Project Eternity (Chapter 11)
Title: Project Eternity
Pairing: OT5
Genre: AU, Action, Drama, Friendship
Rating: G (For this chapter)
Disclaimer: I own the plot only~ Not Arashi~
Summary: Despite of government 'Project Eternity' declaration, 5 genius boys were saved after their parents managed to hide their real intelligence. 10 years later, they witness their parents get caught in misunderstand and aim to save them.
Yet, they never thought it will drag to something serious.
A/N: I'm sorry for every error and mistakes.
Chapter 11
“The rumor was…true.”
The soldier stutters when the dirty dog growl at him with its angry stare. Noticing the soldier behind him still shock, Aiba takes that chance to hit the man hardly on chin with his elbow. The latter immediately let go of the teen’s body with a painful yelp, giving Aiba time to save himself from the man’s reach. Ohno who watch it quickly runs forward and grab for his friend’s arm when the man furiously lift his riffle, ready to shoot any of the two guys within any moment. Before he could anything however he shock by the huge dog sudden barks as it speedily running toward him. The weapon in the gasmask man’s hand drops immediately when the furry creature suddenly jumps and a second later landing on the top of him, causing him to fall on ground under him with a thud.
“Let go of me…you STUPID DOG!”
He shouts while pushing the dog from growl on his face. Yet, it affects nothing as the Alaskan Malamute just bite his gasmask and try to take it off from his face. Totally afraid, the man starts to scream while struggling to make the thing above him leave. Ohno and Aiba on the other hand still shock and totally lost by the unexpected rescue. They completely have no idea with what they should do till they hear a shout and see a troupe of men is coming there from far.
“We must leave now. Can you move?”
Aiba turns to his friend and slightly gives a nod. Seeing the response, Ohno immediately runs to the dog-calling device that he drops on ground before and quickly picks it up. As soon as he returns to Aiba’s standing spot, he immediately grabs the other one hand and drags both of them away from there. His cheerful friend follow obediently, but not without glancing to their furry savior from his shoulder.
“Thanks!”
The dog looks up immediately. Somehow the moment its eyes meet his, Aiba couldn’t help but feels a clump of sadness in his chest.
Unconsciously, he stops himself from step forward. Ohno who surprised with his sudden stillness frowns and turns around immediately.
“What’s wrong? We need to hurry.”
“But…”
The cheerful guy trail off without looking away from the furry creature which is now staring them with the mix of sadness and loneliness look. Suddenly, both guys feel a tight grip around their arm.
“Finally we found you guys. Hurry!”
“What? Bu-”
They turn to pale when the soldier without gasmask just pulls them toward the group of his allies somewhere not far from there. Totally have no idea about the existence of ‘rescuing team’, Ohno and Aiba’s struggle to make the latter to let go of them, but the savior just easily drags them away from there. As soon as the teenagers reach the group of men in black uniform, they surprise when they’re surrounded and being guard by the men immediately. It of course make both teenagers to feel more confuse when they’re told to move quickly to escape.
Yet, Aiba still manages to look at the dog for the last time and signal it something.
XXXXXX-XX-XXXX
30 minutes after their escape, the five guys still walk on an isolate long path which will lead them back to Tokyo. The goggle and gasmask they wear since while ago has been throw away after they feel it’s disturbing their movement and the most important thing, they don’t want to look like those heartless armies who could go as far as shoot their own friends who try to protect and save them before.
“The moon looks dim since week ago.”
The rest immediately follow Aiba to look at the almost dark sky above before continue to pay attention with their way. Even though the dim moonlight could cover them from busted, it doesn’t bright enough to show them their path.
“Now you mentioned it, I finally remember it hadn’t been raining for quite long.”
Sho looks at the sky again by Nino’s rightness. His expression looks so thoughtful before he finally looks at their front again. After a long silent, Jun finally breaks the tense mood which is surrounding them.
“Satoshi, did you and Masaki enter the prison’s area?”
Ohno just shakes his head.
“They have different people who will take care of the prison. We can’t go further than the entrance.”
“So you don’t see big sis at all?”
The latter shakes his head again.
“By the way, I wonder how the military knew about us.”
“Those who save me before told me that actually our plan to sneak inside there had been exposed.”
His four friends stop from moving immediately. Realizing the four guys are now staring him disbelievingly behind, Jun follows them to stop as well before turns to them.
“The military just didn’t expect it will be today. Besides, the actual plan that they’re informed with was different from what we did. They didn’t expect the shooting-sound incident will happen and military actually already place a heavy guard around the air tank room to catch us. Well, in the end we didn’t appear at the tank room but since they’re already aware with our plan to break into power room, I almost got caught there. If I hadn’t been rescued right on time, maybe I wouldn’t able to escape.”
The other four guys fall into silent for the twice time.
“Who told them about the plan?”
“They didn’t say anything about it unfortunately, but…there’s only one possible person right?”
The five best friends look at each other. Indeed. Jun’s explanation is enough to make their mind come up with one possible person.
“But it wasn’t him right?”
Ohno’s words gain a nod from Aiba.
“Impossible.”
“I’d seen he cry when looking at his family’s picture night when we came to his house. I’m sure it wasn’t something he made up.”
Hoping to wipe away the suspicious thought which keeps bothering their mind, they decide to stop from talking about the topic immediately. However, hesitant still clearly show on their faces. After all they know there’s no way any of them will expose about their plan to anyone else.
15 minutes later the five of them finally reach a railway which will lead them to nearest town. Fortunately it’s almost 2 in morning and no one will roam outside at this moment. At least, they wouldn’t look so suspicious for wearing armies’ uniform without their face covered. Later, they finally reach the quiet town where the arrestment just been held 2 hours ago. Hearing a following footsteps sound still clearly heard from behind for every step they take, Sho, Nino and Jun eventually turn around and sigh.
“Why it’s still following us?”
