Hello, everyone! Here’s your long awaited chapter 7
Whoa one month, huh? Has it been that long? I guess I’ve been occupied with my other fanfic that I hardly realize, ha ha. Oh and of course, there'll be update on the character description.
Enjoy~
The Epitome of Justice
Chapter 07: Strategy Meeting
__________________________________________________________
"Hiya! So yer' Kitagawa Ryouha, huh?"
"…"
"Nice ta meet ya! I'm Ka—I mean, Shibuya Nagisa. We gonna be partners from now on, so let's work hard together. Ha ha~"
"…"
"Yer' very quiet, ain't cha?
"...why are you laughing?"
"Huh?"
"Your eyes... you look like you're about to cry..."=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=
Nagisa opened her eyes slowly to the soft ray of the sun and the sound of bird chirping by the window. She saw a dream. A dream from when she and Ryouha first met. Was it a good dream or a bad dream? She couldn't say for sure. Whichever it was it just reminded her of the girl. On how she missed her and that she got to help her, fast. She sighed, trying to move her sore body.
Head. A bit dizzy, probably side-effects of Chloroform. No serious damage.
Legs. Still a bit heavy but movable.
Right hand. All great.
Left hand...
...
...
...
Nagisa narrowed her eyes as she felt she couldn't move her left arm, as if something was keeping it in place. She glanced to her side, and as she found what made her arm trapped, she let out a loud whine.
It was Kimotama, sleeping on a chair by her bedside with her left arm caged within a bear hug. The girl was sleeping so soundly that Nagisa afraid that she might drool on her arm. Scratch that. She already did.
"Goddammit... Wake up, ya slobberhead!"
She shook her arm a few times, attempting to wake the sleeping girl, but Kimotama only groaned and hugged her hand tigther. Nagisa let out another sigh. She gave up. Maybe she'd just lay down for a while until she gathered enough energy to fling the brat away. Well, at least she seemed fine though. Come to think of it, what happened with the explosion last night? And what is this place?
"So you're finally awake?"Nagisa flinched, hearing a familiar voice from the other end of the room. She pushed herself into a sitting position, turning her attention to the door.
"I almost thought you'll finally sleep forever."
"Too bad, chief. Imma lot tougher than that, ha ha~"
Nagisa snickered as she saw Mako entered the room and closed the door behind her. The girl's hair was tied up into a ponytail, while a dusty green jacket replaced her usual school blazer. Nagisa narrowed her eyes as she recognized the attire.
That jacket... wasn't it belong to...She pushed the thought away, her smile widened.
"So? Whatcha doin' all the way to Osaka? Skippin' school? Ah wait, this still Osaka, right?"
"It is. And why am I here... let's say I'm on a police-duty."
"Eeh, don't drag me into it~ I already quit Joshikou Keisatsu, remember? And as for the official letter 'n stuff... I'll give it to ya later, haha~"
"Don't worry about that, Deputy Shibuya." Mako closed her eyes, her right hand reaching for something behind her jacket.
"I'll take care of all the documents for you. All of them. Down to your death report..."
Nagisa clicked her tongue as she found a pitch black gun being pointed at her forehead, and she eyed Mako with a bored look.
Aah, what now? This is troublesome... The two girls stared eye to eye in silence, as if trying to find an answer from each other, until a loud yawn distracted them. Nagisa snickered.
“Finally awake, eh slobberhead?”
“Shut it you—huh?”
Kimotama froze as she noticed the gun, her head trying to decipher the situation as she was still swayed between sleeping and awake. As soon as her mind cleared, her eyes turned into a deadly glare.
“You bastard!! What're ya—“
CREAK--“Ouch, ouch, ouch!”
Mako almost cringed as she saw Nagisa squeezed Kimotama's fingers in her grip, barely breaking it.
“Oi, oi, calm down will ya~ If ya provoke her I'll be deadmeat, ha ha.”
“You idiot... why...“
“And get yer arms off my hand. It's starting to grow numb.”
Kimotama gave her friend a look of disbelief, staring at her abnormally wide smile.
Seigi, what are ya planning? She tried to convey it through her eyes, but the girl only chuckled, shaking her left arm free.
“Now then, what's this all about, chief? Shooting someone without a reason will get cha in trouble, y'know.”
"Not if I have the permission.” Nagisa blinked as she heard that.
“Permission?”
"This is the task given to me.” Mako said matter-of-factly. “To get rid of 'Seigi' if it ever go berserk again."
"By the inspector?”
"Yes."
“I see. I almost thought you're on me for a revenge."
