Zenin Days

[Author Note]

Disc: HrPrTeam

Hakari is more of a gambling bum than Toji, and you can't change my mind.

__________

1 Week Later: Toji P.O.V.

A voice spoke up on the loudspeakers. "Number 4 has won!"

I crunched the small piece of paper in my hand as I found out that number 3 had lost the race.

The horse was doing so well and barely lost at the end.

I've got shit luck when it comes to this stuff.

There goes 2 million yen.

...

Damnit, I'm gambling again.

How did I end up here again?

Ah, right, I was supposed to figure out what to do with my life.

Here I am, ignoring my problems by gambling.

People have healthy hobbies to help motivate them or figure out their lives. It just so happens that gambling away my money helps me.

What a stupid way of motivation.

Anyway, I'm out of a job with around 90 million in my bank. Since returning from the island, I haven't returned to the Order's apartment complex to get my stuff.

I can be in and out in minutes, but I don't have the motivation to do anything right now.

The good thing is that the inventory curse has regenerated, and I've picked up an apartment for 150k yen a month.

I've got more than enough to hold myself over, but I need to do something.

At this rate, I'm going to gamble everything away.

I'm lost.

*step*

*step*

*step*

Someone approached me from behind.

I spoke up, not looking at them. "Piss off. I told the JAA to leave me alone."

They ignored my comment, walked over, and sat in the chair to my left.

I don't feel like dealing with this shit now.

Glancing over at the person, I notice that they look like an old man who gives off the appearance of someone homeless.

However, I know that he isn't normal.

His entire body has weapons hidden inside it.

He's another assassin.

The man stared at the track, seemingly ignoring my presence. "You lost too, huh?"

I look back at the track and ignore his comment. "Are you here to kill me?"

If he's here to kill me, then I'll have to get my hands dirty in public, something I'd like to avoid. However, the ordinary people here don't care much about their surroundings.

He turns toward me and tilts his head to the side. "Why would I do that?"

I raise an eyebrow. "Why else would a random assassin approach me if you aren't here to kill? You aren't in the Order or an official of the JAA, so you're not here for business."

His head drooped. "The JAA..."

With how he reacted, he's likely not on good terms with them.

He continued. "I came here to ask if I could borrow some money. I owe the JAA a lot; they'll be annoying if I don't pay up. When I win, I'll pay you back."

So, he's one of those kind of people.

I gamble, but even I know that if you expect to come out on top, you're dreaming.

The odds are always stacked against you.

I only do it to forget and put off important thoughts.

Shaking my head, I sigh. "If you're desperate, you'll always lose. Well, if you try to win, you'll still lose."

He looked down. "That so..."

Did this guy really come over here just to ask for money?

My eyebrow raises once more. "Who even are you, anyway?"

He glanced up at me. "The name is Torres."

I think for a moment, trying to remember a name or face. "Never heard or seen you before."

Still staring at me, he keeps a neutral face. "You're pretty famous after the stunts you have pulled, Toji Fushiguro."

Oh, is he going to attack me now?

He continued. "Can you go kill some JAA people to get a bounty? Maybe I can pay my debt off if they give a high enough reward for you."

He's definitely got an interesting character.

I lean my head back. "Not interested in anything related to the JAA."

He looked disappointed.

Instead of keeping a conversation, he stood up and walked away, approaching another group of people.

It turns out that he really did want some money.

What a strange assassin.

Well, I guess I'll put another million on the next race. It'll give me more time to think about what I should do with my life.

...

You've got to be shitting me.

...

A voice yelled from the entrance to the stands. "YO TOJI! This is where you've been hiding!"

It's Rion Akao.

I roll my eyes. "Can you guys just leave me alone?"

She jumped into the chair next to me, which Torres had previously been in.

She threw an arm around my shoulder. "I heard about the JCC and how you were a badass that killed some freaks."

She's a member of the Order. Of course, she has intel about what happened on the island.

I kept staring at the track. "How did you find me?"

She looked at the track. "I fought some of those freaks myself. They're crazy strong, but you already knew that. Ah, right, I was going to eat some noodles until this random dude attacked me. Apparently, they are 'superhumans.' Super freaky, huh? Yeah, they are weird and are kinda like you! Now the JAA is frickin crazy with how they are dealing with assassinations."

It's not the first time she's had a conversation with herself.

She's making my headache worse.

I turn away from the track and look at her with a deadpan expression. "Sooo, why are you here exactly?"

She tilted her head to the side. "Can I not see a friend?"

I give her a baffled expression. "Since when were we friends?"

We worked together as assassins.

She recoiled as if I said something insane. "The hell do you mean? Sakamoto, Nagumo, you, and I lived together, did a huge job together, ate together, and hung out together. Even if it was for a few weeks, you became a part of our group."

I kept my deadpan expression. "We were only together since the Order didn't have enough rooms."

She looked up, closed her eyes, and smiled. "Well, we are friends whether you like it or not."

Unlike the many idiots in the world, she's just weird.

I shook my head. "I've already cut ties with the JAA. We're done working together. Leave me alone."

She raised an eyebrow. "You didn't cut ties with your friends, though."

I rub my forehead in annoyance.

Before I respond, she keeps running her mouth. "Nagumo says he misses you...well, kinda. Sakamoto isn't much of a talker, but I'm sure he also kinda likes you. And me, well, I think you're the final puzzle piece to our little friend group. You've been gone for a while, and it sucks not having you around."

I move to the next seat, removing her arm from my shoulder in the process. "I'm not going to ask again. Leave me alone."

She rests her cheek on her fist. "Is this really what you want to do instead of keeping in touch with your buddies? Becoming a gambling bum? You're out of a job. What better than to have people who will stick up for you?"

I rest my elbows on my thighs. "You're with the JAA. Anything I say or do can be relayed through them if they ask you."

She rolls her eyes. "You don't trust people, do you?"

I give her a side-eye. "Trust can get you killed in this line of work."

She shrugged and stood up. "Well, in any case, I'm done talking. I just came here to extend a hand since it seemed like you needed one. Remember, you have people who will have your back, including me. The invitation still stands. You can meet us at OUR apartment."

After that, she turned around and left the stadium, leaving me to think.

...

Is this really what you want to do instead of keeping in touch with your buddies? Becoming a gambling bum?

I just came here to extend a hand since it seemed like you needed one.

...

"If you're desperate, you'll always lose. Well, if you try to win, you'll still lose."

...

My life can't get even more fucked up.

I guess I'll take the gamble.

If I lose, I can always destroy the JAA.

Win or lose, this is gonna be annoying.