Ohno and Aiba follow their friends’ movement to look around. Being an animal lover, Aiba couldn’t help but smile happily when greet by the sight of the dirty huge dog before still following them while sticking out its tongue. Couldn’t resist his excitement anymore, the cheerful guy immediately run toward the white dog before hug it and snuggle deep into its comfortable thick fur. Dirt, oil and mud dirtied Aiba’s body as he embraces the fluffy creature but he seems doesn’t care about it.
“Cute right?”
Aiba cheerfully says while looking up at his fiend with his bright smile. Ohno at the same time smilingly approach his friend and the dog.
“Seriously, how long it’s going to follow us? It’s owned by the military if you forgot.”
“But we can’t leave it alone. It looks like a lost puppy.”
“But there’s no puppy THAT big.”
“Why did you guys let it to come along with us?”
“Cause he save us before. He even jumped on man who almost killed us and tried to snatch away the mask he wore. He tried to help me and Oh-chan. Right?”
Aiba says while looking at Ohno who already kneel down beside him for support. Chuckling, Ohno just nods and pet the dog, surprise a moment later when the animal suddenly sniff his face and lick away his sweat. The unexpected situation makes both Aiba and him burst with laugh immediately.
“Guess he did it because I wasn’t purposely called him before.”
“Eh? How?”
Aiba stares his friends wonderingly when the guy suddenly shoves his hand into his hip pouch. Sho, Nino and Jun who just watches their friends in silent since while ago finally couldn’t help but curiously come closer. Soon, Ohno shoves out the black device that Aiba gives to him before and show it to them.
“This one is made up for call dog. Seemed I was being careless and pressed the button on it by chance before. That explains why it suddenly comes out when we’re attacked before”
Aiba gapes by it. The dog in his arm meanwhile bark when detect both his and Ohno’s smell on the device. It even looks at Nino since the hacker’s smell as well still lingering on it. Nino however only frowns by the dog’s stare. As he returns the dog’s stare awkwardly, something familiar with its appearance finally comes into the hacker’s mind.
‘Wait. White, huge and dog...’
He closes his eyes tightly as he try to remember where he just seen those words. The moment his eyes snap open, he swiftly turn to Sho beside him.
“That dog was the one the medical assistant guy mentioned.”
“Yup.”
“You already know about it?”
Sho hums as yes. Then, he crosses his arms.
“Guys, where did you found it?”
“Hmm? Oh. He just suddenly jumped out from manhole when Oh-chan pressed the button. Seem like he’s hiding there this entire time and wait someone to call him out from there. Poor thing.”
The cheerful guy sadly strokes the dog’s body. Finally, Jun gives out a sigh.
“Well, that’s not important now. We need to get faster.”
“But…will Mr. Hatsuyuki get angry when see us later? Well, you know that we just make his long time plan to destroy the military…ruined.”
“That’s why we need to start walking now. Nothing will change if we just stay here.”
The chemist turns around and starts to walk again which later follow by his friends and the huge animal behind. They’re actually already not so much far from where Aiba parked Mr. Hatsuyuki’s car and fortunately when they reach the isolate parking lot, the car still there though Aiba purposely leave the car key in its keyhole. Only after almost 10 minutes persuading his friends to let their new furry friend tag along, Aiba finally starts to drive back to the old scientist’s house. The moment they arrive at their destination however they found Mr. Hatsuyuki’s house still in dark.
“He went sleep again or he doesn’t wake up at all?”
Nino speaks after let the dog to get out first from the cram back seats. His friends one by one follow to come out from the car a second later.
“Maybe he was caught and the soldiers already set up a trap for us inside?”
“Or else, he actually wasn’t the one who told to save us before.”
Sho’s seriousness snatches the others’ attention. The latter however just keep a firm expression. When they finally reach the front door, they abruptly stop and give Ohno a space to approach the doorknob. They make sure the door has been locked beforehand for Mr. Hatsuyuki’s safety which means if they want to get inside they need to unlock it back.
“Be careful.”
Ohno nods. As he turns around to face the door again, he kneels down to the same level with the doorknob and takes out his lock pick tools. Few minute elapse in silence as his friends want to let their friends to focus on doing his job.
Finally, a click sound comes into their ears. They then watch Ohno shove his tools into his small bag again before get up and grab the doorknob.
“Ready?”
The mechanic guy looks at his friends for their approved. The moment he receives their nod, he slowly twist the knob in his hand, open it as quiet and careful as he can. Later, he peeks from behind the door together with Jun who is standing behind him. To their relief, nothing suspicious can be found inside. Quietly, both guys step inside and give a room for their friends to come along. The unusualness of that house immediately could be detected by Nino since he was the last one leaves the house before.
“I remember clearly I didn’t turn off the stairs’ light when I left.”
Nino eyeing the light he mentions suspiciously. Meanwhile, Aiba finally realizes that the dog he and Ohno found is not inside the house with them. He worriedly looks around before dash to the door, frowning when found the furry friend is sitting in front the house with its tongue stick out.
“What’s wrong?”
The cheerful guy asks before crouch down in front it when the dog still swings its tail to right and left. He then worriedly meets its gaze, but found no trace of offended hidden in it.
“Is he okay?”
“I don’t know. It’s like-”
“He was trained to act like that in certain situation.”
Sho’s explanation gains a surprise expression from the cheerful guy.
“Yeah. How did you-”
Yet, he surprise when the other one suddenly kick nearest table hardly. It of course makes the four other guys frown by the sudden change behavior. They however just stare the latter wonderingly until Sho slump on couch behind him and rub his face stressfully.
“No wonder.”
“What do you mean?”
Jun asks which at the same time make Aiba to stand up without take his eyes away from Sho’s face. Sho however just shakes his head before seriously turns to his friends.
“We need to get change and pack our stuff now. The military might come here to look for us later.”