The statement seemed to shaken the girl a bit, Nagisa noticed, though she seemed to try keeping her calm composure.
Well, well, now what shall I do? She switched her gaze around the room, trying to find any opening. Her headache had subsided quite a bit and she got her both arms free now. Avoiding gun in point blank is unthinkable even for her but if she could hit the girl's arm and diverted the trajectory...
“Any last word, 'Seigi'?”
Nagisa blinked again, focusing her attention to her former squad leader. And then, she chuckled.
Or perhaps there's no need for me to do that... “Seigi!? What are you—!”
She could hear Kimotama shouting in panic as she closed her eyes and raised both hands in defeat.
“Third floor, East Building. There's a library where a Kango-ka member called Gakushu usually reside. She's the one who got Ryouha.”
“...”
“Oh, and one more thing, chief.”
Mako raised her brow as the laid-back girl opened her eyes.
“What is it?”
GROOOWWWLLL—Mako froze as she heard the loud stomach growl, while Kimotama stared at her friends with her mouth opened. Nagisa only gave the two a sheepish smile.
“You have food? I'm hungry.”
...
...
...
“..pffft, aha ha ha!
You're really something else, Nagisa.”
Eh? What?
What!? Kimotama turned her dumbfound face toward the laughing Mako, then to Nagisa, before ruffling her hair with both hands.
“The heck is goin' on, dammit!? First ya all pointing gun and now—argh!”
The yankee shouted on top of her lungs and fell back to her chair, her head dangling above the headrest as she mumbled.
“That's it. I have enough of ya, Seigi. I'm done worryin' or savin' yer ass.”
“Eeh~ I thought you say you'll follow me even to the pit of hell?”
Kimotama growled and kicked her friend by her side, earning a grunt, while Mako shook her head and put her gun back to its sheath. She watched as the two grabbed each other's collar and started throwing insults, before taking a glance at the clock.
It's about time...“Let's go, Nagisa.”
“Huh?” She stopped from barely trading punch with Kimotama, tilting her head at Mako.
“Where to?”
Mako shrugged, opening the door.
“Well, aren't you hungry?”
“Ooh, now we're talking!” She released Kimotama without a single thought.
“Breakfast, here I come~”
=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=
“Whoaa, this is good! One more serving, please!!”
Nagisa grinned, raising her bowl as she asked for more rice, while Kimotama elbowed her.
“Psst, watch yer words a bit.”
“Hm, what's wrong with ya? Did ya hit yer head or somethin'?”
Kimotama gave her a skeptical look, before gesturing her head to the short-haired girl by the counter.
“That restaurant lady, don't cha realize who she is?”
Nagisa blinked, switching her attention to the girl. She crossed her arms, eyes closed as if she was in deep thought, before she finally shrugged. Kimotama growled and hit her fist lightly on the table.
“Stop actin' so stupid, shithead!
That girl is—“
“Thanks for the food, Sakura-san.”Mako finished the sentence for her, and the said girl nodded in response. She was just about to take the dirty dishes with her when Mako stopped her, taking the bowl and chopsticks by herself to the sink. Nagisa blinked as she saw that.
Mako seemed to respect that girl a lot, huh.She hummed, taking her bowl as the girl finished refilling her rice.
Hmm, Sakura. Sakura. That name sounds familiar...
Ah.Nagisa clicked her chopsticks as she finally remembered.
Why of course! That girl is Miyawaki Sakura. The legendary yankee who put an end to the war between Majisuka and Gekioko two years ago. Nagisa was still in Junior High back then so she didn't know the detail, but it was said that the girl stormed Gekioko by herself and defeated Antonio in a one-on-one battle. So then, what's a powerful yankee like her doing working in a small family restaurant like this? Is she an informant just like Kotani Riho? Sakura seemed to notice the stare Nagisa had been giving her, and she turned to the kansai girl.
“Do you want another serving?”
“Huh? Eeh, maybe later. Just kinda curious though.” Nagisa put down her meal.
“What is this place? And what are
you doing here?”
She could feel Kimotama elbowing her again but she ignored it, keeping her eyes on Sakura. The girl raised a hand, telling her to wait, before walking to the kitchen to retrieve a pitcher of warm tea.
“This is Asobina.” Sakura calmly said as she poured a cup of tea to her curious customer, “A family restaurant just a few blocks away from Majisuka High School. We offer many kind of dishes but we're specialized in Japanese Cooking.”
