Chapter 188: Two Groups, One Mission.

A few hours after planning the surveillance on Stella, the three of them were already in their respective positions.

Ayane was wearing ordinary clothes, nothing that would draw too much attention.

She had chosen a spot from which she could see a good portion of the entrance without being too close.

The event was packed.

Fans filing in, security personnel, production staff, and agency workers.

Everything normal so far.

Ayane checked her phone discreetly, seeing that Reina had reported no suspicious movements and Misaki hadn’t detected anything either.

Ayane watched the entrance.

’So we just have to wait.’

It wasn’t a complicated mission.

For once, she was grateful for that, since after all the recent trouble, something simple wasn’t so bad.

Then she received a message from Misaki.

[We’ve got company.]

Ayane frowned and replied immediately.

[Who?]

The answer came a few seconds later.

[Kurayami.]

Ayane closed her eyes.

’Of course it had to be her.’

She put her phone away.

She looked across the street and searched the crowd.

It didn’t take long to spot the dark blue hair, the clothes far too elegant for a surveillance job, and an attitude Ayane would recognize from any distance.

’Nozomi Kurayami.’

She was standing near a café, apparently looking at her phone.

Ayane clenched her teeth slightly.

’They sent them too?’

It wasn’t a coincidence.

Nozomi had no reason to be there with her entire unit, which meant they had received the same order, or one very much like it.

Ayane opened the chat.

[Don’t do anything.]

Reina’s reply came almost instantly.

[Too late.]

Ayane felt a bad feeling, turned her head, and Reina was no longer in position.

"Reina..."

Ayane started walking.

Meanwhile, near the side of the building, Rina was discreetly watching one of the service exits, or at least trying to.

"Nice hiding spot."

Rina went still, but she didn’t need to turn around to recognize the voice.

"Go away."

Reina appeared behind her with a smile.

"What a cold welcome."

"I’m busy."

"So am I."

"Then do your job."

"I am."

Rina looked at her.

"You’re just annoying me."

"That’s part of the job too."

"It’s not part of any mission."

Reina leaned against the wall.

"Depends on the mission."

Rina tried to ignore her, and Reina looked at the building.

"So..."

Silence.

"You’re following Stella too?"

Rina didn’t answer, and Reina smiled.

"That means yes."

Rina looked at her with clear irritation.

"You don’t know anything."

"Now I know a little more."

"Get lost."

"Why?"

"Because you’re interfering."

Reina pretended to be surprised.

"Who, me?"

"That’s right."

"I would never do something like that."

Rina closed her eyes for a few seconds, and Reina kept talking.

"I thought Nozomi trained you better."

Rina looked at her again.

"Don’t mention her."

"Why?"

"Because you have no right."

Reina smiled wider.

"How loyal."

"More than you."

Reina’s smile faded just a little.

"What did you say?"

Rina turned fully toward her.

"That I’m more loyal to my unit than you are to yours."

Reina let out a small laugh.

"That was adorable."

Rina clenched her fists.

"Say it again."

"That it was adorable."

"You’d better leave."

Reina stepped a little closer.

"Want to start something?"

Rina took a step as well.

"I wouldn’t mind."

While the two of them were completely forgetting about Stella, something similar was happening several floors up.

Misaki was on the rooftop of a nearby building.

She had a small pair of binoculars in one hand and was watching the side entrances until she heard a noise behind her, but she didn’t turn.

"Come out."

There was silence, and Misaki lowered the binoculars.

"I heard you."

A figure appeared from behind a structure, it was Aoi.

"Your hearing’s improved."

"Your stealth’s gotten worse."

Aoi smiled slightly.

"Always so kind."

Misaki turned.

"You’re in my position."

"Funny."

Aoi looked around.

"I was about to say the same thing."

"I got here first."

"That doesn’t mean it’s yours."

Misaki held her gaze, but Aoi did the same, and neither spoke for several seconds.

Finally, Misaki pointed to the edge of the building.

"There’s another rooftop two buildings ahead."

"Then go there."

"I was telling you."

"And I answered you."

Misaki narrowed her eyes, at which Aoi moved a hand near her waist, and Misaki noticed the movement.

"If you pull a weapon, I’ll end this quickly."

Aoi left her hand where it was.

"Such confidence."

"It’s not confidence."

Misaki replied without changing her expression.

"It’s experience."

Aoi smiled.

"I’ve got experience too, you know?"

"Then you should know that threatening me is a bad idea."

"I didn’t threaten you."

"Your hand is next to a weapon."

Misaki slowly moved a hand toward her coat, and Aoi watched the movement.

"If you pull the rifle..."

"What?"

Aoi smiled.

"I’ll make sure you don’t have time to aim."

Misaki answered without hesitation.

"Try it."

Both fell silent, but neither was watching Stella anymore, while down below, Ayane finally reached where Reina and Rina were.

"Enough!"

The two stopped, and Reina looked at Ayane.

"We were just talking."

Rina answered.

"She started it."

"That’s what they all say."

Ayane ignored Reina and looked at Rina.

"Where’s Nozomi?"

A voice answered behind her.

"Here."

Ayane turned slowly, seeing Nozomi walking toward them with a calm expression.

"Amatsuki."

Ayane frowned.

"Kurayami."

Nozomi looked first at Reina, then at Rina.

"I didn’t expect to find your unit here."

"I could say the same."

"You could."

Ayane crossed her arms.

"I suppose you received an order."

Nozomi smiled.

"I suppose you did too."

"Then there’s no point in pretending."

"No, you’re right."

Ayane studied her.

