Ikebukuro's ruined sector opened into a strange stillness.
Not empty.
Just… paused.
Like the colony itself was waiting for something to resume.
Takeru slowed as they approached the building ahead.
Megumi landed beside him a moment later.
Yuji stood already there—eyes sharp, breathing steady, clearly expecting something bigger than a reunion.
"…You made it," Yuji said.
Takeru gave a short nod.
"…Confirmed."
Then Hana—
still on Takeru's back—
didn't move.
Megumi noticed immediately.
"…You're not getting off?"
Hana hesitated.
"…Not yet."
Angel added, calm as ever:
"…Observation point remains optimal from this position."
Yuji blinked.
"…Uh… okay?"
Takeru didn't react to it.
Just shifted slightly to balance her.
"…Proceeding to objective."
They entered the building together.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Inside was not a normal structure anymore.
It felt staged.
Intentional.
Like a space designed to force confrontation.
Megumi frowned.
"…This is too clean for a colony."
Yuji nodded.
"…Yeah… this feels like something set up."
Takeru's voice was quiet.
"…Ambush probability high."
They moved deeper.
Down a corridor.
Then another.
Until—
A large open room.
And in the center—
a theatre-like space had formed.
Rows of broken seating.
A stage-like platform.
Curtains hanging torn along the sides.
And on that stage—
a bathtub.
Fully filled.
Still.
And inside it—
a fully clothed man.
Calm.
Sitting in the water like it was the most natural place in the world.
Hiromi Higuruma.
Yuji stopped.
"…That's him?"
Megumi narrowed his eyes.
"…So that's the lawyer."
Takeru stepped forward slightly.
"…Target identified."
Higuruma slowly turned his head toward them.
Not startled.
Not surprised.
Just aware.
"…So you came."
Silence followed.
Hana finally leaned slightly forward from Takeru's back.
"…He's in a bathtub."
Angel added:
"…Context unclear."
Yuji scratched his head slightly.
"…Why is he in a bathtub?"
Higuruma answered calmly.
"…Because this is where judgment begins."
Megumi muttered:
"…That's not comforting."
Takeru remained still.
Then spoke.
"…We are here for rule interaction and point acquisition."
Higuruma looked at him.
Longer this time.
"…You're the one they mentioned."
A pause.
Yuji stepped forward slightly.
"…We need your help."
Higuruma's gaze shifted between them.
Then back to Takeru.
"…Help is expensive."
Silence settled in the theatre room.
Heavy.
Structured.
Like the space itself was waiting for a verdict.
And Hana—
still on Takeru's back—
still hadn't gotten off.
Megumi noticed again.
"…Seriously?"
Hana replied quietly.
"…Just observing."
Angel added:
"…This position remains tactically advantageous."
Takeru exhaled slightly.
Not bothered.
Not surprised.
Just aware that everything was getting more complicated again.
Higuruma finally spoke again.
"…Then let's begin."