“But where we should go? Should we make Hatsuyuki-san up now?”
“No need. From what Nino said about the stairs’ light before, I believe he even isn’t here anymore.”
“What do you mean?”
Instead of answering, Sho hurriedly runs to climb up the stairs before telling his friends to come along. The guy’s weird action of course make the others frown, but a second later, they also follow to disappear on the upstairs.
XXXXXX-XX-XXXX
On the next morning, Sho awakens by the sunlight which enters the shelter he and his friends are staying in. As he sits up, he found the rest are still sleeping whether on the queen size bed with him or long couches near with the fireplace. The dog that Aiba insist to bring with them last night meanwhile sleep on the doorstep soundly, still cover with mud and oil. The shelter they’re staying over now was builds by his parents about two years ago in the middle of west forest of Sakurai’s residence and they usually use it whenever they feel want to be apart from works or just spending time together. A year ago, Sho also once bring his friends to stay a night there which explain how Jun can come up with the plan to stay there after they left Mr. Hatsuyuki’s house last night.
Sighing, Sho gets up from the bed that he shares with Nino and Jun. He then approaches the shelter’s mini kitchen to see what they have in the fridge. To their luck, he found some eggs, packs of cereal, cartons of milk and many more which he remembers his mother stock up there a week before his parents’ arrestment.
‘Including foods in storage room, at least we can survive for several days here. ’
Aiba’s yawn makes him turn around immediately. Seeing the cheerful guy’s mouth wide open, Sho finally give out an amuse chuckle which make Aiba turn to him with half open eyes.
“Oh, good morning Sho-chan.”
Though still feel sleepy, the cheerful guy forces his body to do some stretching. As he gets up and found the stray dog is sleeping on floor, he quietly steps toward it before smilingly sit next to the furry animal.
“Good morning too. What do you want for breakfast?”
“Hmm…anything is fine. Do we have Mabo Tofu here?”
“Mabo Tofu early in morning? Are you serious?”
Sho’s laugh makes the latter snort before pay his attention back to the dog under his hand. Their voice follow by their friends annoy grumble as they one by one slowly sit up, obviously bother by both guys’ loudness. After utter their apologize, both Sho and Aiba continue doing their own job in silent with Sho taking out some foods from fridge for their breakfast while Aiba stroking gently the sleeping dog in front him. Soon, he opens his mouth without looking at his friends.
“I’m worried with Hatsuyuki-san’s state now. Where did he go?”
Upon the question, the rest immediately look at him.
“I believe he’s okay. Maybe the government already finds out about him and need to hide for now.”
“Guys, I think we should stop hoping on him.”
4 pairs of eyes stop at Sho. He clearly looks like want to say something, but couldn’t bring himself to say it out and hurt his friends’ feelings. The shelter in silent for a while until Aiba finally realize the dog in front him actually already wake up and just remain silent to let the cheerful guy spoil him more. Later, Aiba hears someone is sitting next to him.
“You know, I was wondering all this time how you can drive a car. Did uncle teach you driving?”
“No. I follow my dad’s employee to do delivery almost all the time so I just did like what I saw they usually do.”
“So you can drive anything else aside of car?”
Aiba thoughtfully looks at the ceiling while his hand still stroking the soft fur.
“Perhaps motorcycle. I’d ride it once when followed my father do delivery.”
A sudden clank sounds from outside surprise them. It makes everyone inside the shelter turn out confuse except for Sho.
“There’s a car approaching my house.”
“What? How did you know?”
“That sound is a signal if there’s any guest is coming to my house. My dad set it up before.”
Sho then quickly reaches for the only door in the shelter before stop by his friend.
“What if it’s the soldiers? Maybe they already find out about our identity and now are going to your house to look for us.”
“No. There’s a difference between heavy vehicles and not so I’m sure it’s not them. Plus, from the sound I think there’s only one car is coming there.”
“Maybe that comer is Hatsuyuki-san?”
Jun frowns.
“You mean he came here to look for us?”
Aiba nods. They then turn to Sho when the latter suddenly gives out a sigh before gesture them to follow him out from the shelter and toward his family’s house. Surprisingly for the four guys, they don’t need to take so much time to walk through the green forest till the second they finally could see Sakurai’s residence several minutes ahead. As soon as they stop to hide behind the trees around them, Ohno points at the car which has been parked in front of Sho’s house.
“It’s Hatsuyuki-san’s.”
“Is he looking for us?”
“I don’t think so.”
Sho’s tense expression make the other four guys turn to him immediately. Slightly annoy by Sho’s like-hiding-something attitude, Nino shoot him with a dissatisfy look.
“You know something don’t you?”
Sho chews his lip for a while and finally look at his friends beside him.
“Trust me, the reality is much harsher.”
He then steps forward, out from the forest’s circumference. It takes few seconds before the four guys behind him to fully digest what he actually mean behind those words. Being the one who has softest personality, Aiba wants to say something to protest but when he finally realize the rightness of Sho’s sentence, he finally follow his friends from behind without saying anything. When they finally stand in front the front door, the 5 guys immediately look at the dog behind them. And like understand what they try to tell, the dog sits down immediately while staring them. After all, those guys don’t want to put the innocent dog in danger since they have zero idea what they’re going to found once they step inside.
“Let’s go.”
Sho says before leads his friends toward the open door. As soon as all of them step inside the house, they found the living room’s state has no different from the moment when they’re dragged away. The floor still in mess with paper while dust piling up on certain place since the front door has been left open by the government workers after finishes doing their inspection there days ago.
“I wonder why Hatsuyuki-san is coming here.”
“Maybe he is looking for something?”
Ohno however suddenly hushes the two guys. Frowning, both Nino and Jun immediately shut their mouth. Soon enough they finally hear flipping paper sound comes from somewhere around there.
“Is that Hatsuyuki-san?”
“Let’s find it out.”
