Hamazura Shiage ran out of the alley onto a major road.
He stopped there and surveyed the area while breathing heavily.
Some boys enjoying their day off looked at him in puzzlement, but he didn't see any sign of his attacker. He wiped the sweat from his brow, bought some cold Oolong tea from a nearby vending machine, and finally relaxed while drinking it.
(W-well, I managed to survive… I wonder if Item is okay. Ah, damn it. I just want to abandon all this shit and go off on a journey somewhere.)
But his cell phone cruelly began to ring.
Hamazura groaned when he saw the display.
It was from Mugino Shizuri of Item.
"Yo. Since you answered, I guess you survived. And I'm assuming you didn't screw up, get handcuffed, and had someone put the phone to your ear."
"Yeah, I'm alive… I was the 'lucky winner', so I'm assuming you're fine."
"Good work with that. I had things a lot easier because of it. Sorry, but you need to come right back. You have some underling work to do."
Hamazura made an unpleasant expression at the thought of work and Mugino continued.
Saying this didn't bother her at all.
"I've got a body here I need you to dispose of."