Kaitansha HQ—-
Rei and Shino were escorted through the halls and tossed into the same cell block as Kazuki and Kohaku. The former was lying at Kohaku's feet, unconscious.
"Ahh, now this is an interesting story," Kohaku remarked. "Sweet little Rei and timid little Shino. What brings you down here? Come to visit me?"
They didn't respond to her.
"What? Didn't come to speak to your favorite Huntress?"
"Look," Shino told her. "We don't wanna talk about it, okay? And especially not to you."
Kohaku kicked back, relaxing on her bunk. "If you say so."
Soon after, Hayate entered the cell block, giving Rei and Shino disappointed looks. "Rei. Shino. I can't believe this. Stealing classified files for Dokkōdan? What were you thinking?"
Shino immediately got up. "Please, sir! You have to let us out! We weren't actually going to steal the file! It was just for a mission! Promise!"
"Unfortunately, the file is gone. So I can't believe you. Where is your co-conspirator? The one who ran off with that file?"
"Han," Rei said, ashamed.
"Han?" Kohaku interrupted. "How is my little child doing these days?"
"We agreed to do the mission," Shino explained. "But he snatched the file and left us. We don't know where he is."
Hayate sighed. "Then we have no choice but to hunt him down as well. I'm sorry, girls."
He turned and left.
"How could he?" Rei began to cry. "I thought we were friends!"
"I did too..." Shino admitted.
Kohaku stared at their faces, internalizing a thought. "I wonder what his plan is this time. His loyalty to his friends is commendable. It took a great deal to take him under my control. But turning on your own friends?"
She chuckled. "Now that is the sharp edge I've come to love about him. No wonder my husband keeps him around."
Meanwhile, Gala——
Mizuki paused her speech as she noticed Omariro, her expression briefly changing. "Mr. Nyugawa—-? I mean, ahem. We have a special guest here, everyone. Omariro Nyugawa!"
The entire venue turned toward Omariro, with shocked and awe-struck faces taking pictures and approaching. Omariro teleported to the stage, grabbing Mizuki by the arm. "Time for girl to come."
"Come where?"
"Back to Kaitansha."
Mizuki took a deep breath. "I know you may not have heard this from me, Sir. But I respect you more than anything."
She pulled her arm away. "That's why I can't come back. I can't measure up to you. Sorry. But the Kaitansha isn't needed with you around."
"Claim false."
"She's right."
Behind her, Kōichi appeared, dressed in a gala suit. "You're the Legend. We're just has-beens."
"Boy."
Kōichi took the microphone. "Who's with me? The days of Kaitansha are over!"
"YEAH!" the crowd roared.
Omariro stared at them, visibly annoyed. Mizuki turned to him. "Can we offer you anything? Wine? Water? Sushi?"
Omariro whacked them both upside the head.
"Ow!" they complained.
"Foolish children."
Mizuki rubbed her head. "You'll understand, sir. This is for the best. We're not coming back to the Kaitansha. Not after what happened."
Guards escorted the two off the stage as Omariro simply watched. Kōichi turned back to him. "You should come to our rally. It's in three hours. Natori will be there."
They hurried through a door as Zaria went over to Omariro. "I'm guessing they're more stubborn than Kaoru, sir?"
"Children will be dealt with. Hold here. Time soon come."
Omariro teleported away, leaving Zaria alone with the others.
"Any luck?" Nonoka asked.
"They're stubborn," Zaria admitted.
"So like you, basically."
"Whatever."
Rika gestured to the dance floor. "They're dancing in the center. You girls wanna have some fun while we wait?"
Nonoka and Zaria shared a look before shrugging, and Rika led them onto the dance floor. Sōshin watched, sitting on a chair, as the girls danced with each other, cracking smiles.
"They're so happy, aren't they?" a voice whispered to Sōshin. "Reminds me of Rin and Ichika."
"Ooh, who are they?"