Carefully to not make any noise, the 5 best friends step toward the sound’s source. Before they realize it, they’re now heading to the basement’s library as the flipping sound is getting louder and louder for every step they take to there. A moment later they found a man is flipping one of Mr. Sakurai’s files with his back facing the doorstep inside there.
“Hatsuyuki-san?”
The other party freeze upon it. Slowly, he looks at them from his shoulder before close the file in his hands.
“Guys?”
A smile spread on his face as he quickly move his feet toward them.
“Thank God. I was so-”
“Just cut it out. We know you’re a talented actor.”
The old scientist frowns. Although he tries to approach the small group of teenagers, Sho and Jun just warn him to stay wherever he is with their deadliest glare.
“D-Don’t tell me the military did something to you guys.”
“It’s you who did something to us.”
Ohno, Aiba and Nino look at Sho disbelievingly. Obviously, their friend already knows something that they don’t.
“What do you mean Sho?”
“Is it because of the photo frame? You told me before you realized the dust was piling up on weird surface.”
“Photo frame?”
“Even though I realized about the photo frame weirdness much earlier, I still didn’t feel suspicious at that moment since I believed Hatsuyuki-san was hiding something for helping us. But after last night break-in plan, I finally know why I feel something isn’t right from the moment he came with his offer to cooperate with us.”
“How did you know? Did he make any mistake with his plan?”
“No, it’s vice versa. His plan was too perfect which makes me felt weird.”
The old scientist’s expression changes by Sho’s words.
“You knew that we’re still lost a day after our parents’ death, so you met Masaki and told him about your offer to cooperate with you. I think you already know that we’re not going to agree with your idea easily and that’s when a crazy mission which is arresting the family of special kids was held from three days later to convince us that you’re the only choice we had.”
His long explanation makes his friends behind speechless. Does it mean they were used by that old scientist this entire time?
“Then, when we arrived at your house, only Nino didn’t show any interest to work with your plan. Yet, on that night I believed you put something in his dinner since he was the one who ‘coincidentally’ couldn’t sleep and was right there when armies came to your house to tell about your front neighbor right? I believed you know none of us will stay silence if find out anyone will be caught by military again, so you must be already expected Nino was going to against them. And once the situation on our side turned out to be horrible, you pretended to be our ‘savior’ to make us trust you more especially Nino.”
“In other words…he’s planning all this since earlier?”
Aiba looks at Mr. Hatsuyuki, clearly hurt by the fact that Sho just explain to them. Seeing Sho stiffly nods, Aiba only can chew his lip bitterly. Now, he feels really guilty. It was him who convinced the rest to trust the old scientist after all.
“Well, when I think back, when Satoshi and I sneaked to save Sho, he’s also the one who told us to use different way right? Even though at first we actually wanted to leave the basement’s corridor after found our parents were locked there, you’re the one who made us to feel unsure between stay and save our parents or leave the building immediately.”
“It does make sense since there’s a possibility he saw us entered the prison floor to save Sho from the security camera.”
Nino snorts.
“Well, when I think about it again, as one of the building’s researches you must be already aware that our friends are going to use the first floor corridor which leads to the tunnel. So it’s not weird you shouted those guards to enter the building instead of looking for us outside. By doing that you have a reason to make our friends to use the basement’s corridor and show them the place to where our parents were locked in. You’re doing that to make us stay longer inside the building right?”
“Trust me, I never think that way. It’s all just your assumption.”
However, he just receive cold stare from the five guys. Sho then folds his arms and walk toward the older one.
“I bet to make us sneak into military’s base last night was also a part of your plan. If you told the military about our plan, not only you can make them to catch us, but also force armies who secretly against government’s Project Eternity to show their face by saving us. Yet, you didn’t expect we didn’t do exactly like what you told us and ruin your supposed to be successful plan. You must be never thought we managed to escape last night.”
No word leaves Mr. Hatsuyuki’s mouth. He just brings his hand to his forehead and massages it lightly.
“And now we found you here, you must be looking for something that my father hid. It’s related with Project Eternity isn’t it?”
“Listen here. I never thought that way. I was just-”
“When you told us about your plan, you said you wanted me to stay with you while my friends sneak into military’s territory. Though, your real intention is to make them caught and force me to reveal what I knew about my father.”
“No. I’m just coincidentally being here. I was looking for something to help you guys. I never thought that way.”
“Cut out with your acting. I believe there’s no such a beautiful coincident in this world Hatsuyuki-san. Just show us your true face.”
The old scientist lost for words. Finally, he looks at his feet and gives out a sigh. The five guys on the other hand watch him anxiously till the latter suddenly looks at them with a big grin. Back then, they’ll feel warmness when seeing the smile, but now after knowing the real face of the man in front him, they couldn’t help but feel disgust.
“People tend to realize something is wrong because of a small mistake of any plan. But for you Sho-kun, you can detect I was the mastermind of all this from the perfectness of my plan. I honestly surprise.”
Still beaming them with his fake smile, the old scientist suddenly moves his hand to under his coat. Sho’s friends behind at the same time immediately pull the latter closer to them.
Soon, the old scientist aims a familiar silver gun to them.
“W-What?”
“Isn’t that…?”
“Why you have my father’s gun with you?”
The older one however just smirks.
“You’re as expected Sakurai’s son. Even your brain works exactly like him.”
XXXXXX-XX-XXXX
>I'm sorry for my late update (_ _") .My jaw's joint got infection and swelling. It's even hard for me to talk and munching foods. It's recovering now but not fully yet. Please don't angry ne? And I'm sorry for all my PM friends for couldn't reply your message recently...
>I purposely make this chapter a bit longer~ By the way, I wonder if any of you already expect Mr. Hatsuyuki is not as 'pure' as they thought. Actually I purposely write him as a nice man to make the plot a little bit unexpected :P Thank You SOOOO much for reading! And sorry again! Happy Fishing Riida day~~~~~~!!!
