Mission Report : 1
Operation : Ice Cream
Time : 9:42 PM
Mission Objectives : Cold. Sweet. Victory.
Commander : Sir Dante Graves IIV
Recom Specialist : Young Master Rinji II
Dante pulled his cloak over his head and adjusted his shirt. The night was quiet and the city was dim under the streetlights. Most people having already gone home. But not them.
They had a mission.
Dante and Rinji moved through the alleys like ghosts, both very quiet, focused. Rinji followed close behind, wearing his own scarf, scanning every shadow like a junior operative.
They reached the edge of the alley near the Main Street. Dante held out an arm, stopping Rinji. "Alright, recon specialist," he said in a low voice, crouching beside a dumpster, "Target zone is two blocks northeast. Convenience stores, vending machines and a possible 24/7 donut shop."
Rinji nodded, mimicking Dante's own movements.
"I need you to check the store directly across from the next alley," Dante continued. "See if the lights are on. Don't let anyone see your face. If you see movements, pull back."
Rinji raised a hand, thumb to his chest like a salute. "Yes, sir."
Dante grinned faintly behind his scarf. "Go."
Rinji tapped his foot for a moment before he darted forward, fast, low to the ground. He sprinted across the street and ducked behind a mailbox. Peeked out. Then he crept up to the edge of the store window.
Closed. The lights were off. Metal shutters pulled halfway down. Rinji stood infront of the store with a blank face while dange sighed and marked it off in his mind.
"Strike One," Dante muttered.
The next store seemed to be promising—the lights were on, a vending machine humming outside—but the moment Rinji stepped up to the entrance, he found a laminated sign hanging crookedly from the insides
BACK IN 10 MINUTES.
(It had been fifteen.)
Rinji returned to Dante, a little more deflated this time. "He's not in there."
Dante narrowed his eyes. "Strike Two."
The third store? Definitely not open. A few flickering bulbs and someone sleeping on the bench outside. Rinji didn't even bother going up to check. He just turned around, shook his head and walked back with a shrug.
"Ice cream's rare this late," he mumbled.
"Yeah," Dante muttered, glancing around. "I guess we're not the only ones out this late."
They sat for a moment in the shadow of a closed hair salon, to a place felt somewhat familiar to Dante but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Rinji leaned back against the wall, scarf pulled up to his nose again, clearly trying not to look disappointed.
Dante looked down at the boy, then up at the glowing signs ahead.
"…One more store, right over there." He said, rising to his feet.
Rinji looked up quickly. "Really?"
"We're not quitting now. Let's go. Four times the charm, right?"
With renewed determination, they cut through a narrow alley next to the salon littered with loose flyers and old crates. The next street had a slightly more modern feel, cleaner sidewalks, brighter lights. The last store sat on the corner, neon buzzing faintly and to their relief, the sign said…
OPEN 24/7
Rinji was practically glowing, Dante held out a hand to stop him again, voice low but amused.
"Alright, recon specialist," he smirked, "think you're ready for one more run?"
Rinji nodded eagerly.
"Then you go get us that ice cream."
Rinji grinned and bolted toward the entrance—faster than he needed to, honestly—but Dante just watched from the shadows, arms folded.
The door chimed as he stepped into the 24/7 store. And the cold air hit him instantly, making his scarf feel even cozier. Neon lighting reflected off clean tile floors, and the freezers lined the far wall, really speaking to him.
Rinji found the ice cream fast—a small tub of vanilla and another of chocolate. The simple kinds. The ones he remembered liking before everything had gone wrong. He hugged them to his chest and approached the cashier… then froze.
He patted his pockets.
Left side. Nothing.
Right side. Empty.
Panic. Rising.
The cashier, a bored-looking teenager with half-lidded eyes, stared at him expectantly.
Rinji turned slowly toward the front of the store and raised one hand. Then both. He waved frantically.
Dante, who had been comfortably hidden behind a crate and bathed in shadow like a proper vigilante behind the salon, sighed loudly.
"So much for stealth."
He walked into the store, still wearing his cloak, bare feet heavy on the floor tiles. The teen at the register blinked, clearly unsure if this was a robbery or a cosplay meet-up.
Dante didn't say anything. He just reached into his pocket, pulled out a few bills and handed them over. The cashier didn't argue.
"Y—You want a bag?" the teen asked, eyes on Dante's scary appearance.
"No," Dante said flatly.
They walked out moments later, Dante holding the ice cream in one hand, Rinji trailing beside him like a guilty duckling.
"…Sorry," Rinji muttered.
Dante handed him the chocolate. "Next time, don't forget the wallet."
Rinji looked up. "There's gonna be a next time?"
Dante gave him a sideways glance, then ruffled his hair.
"Duh, now let's go find somewhere to sit and eat."
Holding his tub of vanilla ice cream, Dante walked back into the alley with Rinji close behind.
They kept walking for about four minutes before the sound of distant waves finally reached them.
The beach was empty, obviously. The sky stretched wide and starless, it was cold, but they were both content.
Dante patted Rinji's back and they both walked over to a stone wall lining the edge of the beach perfect for two people to sit.
Dante sat first, setting the ice cream tub on his lap. Rinji dat cautiously beside him, the cold tub making his hands numb.
"…oh." Rinji realised.
Dante tilted his head.
"We don't have spoons." He continued.
Dante looked down, then his eyes narrowed. "Damn."
There was a pause, then Dante dipped two fingers into the tub and scooped out a glob like it was nothing.
Rinji blinked. "W-what are you doing?"
"We don't have spoons, gotta eat it somehow." Dante muttered, mouth half full. "If you want a fancy meal, you can always break into a restaurant, that'd be good training."
The kid hesitated, then sighed, shrugged and jammed his fingers into his own tub. They ate like animals, hunched over. Neither of them cared, the ice cream tasted good.
For a moment, the only sound was their growls as they dug into the ice cream.
And then something hit the back of Dante's head.
SMACK!
A sharp smack to the back of his head—not enough to injure him, but enough to jolt him forward and knock some of the ice cream off his fingers.
"Shit have we been found—?" Dante spun around, his arm starting to glow with fire.
And there she was. Itsuka Kendo.
Backlit by a street lamp, arms crossed, eyes narrowed with fury that had been simmering for a long time. She was wearing joggers and an oversized jumper.
Dante's eyes widened, not from fear. From recognition. He hadn't expected to see her again. Not for a long time.
'Ah shit. I knew that salon felt familiar, why on earth did I go there?'
"Kendo—"
She stepped forward and slapped him, harder this time.
WHAP.
"You idiot!" She said through clenched teeth.
Dante didn't say anything.
Rinji sat there in shock, not sure what to do.
She stared at Dante, eyes burning.
"Running away and leaving everyone behind? I thought you were dead!"