Sōshin turned his head, and he noticed Mirei sitting there, wearing a gala dress. "Ooh! The Nurse!"
"Please," she insisted. "Call me Mirei, young one. I'm not here for a fight. I can only remain here as long as I stay close to Han."
Sōshin remembered what Han said, thinking. "Hmm. Then why did you come here, Friend Mirei?"
"To observe what I'm missing," Mirei explained. "Sometimes I long for the days when I can be a happy girl, chasing after my Master as he takes us on trips through the hills."
"Why not come back to Friend Omariro?" Sōshin questioned. "I'm sure he'll let you back in!"
Mirei grabbed a glass of wine from behind her, taking a sip. "He won't. He sees me and my comrades as failures. Thus, the only way to change his mind is to show him the new status quo. But first..."
She pointed to the girls. "They must go."
She got up, attempting to walk in her high heels. "Damn these things. It's been decades since I wore them."
Mirei turned toward Sōshin. "Care to dance with me, little one?"
"Sure!"
She took Sōshin to the dance floor, allowing him to twirl and spin her around as the girls remained oblivious. With every passing step, she learned the rhythm, moving in tandem with Sōshin.
"The others would like you a lot," she claimed. "Would you like to join us, Little Sōshin?"
Sōshin began to think. "Hmm. Friend Han said to play along. Okay! We won't betray Friend Omariro, so time to pretend!"
As she continued shaking off the rust, Sōshin stared her in the eyes. "Will it be fun?"
"Of course. You'll still keep your Master, and you get to learn from students who aren't rookies. Would you like to see what I can do?"
"Sure!"
Mirei flicked her fingers, and a gray ball formed around her hand. She fired it at a nearby wine bottle, causing it to age to dust. Sōshin clapped. "Nice, Friend Mirei!"
"There's more. You're a Jugen-Sōunsha user, correct?"
Sōshin nodded.
"I believe the Fourth could help you tremendously in that regard. You're so young and yet so talented."
She bent down, leaning into his ear. "That's why I refuse to kill you."
Mirei patted him on the head. "Now then, little one. Come. I'll buy you dinner."
She sat with him at a table near the bar, waving a waiter over. "Come, we're ready to eat!"
The waiter walked over, but his eyes widened when he saw her. "Wait. You...you're supposed to be gone! You're Mirei Kanzaki, traitor to the Kaitansha—-!"
Mirei held out her hand, and a glowing gray orb appeared around the man's neck. "Say one more word, and I'll erase you to DUST."
The man immediately yelped and quieted down. "Good. You wouldn't want to scar this poor child, would you?"
She gestured to Sōshin.
"No ma'am...."
"Now then, little one, what would you like to eat?"
On the other side, Zaria walked away from the dance floor, getting a drink from the water fountain when she noticed a guy in punk clothing listening to music near her.
"Hey, dude. Could you turn that down?"
She gasped, immediately recognizing the face when it turned to her. "Han?"
"Waddup, Zaria?"
Zaria looked him up and down. "Han, why are you dressed like that? Where's Rei and Shino? Weren't you guys on a mission?"
"Sure was. They're taking a break. Can't handle the heat."
He snapped his fingers at her. "Real question is, what do YOU got going on tonight? Because girl, you look nice in that dress!"
Zaria stared at him, confused and embarrassed. "Han? Are you okay?"
"Zaria. Do you trust me?"
"Of course, but you're acting...weird!"
"Could you follow me really quickly?"
Han walked into a back room, and Zaria sipped some more water before following him. Just as he closed the door, he locked eyes with Mirei, who gave him a thumbs-up.
"Don't fall for her lies, Sōshin," he thought to himself. "I need you."
When Zaria caught up to Han, she noticed they were on the balcony of the gala, and she turned toward him. "Why are we here, Han?"
"Just viewing the stars," Han shrugged. "Why? You don't like them?"
"No. Just, didn't expect you to like, take me out here."
