Chương 2: Vol. 1 - The Last Mission

G ood grief. Are we back to Mondays? Sigh, what can I say? Well, if you're this interested in poking your nose into my life, I'll just tell you. Typical Mondays were like this. Boring, sad, and, most of all, tiring. I often wished to drop dead at my table whenever it was Monday. To whoever invented Mondays, I hate you. My name was Alistair Sinclaire. Nickname? Ace. Lily gave me that name.

"Oh, look! It's Alistair-senpai!!" The middle school girls squealed as I passed by them in the corridor. I was currently in my first year of high school. My school, Oakwood Institute, had combined its high school and middle school to foster closer bonds between seniors and juniors, or so they say. I looked at them.

"Ahhh!! Did you see? He looked my way!!!" One of them exclaimed.

"Isn't he hot? Just look at his long legs and face!! His crimson eyes are just so alluring, and the way he brushes his hair through his hand is just so cool!!!" The other exclaimed as well. Good grief, I really am popular. Being popular has its ups…

"Good day, Ace," Our school's goddess, Alison, greeted me with my nickname, a gentle smile plastered on her face. She had long, wavy hair that ended around her waist and perfectly round, hazel eyes. She was our typical, popular, but angelic girl.

"Good morning, Alison," I greeted her as well. Many people were always surrounding Alison, but for some reason, she talked to me. Someone who had never talked to her before. Maybe she was after me as well, haha. I hate to break it to her, but I have many admirers. You can tell, especially by the mountains of chocolates I receive on Valentine's Day. The two of us are always tied together when it comes to receiving chocolates. So, I might not even choose her. Also, one more thing.

I do not plan on getting a girlfriend. I just can't after what happened to Reine in middle school… But, being popular also has its downs… Unwanted attention.

"Hey, punk!!" Our school's notorious bully, Axel, grabbed me by the collar and pinned me against the locker. Everyone in the corridor froze.

"You were talking to Alison again? What a loser, hitting on girls way out of your league. What did I tell you about talking to Alison?" What a pain. Axel and Alison just happen to be in my class, 1-A. And as you can see, Axel has a thing for Alison, who is way out of his league. Doesn't he get it? I'm not stealing his woman. I don't want her. Who wants a woman who yaps early in the morning and showers you with special attention even when you don't want it anyway?

I brushed the dust off my shoulders, rolled my eyes, and deadpanned.

"Yes, yes. Whatever. Sigh, Axel, you just never learn, do you? Why don't you look in the mirror before talking about others?"

"Y—you!" He gripped my collar tighter.

"What now?" My shoulders slumped as I traced a spider crawling across the wall instead of looking at Axel. Even a spider is far more interesting than he is.

"Too scared to hit me? You're wasting my time." Murmurs erupted from the crowd of students that had surrounded us.

"Alistair-senpai is provoking Axel-senpai again. If he really gets hit, I can more or less expect that."

"No, Axel-senpai has already lost to Alistair-senpai five times now. He should know more than to provoke Alistair-senpai again."

"As expected of Alistair-senpai!!"

"He's so cool!!!"

"Grrr," Axel clenched his teeth and gripped my collar even tighter. He raised his fist but stopped in front of my face.

"If you're going to hit me, then hit me. See, now you lost all that momentum. This is a waste of time." I easily loosened his grip around my neck and pushed past him. I looked back at Axel with my bored eyes and mumbled, "How pathetic."

"Alistair Sinclaire!!!!" Axel spun around and threw a punch at me—"Stop right there!" A voice cut through, and I caught Axel's blow.

"You're late, Alison," I droned, letting go of Axel's fist in my palm.

"What would have happened if I hadn't caught his punch…?" I trailed off, losing interest mid-sentence.

"Axel! Detention for a week for violence!" The teacher behind Alison stepped forward. As Axel was taken away yet again, the corridor slowly erupted in applause.

"Wow, I sure am loved," I said.

"Yes, of course you are," Alison smiled gently as she stood next to me.

"You ought to know that there are plenty of people out there who love you."

"Would you count as one of them?"

"Who knows?" Alison chuckled.

