Behind the bar—
a wide grassland stretched toward the surrounding woods.
The morning air was cool.
Alya stood in the middle of the field.
Her device was strapped to her arm.
Beside her stood Saito.
Sword already drawn.
Saito looked at her.
"Are you ready?"
Alya nodded.
"Ready."
She pressed a button.
The screen lit up.
Meanwhile—
Bomb, Kaito, and Rin hid somewhere in the surrounding area.
Waiting.
Testing the device.
Saito tightened his grip on his sword.
Then—
BEEP! BEEP!
A siren came from the device.
Alya immediately looked at the screen.
"Left!"
Saito reacted instantly.
He turned and raised his sword.
CLANG!
Bomb appeared from the left side and struck.
Saito blocked the attack.
Then smiled.
"Good."
Bomb jumped back.
Alya looked excited.
"It works."
Then—
BEEP! BEEP!
The device sounded again.
"Behind!"
Saito spun around.
Just in time to dodge Rin's scythe.
Rin landed nearby and grinned.
"Not bad."
Alya quickly checked the screen.
The signals were accurate.
Saito smiled.
"I like this thing already."
The test continued as the device searched for the next hidden attacker.
Saito lowered his sword.
"Again."
The others nodded.
Bomb, Rin, and Kaito returned to their positions around the field.
Alya focused on the device.
Waiting.
A few moments later—
BEEP! BEEP!
The screen flashed.
Alya immediately looked at it.
"Left!"
Saito turned toward the warning.
A knife flew out from the grass.
CLANG!
He blocked it with his sword.
Then—
the device sounded again.
BEEP!
"Right!"
Saito spun around.
Just as Kaito appeared from the opposite side.
CLANG!
Saito barely managed to block the attack.
The two pushed against each other for a moment before stepping back.
Kaito looked at Alya's device.
Impressed.
"So it can also detect things covered in auris."
Alya smiled proudly.
"It can."
Saito lowered his sword.
Then looked at Alya.
A grin spread across his face.
"Well done, Alya."
Alya straightened up slightly.
Clearly pleased with the praise.
Meanwhile, Kaito nodded.
"That's going to be useful."
For once—
everyone agreed.
The group continued testing the device.
Alya kept her eyes on the screen.
Saito remained ready.
Sword held firmly in front of him.
Then—
BEEP! BEEP!
The device sounded again.
Alya immediately called out:
"Behind!"
Saito reacted instantly.
He spun around.
Just as Bomb's fist came rushing toward him.
THUD!
Saito blocked the punch with his forearm and slid back slightly across the grass.
Bomb nodded.
"Not bad."
Before Saito could answer—
BEEP! BEEP!
The device sounded once more.
Alya looked at the screen.
Her eyes widened.
"On top!"
Saito immediately looked upward.
"What—"
A shadow descended from above.
Rin.
He had somehow climbed a nearby tree and launched himself through the air.
Scythe raised.
"Surprise!"
CLANG!
Saito lifted his sword just in time.
The scythe crashed against the blade.
The impact pushed Saito back a step.
Rin landed in front of him and laughed.
"Okay."
"Now I'm impressed."
Alya smiled proudly while holding the device.
The machine continued humming softly.
Detecting every attack before it arrived.
And with every successful warning—
its value became more obvious to the entire crew.
After the test—
the group returned to the bar.
They gathered around a table near the window.
The morning rush had not started yet.
Making the place quiet and peaceful.
Saito sipped his tea.
"That device can help us track enemies even in the woods."
Kaito nodded.
"Indeed."
Rin leaned back in his chair.
"Too bad for our next enemy."
Bomb nodded in agreement.
Alya smiled.
Clearly happy that her invention was working.
Then she suddenly spoke up.
"Anyway."
"I want to try a new feature."
Everyone looked at her.
Saito put down his cup.
"There's more?"
Alya nodded.
"It can also scan auris."
Kaito raised an eyebrow.
"And?"
Alya thought for a moment.
"It can estimate a person's potential attack or movement."
Saito blinked.
"So it predicts attacks?"
Alya quickly shook her head.
"No."
"Not exactly."
She picked up the device.
