Saito looked at the fox girl.
"How do you know me?"
The girl didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
she pulled a folded paper from her pocket.
Then tossed it onto the table.
Saito picked it up.
The moment he saw it—
he groaned.
A wanted poster.
His wanted poster.
"Ohhh."
The fox girl crossed her arms.
"Exactly."
Saito looked at the sketch.
Then at her.
Then back at the sketch.
"To be fair, that's a really good drawing."
Kaito sighed.
"That's what you focused on?"
The fox girl pointed at the door.
"Now."
"I want all of you to get out."
Saito immediately raised his hands.
"Wait."
"We're harmless."
The entire table went silent.
The fox girl stared at him.
"Harmless?"
"Seriously?"
She pointed at Saito.
"You have a sword."
Then at Bomb.
"That guy has bombs hanging from his belt."
Then at Rin.
"And that guy is carrying a giant scythe."
She threw her hands up.
"And you're telling me you're harmless?"
Saito scratched his cheek.
"Well..."
"That part is true."
The fox girl's eye twitched.
"But we're not here to create a scene."
"We just want to relax."
The girl let out a bitter laugh.
"Relax?"
She pointed toward the road outside.
"By relax, do you mean running from the police?"
At the table—
Rin leaned toward Kaito and whispered:
"This girl is good."
Kaito nodded.
"Very."
Saito sighed.
"Well."
"You got us."
The fox girl's tail flicked in annoyance.
Then she pointed at the exit again.
"Leave."
"Before I call the police."
The atmosphere became tense.
Not hostile.
Just awkward.
Then—
a familiar voice came from behind the counter.
"Fanny."
Everyone turned.
The fox beastman bartender was standing there.
A tray resting in one hand.
He looked at his daughter.
Then sighed.
"Don't disturb our guests like that."
Fanny immediately looked at him.
"Dad!"
"They're gangsters!"
The bartender shrugged.
"They're paying customers."
Fanny stared at him in disbelief.
"Dad!"
The bartender smiled apologetically at the Blue Scarf crew.
Meanwhile—
Saito was trying very hard not to laugh.
Fanny immediately walked over to her father.
"No."
"We need them to get out. Now."
The bartender sighed.
"Well, they paid a good price."
Fanny stared at him.
"You're thinking about money more than the fact they're gangsters?"
The fox beastman shrugged.
"They didn't destroy the place last night."
"Dad!"
Fanny threw her hands into the air.
"I don't care!"
"They're still gangsters."
She pointed directly at Saito's table.
"They create chaos."
"Especially for people like us."
"Civilians."
Then she pointed toward the door.
"Now get them out."
The bartender looked at Saito and his crew.
Then back at his daughter.
"What if they became gangsters because they wanted to be free?"
Fanny blinked.
"...Free?"
The bartender nodded.
"From the laws."
The room became quieter.
He continued polishing a glass.
"Not every law is fair."
"Especially for poor civilians like us."
Fanny frowned.
Clearly unconvinced.
"That's not an excuse."
The bartender smiled.
"Maybe not."
Fanny crossed her arms.
Then sighed heavily.
"Fine."
"Let's say you're right."
The bartender nodded.
"Good."
"But."
She pointed toward the group again.
"They still make enemies."
The smile on the bartender's face faded slightly.
Fanny continued.
"Maybe somewhere out there..."
"Their enemies are looking for them."
She looked around the bar.
"What happens to our home if someone finds out we're keeping them here?"
The question lingered in the air.
Even Saito looked a little uncomfortable.
The bartender thought for a moment.
Then laughed awkwardly.
"Don't worry."
"It'll probably never happen."
The moment those words left his mouth—
Rin immediately looked at Kaito.
Kaito looked at Rin.
Bomb looked at both of them.
Saito slowly covered his face.
Alya sighed.
Everyone at the table knew one thing.
Whenever someone said:
"It'll probably never happen."
Something usually happened.
The room remained quiet for a moment.
Saito looked at Fanny.
Then at the bartender.
Then around the bar.
Finally—
he stood up.
"It's okay, sir."
Everyone at the table looked at him.
Saito smiled.
"We can leave."
Fanny looked surprised.
Saito adjusted his cloak.
"We can't just stay here and risk something happening to your bar."
Kaito immediately stood up.
Bomb followed.
Then Rin and Alya.
Saito nodded toward the stairs.
"Let's go, guys."
The crew began heading upstairs.
Ready to collect their belongings.
Behind them—
the bartender stepped forward.
"Wait, Sir Saito."
Saito stopped.
Then looked back.
"It's okay to stay."
The bartender's expression was sincere.
"We don't mind."
Saito smiled.
A genuine smile.
"It's okay."
"Thanks for the hospitality."
The bartender sighed.
Then extended a hand.
"Malfoy."
Saito blinked.
"Sir Malfoy."
The fox beastman nodded.
"That's my name."
Saito smiled.
"Then thank you, Sir Malfoy."
"For everything."
Malfoy gave a small nod.
Meanwhile—
Saito turned back toward the stairs.
"Come on, guys."
"Let's pack our things."
The group headed upstairs.
Behind them—
Fanny crossed her arms.
A small smirk on her face.
As if she had won.
Malfoy immediately noticed.
He looked at his daughter.
Then sighed dramatically.
