"Damn, damn, damn!"
"You've all been fooled by that crafty human! Yours Truly is the most honest one here!"
Pouting, Power stomped the wooden floorboards of the hotel—thunk, thunk. Watching the five ahead chatting and laughing, she swung a tiny fist at empty air, aiming a heavy mock-punch at Su Tang.
Sensing something, he looked back; Power instantly clasped her hands behind her, lifted her chin, and looked around like nothing happened.
"Hmph! Human! It's not that Yours Truly fears you! I'm just giving the vice-captain face!"
She muttered under her breath—as if for him—too quiet even for herself.
Seeing it, Su Tang smiled and turned back.
He had deliberately had the Shadow Corps suppress her a bit. However she acted daily, this was a mission—time to rein it in, lest she cause trouble.
"Aki-senpai… us barging in here noisy like this—is that really okay?" Because of the earlier "misunderstanding," Arai still felt embarrassed and snuck a glance at Su Tang before asking the man in front, "I mean, uh… shouldn't we be serious on a mission?"
Aki, who rarely smiled, scanned their surroundings. "A proper amount of relaxation helps hunt devils. You should know: devils' power rises with people's fear."
"So when you fight devils, don't get into a solemn headspace." Su Tang picked up the thread. "That makes fear easy to spawn. Mm… try thinking of some goofy stuff while you fight and laugh a little?"
He offered a tip.
He didn't have that trouble. Every time he used fire-qi he was forced into a 'brain-on-fire' state; sanity -5.
He looked at Kobeni, still squeezed in the middle and shivering—eyes cutting left and right as if a devil could burst from any door in the quiet.
"Kobeni, stop fixating on the devil. Try to shift your attention."
"Ah? O-okay." Startled at being addressed, she nodded, glanced around for a distraction, and spotted the other girl in the five.
Nervously swallowing, she shuffled to Denji-ko's side and whispered, "Um… you bring a book on missions?"
"Ahaha, yep!" Denji-ko showed a finally-someone-asked look and flourished her book. "I'm a woman who's going to test into the Imperial Seven! Of course a book never leaves my hands! Studying at all times!"
"Eh… is that so…" Kobeni blinked, then pointed. "But… you've been holding it upside down."
"Haha no need to prai… huh? Huh-huh?! Upside down?" Mid-laugh, Denji-ko froze. She glanced, flipped the book right-side up, and laughed awkwardly. "Ahaha… so that's why it wasn't making sense, ha."
Yikes—huge embarrassment! She'd held it upside down the whole way!
She stewed, then peeked at Su Tang. Seeing no reaction, she quietly exhaled.
These days either he'd been busy or she'd been on patrol, so she'd planned to use the mission to showcase diligence before Mr. Su Tang. Maybe racking up enough favor would let her go a little further down next time. She'd botched it; now she might not even earn a cheek-touch.
"Kobeni."
"Eh—eh? Senpai, yes!" She'd just been giggling, her fear easing a hair—when his voice called again.
"I remember you finished high school, right? If you don't mind, could you teach Denji-ko to read? She wants school like you."
"Ah? No problem. Just… now?" She blinked.
"Of course." He smiled, then said, "I know what you're worried about. Relax—they'll keep us safe."
He beckoned.
Shadows pooled like water across the floor; one by one, Shadow Ninjas rose until they nearly filled the corridor.
Overwhelming when unknown—but as soon as you know they're yours, all it brings is safety.
Even Kobeni, shivering moments ago, suddenly found the place less scary.
"You two teach in peace. I'll send the ninjas to scout."
With a wave, he broke the formation; the ninjas flowed into the darkness ahead.
The team's mood brightened at once.
Aki looked at Kobeni—hair tied up—teaching Denji-ko something; at Power in the rear, muttering without pause; then set his gaze on Su Tang.
No wonder Ms. Makima had acknowledged him as a training master. He'd been worried this squad was packed with troublesome cases; now—not so much.
"Second floor clear."
"Third floor clear."
"Fourth floor clear."
"Fifth flo—hold."
Su Tang frowned, halting the group.
"What is it?" Aki asked.
"A ninja got killed." He looked ahead, rubbing his chin. "Maybe that's our devil?"
Tension spiked.
"Ahaha? Devil?!" Power, trailing before, rushed up—face lit with manic glee. A blood blade condensed in her hand; she bolted forward. "Watch Yours Truly take first blood this time! All the credit is mine—wahahahaha!"
Thud.
She hadn't gone two steps before hands jutted from the shadows and dragged her by the legs.
Faceplanting, she still sparkled with excitement—clawing forward. "Damn you, Su Tang! Let Yours Truly go!"
"No rush. We don't know its strength yet. Let the Shadow Ninjas probe first."
As soon as he spoke, a tide of shadows surged past her and poured forward. She howled, "Damn it! Let go of Yours Truly! I've bled for Public Safety—I've contributed to Division 4—I want to see Makima! My credit—"
"Shh."
Su Tang hushed her—then stared, surprised.
"That devil… got beaten to death by the ninjas?"
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