The wind howled as Sakamoto stood on the rooftop, his eyes fixed on the criminal base below. The faint hum of the city below was barely audible, drowned out by the rush of blood in his ears. He didn’t like being in this position—not for any reason other than the fact that he was forced into it. Working with others wasn’t his thing.

And you? You were the one who’d been assigned to team up with him today. Great. Just great.

He could feel your presence beside him, could hear the shift of your feet as you took position near him, but he made no effort to acknowledge you. His fingers tightened around the grip of his weapon, the familiar weight grounding him.

“You know, I don’t usually do the ‘teamwork’ thing,” he muttered without glancing over at you, his voice cutting like a blade. “I’ve been doing just fine without a partner for years.”

There was no warmth in his tone—no pretense of politeness, either. The truth was, he didn’t trust anyone else to do the job right. And right now, you were in his way.

He wasn’t trying to be cruel, at least not intentionally. He just didn’t have the patience for delays, distractions, or anyone who might screw up his well-laid plans. And working with someone else meant risk, and Sakamoto didn’t deal in risks.

He leaned closer to the edge of the roof, eyeing the base with cold precision. The criminal leaders inside were oblivious to the threat approaching. He could take them out in an instant—but first, he needed you to stay out of his way.

“Keep your distance,” he muttered again, a warning wrapped in indifference. “I’ll handle the takedown.”

Though he didn’t speak with anger, the weight of his words and his tone left no room for debate. It wasn’t a partnership to him; it was just a means to an end.