Chapter Text
Kuro stood in front of a display of colourful flowers and he wondered which would be best to give to April. He didn’t want the flowers to be too romantic or else it would give her hope that they could rekindle their relationship. He only intended to send her the gift as a customary gesture. They dated for a few months but he was careful not to become attached to their relationship. From the start, he never had any hope that they would fall in love.
“Excuse me, would you like some help?” The brunette vendor asked and he gave him a polite smile. Kuro read the nametag on the man’s apron, Mahiru Shirota. The name Shirota was vaguely familiar but he couldn’t place where he saw it before. “Are you buying a gift for someone? I can help you make a bouquet. Do you know what kind of flowers the person likes or their favourite colour?”
“I’m just buying flowers for my home so the bouquet doesn’t need anything special.” Kuro lied. He doubted he would meet Mahiru again but he didn’t want to tell others about his relationship with April. The more people who knew about his current persona and relation, there was a chance someone would question him about it in the future.
While his gaze was on the display, he was acutely aware of his surroundings. The sound of coins clinking together caught his attention and he subtly glanced towards the sound. A boy was selling newspapers a few feet from him and others wouldn’t find him suspicious. Kuro immediately knew the boy wasn’t an ordinary child from how he jingled the coin in his tin cup. The pattern of the sound was morse code.
“Can you make one with lilies and send it to this address? Sign it from Matthew.” He bought a random bouquet of flowers and the vendor handed him change in return. Kuro crossed the street to where the boy was selling newspapers. He dropped the coin into his cup and he started to walk away without a word. The boy stopped him by holding the newspaper in front of him. Kuro said, “I don’t need one, Kid. I just wanted to be charitable. Take the money and buy a snack.”
“Mama said I can’t take money from people when I’m doing honest work. This is to help pay for my rabbit’s medicine. The vet said that the medicine will make him feel better.” The boy said and he held up the newspaper again. Kuro nodded and he took the bundle from him. He shifted the flowers and newspaper into one arm so he could pull out a coin from his pocket.
“It’s good that you’re responsible but you should enjoy being a kid when you can. I’ll buy your newspaper and this is a tip for being such a responsible kid.” Kuro dropped the coin into the cup and then he patted the boy’s head.
He turned away from him and he walked down the streets to a coffee shop where he could read the newspaper. Kuro wanted to procrastinate giving the flowers to April as much as he could. He chose a table next to the door so he would be able to slip away quickly if he needed to. He opened the newspaper and he thought to himself: So, there are spies this young now. I guess I was only a few years older than him when I became a spy and joined Servamp.
Kuro had been a spy for years and gained a reputation for his skill to steal information and disguise himself. The reason he briefly dated April was so he could gain documents from her father who was a politician. He stored the information he found in the coin and then he gave it to the child. After his mission was complete, he waited a few days to break up with her under the guise that he was moving away. He also bought flowers to send her so she wouldn’t be suspicious of him.
From the morse code, he knew that they had another mission for him. He wished he could take a break but that was nearly impossible with the cold war between Westalis and Ostania had led to several plots that threatened the fragile peace between the countries. The Servamps didn’t have an alliance with either of the countries and their only goal was to maintain their peace treaty.
He flipped through the newspaper and he deciphered the message scattered throughout the comic section. Kuro searched for panels with a rabbit drawn on them. He read, I trust that you have completed your mission successfully, Sleepy Ash. We have another assignment for you and it’s of the most importance. Our sources tell us that the chairman of the Conjurer Control Convention may be planning to sell weapons to Ostania and fuel a new war. You must become close to him and find proof of this allegation.
Kuro’s eyes narrowed as he stared at the picture of the chairman, Misono Alicein. He didn’t care for politics but his job required him to learn far more about it than he preferred. The Alicein family was infamous under Mikado who used the previous war to secure land for his business. However, the business was handed to his son after Mikado’s death.
Misono was much more private than his father so not much was known about the man and his family. It became more difficult to gain information on Misono after he married and had a child. He would rarely attend social events and he had a small circle of friends. Kuro didn’t know how Servamp intended for him to befriend Misono and collect information about the Alicein.
Luckily, we have time before the exchange will occur because C3 has been very careful and silent with this plan. We believe the deal will be finalized within three years but each day counts. You must infiltrate the Alicein household and befriend the family. Kuro assumed they would order him to become an employee within the Alicein manor or their organization.
The last thing he expected to read was: You are to find a wife and child within three days.
“The hell?” Kuro yelled and several people turned to him. He quickly regained his composure so he wouldn’t draw more attention to himself. The sentence was so outlandish to him that he read it several times to confirm that it was correct. Unfortunately, they remained the same.
He continued reading the debrief. The only weakness and connection to the outside world that Misono has is his son. His son attends Eden Academy and they hold regular events for families. That will be your opportunity to befriend the Alicein family and search for evidence of their plan. Start a family and enroll your child into Eden Academy.
“Troublesome.” Kuro groaned. He wanted to refuse the mission and give it to someone who was more qualified. However, he knew that the Servamps only had a few spies with their own mission. He folded the newspaper and stood without knowing how he could succeed in such a mission.
Kuro hated orphanages and the memories they bought back. The war had ended a decade ago yet the scars still lingered in both countries. Many were left without a family due to the war. He reminded himself that he needed to focus on his mission rather than his past. He greeted an old man who answered the door. “Hello, I would like to adopt a child.”
