DRV3 headcanons, one-shots and other stuff [COMPLETED]

(O/S) Maki x Kaede

Requested by @Ayako_Nanase. Enjoy!
Fic title: The Assassin's Notes.

Maki's POV

"Who's the target?"
"Kaede Akamatsu, age seventeen, female, student at Hope's Peak Academy, SHSL Pianist."
"May I ask why I was hired to kill her?"
"The requester held a personal grudge and only wanted the best of the best to take care of her." My boss barely skipped a beat, tracing the lip of his half-empty wine glass in the dimly lit office. "She'll be performing a few piano pieces for a crowd of toddlers tomorrow. I expect it to be quick, slick and clean."
"Don't teach your grandma how to suck eggs. I know what I'm doing."
"Good. Succeed and a promotion will be well on its way."
"Of course, sir."
"Dismissed."
I walked out of the boss's office tense and with a chill crawling up my spine. I sucked in a deep breath and started taking mental notes of which weapons would be best to use.
I barely slept that night. I just wondered who the target was other than another living being to take the life of.

The next morning I dressed myself in my dark green sweater and maroon scarf since it was rather cold outside, and called a taxi to take me to where my target's, Kaede's, place of death. I've never liked referring to my targets by their names, since it reminded me that they were living, but I suppose that's what keeps my morals straight. Kaede's place of death.
A thick crowd of children surrounded a shiny black piano, and that's when I saw my target.
She had sparklingly bright magenta eyes and glossy blonde hair. She wore a smile that could brighten up any room, no matter how dark, and a school uniform with a pink jacket. She glanced at me and gave me a quick wave.
"Ah, you must be Maki Harukawa. The children have told me much about you." She held out her hand which i gladly shook, before continuing without missing a beat, "Kaede Akamatsu, the SHSL Pianist. It's great to meet you."
"Maki. Maki Harukawa. As you know I care for these orphans. It's a pleasure." I said, and for once I was surprised that I wasn't contriving these greetings. Genuine emotions came from my voice. Clearing my throat, I glanced around at the children who were crowded around the piano.
"Alright, everyone." I called in an attempt to settle them. "Kaede is playing you some pieces on the piano today."
I heard a small eruption of cheers from the audience.
As the blonde sat down at the instrument, I whispered, "Take it away."
Her fingers tapped each key so precisely, and she definitely earned her title of the SHSL Pianist. She closed her eyes, nothing but focus on her face, as she continued to play the most peaceful piece of music I'd ever heard. I grabbed a chair and took a seat, melting into the music.
I don't remember how long I sat there for, whether it be two months or two minutes, bu I felt someone tap my shoulder.
"Oh, sorry, ha ha." The familiar voice chuckled. "I'm finished, so I just wanted to let you know that it was truly an honour playing for you." She quickly added, "And the kids, they were wonderful."
That's when it hit me - I hadn't killed her.
And I didn't want to.
"W-Wait!" I said, grabbing her arm as she turned to leave. She gave me a small smile as well as a confused look.
"I... I insist that you stay for lunch. I have tea, if you'd like...?"
She thoughtfully gazed at my cherry red eyes. "...Mmm... well, I do love tea. Alright, sure." She smiled again. She was just a walking smile, wasn't she?
Repressing a sigh of relief, I invited her into the staff room which was thankfully empty and started brewing the beverage I'd offered her.
My mind was racing. To kill or not to kill? That was the question. I looked at her round curious eyes that had a childlike wonder sparkling inside of them masked by an eternal enthusiasm. Seeing her eyes go dull would be a tragedy. Such a tragedy.
But I needed the promotion.
But I also wanted her alive.
It took me a second to realise it; I loved my target.
I stared at her for a few more seconds and wondered why. Why was I even killing people? Why was I hurting people?
I remembered that this was against everything that I believed in. So while she had her back turned and was talking about something in that beautifully bright voice of hers, I took some rat poison off of the shelf and mixed it into her drink.
The kettle whistled, as if mocking me for my stupid feelings.
I placed her tea in front of her, and she waved her hand over it to cool it down. I was trembling.
"Maki? Are you okay?" She asked.
"I'm just... cold."
"You're wearing a scarf. What's wrong? Are you sick?"
"Don't drink the tea." I told her, repressing sharp tears that stung the backs of my eyes.
"What?"
"Don't... don't drink the tea. Even if it means that I get fired. Even if it means you never speak to me again. Just please don't drink the tea."
She placed a hand on my shoulder. "Maki...?"
"I... I poisoned it." I confessed, fighting back tears. "I had to. I'm being paid for this. I just can't..."
"Hey..." She soothed. "It's okay..."
"But it's not. I've hurt, I've killed, so many people, and—"
"What's stopping you from killing me?"
She stirred her tea. Her poison.
"I... I want to get to know you. I want to go on dates. I know your probably straight or are already taken but I just want to know your alive. I need to know that you're alive."
She gave me a small sad smile. "I'm neither of those things. I'll happily give you a chance!"
"Even... even after I attempted to kill you?"
She giggled like a child. "Of course! Imagine the stories we'll get to tell when people asked us how we met. 'Oh, yeah, my girlfriend realised she was gayer than a box of crayons when she was mid-way through assassinating me'."
"I love you so much right now."
"Right back at you, Maki."
She planted a small kiss on my cheek.
"If looks could kill, I'd have dropped dead by now."
I replied with, "But I'm not a mirror."

Word count - 1093.