THE 7TH

'Oh, crap, I think I should go to the toilet…'

While in midst of soul searching, Shinzo was disturbed by a call of nature. He didn't even notice the fact that Shiba was already asleep next to him. He stood up while leaving the small briefcase on his seat.

"A pleasant evening, Sir! May I know where do you want to go…?" A beautiful, slender woman, who was just standing proximate to his seat, queried him.

"How may I help you?"

He was delighted and enticed by the woman's soft voice from his back even without looking directly at her face. Though something was off… The tone of the voice seemed very familiar to him.

"This voice, is this…" He turned around only to see a tall blonde woman with a finely well-proportioned body. Her smile was so bright that it almost blinded him.

"I knew it. It's you, Akutagawa-san…"

"Shinzo-san, I come across with you again today… Anyway, are you still uncomfortable calling me in my first name? That hurts, you know? Pfft. Just kidding!"

The woman in front of him was the class representative back in high school who was rumored to have a thing for Shinzo. Like him, she was still single and fancy-free at 34. Well, a lot happened. In fact, one of the reasons why this busty and beautiful woman never found romance was Shinzo himself. Back in high school, even after helping him cope up with their lessons while frequently absent due to familial circumstances, he still cruelly denied her confession. He heard from her friends that it left a wound on her heart for a few years now. In truth, he kind of regretted it. This was why seeing this person for the second time this week was an uncomfortable experience for him. First was at a department store. Now, at the plane.

"A-Akutagawa-san, er…Hase-san, the moon looks so lively today, right?"

"S-Shinzo-san, you finally did it… my first name…" She was flushing while on her usual mannerism of scratching her elbow when embarrassed. "A-Ahem! A-

Anyway, you're right. So, how may I help you…?"

"Oh, yes. May I know which way is the toilet?"

"There. Just go straight to…" She gave the instructions, and reminded him about some added protocols needed to be followed therein, because the system had recently been overhauled.

"Is that so? Thank you!" He walked further but suddenly halted. "Hold on, Hase-san, if it's fine… can I chat with you later…?"

"Mm? Oh, yes. It's fine… I'll wait for you, okay…?"

"Thank you!"

He walked without turning around as he went to the toilet.

'Hays! Too much formality is sometimes troublesome. However, that doesn't change the fact that she's really lovely. She's become a lot more attractive and seductive in her adult body. Phew, those I-cup busts really are amazing. They were a bit smaller way back in high school… That woman sure grew a lot. It'd be nice if I could squeeze them a bit sometimes…. No. No. No. My thoughts have really gotten dirtier every time I came across that woman.'

He heaved a deep sigh as he entered the toilet room. After he was done, he looked at his watch to see the time.

'Still have a quarter, huh? Traveling via plane sure has its advantage over trains. Anyhow, I'm happy that the agency has given me a stipend of 30,000 USD for this mission. What's nice is that the money's already been deposited in our account just a few minutes ago at the airport. Nice… Maybe I'll invite Hase-san to a late-night dinner later…? If this goes on well for me, I think might just kiss goodbye of this ridiculous virginity of mine. Or maybe I'm being too optimistic about this? What if she likes someone else now? That wouldn't be too unnatural. It's

been a few years since she confessed to me… What a mess!'

He had already thought of how to budget the money. But, it made him wonder.

'Anyhow, Hase-san aside, the money is quite high, is that briefcase really valuable to the government? I wonder. Anyway, I'll just finish this job as soon as possible, and then relax. Shall I go and invite her and Shiba to the beach after?'

He opened the toilet door, and he walked swiftly back to his seat. However, just as his visual periphery reached the briefcase, a blinding light flashed before his face.

It was a sensation in which time seemed frozen. When he took another step, a raging crimson flame devoured him whole. Along with it was a loud "bang" sound. "Akutagawa!? What the heck is—."

The crimson red and yellow light glittered, as an object from the sky descended to the city. It was considered a day of disaster in Japanese history of antiterrorism detestation, as the government said that it was an act committed by some unknown terrorist groups. It was later portrayed in the media as a move that had been maneuvered to destabilize the country. A number of people lost their lives in the city, and with zero survivors inside the plane.