Zenless Zone Zero: The Front Line

Chapter 5: Instincts

If there was ever a day where Shion missed a workout, his trips with Mr. Vinny to Lumina Square always more than made up for it; having to run back and forth between stores to the car to drop off the groceries and back again always tired him out quickly.

"Please tell me we're almost done." Shion begged as he met with Mr. Vinny back in the pavilion.

"All the major stuff is done. I just have to talk to Orchidea at the flower shop before we go." Mr. Vinny replied with a nod.

"Fraternizing with the competition now?" Shion joked lightly.

"We share tips. If it were a competition, she would be winning," Mr. Vinny said with a laugh. "I shouldn't be long. Why don't you go get yourself a bowl of noodles or something?" He suggested.

"You don't wanna pick something up on the way back?" Shion asked.

"I don't like eating out as much as you do. Go treat yourself. I'll let you know when I'm heading back to the car." He gave Shion a thumbs-up. Shion nodded and made his way to the noodle shop.

Shion stuck his hands in his jacket pockets, shuffling past high school students just getting out for the day on his way down the sidewalk. Foot traffic coming from the crosswalk was spreading out in different directions in front of him as he was moving.

Someone caught his eye out of those people that were passing in front of him: a shifty looking guy wringing his hands together as he walked. He was dressed plainly but his body language and the purposeful pace of his walk stood out to Shion right away.

The noodles would have to wait.

Perhaps it was just because he had been looking into the Verdict gang for the better part of a week and half now but something about this guy was setting off Shion's instinctual alarms. He only needed a little bit to confirm whether or not his suspicions were correct.

Shion followed the guy past the flower shop to the coffee shop. He got in line behind him. He watched this guy wait quietly, looking around occasionally – he was clearly waiting for someone to join him. The guy ordered a coffee, so Shion ordered some food and his own coffee.

The man sat at a table on the second level overlooking the water. Shion sat at an adjacent table where he could see the guy's face. He started munching on his own food while they both sat and waited...

Finally, a woman arrived. She seemed normal enough. She was dressed in jeans a baggy black shirt with some band logo on it. She sat on the other side of the table from this gentleman, so he wasn't able to see what she was saying.

But he was able to read half of the conversation that ensued...

"Hey, Crystal. How're you doing?"

The woman, evidently named Crystal, folded her hands in front of her on the table. Her shoulders were slightly tense, indicating that she was on guard.

"You don't want to get yourself any food or a drink? I don't know what you like so..."

Crystal cut him off here, making a gesture with her hand. This clearly wasn't a date - seemed more like business.

"Alright alright. So...we've moved our supplies into one area. We managed to crack that safe we found in the basement and there was a good amount of Dennies in there too. We're keeping everything except the food stuff in there now."

Crystal nodded her head, seemingly in approval.

"Does Bloodhound have any orders for us?"

Shion's eyes widened in surprise. He lowered his head down and took a moment to recompose himself. Had he really stumbled right into a meeting that could lead him straight to Bloodhound? Good to see his instincts were still up to snuff.

He quickly turned his attention back to the conversation. He'd missed a few things already but they didn't seem to be done yet...

"We just got everything organized and he wants us to move it already? You can't ask for a better place to set up!" He argued.

"Shut up." Crystal said loud enough for Shion to hear. They both hushed down after that.

"Alright alright. I'll let the guys know. But we're gonna need another truck or something to get it all outta there."

Crystal nodded again. She then stood up. With her body angled slightly to the side now, Shion was able to read her lips and catch her last sentence:

"He'll want you to keep him updated directly. Watch for that." She said before turning to leave. The man quickly brushed himself off and followed her down the steps.

Shion swallowed the last bite of his food and waited a moment before standing up. He scooped up his trash and the last of his drink and made his way downstairs a few moments later. As he dropped the wrapper for his food in the trash, he looked around for Crystal and the other guy.

He caught sight of Crystal by herself now. Evidently she had finished up her conversation and was now breaking away on her own. He kept a loose follow behind her. She led him into the metro station where they waited on a train to arrive.

While they waited, Shion reached into his phone to check his messages. He saw that Mr. Vinny had already texted him several times saying that he had gone back to the car and asking him where he was. Shion reached into other pocket to get his earbuds and gave Vinny a call.

"Hey kid! Where are you?!" Mr. Vinny questioned as soon as he answered the call.

"Sorry about that, sir. Uh...something came up. You can go ahead and start heading home. I'mma take the train home." Shion informed him, doing his best to keep his voice down so Crystal wouldn't overhear him and look his way.

"What? Why? Did something happen?" Mr. Vinny questioned.

"Uh...kinda." Shion answered awkwardly.

"...are you gonna elaborate or...?" He continued to pry.

"I can't get into it right now." Shion whispered a little more irritably.

"Ah...this has something to with your other job, doesn't it?" Mr. Vinny asked curiously.

"Yeah...basically." He answered with a sigh.

"Gotcha. Alright then. That actually reminds me I've been meaning to ask you; have you been washing your clothes after going into the Hollows?"

"Washing my clothes? Uh...why?" Shion inquired.

"Etheric material permeates the air in the Hollows. Now you may have a high aptitude score but your clothes still catch all of that stuff. 90% of the time it won't be harmful to you but it is definitely traceable. And if I find stuff all over your room when I get home I'm gonna be pissed!"

"Shoot...okay gotcha. Thanks for the tip. I'll clean up when I get home." He promised.

"You should remember this stuff from the academy!" Mr. Vinny reminded him.

"Yeah yeah. Listen, my train's coming. I'll let you know when I'm on my way back. Bye." Shion quickly concluded the conversation when he saw that Crystal's train was pulling into the station.

"Watch yourself out there, kid. See ya soon." Mr. Vinny said before Shion hung up the phone. He slid his phone back into his pocket with a sigh. He took one last sip of his coffee before getting on the train after Crystal.

"Let's see where we end up." He thought to himself...