An Assassin's Respite

Rest to Prepare Mentally

Ms. Katsuchi was doing her usual rounds of checking how everyone was doing in their training. She was in the darkroom and was able to see that Shiba and Chiyo were doing pretty decent for beginners. Of course, they wouldn't need to be able to fight in darkness like this since there will be natural light with the moon, but training in harsher environments than what you're expecting will only do them good. 

She watches for a little longer before moving over to the obstacle room. She had moved Kagura and Emiko over to this room a couple of days ago so that they would be able to train with it. They had progressed faster than the others since they were more physically gifted, so she was happy with her decision to have them train in the sword room first. Satisfied with what she saw, she made her way up to the living room and indulged herself in some tea that AKeno had made as she listened to Ayame and Akeno bounce ideas off one another.

"Akeno, could you do me a favor and bring everyone that's training in the basement up here?" She asks after finishing her tea.

"Sure." She replies as she quickly heads down.

Everyone crowded into the living room, curious as to why she called them. She surveys the group and makes sure that they're all comfortable and listening before beginning to speak.

"You all have been working and training hard. You have all progressed both mentally and physically, much more so than I had originally thought that you all would. With that being said, I'm going to be ending our training as of today." She informs them.

"Huh!?" They reply in unison.

"But why? I mean, it's only our 7th day of training." Kagura asks confused.

"As I said, you all have progressed significantly more than I had anticipated. Truthfully, I had us cutting this a bit closer and finishing the training on the twelfth day and hoping Kazuna was able to hold on for the full two weeks Karma said he had, but your progress has satisfied me to the point where I feel comfortable and ending your training so that you all can rest in both mind and body." Ms. Katsuchi states.

"So when are we going to actually go to rescue Kazuna?" Shiba asks.

"The operation will take place two days after today, three days before I originally planned." She states.

"Then why aren't we training until the day before?" Kagura asks.

"Because rest before a mission is essential. If you go on a mission with no rest, your body will be exhausted and you won't perform properly. Also, we'll use these final two days to completely iron out the finer details of our plan such as where we'll attack from and the best escape route. Also, the best plan for an emergency situation such as running into Zer." Ms. Katsuchi adds.

"True, it would be best for us to focus on strategy since we haven't spent too much time conversing as a group." Akeno notes.

"It does make sense." Kagura says in agreement.

"Good, I'm glad you agree, so why don't you all rest your bodies some. You deserve to." Ms. Katsuchi states.

"Although I would like to train more, a break does sound good." Shiba notes.

"Yeah, I've been drowsy all the time." Haruna agrees.

"I was falling asleep in class a lot." Chiyo says in agreement.

"You always fall asleep in class, even before our training." Haruka probes, leading to everyone laughing.

Ms. Katsuchi looks at everyone with a smile on her face.

"Truly, Kazuna, you've made some fantastic friends. Please, be okay." She thinks to herself. She realizes that she had drifted off into thought so she brings herself back to reality.

"Ok, why don't you all go home and do some homework or be normal teenagers for once." She states.

"Normal teenager stuff... Why don't we go to the same cafe that we went to last time, what was it called?" Shiba suggest.

"The Silver Mug." Akeno answers.

"Yea that one." Shiba says.

"That doesn't sound too bad." Haruka states.

"Ms. Katsuchi, you wanna come with us?" Emiko asks.

"I'm sorry, but I still have some things that I need to take care of, but I thank you for the invitation." Ms. Katsuchi says.

"If you say so." Emiko says a bit disappointed and the group leaves Kazuna's house and heads to The Silver Mug.

They get their seats, order their food, and enjoy some good food and small talk. After a while, a painful silence passes through them.

"Last time we were here Kazuna was with us." Shiba notes.

"Mhmm." Emiko says with a nod.

"Maybe this wasn't the best place for us to come to." Shiba says.

"No, it was the perfect place." Ayame retorts, causing the group to turn their attention to her.

"Coming here can only reinforce or will to save Kazuna. This made us really notice the hole that Kazuna's absence has left." She finishes.

Despite her delivering this in her usual monotone voice, the impact was still felt.

"Ayame's right. Kazuna has become someone important to all of us. He may have come a year late, but it feels like he has always been here. I can't even imagine a world where Kazuna doesn't come to GA." Kagura says in agreement.

"You two are right, I can't imagine life without that silent, pain in the a*s, popular kid." Shiba states.

"I would have to agree. It's been a long time since someone has presented me with a real mystery." Akeno says with a chuckle.

"He makes everyday fun." Emiko says with a cheery smile.

"It is fun to watch him continue to impress me." Ayanami says.

"He's a good person." Haruka says.

"I guess he doesn't annoy me." Haruna says.

"You just don't want to admit that you like him." Chiyo teases.

"Wha- I do not.." Haruna stutters in an attempt to defend herself, but the laughs of her peers silent her, and she can only blush in embarrassment.

"Well, it seems that Kazuna is important to all of us, so let's make sure we save him, for ourselves, for his mom, and for him." Kagura says while raising her glass of soda.

The rest of the group follow suit and raise their glasses.

"Let's toast to our success." Kagura says, leading to cheers from her friends as they toast.

They continue to enjoy their outing for another hour before they leave. As Kagura was heading home she runs into Yuu.

"You're that girl that's always with Kazuna." He notes.

"Yea, I guess I am." Kagura says.

Yuu glares at her for a short time making her feel a little uncomfortable.

"I know you probably hold ill feelings towards me for not going to save Kazuna, but I have my reasons." He states.

"I don't have a grudge against you or anything, I'm just disappointed. Special agents are supposed to save everyone they can no matter who they are. You're the number one special agent in Japan and you're okay with letting a teenager die. If that's how all special agents think, then I don't want to be anything like any other special agent." Kagura states.

"Maybe you're right, but I can't lend him a hand, if it were anybody else, then it might be different." He says while walking away.

"Be safe and don't do anything stupid." He says as he turns the corner.

Kagura stares in the direction Yuu walked in for a bit, thinking about the quick talk she had with Kazuna at the Coalition Festival.

"Don't worry Kazuna. There are people that worry about you and will rush to save you." She says to herself as she continues home.

The group went through their strategy meetings for the next two days before the day was finally upon them. The day they would rescue Kazuna.