utage

But there's no sign of fighting, only a cartful of goods.

That's the packages we brought in today! There should be a Messenger too. Where is he?

The operator shakes his head.

We're investigating the incident, Doctor. Please stay with us and be on guard.

(Observe the corridor)

Doctor?

A grown man doesn't just vanish into thin air like that, right?

Look here...

The Doctor crouches by the side of the cart, catching a slight whiff of a certain scent.

A minute, sweet scent.

Could it be...?

(Well, that was annoying.)

Utage looks down at the slightly dented cardboard box in her hands as she mutters irritably.

(I'm pissed.)

Agh! What a pain!

Utage puts the package on the table, along with her katana.

With her painstakingly-painted nail-adorned fingers, she takes a small knife and cuts the cardboard box open, revealing a tiny component between the layers of cardboard.

It is a delicate component connected to a tiny Originium battery.

Utage stares at the component. The smile is gone from her face.

Hello? Do you hear me?

Utage starts talking to the component, obviously a covert listening device.

Back in the secret manor, she knew nothing of duty or responsibility; she was simply raised according to the elders' plans.

She did not know what lay outside the manor's walls; she did not even know enough to be curious.

For better or for worse, she demonstrated outstanding aptitude and easily passed the Nuegiri clan's rigorous training regimen.

She received her mission—

Become an ordinary Higashinese citizen, an ordinary high-schooler who likes to look good, a Rhodes Islander who keeps a low profile, and eliminate the 'Nue' in the name of her master.

It was an easy assignment. No one would ever find out who she was.

Her parents and the rest of the family had no doubt that she would become the next leader of the Nuegiri clan.

The final step to becoming leader was to complete her mission at Rhodes Island.

Doctor, we found the Messenger leaning against a door, far off his route.

He was unconscious, cause unknown.

Must be exhaustion.

Take him to the lounge and let him rest.

But... if he—

This really couldn't be more suspicious—

Trust me, everything will be alright.

I've checked the area. No sign of anyone.

...If you say so, Doctor. We'll take him to the lounge.

Get the other operators out of here too.

There was no foul play here.;I'll file the records.

I'm only gonna say this once. Doesn't really matter, since you're gonna record it anyway.

...Ahem.

I love my life here. I love hanging out with my friends. Everything on Rhodes Island is awesome, way better than the old manor.

Oh, I don't like training, but I loooooove skipping it.

Which is why—

If you send a spy to Rhodes Island, I'm gonna pick him out in like, five seconds.

I don't care which of you is into Rhodes. If you ever pull funny business like this again—

I'll be back to pay Clan Nuegiri a visit. And then, there won't <i>be</i> a Clan Nuegiri anymore.

Say hi to Mama and Papa for me.

Utage pivots as she draws her katana.

Cut cleanly in half, the pieces of the listening device fall into the trash can.

That stupid Messenger just had to try and fight back! He made me spill all this loose powder!

Maybe I should've given it a bit before slicing the bug. Could've had the folks back home teach him a lesson.

Gah! I'm PISSED!

Utage does not want to be an assassin or a spy, nor carry the burden of whatever 'ancestral duty' her clan keeps babbling about.

Utage does not like training. Being an operator can be rather exhausting, after all.

All she wants to be is a high-schooler, a real Higashinese <i>JK.</i>

Hey! Kirara!

Utage-chan!

What's that? The latest issue?

No way you're reading it without me!

Of course I'm not... I just got it.

Well, whatever. Let's hit up your room and I'll try out some new cosmetics on you!

A-Again...?