Pairing: OT5
Genre: AU, Action, Drama, Friendship
Rating: G (For this chapter)
Disclaimer: I own the plot only~ Not Arashi~
Summary: Despite of government 'Project Eternity' declaration, 5 genius boys were saved after their parents managed to hide their real intelligence. 10 years later, they witness their parents get caught in misunderstand and aim to save them.
Yet, they never thought it will drag to something serious.
A/N: I'm sorry for every error and mistakes.
Chapter 11
“The rumor was…true.”
The soldier stutters when the dirty dog growl at him with its angry stare. Noticing the soldier behind him still shock, Aiba takes that chance to hit the man hardly on chin with his elbow. The latter immediately let go of the teen’s body with a painful yelp, giving Aiba time to save himself from the man’s reach. Ohno who watch it quickly runs forward and grab for his friend’s arm when the man furiously lift his riffle, ready to shoot any of the two guys within any moment. Before he could anything however he shock by the huge dog sudden barks as it speedily running toward him. The weapon in the gasmask man’s hand drops immediately when the furry creature suddenly jumps and a second later landing on the top of him, causing him to fall on ground under him with a thud.
“Let go of me…you STUPID DOG!”
He shouts while pushing the dog from growl on his face. Yet, it affects nothing as the Alaskan Malamute just bite his gasmask and try to take it off from his face. Totally afraid, the man starts to scream while struggling to make the thing above him leave. Ohno and Aiba on the other hand still shock and totally lost by the unexpected rescue. They completely have no idea with what they should do till they hear a shout and see a troupe of men is coming there from far.
“We must leave now. Can you move?”
Aiba turns to his friend and slightly gives a nod. Seeing the response, Ohno immediately runs to the dog-calling device that he drops on ground before and quickly picks it up. As soon as he returns to Aiba’s standing spot, he immediately grabs the other one hand and drags both of them away from there. His cheerful friend follow obediently, but not without glancing to their furry savior from his shoulder.
“Thanks!”
The dog looks up immediately. Somehow the moment its eyes meet his, Aiba couldn’t help but feels a clump of sadness in his chest.
Unconsciously, he stops himself from step forward. Ohno who surprised with his sudden stillness frowns and turns around immediately.
“What’s wrong? We need to hurry.”
“But…”
The cheerful guy trail off without looking away from the furry creature which is now staring them with the mix of sadness and loneliness look. Suddenly, both guys feel a tight grip around their arm.
“Finally we found you guys. Hurry!”
“What? Bu-”
They turn to pale when the soldier without gasmask just pulls them toward the group of his allies somewhere not far from there. Totally have no idea about the existence of ‘rescuing team’, Ohno and Aiba’s struggle to make the latter to let go of them, but the savior just easily drags them away from there. As soon as the teenagers reach the group of men in black uniform, they surprise when they’re surrounded and being guard by the men immediately. It of course make both teenagers to feel more confuse when they’re told to move quickly to escape.
Yet, Aiba still manages to look at the dog for the last time and signal it something.
XXXXXX-XX-XXXX
30 minutes after their escape, the five guys still walk on an isolate long path which will lead them back to Tokyo. The goggle and gasmask they wear since while ago has been throw away after they feel it’s disturbing their movement and the most important thing, they don’t want to look like those heartless armies who could go as far as shoot their own friends who try to protect and save them before.
“The moon looks dim since week ago.”
The rest immediately follow Aiba to look at the almost dark sky above before continue to pay attention with their way. Even though the dim moonlight could cover them from busted, it doesn’t bright enough to show them their path.
“Now you mentioned it, I finally remember it hadn’t been raining for quite long.”
Sho looks at the sky again by Nino’s rightness. His expression looks so thoughtful before he finally looks at their front again. After a long silent, Jun finally breaks the tense mood which is surrounding them.
“Satoshi, did you and Masaki enter the prison’s area?”
Ohno just shakes his head.
“They have different people who will take care of the prison. We can’t go further than the entrance.”
“So you don’t see big sis at all?”
The latter shakes his head again.
“By the way, I wonder how the military knew about us.”
“Those who save me before told me that actually our plan to sneak inside there had been exposed.”
His four friends stop from moving immediately. Realizing the four guys are now staring him disbelievingly behind, Jun follows them to stop as well before turns to them.
“The military just didn’t expect it will be today. Besides, the actual plan that they’re informed with was different from what we did. They didn’t expect the shooting-sound incident will happen and military actually already place a heavy guard around the air tank room to catch us. Well, in the end we didn’t appear at the tank room but since they’re already aware with our plan to break into power room, I almost got caught there. If I hadn’t been rescued right on time, maybe I wouldn’t able to escape.”
The other four guys fall into silent for the twice time.
“Who told them about the plan?”
“They didn’t say anything about it unfortunately, but…there’s only one possible person right?”
The five best friends look at each other. Indeed. Jun’s explanation is enough to make their mind come up with one possible person.
“But it wasn’t him right?”
Ohno’s words gain a nod from Aiba.
“Impossible.”
“I’d seen he cry when looking at his family’s picture night when we came to his house. I’m sure it wasn’t something he made up.”
Hoping to wipe away the suspicious thought which keeps bothering their mind, they decide to stop from talking about the topic immediately. However, hesitant still clearly show on their faces. After all they know there’s no way any of them will expose about their plan to anyone else.
15 minutes later the five of them finally reach a railway which will lead them to nearest town. Fortunately it’s almost 2 in morning and no one will roam outside at this moment. At least, they wouldn’t look so suspicious for wearing armies’ uniform without their face covered. Later, they finally reach the quiet town where the arrestment just been held 2 hours ago. Hearing a following footsteps sound still clearly heard from behind for every step they take, Sho, Nino and Jun eventually turn around and sigh.
“Why it’s still following us?”
