39 A Permanent Wound (1/2)

Before the assault at Base Trupriv/Betty, at Tsuchiya... A little recall of the past had happened before the whole thing. ”How are ya doing?” Maeru surprised Mark by teleporting behind him. He was sitting on a stair outside of the former building of the Tsuchiyan leader. Mark jolted up and quickly regained his cool with a sigh. ”The spy Shichiro sent after those Americans found out that they are tricking us” He said. ”Huh?” Maeru looked very curious and sat beside him. ”The spy has been following them and listening to their conversations. Those pirate women, Annabelle and Christine, they are the one who seems leading their operation or whatever they're trying to do...” He said. Then he faced her with a smirk. ”Imagine this, Maeru. They sent some punks to mess with us like that!” He said. ”What did you expect? This is not the same world we live in, maybe they have their own strategies” Maeru giggled. ”So, is there anything else?” She asked. Mark looked at her with excitement. ”We're gonna run siege on Betty, completely annihilate the whole base. We can just rebuild it right after...” He said. ”I'm gonna go all out now, Maeru! This is the time I fucking rise!” He said, fists clench. Maeru giggled. ”Good!” She nodded. ”What about you?” Mark asked.

”Me? Well, those Chinese are putting up resistance and doesn't want to cooperate. We're trying our best to stay as calm as possible. We don't want them alerting Saiju” Maeru responded. ”Saiju? We're planning on taking that one out after Betty. So you can do whatever you want with them” Mark smiled at her. ”I see...” Maeru nodded. They fall into silence, watching soldiers and civilians pass by. Then Maeru spoke up. ”About those Americans...” ”Yeah, they don't know that they are being tailed yet and will probably never will. So we're gonna wait for them to show up and pretend that we don't know shit” Mark quickly responded on her. ”Once we got them near us, I'll kill them myself” He said. ”How about trying to take them alive? We could run a ransom at their home country” Maeru said. ”Those low-life punks? I don't think they will care about them” Mark scoffs. ”You never know. They might be carrying a worthy title, I don't think they are just gonna pick up some random punks at the street and send them for a very important mission, especially when the country's safety is at the line... At least they have to be notorious ones, those who have a lot of connections or very wanted organized criminal groups” Maeru said. ”Nah. I'll kill them” Mark firmly said. ”Here I am, thinking you were a good guy” Maeru smiled. ”They are liars, Maeru! You know well that I and Shichiro hate those kinds of people!” Mark raised his voice. ”Hmm...” Maeru thinks of the past. ”That event really gave birth to a monster inside you, huh?” She said as she looks up to the sky. ”Damn, don't say it that way...” Mark was disturbed by how she emphasized her point.

”And yeah, that's right...” Mark nodded. Then he started to recall Shichiro's unfortunate event. Back when Maeru haven't confessed to Shichiro of her feelings, Shichiro had a girlfriend. She was a classmate during his high school days. Mark and Shichiro's four other best friends are supportive of his relationship. Despite him having another girl, Maeru chose to support him as well. One night, Mark was walking back to his house. He was holding his phone with his right hand and the groceries on his left hand. He was on a group chat with Shichiro and their four friends. Until he got to cross with Shichiro's girlfriend on a corner. Her blonde hair and her voice lightened the dark and quiet surroundings. She was happily talking to her phone, she didn't even notice Mark. Somehow, Mark managed to listen to a bit of their conversation. ”Huh...?” In surprise, he stopped walking and turned back. It was really her voice, all cheery and girlish. In the split seconds, he thought she was talking to Shichiro with all the flirting words. But he quickly realized that Shichiro was actively chatting on the group chat, totally laughing out loud with the other guys. He jumped into many thoughts like there's no way Shichiro could switch between flirty, sweet, and totally laughing machine to him hiding that he was talking to her. They are so close to each other that he wouldn't hide this from them. His heart races quickly as the realization finally hits him. Along with his body tensing up in nervousness. Mark then quickly made an excuse to the group chat so he can leave the conversation for a while and quickly trailed the girl.

