As cicadas chirped in the late summer, a lone man stood in silence. A traditional red straw hat rested atop his head, his face hidden behind a cybernetic mask. A long red shawl draped around his neck and hung down to his waist.
The ronin.
He raised his head, quietly observing the place his enemies called home. A faint smile formed beneath the mask as he took a step forward — a bold move, invading behind enemy lines.
Inside the apartment, Kirashi slept on the floor, wheezing and drooling despite the hot summer air.
Ayro sat by the couch, eyes fixed on the television, soaking in what little entertainment he could find.
He blinked, then flinched slightly. Leaning forward, he nudged Kirashi's side with his foot. "Kirashi."
Kirashi grunted, half-asleep.
"Yeah?.. "
"Someone's coming,"
Ayro warned.
Kirashi's snoring cut off. His eyes fluttered open.
Meanwhile, back at the mall. Shoppers strolled through the busy corridors while the two girls of Squad Segment 663 occupied the restroom.
Kara stood by the window, fixing herself with a soft smile. Tomori had just finished and was washing her hands beside her, as a few more people passed by.
"Aren't you going, Kara-san?"
Tomori asked.
"Already did back in the park!"
Kara replied with a grin, turning to her.
Their eyes met—until Kara tilted her head.
"Oh?"
"Hmm?"
Tomori blinked back.
Kara's gaze shifted down, scanning Tomori's figure. Tomori followed her eyes, checking herself for anything wrong but found nothing.
"E-eh?.. Something wrong, Kara-san?"
Kara smiled again, closing her eyes.
"Wanna go shopping?"
Before Tomori could respond, a bright light burst behind Kara.
Tomori shielded her eyes.
"WHAT IS THAT REQUEST?!"
She screamed internally, then turned to Kara.
"For you, right?"
She asked.
"Nope!"
Another flash blinded her.
Cut to the restaurant. Itoshi slumped in defeat as silence hovered over the table. Only Jayu ate cheerfully beside them.
"Why are they taking so long?"
Itoshi complained lazily.
An idea popped into Aldrin's head.
"Ah! They might be kis—"
A flying fork stabbed his chest.
"Kis—what?"
Itoshi muttered, confused, then shrugged as Aldrin groaned on the floor.
"Anyway... where do we go next?"
Ryujin checked his comms. Perfect timing—Miss Gigi arrived.
"Yo!"
"Good afternoon, Miss Gigi,"
They all greeted in unison.
Miss Gigi blinked, taking a step back.
"What the heck?! What did these kids eat?"
She thought, face twisting in disbelief. Shaking her head, she asked,
"So?... Where to next?"
"Fukuoka Tower!"
Jayu answered instantly.
Miss Gigi chuckled.
"Pft—alright, alright. Where are the other two?"
Just as she asked—
"KARA-SAAAN NOOO!!!"
Tomori's voice echoed across the restaurant. Everyone turned to see her clinging to Kara's waist, red-faced and flustered.
Kara waved cheerfully.
"Good afternoon, Miss Gigi!"
Tomori peeked from behind her.
"G-good afternoon..."
"Miss Gigi, Leader... may I have a request?"
Kara asked, glowing with confidence.
"Ah... yeah, sure,"
They both said at once.
Tomori's faint voice trailed behind.
"Noooo..."
"May we extend our time here? I'd like to go shopping with Tomo-san!"
Kara smiled brightly.
"NOOOOOOO!"
Tomori protested again.
Ryujin and Miss Gigi exchanged glances. Miss Gigi sighed.
"Yeah, sure—but be quick. Like I said, 80% ready at all times."
As Tomori continued to wail, Kara nodded firmly.
"But before you go, I'd like to update you guys regarding our mission,"
Miss Gigi said.
As everyone settled, Miss Gigi remained standing, her voice steady as she announced,
"Our plan doesn't change. Itoshi, Aldrin, and Ayro will head north to trigger Rhythm."
She leaned over the table, casually taking a piece of bread and biting into it before continuing.
"They'll fly up to Kitakyushu, then regroup in Saga with the rest of the team."
She paused to swallow.
"Though... we might have to start earlier than expected. A few days ago, Itoshi used the Rhythm. Their movement below the sea has accelerated."
Another pause.
"Most likely... this Saturday."
"The fifteenth,"
Kara and Ryujin thought in unison.
Miss Gigi nodded slightly.
"So, you've got three days at best to enjoy this city."
She closed her eyes and took a sip from Ryujin's coffee.
"I'll say this early — thank you for cooperating in making the world a safer place against the Seele's."
Setting the cup back down, she added,
"I'll skip the salute for now. That came straight from my heart."
The team smiled as they listened, quiet but warmed by her sincerity.
"On that note, I'll be waiting by the vehicle. That's all I had to say."
She turned to leave — but Ryujin stopped her.
"Eh? You haven't eaten lunch yet, right, Miss?"
Miss Gigi turned back with a sly smile.
"Hoh? The leader still cares about me?"
From the noise of the mall, the apartment felt like a different world. A heavy silence clung to the hallways.
The white walls reflected nothing but a thin beam of sunlight slipping through a single window, lighting a narrow stretch of floor as quiet footsteps echoed through the still air.
Those footsteps belonged to the enemy — the ronin.
He stopped in front of the squad's apartment door.
On the other side, Kirashi and Ayro stood ready, alert, barely breathing.
The man lifted his cybermask. His identity surfaced.
Dark skin. Brown eye — on the right side.
The left was something else entirely: a red mechanical eye glowing faintly, metal plating fused into his face, red and blue wires weaving under the skin like living veins.
His gaze stayed low, fixed on the doorknob. Expression dead, unmoving. Then he shifted slightly as his internal scanner swept the room.