Ohno and Aiba follow their friends’ movement to look around. Being an animal lover, Aiba couldn’t help but smile happily when greet by the sight of the dirty huge dog before still following them while sticking out its tongue. Couldn’t resist his excitement anymore, the cheerful guy immediately run toward the white dog before hug it and snuggle deep into its comfortable thick fur. Dirt, oil and mud dirtied Aiba’s body as he embraces the fluffy creature but he seems doesn’t care about it.
“Cute right?”
Aiba cheerfully says while looking up at his fiend with his bright smile. Ohno at the same time smilingly approach his friend and the dog.
“Seriously, how long it’s going to follow us? It’s owned by the military if you forgot.”
“But we can’t leave it alone. It looks like a lost puppy.”
“But there’s no puppy THAT big.”
“Why did you guys let it to come along with us?”
“Cause he save us before. He even jumped on man who almost killed us and tried to snatch away the mask he wore. He tried to help me and Oh-chan. Right?”
Aiba says while looking at Ohno who already kneel down beside him for support. Chuckling, Ohno just nods and pet the dog, surprise a moment later when the animal suddenly sniff his face and lick away his sweat. The unexpected situation makes both Aiba and him burst with laugh immediately.
“Guess he did it because I wasn’t purposely called him before.”
“Eh? How?”
Aiba stares his friends wonderingly when the guy suddenly shoves his hand into his hip pouch. Sho, Nino and Jun who just watches their friends in silent since while ago finally couldn’t help but curiously come closer. Soon, Ohno shoves out the black device that Aiba gives to him before and show it to them.
“This one is made up for call dog. Seemed I was being careless and pressed the button on it by chance before. That explains why it suddenly comes out when we’re attacked before”
Aiba gapes by it. The dog in his arm meanwhile bark when detect both his and Ohno’s smell on the device. It even looks at Nino since the hacker’s smell as well still lingering on it. Nino however only frowns by the dog’s stare. As he returns the dog’s stare awkwardly, something familiar with its appearance finally comes into the hacker’s mind.
‘Wait. White, huge and dog...’
He closes his eyes tightly as he try to remember where he just seen those words. The moment his eyes snap open, he swiftly turn to Sho beside him.
“That dog was the one the medical assistant guy mentioned.”
“Yup.”
“You already know about it?”
Sho hums as yes. Then, he crosses his arms.
“Guys, where did you found it?”
“Hmm? Oh. He just suddenly jumped out from manhole when Oh-chan pressed the button. Seem like he’s hiding there this entire time and wait someone to call him out from there. Poor thing.”
The cheerful guy sadly strokes the dog’s body. Finally, Jun gives out a sigh.
“Well, that’s not important now. We need to get faster.”
“But…will Mr. Hatsuyuki get angry when see us later? Well, you know that we just make his long time plan to destroy the military…ruined.”
“That’s why we need to start walking now. Nothing will change if we just stay here.”
The chemist turns around and starts to walk again which later follow by his friends and the huge animal behind. They’re actually already not so much far from where Aiba parked Mr. Hatsuyuki’s car and fortunately when they reach the isolate parking lot, the car still there though Aiba purposely leave the car key in its keyhole. Only after almost 10 minutes persuading his friends to let their new furry friend tag along, Aiba finally starts to drive back to the old scientist’s house. The moment they arrive at their destination however they found Mr. Hatsuyuki’s house still in dark.
“He went sleep again or he doesn’t wake up at all?”
Nino speaks after let the dog to get out first from the cram back seats. His friends one by one follow to come out from the car a second later.
“Maybe he was caught and the soldiers already set up a trap for us inside?”
“Or else, he actually wasn’t the one who told to save us before.”
Sho’s seriousness snatches the others’ attention. The latter however just keep a firm expression. When they finally reach the front door, they abruptly stop and give Ohno a space to approach the doorknob. They make sure the door has been locked beforehand for Mr. Hatsuyuki’s safety which means if they want to get inside they need to unlock it back.
“Be careful.”
Ohno nods. As he turns around to face the door again, he kneels down to the same level with the doorknob and takes out his lock pick tools. Few minute elapse in silence as his friends want to let their friends to focus on doing his job.
Finally, a click sound comes into their ears. They then watch Ohno shove his tools into his small bag again before get up and grab the doorknob.
“Ready?”
The mechanic guy looks at his friends for their approved. The moment he receives their nod, he slowly twist the knob in his hand, open it as quiet and careful as he can. Later, he peeks from behind the door together with Jun who is standing behind him. To their relief, nothing suspicious can be found inside. Quietly, both guys step inside and give a room for their friends to come along. The unusualness of that house immediately could be detected by Nino since he was the last one leaves the house before.
“I remember clearly I didn’t turn off the stairs’ light when I left.”
Nino eyeing the light he mentions suspiciously. Meanwhile, Aiba finally realizes that the dog he and Ohno found is not inside the house with them. He worriedly looks around before dash to the door, frowning when found the furry friend is sitting in front the house with its tongue stick out.
“What’s wrong?”
The cheerful guy asks before crouch down in front it when the dog still swings its tail to right and left. He then worriedly meets its gaze, but found no trace of offended hidden in it.
“Is he okay?”
“I don’t know. It’s like-”
“He was trained to act like that in certain situation.”
Sho’s explanation gains a surprise expression from the cheerful guy.
“Yeah. How did you-”
Yet, he surprise when the other one suddenly kick nearest table hardly. It of course makes the four other guys frown by the sudden change behavior. They however just stare the latter wonderingly until Sho slump on couch behind him and rub his face stressfully.
“No wonder.”
“What do you mean?”
Jun asks which at the same time make Aiba to stand up without take his eyes away from Sho’s face. Sho however just shakes his head before seriously turns to his friends.
“We need to get change and pack our stuff now. The military might come here to look for us later.”
“But where we should go? Should we make Hatsuyuki-san up now?”
