It has been less than a day since Eishi arrived in Tokyo. What was supposed to be a rather 'peaceful' picking up of more confidantes turned into becoming a six-star wanted fugitive in Grand Theft Auto Six.
He recalled the 'political' landscape in this shelter.
'It's the Shinomiyas for the Zaibatsus and some unknown official on the Government side.'
These two factors control the shelter, which they gave the name "New Tokyo Shelter". The Zaibatsus have the Shinomiya Family as their leader. Eishi went through their names and did not find the ones he was expecting—the ACGs from the "exaggerated" fighting mangas.
'If it's only these ACGs, then it is truly tame, like a real slice-of-life world…'
Setting aside the minor disappointment, the two factions divided the shelter—from supplies down to the available manpower.
Unfortunately for the government, they lacked espers. It was their law enforcement units that suffered the brunt of the apocalypse. If it was only that, it would have been fine. What worried them was the Zaibatsu's unrestrained growth. Their preparations are more thorough compared to the public-centered government. They have the manpower and the resources to mass-produce esper teams.
This led to a massive power imbalance. The Zaibatsus are now aiming at the former government's side, wanting to take full control of the New Tokyo Shelter. Hence, the government set their sights on the lone and independent espers. Similarly, the Zaibatsus blocked their attempts by also recruiting these independent espers.
It all led to the frenzied recruitment now, turning the enforcers of public order into a mixed bag of nuts and whatever.
'Won't it be easier to just conquer this place..?'
Eishi thought of causing a mass exodus to the underworld before shaking his head. He is very strong, yes, but there are still bizarre innate talents capable of restraining him. Hachiman's for instance. A second delay is not deadly, but if it is matched with the corresponding sniper, it is. There are also explosives, artillery shells, RPGs, and missiles.
Eishi does not want to test their effects with his bare body.
It did not take long for him to arrive at a residential complex. He rechecked the address on his phone and confirmed it was where Airi's sister lives.
He stretched as soon as he got out of the car, popping sounds coming off from his body every now and then.
Tired of slashing, Eishi took out the synthesized third-rank M9A3. He looked at the building filled with faint orange lights before two noticeable green lights appeared in his sight.
'Fruit or a confidante?'
He shrugged this thought off and began his wanton entry. Some people already gathered around from the moment he got off his modified land rover. They looked at him with fear and apprehension.
Gasoline is a valuable resource. Only those who are 'strong' and 'influential' can spend them on vehicles. If others had them, they would have used it to open up their homes' heaters.
The cruel temperature is not a problem for Eishi and the ones around him. Roughly having a 40 and above on one's constitution is enough to fend the cold.
Eishi's mind continued with these random thoughts. His spirit in the thousands is more than enough to multitask. He expected some action first thing in the evening, but to no avail. It was as if the mobs and the boss of this building were gone.
Little did he know, it was precisely because of him. The repeated losses of the General Inspections building, the hundred people sent to reinforce it, and the disappearance of an elite esper squad shook the shelter's higher-ups. Their stance against Eishi, a strong individual esper, is divided into two.
One side wanted to try talking it out. Everyone at their position is aware of the shelter's chaotic state after handing out official statuses left and right.
The other wanted to completely eliminate the threat with all means necessary. It just so happens that Masato belonged to the faction advocating the latter. His 'home base' is virtually undefended save for a dozen or so espers ensuring order.
When they saw Eishi was headed to the room of Airi's sister, they finally acted.
"Stop!"
Eishi's footsteps halted. He turned and faced the six or so espers. They wore all kinds of looks. The one who shouted sported arrogance.
"You shouldn't be from here. Going beyond the twelfth floor is not allowed."
"On what grounds?"
Not expecting Eishi's question, the leading esper felt like his authority was questioned. He was used to being arrogant throughout this residential complex. What kind of women and food hasn't he tasted these days?
"You bastard, is a warning not enough?!"
Before the leading man could put his hands on his holstered pistol, Eishi was way fasted. Everyone only saw a blur before a loud bang resounded in the enclosed space.
"A…Ah…"
The man standing behind was splattered with blood and brain matter, half of his face blown off. Only the third person behind them survived, his vocal chords stuttering in disbelief. They did not mind their ears buzzing.
They watched as two people fell to the ground with a thud. They never swore that a pistol's nuzzle could be as scary as now!
Amidst the panicked screams, Eishi generously spent several bullets to take them all out. He didn't even need to activate his innate talent.
Seeing not a speck of blood on his windbreaker, he nodded with satisfaction.
It took a while for the other residents to curiously peek their heads outside the hallway. They all saw the corpses in the hallway. Some locked the door as soon as possible while several scrawny people looked at the corpses—to their weapons.
These people are all under Masato, infamous for being this complex's local hooligans. Their food reserves and weapons are sufficient for them to feed their hungry stomachs.
Eishi did not know nor did he care about the upcoming chaos at the lower floors. He had arrived at the twelfth floor and knocked in front of a door. It took a minute or so for a gaze to land on his face.
His spirit attribute made him sensitive to gazes.
"Marina-san? Airi should have mentioned me to you…"
Moments later, the anti-theft door was opened. It revealed a girl with long-brown hair. A pair of faint eyebags could be seen on her face. Her sunken cheeks and unkempt appearance made Eishi feel a trace of pity.
Marina had a different reaction. She was still dazed when she heard someone calling her name out. She recalled the conversation with her sister a while ago. Her 'boyfriend' is coming to Tokyo to pick her up. Airi sent her Eishi's name and photo.
