The man's group immediately raised their guns.
"Get him!"
Kuro glanced around.
"...Seriously?"
He quickly pressed a button on his glove.
CLICK!
The claws extended from his gloves.
Kuro grinned.
"Much better."
He spun around.
SHING! SHING! SHING!
His claws sliced through the weapons.
The pistols fell apart, pieces scattering across the floor.
Everyone froze.
Kuro looked at the broken weapons.
"There."
"Now it's just you and me."
The man tightened his grip on his katana.
"You—"
Kuro suddenly grabbed him by the front of his clothes.
"Outside."
WHOOSH!
He threw the man straight through the restaurant entrance.
CRASH!
The man rolled across the street.
His entire group immediately rushed after him.
"Boss!"
"Are you alright?!"
Kuro walked toward the entrance and looked outside.
The man slowly got back onto his feet.
Kuro raised his clawed gloves.
"Come on."
"Let's finish this somewhere without civilians."
Saito slowly walked over to Kuro.
Kuro glanced at him.
"I know what you were doing was noble."
"But you need to take care of your image too."
Saito sighed.
"Yeah..."
"My old habits got in the way."
Kuro nodded.
"Yep."
"You've still got those habits."
He then turned toward the man, who was already gathering his group.
Kuro walked a few steps closer.
"So..."
"Are you done with all that prideful talking?"
The man glared at him.
"You're going to regret this."
Kuro simply shrugged.
"Maybe."
The man looked toward his group.
"Let's go."
His men immediately followed him.
They disappeared down the street, leaving the damaged restaurant behind.
Kuro watched them leave.
Saito stood beside him.
"...That was weird."
Kuro glanced at him.
"Welcome to your vacation."
Fanny immediately walked toward Saito.
"Come on."
"Let's get you to the nearest medical center."
Saito wiped the blood from his nose.
"I'm fine."
Kaito looked at him with a tired expression.
"You know..."
"You really gave us a hard time back there."
Saito looked at his crew.
"I know."
"I'm sorry."
Rin suddenly appeared from behind them, carrying several bags.
"Hey, guys!"
"We got all the food!"
Bomb followed behind him with even more bags.
"Yep."
"We got everything."
Kuro glanced at Saito's bruised face, then at the mountain of food.
"...Priorities."
Saito chuckled.
"At least we didn't forget the feast."
Kuro shook his head.
"Let's go back."
The group gathered their things and began walking back toward the Red Sun Base.
Fanny stayed close to Saito, still keeping an eye on him.
Saito sighed.
"Seriously..."
"I'm fine."
Kaito smirked.
"Keep telling yourself that, Captain."
Saito rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, yeah."
Back at the Red Sun Base, Saito sat quietly while Lily used her auris to heal his injuries.
Hashima listened carefully as Saito explained what had happened at the restaurant.
After a moment, Hashima nodded.
"I see..."
"I'm sorry you had to deal with that."
Saito waved it off.
"Don't worry about it."
Lily continued healing the bruises on his face.
She frowned.
"Did they tell you their name?"
"Or what organization they belong to?"
Saito shook his head.
"No clue, actually."
Hashima's expression became serious.
"And they were connected to the same group that attacked you on the road."
Saito nodded.
"Looks like it."
Hashima turned toward Makuto.
"Makuto."
"Investigate this further."
Makuto nodded immediately.
"Understood."
He turned and walked out of the room.
Hashima leaned back, his expression thoughtful.
"I'd prefer that we catch these people before we hold the feast."
Kuro nodded.
"Agreed."
Saito looked between them.
"So much for a peaceful vacation."
Lily sighed.
"With you around?"
"I wasn't expecting one."
Saito looked at her.
"...Thanks."
Lily smiled.
"You're welcome."
In the next room, Kaito leaned quietly against the wall.
Bomb sat nearby, staring at the floor.
"Seriously..."
"I just look like a weak man who couldn't even protect his captain."
Kaito looked toward him.
"Bomb."
"We already went through this."
"It was Saito's command."
"We have to listen to him."
Kaito paused.
"He had a point."
"If we started fighting in there, the people around us could've gotten hurt."
Bomb clenched his fists.
"I agree."
"But still..."
He looked down.