"Ehh…this isn't fair…" My shoulders slumped as I returned to my old, bored self.

"School is going to be a waste of time if you don't tell me." Alison tiptoed, and I had to bend down a little for her to whisper into my ear, "Well, if you're lucky, I might tell you tomorrow…"

"I might not even be here tomorrow," I mumbled.

"School is a pain. I might just skip it."

"Then you'll never know then," Alison winked.

"Man, you're being unreasonable," I muttered.

"Am I?" Alison laughed.

"Really? It's just twenty-four hours, and yet, you can't wait for that long? Maybe it is you who likes me."

"In your dreams," I said, letting the words drop like lead.

"Ehhh, now you're being mean," Alison puffed.

"You're the one who started it…" My voice trailed off.

"What?"

"Forget it," I dismissed, waving a limp hand.

"We should probably get back to class."

"And let you sleep for fifteen minutes while waiting for Ms Natalie? Like I would let you do that."

"Then what? I'm tired," I exhaled. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

"Let's go get you some coffee from the vending machine first!" Alison dragged my exhausted body.

"Listening to lessons is important, even if you get high marks, you know? I still don't get how you almost get full marks for everything when you don't listen in class or study at all."

"How troublesome…" I mumbled, my voice devoid of life.

"It must be because I'm a genius. I'm smart, unlike you, dumb dumb, hahaha!!!" I bent down to collect the drinks we bought from the vending machine.

"Quit calling me that," Alison said sternly.

"Why? I'm right, aren't I? You study twice as hard to get even near ninety. Only stupid people have to study," I laughed at her.

"Shut up!" She hit my head with a can of coffee.

"Ow!" I stood up.

"Now you can't hit my head. Hahaha, shorty!!"

"I'll have you know that I'm slightly taller than average girls," Alison said, crossing her arms.

"But you're not anywhere near my nose!!"

"Ugh!" She threw a can of black coffee at me. I caught it easily.

"Did you forget? I'm on the basketball team. Your throw was so weak I could—" She threw another can of red bean soup at me.

"Ow!" It hit my face.

"Serves you right for laughing at me! Hmph!!"

"Look at the two of them quarrelling again," Some first years behind Alison whispered.

"Sigh, there they go again. They really look like a married couple, don't they?"

"Married couple?!" The two of us spun around.

"We're definitely not a married couple!!!" We both shouted.

"I could never marry a woman who beats me up all the time just because I tease her!!"

"And I could never marry a man who is so insensitive and keeps getting himself in trouble!!"

"They definitely sound like a married couple," They snickered and ran off.

"Class is starting soon; we should head back."

"Yeah," Lunch break itself was another hell. I had already finished my meal in ten seconds and was ready to take another nap, but of course, the goddess of light herself had other plans.

"Hey, don't go to sleep yet," She poked my cheek with her chopsticks.

"Stop it," I mumbled.

"Don't you have other friends to talk to?"

"And don't you have lunch to eat?"

"I already finished it," I sighed.

"Don't tell me…you actually don't have friends? Hahaha, the goddess of Oakwood High is actually a loner. Who could have known that?" I poked fun at her again.

"I'll have you know that I have a lot of friends, unlike you. You're just a narcissist, loner, mean, rude, intolerable, immature, irresponsible, stubborn, inconsiderate, arrogant, condescending, patronising guy who can't even accept the prettiest girl in the whole school talking to him!!!" She rattled on.

"Look who's the narcissist here," I mumbled.

"Well, if you think of me that way, they don't talk to me. I don't know why you're so fond of me anyway."

"You want to know why I'm so fond of you?" Alison smirked.

"Are you really sure?" After a long pause, I answered, "Yes." Her smirk fell. She probably thought I would say no and go back to sleep, but this is a great chance to get rid of her.

"Then come with me." She dragged me into a corner.

"So? What is it? I'm tired, don't waste my—""We have been in the same class since kindergarten," She cut me off.

"Yeah, and then? I remembered you were pretty ordinary looking back then."

"So were you," Alison said.

"The two of us wouldn't even receive any chocolates back then."

"Time sure does fly," I smiled, looking back up at the sky.

