Black Badger

I said I'd check my schedule and get back to them.

I reviewed the backlog of messages and tidied up my surroundings. There were packages and contacts from each of the two elders. I didn't remember giving them my address or contact info.

Of course, it was pointless to ask how they had found out.

Eric Airheart had sent a box of cigars, just as he'd mentioned.

The moment I smelled them, I knew they were high-end cigars. It made sense, of course.

There was also a note written in elegant handwriting.

[Looking forward to working with you, Prometheus.]

I set the note aside and checked the message from Yekaterina.

It came from a restricted number, but I knew it was her right away.

[Come to think of it, I haven't properly thanked you for training my person so well.]

It was about Lee Seung-hyun.

I let out a sigh and exited the message window. I'd have to talk to Lee Seung-hyun separately at some point. I'd trained not just him but his colleagues too, so I wasn't particularly close to him.

But given how things had turned out, I'd need to say something eventually.

I had a lot I wanted to ask, too.

Sighing again, I checked the other messages.

There was a short one from Ricardo.

[Mission scheduled for late November]

That was a longer gap than expected.

It was surprising to have a specific date. Up until now, this job had felt like things only cropped up when problems arose. Was something scheduled to happen at the end of November, or was this about resolving an existing issue then?

Whatever it was, I'd find out when the time came.

I arranged a lunch meetup in the group chat with Tom and Hesi, then paced around the cabin. Once my tasks were done, the heavy realities I'd been trying to ignore came rushing back. I paced the room aimlessly to suppress the building emotions, but eventually gave up.

I burrowed into the bed and started crying.

Ray.

Ray, I'm sorry.

*

Yoon didn't say much when he saw me show up for morning exercise with puffy eyes.

That was the benefit of having a mentor like him. He was emotionally steady, which made him easy to deal with in odd ways.

Whatever the state of my messed-up feelings, weekday life returned to staying in the dormitory and attending scheduled training sessions.

I practiced shooting.

Unlike swordsmanship, the lessons followed a standard curriculum.

Yoon wasn't particularly kind, but he wasn't emotional either, and he quickly noticed my changes. He was turning out to be a surprisingly good mentor.

"You seem more sensitive?"

I nodded at Yoon, tormented by the muffled gunshots through my earplugs.

"Ever since getting the injection from Jae-yeon, my senses have sharpened."

"I was planning to look into it sometime. When's convenient for you?"

"If you're serious, don't ask it so straightforwardly."

Of course, a mentor was always serious...

I tried to ignore the reality.

Fortunately, Yoon didn't seem inclined to train me doubly for a while. He'd recently taken an interest in some research that didn't involve me. I didn't ask what it was, figuring I wouldn't understand anyway.

I ate lunch and dinner with Tom and Hesi all week.

They'd had their own intense experiences, apparently.

They'd turned a C Zone spot into a D Zone alongside Angela, Kal, and other seniors. From what I heard, it was the next territory expansion area that Ye-hyeon had scouted.

I recalled the conversation at Choi Je-seok's mansion about how territory expansion was running later than usual.

"It would've been nice if all three of us could go together."

"Yeah. The next mission has us all splitting up completely."

"New recruits rarely get assigned to the same mission anyway."

Tom responded as I munched on my sandwich.

His signature red curly hair and freckles were unchanged.

"During the first year with a mentor, you're too busy rotating through various seniors under their guidance."

"Oh, right?"

"Yeah, but they say you won't get another period like the probation year for building bonds with people."

Hesi chimed in after swallowing a sandwich stuffed with ham.

It sounded like advice from Angela and Kal. Hesi slurped down his cola and raised his pinky finger.

"So, let's make the most of these mission-free training days as the three of us. Dinner then basketball?"

"Hmm... sure. But I'm playing guitar tomorrow."

"Oh, guitar? Let me hear it tomorrow."

Tom nodded a bit shyly at my question.

We always ate lunch and dinner together when there were no missions or special plans, except on weekends. Hesi and Tom usually visited family on weekends.

I'd hole up alone in the dormitory or cabin, playing games. When my eyes got tired, I'd set the console aside and replay memories, getting swept up in sorrow. If I could escape the heavy self-loathing and loss, I'd surf the internet to learn about the world.

Time passed like that, and it was the end of October.

The week with my appointment with Shu, and probably Walker too.

The appointment was on the last day of October.

*

The sky was high and clear.

On the day of the appointment, I planned to head to the game shop in Harlem District before evening. I'd meet Shu a bit before lunch in the headquarters reception room.

It was October 31st, so there were people in costumes on the streets.

Not many yet, since it was still daytime. Once inside headquarters, even those few disappeared. Wandering the quiet building, I arrived at the reception room earlier than scheduled. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

And there I ran into Ska, who was brewing coffee.

Why was he here?

Ska turned as I entered the reception room, saw me frozen in place, and grinned.

"You look fine."

"Ah, yes."

I bowed my head slightly.

"Thanks to you."

I closed the reception room door and walked in slowly.

Ska watched me approach silently, one hand in his pocket. He was in a neat suit as always. Wrinkle-free premium fabric and a watch that seemed perfectly matched.

He just wasn't wearing a tie—heading out soon?

"What brings you here on the weekend?"

The aide picked up a paper cup and tossed the question.

He'd beaten me to the one I wanted to ask. I slipped my phone into my baseball jacket pocket and replied casually.

"I have an appointment with a Shu Diamond employee."

"Shu?"

Ska echoed with a faint smile.

"Getting a free meal?"

"Yes. Since she's my direct senior, she offered to treat me once. Our schedules aligned today."

I didn't mention Walker might join for dinner. He probably wouldn't care.

