Hollow

The flying car booted up again and began it's flight, cruising smoothly over the city. Inside, there were a total of 10 individuals – Kazu, Hiroshi, and the 8 members of Kazu's team. Of these 8, 7 were men and 1 was a female, all comfortably seated inside the spacious interior.

Hiroshi's gaze wandered across the faces of Kazu's team and the vehicle in general.

He observed that they appeared quite homogenous in appearance, each wearing the same type of armour and sporting a similar hairstyle. Their gear and equipment were clearly well-maintained, each piece being carried or worn with a familiarity that only came from long use.

The inside of the vehicle also showed signs of frequent usage, with scratches and worn patches.

Hiroshi noticed that each member carried a different weapon on their person — assault rifles, shotguns, pistols, knives, even a sniper rifle on one member. The team members themselves also looked healthy, their bodies fit and muscular, suggesting a regimen of regular exercise and training. All in all, Kazu's team looked professional and efficient and they indeed were.

As the flight continued, the mood inside the flying vehicle was relatively stagnant. Most of the team appeared bored, gazing out the windows or checking their devices. Kazu and the sole female member of the team — his girlfriend were engaged in a soft conversation, passing the time with soft talk.

Hiroshi's eyes wandered to the front seat, specifically to the driver's seat which lay vacant.

All vehicles these days came quipped with advanced autopilot systems, reducing the occurrence of accidents and fatalities caused by human error.

The car smoothly navigated through the air, its autopilot system handling the driving effortlessly. With the advancements in technology, the need for human drivers was obsolete.

But still, although most vehicles in modern Japan were equipped with autopilot systems, some older police cars still had the option for manual human-driven operation. This was a holdover from previous generations, but it still proved to be useful in certain cases where a human was required.

Hiroshi's gaze lingered on the driver's seat for a moment longer, before shifting to gaze out of the window.

There were multiple ads in the sky — they usually ran 24/7.

Most were harmless advertisements from various corporations and businesses, while some were government-issued warnings and psa.

There were lots of nsfw ones as well.

The ad was projected to the side of a tower, appearing as if it was being projected across the entire surface but was instead only visible to those who glanced from this specific angle. The large display featured an image of a half-naked woman, her eyes closed with a look of ecstasy on her face. There was an ad underneath the image advertising something.

It was an ad for an escort service.

The text on the ad read, "Need a company?" and then in smaller writing underneath, was a phone number along with a slogan.

"Anytime, anywhere, no limits, no hesitation, complete satisfaction."

Hiroshi let out a dry laugh, finding the ad rather amusing.

Hiroshi, sighed. He had been in his office for hours before this so he hadn't caught a wink of sleep. The weariness of the evening setting in, he decided to enter the "do not disturb" mode using the neuro-chip implanted in his brain. This feature allowed him to enter a deeply relaxed yet semi-awake state, perfect for resting without losing awareness entirely.

As the chip activated, Hiroshi's body slackened, and his breathing slowed, entering a tranquil doze-like state. Despite his relaxed appearance, he remained partially aware of his surroundings, ready to awaken at a moment's notice.

His body slouched, His shoulders slumped further, his head listed to one side and his eyes half-lidded, giving him a somewhat unbothered appearance. Every now and then, his eyes would open partway, as he took in his surroundings, before closing again, maintaining a veneer of relaxed.

Several of Kazu's team glanced over at Hiroshi, noticing his change in demeanor. Some silently chuckled amongst themselves, amused by the sight of their employer in a semi-asleep state.

The ability to use the neuro-chip for "do not disturb" mode was while being a very great feature – heavily abused by megacorps. For example, you could work hours and hours and then you'll need to sleep – but you won't be allowed to.

You'll get an few hour's of rest at most with the DND feature and then you'll have to work again.

This allowed the megacorps to squeeze every last drop of productivity out of their employees.

It was one of the many ways that corporations maximized the output from their workforce. Work hours weren't a concern as long as the employees had the DND feature.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Hiroshi though, didn't have to suffer like this as he wasn't a lower class employee.

____________________________________

Kazu's attention was fully focused on the lone female member of his team, with whom he was having a light-hearted conversation. There was a subtle affection in his eyes when he looked at her, a clear indication of his soft spot for her. He genuinely cared about her and enjoyed her company.

Her name was Sachiko Kobayashi. At just 19 years old, she was the youngest member of Kazu's team. She was a petite woman, standing at an average height for Japanese standards, with shoulder-length black hair and soft, brown eyes. Despite her seemingly delicate appearance, she was good at sniping, so it didn't really even matter much. As the only female member of Kazu's team, it was a bit awkward at times.

There were a few instances when Sachiko's presence brought an awkward vibe to the team. For example, in the team's earlier days, some of the male members would occasionally make inappropriate comments or gestures, not quite used to having a female around. Kazu, sensing her discomfort, would quickly put a stop to it. This was how Kazu and her had bonded at first.

Over time, their relationship grew from simple teamwork into a firm bond of friendship, which eventually developed into something more romantic.