"Look at what you've done, Fanny."
Fanny shrugged.
"They're leaving."
"That's the point."
Malfoy rubbed his forehead.
"I liked those customers."
"Dad."
"They're gangsters."
"They paid on time."
Fanny stared at him.
Malfoy stared back.
The two continued their silent argument—
while upstairs, the Blue Scarf crew prepared to leave the bar behind.
Downstairs—
Malfoy quietly cleaned a glass behind the counter.
The bar had grown quieter.
Fanny remained standing nearby.
Arms crossed.
Still upset.
After a moment, Malfoy spoke.
"What if they were right?"
Fanny frowned.
"What?"
Malfoy continued wiping the glass.
"What if they're nice people?"
Fanny immediately shook her head.
"They're gangsters."
"There is no such thing as nice gangsters."
Malfoy looked toward the stairs.
"They looked nice to me."
Fanny's tail twitched.
"Why do you always back them up?"
Malfoy sighed.
"I don't."
"I only say what I see."
Something in that answer made Fanny's expression crack.
Her fists tightened.
Then she looked away.
"That's why Mom died."
The words hit the room like a stone.
Malfoy froze.
Fanny's voice shook.
"You were too soft on them."
Then she turned and ran upstairs.
"Fanny!"
But she was already gone.
Malfoy stood there silently.
The glass still in his hand.
Unable to answer.
Upstairs—
Saito was gathering his belongings.
Folding clothes and packing supplies.
Then suddenly—
Bump!
Someone crashed into him.
"Hey!"
Saito stumbled backward.
Fanny rushed past him without even looking.
Her eyes red.
Tears visible.
She immediately entered her room.
SLAM!
The door shut.
Click.
Locked.
Saito blinked.
"...What was that about?"
Meanwhile—
inside the room—
Alya was still organizing some of her tools.
She looked up in surprise.
Fanny had thrown herself onto the bed.
Face buried in a pillow.
Her shoulders shaking.
Quiet crying filled the room.
Alya froze.
Then slowly looked toward the door.
Then back at Fanny.
"...Oh no."
The inventor immediately realized something was very wrong.
Saito stood outside the hallway for a moment.
Still looking at Fanny's door.
"What was with her?"
Kaito adjusted the bag on his shoulder.
"Who knows."
The two continued downstairs.
When they reached the main room—
they found Malfoy sitting alone on a chair behind the counter.
The fox beastman looked tired.
Much more tired than before.
Saito approached him.
"Is everything okay, sir?"
Malfoy looked up.
Then forced a small smile.
"Yes."
"Don't worry."
Saito wasn't completely convinced.
But he nodded anyway.
Then Malfoy continued.
"And you all will not leave."
Saito blinked.
"I don't know about that."
Malfoy shook his head.
"Please."
"I insist."
Saito looked at him for a moment.
Then glanced at Kaito.
Kaito simply shrugged.
Saito sighed.
"Okay."
He pointed upstairs.
"We're not moving."
At that exact moment—
a very familiar voice echoed from upstairs.
"Seriously?!"
The entire bar heard it.
A second later—
Rin appeared at the top of the stairs holding several bags.
Looking deeply offended.
"I just packed my whole goddamn things!"
Saito immediately pointed at Malfoy.
"His fault."
Malfoy raised a hand.
"My apologies."
Rin looked at the bags.
Then at the stairs.
Then at the bags again.
"...I'm billing somebody for this."
Bomb walked past him carrying another box.
"You packed for five minutes."
"It was a very exhausting five minutes."
Even Kaito smirked slightly.
For the first time since Fanny's outburst—
the atmosphere inside the bar became a little lighter.
The laughter slowly faded.
Saito sat down across from Malfoy.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Saito finally asked:
"Your daughter really hates gangsters."
Malfoy's smile disappeared.
He slowly nodded.
"She does."
The room grew quieter.
Even Rin stopped complaining about the bags.
Malfoy looked down at the counter.
"We let some gang members stay here one night."
"Four years ago."
The Blue Scarf crew listened.
"They were travelers."
"At least that's what they said."
Malfoy's ears lowered slightly.
"Just like you."
Saito's expression became serious.
Malfoy continued.
"The next day, I returned home and..."
His voice faltered.
"...found my wife lying on the floor."
Nobody spoke.
"The money was gone."
"The gang was gone."
"And so was she."
Silence filled the bar.
Saito slowly looked down.
"Oh."
Now he understood.
Malfoy nodded.
"That's why Fanny hates gangsters."
Kaito crossed his arms.
"And yet you still trust us."
Malfoy looked at the group.
One by one.
Saito.
Kaito.
Bomb.
Rin.
Then he smiled faintly.
"At first, I hesitated."
"Very much."
Saito nodded.
"Fair."
Malfoy chuckled softly.
"But my wife always used to tell me something."
He looked toward the window.
As if remembering her voice.
Then said:
"There's goodness inside badness."
The room became quiet again.
Malfoy smiled.
"She believed everyone had something good inside them."
"Even people others had given up on."
Saito stared at the table.
Not knowing what to say.
For once—
the usually talkative gang leader was completely silent.
While Malfoy looked at the group and added quietly:
"So I decided to trust what she believed."
"And so far..."
A small smile appeared on his face.
"...you haven't given me a reason to regret it."