Chapter CI: Console
A few days later, Kota and Akiko, along with their friends Asahi, Natsuki, Enmei, and Gin, decide to hang out after another long week of OJT and classes. The squad meets up at a lively billiard hall downtown, where the vibe is light, and their competitive spirits start to flare up.
"Okay, who's going to be the first to lose to me?" Gin says with a smirk, lining up the cue ball for the first break.
Natsuki scoffs,
"Please, Gin, you're just lucky last time. This time, you'll be the one sinking the 8-ball early!"
Asahi chuckles,
"As long as no one injures themselves, I'm good. I just came from the ER shift, don't make me go back there for real."
The group laughs as Kota steps up to play against Gin. He fumbles with the cue stick at first, causing Akiko to giggle beside him.
"Kota, I think you're supposed to hit the ball, not the table."
"I'm warming up!" Kota retorts, mock pouting before making a solid break.
After a couple of rounds, Natsuki joins Kota for a doubles match against Gin and Enmei. Kota, focused on trying to sink the balls, miscalculates his aim and sends the cue ball flying off the table.
"Whoa!" Enmei ducks as it narrowly misses his head.
"I didn't sign up for dodgeball!"
The entire group bursts into laughter. Kota grins sheepishly.
"Okay, that's enough billiards for me."
Next, they head over to a famous fast-food restaurant nearby, known for its crispy fried chicken and quirky sides. As they sit down to eat, the conversation shifts toward their experiences in OJT.
"So, Asahi," Gin says between bites of chicken,
"what's the craziest thing you've seen in the ER?"
Asahi sets down his drink and leans in, his face serious but playful.
"I had this one patient who came in saying they 'accidentally' stapled their hand… twice."
The table bursts into laughter.
Natsuki jumps in,
"That's nothing! In the OR, we had a guy who swallowed an entire set of keys—had to be surgically removed!"
"Wait, wait," Enmei waves his hand.
"At ISU, we had to treat someone who thought mixing energy drinks with sleeping pills was a good idea. You can guess how that turned out."
Kota and Akiko laugh along with the rest, but Gin, leaning back with a grin, shares his own thrilling story.
"Well, my week was a bit different. We went on a patrol up the mountains. Guess what? We ran into a terrorist hideout."
Everyone's eyes widen.
"But don't worry, no one got hurt. A few gunshots, sure, but everyone came out okay. It was like a scene out of an action movie." He laughs, but his casual tone doesn't hide the underlying tension of the situation.
"Wow, Gin, always out there living on the edge!" Kota says, impressed.
"Meanwhile, Akiko and I just visited some sites. Airports, seawalls, and even a local swine multiplier."
"I still don't know what a swine multiplier is," Natsuki quips.
Akiko laughs.
"Basically, it's just a fancy term for a pig breeding facility. Not as exciting as Gin's story, but still, it's a big part of agriculture."
The table is filled with laughter and banter, but Natsuki, after glancing around, suddenly asks,
"By the way, where are Tengen and Hanako? Aren't they usually glued to your hip, Kota?"
Kota and Akiko exchange looks, tension creeping back into the conversation. Asahi, sensing the shift in mood, leans forward, lowering his voice,
"They probably needed some space. But seriously… what's been going on with them lately?"
Gin, who has been listening intently, adds,
"I don't know, I've got a bad feeling about those two. Something's off, like they're planning something. Are they?"
Akiko and Kota hesitate, but the pressure from their friends makes them spill the truth. "It's a long story,"
Kota begins, his voice quieter now. He explains the strange behaviors, the hostile encounters, and even the hacking incidents they've been dealing with. Akiko adds in her perspective, how Hanako and Tengen have been acting out in ways that were borderline creepy.
The group listens in shock, exchanging glances as they try to piece together what they've just heard. When Kota finishes, he pulls out his phone and shows them the recording they managed to get during one of the recent incidents involving the two.
"Wait, so this is all real?" Enmei asks, staring at the video.
Asahi leans in, eyes widening,
"Man, this is insane. Why didn't you tell us sooner?"
"I didn't want to drag everyone into it," Kota says, looking down.
"It's already complicated as it is."
Natsuki shakes her head,
"Complicated or not, you're our friends. We'd want to know if something's up."
Akiko nods gratefully.
"Thanks, guys. We just didn't know how to handle it at first."
Gin crosses his arms, looking resolute.
"Well, whatever they're planning, you've got us. We're not letting them get away with this."
The group nods in agreement, solidifying their stance in the matter. The atmosphere lightens slightly as Asahi tries to inject some humor.
"Besides, I've got some extra time this weekend if anyone needs their phone un-hacked again," he winks, making everyone chuckle.
After their hearty meal, they head over to the arcade to blow off some steam. The games provide a welcome distraction from the heavy conversation. Kota and Asahi engage in an intense racing game, with Asahi winning by a hair's breadth. Akiko and Natsuki cheer them on while Gin and Enmei battle it out in the claw machine, trying (and failing) to grab a giant stuffed bear.
"Come on, Gin, one more try!" Enmei urges as Gin curses the machine for being rigged.
Finally, the group heads to a nearby cafe to wind down. The sun begins to set as they sit around a cozy table, sipping on coffee and tea. The ambiance is calm, the perfect contrast to the chaos earlier in the day.
Natsuki glances at Kota and Akiko.
"You two are lucky you have each other. No matter what happens, you'll get through this."
Kota smiles at Akiko, squeezing her hand under the table.
"Yeah, we will."
As the night draws to a close, they bid each other goodbye, feeling a sense of camaraderie stronger than ever. Whatever Hanako and Tengen have in store, Kota and Akiko know they aren't alone in facing it.