kept pestering me during breaks, throwing insults or challenges my way like it was a sport. In short, she was good at being a filthy bitch. As for Sakamoto? Well, he was still the quiet Sakamoto—eating his way through the academy's vending machines and cafeteria like it was a personal mission. Sometimes, I wondered how he wasn't fat. It defied all logic.

Despite their quirks, I couldn't entirely avoid them. Whether it was fate or just bad luck, they seemed to cross my path every single day. Rion, with her endless sarcasm, and Sakamoto, with his silent glances that somehow managed to judge me without a word. It was exhausting

Still, part of me wondered if this place had more to offer—or if I'd just wasted a month of my life. And then, on an otherwise ordinary afternoon, something finally happened that caught my attention.

__________________

Ring, ring, ring, ring.

The obnoxious sound of an alarm jolted me awake. Disoriented, I rolled over and promptly fell out of my bunk bed.

Thud.

"Ahhh ~" I groaned, sitting up and rubbing my side as the alarm continued to blare. It wasn't my clock—it was Rion's, sitting on her side of the bed.

'Augh, my ass hurts,' I muttered, rubbing my sore cheeks as I stumbled to my feet. "Oi, bitch, what did you—"

The words died in my throat as Rion emerged from her bunk. My mouth opened involuntarily, not because she was naked or anything—no, that'd be too normal. It was because she was wearing a flip-flop.

Not just any flip-flop.

I swear it was made from the skin of my own butt cheeks.

"Did you skin me while I was sleeping?!" I demanded, bracing myself for the worst.

Rion blinked at me, then scowled. "What? Ew, no. I bought this online for a thousand yen. Looks pretty good, right?"

"Oh... haha." I scratched my head in embarrassment, realizing how stupid I sounded. 'Idiot, it stings because you fell on it.'

_______

"Alright, everyone!" Satoda said, clapping her hands, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm. "Today, you'll show us how much you've really learned by taking on a real mission! Wahoo!"

The room went still for a moment before one of the students spoke up, hesitating. "Eh? But I still haven't mastered my killing intent…"

" i don't even know how to use a gun "

" I'm a cripple "

Satoda's clap rang through the room, but the student's words still hung in the air. I found my attention shifting back to her. A real mission? What kind of bullshit is thi- I really want to break free from the usual routine, but... I'm not ready.

"What's up, Sumi? What're you thinking?" Rion leaned in over my desk, her voice cutting through my thoughts.

I shot her a quick glance. Of course, she'd be all up in my space now. "Why should I share my thoughts with you?"

Rion blinked, her smirk faltering for a second. "Ah jeez, what a wet blanket," she muttered, her cheeks flushing slightly as she leaned back.

"Are you scared?" came a voice from behind me.

I turned, my eyes landing on Sakamoto, who sat there with his usual deadpan expression, a half-eaten rice ball in one hand.

"Scared?" I scoffed, leaning back in my chair. "Of what? Killing a random civilian ? Hah please ."

Rion snorted, crossing her arms as she leaned against the desk. "You sure? You look like you're about to piss yourself."

"Speaking of piss atleast i flush the toilet unlike you" I shot back.

Her smirk twisted into a glare. "Excuse me?! Are you seriously bringing that up right now?"

"Just stating facts," I said, shrugging nonchalantly. "Some of us have standards."

Rion slammed her hand on the desk, leaning in closer. "You're such a child! What's next, you gonna tell everyone I leave the cap off the toothpaste too?"

"You dont even brush your teeth," I replied, deadpan.

Sakamoto, still munching on his rice ball, shook his head. "You two argue like an old married couple."

"Shut up!" She yelled at him whipping around to glare at him.

He raised his hands in mock surrender, a faint smirk on his face.

Satoda clapped her hands again, silencing the room. "Alright, enough with the domestic disputes! Focus, everyone. You'll be assigned missions based on your skills and abilities. This isn't a free-for-all, so don't worry about being thrown into something you can't handle."

A collective murmur swept through the room, half-relieved and half-anxious.

Rion leaned toward me, whispering with a smirk, "Bet you'll get something easy, like babysitting."

"Better than assigning to a brothel which is probably where you'll end up," I shot back.

Rion's smirk vanished, replaced by a scowl. "Excuse me?! What did you just say?"

I shrugged,

Before she could launch into a tirade, Satoda's sharp voice rang out, silencing us both. "Kasumi, Rion, Sakamoto—you're up first. Report to the briefing room immediately!"

I blinked, caught off guard. "Wait, all three of us? Together?"

Rion groaned, running a hand through her hair. "Oh, great. My day just keeps getting better."

Sakamoto, still chewing his rice ball, raised an eyebrow. "At least we've got a higher chance of surviving. If they stuck all of us on the same mission, it means we're probably up against someone strong."

Rion glared at him. "Wow, thanks for the optimism. Really boosting morale here."

Sakamoto shrugged, unfazed. "Just being honest. They wouldn't pair us together for something small. This mission's serious."

I sighed, shoving my hands in my pockets. "Or they think we're expendable. Ever consider that?"

Rion groaned louder this time, clearly fed up. "Can you stop being a pussy ? I don't need your doom-and-gloom right now."

"Enough," Satoda cut in, her sharp tone silencing us. She pointed toward the hallway. "The briefing room is two doors down. Save the drama until after you hear the mission details."

_________

"So, let me get this straight," I said, leaning back in my chair and narrowing my eyes. "You want to send us to kill two guys—one goes by the name Natto, and the other Edward Wu—both of whom have entire syndicates under their control?"

The vice president, sitting across from us with an unsettlingly calm expression, nodded. "Yes. According to intel from a former member of their organization, both will be meeting today. The chances of eliminating them are significantly higher if we act now."

Rion raised an eyebrow, her arms crossed. "And by 'we,' you mean us? A bunch of students who've barely had any field training?"

Sakamoto, surprisingly quiet up until now, finally spoke, his tone flat. "Sounds more like a suicide mission than a training exercise."

The vice president sighed, adjusting his glasses. "I understand your concerns, but this isn't just about training. You've been selected because of your unique...potential. Success in this mission would solidify your standing within the academy and prove that our investment in you was worthwhile."

I let out a dry laugh, shaking my head. "Oh, so we're just a mere investments now? Fantastic."

Rion leaned forward, glaring at the vice president. "You seriously think we can just waltz in, kill two big shots, and walk out alive?"

The vice president's gaze hardened. "You're not children anymore. This is the reality of your path. If you're not prepared to handle it, then perhaps you're in the wrong place."

The room fell silent, tension hanging thick in the air.

"Fine," I muttered, standing up. "Let's just get this over with."

Rion and Sakamoto exchanged uneasy glances but eventually stood as well. Whatever doubts we had, there was no turning back now.

Knock, knock, knock.

"Ah, before you go, I've got one more team member for you," the vice president announced, his tone deceptively casual. "Come in."

The door creaked open, and a familiar voice followed. "Oh… Excuse me—" The person paused mid-sentence, and then a grin spread across his face. "Yo, long time no see."

I widned my eyes. "Nagumo?!"

didn't he apply for the spies department ?