Han turned to Zaria. "How do you see me, Zaria?"
"As one of my best friends," Zaria told him. "The older brother I wish I had growing up."
"If I said I'd do anything to keep you safe, what would you think?"
"I'd believe you, duh."
"That's good, that's good."
Han looked toward the sky, holding his head as he frantically thought to himself. "Go through with it, Han. It'll keep her safe from Dokkōdan! Come on, come on! Just don't think of her as a sister. Drop her walls. Drop her wall!"
"Han?"
Before Zaria could process, Han leaned in and kissed her, causing her to fluster and nearly stumble. "Han!"
She punched his arm. "What was that for?"
"What? Is there an issue with that?"
"I—-you—-what—-?"
"You're blushing, Zaria. How do you see me now?"
"As a jerk! A stupid, kinda hot, but still stupid jerk!"
"That's good, Zaria. Hold onto those feelings."
"What?"
Han backed away, confusing Zaria as he got closer to the edge. "Han? Where are you going?"
"I've got a plan, Zaria. Whenever you feel in doubt, just remember: this is for you."
A portal opened behind him, and he fell into it. What came out was the Herald of Ruin, fully armored.
"What the—-?"
Before she could speak, he grabbed her and dragged her through the portal as it closed.
Back inside, Mirei was busy eating fish and rice with Sōshin, who was digging into his plate. Mirei gave him a smile, which she immediately covered.
"This boy," she thought. "He really reminds me of myself. Curse you, Master. You're lucky I still love you."
Han rejoined them, sitting next to Sōshin with a blank expression on his face. Mirei addressed him, still eating her food. "Greetings, Han. Has Zaria been handled?"
Han nodded. "The Seventh got her."
"Impressive. Here. Have some fish. You've earned it."
She slid her plate over to him. "I would like you to deal with Rika next. Her feelings for you are just as strong. That will eliminate half the problem."
"I can do that."
"Thank you."
Later—-
Mizuki and Kōichi were sitting on the roof, looking over the busy streets of Fukuoka.
"Man, I wonder how long it'll be before the monsters get here too," Kōichi worried.
"Not long enough," Mizuki replied. "The people need the capability to resist. We need to convince Mr. Nyugawa to become their idol, their inspiration to fight."
"Yeah," Kōichi agreed. "Nyugawa's pretty amazing, isn't he?"
Mizuki looked at her watch. "The rally's about to begin soon. Come on, let's get started."
The two headed down the streets as gala members began swarming around, holding signs.
"No more Kaitansha! No more Kaitansha!"
Mizuki and Kōichi finally arrived, taking the stand below. Mizuki took to the mic. "I'm glad you could all make it to the rally, everyone! Let me introduce you to our Vice-President: Yuka Natori!"
An ice eagle swooped overhead as Yuka dropped, landing between Kōichi and Mizuki. She grabbed the mic as the crowd cheered.
"It's my pleasure to attend this rally. I assure you, people of Japan, I will do everything I can to undo the harm caused by Kagoshima, and usher in a new era of parity for the people!"
As she spoke, a sharp voice cut through the crowd. "Woman speak nonsense."
The crowd dispersed to reveal Omariro, with Kaoru, Gakuto, and Atsushi all surrounding him.
"Omariro?" she questioned.
"Japan endangered," Omariro stated. "Kaidanchō playing games."
"You heard him," Atsushi agreed. "Your little rebellion ends now."
"I second that!" Gakuto added.
"I know I have no room to talk, but they're right, guys!" Kaoru insisted. "The people need Sir Nyugawa, but they also need us!"
Omariro tapped his staff. "Kaidanchō end this. Now."
Yuka dropped the mic. "Omariro...I'm sorry. But we can't be like you. We will support you with all our efforts, but we will not join you."
She began to form an ice eagle as the others got into fighting stances. "Even if we have to show you by force."
Omariro narrowed his eyes. "Hmm."
——