Inside the room—
Fanny remained curled up on her bed.
Her face buried in a pillow.
Occasionally wiping tears from her eyes.
Alya sat quietly nearby.
Not wanting to leave her alone.
After a few moments, Alya spoke softly.
"Are you okay?"
"Shut up."
Fanny's answer came immediately.
Alya raised both hands.
"Okay."
"Okay."
"I'll stay here silently."
Fanny didn't respond.
The room became quiet again.
Only the sound of Fanny sniffling could be heard.
A few minutes passed.
Then Fanny suddenly looked up.
Her eyes landed on Alya.
"Why did you join them?"
Alya blinked.
"Why?"
Fanny sat up.
"You don't look like a real gangster."
Alya tilted her head.
"I don't?"
"No."
Fanny crossed her arms.
"You're an inventor."
"You should be in some scientist school or something."
"Why are you stuck with them?"
Alya thought for a moment.
Then smiled slightly.
"Well."
"I wanted to repay my debt."
Fanny frowned.
"What debt?"
Alya looked down at her hands.
"They saved me."
"From slavery."
Fanny froze.
"...What?"
Alya nodded.
"I wanted to repay them."
Fanny looked away.
Still unconvinced.
"Maybe they just wanted to use you."
Alya laughed softly.
"Maybe that's how it looks."
Then she shook her head.
"But it isn't like that."
Fanny remained silent.
Listening.
Alya continued.
"It's the first time I've ever felt like I belong somewhere."
Her voice was calm.
Honest.
"They treat each other like family."
Fanny looked at her again.
Alya smiled.
"Even though they all come from different places."
"Different stories."
"Different backgrounds."
She thought about Saito.
Kaito.
Bomb.
Rin.
Then smiled a little more.
"But somehow..."
"They act like they've known each other forever."
Fanny didn't say anything.
Alya looked toward the door.
Toward the people downstairs.
Then back at Fanny.
"It sounds strange."
"But when I'm with them..."
"I feel like I'm where I'm supposed to be."
For the first time since the conversation began—
Fanny didn't argue.
She simply sat there quietly.
Thinking about Alya's words.
Fanny sat quietly on the bed.
Arms wrapped around her knees.
Still unconvinced.
After a moment, she looked at Alya.
"I'm not convinced."
Alya smiled.
"I don't want you to be."
Fanny blinked.
"What?"
Alya leaned back against the wall.
"You can doubt us."
"You have every reason to."
Fanny looked away.
Alya continued calmly.
"What happened to your family was terrible."
"So I understand why you don't trust gangsters."
The fox girl remained silent.
Listening.
Alya smiled softly.
"But what I know is this."
She thought about Saito.
The boy who recruited her without hesitation.
The person who had given her a place to belong.
Then she looked at Fanny.
"Captain Saito will prove you wrong someday."
Fanny frowned.
Alya nodded confidently.
"Believe me."
The certainty in her voice surprised even Fanny.
There wasn't a trace of doubt.
Not even a little.
For a moment—
Fanny didn't know how to respond.
Then she rolled her eyes and lay back on the bed.
"Whatever."
Alya laughed quietly.
"That's fair."
The room became silent again.
This time—
not an angry silence.
Just an awkward one.
And although Fanny would never admit it—
Alya's words lingered in her mind longer than she expected.
The awkward silence inside the room was suddenly shattered.
BANG!
A gunshot echoed from outside.
Everyone froze.
Downstairs—
voices could be heard shouting.
Saito immediately stood up.
"What was that?"
The group rushed toward the window.
Outside the bar—
several men in white uniforms stood in front of the entrance.
One of them stepped forward and shouted:
"Come on out, foxman!"
Malfoy, who had been behind the counter, sighed heavily.
"Not them again."
Saito looked at him.
"Who are they?"
"Police."
Malfoy answered.
"They come for taxes."
Saito frowned.
"That doesn't look like tax collection."
Kaito peeked through the window.
"They're armed."
Malfoy shrugged bitterly.
"They always are."
Then he looked back at the group.
"You all stay here."
Before anyone could stop him—
he walked outside.
The crew watched from the windows.
Outside—
the captain of the group smirked.
Small axes hung from his belt.
The officers behind him laughed among themselves.
The captain pointed at Malfoy.
