Outbound

Reuniting The Past

Wednesday

Hayakawa heads to the hotel room early in the morning, his feet tapping silently against the carpeted hallway. When he reaches the room, he pauses, hearing the sounds of laughter and chatter from within. He can hear the voices of Naoya, Ms. Fujiwara, and Jun. Curious, Hayakawa opens the door and steps into the room, his eyes scanning over the group inside. Naoya, Ms. Fujiwara, and Jun sit around a table, their faces lit up with grins and amusement. They're clearly in the middle of a conversation, but they stop abruptly as Hayakawa steps into the room. Naoya, noticing Hayakawa's presence, flashes him a friendly smile. "Ah, Hayakawa. Perfect timing." He gestures for him to join them, indicating an empty seat nearby. "We're just in the middle of some catch-up chat. Have a seat, join us." Hayakawa nods, a small smile playing on his lips as he takes the offered seat. "Don't mind if I do." He glances around the table, his eyes taking in the atmosphere. "So, I'm interrupting some important chatter, huh?" "I was just telling them about funny moments from my past" Naoya says with a smile.

Hayakawa chuckles, a friendly glint in his eyes. "Oh, those memories always make for an interesting conversation." He takes a seat, his gaze shifting to Naoya. "Anything particularly humorous that stands out from your past, Naoya?" Naoya thinks for a moment, a smirk playing on his lips. "Ah, let me think..." He rubs his chin thoughtfully, his eyes lighting up as he recalls one moment in particular. "Oh, I've got one. "There was this one time when we were on a mission, and we got into this huge firefight..." He begins to recount the tale, making sure to incorporate the humorous elements of the story, like his companion's failed attempt at stealth or their ridiculous escape plan. "This was when I was younger than Jun though." He clarifies and finishes telling the story. "Ah, the good old days of your youth, huh?" Hayakawa chuckles, a nostalgic spark in his eyes. "Young, stupid, and fearless. Those must've been some wild adventures you got into." "More stupid than fearless but yeah you could say that. What brings you here today, Hayakawa? Is the crew finally ready to meet me?" Hayakawa leans back in his chair, his expression contemplative. "They are. The whole crew is on standby. If you give the word, we can arrange the meeting right now." He recalls each member of his old crew - their faces, their personalities, their strengths and weaknesses. One by one, his memories of them come flooding back, and he can almost see them standing before him. He takes a deep breath, his voice steady and resolute. "Alright. Let's do it. Arrange the meeting."

2 P.M

The atmosphere in the hall is tense and still. Hayakawa stands in the center, flanked by Naoya, Ms. Fujiwara, and Jun. Their eyes scan the room, observing the faces of the various crew members who have gathered to meet Naoya. Some of them look indifferent, while others regard him with a mix of suspicion and curiosity. Naoya steps forward, his gaze sweeping over the gathering of his old crew members. He takes a moment to study each familiar face, his mind racing as he recalls memories of their old adventures together. He then lifts his chin and speaks, his voice clear and commanding. "Welcome back, everyone. It's been a while. I called you all here today because I have an important mission in mind, one that requires the skills and loyalty of my old crew." "I assume you've all heard of the recent assassination attempt on me. I was lucky to escape with my life, but whoever is behind this isn't done yet. They're still out there, and I need your help to put an end to them." Naoya's eyes sweep over the crewmembers, his expression serious. "I know that some of you might have moved on, but let me remind you that we are not just individuals, we are a team. A family. And I need your help now more than ever."

Naoya Koji's old crew consists of 10 members including himself:

Ryu Katsura - Tall, broad-shouldered, with intense, piercing eyes. He has a commanding presence and an aura of strength.

Kyoko Mori - Of average height, with short, spiky black hair and a lean, muscular build.

Kento Yamada - Tall and lean, with wavy hair and a stoic expression.

Yumi Sato - Short and petite, with a mischievous smile. Lively and agile.

Tatsuya Okada - Stocky and burly, with a scar running down his cheek.

Mako Hirano - Small and slim, with short hair and glasses. She tends to speak softly and has a quiet, shy demeanor.

Daisuke Takasu - Average height and build, with a goatee and a mischievous spark in his eyes. He is cool and collected, often speaking with wit and sarcasm.

