The dark side has its rules—stay in the shadows, never step into the light. That's the code.
Frenda's dolls were just small concussion bombs, enough to knock those guys out for a few days.
"Hehe… two hundred thousand… enough to buy tons of mackerel cans!"
"Uh… mackerel cans are sold out. There's a rumor they're good for your skin or something… they're pretty popular."
Katou Megumi said out of nowhere.
"What?!"
Frenda looked thunderstruck, too shocked to care how Megumi appeared.
"No way, no way…"
Frenda's face fell, her earlier bravado from bombing delinquents gone, replaced by the look of an abandoned child.
"What's wrong? It's just one meal. Go early tomorrow, no big deal."
Megumi eyed Frenda, puzzled. Her reaction was like an addict cut off from their fix.
"…It's not that simple. Half a day without it, and I get hallucinations, shaky hands…"
"Did they put opium in those cans? Are you some fallen girl hooked by bad guys? If so, you really shouldn't eat them!"
Megumi deadpanned, watching Frenda act like an addict.
"Uh… I've got one here. How about I repay your kindness with this?"
Saten Ruiko pulled a can from her bag—the exact mackerel can Frenda craved.
"Sweet!"
"You're not even a little shy about it…"
"I saved you guys, didn't I? A little reward is fair, right?"
"…I mean, sure, but it sounds kinda off…"
Megumi gave a wry smile.
"Whatever! Come on, Megumi-chan, let's go!"
"Oh…"
"I'm with Judgment—huh?"
Shirai Kuroko appeared, pulling up her armband, but stopped short.
"Shirai-san! How did you…?"
"Saten-san? Katou-san? And… what happened here? Care to explain?"
A moment later…
"I see! Thank you for stepping in, miss."
Kuroko bowed to Frenda.
"No biggie, they already paid me!"
"Paid?"
Kuroko glanced at Saten, puzzled.
"This…"
Saten held up the can.
"…"
Kuroko was confused but didn't press. As long as it didn't harm Saten or the others, it was fine.
"Hey~ Shirai-san, wanna join us?"
"No, I'm here investigating Level Upper. We caught some culprits, but it's still unclear. I need to…"
"Level Upper? I'll send it to you later!"
"Huh?"
A moment later…
"So, Level Upper is just a song? Tch… no wonder it's so hard to track. Fine, Saten-san, once you're home and your phone's charged, send it to me immediately!"
Kuroko finally understood why Level Upper was so hard to suppress. She'd thought it was a drug or device, but a song? That's tricky.
"I've got more to do… I'm off!"
"Alright~"
Saten watched Kuroko vanish, scratching her head. "Man, Shirai-san's busy!"
"Forget her, let's go!"
Frenda bounced over, tugging Saten along.
…
"Why am I here?"
Megumi stared blankly at the curry mackerel rice in front of her.
"Hey! Why curry? This is blasphemy against mackerel! Curry makes everything taste like curry, ruining the mackerel's flavor and charm…"
"Sorry, I didn't know you hated it… Wanna try it anyway?"
Saten said sheepishly.
After all, Frenda had saved her. Who knows what would've happened without her?
"This stuff… ngh! The spicy curry blends with the rich mackerel, not clashing but enhancing each other! It's a dance on the tongue!"
Frenda ate and raved, a strange sense of déjà vu hitting Saten and Megumi.
"Uh…"
Saten smiled awkwardly.
"In short, 'it's great!'"
Megumi summed it up bluntly.
"Ugh, Megumi-chan's as sharp as ever!"
Saten's face twitched, caught between wanting to laugh and feeling it'd be rude.
Megumi's two words perfectly captured Frenda's vibe.
"Another bowl!"
Frenda's blue eyes sparkled as she held out her plate like a puppy waiting to be fed, impossible to refuse.
"Uh… as long as you like it!"
…
"You're a great cook! I'm definitely coming back for more!"
Frenda patted Saten's shoulder happily.
"Uh… am I stuck with her now?"
Saten felt an odd sense of being claimed.
"Next time, make miso mackerel or soy sauce mackerel."
"Still mackerel, huh?"
Saten gave an awkward smile at the lively girl.
"Thanks for the meal! I'm heading out!"
"Be careful!"
"Mm!"
"Huh? Who're you talking to? Oh, where's the girl we ate with?"
"Ugh… Megumi-chan's stealth is just too much…"
Saten laughed awkwardly as Frenda, confused, looked for Megumi, who was less than ten meters away.
"Whatever! It's late, I'm out!"
"Be safe! It's not great out there at night!"
"No worries, I hope some idiot tries something. More bounty for me!"
"Bounty? Game nerd?"
Saten scratched her head.
Frenda's figure vanished around the stairwell.
"Well, saved by a weird one, huh!"
Saten's chat app gained a new contact: "Frenda"!
…
Hum hum hum
Frenda hummed as she walked, then stopped abruptly.
"Frenda, killing innocents for credit again?"
"W-Well… they just passed out…"
"Oh? That's important? You know what's coming!"
"I know, I know!"
***
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