Chapter 11

Song for a Stranger

After watching Felix slam into the brightly lit sign, the sniper ran into the building.

Felix picked himself back up and saw that he was left with nothing more than the rifle that had been used to shoot him with. In a fit of rage, he lifted up the giant character and slammed it against the concrete roof. Alabaster sparks sprayed out behind him.

As his breathing calmed, he pulled out his gun and entered the building.

Walking, he kept to the walls of the corridors. There was only the sound of his gentle steps as he opened each room on the floor one by one.

When he reached for the knob of the room, he heard a faint metallic click. Bullets suddenly fired off through the door from the closed room behind him. Felix pressed his back against the wall beside the door, his shocked expression was hidden behind a pale white mask, and his arm extended forward.

The door suddenly slammed open, and his target had sprinted away.

Before he could chase after him, he noticed a small metal cylinder clink under from his foot.

He looked down and saw it spray out a thick, pale gas that quickly spread. Felix hurriedly kicked it to the other side of the corridor, then quickly made his way through the gas, and though he had already inhaled some of it already, he was still able to move his body.

Felix let out harsh coughs.

He crouched down with both his palms on the ground and he looked forward with a focused glare. Like a cat on all four limbs and bolted, chasing his target and found himself at an empty hall.

He passed through the hall in a moment’s breath, leaving behind a blue line and causing the gas to disperse around him. Every door through it opened with a loud boom.

Felix stopped and stood at the end of the hall and walked slowly by each of them. His head turns to heard a rustle come from a room in front of him.

He stopped and cautiously entered a wide, dimly lit apartment, with violet, velvet floors and flickering lights. The glow in his eyes left a ghostly trail through the dark room with every step while his target waited from above.

He turned his head to every corner of the room, then kneeled down to look under tables and the sofa. With the slightest creak, his target dropped from the ceiling.

Felix rolled out of the way on the velvet floor and caught the combat knife between his target’s arms, kicking him away.

With quick, successive slashes, his target closed the distance between them, and the two found themselves in a struggle too close for comfort. With their arms clutching against each other, the target pulled back his head and struck it against his enemy.

Felix stepped back, disoriented. He pulled out his gun as his target made a break for the door, but before he could aim, he noticed a small round object rapidly blinking below his feet.

His eyes widen and runs for cover, the bomb quickly turning into a bright fiery explosion.

The window wall shattered, the various cracks forming from the bomb.

Felix convulsed as a stream of blue electricity began to move around his body. But he forced himself to get back up.

“I… have to…” He grumbled out as blood poured from his head and nose.

As he got up, his target was carried back into the door.

“Fwhat vhe fuck!” His target cried out, his voice, muffled by the sleeved hand that lifted him up by the mouth.

Felix’s eyes sharpened with anticipation as his target rose up higher from the floor, to the point where his feet could no longer reach the floor. As he was pulled up, he was quickly brought back down, his head quickly slammed to the ground.

A deep, hoarse voice spoke, praising Felix’s efforts, “Well done, Felix.”

A man stepped forward slightly from the doorway, his face still hidden in the shadows, yet his eyes shined with an orange, ember glow. His silhouette stood a clear foot taller than Felix, with a well-built physique that showed even through the black tuxedo he wore.

Felix pulled out his gun and fired without hesitation towards the silhouette by the door. But each bullet had no impact as it reached the shadows, having no effect on the man.

He kept firing up until there was nothing but a hollow click.

The man reached his right hand out from the darkness, revealing a metal fist. And as he opened his palm, the bullets all clattered to the floor.

Felix discarded the gun and pulled out the other one, and with it blasted waves of energy.

With his right arm forward still forward, the man withstood the full brunt of Felix’s relentless barrage as its blasts tore away the sleeves of his arms, “Are you really going to waste all of your weapon’s energy on me?”

A tall man walked forward into the moonlight, with pale orange hair and a chiseled jawline. On his face was a horizontal scar that ran across the bridge of his nose.

