46: Talk

"I didn't think you'd come to see me so soon" - Cloud said without looking back because he was focused on watching the mechanics work - "Do you want to talk?"

"Yeah, I need a beer too" - answered Rika as she shrugged her shoulders.

"Ok, give me a moment" - Cloud replied as he ordered the mechanics to take a one-hour lunch break - "Let's go"

The two fighters walked towards the canteen, so they could get something to eat and drink, before sitting down at the farthest table in the place.

"Normally, I like to look for more personal places to talk, but I feel like this isn't something private, so this is a good place" - Cloud said as he looked carefully at the purple haired woman - "Please talk, you don't have to hide anything from me."

"I understand" - nodded Rika with a huge smile.

* * * * *

"How has life been treating you, Takashi?" - Rei asked as she saw her friend after quite a while, though he looked a bit tired.

"Exhausted" - replied Takashi as he let out a sigh - "I found out that Airi is pregnant, and now I have to work twice as hard..."

"Oh, I see" - nodded Rei as he shook his head - "And everything has been fine at the camp?"

"Yes, people are not as annoying as at the mansion, and the moment someone does something stupid, they are stopped and punished right away" - replied Takashi while sighing again - "Leaving that aside, how have you guys been?"

"Good, we got everything ready for the new recon operation, oh, and Kohta-san is dating the policewoman" - replied Rei while nodding as she remembered this little detail.

"Huh? Really?" - Takashi asked with surprise.

"Yeah, at this hour they have to be outside Taiei having an outside date" - replied Rei as she started to think - "As for us... well, things are going well, let's just say we've accomplished a few personal achievements..."

Takashi raised an eyebrow, though he quickly decided it was better if he didn't ask more about it - "I see, it's good to hear that you guys are doing well..."

"Well, I think I'm going to have to leave the talk until here, Takashi, there are still a few preparations to finish, and I have some last minute training to do" - Rei said as she prepared to leave.

"Wait, you're going to the operation too?" - Takashi asked in surprise.

"Of course" - replied Rei as she folded her arms - "I've been training with Kohta-san and Saeko senpai."

"I thought you didn't like fighting..." - Takashi said with a frown.

"And I don't like it, but I'm aware that I have to fight if I want to survive on my own merits" - Rei replied with slight irritation because she honestly didn't like the idea of having to explain herself, even if these were for an old friend of hers - "I don't want to be a vessel girl"

Takashi was silent as he watched the difference between Rei and Airi, thinking about how things would have been if Cloud hadn't been around, and he would have had a clear path to try something with the brown-haired girl.

There was a secret that he had been hiding for years, and that was that his first love had been Rei Miyamoto, but after seeing the relationship she had with Cloud, he decided not to say anything because he knew that she would reject his proposal, that's why he decided to take a step forward and start something with another girl, although there were times when he dreamed of a situation where he was in Cloud's place.

Takashi was silent before nodding - "I understand, I won't steal any more of your time."

"Sorry, we'll talk later, Takashi" - Rei said with a small smile as she saw that her friend still had his wits still sharp even though he was no longer participating in the training sessions - "See you later."

Takashi watched silently as the brown-haired girl walked out of the place while swaying her hips seductively. He could sense something different about Rei, as if she had awakened that innate feminine instinct of seduction that all women possessed.

"Takashi-kun?" - Airi asked as she saw her boyfriend staring into the void.

"Huh? Oh, it's you, Airi-chan" - said Takashi with a smile - "I'm sorry I didn't return, it's just that I ran into Rei."

Airi frowned slightly, she knew that her boyfriend had been interested in the brown-haired girl in the beginning, however, she didn't say anything to upset her boyfriend because she knew that he would never cheat on her with Rei, although this wasn't because she had full confidence in her boyfriend, but because the competition he had was Cloud, and she had to be objective, despite the fear she had for the blond boy, she had to admit that Cloud was superior to Takashi in every way.

Takashi frowned slightly, as if he had sensed the girl's thoughts, though he quickly shook his head, thinking that maybe this bad feeling had been because of his tiredness - "Anyway, what did you come looking for me for?"

"Your boss called saying you're late for work" - Airi replied as she let out a sigh.

"Shit!" - Takashi exclaimed as he ran to the warehouse, wondering how things would have been if he hadn't gotten out of the group. Well, at least his mother and girlfriend were safe.

* * * * *

"So you're coming with us?" - Kohta asked in surprise as he looked at his girlfriend.

"Of course" - Asami replied as she puffed out her chest proudly, only to feel an aura of depression as she saw that there wasn't much to be proud of - "I can't let my boyfriend be in danger while I'm safe."

The relationship between the two had progressed by leaps and bounds to everyone's surprise, after all, they had nothing in common except for a few small details, however, this was more than enough for both of them.

Kohta wasn't a bad guy, he was kind, strong and knew how to listen to a girl's problems, while Asami was sweet, kind and didn't care about people's physical appearance.

Yes, Kohta was an overweight boy, but she could see how the young man was constantly training to change this detail, although it seemed that this was something biological, because no matter how much time passed, Kohta still had the same figure, although his muscles were more prominent.

"I understand, and although I would like you to stay here, I guess there is nothing I can do to convince you" - Kohta said while rolling his eyes at his girlfriend.

"Of course" - Asami replied with a small laugh, which brought a small smile to Kohta's lips, who had never been so happy in his life.

[Attention all armed personnel! Operation will commence in 30 minutes, all personnel assemble in the parking lot! I repeat, attention all armed personnel! Operation will commence in 30 minutes, all personnel proceed to the parking lot!]

"I guess that's the signal" - Kohta said while shaking his head - "Let's hope everything goes well"

"Oh, it will, after all, we'll make sure of it" - Asami replied as she put her hand on her young boyfriend's shoulder reassuringly.

Kohta smiled again as the two walked towards the meeting point.

* * * * *

"I guess something had to have happened for Yuriko to decide to accelerate the plans" - Cloud said with a frown as he walked towards the parking lot with Rika at his side - "What do you think it was that happened?"

"Honestly, I have no idea, but I'd bet half a million yen that it has something to do with the military" - Rika replied as she shook her head - "Maybe they managed to contact Yuriko-san, and send a message of help"

"Oh, it's possible, although my money is that the military managed to send a carrier pigeon" - Cloud said with a small smile.

"Oh, I hadn't thought of that, it's true that the military camp still keeps some for situations like this" - said Rika while giving a curious look to the boy, after all, this information was not in the public domain.

"I have my sources" - Cloud said with a mysterious tone - "Leaving that aside, we'd better psyche ourselves up for whatever it is, after all..."

"I know, this is a normal thing for me" - said Rika while shrugging her shoulders.

Cloud didn't say anything else, he just walked while enjoying the silence.

"What was it like to have an orgy with so many cute girls?" - Rika asked as she broke the ice.

"Honestly, I have no idea, I still have those blurry memories, although at the same time my body remembers it" - Cloud answered honestly - "And it was fantastic, although I don't think I'll be doing it for a long time."

"Why?" - Rika asked with slight curiosity.

"I don't think my body can take it, at least for now..." - Cloud muttered as he let out a sigh.

"Pff ~! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ~!" - Rika couldn't contain herself when she heard this and a huge laugh echoed in the hallway as everyone looked at her as if she was crazy.