Kuki Shinobu cleared her throat, eager to shift the conversation. "Cough, cough! Mr. Yuto, may I ask why you're here?"
Yuto shrugged casually. "Just heading to Uyuu Restaurant to grab some desserts for someone. I saw you all and got curious. An Onikabuto in Inazuma City is rare—Arataki here must be a Red Oni, right?"
Oni were split into Red and Blue, distinguished by their horn colors. Red Oni, like Itto, were warm and friendly to humans. Blue Oni, aloof and distant, had long vanished after staging villainous acts to help Red Oni integrate into society. Yuto mused privately: Couldn't Blue Oni just paint their horns red to blend in after their schemes?
Itto burst into laughter. "Big brother! Hahaha, Kuki Shinobu, he called me big brother! Yuto, right? You're my friend now. I'm Arataki Itto, Unrivaled in the World, Sumo Oni King, Pride of the Oni, Onikabuto Duelist, King of Card Games, a True Man Who Loses but Never Admits Defeat! Pick a title, don't be shy!"
"Boss is mighty!" Akira, Genta, and Mamoru cheered in unison.
Yuto blinked, stunned by Itto's theatrics. He glanced at Shinobu, his look saying: This is your boss? Shinobu sighed, covering her masked face, resigned to her fate.
"Excuse me, Mr. Yuto," Shinobu said. "If there's nothing else, we'll be going. I need to give them legal awareness training. Here's the Arataki Gang's business card—contact us if you need our services."
She handed Yuto a card, then grabbed Akira and Genta in one hand, Mamoru and Itto in the other, dragging them off like misbehaving children.
"Wait, Miss Kuki Shinobu," Yuto called. "Do you have any plans to seek new employment?"
Itto spun around, indignant. "What? Poaching my second-in-command right in front of me? No way! The Arataki Gang can't function without her!"
Yuto raised an eyebrow. "Look at her skills. How much can you pay her? You four keep getting arrested, forcing her to bail you out. What's keeping someone like her in your gang?"
Itto sputtered. "It's… it's my reputation, obviously!"
Yuto smirked. "Do you believe that yourself?"
Silence fell. Itto's bravado faltered.
Shinobu stepped in, her voice firm. "I appreciate the offer, Mr. Yuto, but I'm not looking to leave. The Arataki Gang has flaws, but they're minor issues I can handle."
"You're refusing without hearing my offer?" Yuto pressed. "I haven't mentioned salary or benefits."
"I'm sorry," Shinobu replied. "No matter the job, I'm staying with the Arataki Gang. If it's part-time work, I might consider it."
Yuto nodded. "Fair enough. I'll contact you later for potential cooperation."
With that, Yuto walked off, leaving the Arataki Gang behind. Shinobu took a deep breath, only to jump when she turned and saw four teary-eyed faces staring at her.
"What are you doing?" she demanded.
"Wuwuwu, Kuki Shinobu, thank you for choosing us!" Itto sobbed. "We'll work harder to repay you!"
Shinobu's heart lifted briefly. Could this motivate her boss? Her moment of pride felt like a long-suffering daughter-in-law finally earning respect.
"We'll change our schedule!" Itto declared. "From one day work, three days rest, to two days work, five days rest! I'll draw posters to plaster across Inazuma City, even at the Grand Narukami Shrine, to recruit more members!"
Shinobu's fleeting joy shattered. Her veins pulsed as Itto's absurd plan sank in. His abstract "art" would be mistaken for graffiti, landing them back in the Commission Office. Without her Vision, she couldn't shock sense into him—maybe beans in his dinner would do the trick.
Meanwhile, Yuto settled into a private room at Uyuu Restaurant, toying with Shinobu's business card. His thoughts wandered. The Kuki family was renowned in Inazuma, with generations serving as shrine maidens at the Grand Narukami Shrine. Shinobu's unnamed older sister still served there, a prestigious role.
Shinobu herself had been a miko but left after an incident. Trading that revered status for the chaotic Arataki Gang was baffling. Her mask hid her past, but her talents shone through. Even the Tri-Commission respected shrine maidens, backed by the cunning Yae Miko.
Yae Miko, that mischievous pink-haired fox, fiercely protected her own. Shinobu's skills were wasted on Itto's bug fights and antics. What a squandered talent, Yuto thought, shaking his head.
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