The minutes in art class felt like hours with each tick of the clock reminding Hiro he still had time left. He held his brush suspended in mid-stroke as his mind wandered to lunch and the prospect of making new friends. He wondered if any of the people he was about to meet would actually like him. The idea of having normal conversations about hobbies and classes caused a small smile to grace his lips. But the smile quickly faded as the the thought of Kimiko drifted through his mind, could he really risk pulling more innocent people into this?

Kimiko was kidnapped because of him. She sought out the Mach suits because he told her about them. Hiro's hand tightened around the paintbrush, the bristles quivering in protest. No, he assured himself silently, he would never tell these people the truth. They would never know about his connection to the Machs, or the war being fought right under their noses.

The bell’s chime broke his train of thought, jerking Hiro back to reality. He exhaled, trying to calm himself as he navigated through the hallways toward HPA's sprawling cafeteria. The scent of culinary specialties from every corner of the globe swirled together, as he entered the hall. His eyes darted between faces, searching for Masumi in the sea of students.

"Over here, Yashiro!" Masumi's voice echoed off the walls. He turned to meet her gaze, she waved him over excitedly.

"This place is massive, I was worried I wouldn't find you," Hiro said, sliding into the open seat beside her.

"It is easy to get lost in here but I was watching the entrance," Masumi grinned, her hazel eyes gleaming. "This is Ai Yamaguchi and Kazuki Watanabe."

Ai, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders, extended a delicate hand. "Nice to meet you, Yashiro," she said softly.

"Likewise," Hiro replied, taking her hand briefly.

Kazuki's handshake was firmer, the confidence of his grip matching the mischievous twinkle in his dark brown eyes. "So what do your parents do?" Hiro asked, trying to make conversation.

"My parents are music producers," Kazuki replied. "And yours, Hiro?"

"Dad runs a tech company," Hiro blurted, a little too quickly. Inside, a flicker of guilt sparked at the idea of starting with a lie. "My family had it rough before my dad's big break – now his microchips are in every car in the country."

"Wow, that's impressive," Ai marvelled, Hiro could swear she was blushing a little bit.

"Definitely," Masumi agreed, her expression unreadable.

"So how did you all meet" Hiro asked, feeling the weight of their gazes and wanting to fill the void of silence.

"Oh, that's an easy one," Kazuki said, smiling. "Our parents have been friends since before we were born, so we grew up together."

"Oh wow," Hiro nodded. Hiro stuck to asking more about them for the rest of lunch, keeping his answers short and sweet.

As the bell rang again, signalling the end of lunch, Hiro stood up with them, a rehearsed chuckle at Kazuki's last quip. He thanked them all for inviting him to lunch before heading off to his next class.

Masumi lingered after Hiro left, her gaze following his retreating figure until he vanished from view. They gathered their trays and let the trash bots collect them.

"So?" she probed, turning to Ai with a playful arch of her brow. "What do we think of my newest recruit?"

Ai's cheeks were tinted with the soft blossom of a red, her eyes alight with something more than mere interest. "He's... different," she confessed, tucking a strand of black hair behind her ear. "I know I say this a lot, but he's really my type."

"Every new boy is your type," Masumi laughed, teasing Ai.

"Not every guy," Ai wined trying her best to act hurt, "but there's something mysterious about him."

Kazuki leaned back in his chair, folding his arms with indifference. "If you girls want him in the group, it's fine by me." His gaze darted to Masumi, a silent conversation passing between them. "But he's a pretty secretive guy, we talked all lunch and I still know nothing about him."

"Obviously," Masumi whispered with a slight smile. "He's a terrible liar, which makes him all the more interesting. Don't you think?"

Kazuki seemed confused by all the interest the girls seemed to have in Yashiro. "I guess."

***

Weeks slipped away like cherry blossom petals in the wind, each day blurring into another as Hiro found himself swept up in the new life he had created for himself on campus. Laughter echoed through the hallways, shared glances across the classroom, and late-night hangouts that lasted until dawn – they were constants now, a new way of life.

"Checkmate," Ai announced triumphantly, her fingers hovering over the chessboard they'd commandeered during their free period. Her victory was met with Kazuki's groan and Masumi's smug nod of approval from where she lounged on the nearby steps, a book forgotten in her lap.

"Remind me again why I agreed to play against you?" Hiro said, chuckling as he reset the pieces.

"Because you wanted a challenge," Ai shot back, unable to fully meet his gaze.

Hiro's laughter mingled with theirs, genuine and light. Yet, even as he enjoyed being normal for once, moments came when his gaze would drift towards the horizon, thinking about the moves being made by the governments searching for him. In those moments, a sadness would crawl across his face.

Ai noticed these shifts, the way he sometimes seemed too distant from them. Her lips pursed in concern as she watched him one afternoon, clearly lost in his thoughts. Scrolling through the school's student database, she uncovered something about Hiro he hadn't bothered to share with them: Yashiro's 17th birthday was only two weeks away.

