Only a few people remained. His father wrote on the notepad in front of him, not appearing to notice his unease. Nobutaka cleared his throat.

“We have our most urgent matter,” Nobutaka started. Faysal leaned forward. Everyone perked up, postures shifting as the building tension approached its pinnacle. The skin on the back of his neck prickled as he waited for their CEO to continue speaking. “I’ve received confirmation regarding my worst fears. Despite our best efforts, we’ve made it back onto the radar of Kuroi Ki.”

As muffled, uncertain whispers started around the room, Faysal bit down on his thumbnail. Kuroi Ki… The same agency coming up twice in the same week could be a coincidence, a stroke of bad luck, but Faysal suspected he was about to learn it wasn’t. He exchanged a questioning look with his father, getting a calm one back. Nobutaka gave them a moment to let the information sink in, tapping his knuckles on the table to bring their attention back to him. “As you’d expect, this means that we’ll be dealing with some of their supposed best.”

He motioned to the man next to him. Faysal didn’t recognize him at all, but could tell he held a lot of power for Nobutaka to defer the explanation to him. He stood to speak to the group. “An internal source informed us that the Kurokawas were assigned to the investigation, but he has high hopes that other… recent developments will delay them. However, there is the matter of their son…”

Attempting to watch the faces of his peers, keeping his face nonchalant, Faysal worried the end of his sleeve with his fingers. Nobutaka’s entire demeanor shifted, a thoughtful look appearing on his face as his second in command continued to speak. He didn’t look surprised, but there was a dour quality to his grey eyes. “…he’s held up with another assignment, but I’m concerned that Kurokawa Ashura may be their replacement if his parents cannot continue their investigation.”

“What’s this individual’s current placement?” his father asked.

“That’s the beauty of it. He’s stationed with the Suzuki family as their daughter’s head of security. It’s a perfect situation for us since we can keep an eye on him from afar if need be.”

Faysal straightened in his seat.

Kurokawa Ashura… Realizing the name Toyama must have been the agent’s alias, Faysal fought to keep his face straight. It seemed obvious in hindsight, the urge to laugh at his own ignorance growing. With an intent look toward Nobutaka, he tilted his head to prop it on his open palm. He almost couldn’t believe they were talking about the same person as the clumsy, adorably charming, yet incredibly defensive man. Turning the name over silently in his mouth, he closed his eyes.

He envisioned the dark-haired agent, remembering the guarded gaze of his amber eyes and the fluid way that he walked when he wasn’t falling over himself. Faysal could hear his voice in his mind, his sweetly embarrassed words echoing as he hummed. He’d thought the name didn’t sound right when he’d heard it, but he couldn’t pinpoint why. Kurokawa… Ashura… it suits you much better.

“Why not just kill him?” a voice piped up from the other end of the table. Faysal winced, forced out of his thoughts. An anxious whisper sprang up from the other participants, worried looks being exchanged around the table. “Wouldn’t it be easier?”

Nobutaka shot them an irritated glare. “I have my reasons. Are you questioning me? I may have been gone, but I am very much still in charge here. Do not forget your place.”

Most of them shrank into their seats. Alexander was the only one to appear unbothered, his head rising to look down the table at the soul that’d dared to speak up. Faysal startled when his father gestured toward him. “Didn’t you visit them the other day?” the graying man asked, ignoring the impassioned apologies being uttered from down the table.

Faysal paused. He’d gone over for business, but by the end, they’d clearly moved on to more personal matters. His father knew about it already; in fact, he’d been the one to ask him to go over to start with. Confused as he was by the line of questioning, he hoped there was a reason behind why Alexander would bring it up. “Yesterday after work, yes. To speak to them about a shipment that you’d asked me to follow up on, Zenz-san,” he murmured, “Suzuki-san sent her regards.”

Nobutaka sat back in his seat, his face impassive as the conversation unfolded. “Was he there?” he asked. All eyes turned from their CEO to Faysal. “The Kurokawa kid. Was he there?”

