He's quiet for a while, and I know what's coming almost before he says it.

Secret is out, I suppose. I wonder how much I can tell him without getting in serious trouble with the higher-ups. I wonder if they even care. Takosawa should have warned me, since I have a feeling his robotic friends have something to do with his odd perceptions of reality.

I clear my throat and look into my tea as I speak softly. "I'm twenty-four." I sigh and shake my head. "And we've been in place, preparing, for thirteen years." I'm not sure how well he'll take that admission. Most adults are not particularly okay with the idea of children being trained into elite government backed soldier-spies. Even Ryuuji at fifteen was too young.