Applause rang out as we scaled down the building, champions. The men we were once fighting, now cheering, patting our backs and clapping as we passed them by, giving us warm and congratulatory smiles. All the way down, the four of us shared glances of shared glee as we strolled down the red carpet of sweet victory.
As we stepped out the front door, I was greeted with a familiar face.
"Nice work, kid. It was a well-worked plan; we didn't even have a chance to reorganise."
It was the same guy who hid in the other room. He patted my shoulder and sent me and my squad on our way.
We meandered through the hallways of the special operations department, psyching each other up.
"Yo, Aiko, your shots were clean!"
Kaoru patted Aiko on the back as he looked her in the face, through closed eyes.
"Seriously, before I even had my target in my sights, he was down."
"You're just too slow, Kaoru."
The two laughed, arms around shoulders.
"oh and you, Nozomi. I saw the way you took that guy out in the hallway. I swear, the way you flew through the window and took him down in one move was so badass, dude!"
Spirits were high as Kaoru patted everyone on the back. Nozomi and Kaoru were in a fierce compliment battle, each trying to outdo the other. Meanwhile, Aiko crept up to me, wrapped her arm around my shoulder, pulling me to her level.
"Nice plan, Hiko, you make a pretty good captain, I guess."
The words themselves didn't sound it, but her tone of voice made it sound warm and trusting. I guess this is her way of complimenting people. I turned around to face the team, Aiko taking her arm off my shoulder and jumping in front of me, beside Kaoru and Nozomi, who were practically wrapped up in a bromantic embrace, eyes closed, laughing, before opening them, giving me my full attention as soon as I opened my mouth.
"That was great, guys. You three are honestly amazing. I'm so glad I was placed in a team with you."
The three continued looking at me with pleasant smiles, stretched across their faces.
"We're happy to have you as our boss, Miss Suzuki."
Nozomi was the first to give his appreciation. He never seemed to be very vocal in doubting me; whether he did or not, he was willing to take a shot on me from the beginning. The man's a stern professional.
"Yeah, you're alright, Hiko."
Aiko gave her thanks in her own way, and Kaoru followed with energetic praise.
"Yo, Himiko, that plan was crazy. How did you come up with it?"
"I just used the tools at my disposal."
I opened my arms, pointing at them all.
"Each of you brings something that can sway the advantage in our favour, and if we combine those strengths together, we're one hell of a force to be reckoned with."
Kaoru put his fist in the middle and looked between the three of us, signalling us to join in. We all followed, placing our fists together in one big fistbump. Kaoru then slowly pulled his hand away, wiggling his fingers in a wave-like motion, making the sound of an explosion with his mouth. We knew it was stupid, but we repeated it.
"That was nice work, you four."
We were back in the debriefing room. This time, without disappointment in the air choking us. We all sat in our signature postures, great big smiles plastered on our faces, trying our best not to let our pride leak out.
"That was very efficient work from all of you, if this was a real situation, I don't think anyone would look at that thinking there was anything better you could've done."
"You each watched each other's backs, and made sure everyone was keeping up."
"Great shooting. You See Aiko? look what happens when you time it right."
Aiko nodded before looking to me in appreciation.
"That was a resounding success. Few have been as efficient in the hostage simulation as you. You moved together, in sync; they didn't stand a chance."
We looked to each other, proud.
"Just as a reminder, tomorrow, we move to the Grossaint branch. Just a reminder to pack essentials, we're placing you together in a shared accommodation, it's already furnished, just bring essentials. Your stuff at home will be placed in a storage facility, paid for by us. Any large items you want to bring with you. Just let our moving team know, and we'll have them sent within a few weeks."
"Also, go get yourselves some drinks, take Jen with you as well, you've all earned it."
We all raised a unanimous cheer, the mixture of pride we've been holding in and the excitement of drinks together all coming out in one big moment.
"To Himiko squad!"
"TO HIMIKO SQUAD!"
We clinked our drinks together, raised in the centre of the table, bathed in the yellow glow of the light above and the smoke and fumes from the marinated meat and vegetables steaming below, in the centre of the table. Kaoru picked the spot; apparently, he goes with his friends all the time. The hosts even welcomed him by name as he walked through the door.
"Guys, can we pick another name? Himiko Squad's a bit... you know..."
I was a bit embarrassed about the squad being named after me. I vocalised my embarrassment, rubbing the back of my neck at the same time.
Nozomi was the first to step in, slamming his hand on the table as he leaned into the centre.
"How about the Furious Four?"
Jen whispered to herself.
"Whoa."
Aiko pushed him out of the way as she leaned forward to give her idea.
"What, no, that's lame, how about The Cherry Blossoms?"
Jen whispered to herself.
"Whoa."
"What? We're not a rock band. We need something that sounds intimidating, one that lingers in the hearts of evil doers. LIke... The Four Ghosts."
Jen whispered to herself.
"Meh."
Kaoru could barely hold in the excitement as he blasted the idea out at us. It made it all the harder to announce the fact that I thought:
"Guys... These names are way too corny."
We all agreed in silence. Only the sound of sizzling and distant chatting could be heard as we entered a unanimous state of thought. But we came to nothing. Jen livened up, chipping in her idea.
