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The Beach was abuzz with noise, the cheering of many voices overlapping into a roar. The send off for Hatter was flamboyant and showy, matching the man quite well. He sat in a convertible, waving to his followers as they cheered for his success.
Kazumi hung to the back of the crowd, watching the militants carefully. Chishiya's plan was in full effect now, and soon they would see if it ended in success or all of them dead.
Stealing the playing cards would be no simple task and to Kazumi's continued chagrin would most definitely require someone to get hurt.
'Better them than you', a part of her said.
Hatter's car drove off towards the city, leaving the crowd to slowly disperse. She watched it grow small in the distance before it turned a corner, disappearing from sight.
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Kazumi wasn't sure how to fill the stretch of time following Hatter's departure. No one had approached her for the moment, or perhaps they simply couldn't find her.
She had considered seeking out Arisu or Usagi briefly, but wasn't sure if she could stomach it knowing the truth of how much they'd truly be risking in this plan. Instead she resolved to ease her anxious thoughts of their plan being exposed and subsequently being killed by plotting an escape route should she need it.
The roof was certainly a useful location in her endeavor, not only could she see the entirety of the Beach's exterior, but her vision extended well into the city.
It felt a bit odd to be doing things alone, from the amount of times she had run into him she and Chishiya had begun to feel joined at the hip.
At least now she had a chance to think of her survival and her survival alone. The beach was well protected from outside threats, but with internal tensions steadily rising it was doomed to end in a bloodbath.
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The night came and went with no significant events. Kazumi spent the evening with Kuina, and the two swapped stories from their lives. Kazumi learned of Kuina's sick mother and hand-to-hand prowess and Kuina learned of Kazumi's deceased mother and military father.
Chishiya was nowhere to be found most of the night, appearing once to join the two, although he didn't speak much, simply taking in their animated conversation which had evolved to the thrilling discussion of food preservation.
By the time dawn peaked Kazumi was fast asleep, her sleep much more restful than the night before.