She couldn’t trust her. Nozomi could smile all she wanted, but she was still a rival.

On top of everything that had happened with Noah, the tension between both units had risen far too high.

"Stella."

Ayane said it, and Nozomi didn’t answer, but that was enough.

Ayane continued.

"We have the same objective."

"Maybe."

"Just surveillance."

"Maybe."

"Stop answering like that."

"I don’t want to."

Reina let out a small laugh behind them, and Ayane ignored her.

"If we keep getting in each other’s way, neither unit will be able to complete the mission properly."

Nozomi thought for a few seconds.

"I agree."

Ayane hadn’t expected her to accept so quickly, and that made her distrust her even more.

"Then we set boundaries."

"Speak."

"The main entrance will be ours."

Nozomi shook her head.

"No."

Ayane frowned.

"Let me finish."

"I’ve already heard enough to reject it."

Ayane breathed slowly.

’Be patient.’

"We’ll cover the main entrance along with the west side, while you can cover the rear exit and the east side."

Nozomi thought.

"I don’t agree."

Ayane clenched her teeth slightly.

"Then propose something."

Nozomi pointed at the building.

"Each unit watches from wherever it wants."

"That will lead us right back to the same problem."

"Then stay out of the way."

"Your people followed mine."

Nozomi looked at Rina, who immediately pointed at Reina.

"She came to me."

Reina raised her hands.

"I just wanted to talk."

"I don’t want conversations with you."

"Hey, that hurts."

Ayane brought a hand to her forehead, and Nozomi sighed.

For the first time, both seemed to share the exact same exhaustion.

Ayane pointed at Reina.

"I’ll control mine."

Nozomi pointed at Rina.

"And I’ll control mine."

Reina raised an eyebrow.

"How offensive."

Rina also looked annoyed, but Ayane continued.

"And neither unit will interfere directly with the other for the duration of this mission."

Nozomi watched her.

"A temporary agreement?"

"Affirmative."

"No sabotage."

"That’s right."

"No following my agents."

"As long as your agents don’t follow mine."

Nozomi extended a hand.

"Agreed."

Ayane looked at that hand, knowing perfectly well it was a lie, and Nozomi had to know she was lying too, but she shook it.

"Agreed."

Both smiled in a strictly polite way and then separated.

Nozomi returned to Rina.

Ayane took Reina by the arm before she could say anything else.

"We’re leaving."

"Why?"

"Because we have a mission."

"I was working."

"That’s not true."

"Of course it is... a little."

As they walked away, Reina looked back, and so did Rina, so both of them exchanged a clearly hostile look.

Ayane took out her phone, since they had wasted too much time, and checked the messages.

Misaki still wasn’t responding.

’Don’t tell me...’

She wrote to her.

[Report.]

Several seconds passed, and finally the reply came.

[No news.]

Ayane frowned.

[Where are you?]

[In position.]

Ayane didn’t believe a single word.

Several buildings away, both Misaki and Aoi were still staring each other down, and neither had lowered her hand from her weapon.

Aoi spoke.

"Your leader just agreed not to interfere."

Misaki received Ayane’s message, read it, and then put her phone away.

"Then we’re not interfering."

Aoi raised an eyebrow.

"We’re threatening each other."

"That’s not interference."

Aoi smiled.

"You’re right."

Both of them finally turned back toward the edge of the building.

The area where Stella was supposed to be was no longer visible from that angle, since they had spent so much time arguing that they had lost their original position.

Misaki stayed silent, and so did Aoi.

Neither was going to admit it.

Meanwhile, Noah and Hikari had already left the event without knowing anything at all about what was happening around them.

Ayane returned to her position, and Nozomi did the same on the other side of the area, so for several minutes neither unit caused any new problems.

At least not openly.

Ayane watched the building and then glanced discreetly toward where she knew Nozomi was.

’I don’t trust her.’

It was obvious.

The agreement was useful, nothing more, but as soon as this mission ended, they would be rivals again.

And if an opportunity appeared to weaken Nozomi’s unit without affecting the Great Mother’s orders...

Ayane had no intention of wasting it.

At a certain distance, Nozomi was looking exactly toward where Ayane was, while Rina stood beside her.

"Do you really plan to respect the agreement?"

Nozomi smiled.

"Of course."

Rina looked at her, and Nozomi waited a few seconds.

"For the next few minutes."

Rina smiled, and Aoi approached shortly after.

"And then?"

Nozomi looked toward the building where Ayane was.

"Then we’ll see."

Meanwhile, Reina leaned toward Ayane.

"Are we really going to respect the agreement?"

Ayane didn’t take her eyes off the target.

"Yes."

Reina looked disappointed, but Ayane continued.

"As long as it’s necessary."

Reina smiled.

"Ah, I see."

Misaki appeared behind them.

"That makes more sense."

Ayane looked at her two teammates.

"I want to make something clear."

Both waited.

"You will not do anything that puts the mission at risk."

Reina crossed her arms.

"Understood."

Misaki nodded.

"After that..."

Ayane looked toward Nozomi’s position.

"...if they decide to become a problem, we’ll respond."

Reina smiled.

"Perfect, I was starting to get bored."

Misaki said nothing, since it wasn’t necessary.

Ayane turned her attention back to Stella, or at least to the place where she assumed Stella was still.

Because after so many minutes of arguing, neither of the two units had noticed that Stella had already left the event through a secondary exit.

Ayane looked at the main entrance, one minute passed, then another, and she frowned.

"Where is she?"

Several streets away, Nozomi was wondering the exact same thing.