It was Kazu who had made the first move, confessing his feelings to Sachiko after a mission. It was difficult at first, and Sachiko initially rebuffed him, feeling unsure and a little awkward about the situation. However, later that month she decided to promise to him. Their relationship had been going on for approximately eight months now and Sachiko's birthday where she turned 20 was in a month.

Sitting beside Kazu, Sachiko let out a sigh as she leaned her head against his shoulder, slightly bored. The conversation between the two had come to a lull, and she glanced at her surroundings, taking in the scene.

She spotted Hiroshi, slumped in his semi-asleep state, half-sliding down his seat. She chuckled quietly, finding the sight quite amusing.

Turning back to Kazu, she spoke quietly, "he looks a bit silly right now."

"now, let's not say that about our employer, if I don't get the money from this job. I won't be able to get you your birthday gift."

Sachiko rolled her eyes playfully before replying with a teasing tone, "of course, that's the only thing you care about. Money, it's always money."

"Oh, don't be like that. You know that's not the only thing I care about."

He placed an arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer, a grin still on his face. "I care about you too, y'know. A lot, actually."

This caused Sachiko to blush faintly. She pushed him lightly, acting annoyed though she was secretly happy. "I know that, idiot. You don't have to remind me all the time. Okay, no romance while on the job, that is a rule."

"Alright, alright, I know the rules. No public displays of affection on the job, got it. I'll save it for later." Saying this, he released her from his embrace. "anyways, you're sniping skills have gotten really good lately."

Sachiko immediately brightened up at his praise. "R-really?" She stuttered, trying to sound nonchalant. "You think so? I mean, I have been practicing a lot lately, you know."

Kazu nodded, smiling at her enthusiasm. "It shows, your shots are more precise now. And your aim is more steady than before. You've really improved."

He paused, before suddenly reaching out to lightly poke her forehead. "Who knew you could be so hardworking sometimes?"

Sachiko huffed indignantly, batting his hand away from her forehead. "Hey, I'm hardworking all the time!"

"Sure, sure. Whatever you say."

Kazu's smile faded slightly as he shifted the topic. "Oh, by the way, there's something I need to tell you all," he said, a serious tone in his voice. "When we arrive in Yokohama, this time we will be killing civilian's, they have destroyed the properly of the Kusonoki conglomerate so we are hired to kill their leader's and anyone else who interferes so do not hesitate."

The air in the vehicle shifted immediately, the usual light-heartedness replaced by a sharp, professional mood. This job was different from their usual missions. Civilians were usually off-limits, but this time, they had been given explicit instructions to kill them if they got in the way.

Sachiko's expression darkened slightly. Unlike Kazu, she wasn't a fan of killing civilians, even if they were destroying corporate property. Yet, she knew her place in Kazu's team. She was here to follow orders.

The rest of the team's reactions were more apathetic. They were professionals, used to missions that required blood to be shed.

"Understood." They muttered in unison.

Kazu glanced at them all, satisfied with their responses. He knew they'd do their job. He looked over at Sachiko, who hadn't said anything. She was biting her lip, staring out the window again.

He knew this was difficult for her. Sachiko had a softer heart than most, and the idea of killing civilians, even those who opposed the corporation, probably didn't sit well with her. He reached out, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. "You alright?" He asked gently.

Sachiko swallowed, nodding without looking at him. "Yeah, I'm fine."

She took a breath, steeling herself. "It's just... civilians, we don't usually kill civilians..." She said quietly, still looking away. They both knew that killing someone was always hard for her. She had a kinder heart than he did, and it often made missions like this more challenging for her.

Kazu squeezed her shoulder reassuringly. "I know, but it's a job. We have to do what we're paid to do."

Sachiko let out a shaky exhale, closing her eyes for a moment. She knew he was right.

"I... I know. I'll do my job." She said, her voice gaining a bit of resolve. "I've prepared myself for this. I'll be fine."

She placed her hand over his, feeling the warmth and comfort of his touch. But even as she tried to put on a brave face, Kazu could tell she was uncomfortable with the thought of killing civilians. Yet, like him, she'd follow his orders and do what was necessary, no matter how much it might weigh on her conscience later. It was a necessary evil in their line of work.

Kazu studied her for a moment, seeing through the facade.

"Yeah, do your best."

Kazu was deliberately being gentle with Sachiko since she was the youngest and least experienced member of the team. Normally, he would not mince words, but he wanted to lessen the mental and emotional impact on her. He didn't want her to get cold feet or hesitate when the situation demanded action. The last thing he wanted was for her to freeze up or make a mistake due to inexperience, which could lead to disastrous consequences for the entire team.

She nodded, She smiled slightly, albeit a bit nervously, and replied, "Yeah, it's fine. It's our job, after all. I'll do my part, don't worry."

"Just remember, your actions reflect on the entire team," he reminded her, his tone firm. "Be careful, but don't hesitate if you need to take someone out."

Sachiko nodded and then Kazu looked over at Hiroshi, he saw that the latter seemed to be resting. He was tempted to speak with him about something, but he decided against disturbing him and let him rest instead. Kazu turned back to Sachiko and resumed their previous conversation, discussing various topics to pass the time until they arrived at their destination.