Zenin Days

[Author Note]

Disc: HrPrTeam

I know the backstory of Shin was different, but I started writing it before the entire thing came out. People constantly complain, especially on Webnovel, so sum it up to AU.

__________

3rd P.O.V.

Rion stood in front of Akira with narrowed eyes and crossed arms.

*bonk*

Akira pouted and rubbed her head, which now had a bump. "Owie, what was that for?"

After Toji explained the events that transpired after their fight, Rion wasn't too happy with Akira.

Rion put her hands on her hips, keeping her narrowed eyes. "I gave you that gun for emergencies, and you go and start blasting at Toji no less."

While she had to admit that Toji did make people want to hit him, aiming to truly kill was too far.

However, something bothered Rion even more.

Rion could tell that Akira was becoming like her, and she hated it.

...

A killer.

...

Akira's eyes widened. "He told you?"

He usually didn't snitch, but he wanted to inform Akira's human pacifier before things escalated further.

The last thing he needed was another person gunning for his head. He already had a lot of people doing that, and one more would be annoying.

Becoming a cold-blooded killer was the last thing Rion wanted for her niece.

As Akira started tearing up, Rion tilted her head down to hide her eyes. 'Damnit. I just wanted to keep her safe. Why is she becoming like me?'

*pat*

Rion put her hand on Akira's head and sighed. "Stop cryin', kid. You're already eleven."

Akira might become wild when facing Toji, but she was as docile as a kitten with Rion. She truly was her 'human pacifier.'

Who knew what she would turn into if Rion were gone?

Akira wiped her eyes and looked up at Rion. "Sorry, it won't happen again, Auntie."

*bonk*

Rion bonked her on the head once more.

She smirked. "Then prove it. Words mean nothin' if you don't show it."

Akira pouted but returned the smile and nodded, her spirit much better. "I will."

The last thing on Akira's mind was getting even with Toji. As long as Rion was safe, Akira didn't care about being petty.

Rion blinked as she remembered something. "Ah, right; Sakamoto wanted to see me about some kid he picked up."

Akira tilted her head to the side but eventually remembered the blonde-haired kid she had met in the gym not too long ago.

Their conversation ended, and Rion walked back to their apartment, meeting back up with Sakamoto.

...

It didn't take long for the two to return to their apartment, given that they were right outside the complex after having lunch together.

Rion opened the door and announced her presence. "Yo!"

Surprisingly to her, nobody responded.

Toji was usually on the couch and would acknowledge her presence, even if it was a grunt.

However, he was nowhere to be seen.

There have only been a few reasons why Toji is gone, and this time was alarming.

Her eyes narrowed. 'His ass better not be gambling again.'

...

Meanwhile: Toji P.O.V.

To say I'm disappointed is an understatement.

I put my hands in my pockets. "Damn, looks like the freaks pulled back their goons."

If I gamble, the woman would be pissed. Now that my other form of entertainment, killing the Monarch freaks, is gone, I'm bored.

Maybe I'll track down Hollow Eyes #2 and kill him before he becomes a problem.

It'll give me something to do, although I would be hunting down another teenager.

It's something Black Hair keeps bringing up.

Wait...

Why am I even listening to the woman?

Meh, I still probably shouldn't gamble since it's technically the money she earned doing jobs while I trained a kid.

*sigh*

How annoying...

Back to Rion: 3rd P.O.V.

At first, she assumed that Nagumo wanted to sneak up on her, but after activating her Paths, she noticed that there were only a few presences upstairs.

Sakamoto didn't talk much, so he was the only person who didn't respond.

A voice yelled from upstairs. "Hold on a sec!"

*step*

*step*

*step*

Sakamoto came down the stairs and turned the corner to see Rion with Akira to the side of her.

Akira had been here long enough not to be nervous around Rion's friends.

Toji not included.

Like Akira, a different kid was following Sakamoto down the stairs.

Rion raised an eyebrow. "If I'm being honest, the last thing I expected from you was to bring in a kid. You're the type to ditch people. Somethin' you and Toji got in common."

Sakamoto gave her a deadpan stare. 'You're one to talk.'