”There's no way, there's no way...” Mark gulped hard as he didn't want to quickly jump to conclusions. ”This girl...” He said as he stares at her back, still talking to the phone. At some point in their walk, he can hear the girl saying 'I love you' often. ”Hitsumaki-san... Who are you talking to...!” He angrily whispered. Few minutes of stalking Hitsumaki, they have arrived in a deserted park. The winds of the night gently blow on the park. Mark hid to a wall and peeks at the corner. ”Hitsumaki-san..!” He heard a male's voice who sounded very happy. ”Seiji-kun!” replies Hitsumaki. ”I fucking knew it!” He whispered, his heart is uncontrollably beating fast. He started catching his breath. ”This girl... did she just met this Seiji dude...?!” He asked himself as he listens to their conversation. ”So, like... I saw your pics on Heart Catcher... They were nice, Hitsumaki-san!” The guy said with excitement. ”Are they? That's nice to hear!” Hitsumaki replied. The guy then asked Hitsumaki to sit along with him on a bench that is facing towards Mark's direction. ”My name is Hitsumaki Hana. Nice to meet you...” She introduce to the guy. ”You already know me! Haha! I have my whole name on my bio!” He said as if he was boasting on it. ”Seiji Kanara, right? I think your name is cool!” Hana said. Like that, they exchange compliments as Mark listens to the whole conversation.

”Should I tell...?” Mark looked at his phone, who he hasn't put back to his pocket yet since he started following her. ”Goddamn it...!” He hesitated then decided not to do it yet. ”Ah!” As he was nervously flipping his phone on his hand, he saw the camera and quickly thinks of an idea. ”How about some evidence...?” Mark happily chuckles. He opened his phone and used the lock screen camera to quickly put it up. He carefully placed his phone to the corner of the wall as if it was peeking. He immediately recorded a video once he adjusted enough. Like that, he continued to listen. ”Have you done it?” Hana asked. ”Hm?” Seiji seductively looked at her. ”This guy's face!” He angrily whispered, shaking the camera. Seiji has a short olive green hair with matching eye color. He has a long face. The guy is taller than the six of them. He was disgusted by how handsome Seiji looks like. And the current situation where he is seducing Hana disgusts Mark even more. ”Have you done it?” Seiji asked again. ”Nope~ Haven't...” Hana raised her shoulders as she rest on his shoulder. ”Wonderful...” He responded. ”It will be my first time with you... Hana....” As he said her name, he slowly grabbed Hana's chin and brought her lips to him. Mark gasped hard. ”Motherfucker...!” He started speaking English in rage. ”They kissed like they've been seeing each other for a while...!” He said to the camera. He thought it was a quick kiss, but they eventually switched to a deep kiss. Noises of smacks and the saliva when they swirl their tongues together fill the area, putting more disgust to Mark. ”Fuck, fuck...!” He just wanted to jump in and stop them but it would be a bad approach. Then suddenly, something came up with his mind.

”Heh... I have plans for you, Hitsumaki...” He said to himself, not to whisper for the phone to hear. He realized that he can control Hana with the video afterward. They continued to do it for exactly five minutes before pulling away from each other. ”How about we spend the rest of the night in my place?” He said in a very seductive tone. ”You're in a hurry? We haven't even dated yet~” Hana goes along with him. ”Tomorrow, let's spend the day strolling around town. You have said that you're attending the Saizana High, right? It's Saturday tomorrow, so you should have no class right?” He asked and Hana nodded in response. ”I'm studying at Tonowa, it's not far away from here” Seiji said. ”What?! That private school?!” Hana sounded very amazed. ”Haha... Isn't Saizana good as well?” He asked. ”Well, the school couldn't match with Tonowa when it comes to money, and designs though!” They laughed together. ”She's even saying shit to our school...” Mark whispered. As if they hit another romantic conversation, they have started kissing again. ”Yeah... Kiss him more motherfucker... Show how much of a bitch you are...!” He suddenly takes joy recording her of her cheating. ”I'll ruin your fucking life, motherfucker... I'll tell and show this to every single fucking people you fucking know in your life!” His phone shakes as he whispers to himself. They kissed longer than the first one before breaking away. ”Come on, let's go home, shall we?” He asked Hana. ”Sure~! It's getting cold out here, anyway...” Hana replied sweetly and they both stood up from the bench. ”Shit...” Mark quickly moved away from his cover. The entrance of the park was where he was hiding and he moved a block away and hid into a corner and continued to record from there.