"Why wouldn't he tell us," she murmured to herself, a plan blossoming in her heart. "I wonder if this is why he has been acting so off lately."

"Talking to yourself now?" Kazuki teased, appearing beside her with a raised eyebrow.

"No, I just found out Yashiro's birthday is in two weeks,” Ai whispered, she looked up at Kazuki. “Did he tell you about this?”

"The guy told me nothing, I swear," he replied, crossing his heart. "Seems weird he didn't mention it,"

"Maybe or maybe his home life isn't great and his birthday reminds him of it," she allowed, her thoughts already dancing with possibilities. "I mean it would explain why whenever we start to get personal about our families he clams up,"

"Fair but unless he wants to talk there is nothing we can do about it," Kazuki thought out loud, looking off into the sky as he thought about it.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

"Maybe there is," Ai said as she came up with a plan. "What if we throw him a surprise party? take his mind off his home life." Kazuki nodded in agreement and together they started to create a plan.

On the following Friday, they met on the hidden rooftop garden decked with fairy lights for the school's mixer. Ai hoped that she could use this opportunity to figure out what would make Yashiro's birthday truly special.

"It has to be perfect," she whispered to herself, watching Hiro chatting with Masumi. His laugh, free and easy, filled the space.

The garden was in full bloom with greens and blues, a serene pocket hidden on a rooftop. Hiro sat against the trunk of a cherry blossom as Masumi went off to grab some food, its petals drifting down like soft pink snowflakes. Ai joined them, her knees drawn up, tracing patterns in the fallen petals.

"Look at that," Hiro murmured, his gaze fixed on the sky where a lone cloud drifted lazily. "It kind of looks like a bird."

Ai followed his line of sight. "Yeah it sort of does if you really squint your eyes." she joked. "Sometimes I wish I could fly away from here too."

Hiro exhaled, the corners of his lips lifting wistfully. "I know the feeling. I love it here, Ai, I really do. But sometimes..." He paused, trying to choose the right words. "Sometimes I miss being able to just...go. This place, as amazing as it is, can feel like a really fancy cage."

Ai studied his profile, she had never seen this side of Hiro. "A cage?" she echoed softly, as she realized just what she needed to do.

"Yeah," he said with a shrug. "I just kind of miss my life before here sometimes."

"Shoot, I forgot about the foreign language club meeting!" Ai exclaimed suddenly, glancing at her watch. "Sorry, Yashiro, I gotta run!"

"Go ahead," Hiro encouraged, his smile now genuine. "Can't have the club president missing a meeting."

As Ai hurried away, her thoughts turned to ensuring Hiro got exactly what he wanted for his birthday. She spotted Kazuki lounging by the fountain, headphones around his neck and a tablet in his hand.

"Kazuki!" she called out, grasping his arm when she reached him.

"What is it Ai?" Kazuki asked, startled by her sudden appearance.

"Is there any way for students to leave campus?" Ai asked, her voice low and insistent.

"Leave campus?" Kazuki raised an eyebrow. "Without permission? That's a no-go. Field trips or parental pick-up only."

"But what if someone really wanted to get out? Like, really needed it?" she pressed, desperation edging into her tone.

Kazuki regarded her curiously. "Why this sudden interest in breaking rules? Is this about Yashiro?”

"Yeah," Ai confessed, releasing her grip on him. "It is the one thing that will make his birthday truly special."

"Ah," Kazuki sighed, running a hand through his messy blonde hair. "Rumor has it, some seniors have been able to sneak out. They say there is a secret escape route but I've never seen it."

"But it is possible," Ai suggested, her palms coming together as if in prayer. "We need to find it."

"Ai, if we got caught we would be expelled," he reminded her, standing up. "I like Yashiro as much as the next guy but I am not risking it for him."

"Please Kazuki, don't do it for him, do it for me," Ai pleaded, her eyes filling with fake tears.

"That's not fair Ai," Kazuki rolled his eyes. "Fine, I will do it for you,"

---

Osamu's boots crunched over gravel as he stepped out of the sleek, unmarked car. The old mill loomed before him, its steel exterior slightly rusted. He approached the old building with authority, preparing himself for the meeting inside.

Pushing open the creaky door, Osamu entered. Inside was a hub of activity as Canadian agents continued their work hidden on Japanese soil. Screens filled with data streams, and operatives murmured into headsets. In the center of it all stood Patrick, his posture rigid, as he awaited his Mach pilot.

"Patrick," Osamu greeted, voice echoing slightly in the vast chamber. "You wanted to see me?"

"Ah yes, Osamu." Patrick clasped his hand briefly, as the men met. "We believe you are right about the Mach attack and the Yakuza headquarters. As such we have decided to start a new operation,"

"Alright, what are the details of this new operation?" Osamu asked, releasing the older man's hand. "I take it you called me here to brief me,"

"Nothing gets past you," Patrick said, Osamu could feel the condensation in his remark. He led Osamu to a small room with no windows, "I'll brief you when your new partner arrives."