Akira Honda - Tall and lean, with unkempt hair and a wild look in his eyes. He is the crew's "wild card", often acting on impulse and reckless behavior.

Hiro Hayakawa - Hayakawa is a tall, muscular man with a shaved head and a permanent 5 o'clock shadow on his face. He has piercing eyes and a serious expression, making him appear intimidating to those who don't know him. 

Naoya Koji - He has long, neat black hair tied in a man bun and sharp, piercing eyes that seem to exude determination and focus. His face is currently clean shaven unlike the usual, and though time has weathered him, he still holds himself with a confident air. His hair in a man bun, he wears a suit and tie, and despite his age, there is no denying the aura of power and authority that surrounds him.

The hall is filled with a mix of reactions. Some of the crew members exchange glances, their expressions ranging from surprise to skepticism, while others regard Naoya with a mix of apprehension and interest. Kento, one of the tallest and most stoic-looking of the group, speaks up first. "If you truly expect us to rally behind you after all these years, you better have a solid plan for making things right," Kento's voice carries a hint of irritation and skepticism, his eyes fixed on Naoya. Naoya nods, a flicker of acknowledgement in his eyes. "I hear your concern, Kento. I know that trust has been broken, and I don't expect it to be easy," he responds with quiet resolve. "But believe me when I say, this mission is about more than just revenge, or settling old scores. It's about stopping a threat that affects all of us." 

Katsura speaks up, "Affects all of us? You brought us into this right now. Naoya's eyes remain steady, meeting Katsura's gaze straight on. "You're right, Katsura. I did bring you into this, and I understand your resentment and skepticism. But the truth is, this is bigger than just me. If I am targeted, so are you. Whoever is behind this has resources and connections, making them a serious threat." As Naoya's words sink in, more crew members begin to speak up. Mako, the soft-spoken woman with glasses, speaks up next, her voice hesitant but firm. "I agree with Katsura and Kento," she says. "What assurance do we have that you won't toss us aside once this is all over?" Naoya touches the shoulder of Jun and begins speaking."He is the first one to come after me and attempt to kill me for the price on my head. As you all can see, I have allied him rather than killing him on spot. He has been helping me ever since." There is a moment of silence as the crew members contemplate Naoya's words. Tatsuya, the stocky burly man with a scar running down his face, breaks the silence with a grunt. "Well, I'll be damned. Didn't expect you to pull off a move like that, Naoya." His words carry a hint of respect, despite his gruff exterior.

Meanwhile, Kyoko, the fierce woman with short, spiky black hair, raises an eyebrow in slight surprise. "Never thought I'd see the day where you'd take on a sidekick, Naoya." Her tone is slightly mocking but not entirely without admiration. Yumi, the short, petite woman with a mischievous smile, chimes in, "Well, well, well. Looks like our leader is taking on a new recruit. Let's just hope this one doesn't stab you in the back like the rest," she teases, her words dripping with sarcasm. "I didn't expect you to talk about yourself so soon, Yumi." Naoya says with authority. The crew members chuckle slightly, breaking the tension. Even Yumi smiles at the quick comeback. "You know me, boss. Just keeping things interesting," she retorts, her eyes twinkling with amusement. Akira, the wild and reckless member of the group, finally speaks up, his voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and arrogance. "Alright, I admit you've piqued my interest, Naoya. I'll consider joining this little quest of yours, but on one condition."

Naoya raises an eyebrow, intrigued. "And what might that condition be, Akira?" Akira cracks a sly grin, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "I want to make this whole thing interesting. Let's make a wager. If we successfully foil the assassination attempt on you and stop whoever is behind it, you'll give me a third of your assets." He glances around at the group, his cocky smile unwavering. "How about I take out my cock and we put a price on it?" Naoya says with annoyance and continues. "You think we have some type of robbery money going on? You are getting as much as Hayakawa is willing to pay you just like the old days. The crew members burst into laughter at Naoya's retort, amused by the unexpected comeback. Even Akira looks taken aback for a moment before joining in the laughter. "Alright, alright. Forget about the wager. I'm in," he says, his cocky smirk returning.

