[closed; the Saga saga!]

[substitutable]

Date & Time: July 22-July 29 (December 1999)
Location: Saga prefecture, Japan
Characters: Kano Shuuya (duplicitoussight) and Kisaragi Shintaro (substitutable)
Summary: this mission here
Warnings: overexcitable teenagers and discussions about a sister, and then Saga fun!

[Shintaro tugs on the collar of the black (!!) hoodie he put on for infiltrating the party, deciding that his usual red jacket was just too bright for discretion. Finding the location of the LAN they needed was easy in a time where computers were still expensive, and of course getting in wasn't difficult either. Leaning against a wall outside of most people's line of sight, he reviews the information he was given by the Initiative regarding the mission in his head as he also locates the door to the room they're supposed to be entering.

He slides his attention to Kano, though not making it too obvious that he's talking to him. It would be bad if anyone too suspicious was watching and thought they were sharing secrets.]

You think you can do it?

Comments

[duplicitoussight]

[So that's how it was. Kano taps his fingers on the desk.]

She seemed to like you pretty well, though. [A beat.] For an uninteresting guy you turned out rather interesting for her.

[substitutable]

[Shintaro keeps his hands flat against the table, eyes on the transferring cold.]

As far as I noticed, she never really disliked anybody. She talked to everyone else unlike me. Honestly... I wondered if she cared the class might not talk to her because she was talking to me. I never bothered to be friendly with anyone at school, I'm sure I was disliked by some people.

[He was smart and unfriendly. He never paid attention, but it was probably a good combination to make people dislike him.]

[duplicitoussight]

... so you wouldn't consider her your friend?

[substitutable]

... I don't know what I saw her as back then. I never thought about it, until after. [He trails off, mouth twisting into a frown, and he holds his breath for a second before releasing it.]

Right now... maybe. I think I want to stay close by.

[duplicitoussight]

[That clumsy promise is enough for Kano. He'd been a little worried, at first, when he learned about that connection, but as long as Shintaro tried for Ayano...

It's fine for now. She's alive in Exsilium, and that's the important thing.]

Pfft. You're not very good at being a smooth guy, Shin-chan.

[substitutable]

I was never good at talking to people. But it's not like you're any better, leave me alone.

[duplicitoussight]

[Too bad, he's still going to harp on the subject.]

So, so, have you been talking to her lately? You must've been if you wanted to be as close as you said!

[substitutable]

... I send her messages sometimes.

[He'll invite her out when they get back, he thinks. But he hasn't yet.]

[duplicitoussight]

You don't call? My, my Shintaro, that's no way to win a girl's heart.

[substitutable]

What? I don't want to interrupt if she's in the middle of something! If it's a message, she can reply to it whenever she wants...

[He grumbles and finishes downloading the virus, ejecting and pulling out the flashdrive.] Here. Hold on to it while I get rid of this thing.

[duplicitoussight]

[He holds onto the flashdrive as asked, leaning against the desk. He's starting to smirk.]

But she's answered them, right? That's a really lame excuse to not talk to a girl! Don't tell me that Shin-chan's the sort to get shy.

[substitutable]

... What, are you trying to give me advice or something? She and I usually texted.

[duplicitoussight]

Never mind, never mind. It's none of my business. That's what you're thinking, right? It's pretty apparent on your face.

[substitutable]

She's your sister, too, isn't she? I don't know how those things work... but it's not like I can't guess why you're talking to me about this.

But if you have something you want to say to me... I'd prefer to hear it.

[duplicitoussight]

Kido probably told you already. [It'd be like her, since she's the bluntest out of them.]

Adding what I think about it would be repetitive! It's not needed... because I know Shintaro will be veeeeery careful with our dear sister. You promised this time, after all.

[substitutable]

[He has to destroy the code so that it can't be recreated. He's not used to doing anything like that, so he's silent while he concentrates on figuring out what to do.]

You're the type to trust promises made by someone like me, Kano?

[duplicitoussight]

[He answers with that same cheerful tone.] That's true, huh? I guess you are a forgetful person, like you're suggesting.

[There's a beat of silence in return as he folds his arms behind his head.] But I'm sure this time you won't forget something so important.

[substitutable]

I promised her I won't avert my eyes.

I won't promise you anything, but if it's a promise to her, I intend to keep it.

[duplicitoussight]

I said I'd trust Shintaro, didn't I?

[substitutable]

[Says the deceiver. He frowns, glancing in Kano's direction, before he sighs and clicks the Enter button firmly. Immediately, the code starts disappearing from the screen.]

I think I got it. Let's get out of here before we get caught.

[duplicitoussight]

Got it.

[That wasn't too difficult of a mission. He's confident they won't get caught at this point. As he stands up, he adds with a bit of a snicker:]

See, see? I've always believed in Shintaro~

[substitutable]

Well... thanks. I guess. Give me the flashdrive? [He holds out his hand. Once that's back inside his bag, he'll close it and make sure it's secure before nodding. They can go.]

[duplicitoussight]

[Everything's settled, then. When they walk back out and are out of earshot of the other guests, Kano drops his guise.]

--ah! Isn't this Shintaro's second... no, third mission?

[substitutable]

[... I went to check and realized that this, the beach mission, and the Kisaragis' mission all have overlapping dates oh my god how do dates.]

... Fourth, actually. [Going to China with Momo will soon become his fifth.] I went to Alaska, during that month when everyone was sick.

[duplicitoussight]

[This is what happens when you time travel]

You did? I'm so proud of you~ Shintaro's taking the initiative by himself, for once.

[substitutable]

What else was I supposed to do? Everyone else was still bedridden. I woke up and they were talking about missions. It's not like I had anything else to lose.