The most striking aspect of this man was revealed — While his left arm, which carried a tied-up man, was clearly flesh and bone, the other was composed of wires and circuitry encased in a chrome shell that shined in the moonlight and wrapped in a torn sleeve from Felix’s barrage.

His sharp eyes radiated with a burning, fiery glow that contrasted Felix’s eerie cold azure light.

“Just come out already.” Felix put his pale white mask to the side, showing his rage, “David.”

“You know it’s customary to refer to me as Black Hound during missions, right?”

“And yet you called me by my name.” He said as his body continued to let out blue sparks.

“It’s not like you have anything to hide. You don’t exactly have a double life, Blue Phantom.”

“Why are you here?”

“Would you like some pie?”

“No, I don’t want any apple pie.” Felix sighed.

David frowned and replied, “I was in the area and heard your voice, and thought I’d provide assistance.”

“You intercepted our communications and interfered with my mission.”

“I got rid of a drone that almost killed you and caught one of the assassins. You’re welcome.” He responded as he dropped the man that was over his shoulder.

“H-hngg…” The tied-up man groaned.

“Who’s that?” Felix asked.

“He was the one you saw on the rooftop running away. The man you almost had. But your vision narrowed in on your target, and failed to see the full picture, that’s why you slammed into the billboard.” David scolded Felix as he put down the tied-up man in his arms.

Felix walked up to him and pulled the man’s mask off.

“What the…Asahi?”

“H-Huh? Haruki…” the tanned bodyguard said before he took in a deep, calming breath, “I’m not surprised. The heiress’ personal bodyguard.”

“I see… so then, you’re with the Jackal.”

“I… he forced me to do it.” Asahi admitted with desperate eyes.

“When was it? How?”

“I’ll tell you later... Right now, you need to go back.”

“What?”

“Jackal told me that if I failed, he’ll kill the people I love and showed me pictures of her… So please… save Ayame. Please… save her, bro.” He said with one last breath before losing consciousness.

Felix’s expression turned to worry, “…I will, bro...”

“What did he...?” Felix mumbled out as he put his hand on his chin.

“Do you really think they hired only two assassins?” Asked David.

“Then this was…” His expression became anxious as he turned his focus back to the stadium, looking through the shattered window. “…a distraction?”

“He was stalling for time, and you’re in no condition to continue. I’ll take it from—”

Disregarding David, he quickly pressed on his earpiece to the other agents; “Robin’s one, two— Arghk!” An intense static noise surged through the wire.

“I wouldn’t recommend doing that while you’re near me.” The man pointed out as he raised his glowing, mechanical arm.

“That damn arm of yours... tsk, I’ll leave them to you.” Felix snarled.

“Before you go. I’ve heard that your power has finally awakened, have you learned how to control your power yet?”

Felix glanced over to the tall man with a distraught expression.

“The power, the haze, the aura. You’ve taken one step forward, but I can see that you’re still using it instinctively.” David explained. “Like the robins said, you should be able to block ten, twenty, thirty, even dozens of bullets. But you don’t know how to. I will have to train you, Felix.”

“No… you won’t.” Felix ran out of the room.

Left there with the two unconscious bodies, David sat down on the table in the wide room and opened up a small pastry box.

“Bollocks, huh? He really is becoming more and more like Luna…” Alone, David Soldier muttered to himself before taking a bite from his apple pie as he read Felix’s file on a holographic projection from his metal arm.

In the darkness, he sat and thought “Both of his eyes finally glow now… but his hair’s still black.”

Though the cold wind pushed against Felix, his face began to sweat as he glided through the buildings once again, headed to return to the stadium with one of the suspects in his arms.

As he rushed to get back to the stadium, a voice suddenly came through the earpiece; “Boss, you there?”

“Three, status report?” Felix asked with anxiety behind his voice.

“The performance is halfway through. Nothing to report.”

“Keep vigilant.” He instructed as he landed on the next roof, his eyes widening as his body stuttered over and fell to the dry concrete rooftop.

All of those people… but who could possibly?

His thoughts had turned into a frantic mess as he remembered the sight of the crowd.

