02. plan B

"HOW THE FUCK did you fail?" Kawaguchi Hiroki, a tall brunette with hints of ginger exclaimed as he watched you walk into the living room of your team's shared home. He wasn't one for honey traps, he preferred more of the behind the scenes work of the conning industry. But that doesn't excuse the fact that he's basically the brains of the whole system you have going on.

You let out an annoyed sigh as you made your way to the couch, dropping your purse onto carpeted floor. Your body spun to sink into the couch, stretching out your legs. "I didn't fail. I just had a little slip up and he ditched me at that stupid hotel."

"So you failed."

Yanagi Tsukiko, a slim young woman with pin straight black hair walked into the room holding a glass of wine. She leaned against the entry way staring at you with a skeptical look. "It's okay to admit it, you know. We all screw up once in a while."

"But Tsukiko," you groaned, covering your face with your hands to block the blinding lights illuminating from the crystal chandelier hanging from the tall ceiling, "This was supposed to be the most important scheme of the year." Failing a con was common. Though for you, it was more rare than finding a diamond in the middle of the road. You were disappointed in yourself.

Hiroki got up from the couch, quickly running upstairs and back downstairs with his laptop in hand. "Okay let's formulate a new plan then. We are not giving up this opportunity." He opened his laptop and immediately began to type a rundown of things that could have caused plan A to go wrong.

"Itoshi has a game tomorrow at 3 pm. I can buy all three of us tickets and we can attend." He began as he jotted down a brief summary of what plan B would be. "After the game, you are to try and sneak into the back and get his attention. Talk to him and apologize. Tell him you want to start fresh or whatever you need to do to be able to win him back."

"Hiroki... he knows I'm a con artist."

It seemed as if Hiroki's color began to wash out from his already pale face. He did not think anyone would ever think that you were a part of the conning industry. It was extremely hard to spot an artist for anyone with normal thinking capabilities: Sae was something else.

"Tell him you weren't trying to con him and to disregard whatever he heard about you." Tsukiko said as she sat down on the ottoman. She took a sip of the ruby red liquid before continuing, "Do whatever it takes to convince him. As long as he is able to semi trust you again, it would be a good start to starting a relationship."

You were reluctant to agree with this new plan, you doubted that Sae would not be able to see through your horrendous lies. He was smarter than anyone you have ever swindled in the past, he could read you like an open book. But nevertheless, you began to mentally prepare yourself for the next day. Your name was too big in the industry to let it get thrown away just because of one mess up. You were known for your ability to succeed in honey traps for a reason and you were not going to let that go any time soon.

"Let's do it."

Meanwhile Sae laid in his bed staring into oblivion. His head raced through a million thoughts that he couldn't seem to shut up. Something about you was so enticing he couldn't let go. He felt guilty for leaving you at the hotel yet somehow he knew he did the right thing. The way you looked at him with no emotion in your eyes only proved that everything you had said was nothing more than a bittersweet lie.

He turned over to his side, facing the dimly lit wall. Moonlight spewed beneath his closed curtains, giving his room a gentle glow. A cold draft seeped into his bedsheets as he let out a long sigh. It was late and all he wanted to do was close his eyes and sleep.

He wanted to stop thinking about the girl he met at the bar that night. The girl who lied straight to his face. The girl he abandoned at the hotel. He wanted to stop thinking about you.

author's note!
why can't i skip like 20
chapters and get to the good
parts already ughh