13. Conspiracy.

"...so what was wrong wasn't that you killed someone, but rather that you killed them for no reason. People kill other people all around the world. It's not wrong to do it. What's wrong is senseless violence or indiscriminate slaughter, because it robs the economy of future workhorses and that affects you and me when we can't find something we want to buy because there is no one to produce it. Do you understand, Himiko?" I said, finishing my explanation.

There was no response.

I turned to see Himiko staring at me in a daze, lost in thought.

I waved a hand in front of her face, calling out to her.

"Himiko?"

"Bwuh? Huh? Yeah yeah, I uh, got it?" She said, still staring at me or rather at the scars on my chest from the surgery for the broken rib.

Guess some urges never change huh?

"Is that so? And what did I say?" I asked.

"Yeah, totally!" Himiko replied.

She's not listening at all, huh?

I grabbed her face with both hands and pulled her up.

"My eyes are up here, Himiko." I teased as she blushed furiously and curled away.

I sighed.

How is this going to work if she's distracted by everything except her training!?

"Himiko, listen. Do you wanna do this or not?" I asked.

She immediately came to attention, as a sad expression covered her face.

"Yes." She replied guiltily.

"Then you have to focus. What were you thinking back there? Let's get it out, so you can pay attention to your lessons." I suggested.

"I...." she looked at me, and recalled something, before becoming depressed, and replied, "...it's nothing."

"Fine. It's okay if you don't want to talk about it. Just, I'm always here, and you can talk to me whenever you feel like it, okay?" I said, kneeling down to her eye level.

Himiko nodded gingerly as I continued.

"Now, I have a document ready with topics you can talk about, an addition to your backstory, and some other minor details." I said, handing her a file.

"Memorize it, then burn it. As for the rest, self-defence, anti-quirk combat, we'll do tomorrow. Today, you'll be studying psychology.

In your free time, go to the plaza and people watch. But don't get spotted. Consider it stealth training.

Oh! And come down to Dagobah beach starting tomorrow. We'll continue with the training there."

"When can I go in the field?" She asked, expectantly.

"Soon. Next week, in fact, if all goes well." I answered.

"Well then, I'll be on my way now. Keep the house clean. Don't slack on your studies. And if you need anything call me. I'll see you tomorrow." I said, as I put down the dumbell in my hand and wiped my sweat off.

As I got dressed, I felt Himiko's gaze burning into me.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing." She said, turning away.

"Sure." I said.

Of course I knew what she was thinking. I had been reading her book for the past couple of months.

Her little crush was clear to me as was her crippling self doubt.

"Do I even deserve to be loved?" She had thought in one form or another.

How many times had I read that now?

Too many bloody times to keep count.

I had been slowly curing it over the past four months, with counselling and companionship, but it was nowhere close to being finished, not without me having to use Pen of Fate for it.

And I wasn't going to be doing that anytime soon.

The lower her opinion of herself, the more pliable to my means she will be.

I needed her in just good enough of a mental state to do her job.

But that was a matter for another time.

Right now, I had a very important meeting to attend.

As I walked into the cafe, putting on my sunglasses and mask, the shopkeep recognized me.

"You again? What you did last time, that was no good, lad. You shouldn't cheat people out of their money. It's wrong!" He lectured.

"Look, no offense, but you got paid right?" I asked.

"Yes, but that is not the point!" The shopkeep argued.

"Yes, I know. I paid those two later. Don't worry about it. They have nothing to complain about. So keep to your business." I said, curtly shutting him down, as the door jingled again.

"Oh! Mr.MaskPerson. You're here already! And I thought we were early this time." Gentle's voice came from behind me.

"It's good to be early." I said, as I took my seat.

"So...the deal? You promised to help us become famous two months ago and you haven't held up your end!" Gentle pushed.

"Yeah, and look, I'm sorry about that.

But before we begin with that, I have a couple of questions. And keep your voice down when you answer. I don't want to create a scene here. Too many eyes." I said, as a new couple got seat in the cafe.

"It's two people. On the other end of the cafe!" Gentle replied.

"A 400 sq.ft. cafe." I rebutted.

"Can you both stop bickering and get on with it?" Aiba interjected.

Ooh! Curt Aiba! Looks like the honeymoon period of their relationship is over, if she's being this blunt to her beloved Gentle.

"Sure. Are you up for a confrontation with the government?" I asked, dropping a bombshell.

"What?!" They exclaimed.

"See? This is why I warned you to keep your voices down." I replied with an 'Told you so!' expression.

"I'm sorry but that's a bit much to ask of us!" She defended.

"Tch! Just say you're chickening out. There's a price to fame. To change the world!

But I guess I should've known you couldn't handle the big leagues." I taunted.

"We are not chickening out! We'll do it!" Gentle cried.

"But Gentle!" Aiba protested.

"This is our chance, La Brava! To make our marks in history. We have to do this!" Gentle overruled her.

La Brava thought for a moment before acquiescing.

"Fine. But if something happens to Gentle, I'll kill you!" She replied, venomously.

"Sure, sure. Let's get into the details.

You'll be hacking into the servers of the Hero Public Safety Commission, and pulling out some choice files, the real good stuff, from their backrooms." I explained, when Aiba interjected.

"The HPSC servers are internal and isolated. I can't hack into them without direct access to an internal port." She informed.

"But you can get access via a reprogrammed USB, correct?" I guessed.

"Yes. But how will we get it into the HPSC?" Aiba asked.

"Leave that up to me." I assured, "Can you get it ready by this saturday?"

"I can have it ready by friday." She answered.

"Good. Send it with Gentle, to Dagobah Beach, saturday morning, by 8 am. I'll handle the rest." I replied.

"Understood. We'll see you next week then?" She asked.

"If we're not in police custody, sure." I joked, as I finished sipping on my ice coffee.

"Then, I'll take my leave." I said, getting up, as Gentle grabbed my hand.

"Pay for your bill this time." He said.

"Yeah, right." I replied, as I walked to the counter, and cried, "They'll pay for me. Bye!"

I ran out laughing before teleporting away.

"Damnit!" Gentle shouted, as the shopkeep sighed defeatedly.

Aiba looked at Gentle and tugged at his coat.

"Gentle, look." She pointed to his sleeve, where a 10k yen bill was stuffed neatly.

"When did he-, did he do in this when I caught him? But how?" Gentle exclaimed.

"Magic would be my best guess." Aiba replied, jokingly.

"At least he didn't leave without paying this time." The shopkeep said, laughing.

"....I really have to ask him to teach me sometime." Gentle muttered.