"How about you start with each giving yourselves callsigns, it might be easier then."
We all looked at her. That was a pretty good idea. We all dispanded our unification of thought, shifting to our own individual bubbles as we each thought of our own cool names. Aiko was the first to chirp up.
"I'm a reaper."
"Whoa"
Kaoru jumped in next.
"I'm Echo."
"Whoa"
"What? Echo?"
Aiko cut in, in a confused, mocking tone.
"Because it sounds cool, that's the point. Why are you a reaper?"
Aiko slouched back down in silence, arms crossed; it seems she had the same idea.
"Since I'm the field medic, I'll just keep it simplekeep it simple, I'm Doc."
"Whoa"
Short and simple, a name befitting a professional like Nozomi. And no matter what you say, Jen always seemed to think the name was cool, such a simple creature. But now it was my turn.
"I'm-"
Before I could finish, Aiko butted in; she already decided for me."
"Blossom. You're Blossom, I don't want to hear any buts."
"Why am I Blossom?"
"Because you're as cute as a flower."
Jen responded. It was a bit embarrassing, but it also felt kind of sweet.
"I was gonna say you're like a flower on the outside, deadly on the inside."
Aiko gave her own response.
"But blossoms aren't dangerous. Why not something like Bella-Donna or something?"
"Because Blossom is more like... Nepponese, like you're some mythical Samurai swords-woman."
Aiko snapped back with her answer. It still didn't make sense based on her previous logic, but it sounded kind of cool when she put it like that.
"Yeah, sure, I'm Blossom."
Aiko smiled before sitting back in her seat, trying to hide her appreciation for accepting her name. We sat in silence, which didn't help us decide on a group name at all, and now we went by call signs, so Himiko squad didn't make sense anymore. What, were we the Blossom squad now? Suddenly, Kaoru slammed his hands on the table. It seems he had an idea.
"I played this game when I was a kid."
Aiko slouched back down in disappointment.
"No guys, seriously, it was about this international team of counter terrorists, who used to breach terrorist lockouts as we did before. So based on that, we should call ourselves. Ghost-Line Six. It sounds intimidating, whilst also sounding like some military strike force."
It had a nice ring to it. I liked it. Nozomi was a bit confused.
"Why six?"
Before giving Kaoru the chance to answer, I cut in.
"I don't care. Six is my lucky number, so I'm fine with it."
With that, we unanimously agreed to be Ghost-Line Six. I raised my glass to the centre.
"To Ghost-Line Six"
"TO GHOST-LINE SIX"
We finished off our drinks. Ordered more and tucked into the food in front of us.
"I think for the good of the team, we should get to know each other better."
Nozomi raised the question that had us intrigued. It would do us some good to get to know each other a little better. We all looked at each other with smiling curiosity, except Jen, who seemed a bit anxious.
"My names Nozomi and I like cooking."
He threw up as he piled more food on his plate.
"I can also beat any one of you in chess, with my eyes closed."
I giggled as I put my drink to my lips. Yeah, right, I'd have him begging for mercy if he played me.
"Well, Nozomi, I like video games and, as you could imagine, building drones."
Kaoru involved himself before slowly turning his head to me, placing his head in his hands in intrigue. I turned to my left, and Jen and Nozomi were also looking at me, and in the far corner of the opposite booth, I could see Aiko subtly looking my way. It seems I was next.
"Well... I play a bit of piano, and I used to play video games as well."
We all then, in sync, turned our gaze towards Aiko in the corner. Who was still slouched in the corner. After noticing we were all staring at her, she rolled her eyes and answered.
"I like... Baking-."
"Awwww!"
"Shut up, Kaoru!"
She hit him in the arm as he started laughing.
"wittle Aiko wikes to bake pwetty wittle cakes."
"Shut up... Actually, I have a question. Jen, I've noticed, you don't look like you're from Japan. Where are you from?|
Jen started to scratch her arm as she began to feel anxious from the question. But she delivered a response through sad eyes.
"I don't know where I'm from... I don't even know my name. One day, I was found at the front door of an orphanage in Marleille. They called me Jenna Maria, MariaI because they said I was a child sent by the saints."
A small smile poked through the fog of sadness clouding her face.
"I used to play the drums to escape. No one adopted, and at the age of 16, I became afraid that by the time I'm 18, no one would accept me and I'd end up alone on the streets. So I made the choice to enlist in the Troisine military under the name Jenna Maria Sanchez, because Sanchez was a common name in the orphanage. That's where I became obsessed with weapons. I began to know every weapon like the back of my hand. Mr Tosin Oladeji had scouts searching across the world for the best talents to work alongside him, and he must have seen me as one."
I see why she was so sad when I brought up my dad back when we first met. She's been through the bottom of the barrel.
"And yet here you are, shit, it's an achievement you managed to make it all the way up here."
"Aiko!"
I called to her, fearing her blunt tone was gonna hurt Jen's feelings.
"It's fine, Himiko, I'm where I am thanks to the kindness of those around me. I'm working a job that I love, working to try and make the world a better place."
Nozomi patted her on the back. We all went back to enjoying the night. Jen demanded it, in fact, otherwise as she put it. If we didn't go back to enjoying our night, she'll make it so our gun explodes when we fire the trigger... meow.