"New partner?" Osamu's steps faltered. "Sir after Diaki I think I should..."

"Because," Patrick said, cutting Osamu off before he could finish, "You will be engaging with another Mach. Odds are better if there are two of you."

Osamu wasn't too sure he wanted a new partner after the death of his last one. They settled into chairs on either side of a sparse table, the silence between them thickening until it was almost tangible.

Then the door clicked open, and she stepped through—Hisoka, her presence slicing through the quiet. Her long purple hair swaying side to side, a stark her gray eyes analyzing the man before her. She offered a curt nod. "Osamu."

"Hisoka," Osamu replied, rising to meet her gaze. Osamu could have guessed they would have chosen her, she just wished he wasn't the one stuck with her.

"Hisoka has agreed to take part in this mission," Patrick explains, the amount of pride in his tome made it clear it had been his idea. "Her pilot scores are the best we've seen."

"The target has been located and doesn't appear to be on the move anymore," Hisoka stated, businesslike. "Our objective is clear: capture the remaining Japanese Machs intact."

"Aren't we trying to destroy their Machs?" Osamu's mind raced with this new information. He didn't like the idea of stockpiling more weapons when the globe was already on edge.

"Not anymore," Patrick said. "It has become clear that we won't be able to duplicate the Mach technology and with the death of Diaki, we are now down a Mach. We need to ensure our advantage. We need the entire set."

"Entire set?" Osamu's jaw tightened. He had been doing his own research into the Machs and was beginning to feel he should share his discovery.

"Yes we need them all and we need to do it by summer's end," Patrick continued, choosing to ignore Osamu's concern. "Intelligence suggests the UN is gearing up for... something significant."

"End of summer," Hisoka echoed, as contemplated the idea. "It's a tight timeframe, but feasible."

"Feasible?" Osamu questioned aloud. "Sir this isn't a good idea, if we get caught it would be like declaring war on the entire planet,"

"Whatever it takes," Patrick said firmly, leaving no room for doubt or moral questioning. "Canada's future security depends on it."

"You have my word the operation will proceed without incident," Hisoka confirmed, unsettling Osamu further.

"Look rush timelines usually lead to rash decisions," Osamu said, trying to make his point as clear as possible. "We won't have time to create a strategy that will allow us to collect every Mach before the UN makes their move. Not without taking some massive risks."

"Which is precisely why I called Hisoka," Patrick countered with a sly grin. "She hasn't been warming the bench; she's been deep undercover surveilling our targets."

"So she knows who the other Mach pilots are?" Osamu's dark eyes narrowed, studying Hisoka as she stood with the poise of a coiled viper ready to strike. "Nobody is that good."

"Her father is," Patrick explained, as if unveiling the final piece of an elaborate puzzle, "Kojo Yamada is the best in the business."

"Kojo Yamada is her father?" Osamu hadn't known this about his fellow agent. The name alone carried a legacy shared in whispers of lethal precision. "The sniper?"

"More than just a sniper," Hisoka chimed in, her tone laced with pride yet devoid of warmth. "He eliminated targets that others deemed untouchable and could find anyone anywhere no matter how hard they tried to hide."

"Impressive," Osamu conceded, though he could feel his own heart rate rising. "But you aren't your father."

"No, I'm better." She said casually as if it were common knowledge. Hisoka stared down Osamu, unamused by his line of questioning.

"Remember you're both on the same side here," Patrick declared, clapping his hands together as if sealing a deal between them. "We need both of you to secure Canada's future."

"I always keep things professional," Hisoka stated, never taking her eyes off Osamu.

"I will always put my country first," Osamu said hollowly, feeling trapped in a corner.

With a nod, Patrick excused himself, retreating from the room with a smile. As the door clicked shut behind him, Osamu turned his attention back to Hisoka.

"Let's talk shop," Hisoka suggested, her gaze locked onto Osamu's. "We don't have to like each other, we just have to get the job done."

"Fair enough," Osamu muttered, knowing she was right. "I think we have a more pressing concern than gathering the remaining Machs."

"Explain," Hisoka demanded more than asked, leaning over the table, "What issue could be more important the relieving our enemies of their weapons?"

"Well I've been analyzing my Mach for a while," Osamu started softly, trying to be careful about what he shared. He watched Hisoka's fingers tapped impatiently on the table, her head tilted as she took him in.

Hiro's face flashed in Osamu's mind, if he shared too much it could put his life at risk. The only thing he knew for sure was it was all tied to Hiro and his family in some way.

"Well, Osamu?" Hisoka inquired, tired of waiting for him to finish his thought.

"They are changing," he replied with a measured calm he didn't feel. "I don't know how or why but their base power levels have been increasing every so often for a while now."

"And you find this concerning?" Hisoka asked. "Is it possible the initial readings were wrong?"

There was no way my data was off, Osamu thought, having run the numbers over a dozen times. But the truth is far darker, he pondered grimly, their power increases every time one of them is destroyed.