Ska nodded, keeping his faint smile.

"I see. It's good to get close with other badgers. You'll end up on missions together eventually. On that note, how about a meal with me?"

"Yes?"

I blurted out stupidly at the sudden invitation.

"A meal?"

"Yeah. Before you head out on that mission with Ricardo, if possible. From what I recall... late November, right?"

"Yes. That's correct. Before late November...?"

"I'm free next Friday evening."

Why the sudden offer?

Of course, I didn't have the guts to ask. A bit pale, I said next Friday evening worked fine.

If it weren't for the resurfaced memories dragging my energy down, I'd have replied something like, "I can always make time for a meal with you, Aide."

Just like that, I had an appointment with my superior.

Ska chuckled softly as he watched me, looking worn out, input the schedule on my phone.

"No need to look so uncomfortable. Technically, you're older."

Oh, come on.

He'd delivered comfort and "I heard your story" so efficiently.

I blinked several times and forced a smile.

"I'm still getting used to that fact."

"You'll adapt once you're comfortable in front of the three high command members and Yoon."

That subtly conveyed that only the four of us should know.

I nodded obediently.

I was about to ask why he, the aide, was here on the weekend. But the reception room door opening cut me off.

Shu Van something?

"Shu..."

No, not her?

The person entering was a bit taller than Shu.

About Ami's height.

Atop their shoulders sat a massive pumpkin.

"A pumpkin?"

An orange giant pumpkin carved with familiar eyes and mouth.

"Pumpkin head?"

"It's a Jack O' Lantern."

Ami's voice leaked from the holes in the pumpkin.

I let out a small laugh at the still-standing pumpkin. Ska chuckled lowly and pulled his hand from his pocket.

The aide gave his impression first.

"Cute."

Look at this guy?

"Come to think of it, it's already Halloween. I'll give you candy, so come here."

No wonder he's popular with everyone.

But before the pumpkin head—Ami—could move, the reception room door burst open.

And finally, Shu entered. But she wasn't alone. Ro came in ahead of her. The senior in his casual striped T-shirt and faded jeans today.

The curly-haired man strode in, then stopped dead upon seeing Ami.

"What?"

He furrowed his thick brows and stared at the pumpkin head.

The pumpkin neither moved nor responded.

Ro, who also hadn't budged or spoken, raised his fist and tapped the pumpkin.

"Peanut? That you, Peanut?"

"Ah."

Ami's voice leaked out.

"Don't do that."

Ro kept going.

Each time, Ami told him to stop. But Ro showed no sign of listening. Tap. He lightly smacked the pumpkin head and teased, "Hello? Hello?"

Ami got annoyed.

But her warnings did no good.

The curly-haired man tapped the pumpkin again.

"Where'd you get something as big as your body?"

"Don't do that."

"Does wearing a pumpkin make you a peanut?"

"Don't do that."

"No thanks."

Tap.

Should I intervene?

As I pondered, Ami exploded.

"Stop iiiit!"

Hilarious.

I watched with amusement as Ami went berserk, pummeling Ro.

Thud thud smack thud thud thud. The sounds filled the reception room. Ro urgently leaned back, going into defense mode.

"Damn, that hurts! It hurts!"

The senior blocked Ami's fists with his forearm and yelled.

But Ami didn't stop. The badger with the Jack O' Lantern head hammered Ro with both fists. Thud smack thud thud thud thud.

Rhythmic punching sounds.

A few minutes later, it was Ro who snapped.

"Damn it!" he shouted, extending his arm to yank off the pumpkin and toss it to the corner.

"Eek! My pumpkin!"

Thankfully, Ska caught it safely.

But now Ami and Ro were really trading punches. As a fight between badgers, the noises echoing in the reception room were intense.

Clear, resounding echoes in the bright space.

No one was startled.

This must happen often.

Shu curved around them to approach me. Ska leisurely went to break it up.

I looked down at the senior who stopped in front of me and gave a faint smile.

"Senior."

"Just call me Shu."

The naturally blonde senior with pink-dyed tips underneath, Shu Diamond, wore a light purple cardigan.

"Our age difference isn't that big anyway."

Probably not, but I nodded agreeably. Shu stared up at my acquiescence, then turned her head silently. I'd noticed it when we first met, but she didn't show much expression. It felt different from Yoon's dryness, though.

Shu just seemed incredibly composed. Introverted, but not shy.

"Let's take the bus. I don't like driving much."

"Ah, yes. I'm fine with anything."

"Mind stopping by my place first?"

Hm?

Both Ska and I were surprised by the unexpected words, but Shu headed to the reception room entrance with her usual sleepy expression.

She glanced back when I didn't follow right away.

"I forgot something."

If that's the case.

I greeted the remaining seniors and left the reception room.

I followed the two-tone-haired senior to the bus stop.

*

Shu's place was in the busiest part of Center Core's bustling district.

A small studio on the second floor. At the end of iron stairs so rickety that even a badger might break their neck falling. The building didn't look built for living at all, yet there was a studio.

Opening the door filled my view with pastel and neon colors.

Posters covered the walls. Decorations sat atop three monitors. Five or six hoverboards stood by the narrow entrance. Inline skates. Colorful shoes. Dolls lay on a sky-blue blanket.

In the corner sat a game console.

I nearly dropped to my knees the moment I saw the glowing console in the corner.

"That's..."

My voice wouldn't come out properly.

"Senior, that's..."

"Ah."

Shu made a flat sound after checking what I was pointing at.

She watched the brightly shining console in the cramped room for a moment, then nodded.

"Yeah. I like retro games."

Retro games?

Those were the games Ray and I used to play together.