“Boss? Are you okay?” Asked one of the robins.

“I…” He responded.

‘The smoke’ Felix thought as he pushed himself back up. ‘It still taking effect?’

“It’s nothing… I might take a while to get back.” He replied.

“Understood.”

Felix ran out and fired his grappling hook once again, but as he was on his way back to the stadium, his grappling hook snapped.

“Aghk!” He yelled as he plopped straight down on bags of garbage between the alley.

Bruised and burned and battered, he limped onward to the streets and hid his mask into the back of his coat, and raised his hand for a taxi.

“Stadium, floor it.” He said to the driver in labored breathing.

“Aye, sir.” The driver replied and drove at a high speed, cruising through the traffic.

Felix’s eyes furrowed as he screamed internally, “Why does this driver speak English?!” Was added to his already cluttered thoughts.

“Robins, report.”

“Nothing so far, sir.”

“Tch.” He clicked his tongue in response.

“Did something happen on your end?”

“They had a back-up plan. Guard the heiress.”

“Guard the— sir, robins are non-combatants.”

“I know, I just… keep me updated and watch over her, okay?”

“Roger that. It looks like she’s about to dedicate a song just for you.”

“Right. I’m almost there.”

A figure sat backstage. It was a woman with black hair and glasses, loading a pistol with gloved hands. As she did, there was a sudden knock on the door before it was opened. A young woman with peach hair with a red pin on her chest, a red bird crossed out with an x. It was the third robin.

“Huh?” The figure muttered out as a sweat dripped on their face.

“Hello, I’m sorry to disturb you, but—” Said the third robin.

“Please leave immediately.”

“I would, but I’m kind of lost and don’t know where the bathroom is…”

“It’s not here. Now get out before I call security.” The figure grew increasingly irritated and threatened the robin.

“What’s that?” Asked the robin as she eyed down what the black-haired woman tried to hide.

“It’s—”

“A pistol…” The robin pressed into her earpiece and spoke, “Boss, I’m in the backstage, I think I found their “back-up plan”“

“What?” The woman replied.

“So glad I bought backstage passes.” The robin jested to herself, dreading for what’s to come.

When the song had ended, the Starry Sweethearts had taken a bow, and left the stage. Cheers ran wild, voices of excitement rang loud. Felix sat and shook his leg as he was stuck in traffic, while the stadium stood straight ahead of him. He gave the driver his black card, and waited for it to be returned.

As he ran out to the back of the stadium, the guards stopped him from entering.

“Hey you, stop!” The guards yelled out in Japanese.

Felix, who was struggling to stand, showed his ID.

“Please wait here while we get this verified.” The guard requested as he walked into the building, pinching his nose.

“I can’t wait!” Felix growled as he knocked one of the guards out of the way. One by one, he fired his energy gun at them, knocking them all down.

As the small-time pop idol group returned to the backstage, they were shocked to see their financial manager in a tussle with an unknown woman on the ground, scrambling for the gun on the ground.

Felix rushed to the backstage despite his exhaustion, taking out one guard after the other until his energy gun had nothing left to shoot out.

As the two struggled, the idol group all took a step back in fright, except for Natsumi.

“Miss Yoko?” Natsumi asked.

“H-help me!”

“No, wait—!” The third robin answered.

Natsumi rushed to her manager’s aid and pulled away the unknown woman.

“I’m with the Blue Phantom! Wait, she’s—!”

“Blue—?”

The gun was suddenly aimed at her, her eyes widened, only to get pushed out of the way by the woman whom she had hindered.

Felix, who had just made it to the door, watched one of the assistants he had just hired fall to the ground. Robin Three had been shot.

A puddle of blood formed around her.

Yoko aimed once more, this time, at the heiress for sure. Out of bullets in one gun and out of energy in the other, Felix could do nothing but reach out his arm and shout, “NO!”

The gun had fired once again. A loud ring echoed.

“Huh?” Natsumi turned her head downwards, taking notice of the red mark that stained her white dress. “Black… Cat?”

