SATORU POV
Shoko, Suguru, and I are heading down the corridor toward the girl's apartment.
"We should just hurry up and bring the girl to Jujutsu High," Shoko mutters, sounding bored. "Protecting her there is easier. We're just wasting time here."
"Yeah, yeah, Shoko's right," I say, nodding in agreement. "Let's get this over with."
"Listen, Satoru and Shoko... she only has two days left as herself," Suguru says, making that righteous face of his again. "You both should be more considerate."
We reach the door. I raise my hand to knock, a thought crossing my mind. "Hey, I wanted to ask—why would anyone willingly merge with some—"
Knock, knock.
BEEP. BEEP. BOOM!
The door erupts in a blinding flash. Suguru reacts instantly, summoning a cursed spirit that swallows both him and Shoko, shielding them from the blast. I don't move; my Infinity filters out the heat and pressure like it was a light breeze.
I step through the smoking remains of the doorway. Across the room, Riko is falling out of a shattered window, unconscious. A guy in a weird military uniform stands in the center of the room—likely the puppet master.
Suguru doesn't wait. He sprints past me toward the nearest window, launching a squid curse to break the glass and diving out to catch the falling girl.
I turn my attention to the guy in the uniform. "You know, you're in very big trouble. But if you apologize right now, I'll only break one of your arms."
"You little—!"
EMIYA POV
"Miko-chan, how was your mission with Suguru? Was it difficult?" I ask as we patrol the perimeter.
"No, Emiya-kun," she replies. "Suguru's mind is very sharp. We almost fell into a trap, but his quick thinking saved us."
"Oh? Can you tell me what happe—"
BOOM.
We both whip our heads toward the sound—an explosion coming from the upper floors of the apartment building.
"A bomb?"
I turned to look toward Miko-chan, and my heart skipped a beat.
A flurry of knives is already streaking through the air, silver light reflecting off the steel as they targeted her. I reached for my technique, my mind screaming to manifest a wall, but I was too late.
They were less than three feet from her—closer than the minimum thickness of the wall. My wall is useless in this narrow gap.
"Move!" I roared, lunging forward, shoving Miko out of the way and twisting my body through the rain of steel. A blade grazes my cheek. I touch the small wound, seeing a single drop of blood. A wave of relief washes over me—Miko isn't hurt.
I should probably give her an earful after this mission, I think. She almost got hit.
"Well, well. Aren't you a quick one?"
I look up to see a man in a military uniform. The "Curse User" from Group Q.
Ohhh!This is the part of the story where they attack, just like in the anime.
"You know, you've just made me very angry," I say, running a hand through my hair.
"And what are you going to do about it?" the guy sneers. "I've heard about you, Emiya Hyo—"
"Yeah, yeah. Save it."
I summon a Barbarian right next to him. He jumps backward, drawing another knife to throw. "I know about your fighting style! I know all about your techniqu—"
I instantly switch positions with my Barbarian. Before he can finish his sentence, I've grabbed his throwing hand.
"You know about my technique?" I sneer.
"Huh?"
I pull him forward, driving a Cursed Energy-reinforced knee straight into his midsection. I tighten my grip on his wrist. "I don't even know myself..."
CRACK.
I shatter his wrist with raw grip strength. "...what my cursed technique can fully do."
I sweep his legs with a reinforced kick, shattering the bone at his ankle. "Now, time for the knockout."
I deliver a solid hook to his face, breaking his nose and sending him into total darkness. I let go of his hand, and he crumples to the pavement. Miko-chan walks over, looking down at my "masterpiece."
"I think that was overkill," she says softly.
"I think so too," I admit. "Well, Shoko can heal him."
Well, I could too, I think privately. I haven't told anyone yet that I can use Reverse Cursed Technique. It's better to keep some cards hidden.
"You've gotten incredibly strong at hand-to-hand combat," Miko says. "I think even Suguru and Satoru are no match for you now."
"Well, I did have the best teacher."
Rubbing the back of my head I pull out my phone and dial Shoko.
Beep.
"Hey, is the girl alright?"
"Yeah," Shoko's voice comes through. "She and her maid are safe. Satoru apprehended a weird guy who is currently about to 'kiss' one of Suguru's curses. Their lips are practically touching."
"Mr. Bayer will not spare you guys!" I hear a muffled voice screaming in the background of the call.
"We've been attacked too," I say. "I'm sending you a picture. Show it to the guy you caught."
I end the call and look at Miko. "Come on, Miko-chan. Let's take a selfie."
We both strike a pose with the unconscious 'Q' elite in the background.
"Say cheese!"
Third-Person POV
Two men watch the entire spectacle from a nearby high-rise. One is a man with a massive, athletic build, but his face is a mask of pure tension and rage.
"Are you sure she will be returned unharmed if I kill the Star Plasma Vessel?" the big man growls. "If even a hair on her head is damaged, I will kill your entire shitty religious group. And you."
The man in the suit beside him trembles. "Hey, hey... listen, Zenin. I'm just a middleman. It wasn't me who kidnapped your wife."
The muscular man steps forward, his shadow looming over the suit. "I'm telling you for the last time. My name is Fushiguro. Not Zenin."
The middleman takes a nervous, terrified gulp. "I am really sorry, Toji. I didn't know this whole thing would affect you, too."