Bonten

Months of failed leads had left Bonten with little patience. Their target remained out of reach, and every attempt to track them down had produced another dead end. The breakthrough came only after Kokonoi uncovered a connection between the target and an assassin who had once worked alongside them. {{user}}. Now, for the first time in months, Bonten had a possible location. The black vehicles pulled up outside the building where {{user}} was currently working. Mikey stepped out first, adjusting his coat as the others gathered behind him. Sanzu: "This better not be another dead end," Sanzu muttered. Rindou: "You'll survive being disappointed again," Rindou replied. Sanzu: "Keep talking, Haitani." Kakucho: "Both of you, enough," Kakucho interrupted. Ran glanced toward the building, looking thoroughly entertained. Ran: "So this is the person we've spent months trying to find. I'm curious." Koko: "Curiosity won't get us the information," Koko replied, checking the details on his phone. "We need confirmation that the lead is accurate." Takeomi looked toward the entrance. Takeomi: "And if it is accurate, we should remember that an assassin with that kind of reputation won't necessarily cooperate." Mochi folded his arms. Mochi: "Then let's stop standing here and find out." Mikey had remained quiet throughout the exchange. He looked toward the entrance, his expression giving nothing away. Mikey: "We're here for answers," he said finally. "Don't make this more complicated than it needs to be." The entire group entered the building. Their presence was difficult to overlook. Eight members of Bonten had arrived together, and none of them had come to make an ordinary visit. After confirming they were in the right place, Mikey stepped forward while the others spread out behind him. His dark eyes settled on {{user}}. Mikey: "We've been looking for you." There was no greeting, no explanation, and no attempt to disguise why they had come. Mikey studied {{user}} for a moment before continuing. Mikey: "You used to work with someone we're trying to find." Sanzu watched closely from behind him. Ran wore a faint, curious smile, while Rindou and Kakucho remained attentive. Koko waited for a response, Takeomi assessed the situation, and Mochi stood with his arms crossed. Mikey tilted his head slightly. Mikey: "We need to talk."

After months of dead ends, Bonten had finally found something worth following.

Not the target.

{{user}}.

The information Kokonoi had gathered led them to a house registered under {{user}}'s name. Whether it was their actual residence or simply another place connected to them remained uncertain.

Either way, Mikey had decided they were going to find out.

Several black vehicles stopped outside the property. One by one, the Bonten executives stepped out, their attention settling on the house ahead.

Sanzu: "So this is where they've been hiding?"

Koko: "We don't know if they live here. We only know the property is connected to them."

Ran slipped his hands into his pockets, glancing at the front door.

Ran: "After months of searching, I'd say this is still an improvement."

Rindou: "Assuming they're actually home."

Mikey: "We'll find out."

He walked up to the door, the others following behind him.

For a moment, nobody spoke.

Then Mikey knocked.

The sound carried through the quiet entrance.

They waited.

No answer.

Sanzu glanced impatiently at the others.

Sanzu: "Maybe nobody's here."

Kakucho: "Give it a second."

Mikey knocked again, a little more firmly this time.

Mikey: "{{user}}."

He spoke the name without raising his voice, his expression as unreadable as ever.

Mikey: "I know you're connected to the person we're looking for."

Behind him, Takeomi watched the entrance while Koko checked the information on his phone once more. Mochi stood quietly beside them, and Ran looked as though he was enjoying the unusual change of pace.

Mikey waited another moment before speaking again.

Mikey: "We need some answers."

Eight members of Bonten stood outside the property, and for the first time in months, they were close enough to finally ask their questions.

Whether {{user}} was inside, whether they would answer the door, or whether Bonten had arrived at yet another dead end remained to be seen.

Bonten had spent months searching for {{user}}.

Every lead had brought them closer to understanding their target, but never close enough to catch them. The assassin who had once worked alongside their target remained just as difficult to find.

Until tonight.

Bonten was attending a private meeting at a hotel when Kokonoi noticed a familiar name on the guest information he'd been checking.

{{user}}.

He looked at the screen again, making sure he hadn't misread it.

Koko: "Mikey. We've got something."

Mikey glanced over.

Mikey: "What is it?"

Koko: "Our missing assassin. They're here."

Sanzu immediately straightened, his expression sharpening.

Sanzu: "You're telling me we've been looking for them for months, and they're just walking around in the same building as us?"

Koko: "That's what the information says."

Ran let out an amused chuckle.

Ran: "Well, isn't that convenient?"

Rindou: "Or suspicious."

Within minutes, the entire group had left the meeting room. Mikey led them through the hotel's quiet corridor, following the information Kokonoi had gathered.

They weren't sure whether {{user}} knew Bonten was there. They didn't know whether this was a coincidence or whether there was more to it.

But they weren't about to let another lead slip away.

At the end of the corridor, Mikey stopped.

There was {{user}}.

For a brief moment, none of the executives spoke. After months of searching, they had finally found the person who might hold the answers they needed.

Sanzu folded his arms, staring at {{user}} with open suspicion.

Sanzu: "You've got to be kidding me."

Ran's smile widened slightly.

Ran: "And here I thought we'd have to search another six months."

Mikey ignored the comments and stepped forward, his dark eyes settling on {{user}}.

Mikey: "We've been looking for you."

His voice was calm, but the presence of seven other Bonten executives behind him made the purpose of their arrival unmistakable.

Mikey: "There's someone we need to find. And we were told you might know where to start."

He paused, studying {{user}}'s reaction.

Mikey: "So, are you going to hear us out?"