The young pop idol, Natsumi Sakurai, took a step back before her legs began to slip down onto the floor.

Natsumi’s face was a mix of intense shock and fear, her eyes locked. Gazing at the bullet on her chest, enveloped by an eerie blue haze floating above her, halted mid-air.

Felix’s anxiousness gradually began to shift, his face became hollow with shock as he looked at his hand.

The blue glow that emanated from both the bullet and Felix’s stretched out hand began to dissipate. As the light that held the bullet in place dimmed and died, it dropped and clattered on the floor, letting out a soft, metallic chime before falling into an unsettling silence.

*

The concert had not finished, but the young pop idol was rushed to the hospital. Felix watched with a hollow expression as two operatives dragged Yoko into a black vehicle.

“Get your hands off me!” She cried out in frustration, letting out a pained sob, “This is all Obsidian’s fault! They took everything from us! They ruined my life!”

His phone as it suddenly buzzed, and as he picked it up, a holographic screen popped out and a familiar face was projected.

“…So, how was the concert?” Maria asked.

“I, um… Other operatives from Obsidian should be handling the mess right now. I guess you were right, I really do suck as a bodyguard.” Felix scratched

“So, you fucked up big time, huh?”

“She got hurt under my watch, so kinda...”

“If it makes you feel any better, I almost died when you were supposed to be bodyguarding me.” She giggled to herself.

Felix laughed dejectedly, “It really doesn’t.”

“I just wanted to check up on you. By the way, I’m going to go there to pick you up tomorrow.”

“Eh?”

“I also wanted to visit Japan and get myself some sushi.” She chimed.

“Well then, tell me when you get here. I’ll just escort her to the hospital one last time.”

“Right.”

The transmission went off as soon as Natsumi walked close, “Was that the friend you spoke so fondly of? Something about her just felt… off.”

Silent, Felix looked up at her with a sullen expression.

“Hm What? Why the long face?” She asked.

“You shouldn’t be here right now.”

“I was thinking, how about we go out tonight, too?”

“You should be getting treated.” Felix stood up.

“It just finished, the doctors said the wound isn’t even a centimeter deep. I’ll be fine.”

“Then I suggest just resting for the night, you’ve had a busy day, so…”

She tugged on his sleeve with her head lowered, “…Today was a good day, I’m sure it will continue being a good day.”

Felix’s hollow expression softened to a worried smile, “All right.”

The two walked through an empty path, no vehicles in sight, where the only noise was the fading buzz of the street lamps and the distant horns of cars. As they walked in the dark of night, the girl gestured at a small empty stall at the corner of the road, shining with a golden, warm, welcoming glow.

The young pop idol sat and looked through the menu.

”Hmm, one jumbo parfait please! What about you?”

“I’ll just have a coffee.”

“Nuh-uh. Wrong answer. Not available. Order something else.” She replied while mimicking a buzz sound.

“Ah, mhm. I guess I’ll have a… ramen.”

As the bowl was placed in front of him, Felix ate it the way it was. Natsumi glanced at his direction and asked; “Really?”

With both eyebrows curled, Felix answers with another curious question, “What?”

Natsumi chuckled, “Well, if you’re gonna have ramen, at least try it my way.”

Felix’s lips curled downward with an awkward expression. His eyebrows lowered as she prepared his bowl for him. As he took a slurp from the bowl, Natsumi quickly asked, “Speak thy thoughts, how is it?”

“It’s um… nice.”

“It should be. So…about earlier.” She spoke softly as she placed the bowl in front of him.

As Felix feasted on the ramen, he glances over to the pop idol gazing on him, asking “What?”

“You know, I’m surprised that Ayame had it in her. Slamming a folding chair against the manager. She was crying about it, too.” She giggled.

“Ah… yeah, that caught me by surprise, too.”

“This was… an eventful night. I can’t imagine how it went for you.”

“At the very least I wasn’t on stage performing in front of a thousand people. When I was in front of a crowd, I froze.”