As they made their way out, they made a quick kiss. ”How many times are they gonna kiss like this?” He whispered. As they are walking away, Mark turned the camera to himself. ”This Seiji dude is now leading this girl to his house and probably smash all night!” He said to the camera. He suddenly realized that he planned on sending the video to the group chat, so he started speaking Japanese again. ”I'm gonna follow them very stealthy... Locate this motherfucker's house and sell the location to the black market, motherfucker!” With that, he ran quietly to follow them. After following them for a few minutes, Hana sparks up a question. ”Where is your place exactly?” She asked. Seiji suddenly chuckled and sent the two in curiosity. ”I guess I should tell you more...” He said in a boastful voice. ”I live in the Kanou Estate!” He said, surprising the two completely. ”No way!” ”No fucking way!” The two reacted the same. Mark quickly turned the camera to himself. ”Y'all heard that?! This fucking guy lives in that big ass mansion!” He said to the camera. ”Wow! That mansion?! There's no way!” Hana sounded very happy. ”And this motherfucker happy!” Mark said then turned the camera back to them.

”Mark, wait...!” Maeru suddenly laughed, stopping Mark from telling the story. ”W-What?” Mark chuckled. ”The way you talk to the camera...!” Maeru was trying to suppress her laugh by placing a hand on her mouth and to her stomach. ”Haha, what?! Don't you know how a vlog works?!” He asked. ”You considered it as a vlog?!” Maeru finally burst out laughing. ”Yeah! It is a vlog! A perfect vlog out of any goddamn video from Ontube!” He said. ”Whatever...whew...” Maeru calmed herself down. ”Next thing, they reached the populated area, right? They took off with a car?” She asked. ”Yeah...” Mark focused back on the story. Few minutes of tailing the two, they have arrived in the urban area. Few people and cars are still passing by despite the time. ”It's awfully busy tonight...” Mark whispered to the camera. After a while, Mark knew that they are going for the overpass. He stayed on his side of the street and carefully record them walking across the platform. ”They are crossing the street...” As soon as they were out of sight, he dragged his camera down where they would reappear. There was a 24/7 convenience store just a few feet away from the overpass and a black car was waiting in front of it. ”Is that their car?” He asked. ”Shit. This guy is a real deal dweller in that damn Kanuo gold dump” He said as he zoomed in to the rear of the car. It has a golden '可能' insignia above its gas tank. ”No wonder Hitsumaki was baited...” He whispered.

”No, no... Maybe she's just a real bitch...” He smiled. After a while, the two finally appeared at the other street. Their voices are faint and he can't listen well. ”I want to follow them, but...” As he was looking around, he saw a lonely bike stand. ”Well... I don't regret stealing a pencil back in kindergarten...” He hurriedly took the bike and went off. He went around and stopped behind them. ”Ah!” Mark saw that the bike had a basket in its front. He placed his phone on it, standing to record his travel. ”Alright, I'm gonna tail them back to that place...” He whispered. The car took off as soon as they got in and Mark let them distance away before following them. ”I hope they won't notice me...” It didn't take them long before leaving the urban area. The surroundings are starting to transition into rural areas. Then eventually, open fields. The Kanou mansion was now visible from their distance, mainly due to the lights lightning certain spots of the mansion. It was an addition to its bright interior shining through the darkness of the empty fields. ”There it is... The fucking Kanou Estate. Home of rich families, owners of successful businesses running the whole city” He said. ”I secretly admire them, despite that they are hated by most of the people. But now? Now that I knew that one of them is baiting school girls on the Internet?! It'll be huge hate coming down at 'ya, Kanou fucks!” He cursed. ”You messed with the wrong people!” He said.

