The League of Espionage Photojournalists

Four

Dang it, I always think I can write more scenes in a day than I can. Maybe the philosophy of "more caffeine equals more words" reaches a point of limited return on investment. Maybe that's also why I'm shaking uncontrollably.

I also spent an unreasonable amount of time trying to pick names for the new characters. Next time, I'm flipping a coin and letting my perfectionism suffer.

Azami stared smugly into Keisuke's back. He continued disassembling his equipment as if he didn't notice, but she could see his shoulders tensing, turning more and more irritable at the accusation burning holes in his back.

"Well..." Azami finally began.
"Don't you dare." Keisuke interrupted coldly. Azami chuckled gleefully.
"You do know we're professionals, right?" she asked in mock innocence, "And you do know that professionals don't go dragging high schoolers right in the middle of a covert..."
"I get it, all right?!" Keisuke snapped, running an agitated hand through his hair. "Don't rub it in."

Azami sighed theatrically. "Our fearless point man, the perfect Keisuke Daishō, who's tracked the best spies this side of the Pacific with little so much as a slip, finally made a mistake!"

In spite of himself, Keisuke blushed. "How was I supposed to know?! How the hell did a high schooler get down there in the first place?!" Azami laughed victoriously. Keisuke stepped towards her, challenging.
"Laugh all you want. But I didn't see you stopping me from approaching her. You thought she was a kisha just as much as I did."
"Sure, that may be true," Azami responded mildly, "but you're still the one who'll have to answer to Chief for pointing a gun at a civilian girl's head."
"A stun gun!"
Keisuke was too easy to tease like this. Azami was relishing the moment of weakness from the usually hard, unbreakable point leader. And she intended to squeeze every last drop she could get out of it before the moment passed.
"You think she knew that? Talk about scarred for life, much..."

"Fine!" Keisuke sighed, throwing his hands down. "You're right. I made a mistake. A big one. Now will you at least be helpful and think with me of what to do about it?"
Azami groaned. "Don't bring in logic! I haven't finished having my fun yet!"
"You can do that later. Even if Ōgami Hachiro didn't see her, if their Cleaners pick up any hint of a rumor that someone was there, they'll find her."
Azami sighed, running a hand down her face. "And I don't suppose they'll let her off with a warning, no?"
Keisuke gave her a flat, pained look. "You do know what organization we're talking about.

"Their lightest sentence would be to kill her, before making the body into an example."

.... --- .-- -.. -.--

"MY HERO!!" Haruto is actually sobbing this time. Collapsed on the floor, clutching one of my hands and shaking it repeatedly, weeping uncontrollably. Takeshi looks more relieved than I've ever seen him, sending me a look of harried gratitude that almost forces his perpetually concerned facial muscles into a smile. Aika cackles again, largely focused on the Shakespearean display on the floor before me, though the did perform a rare five-second stop in her typing to admire the photos. Even Sakura looks impressed, nodding to me in approval. I stand, a bit awkwardly, but still beaming from the praise. It feels better than I ever remember, being recognized for my work. The computer on the table next to me has my thumb drive plugged in, the monitor screen displaying the images I took yesterday evening. The real ones, not the... other ones. Those I deleted. The warning from the previous night echoes in my head, still tugging on the knot in my stomach. But I avoid it, for now. Right now, the others are staring at me. And after the night I had -- waiting in the bitter cold outside the convenience store for half an hour until Sandayu came back from his break. Hoping, but not wanting to beg and trample his kindness, that he would throw in a little extra. Then the "thanks" I got from Auntie for coming back so late. After that, the smiling faces here feel especially precious, welcome.