003 // YA BIG OAF

                                    

                                          
Masumi sighed as she blended in with the crowd, merging in with the blurry figures that filled the streets. She had about two hours before going to work and decided to kill some time in the city rather than being at her apartment. Unlike a certain someone, she enjoyed being able to go out in the city without being noticed or recognized. If anything, Masumi would only be recognized by her familiars or the students that stopped by her work.
She was also going to buy Diluc's birthday present, but chances were she was not going to be able to give him the gift until Saturday. The redhead had told her that he and a few of his coworkers were going out for the night. Meaning, they were going to spend the night at the agency building celebrating. Hopefully, that also meant he would be staying at their place instead of hers. 
"Maybe I should get him a new wig. The one he wears is hideous." The peach-haired girl muttered to herself, looking at some beauty shops while passing by. Masumi shoved her hands into her coat pockets, her left hand unconsciously gripping her cell phone. 
Her eyes locked onto a bookstore, an idea popping into her head of what to buy as a gift. He is missing a few chess pieces from the board that he brought over. Perhaps I should get him a new set. 
Masumi tore her phone out of her pocket, startled by the sudden vibration. Her eyes widened at the sudden incoming caller and darted over to the entrance. It's as if she knew I was talking about her the other day. 
As soon as the girl hit the green call button, an aggravated sigh filled Masumi's ear. "It took you long enough!"
"I didn't want to stop in the middle of the crowd and be a nuisance."
"It's called multitasking."
"Yes. It's a bit hard to do it when you're moving with the crowd and then trying to step out to go inside somewhere. What's going on Shinobu?"
"Just checking in on my best friend. How are things over there Masumi?"
"Oh, they're great! I'm just killing time before I go to work today."
"At least you're not doing a double again. You should introduce me to your boss, I'll give him a good lesson or two." Masumi could picture the actions of the green-haired girl who was probably spinning a few kunai around her fingers. 
Even though the two had been best friends for nearly their whole lives, Shinobu had no idea who Masumi's true boss was or even the fake boss. There was a reason for what they do, and even though at times she felt like strangling both men, she thoroughly enjoyed working at the café. "It's fine Shinobu. I do enjoy working there even if I don't have a life a few days out of the year."
That was also another negative to the contract she signed that fateful day. That side of her life was her mask of lies worn every day, even to those close to her. At times it sucked not being able to vent about Diluc crashing at her place, but it would put him in harm's way. Masumi knew Shinobu wouldn't tell, but it didn't mean someone else nearby couldn't be listening in.
Or someone listening in through some spyware. 
Charles had his cards played right all along though. Before he had filed a lawsuit against the paparazzi, which eventually led to a restraining order against them, he always had Diluc tag along as his so-called brother in disguise. That's how the three would pull off their meetings, and since Charles had a whole story that his brother is deathly sick and needs to be kept an eye on at all times, it worked. 
"Okay, fine. But! If you ever feel overworked, do take some time off. I wish I could do that for these little flies I'm having to constantly keep an eye on." Masumi could hear her best friend's annoyance levels rise in her voice, signifying that one of the members of the gang had done a goof-up.