Last Remnants

Chapter 3

Usagi steps into the alleyway near the school. It’s a building abandoned years ago, a flower shop, and an old café. She approaches a dumpster, dropping off the envelope discreetly before she tries to rush back out.
“You know, that’s some skill you got? Connections, connections, like notes on a beautiful symphony.”
She freezes.
“You know I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t have to. I don’t give a damn about you or your master’s wishes.” She protrudes her words.
“Don’t call him that. I don’t fend on the thought of calling another my master.” A young man, eighteen years of age, steps out of the dark. His hooded jacket keeps his true identity a secret, his face unseen, and a single blade of black hair. His jacket is decorated with the signs of music, a clef, rest, and a sixteenth note scattered across it.
“That so? A man following another man’s orders? I would call you a soldier, but that’s not what you are or any of you. You’re all just idiotic anarchists,” she declared.
“Don’t dare speak to us like we’re mindless fiends.”
“I can say whatever I want about you all. I don’t care about any of you, even if I've seen some of you firsthand, I hate you all.”
He pauses and lifts the envelope. He opens it and checks to see what’s inside. A file. He smirks and places it back inside safely.
“Don’t matter to me, go on, hate me. Doesn’t make any difference.”
“You’re a filthy Remnant,” she spits out. His nose scrunches beneath his cloak. The disrespect angers him. Until it doesn’t.
“You are a feisty one. Those who speak about you weren’t lying at all.” His voice is beautiful, an easygoing road of notes in every word he speaks.
“Don’t give me that. They can speak on me, but they won’t kill me. I’m valuable to them as much as I despise it.”
“Careful what you wish for. Value can always go down.” He smirks. Usagi hates every moment spent with him. She knows he holds the same power as them. He can kill her with ease.
“I won’t say anymore. It’s not your business to understand us anyway.” He turns around. “All you have to do is keep these files coming, and I’ll take care of the rest.”
“Fine. Whatever.”
“I’ll be taking my leave then.” He drops something in a nearby puddle.
“Go on. Take your reward.”
She retrieves the item from the puddle, wiping it off.
“Farewell, for now, you pathetic human.”
Having herself be called that makes her skin crawl; her head is knotted with fury, but she remains silent.
He leaves, and she opens the package. Inside is 50,000 yen. She puts it back and takes a moment to process this. She knows she is in dangerous territory, but she is caged in and unable to escape. She felt like a bunny, lost in the woods among wolves. Any ready to take her carcass back to the leader of the pack. Or what’s worse in her mind. Take the pelts of others close in her group.