CHAPTER 3: SUSPICION

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Character Encounter: Zedd Harake, Shaun Sazaki, Brixton Uhera

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Brixton burst into the private room, waving a couple of folded papers above his head.

Shaun: “Yo! Got the intel on those two second-years.”

Zedd looked up from his seat, calm as always.

Zedd: “Good.”

Brixton: “Okay but... what gives? I thought you weren’t the type to care about random students. Suddenly you’re asking me to dig up files on a couple of nobodies?”

Shaun leaned forward from where he sat, arms crossed.

Shaun: “I was wondering the same thing. What made you so interested in them, Zedd?”

Zedd’s eyes didn’t leave the file in his hands.

Zedd: “The one named Akira Izumi… I recognized the last name. It was on the second-year list posted in the lobby. When we saw him earlier, his name tag confirmed it.”

Shaun: “Izumi… You mean Iruka Izumi? The ex-member of Ground Zero Mafia?”

Zedd gave a slow nod.

Zedd: “Yeah. They said he left the group due to an illness, but I met him once at a mafia conference. Sharp guy. Smart. Skilled. If he hadn’t dropped out, I would’ve considered recruiting him to Black X.”

Brixton: “They say he was a master with shuriken. If his little brother inherited even half of that, I’m calling dibs on being his buddy.”

Shaun: “There you go again with your ninja obsession.”

Shaun: “Maybe try holding a gun sometime instead of swinging a sword.”

Brixton: “Tch. Don’t diss the blade. I’d cut you down before you even pulled the trigger.”

Shaun: “Confident much?”

Zedd: “Enough.”

The room went still at his voice. Both Shaun and Brixton quieted immediately.

Both:“...Sorry.”

Zedd passed the papers over to Brix, who scanned them quickly.

Zedd: “It’s confirmed. Akira Izumi is Iruka’s younger brother. Legal guardian? Iruka himself.”

Brixton: “So that’s all this was about? Just confirming if they’re related?”

Shaun: “You still thinking about Iruka? Even if he’s out of Ground Zero, we both know he was ahead of his time. A real tactician. Getting him into Black X now would be impossible.”

Zedd leaned back slightly, his expression unreadable.

Zedd: “I’ve long since dropped that idea. But the younger brother... that’s a different story.”

Brixton: “Seriously? You think that guy’s part of Ground Zero? He nearly tripped over himself trying to leave the cafeteria.”

Zedd: “Maybe. Maybe not. But Ground Zero’s been quiet lately. Too quiet. What if Akira’s just playing innocent? A friendly face to get close... and gather intel?”

Shaun looked thoughtful.

Shaun: “I don’t want to believe it, but your gut’s usually right. If you think he’s suspicious... we’ll treat him like he is. Ground Zero is our rival anyway”

Brixton: “So what now? Interrogation? Kidnapping? Sword duel?”

Zedd shot him a sharp look.

Zedd: “No. For now... we watch. Eyes open. Nothing more.”

Shaun: “Copy that.”

Brixton: “Roger.”

As silence settled over the room, the tension hung in the air. The seed of doubt had been planted—and Black X was now watching.

Closely.

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