"Who's this? Call me another time—I'm not accepting missions right now, thank you."
He was about to hang up when a voice crackled through the speaker. One he recognized instantly.
"You've got to finish what you started, Black Cat.
11 PM. Elysian Museum.
You'll meet up with a crew there.
Oh, and if you try to skip the mission and lose your little wife…
Hehe, you're not the only one who does dirty work around here.
Baahahaha."
BEEP.
Utter silence.
It all screamed dangerous silence.
Kaito was lost for words. In all his years doing this, not once had he been threatened—especially not with his wife as leverage. He was solemn, but beneath the calm, fury brewed.
Dazed, he walked over to the table where his wife, Haine, had been waiting—completely oblivious to the fact that her life was hanging by a thread.
Crap, what's going through my mind? I'd never let anything happen to Haine—not in this life or the next, Kaito silently swore.
"Is something wrong, honey?" Haine asked, noticing how quiet and distracted he was, eyes locked onto her.
"Hehe, nothing. I just can't take my eyes off the little goddess in front of me." He teased, pushing aside his storm of thoughts. One has to separate work issues from family matters, he told himself.
"So tell me, big boy… was it your boss bullying you again?" she teased gently, not pushing too hard.
"Mhm. He says I'll have to work late tonight. I'm sorry I won't be around to keep you company," he said with a somewhat glum look.
"That's too bad. Well, I can handle myself…" she replied, beaming—only to be instantly shut down.
"Nope. I'll text Yui. She'll stay with you for your dosage. Did you forget today's your pill day?"
He clicked his tongue like a father catching his child skipping homework. Her eyes went wide as it dawned on her—she had forgotten. She gasped and thanked him profusely, like a pedestrian thanking an officer for rescuing a lost puppy.
Kaito flicked her forehead and suggested they finish up quickly. They still had to go to the park, and after that came shopping.
> [Author's Note: It takes a lot to please a woman, so keep a cool head out there, fellow singles. BAAHAHA!]
At the park, they enjoyed the golden sunset, munched on snacks, and talked the time away. By 4 PM, they arrived at the mall. A bit of window shopping turned into real shopping.
The couple turned heads. Passersby stopped in their tracks, watching the lively pair—one pointing excitedly at items, the other buying them with an easy smile.
Some onlookers whispered: Why's this guy going all out for her?
Others asked themselves: How much will this beauty drain from his wallet?
Some ladies even winked at Kaito, while older women rolled their eyes at the drama of youth.
But Kaito didn't mind. He let her do as she pleased, knowing one thing that separated this woman from every other—she would send 90% of the purchases to orphanages and charity foundations. He knew the weight of being an orphan, so he never questioned her giving spirit.
They finalized delivery plans at the counter to multiple orphanage centers.
By 7:30 PM, they were home. They collapsed onto the bed, silently agreeing to rest before the big game.
The evening passed peacefully in small, simple moments.
But by 11 PM, under the dark shade of the night, the Black Cat was back.
He crossed a quiet road, searching for a vantage point. Dressed in his usual all-black gear, he reached into his coat, pulled out a burner phone, and made the call.
It connected quickly. His voice, impatient and cold:
"I'm all set. What's the job this time?"
"Quick as ever. Indeed, worthy of first place on the dark leaderboard—hohoho.
The target will be at Central City Hospital, downtown.
Finish the target and claim your reward.
The faster you do it, the sooner you're free."
There was a faint mockery in the voice.
Kaito didn't pry. A job was a job.
He drove straight to the site.
This is a lone wolf mission. No problem whatsoever, he thought, loading his sniper rifle.
He spotted the target using the photo reference, but oddly, he couldn't see her face clearly. That didn't matter.
Through the scope, he watched. She had her back turned. Looked to be in her twenties, graceful, with flowing hazel hair.
It reminded him that he needed to hurry—Haine was waiting.
BANG!!!
The gunshot echoed through the hospital grounds. The target dropped. Screams followed. Chaos.
But the shooter didn't move. His eye twitched.
Tears.
He had gone for the heart—fatal and clean. But just before she fell…
He saw her face.
No doubt.
It was her.
Haine.
The woman who gave him purpose. The reason he endured all this.
Now lying in a pool of her own blood.
"Goddammit!! How could this be happening to me?!" he wailed.
Agony. Wrath. Madness.
The aura of fury radiated from him like steam from boiling water.
He grabbed the burner phone and dialed furiously.
It connected.
"Great job, Kaito. You've completed the mission. Now you're free to go wherever you want. Well done."
The voice was calm. Too calm.
Kaito froze. That voice… it wasn't unfamiliar.
No.
It couldn't be.
"…KENJI!?"