"It does," She smiled, looking down.

"You might not have noticed it, but ever since that day you played with me at the playground when no one would, my eyes have been on you."

"Really?" I laughed.

"I remember that we were both loner kids back then. It is only natural for loners to help out fellow loners. Really, your eyes should have been on other, 'mature' men out there, unlike me."

"But they couldn't," Alison said softly.

"My eyes could not move on."

"Come on, Alison. That was eleven years ago…" I tried to laugh it off.

"To you, it might have felt like eleven years, but to me, it was eternity, as I struggled to suppress my feelings for you." What? Love confession? Now?

"Alistair, I love you…" She took in a breath and said, "But I know that you might not feel the same way…" She confessed, though there were tears in her eyes.

"..." I was stunned.

"If there was no Reine?"

"I…" For once, I couldn't say anything. Reine had allowed me to continue loving, but I…I… What do I want?

"I'm sorry…there are no ifs…" I sighed.

"But look, Alison," I said.

"I can give you a chance, but you might not like me still after…"

"It's okay," Alison smiled.

"That was all I needed." ~~~~~Back at home~~~~~"I'm home," I said.

"Welcome home, Alistair!" Boss Sinclaire's wife ran out to greet me. She really is a nice person. She's the closest thing to a mother, after my own. Her kindness is very much her weakness, though. If not for me, she might have been scammed multiple times.

"Brother, you're back!" Ryan wheeled himself out to greet me. He was Boss Sinclaire's son.

"Ryan, you don't have to push yourself to greet me every time," I chuckled.

"How can I not? You're my beloved brother after all!"

"I appreciate it, Ryan," I rested my palm against his head. It was something Boss Sinclaire often did. I guess I do take after him, even though he's not my biological father. Boss Sinclaire was the head of a mafia gang. He's not that bad of a person himself, though. It was just that this mafia gang was handed down from his father to him. With so many people under his scary father, he couldn't just fire them all and deem them jobless. So, as kind as he was, he continued to run the gang, as well as a casino.

But they don't beat people up or offer protection anymore; they just run a casino together. Really peacefully.

"You're back," Boss Sinclaire stepped out.

"Boss," I bowed.

"My, no need to be so formal, Alistair," Boss's wife patted my head.

"We've already been living together for about ten years now!"

"Lily's right," Boss said.

"But today, I wanted to talk about this." He handed me the yellow envelope.

"This—""Lily found it under your bed this morning when she was cleaning," Boss said.

"I know you joined the assassins guild as a part-timer to help us out since most of our men are quitting, but this mission…it sounds dangerous. Don't go for it."

"No," I said. He looked taken aback.

"I'm sorry, but I can't just turn down this opportunity to earn big. This could take care of our food problem for ten years."

"But what about you? Do you know how devastated we would be if you were to die?"

"I'll be fine," I grinned.

"Boss, you have seen me fight before. I am a talented fighter. I will not go down so easily. Besides, if I really do go, they still have you."

"Alistair, you should treasure your life more," Lily whined.

"Don't worry," I smiled.

"I'll be fine."

"Tomorrow's Christmas; we're throwing a huge party!" Lily exclaimed.

"Yeah, so you'd better be alive then." ~~~~~~~~~~ CLASS S: ELIMINATION LOCATION: DISTRICT ELEVEN, GOOD-CLASS BUNGALOW POSTAL CODE: 561423 DEADLINE: 24 DECEMBER 23: 59 PAYMENT: HUGE BONUS This is going to be easy. I, for one, am extremely familiar with District Eleven. That is not only where all the rich nobles reside, but also where most of my clients request assassinations. The house I am entering this time is one that I have been observing for a while now.

It is one of the houses in this district that has the most guards.

"Haaaah," I yawned as I stretched my arms. Night was my domain. I rule the night like the mafia gangs rule the streets. As one of the most talented assassins in my guild, I was given the codename Starlight. A symbolisation of my rule over the night. I climbed onto the wall of that house silently and bent down. From where I was squatting, there were around forty guards in the mansion. Ten spread out at the entrance, another ten in the centre, and the last twenty surrounding a small, separate room.