“No need. From what Nino said about the stairs’ light before, I believe he even isn’t here anymore.”
“What do you mean?”
Instead of answering, Sho hurriedly runs to climb up the stairs before telling his friends to come along. The guy’s weird action of course make the others frown, but a second later, they also follow to disappear on the upstairs.
XXXXXX-XX-XXXX
On the next morning, Sho awakens by the sunlight which enters the shelter he and his friends are staying in. As he sits up, he found the rest are still sleeping whether on the queen size bed with him or long couches near with the fireplace. The dog that Aiba insist to bring with them last night meanwhile sleep on the doorstep soundly, still cover with mud and oil. The shelter they’re staying over now was builds by his parents about two years ago in the middle of west forest of Sakurai’s residence and they usually use it whenever they feel want to be apart from works or just spending time together. A year ago, Sho also once bring his friends to stay a night there which explain how Jun can come up with the plan to stay there after they left Mr. Hatsuyuki’s house last night.
Sighing, Sho gets up from the bed that he shares with Nino and Jun. He then approaches the shelter’s mini kitchen to see what they have in the fridge. To their luck, he found some eggs, packs of cereal, cartons of milk and many more which he remembers his mother stock up there a week before his parents’ arrestment.
‘Including foods in storage room, at least we can survive for several days here. ’
Aiba’s yawn makes him turn around immediately. Seeing the cheerful guy’s mouth wide open, Sho finally give out an amuse chuckle which make Aiba turn to him with half open eyes.
“Oh, good morning Sho-chan.”
Though still feel sleepy, the cheerful guy forces his body to do some stretching. As he gets up and found the stray dog is sleeping on floor, he quietly steps toward it before smilingly sit next to the furry animal.
“Good morning too. What do you want for breakfast?”
“Hmm…anything is fine. Do we have Mabo Tofu here?”
“Mabo Tofu early in morning? Are you serious?”
Sho’s laugh makes the latter snort before pay his attention back to the dog under his hand. Their voice follow by their friends annoy grumble as they one by one slowly sit up, obviously bother by both guys’ loudness. After utter their apologize, both Sho and Aiba continue doing their own job in silent with Sho taking out some foods from fridge for their breakfast while Aiba stroking gently the sleeping dog in front him. Soon, he opens his mouth without looking at his friends.
“I’m worried with Hatsuyuki-san’s state now. Where did he go?”
Upon the question, the rest immediately look at him.
“I believe he’s okay. Maybe the government already finds out about him and need to hide for now.”
“Guys, I think we should stop hoping on him.”
4 pairs of eyes stop at Sho. He clearly looks like want to say something, but couldn’t bring himself to say it out and hurt his friends’ feelings. The shelter in silent for a while until Aiba finally realize the dog in front him actually already wake up and just remain silent to let the cheerful guy spoil him more. Later, Aiba hears someone is sitting next to him.
“You know, I was wondering all this time how you can drive a car. Did uncle teach you driving?”
“No. I follow my dad’s employee to do delivery almost all the time so I just did like what I saw they usually do.”
“So you can drive anything else aside of car?”
Aiba thoughtfully looks at the ceiling while his hand still stroking the soft fur.
“Perhaps motorcycle. I’d ride it once when followed my father do delivery.”
A sudden clank sounds from outside surprise them. It makes everyone inside the shelter turn out confuse except for Sho.
“There’s a car approaching my house.”
“What? How did you know?”
“That sound is a signal if there’s any guest is coming to my house. My dad set it up before.”
Sho then quickly reaches for the only door in the shelter before stop by his friend.
“What if it’s the soldiers? Maybe they already find out about our identity and now are going to your house to look for us.”
“No. There’s a difference between heavy vehicles and not so I’m sure it’s not them. Plus, from the sound I think there’s only one car is coming there.”
“Maybe that comer is Hatsuyuki-san?”
Jun frowns.
“You mean he came here to look for us?”
Aiba nods. They then turn to Sho when the latter suddenly gives out a sigh before gesture them to follow him out from the shelter and toward his family’s house. Surprisingly for the four guys, they don’t need to take so much time to walk through the green forest till the second they finally could see Sakurai’s residence several minutes ahead. As soon as they stop to hide behind the trees around them, Ohno points at the car which has been parked in front of Sho’s house.
“It’s Hatsuyuki-san’s.”
“Is he looking for us?”
“I don’t think so.”
Sho’s tense expression make the other four guys turn to him immediately. Slightly annoy by Sho’s like-hiding-something attitude, Nino shoot him with a dissatisfy look.
“You know something don’t you?”
Sho chews his lip for a while and finally look at his friends beside him.
“Trust me, the reality is much harsher.”
He then steps forward, out from the forest’s circumference. It takes few seconds before the four guys behind him to fully digest what he actually mean behind those words. Being the one who has softest personality, Aiba wants to say something to protest but when he finally realize the rightness of Sho’s sentence, he finally follow his friends from behind without saying anything. When they finally stand in front the front door, the 5 guys immediately look at the dog behind them. And like understand what they try to tell, the dog sits down immediately while staring them. After all, those guys don’t want to put the innocent dog in danger since they have zero idea what they’re going to found once they step inside.
“Let’s go.”
Sho says before leads his friends toward the open door. As soon as all of them step inside the house, they found the living room’s state has no different from the moment when they’re dragged away. The floor still in mess with paper while dust piling up on certain place since the front door has been left open by the government workers after finishes doing their inspection there days ago.
“I wonder why Hatsuyuki-san is coming here.”
“Maybe he is looking for something?”
Ohno however suddenly hushes the two guys. Frowning, both Nino and Jun immediately shut their mouth. Soon enough they finally hear flipping paper sound comes from somewhere around there.
“Is that Hatsuyuki-san?”
“Let’s find it out.”