He found what he was looking for. Kirashi's heat signature. Only his.
"He knows we're here,"
Ayro murmured.
"Kirashi..."
Their eyes met. Kirashi gave a single nod.
The ronin reached for the doorknob. The air between the three men shifted — heavy, tight, ready to snap.
Kirashi's fingers curled around his blade. Ayro steadied his stance, breath low and quiet.
On the other side of the door, the ronin's hand hovered for half a second. Not hesitation — calculation.
Then his grip tightened.
"UWAHHHHHHHH!!!"
Tomori's pleading rang across the mall as they walked. She clung to Kara's waist like her life depended on it, tears streaming down her face, cat ears flicking back up in full distress.
"NUUUU YOU DON'T HAVE TO!!"
She kept trying to bargain, beg, and negotiate her way out of Kara's plan.
Kara just kept strolling, cheerful as ever, smiling while Tomori tried to drag her backward.
Behind them, Itoshi and Aldrin trudged along. Every step looked like labor for Itoshi.
"Why do we have to come with them..."
He muttered.
Aldrin didn't even look at him.
"We're bag carriers."
Between them, Jayu hopped happily, watching her 'big sisters' parade through the mall.
Suddenly, Kara stopped.
"K-Kara-san?.."
Tomori leaned sideways, trying to catch her eyes.
Kara pointed toward a nearby shop.
"Look."
Tomori turned her head slowly, tears still building—
"UWAHHH NOOOOOO!!!"
She didn't stand a chance. Kara dragged her straight into the clothing store while Tomori flailed helplessly.
Behind them, a single bead of sweat rolled down Itoshi's and Aldrin's temples at the exact same time.
Jayu looked up at Aldrin.
"Why does Tomo-nee hate the clothing store?"
Itoshi answered first.
"Homeless people don't showe—"
A flick cracked him right in the forehead.
"That's not a good example,"
Aldrin muttered.
Itoshi grabbed his forehead.
"DUDE THAT HURTS!"
Aldrin leaned closer to Jayu.
"I think she's... a bit shy?"
"Ouhhhhh!"
Jayu nodded, satisfied.
Across the walkway, sitting at a food stall, a stranger watched the trio waiting outside the shop. He squinted.
"Pink-haired child... blue-haired kid... I've seen them before..."
He leaned toward the girl beside him, whispering.
She looked over, eyes widening in shock.
"That's right! They look like the Crow and the demon child!"
Inside the shop, only one of them was enjoying the moment — and it wasn't Tomori.
Kara held up a pair of clothes, eyes sparkling.
"Look at this, Tomo-san! This pair is cute!"
Tomori glanced at it, cheeks warming.
"I-It is!"
"You should try it!"
Kara beamed, light practically blasting from behind her.
"B-But!"
Tomori tried to resist.
"A-Ain't that expensive?.."
Silence. A long, heavy silence. Kara kept smiling like cost didn't exist.
A bead of sweat slid down Tomori's temple as that same radiant aura kept pouring off Kara.
Then Kara finally spoke.
"I found another one! Go try this!"
"She's ignoring me!"
Tomori panicked internally.
Defeated, she grabbed the clothes and slipped into the dressing room.
Kara kept browsing, hunting for anything "cute enough."
Eventually, Tomori stepped out, expecting Kara — and only Kara — to be on the other side.
"I'm... d-done..."
Her face was crimson.
She froze when she saw the rest of the squad sitting on a bench behind Kara.
"W-WAIT! Why are you guys here?!"
She instantly covered herself.
The trio barely reacted. Exhausted, they slumped like prisoners on break.
Kara jumped.
"HOH!! IT'S CUTE!!"
She spun toward the boys.
"It's cute, right?!"
They answered in the flattest tone possible.
"Yeah... it's cool."
Kara turned back to the flustered Tomori.
"We're taking this one!"
Tomori's head snapped toward her, cat ears popping up.
"W-WHAT?!"
Kara planted her hands on her waist, eyebrow raised.
Tomori flinched. That was the stance of doom.
She sighed, defeated again.
"Alright... fine..."
Kara clapped once, energized.
"Oke! Try this another!"
Minutes passed. The dressing room turned into a personal runway. Tomori cycled through tops, bottoms, and combos that all screamed "Kara's taste."
"They're so cute!!!"
Kara thought, practically vibrating.
"Don't you agree, Tomo-san?.."
This time, Tomori smiled for real.
"Mhm! I love them!"
She checked herself in the mirror, turning slightly.
"This will... definitely work..."
She thought.
"And.. My curve's are insane!"
Meanwhile, the boys quietly decayed behind them. The light in their eyes faded every time a hanger clinked.
Eventually, they paid for everything Kara picked. Bags loaded up, boys dragging behind, Jayu hopping circles around them — the squad regrouped outside.
Kara called Ryujin as he was talking with Miss Gigi. They loaded the bags into the trunk, then moved on toward their next destination.
Fukoka Tower.
Once they all boarded the vehicle, the shift hit immediately. The noise dropped. The energy dipped.
No one caused it — the source just ran out of battery.
Jayu.
They all turned to her as she slowly nodded off between Kara and Tomori. Her head tipped sideways until it landed on Kara's shoulder.
"Oh—"
Kara adjusted her posture, letting Jayu rest more comfortably.
Tomori let out a small laugh.
"She's so cute."
Itoshi leaned forward from behind, one brow raised.
"What the hell... she's out already?"
Kara gently patted Jayu's head as the kid started drooling.
From the driver's seat, Miss Gigi watched through the rearview mirror.
"Let's go?"
Ryujin answered.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Ok!"
~~~To be Continued~~~