Chapter 11 part 2

Song for a Stranger

The concert had not yet 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 Industries fault! They took everything from us!”

As they put her inside the vehicle, she shrieked, “They ruined my life!”

Felix’s 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 his cheek.

“So, you fucked up big time, huh?”

Feeling a twinge of shame in his heart, he replied, “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, and Felix was left all alone. He gazed at his hand, and was unable to stop himself from grinning, “It worked… It finally worked.” He muttered excitedly to himself and tightly clutched his own fist.

He then glanced up and realized that Natsumi was walking up to him, “Was that the friend you spoke so fondly of? Something about her just felt… off.”

Silent, Felix noticed the small patch of bandage on her chest and looked at her with a sullen expression.

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

“You shouldn’t be here right now.”

She turned her head towards the streets where several shining lights were, and asked, “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?”” She said in a well-informed manner.

“You read those documents too?” Felix lamented, recollecting the moment where he stood in front of a crowd. He stood on the stage, overwhelmed by the several executives and militia staring daggers at him.

The bright flashes of light, one by one felt like an explosive to him, leaving him stunned.

Young Felix opened his lips and spoke softly, “I have no idea what’s going on.”

Felix recoiled from the memory.

Natsumi then answered his question, “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.

When they returned 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. She then let out a violent coughing fit. She looked at her palm and saw blood dripping down her fingers.

She then recollected the doctor’s words to her as she sat on the operations table, “It’s true that the bullet didn’t go through you, but the impact shattered two of your ribs, and ruptured your lungs. It will take a long time for it to heal.”

Her eyes narrowed with frustration, but her call suddenly connected, and she placed her phone on her ear, “Hello, papa? Yes, I’m still alive… I’m sorry for worrying you like that, but I’m convinced.”

She then covered her mouth as she coughed, “We could use more people like him. Tell the Director he has our support.”

*

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—”