𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐬

file 061 | the clash of red and black: beginning

episodes 491—504 — clash of red and black

"What? You haven't been able to contact him?"

"Yeah, phone calls aren't going anywhere," Ran replied, worried. "Remember the plans we put together for break? We've had to put them on hold since no one can reach him."

"How long's it been since you were able to get in contact with him?" Suzume asked, tapping her foot on the ground.

"About the beginning of the break. He mentioned something about a clue at Haido Central Hospital."

Suzume froze at the name of the hospital. No, that's... That's where we're hiding Mizunashi Rena. How did he find her? No one should since the FBI's hiding her, so how?

"The clue wasn't about his sister, though," Ran continued, oblivious to her girlfriend's inner panic.

"What was it then?"

"His father. He said he found a member of his father's company. Eisuke-kun was very happy. Maybe ever since he lost contact with him, his father and the people from his company have been looking for his sister. It was after that that we stopped being able to contact Eisuke-kun. Maybe he and that colleague have been searching for his sister together during the winter break." Ran paused hesitantly. "Or...is this about them?"

"I can't say right now," Suzume told her with a regretful frown as she saw James and Jodie pull up in front of her house. "Maybe later. I don't know. Just...don't mention too much of this to anyone else, okay?"

"Okay. Stay safe, you hear me?"

"I hear you."

~ — — — ~

"Sorry for making you come, Jodie-sensei," Suzume apologized as the two women sat in the living room on the couch.

"It's fine," the older woman waved off with a smile. "Talking on the phone near the hospital is risky, anyway. Besides, I have something I want to tell you as well. Well, what is it? Whatever it is that's bothering you."

"It's Hondou Eisuke. He's gone to Haido Central Hospital," Suzume said.

Jodie hummed. "That boy that's looking for his sister that resembles Mizunashi Rena, huh? It's true that he visited the hospital at the end of the year."

"He did?" Suzume blinked.

"Yeah. He showed some nurses his sister's photo and asked about her. But since they don't know that Mizunashi Rena was there, they wouldn't have been able to tell him anything."

"While that's nice to know, I wasn't talking about his sister," Suzume stated, making Jodie pause. "He said that he found a colleague of his father's there."

"H-His father?" Jodie stuttered. "You mean... From the Company?"

"It looks like they're searching for Mizunashi Rena as well," Suzume told her. "I don't know their intentions, though."

Jodie grumbled. "That could really be a problem. If it's the Company, then they may know the faces of us FBI agents. Those guys stop at nothing, so I wouldn't put it past them to do something rough, even if it's in a hospital."

"Which means it's likely Mizunashi Rena's location could be exposed to the Organization," Suzume said, rubbing a hand down her face.

"It would be fine if they'd just stopped into Haido Central Hospital for a visit," Jodie said. "But if they're hiding inside, we have to take measures quickly."