"You understand how I feel, right?"
Kaito's expression softened slightly.
"I do, Bomb."
"I do."
Rin quietly looked between them.
"Let's just keep quiet, okay?"
"Until all of this is over."
Fanny nodded.
"Yeah."
The room fell silent.
Bomb sighed.
"I just hate watching him get hurt."
Kaito nodded.
"So do we."
"That's why we stay ready."
Bomb looked up.
Kaito continued.
"When Saito gives us permission to fight..."
"We'll be there."
Rin nodded.
Fanny quietly smiled.
"Together."
The four remained in the room, waiting for whatever came next.
Fanny, Bomb, and Rin eventually exited the room.
Alya looked up from her transparent tablet.
"Looks like something significant happened while I was gone."
Kaito let out a small sigh.
"Actually…"
"I'm glad you weren't there."
Alya raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
Kaito glanced toward the others.
"Because if you had been, this conversation would have gone on until nightfall."
Alya smiled.
"Fair enough."
Kaito began walking toward the hallway.
"Just focus on your technology."
"I'll join them shortly."
Alya nodded.
"Understood."
Kaito left the room and caught up with the others.
Alya looked back down at her tablet.
"Alright…"
"Back to work."
Hashima rose from his seat.
"Now, if you'll excuse me..."
"I have a meeting with the village mayor to discuss some matters."
Saito nodded.
"Very well."
Hashima paused at the doorway.
"And also..."
"Another guest will be arriving soon."
He glanced back at everyone.
"I hope everything proceeds smoothly in my absence."
Lily smiled.
"It's okay, Dad."
"Just go."
Hashima nodded.
"Alright."
He exited the room, accompanied by several bodyguards.
As they disappeared down the hallway, Bomb looked toward one of the imposing bodyguards.
He studied him for a moment.
"...Damn."
"That guy must have been on a lot of performance-enhancing drugs."
Rin looked at him.
"You're just jealous."
Bomb immediately shook his head.
"I'm not."
Rin raised an eyebrow.
"Sure."
Bomb crossed his arms.
"I could look like that if I wanted to."
Fanny glanced at him.
"Then why don't you?"
Bomb fell silent.
"...That's not the point."
Lily suddenly turned toward Saito.
"Anyway, Saito..."
She leaned in slightly and lowered her voice.
"Let's go to my room."
Saito froze.
"Wait, what?"
Lily quickly raised a finger to her lips.
"Shh."
She glanced toward the rest of the Blue Scarf crew.
"Just a moment."
"I need to speak with your captain."
Kaito offered a knowing smile.
"Of course."
Fanny immediately grinned.
"Take all the time you need."
Lily nodded.
"Understood."
She took Saito by the arm and began guiding him toward the hallway.
Saito looked back at his crew.
"Guys..."
"I have a very bad feeling about this."
Rin waved.
"You'll be fine, Captain!"
Bomb smirked.
"Probably."
Saito's eyes widened.
"That doesn't help at all!"
Lily continued leading him away.
"Come on."
"I only want to talk."
Saito cast one last look over his shoulder.
"Kaito!"
Kaito simply waved.
"Good luck."
Saito sighed.
"...I'm surrounded by traitors."
Rin watched Lily disappear down the hallway with Saito.
"So..."
"What do you think is going to happen?"
Rin paused, then gave a mischievous grin.
"Probably—"
Kaito immediately looked at him.
"Rin."
Rin stopped.
"Behave."
Rin blinked.
"Right."
He looked around the traditional room.
"We're in a traditional house."
Kaito nodded.
"So act like it."
Rin straightened his posture.
"Understood."
Bomb glanced at him.
"You were about to say something stupid, weren't you?"
Rin smiled innocently.
"...Maybe."
Fanny giggled.
Kaito sighed.
"Just stay quiet."
The three looked toward the hallway where Saito and Lily had disappeared.
Rin whispered.
"Still wondering what they're talking about, though."
Kaito shook his head.
"Don't get involved."
Bomb nodded.
"Yeah."
"Let the captain handle his own problems."
Fanny smiled.
"Good luck, Saito."
Far down the hallway, Saito suddenly sneezed.
"...Why do I feel like they're talking about me?"