"It's more like this."
Then she looked at Kaito.
"Can I scan you?"
Kaito shrugged.
"Sure."
Alya pressed a button.
The device emitted a soft glow.
A beam swept across Kaito.
BEEP.
Information immediately appeared on the screen.
Alya read it aloud.
"User possesses purple auris."
She continued reading.
"Primary combat style: knives."
Rin leaned closer.
"Oh?"
Alya nodded.
"See?"
"It analyzes the target."
Kaito looked at the screen.
Impressed despite himself.
"So it identifies fighting tendencies."
"Exactly."
Alya replied.
"It doesn't predict the future."
"But it can provide useful information."
Saito's eyes lit up.
"That's still amazing."
Bomb nodded.
"Knowing what kind of fighter you're facing is a huge advantage."
Alya smiled proudly.
The more features she revealed—
the more everyone realized that her device wasn't just a gadget.
It was becoming one of the most useful tools the Blue Scarf crew had ever possessed.
Rin immediately leaned across the table.
"Scan me."
"Scan me."
Alya laughed.
"Alright."
She pointed the device toward him and pressed a button.
The screen glowed.
BEEP.
A few seconds later, information appeared.
Alya read it aloud.
"Red auris."
Rin grinned.
"Knew it."
Alya continued.
"Primary combat style: scythe."
Rin pointed at the screen proudly.
"Cool."
Bomb sighed.
"As if we couldn't tell already."
The table laughed.
Then Saito smiled.
"How about me?"
Alya looked at him.
"Sure, Captain."
She aimed the device at Saito.
Then activated the scan.
BEEP.
The device processed for a few moments.
Longer than before.
Alya blinked.
Then looked at the screen again.
"Huh."
Saito tilted his head.
"What?"
Alya slowly read the results.
"Blue and yellow auris."
Bomb nearly dropped his drink.
"You have two auris?"
Saito scratched his cheek.
"Maybe because of the God Eye."
The others thought about it.
Then nodded.
That explanation made sense.
Alya continued reading.
"Primary combat style: sword."
Saito smiled.
"Sounds about right."
Then Alya frowned slightly.
"There is something else."
Everyone looked at her.
Alya stared at the screen.
"It says..."
She paused.
"Unknown."
The room became quiet.
Saito leaned forward.
"Unknown?"
Alya nodded.
"The device can't identify it."
Kaito crossed his arms.
"Then that's probably the God Eye."
Alya nodded.
"That's my guess too."
Saito looked at the device.
Then laughed.
"Wow."
"That's amazing."
Even Kaito had to admit—
for something Alya built on a beach,
the machine was becoming surprisingly sophisticated.
The group continued discussing Alya's device.
Saito was still fascinated by the scan results.
Then—
a voice interrupted them.
"Why are you here?"
Everyone turned.
Standing beside their table was a young fox beastwoman.
She looked around Alya's age.
Fox ears sat atop her head.
A fluffy tail swayed behind her.
Her arms were crossed.
And her expression was anything but friendly.
The room grew quiet.
She looked directly at the group.
Especially Saito.
"I asked you all."
"Why are you here at my father's bar?"
Saito blinked.
Then pointed at himself.
"We're just relaxing."
The fox girl stared at him.
"Relaxing?"
Her eyebrow twitched.
Then she glanced at the others.
Kaito.
Bomb.
Rin.
Alya.
Before looking back at Saito.
"Strange."
"Very strange."
Saito tilted his head.
"How so?"
The fox girl narrowed her eyes.
"Because gangsters don't usually come here to relax."
The table immediately fell silent.
Rin slowly lowered his drink.
Bomb crossed his arms.
Kaito calmly watched her.
Saito scratched his cheek.
"Uh..."
The fox girl pointed directly at him.
Her voice calm.
Certain.
"Right, Blue Scarf Saito?"
For a moment—
nobody said anything.
Saito blinked.
Then blinked again.
"...Well."
He looked around the table.
Then back at the fox girl.
"You got me."
Rin groaned.
"That was the defense?"
"I panicked."
Saito replied immediately.
The fox girl's tail flicked once.
Clearly unimpressed.