Hiding In Plain Sight

The Best Friends Abandon You

Shuichi's eyes widened, he'd never met another Ultimate before and had no idea how to approach the situation. "Um, what's your name?"

"Shut up," the girl hissed, turning to his uncle with a glare only the best assassin could muster. "The deal was me and you, not me, you and your apprentice. You can shove the deal up your ass, I'll find a better detective to help me."

"W-wait! I'm only here because I'm like you, I'm an Ultimate," Shuichi tried to defend his uncle. The girl turned her glare to him.

"Prove it." Shuichi activated his power, watching as sparkles flew around his face. The girl stared at him closely, her shoulders loosening as the sparkles faded away. "Alright, you've proven yourself, but I'm not happy with the situation. You," she turned to the man, who'd never broken character the entire confrontation, "have made a mistake lying to me Saihara."

"I apologise, but I have what you wanted, and you know as well as I that he won't share your identity." Shuichi watched his uncle pull a roll of papers from the inner pocket of his jacket, handing it to the girl. She unrolled them and carefully analysed each word she read, nodding her head. "Seems good, go ahead with it." Reaching into her pocket, the female pulled out two wads of cash and handed it to Shuichi's uncle.

"I'll have this finalised immediately Ayaka. Come on Shuichi, let's go," his uncle turned to leave, pocketing the rolled-up papers back into his inner jacket pocket.

"No, he stays. I want to talk to him," the woman stopped the two men. Shuichi gave his uncle a confused look, to which the older man just nodded and left the two alone. Fuck, what if she kills me? "I'm not going to hurt you, get that look off your face, I just want to talk to another Ultimate."

"Oh, um okay."

"Your name's Shuichi?"

The boy nodded. "You're Ayaka?"

"It's not my real name. I'm getting that detective to change my identity," the girl explained. "Tell me about yourself."

"Um, well, I'm in my early twenties and I'm a detective for my uncle who you just met." Having never introduced himself properly to people, Shuichi rubbed the back of his neck to hope for the awkward tension wrapping around his body to disappear.

"You're dead." 

"W-what?"

"You're dead now Shuichi, don't give out your information so easily to people. There's a reason I haven't told you my real name." The girl narrowed her eyes, never breaking her gaze. "If you hadn't seen proof that I'm an Ultimate, you'd be as good as dead right now."

"Right. Well, I have to go to work, um, nice seeing you?" The two nodded at each other, a buzzing from Shuichi's pant pocket interrupting the goodbye. Shuichi opened it to see his uncle's name on the screen. Taking a few steps from Ayaka, Shuichi answered the call and held his mobile to his ear. "Uncle?"

"Shuichi, do not come outside that warehouse, understand?" His uncle's voice held a faint panic as he attempted to maintain professionalism.

"Why? What's going on?"

"I've had to drive away, police told me to evacuate since they suspect Ultimates are in the area. Remember what we planned, I'll meet you at the office okay? Stay safe." Shuichi hung up the call and turned to Ayaka, observing her disappear and reappear at the other end of the warehouse. She met his gaze and waved him over. Ayaka has to know what's going on, I can hear the police cars around us.

As Shuichi reached Ayaka, she used her power again and teleported to the other side of the wall. "That hole there, you should fit." Shuichi analysed the wall, finding a decent side hole against the floor. I don't know if I can fit, but I have no choice. Dropping to his knees, he crawled on the ground and crammed his body through the hole, only just getting through with Ayaka pulling his arm to help.