Evil Organization’s Extra Mr. A – Chapter 53

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Xrecker
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That same day, at the Earth Defense Alliance Seoul Branch Headquarters.

Red and Pink were in the Team Hunter Killer meeting room on the 3rd floor. Green, who usually attended every meeting, wasn’t there.

“How much longer is this rain going to last?”

Red muttered to herself, looking at the persistent drizzle of the late monsoon season, and Pink lay face down on the table, silent.

After learning about Green’s family situation, Red had given her some time off. While Green insisted she was fine, Red didn’t want to add to her stress, especially with the legal proceedings regarding her father.

“It’s quiet.”

Pink, feeling Green’s absence, had adjusted her work schedule to attend the meeting, worried Red might be lonely in the meeting room.

There wasn’t much to discuss, since the duel had been canceled due to the rain.

Hunter Killer meetings were meant for strategizing and discussing future plans, and for formulating countermeasures for upcoming duels. The repetitive nature of the meetings meant fewer new topics arose, and with their recently improved relationships, they often just chatted instead.

“It is. Is everything okay with your part-time job?”

“It’s fine. I told them I’d be coming in the afternoon.”

Red also had her part-time job at the convenience store in the afternoon. While she could have gone home after the meeting, she figured it was better to chat and spend time together since they were already here and she had to go to work later anyway.

However, perhaps because of the weather, or perhaps because it was just the two of them, they sat there in silence, neither initiating a conversation.

“Hi.”

Blue’s sudden appearance startled them. Red turned away from the window, and Pink sat up abruptly.

“Blue? What are you doing here at this hour?”

It was surprising to see Blue, who rarely attended meetings, especially during busy weekday mornings.

“It’s a long story.”

Blue had her own reasons. Having decided to move out, she’d handed over her childcare responsibilities to her sister-in-law, freeing up her schedule.

She’d finally had time to visit headquarters, now that she was looking for a place to live. If there had been a duel, she would have made time for it, but the rain cancellation had given her the opportunity to focus on her apartment hunt.

Blue briefly explained her situation.

“So, thanks to his help, I’ve finally cleared my head. I feel much better.”

She couldn’t go into detail about A and knew neither Red nor Pink would know who he was, so she just said a chance encounter had helped her.

But Red and Pink, whose radar for romance had become finely tuned, didn’t miss the key element in her story.

“So, who is he?”

Blue’s improved situation was a good thing, of course. But asking her for more details about her current situation and future plans, while she was still processing everything, would only add to her stress, so Red steered the conversation towards their current favorite topic.

“Huh? Who?”

Blue, who hadn’t expected them to ask about A, the person who’d helped her, was caught off guard, and Red and Pink, their eyes sparkling with curiosity, stared at her.

Blue had several unresolved issues, one of which was A. For some reason, he’d asked her a direct question when she couldn’t even decide for herself, and he’d invited her on the trip, even though it was primarily for the children.

He’d even helped her look for an apartment, patiently enduring what could have been a tedious task.

And Eun-ji’s words during the trip had stuck with her.

A was a good person, as Eun-ji had said. If their relationship continued and developed, she knew he’d be too good for her.

Blue also knew about Red’s boyfriend and Pink’s quasi-boyfriend. Their questions about men made her think of A, and she couldn’t find the right words.

“A good person, I guess?”

“Knowing Blue, he must be a kind person.”

Pink nodded in agreement with Red’s comment.

“He’s kind. He listened to me, and he helped me when I was confused.”

“…My brother is really kind, too.”

Red, wanting to boast about her boyfriend now that the topic of men had come up, chimed in, and Pink’s eyes narrowed, not out of malice, but out of a competitive spirit.

“My guy is also super kind. He doesn’t have any prejudice against superhumans, either. We’re having drinks together this weekend.”

Red, who hadn’t revealed her superhuman status to A, couldn’t mention anything related to superhumans. But Blue couldn’t resist adding to the conversation about prejudice against superhumans.

“He’s also very kind to me, even though he knows I’m a superhuman. I’d hoped there were people out there without prejudice against superhumans, and it was nice to actually meet someone like that, someone who treats me well.”

Even the usually gentle and warm Blue became competitive, boasting about someone she cared about. She didn’t want to lose.

While she wasn’t sure if she liked him yet, she didn’t want to hear that he was inferior to their partners.

She knew her teammates weren’t the type to judge, but she couldn’t help but feel a surge of competitiveness.

“Really? So, if you really like someone, it doesn’t matter if they’re a superhuman?”

Red was still unsure. She worried that revealing her secret to A might ruin their relationship.

“…”

Neither Blue nor Pink could answer definitively. While they’d both met people who accepted them despite knowing they were superhumans, they couldn’t say everyone was like that.

And Red knew most people were prejudiced against superhumans. Having never revealed her secret to someone she liked, she couldn’t help but feel anxious.

“I think so, if they truly like you.”