“Heh… was it the one eight years ago where you said “I have no idea what’s going on?”“

“You read those documents too?” Felix lamented.

“I watched a video.”

“Is there anything that escapes you?”

“Who knows, but I always dig as deep as I can. So, the thing with the bullet.” She asked gently, uncertain how to go about it. “So it’s the real deal… that’s the power of an esper.”

“I don’t even know what that word means…”

“Uh-huh. Anyhow, since you missed my performance, you owe me something else.”

“Ah, is that right?” Felix shot out sharply.

“To pay me back, accompany me around the town. We finish our date last night.” She smiled brightly.

The two traveled around the city. Through the night, the bright lights, and the beautiful sights, stopped only to greet the fans who recognized Natsumi under her thick, loose, black hoodie. As they return to the penthouse suite, Natsumi walks inside with an exhausted smile.

Felix sat on the counter with a calm, solemn look on his face.

“Did you have fun?” She asked with an enthusiastic sigh.

The corners of his lips subtly rise, as his face lets out a gentle smile, “…Yeah. How’s the wound?” Felix asks, clutching his own arm.

“It’s fine now. They said I should come back tomorrow for a check-up, though. Still… to think that Yoko-san…I didn’t... I really did feel safe thanks to you.”

“Well, I am the Golden Lion Agency’s best.” Felix turned his head, hiding his smirk.

“Wasn’t the best the ‘Golden Lion’ herself?”

“What was that?” Felix asked sharply in an unamused tone, glaring at her.

“I mean, that’s what the robins s— w-well, the robin’s may have... been wrong. Thank you for tonight, I’m glad you were my bodyguard.”

His expression softens, letting out a gentle smile, “I’m glad you were safe, and I’m sorry I wasn’t able to protect you properly.”

“Pfft…What’s with that genuine kind smile, it really doesn’t suit you at all.” As she chuckled, Felix scratched his cheek, bashfully looking away.

“Since the night is young, and since you weren’t able to watch my concert, I guess maybe I should sing for you.” She grabbed his arm and dragged him to the couch.

“I think you should go get some rest.”

“I didn’t stay up all night last night because my gacha roll sucked.” She said as she set up sheets of papers.

She stood before him illuminated against the moonlight as she began to let out her soft voice. Her singing reverberated around the walls of the room. It was a gentle, yet unrefined tune that blended well with her cutesy, high-pitched voice. Felix, though, unacquainted with music, listened intently.

As she finished singing, she sat on the chair on the other side and asked with a cheery yet tired smile, “So, speak your mind, what do you think?”

“It was great.” Felix scratched his cheek.

She pouted while holding back a restless yawn, “Sounds disingenuous.”

“It was amazing, I just don’t know how to put it. Sorry, but like I said, I really only know a little about piano music.”

“Well then, I’m glad. I’ll try to fully get you into songs one day...” She yawned in between.

“It’s weird how you would even write a song about me, we just met last night.”

“It’s not very often that I meet people who I could fully trust.”

“We literally just met last night.”

“My idol senses were tingling! But… after tonight. I guess I have to reevaluate my personal biases. But to be truthful, it’s been something I wanted to do for a while.” The volume of her voice weakened, and her eyelids began to feel heavy.

“Sing for a stranger?” He asked nonchalantly.

“Write a song for someone I could believe in. You did stop… a bullet for… me.” Her words slowed down as she began to doze.

Natsumi let out one more warm smile as she finally fell asleep.

Felix’s cheek turned rosy as he scratched it, before replying, “Really, you should take care of yourself, especially after tonight.”

The night passed, and the Sun’s light began to peer through the spaces between the buildings over the horizon. The next day came with a warm new morning. Felix stood in front of two women in front of the hospital as they all conversed.

“Sir.” The two women spoke.

“You all did well, I’ll be sure to have you properly compensated. As for Robin three, Hotaru Nishino—”

“I’m sorry about her behavior, it’s just that the request came out of the blue, and she hasn’t been working recently.”

“Her actions were brave and commendable. I’ll be sure to put the word in for her for a bonus.” Felix praised her with a sad smile, as if to apologize.