He sighed. "Well, he might be working with us for a little while. Might as well show him around."

In the original timeline, Sakamoto kept his personal life distant, but he genuinely thought Shin could become a group member due to his supernatural ability to read minds.

Had Rion been dead and without living with his friends, he wouldn't have cared much about Shin other than using his abilities to make his assassinations easier.

However, a specific person was starting to grow on him.

While they weren't quite dating yet, he was in contact with Aoi.

Since he met her, the cold-blooded wall he's built up as an assassin was slowly crumbling down.

He was starting to care for more things.

Sakamoto cared for his friends in the JCC, but they were assassins like him, so he could relate to them and form a camaraderie.

Rion stretched her arms. "So, what's the deal with the kid?"

She was hardly bothered that he was a kid. It was pretty usual for people to start early to become assassins.

Well, only if they grew up around assassins.

Obviously, it wasn't normal for random children.

Rion just didn't want her niece to join them.

She pondered for a moment. 'Sakamoto isn't the type to bring a random brat into the assassin world.'

Shin had a small smile. "Name's Shin and I'm not a random brat. I'm Shin, the clairvoyant."

Rion suddenly froze as she lowered her arms. 'He's clairvoyant...'

Her laid-back attitude slowly disappeared.

Shin tilted his head to the side, but Rion continued her thoughts. 'That means he's got some of those superhuman abilities.'

While Shin could hear thoughts, he couldn't decipher everything someone was thinking unless he knew the prior context.

Her look turned hostile as she glared at Shin.

Sakamoto picked up on it and stood in front of him.

As Sakamoto was about to speak, Rion spoke. "Why did you bring someone like him here?"

Rion's hand moved toward her knife, hidden on the back of her pants.

It was only natural that she had this reaction.

Sakamoto brought someone who fit the description of people who would hunt her and Akira down into their home.

The same place where her niece lived.

Not only that, but Akira was right next to her. Shin now knew of Akira's existence and could attack at any moment.

Only one thing was on Rion's mind. 'He's a threat.'

Sakamoto spoke with a somewhat serious face. "Don't worry. I've already ensured the kid isn't with them."

Rion leaned forward with a face that had nothing but malice. "Yeah, and how did ya' do that?"

Shin looked back and forth between the two assassins, unaware of what was happening, as he slowly backed away from the situation.

He was not involved in the JAA and did not know about Monarch, the same people who hunted her down.

If Shin was made aware of Akira's existence and her Path ability, she could be hunted too.

Sakamoto leaned back on the wall. "Ever since I heard he can read minds, I've had suspicions, so I specifically kept him close to me. The entire time, I've been probing him about his life and seeing if he lies." 

Shin's eyes widened. 'That's why he's been bringing me around everywhere!? I just thought he liked me!'

Regardless of how young Sakamoto was, he was a professional and one of the best.

He wasn't stupid.

If left unchecked, bringing someone like Shin, who had supernatural abilities like reading minds, would be a massive threat.

Two possible outcomes came with taking in Shin:

1. Getting another member with abilities that can benefit the group.

2. Learn more about Monarch if he was tied to their organization.

Her gaze turned to Shin. 'Kid or Adult, I'll kill anyone for the kiddo. I trust Sakamoto...but.'

*grab*

Rion was about to grab her knife, but a small hand held onto her arm. "Auntie, please calm down."

The malice instantly disappeared as she turned around to look at Akira with a worried expression.

If Rion was Akira's pacifier, Akira was Rions.

She bit her lip as she saw Akira's face.

Eventually, she turned back toward Shin and moved her hand away from her knife. "Fine! But listen here, kid. If you try to pull anything, I'll make you regret it. You can become Sakamoto's partner, but you will stay away from Akira, understood?"

Shin gulped and rapidly nodded his head.

Rion continued. "Now get outta' here before I change my mind."

Sakamoto sighed as he led Shin out of the door.

Had things gone differently, a kid might've been dead.

Sakamoto honestly didn't know what he would do if things broke out into a fight.

In any case, he was glad that Shin made it out alive.

...

Toji P.O.V.

Hopefully, I can get that mind-reading kid to train with Akira to lower my workload.