He assumed that the old man was the owner of the orphanage and he masked his true feelings beneath a disinterested expression. The owner gestured for him to enter and Kuro followed him through the halls. The paint on the wall was chipped and the children’s clothes appeared old. For his mission, it would be easiest to adopt a child from a shadier establishment.
“You can take anyone you want.” The man said. Kuro wished that it was possible for him to complete the mission alone but it was unavoidable. Kuro didn’t know if the orphanage provided any education to the children but he thought he should ask. Eden Academy was a prestigious private school and it was difficult to be accepted.
“If it’s possible, I would prefer to adopt a child who can read and write.” Kuro asked. It would be better if I don’t need to teach the child how to write. Misono’s child is six years old so I should find a child around the same age. It’s easier for them to be friends if they’re in the same class. I’m a spy and I can’t question the missions given to me but this one is troublesome.
“Machi is six years old and knows how to write!” A young girl jumped into their path. He was surprised by her outburst because the other children had only watched him so far. The child was a brunette and he worried that people would question whether they were related. As soon as he had the thought, she added: “I even know math! You can test me and I’ll pass.”
“Can you tell me what three plus five is?” He asked her a simple question and she quickly answered him without any hesitation. Hope filled her brown eyes each time he told her that answered correctly. Kuro understood the complicated emotions that must’ve fueled that hope he saw all too well. He found himself being sympathetic despite himself. He smiled and said, “You’re one smart girl. Soon, you’ll be able to tell me the square root of 144.”
After a moment, Machi exclaimed: “Twelve! Is that correct? Machi answered all of your questions and she can be adopted now?”
“All of your answers were correct.” His words made her face beam with excitement and relief. Machi jumped forward and she hugged his leg. At first, he didn’t know what to do and he gently patted her head. Kuro thought that it was a miracle he found a child who seemed to be intelligent and well behaved. He could complete his mission with her unknowing help.
He briefly spoke with the orphanage’s owner and he filled out the paperwork to formalize the adoption. While he told her to pack, she remained by his side and she didn’t leave. He assumed she didn’t have anything to take with her. Machi gripped his pants in her tiny hand, as if she were afraid that he would leave without her. She watched him hand the paperwork to the man. “All done?”
“Yeah. From today onward, you’re Machi Sloth.”
“Machi Sloth!” She repeated with a proud smile.
He led her outside to where his car was parked. Machi skipped ahead of him and she stopped next to his car. She didn’t wait for him to open the door for her and she jumped to reach the handle. The door was locked and she could only hang in place. He chuckled at her childishness and then he unlocked the door for her. “It’s safer for you to sit in the back.”
“Next to you.” She barely finished answering him before she climbed into the passenger seat. He helped her put on her seatbelt before he walked around the car. As Kuro sat in the driver’s seat, he saw that Machi had taken off her seatbelt and she stood on her chair to reach the dashboard. She turned the dial to skim through the different radio stations. “Machi will find secret police radio conversation like in the television!”
“This is a regular radio so you can’t listen to policemen with it. You need to sit down and put on your seatbelt, Machi.” He told her. He was glad that she didn’t argue with him and she sat down properly. Kuro didn’t know where she learned people intercept police radio signals and listen to their conversations. Then again, she was clearly an intelligent child. He only hoped her curious nature wouldn’t make her question him too much and learn that he was a spy.
Kuro pulled out of the parking spot and he drove down the road to the apartment that his boss provided him. “Machi, we’re a family now but you should tell people that we’ve always been a family. You should also address me as your father. Do you understand?”
“Machi will tell everyone that you’re my Papa.” She said. He nodded and decided not to correct her when she called him ‘Papa’. While the Eden Academy would prefer their students to be much more traditional, the endearing title would make them a more convincing family. “Machi is really happy that Papa was the one who adopted me.”
My papa is a super cool superhero spy! Machi thought to herself. She needed to contain her excitement or else he would learn that she could read his mind. If Machi helps Papa with his secret mission, I will also be a cool superhero and they’ll give me a medal of world peace!
“How did Papa know Spy Wars was Machi’s favourite show? Can you also rea—” Machi quickly stopped herself before she could ask him if he could read minds like her. She sat down on the couch and she returned to watching the cartoon. “You can rescue the princess like Agent Saizo! Agent Saizo has a cool gun with a silencer. Can Machi have one too for her secret superhero missions?”
“Maybe if we can find one on sale. I’m going to the market and pick up a few things. Stay here and watch your spy show. In the event that anything happens, use the phone to call me. I wrote down my number on the notebook next to the phone.” Kuro said and he pulled his hood over his head. The moment they entered the apartment, he turned on the television to distract her. He needed to buy a few things and he thought she was old enough to stay home for an hour.
“Papa can’t go! Superhero missions are dangerous alone. Wanna go too.” Machi quickly forgot the television and she caught the tails of his jacket. He knew that children could be imaginative but he didn’t expect for her to be so invested in a spy show.
“Alright, you can join me but this isn’t a spy mission.” Kuro didn’t want to argue with her. He expected her to let go of his jacket but she only moved to stand on his feet. She was so small that she could easily balance on Kuro’s feet.
She grinned up at him and ordered: “Give Machi a ride?”
“I can’t really walk when you’re hugging me like this. Can’t deal.” He pointed out but she didn’t move. Kuro bent down and he carefully lifted her into his arms. He carried her down the hall and decided the mission was much more difficult than he first imagined. Though, in the end, the most important part of his mission was to keep Machi safe and unaware of his secret.