"There he is."
Malfoy stopped in front of them.
The captain crossed his arms.
"So."
"Where's our money?"
Malfoy lowered his head slightly.
"I need more time."
The captain laughed.
"Oh really?"
"What a shame."
"Because we need it now."
Malfoy quickly reached into his pocket.
"I have some."
He pulled out a small sack of coins and handed it over.
The captain snatched it.
Opened it.
Counted the contents.
Then laughed.
"This?"
He shook the sack.
"It isn't even enough to buy all of us a drink."
The officers behind him burst into laughter.
Malfoy clenched his fists.
"Please."
"Just give us some more time."
Upstairs—
Fanny was staring through the window.
Her ears flattened.
Her expression darkened.
"They're here again."
Without warning—
she turned and marched toward the door.
Saito immediately stepped in front of her.
"Wait."
"Your dad said—"
"Out of my way, gangster."
Fanny pushed past him.
Then stormed downstairs.
Alya looked worried.
Saito followed.
Outside—
Fanny stepped between Malfoy and the officers.
"Get lost!"
The captain blinked.
Then smiled.
"Well."
He looked at Malfoy.
"You had a daughter."
"Why didn't you tell us before, foxman?"
Malfoy immediately moved in front of her.
"Fanny."
"Calm down."
The captain's smile widened.
Then his eyes settled on Fanny.
And suddenly—
his expression became greedy.
"Actually..."
He rubbed his chin.
"This makes things easier."
Malfoy froze.
The captain pointed at Fanny.
"How about this?"
"You give her to us."
"And all your debt is paid."
Silence.
The officers behind him laughed.
Malfoy's face turned pale.
"But..."
"She's my daughter."
The captain shrugged.
"Then what can you do to pay your debt?"
Fanny's fists trembled.
Malfoy stood speechless.
And from the doorway behind them—
Saito's expression slowly disappeared.
The easygoing smile he usually wore was gone.
Saito stared at the captain.
The officers.
The way they looked at Fanny.
The way they spoke to Malfoy.
His jaw tightened.
"...Well."
"I have no choice."
He reached for his cloak.
But before he could step forward—
Kaito grabbed his shoulder.
Saito stopped.
Kaito looked directly at him.
"Whatever you want to do."
"Rethink it."
Saito glanced toward Malfoy and Fanny.
Then nodded.
"I know."
Slowly—
he pulled the hood of his cloak over his head.
Then walked outside.
The officers immediately noticed him.
Saito stopped in front of Malfoy and Fanny.
The captain raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"And what is this?"
He laughed.
"A little protector?"
The officers behind him joined in.
Saito ignored them.
He reached into his pocket.
Pulled out a sack of coins.
Then tossed it onto the ground.
Clink.
The captain looked down.
Then picked it up.
His eyes widened slightly.
There was a lot of money inside.
Saito's voice was calm.
"There's your dirty money."
"Now get lost."
The captain weighed the sack in his hand.
Then smirked.
"That's quite a lot."
His gaze lingered on Saito for a moment.
"You must be rich."
Saito didn't answer.
The captain laughed.
Then turned away.
"We'll be back for the next taxes."
The officers laughed alongside him.
And soon—
the entire group walked away.
Their voices slowly fading into the distance.
Fanny remained standing silently.
Still staring at Saito.
Malfoy lowered his head.
"Thank you, Sir Saito."
Saito waved a hand.
"No problem."
Then the group headed back inside.
The moment the door closed—
Saito ripped off his cloak.
Grabbed it.
And bit into it.
"Grrr..."
Everyone stared.
"Damn it."
"I wanted to slice them."
Rin immediately patted him on the back.
"Easy there."
Kaito shrugged.
"You're lucky you held your anger."
Saito bit the cloak harder.
"They got on my nerves."
Bomb nodded.
"Same."
Alya looked toward the door.
"They weren't acting like police."
"No."
Kaito agreed.
"They looked more like thugs wearing uniforms."
Saito finally released the poor cloak from his teeth.
Then pointed toward the road outside.
"If they come back..."
His eye twitched.
"I'm charging them double."
Rin burst out laughing.
Even Malfoy couldn't help smiling a little.
For the first time that day—
Fanny looked at Saito differently.
Just slightly.
But it was there.