On the distance, he saw the car stopped in front of the entrance, also stopping on his bike. ”Ah... The princess has arrived!” He said as he took his phone from the basket. He looked at the camera. ”Alright, I'm near the gold dump. As you can see, the whole area's a nature then suddenly there's this fucking big mansion out of nowhere...” He said as he recorded his surroundings and stopping at the mansion. ”Alright... they are inside...” Mark waited for a few moments before strolling ahead. He stopped in front of the mansion. A big gate is preventing him from getting inside. Past the gate and its designed paths is the mansion. It looked bigger than how it was from a distance. ”Look at this....” He said as he slowly moves the camera from bottom to the top. Then suddenly, two guards came from the inside. ”Hey, you!” They shouted. ”Oh shit...!” Mark hid his phone away without stopping the recording. ”What are you doing?” The guards asked. Their black suits terrifies him. ”Oh, uh, I was taking pictures if that's allowed?” He pretended to be a follower. ”Scram! Before I drag you inside and let the master talk to you himself!” The guard said. ”Right! I'm sorry!” He bowed and drove away. ”Heh, cunts...” He chuckled. He stopped in the middle of a dark road. He took his phone and faced the camera. ”And that's your bitch princess Hana Hitsumaki. This is Mark, signing off!” He ended the video with him saluting at the camera. Then he sighed heavily. ”What just happened...?” He asked himself as he unlocked his phone and pressed the video.

The video started with them in the park. ”Ugh...” He skipped a few minutes ahead and stopped at when they were crossing the street. ”Everything happened so fast...” He said as he rubs his forehead in stress. He then shook his head clear and went home. He spent the rest of the trip in thoughts.

”You didn't outright tell Shichiro about it, right?” Maeru asked. Mark nodded. ”Yeah but I couldn't hold it anymore and become suspicious to him the next day...” He smiled shyly at her. On the next day, Mark quickly get up from his bed early and took his phone. He started recording himself. ”It's Saturday now and they both had a plan, remember? I was thinking of going to the park earlier than them but I guess the girl stayed on that gold dump” He said to the camera. Then suddenly, a notification showing new messages from their group chat has appeared at the top. ”Ah...” Mark paused the video and instead used his computer to chat with them. The phone would cut the video even if it's paused when he switches to the chat. He waited for computer to boot up and quickly opened his browser and to their group chat. He saw Shichiro happily chatting with their friends about the game he was making. ”Shichiro...” Mark sadly reads his chats. The fact that he was chatting all happily while he discovers something disturbing about his life makes him sad. He then proceeded to make an excuse to take himself out of the conversation. ”yous a busy man, mark! give it a rest lol” Shichiro replied on his message. ”Heh... I'll be...” Mark chuckled and replied to him. ”lol stfu i have other stuff to do than chat with u crazy dudes xD” He said to him. ”i'll hit u on monday!” Shichiro's reply makes him chuckle again. And finally, Mark said his goodbye to the chat and set foot outside.

”Alright...” Mark sighed deep and resume the video on his face. ”I will first visit the park in case they are there... If not, then I'll watch the roads for their cars. It is way too early for them to go outside for dates” He said. Then he proceeded to the park. He found people hanging around on the park, some benches are occupied by couples. However, the bench where he witnessed everything is empty. ”Shit... I don't know if the girl made her way home or she stayed...” He said to the video. ”...Maybe I should wait at the road for their car” With that in mind, he planned on waiting at the convenience store and proceeded. Luckily, the seat that is facing outside is empty and he quickly took the spot. He switched the camera to the front and lay it in front of him. ”Here I am... at the convenience store...” He then quickly realized something and looked back. The male clerk was glancing at him. ”Damn, mind your own business...” He whispered. After that, he stares at the passing cars, looking for the same car he saw last night. He spent an hour waiting there. The clerk had to walk up to him. ”Sir? Are you waiting for someone, perhaps?” He asked, surprising him. ”Oh, uh, yeah...” He nodded. ”I see... People are waiting for the seat, it would be wise to leave if you aren't waiting for someone...” The clerk said. ”Yeah, I'm waiting for someone...” He said with a grim smile, driving the clerk uncomfortable.

After hearing the clerk return to his counter, Mark sighed and looked at himself at the camera. ”Ah...” He saw eyebags thickening under his eyes. ”...” However, he gave no care. Almost half an hour has passed and finally, a car pulled over in front of the store. ”Fuck...!” He quickly covered his face with his phone and switched the camera to its back. Like that, he watches them with his camera. ”There they are...” He saw Hina and Seiji getting off the car. ”She sure looks happy...” He whispered. Hana then started pointing everywhere, showing where she wanted to go. Then all of the sudden, the clerk appeared behind him and puts his hand on Mark's shoulder. Mark looked at him through the reflection of his phone's screen. ”Excuse me sir, but you're getting suspicious here...” The clerk angrily said. Mark was angered as well but held it in and faced him without turning completely. ”Mind your own fucking business...” He said. However, the clerk insisted. ”Sir, I'm gonna call the cops on you if you don't stop doing that!” He threatened but Mark was unflinching. ”Someone's getting cheated at...” Mark told the clerk and he gasped. ”That enough for you?” He asked. The clerk didn't know what to say. ”B-But sir, doing this kind of stuff...” ”This is very personal, mister. So why don't you lay it off before I tell everyone that you like to stick up your nose to the customers and make your life harder than it is now?” Just a little bit of his interference and Mark would definitely explode at his seat, he glared at him hard. And finally, the clerk let him go and returned to his counter defeated.