Tension twisting his gut into uncomfortable knots, Faysal shifted in his seat. He wasn’t used to having so much attention on him. The feeling of so many eyes watching him was unsettling. It became even more so when the almost unfeeling gaze of Nobutaka met his.

“He might have been? Suzuki Masako wasn’t very… happy with the gentleman that came in with her.” Faysal rubbed a knuckle over his lip, resisting the urge to bite into it. She’d complained about him at length once her mother released the other man to go about his business, though most of her ire focused on how limited she felt. As he tried to explain his meeting with her family, he found himself at a loss for words in talking about the agent. He couldn’t tell anyone about his parting moments with him, clearly, and remembering that moment, he could feel a warm blush break out over his cheeks.

Nobutaka motioned to his second hand; leaning over, both men whispered to each other before returning to their original positions. “This is a good opportunity for us.” Nobutaka appeared thoughtful. His elbows rested on the table as he cracked his knuckles. “It’d likely be beneficial to utilize your relationship with their family. We cannot jeopardize our relationship with them through direct means by asking them to survey the situation. One of you’ll need to keep an eye on him.”

If his father was uncomfortable with the command, he didn’t outwardly show it. Faysal almost wished he had his ability to be so stoic, unable to stop fidgeting with his watch. Before they could respond, Nobutaka shook his head.

“On second thought… I can’t spare you presently, Zenz-san. You only recently started work on your main project.” Nodding, Alexander gave an update - something about gathering a team and a location, though Faysal wasn’t certain what he meant by any of it, vague as he was in his wording - until Nobutaka motioned for him to stop, his sharp gaze turning toward Faysal. “Considering that young man is close in age to your son, it’d be wise if we had him take on the task. I expect you’re up to it.”

It was clearly a statement, not a question. Faysal swallowed, a prickly type of fear making its way up the back of his neck and across his shoulders. I can’t do that. I don’t do that kind of work, he thought, desperation causing a chill to fall over him. He exchanged a look with Alexander, the older man subtly nodding. Not seeing another course of action, Faysal said stiffly, “Yes, sir.”

“I expect to hear from you soon about what you’ve seen. Dismissed.”

Standing, Faysal gave his parting greeting. Alexander looked up, mouthing, Call me, right before he could turn to leave. He knew his father’s relationship with Nobutaka meant that their boss would be more likely to trust him, but he hadn’t expected to be given such a delicate assignment. As misguided as asking had been, he, too,wondered why they wouldn’t just end the troublesome agent instead of asking him to watch his movements. Wouldn’t that be easier? Terrible, but easier-

His steps faltered. Shouting came from inside the room, most likely from the poor soul that’d spoken up. Faysal quickened his pace, his head down and hands balled into fists at his sides. He didn’t want to think too hard about what was happening in that room, nor what it could mean if he managed to anger their volatile boss. Shaking his head to clear it, he pulled his phone out.

Are you coming to dinner with us?

A text he’d put off responding to from Masako stared up at him. He went every year to the celebratory dinner that both families had together to celebrate Alexander’s birthday. Yet, the teenager insisted on asking him directly, usually under the guise of helping her father plan it. His mouth twisting into a fond smile, he typed out Yes, see you in a few days. and sent it.

Tucking it back into his lab coat pocket, Faysal sighed. He had to push the thoughts of what dreadful fate awaited him aside to consider the actual opportunity he’d just been given. He wasn’t clear on the point of it, but Nobutaka and his father had just handed him the perfect excuse to visit their friends—or family, what they actually considered them — more often. Running a hand through his hair, he lowered his eyes to stare at the floor.

He didn’t need an excuse t o visit them, but there was someone else he wanted a reason to speak to.

Someone he suspected wanted anything but to see him again, if the blush he’d seen on Ash’s face by the time he’d left had been any indication.

His face warming, he laughed under his breath.

Agent ‘Toyama’, he thought, unlocking his lab door with an annoyed huff when the handle stuck, I’ll see you again soon.