Carefully to not make any noise, the 5 best friends step toward the sound’s source. Before they realize it, they’re now heading to the basement’s library as the flipping sound is getting louder and louder for every step they take to there. A moment later they found a man is flipping one of Mr. Sakurai’s files with his back facing the doorstep inside there.
“Hatsuyuki-san?”
The other party freeze upon it. Slowly, he looks at them from his shoulder before close the file in his hands.
“Guys?”
A smile spread on his face as he quickly move his feet toward them.
“Thank God. I was so-”
“Just cut it out. We know you’re a talented actor.”
The old scientist frowns. Although he tries to approach the small group of teenagers, Sho and Jun just warn him to stay wherever he is with their deadliest glare.
“D-Don’t tell me the military did something to you guys.”
“It’s you who did something to us.”
Ohno, Aiba and Nino look at Sho disbelievingly. Obviously, their friend already knows something that they don’t.
“What do you mean Sho?”
“Is it because of the photo frame? You told me before you realized the dust was piling up on weird surface.”
“Photo frame?”
“Even though I realized about the photo frame weirdness much earlier, I still didn’t feel suspicious at that moment since I believed Hatsuyuki-san was hiding something for helping us. But after last night break-in plan, I finally know why I feel something isn’t right from the moment he came with his offer to cooperate with us.”
“How did you know? Did he make any mistake with his plan?”
“No, it’s vice versa. His plan was too perfect which makes me felt weird.”
The old scientist’s expression changes by Sho’s words.
“You knew that we’re still lost a day after our parents’ death, so you met Masaki and told him about your offer to cooperate with you. I think you already know that we’re not going to agree with your idea easily and that’s when a crazy mission which is arresting the family of special kids was held from three days later to convince us that you’re the only choice we had.”
His long explanation makes his friends behind speechless. Does it mean they were used by that old scientist this entire time?
“Then, when we arrived at your house, only Nino didn’t show any interest to work with your plan. Yet, on that night I believed you put something in his dinner since he was the one who ‘coincidentally’ couldn’t sleep and was right there when armies came to your house to tell about your front neighbor right? I believed you know none of us will stay silence if find out anyone will be caught by military again, so you must be already expected Nino was going to against them. And once the situation on our side turned out to be horrible, you pretended to be our ‘savior’ to make us trust you more especially Nino.”
“In other words…he’s planning all this since earlier?”
Aiba looks at Mr. Hatsuyuki, clearly hurt by the fact that Sho just explain to them. Seeing Sho stiffly nods, Aiba only can chew his lip bitterly. Now, he feels really guilty. It was him who convinced the rest to trust the old scientist after all.
“Well, when I think back, when Satoshi and I sneaked to save Sho, he’s also the one who told us to use different way right? Even though at first we actually wanted to leave the basement’s corridor after found our parents were locked there, you’re the one who made us to feel unsure between stay and save our parents or leave the building immediately.”
“It does make sense since there’s a possibility he saw us entered the prison floor to save Sho from the security camera.”
Nino snorts.
“Well, when I think about it again, as one of the building’s researches you must be already aware that our friends are going to use the first floor corridor which leads to the tunnel. So it’s not weird you shouted those guards to enter the building instead of looking for us outside. By doing that you have a reason to make our friends to use the basement’s corridor and show them the place to where our parents were locked in. You’re doing that to make us stay longer inside the building right?”
“Trust me, I never think that way. It’s all just your assumption.”
However, he just receive cold stare from the five guys. Sho then folds his arms and walk toward the older one.
“I bet to make us sneak into military’s base last night was also a part of your plan. If you told the military about our plan, not only you can make them to catch us, but also force armies who secretly against government’s Project Eternity to show their face by saving us. Yet, you didn’t expect we didn’t do exactly like what you told us and ruin your supposed to be successful plan. You must be never thought we managed to escape last night.”
No word leaves Mr. Hatsuyuki’s mouth. He just brings his hand to his forehead and massages it lightly.
“And now we found you here, you must be looking for something that my father hid. It’s related with Project Eternity isn’t it?”
“Listen here. I never thought that way. I was just-”
“When you told us about your plan, you said you wanted me to stay with you while my friends sneak into military’s territory. Though, your real intention is to make them caught and force me to reveal what I knew about my father.”
“No. I’m just coincidentally being here. I was looking for something to help you guys. I never thought that way.”
“Cut out with your acting. I believe there’s no such a beautiful coincident in this world Hatsuyuki-san. Just show us your true face.”
The old scientist lost for words. Finally, he looks at his feet and gives out a sigh. The five guys on the other hand watch him anxiously till the latter suddenly looks at them with a big grin. Back then, they’ll feel warmness when seeing the smile, but now after knowing the real face of the man in front him, they couldn’t help but feel disgust.
“People tend to realize something is wrong because of a small mistake of any plan. But for you Sho-kun, you can detect I was the mastermind of all this from the perfectness of my plan. I honestly surprise.”
Still beaming them with his fake smile, the old scientist suddenly moves his hand to under his coat. Sho’s friends behind at the same time immediately pull the latter closer to them.
Soon, the old scientist aims a familiar silver gun to them.
“W-What?”
“Isn’t that…?”
“Why you have my father’s gun with you?”
The older one however just smirks.
“You’re as expected Sakurai’s son. Even your brain works exactly like him.”
XXXXXX-XX-XXXX
>I'm sorry for my late update (_ _") .My jaw's joint got infection and swelling. It's even hard for me to talk and munching foods. It's recovering now but not fully yet. Please don't angry ne? And I'm sorry for all my PM friends for couldn't reply your message recently...
>I purposely make this chapter a bit longer~ By the way, I wonder if any of you already expect Mr. Hatsuyuki is not as 'pure' as they thought. Actually I purposely write him as a nice man to make the plot a little bit unexpected :P Thank You SOOOO much for reading! And sorry again! Happy Fishing Riida day~~~~~~!!!