Agent Zero

Chapter 6 - You're Not

Bonnie (June 16, 2025, 11:53 AM)

My instructor clapped his hands, signaling the end of my training session. I had just managed to disarm a suspect without causing any fatal harm. My sword fighting practice had paid off.

"You're doing great," he said, patting me on the shoulder. "But remember, focus on the moves, not just your opponent. You'll hit better that way."

I nodded, appreciating his advice as he walked away. I removed my fighting gear and headed back to campus. As I approached, I spotted Mitski and his poodle by the entrance. Mitski's eyes lit up when he saw me.

"Bonnie!" he called out, running over with a wide smile. His poodle barked excitedly but quickly quieted down, sensing Mitski's friendly demeanor.

"Ew..." I said, sidestepping his attempt to embrace me.

"Let's go for drinks!" Mitski suggested eagerly.

"When?"

"Do you already drink?" he asked, his grin widening.

"Yeah," I replied, eyeing the USB he handed me. "What's this?"

"About the case," Mitski said. "If you need anything or just someone to talk to..."

"No, I'm fine," I interrupted, not wanting to seem too needy.

Mitski sighed. "Geez, Bonnie..." He mumbled something under his breath as he walked away, leaving me to my thoughts.

I was fine. I wasn't lonely; I simply didn't need anyone. Or at least, I tried to convince myself of that.

I settled on the grass field and turned on my laptop, inserting the tiny USB. With soccer practice in full swing, I didn't realize Kai was on the field until I saw him on the screen. His tall, athletic frame moved fluidly as he dribbled and passed the ball. I barely noticed the ding of my laptop as new files appeared on the screen.

I clicked on them. The files listed several missing persons connected to U-Green: "Danica Gray, Finnian Cole, Dale Grover." The names didn't mean much to me, but the owner's name caught my attention: Odessa Calliope Liaucow. The last name was unusual, almost foreign. It struck me as peculiar.

"Are they missing?" Kai asked, sitting next to me without warning. His sweat-drenched clothes were a stark contrast to my neatly dressed self.

"What are you doing?" I asked, annoyed.

"I'm just sitting here and minding your business," he said nonchalantly.

"Well, don't if you know what's good for you," I retorted, trying to focus on my laptop. I could have sworn I saw him pouting dramatically from the corner of my eye.

"Can I braid your hair?" he begged, his tone unusually polite.

"Not if I can help it," I shot back.

"Well, you can't because 'Kieran Wright' asked you politely," he said with a grin. I turned my head away, resigning myself to his insistence. I continued typing while feeling his fingers working gently through my hair.

My attention returned to the laptop as I noticed a familiar name: "Arther Hawser Tozcrofidh."

"Sounds like someone couldn't find a good name for their kid," Kai remarked, his fingers deftly braiding my hair.

"It sounds like an anagram. I mean, where do you even find a last name like 'Tozcrofidh'?"

"I don't know, Iceland?" Kai suggested casually.

"Are you serious?"

"I said I didn't know." He finished braiding my hair, securing it with a ponytail holder he'd pulled from his pocket. "It's done."