The two smiled at each other, and one of them spoke jokingly, “She wanted to make the Blue Phantom proud, after all.”

“I just hope that she—” He looked up to one of the windows.

“She’ll be alright. She’s strong, that one.”

“Right. By the way, give this to her. Tell her it was from me?”

“Chips?”

“But she hates this brand.”

“O-oh…” Felix mumbled out.

“But I’m sure she’ll appreciate it regardless.”

“You are dismissed, thank you for your efforts.”

“Yes sir. It was an honor working with you, sir.” They said with a slight bow and promptly left.

Natsumi walked out from the hospital doors in a hospital gown, “Look at you, being all friendly with the robins.”

“We’re not friends. We’re strictly employer and employee.”

“Is that so? Well, you sure are a nice employer.”

“I was always taught that if I treated my tools well, they would work well.” Felix replied mechanically, with an eerie empty smile plastered on his face.

“I see, so that’s how it is. We are friends, right?”

Felix smirked slightly, “Depends if you hire me again.”

“I see, well, maybe I’ll pull on some strings and make you mine. Maybe Natsumi Aster wouldn’t sound so bad.” She playfully teased with a snicker.

“Put a few years on you first, cheeky brat.” He responded in a grumpy and ice-cold tone.

Natsumi pouted at his response, “I guess I should do more research on you to pull you out of your siscon syndrome.”

“I don’t know what that means but there shouldn’t be any record of me available…”

“Don’t ever underestimate an idol!”

“I—” His expression softened, and he stopped before he could scold her. “I see… So that’s how seriously you’re taking this. Then, make sure you do your part when you’re finally the CEO, understand? You gotta learn how to get information from people without the idol bit, someday.”

With a focused gaze and a bright smile, she answered earnestly, “Of course!”

Without a hint of cheekiness to her, she expressed to him her determination. Felix smiled back.

“You gave me one more reason to become the head of Obsidian someday. I saw that people like you are necessary, so that more people will be saved. More people who could protect the peace.”

She said as the bullet that nearly pierced her dangled on her chest on a necklace.

“Besides, I don’t want corrupt people to take over papa’s company.”

“Right.”

The two waved to each other one more time, and as she entered the hospital building, she flashed out one last bright smile before she left Felix’s sight.

As Felix left hers, however, she pulled out her phone and dialed a number. “Hello, papa? Yes, I’m alright… I’m convinced, tell the Director he has our support. We could use more people like him.”

**

The two agents made it back to Golden Lion Agency, they were once again dragged back into the chief’s office.

“Job well done. Though it could have been better, we’ve proven ourselves to Obsidian. Our funding will undeniably increase.”

“I definitely could’ve done better…” Felix clenched his hand.

“Well, their concert is postponed, but the main threat has been eliminated. So be content with that, Felix.” The chief patted his shoulder.

“I think he’s worried about the heiress getting shot.” Maria replied as she stuffed her mouth with sushi.

“Oh, speaking of, she’s already made the news.”

The chief pressed on the remote, and from the top corner of the room, the voice could be heard from the television, “Numerous eyewitness reports claim to have seen a strange yellow light rise to the sky before the building began crashing down.”

“What’s that about?” Felix stared and sipped from his coffee.

Maria tilted her head as she asked, “Weird… has there always been a tv here?”

“The pop star, Yumiko Sakurazawa, who has been hospitalized after a backstage assault, has recently announced her retirement from the idol group. Whether this is temporary or permanent has yet to be disclosed.” Announced the reporter on the screen.

“Retire?” Felix stammered in disbelief.

The chief took a drag from the cigarette between her fingers as she repeated, “She’s alive, so be content with that.”

Felix sighed, his expression a mix of disappointment yet acceptance as he watched Natsumi’s smile through the television screen, but as he buried his face into his palm, his eyes widened.

“Hey, Chief, I think I need to talk to Professor Tetsuya.”

“I see… Granted. I’ll try to make that happen soon. For now, let’s start with your next mission—”