That must be where he is. And most importantly, there were at least two cameras in every room. I did my research. The only way to avoid the cameras was at the tight corners. Still, I believe I can do it. I slid down the wall nimbly and hid around the corner. Peeking out, I saw the guards getting ready to change their shift. From my observations, every time the guards change shifts, I am given a two-minute interval, more than enough for me to slip into the room and take care of my victim.

Opening my watch, I checked the map. I was correct. He is indeed residing in that small room. I mean, this was just a rough guess from logical explanations and observations. Anyone can do it.

"Chief!" A guard rushed up to someone I assume was the chief guard.

"It's time for shift 2 to take over."

"Okay, hurry up! We only have two minutes! The young mistress might be in danger at any point in time!!" The chief guard shouted. My two minutes have started now. But what young mistress? I thought…? Oh well, the letter didn't specify anything, and I was just briefed to assassinate whoever resides in that room. I shouldn't think too much about it. I sprinted onto the roof while watching the guards scramble to change their shifts. Upon reaching the room, I leapt onto its wall and entered through the back door.

"Um…who are you?" I turned to see a girl around ten years old staring at me with a shocked expression.

"I'm…" I can't do this. I just can't. I couldn't bring myself to kill an innocent soul. If I did… And even if it meant that my salary would be deducted…I can't kill her. I would never forgive myself.

"Sorry," I said.

"I entered the wrong house." I left the house immediately and slipped into the city. Slipping on a hoodie over my school uniform, I pushed my way through the crowd. Tonight, Shibuya was extremely busy. I could blend in with the crowd almost flawlessly. After all, I am a high schooler. That's not a lie. I took out a lollipop from my pocket and sucked on it. This is bad. Without today's bonus, I doubt we would be able to continue living for the next month or two. But I don't regret not killing that little girl.

She was small and still had a long journey ahead of her. I shouldn't take that away from her. Tonight, I was just an ordinary high school student walking among the busy streets of working adults and tourists. There was no guilt in my heart. Multiple people brushed past me. I often thought of this. If I were to die today, what would my regret be? Swish— Someone pulled me into a dark alley.

"A—""Shh…" She covered my mouth.

"Moonlight?"

"Yes, yes, it's me," She said hurriedly. Moonlight was a fellow assassin at the guild. I wasn't close to her, but whatever it was, it must be urgent because usually, assassins wouldn't meet up to deliver messages. Moonlight was placed second when it came to being one of the top three gifted assassins. Of course, I was placed first.

"What is it, Moonlight?" I groaned, letting my guard down. My shoulders slumped lazily as she let go of me.

"There's something I need to tell you…" Her voice trailed off. Aa— She thrust her knife deep into my abdomen. The cold blade sliced through flesh and bone, blood spilling everywhere. Pain exploded, stealing oxygen from my lungs.

"A—" I gasped for air, clutching the hand holding the knife, trying to pull it out, but to no avail.

"My mission this time was to kill you," She smirked. I leaned against the wall, trying my best to steady myself. There was no energy left in me. This knife was coated with a fast-spreading poison. This is bad.

"Y–you can do that?" I grimaced, stumbling, knees buckling as I tasted blood—metallic and bitter, flooding my mouth.

"Of course you can," She laughed.

"My, this feels so good. I have finally surpassed you, Starlight. After all those years of embarrassment, after all those years of only being able to get second place…it comes to an end now!!!"

"Tch…" I sighed.

"But worry not, Starlight," She grinned.

"I always knew you could never kill that girl."

"Wh—what did you do…?" I lifted my head in pain.

"I simply finished your mission for you," She cackled.

"Hahaha!!! So worry not, your family will be fine without you!! The guild will send your bonus salary to your family!!! HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!" Moonlight pulled the knife from my abdomen.

"Aaah!" I staggered, my knees buckling beneath me as I fell to the ground. Blood gushed out, staining the floor red.

"Bye then…senpai!!" Everything blurred. The sounds of the city faded. The cold rain mixed with the warmth of my blood.

"I guess this is it, isn't it?" I gazed at the distant, quiet stars. My only companions. In my last moments, the world flipped onto its side. And all was black.