Suddenly, Daisuke, the member who had been quietly observing the whole time, pipes up. "Hold on a sec. Let me get this straight," he says, running a hand through his unkempt hair. "We're talking about someone trying to off you, Naoya, and you want us to jump right back into the fray, just like that?" Daisuke's words hang in the air as he awaits an answer. "When you put it like that, it really does sound stupid doesn't it?" Naoya accepts the recklessness of what he is doing.

Daisuke chuckles, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Well, yeah, it does sound a bit reckless." He glances around the room, meeting the gazes of the other crew members. "But hell, we've always been a group of fools, haven't we?" "Besides," Daisuke continues, "We've been through hell and back together. If anyone has any chance of surviving this chaos, it's us." His words seem to resonate with a few others in the room, and a sense of cautious agreement washes over the group. It's clear that despite their initial skepticism, the crew members are finally aligning behind Naoya's mission. Hayakawa, who had been observing from the side, nods in agreement. "I won't be joining this mission directly," he clarifies. "My role is to work behind the scenes and help facilitate connections and resources. Consider me your eyes and ears out there." Ms. Fujiwara, the older woman standing beside Naoya, speaks up. "I will also not be joining the mission directly," she says, her voice steady and firm. "However, I will lend my expertise in logistics and strategic planning to ensure that you guys are well-prepared for whatever challenges may come our way." The members of the crew regard her with nods of approval and appreciation for her input. Jun smirks and speaks right after.

"I will definitely be directly joining to this crew." The crew members turn their gaze to Jun, their expressions a mix of surprise and curiosity. Katsura, the tallest and most muscular of the group, speaks up first. "And what makes you think we'd want you on this team?" His tone drips with skepticism. Jun doesn't flinch under Katsura's challenging gaze. "I've proven my loyalty and skills time and again," he replies with confidence. "I've got a talent for taking out targets quickly and efficiently. I know I can pull my weight on this mission." Naoya nods in agreement. "Jun has been a loyal and capable ally throughout this ordeal," he chimes in. "I trust his skills and judgement implicitly. I can vouch for his ability to bring value and strength to this mission." Kyoko, the fierce woman with short, spiky black hair, glances at Jun contemplatively. "Well, if Naoya trusts him, that counts for something," she says, her voice tinged with a hint of respect. Yumi, the short, petite woman with a mischievous smile, chimes in again. "Besides, if nothing else, he'll make things entertaining," she teases, a glint of amusement in her eyes.

Jun decides to ask. "I understand this is a crew and all but do you guys not have any cool names or anything? It would be a waste to not have one." The crew members exchange glances, a collective sense of realization settling over them. They hadn't given themselves a name all these years. "You know what, kid," says Katsura, his eyes glinting with a newfound excitement. "That's a hell of an idea." Naoya exchanges glances with everyone in the room. "You guys sure about giving ourselves a name like we are a super hero team or something? Akira lets out a chuckle, "Hey, if super heroes can do it, why can't we?" The atmosphere in the room becomes more energized as the crew members start to consider the idea. One by one, they start throwing out names, some serious, others not so serious. "The Night Shadows?" "The Unseen Order?" "The Vigilante League?" The suggestions keep coming, each one more creative than the last. The crew members start to get more into the spirit, their voices raising as they banter and debate over which name would suit them best. "You guys are terrible at making names" Naoya says with a chuckle. The crew members grumble, their creative sparks immediately extinguished. "Well, none of you could come up with a better idea," someone retorts. There is a moment of awkward silence before someone pipes in again. Ms. Fujiwara, who had been observing the chaotic brainstorm, decides to intervene. "Enough. It's clear we won't get anywhere with this. Instead of trying to force a name, let's consider a name that comes naturally." She suggests. 

Naoya speaks up, "How about 'Outbound'"? The crew members ponder Naoya's suggestion. "Outbound, huh? Sounds more like we're about to take a vacation," Katsura quips. However, there is a thoughtful air among the group as they consider the name's implications. "We are taking a vacation back into the dirt and blood." Naoya says. The crew members exchange glances, a sense of newfound determination in their eyes. "Yeah, that's not a bad way to look at it," says Yumi, a hint of excitement in her voice. "So, Outbound it is, huh?" There is a general murmur of agreement from the group, a newfound sense of identity forming as they officially become "Outbound".