Blue spoke before Pink could answer. She had her usual warm, gentle smile.

“Red, you’re pretty and kind, so I’m sure your boyfriend will accept you even if he knows you’re a superhuman.”

She couldn’t say for sure. She had no idea if Red’s boyfriend harbored prejudice against superhumans. But reminding Red that “You never know” or “Even love has its biases” would only add to her worries.

It was something Red would eventually have to reveal. They might even break up before then. But assuming a positive outcome, their relationship would continue, and the moment of truth would arrive.

And if Red’s boyfriend turned out to be prejudiced against superhumans, it would devastate her. Blue didn’t want to burden her with that worry prematurely.

And there was a chance Red’s boyfriend didn’t have any prejudice.

Of course, none of them realized they were talking about the same person.

“Seeing everyone so happy lately, I guess having a good partner is important.”

Red and Blue nodded in agreement with Pink’s comment.

Just as their conversation about men was getting started, the meeting room door opened.

They all turned their heads, and Green, entering the room, shyly greeted them.

“Hi.”

“Green?!”

Red, surprised to see Green, despite having given her time off, was even more shocked than when Blue had arrived.

“Are you okay? Are you sure you should be here?”

Pink, also worried about Green, wondered if she was pushing herself too hard.

“I’m fine. It’s the weekend, and I felt bad about missing the meetings.”

Green’s eyes met Blue’s. While Green didn’t know about Blue’s situation, Blue, aware of Green’s struggles, approached her and hugged her tightly.

Blue was shorter, so it looked like Green was the one hugging her, but Green immediately understood the comforting gesture.

“Wh-what’s wrong?”

Green blushed, flustered by the sudden display of affection, and Blue patted her back.

“I’m sorry. For not realizing… until now.”

Having gained some breathing room in her own life, Blue had realized how oblivious she’d been to her teammates’ struggles. Hearing about Green’s abuse had made her reflect on her own actions, or lack thereof, as a teammate.

Of course, she hadn’t had the time or energy to be considerate of others, burdened by childcare and her sister-in-law’s constant nagging.

But as the oldest member of the team, she felt guilty and heartbroken for neglecting her younger teammates, despite their supposed equality.

“It’s okay. I’m fine now.”

Green had spent the past few days going back and forth between the police station and the courthouse, dealing with the legal proceedings, and had rested at home on her days off. While she felt much better, her only regret was not being able to see A due to the constant rain.

They’d been texting regularly, but she didn’t want to impose on him, knowing he was busy, so she hadn’t suggested meeting at the park. But the less she saw him, the more she thought about him.

The memory of him listening to her that night, and the image of him protecting her from her father at the police station, became increasingly vivid, and she realized she was thinking about him constantly.

“Let me know if you need anything. I’ll help you with anything.”

Blue, now with the time and energy to be there for her teammates, wanted to support Green. The Hunter Killer members, who’d been too focused on their own struggles, could finally see each other, and they realized they had no one else to rely on but each other.

While years of indifference couldn’t be erased overnight, their shared experiences with romance had helped bridge the gap.

“I have someone helping me now… but I’ll definitely let you know if I need anything.”

Red, touched by their exchange, hugged them both, and Pink joined the hug.

It was an awkward embrace, but it was the first time they’d felt a sense of camaraderie, a bond they hadn’t realized existed.

“Who’s helping you?”

While the identity of a helper wasn’t usually a significant topic among ordinary people, for superhumans, whose social circles were limited, it was a matter of great interest and curiosity.

“Oh, it’s… an acquaintance. How should I explain this?”

She hadn’t thought about how to describe A. She hadn’t expected to be talking about him with her teammates.

Then she remembered thinking, during Red and Pink’s conversation about their boyfriends, that she’d also like to share stories about someone she liked if she ever found someone.

The thought of actually saying it out loud made Green blush, and the three women, seeing her shy and hesitant demeanor, instantly understood.

Green also had someone.

“We met by chance, and he’s kind, warm-hearted, and reliable.”

Green’s words ignited a flurry of conversation about their respective love interests.

While Blue was still unsure of her feelings, and Green couldn’t quite bring herself to confess her affection, their stories of budding romance fueled Red and Pink, who were already in relationships, even if one hadn’t been explicitly confirmed.

Red and Pink gasped as Green recounted how she’d met A and how he’d helped her, the story of a chance encounter, like something out of a movie or drama, appealing to their romantic sensibilities.

Blue also shared her story with Green. Then Red suddenly remembered meeting Blue near her boyfriend’s apartment.

“Wait a minute, Blue. When we ran into each other, and you said you were meeting someone, was it…?”

“…Yes, I was going to meet him.”

“What? Why didn’t you tell me?”

Blue blushed, feeling slightly exposed, and Red, though technically younger, teased Blue, who couldn’t hide her shyness when it came to romance, despite her age.

The morning, which usually felt long after their meetings, flew by, and despite the pouring rain outside, their hearts were filled with sunshine.

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