As if they were doing something else during his talk to the clerk, the two just started walking and their car just left the store. ”Ah... they're moving” He said as he slowly stands up. He steadied the camera on them. Hana was grabbing Seiji's arm as they go and it made Mark sicker. ”Time to go...” He said as he make his way towards outside. He stopped as soon as the doors opened. He faced the clerk back, who was looking at him as he expected. ”Next time, try not to be a hero, 'cause you're not and will never be” He said, making the clerk uncomfortable. ”One mistake and your life are done for, Kenji...” He read his name using his ID. He left him in a tight spot. ”Alright... Obviously, they're going on a date...” He said as he records both of them walking together. ”I'm not following them all day... I just wanted to record more evidence...” With that, he stopped the recording and went home.

”You've really held everything up... You managed to stay calm after all those...” Maeru was impressed. ”I would jump on that girl the moment I saw her with another guy if I were on your situation” She said. ”So you can have Shichiro all by yourself, of course” Mark smiled. ”No-!” ”Ah ah!!” Mark suppressed her as it was obvious. ”You were in love with him during those times, and killing people wasn't a problem for you back then” He said. ”So I don't think you're gonna do it for their relationship” He chuckled. ”Fine... you got me” She pouted and looked away. Her admitting defeat made him chuckle even more.

After Mark got home, he holed himself up in his room, replaying the videos mindlessly. ”This a life changer...” Life was going as usual for him, Shichiro, and his four other friends. Same goes for school until it happened. ”What made you astray, Hana?” He rethinks of certain times where she was clinging to Shichiro very much without care of the people around her. Some think she really loved him, some said that she wanted to show off and some said she just wanted to show love. Those affections she was showing towards Shichiro had become dull to him. He started to believe that those are fake acts. While everything is going through his head, a notification started showing at the top of his screen, indicating that the group chat has started to become lively again. ”Grr... Keep it together! I'll never do anything if I stay like this!” He slapped his face with both of his hands. Then he took a deep breath before joining the chat. He spent the rest of the day talking to the group chat, and to Shichiro in full English conversation once the others have signed out.

At first, he was casually talking to him over something. But the next day, the temptation was too overwhelming and he started giving out hints. Then at night, Shichiro finally became suspicious. ”Why are u asking all these dude?” Shichiro asked at their private messages. Mark became nervous as he was finally taking notice. ”did something happened? did u somehow got a one day girlfriend? hahaha” He added. Mark got a bit of a chuckle and decided to give it a rest and change the topic. However, as he was typing a response, Shichiro sent another message before him. ”but seriously...” He said, halting Mark on his words. ”what happened?” He asked again. ”u don't normally bring up topics like this mark i know something's up” He said, now fully aware of the situation. Mark was nervously reading his messages repeatedly. Both tension and temptation overwhelmed him and decided to tell him. He nervously typed 'Hana' and sent it. Shichiro saw the message and was quiet for about three seconds. ”and what about her?” He asked. Mark then proceeded to tell him. ”he's cheating on u dude...” He took a breath to calm himself, his hands are shaking and cold on nervousness. Shichiro took a few seconds before replying. ”no wonder she's not answering her phone... how can u make sure?” He asked. ”on friday, i was going home after doing some errands and i caught up with her on the way...” He sent the message before doing another one. ”when i said that something came up? that was the time” He sent. ”huh...” Shichiro replied quick. ”i followed her and she made her way to the park dude! and he met a guy there!” He sent. ”u know what happened after that! They flirted with each other, tell their lives and sh1t, then kissed and went home!” He sent, totally very satisfied with telling him everything.