Marina thought Airi was comforting her. She is well aware of the dangers entailed in that trip. Tokyo alone is a chaotic mess with a bunch of barely controlled espers wrecking havoc. There is also the mass of zombies and other mutated creatures on the national highway.
She had seen in many articles about plants and animals attacking those who got stranded in the expressways. The ominous events and news online slowly grinded her remaining fighting spirit.
One could not imagine her surprise when everything her sister told was true.
"I-I… You must go quickly."
Her weak and raspy voice resounded. Her chapped pink lips parted as she stared at her sister's boyfriend.
"Are you talking about the espers? I dealt with them. Your abusive boyfriend… well, ex-boyfriend, I can deal with him too." He paused before asking, "I can come inside, right?"
"Ah… Y-yes…"
Coming inside, Eishi saw a somewhat organized room. Piles of trash bags are stacked on a corner of the living room. The hallway is filled with empty water containers—bottles and basins alike.
An unpleasant stench came from the bathroom.
"This building doesn't have any public water supply?" He curiously asked.
"...No."
A tinge of shame appeared on Marina's face.
"I heard the officials are working on fixing the water supply. Some buildings have them. Some do not."
She did not detail how she went to the bathroom, but Eishi could imagine it was unbearable.
It was his first time seeing how others struggled first-hand.
"Have these first."
"Ah..?"
Marina watched as packaged pork-floss bread, A5 wagyu steaks, and bottles of water magically appeared out of thin air. The delicious scent of food made her stomach grumble, much to her embarrassment.
She looked back and forth between the food and her sister's 'mysterious' boyfriend before succumbing to hunger.
"Thank you."
"It's no big deal. It is Airi you need to be concerned about. She's getting a bit fatter…"
Suppressed laughter came from Marina. Her mind forgot about her past disbelief, focusing on her sister's overwhelmingly good situation.
The moment she bit onto the bread, she tasted the familiar sweetness and savory. The steaks almost melted on her mouth, bursting off with flavors she hadn't tasted before. It wasn't long before she got totally enthralled with eating.
Eishi took this time to check on her panel.
[Marina Akizuki]
Innate Talent: Wind Gale (B, First-order)
Non-exclusive Talent: Spirit Boost (B, First-order)
Life Level: First-order, Two-stars
Strength: 29
Agility: 25
Constitution: 27
Spirit: 58
'B…'
He disregarded her talent's low rating. What mattered the most was the system's pragmatic evaluation.
As long as she is triple S, Eishi is bound to make a move on her. Otherwise, he wouldn't.
[Marina Akizuki]
Appearance: 94
Figure: 97
Temperament: 80
Purity: Intact, Can be bound
Overall Rating: SSS
'SSS… it averages 90 and above.'
This world is a mix of his previous world's women and ACG women. It is inevitable that the ACG women would come out on top compared to the former. They lack any blemishes and have a unique charm of their own.
'Triple S…'
Unlike the three women Eishi met here, Marina was reminiscent of the times he met Megumi and the others. They possess a huge sense of vulnerability, unconfident they could navigate through this new world.
To a scumbag master like him, they are simply the 'best' targets for his devious grasp.
Just then, Airi popped up in his mind. Out of all his confidantes, she is the one most wronged by him. Their 'first time' was dubious at best, with him taking advantage of the drug's effect. He also did not agree on her offer to be his girlfriend. She went as far as to be his secret lover until the apocalypse came.
Now that he had designs for her sister, Eishi woke up.
'...No. Not for now.'
He watched her eat and drink her fill. Her countenance looked rosier compared to the time he came.
"How did you become an esper?"
Eishi's question startled her.
'He knew it..?'
In her eyes, Eishi's 'mysteries' grew more and more.
Marina stood up and picked up a potted plant.
"It suddenly grew a strange fruit. When I picked it up, I was attracted to it, so…"
The rest was self-explanatory. She is one of the few lucky ones who became an esper thanks to a potted plant.
"Eat these."
He presented several plants on her slightly messy dining table. They are fruits of all shapes. Some possessed different colors. But one thing remained the same.
Their attraction to Marina is extremely high.
"This…"
"Airi eats them every day. It would be bad if her sister does not do the same, no?"
"..."
Facing Eishi's generosity, she felt extremely complex.
Marina lived in fear for days. It was fine when she was ignorant of Masato's affairs. She accepted her food with gratitude. But ever since she knew about his evil deeds, she dared not open the door. That was how she starved for four days..
She was lucky too. Masato had long seen her reaction, yet he did not step up and forcibly break in. It was as if he was having fun with this cat and mouse play.
Now that she has encountered a good man, it was inevitable for her to develop dependence.
Even…
'No. There's no need to think of it.'
Marina shook these thoughts off. She remained apprehensive of the valuable things Eishi presented but ultimately chose to accept it, lest she would place Eishi in a more embarrassing spot.
"I don't know if I can pay you back, Hiraoka-san…"
*****
A/N: Refusing gifts in Japan is a show of disrespect, at least in most contexts.
Anyways, this fic's focus had always been Eishi's reactions to things. From an average guy, he became a scumbag. It's a double-meaning, though. He's a playboy scumbag. This one's fine, but he's slowly deteriorating into a self-serving scumbag. All of his prior comments had always been to serve irony; that he doesn't notice he's turning into someone unrecognizable. He is strong, yes, but it also brought this kind of trouble. That's one of the biggest challenges in this fic: to overcome this kind of "corruption" brought by power.
His character development will peak at this arc (Tokyo Arc)...