“Eeh, that's amazing~ There's barely any restaurant near a yankee's hideout; those Majisuka bunch's so lucky, haha~”
Nagisa gave her a playful answer and sipped her tea, watching the girl offering a cup to Kimotama as well. Sakura continued.
“As for what I'm doing here... Hmm, that's right.” She tapped her chin. “I'm working.”
“Ah, I see, I see~ As a waiter or?”
“As a waiter, yes.”
That wasn't the answer she anticipated, but Nagisa kept her smile, taking another sip of her tea. Sakura seemed to notice the change in her mood.
“And a chef, for now. The owner of this place is currently away for vacation so I'm handling everything in her place.”
“Hmm.” Nagisa put down her cup, ready to ask another question, but Sakura beat her to it.
“I've heard about you.”
Sakura said calmly, sitting adjacent to her as she poured a cup of tea for herself.
“In fact, it would be strange if I haven't heard about you.
Seigi.”
Nagisa flinched as she heard that, her smile vanished. Sakura sipped her tea.
“A former student of Gekioko. The only first-year general ever and the one who study directly under Antonio and Coby. And also,” The girl locked her emotionless eyes on the frozen girl. “One of
'their' pet dog.”
“Huh? What's she talking about, Seigi?”
Nagisa clenched her fist, staring back at the girl calm face.
“You... how much do you know?”
“Not much.” Sakura took another sip of her tea, and Nagisa looked away.
“I have nothing to do with
'them' anymore.”
“Do you think saying that will erase your sin?”
SLAM
Nagisa hit her fist hard to the table, sending all the plates and cups into the floor in a huge crash, and snatched Sakura by her collar. She brought the girl close, trying to supress her building anger.
“What do you know about me?”
--calm down, calm down, calm down“Nagisa! Release her right now!!”
She could see Mako pointing a gun at her from the corner of her eyes and Kimotama staring at her in horror, but she couldn't care less.
--calm down, calm down, calm down“What do you know...”
“I don't. You're the one who know.”
Sakura stared into the girl's eyes, not even faltering a bit.
“
Show me your seriousness, Seigi. You can't laugh everything off and running away forever.”
--calm down—“Ooh, ooh~~ What's going on~? Do I come in a wrong time~~?”Nagisa came into an abrupt stop as she heard the loud voice, her fist barely colliding with Sakura's face. She slowly turned her head to the source of the voice.
“If you call, then I'll definitely come! It's Enoki-man~ TA-DAAH~~!!”...
..
.
Uwaah...Nagisa's face fell as she recognized the figure and she quickly released Sakura, falling back to her chair in a lazy manner.
“Damn, I suddenly don't feel like hitting anyone... Kimotama, pass me some rice.”
“Huh? U-uh, yeah. Sure thing.”
Kimotama shook her head and did as she was told, while Sakura pushed away the broken table.
“Can you get a broom from the kitchen, Oshima?”
“It's KOJIMA—I mean, right away, Sakura-san.”
The whole situation reverted back to normal and the new figure froze, hearing the wind howling beside her.
“Wait,
wait, wait! Ya all ignoring me!? Huh??”The girl ran into the restaurant, waving her hand in front of the Osaka duo who had resumed their eating. They blinked.
“Ah, it's a mushroom.” Nagisa flatly said.
“A mushroom.” Kimotama continued and raised her hand. “Excuse me, Sakura-san~ Can ya grill this one for us, please?”
Sakura nodded, while the girl in front of them shook her head.
“Tsk, tsk. Enoki is not for grilling, fools. If it's Enoki, then nothing beat a mushroom nabe indeed!”
Uwaaaaah....The Osaka duo gave the girl another blank look, before Nagisa raised her hand.
“Scratch the grill. Can we borrow some hotpot?”
“Tsukkomi me already!” The girl shouted in frustration. “And the heck, ya two really want to eat me!?”
Nagisa tilted her head, while Kimotama gave her an 'isn't it obvious?' look.
“Err, I see the three of you already know each other...”
Mako let out an awkward laugh and stepped in between them, stopping for a while from sweeping the floor.
“Nope.” Nagisa flatly answered, stuffing some meat to her mouth.
“Ain't know any mushroom, nope.” Kimotama added with no care whatsoever. The girl dropped her shoulder, and Mako couldn't help feeling a bit sorry for her. Sakura crossed her arms.
“You two, don't be so cruel to Shiitake.”
“It's ENOKI. Kuuh, I know they're both mushroom, but they don't even rhyme you see...”
“Ah...” Sakura blinked, her face as emotionless as ever.
“Sorry, Emoji.”
“
ENOKI!! Now yer just doin' it in purpose!”
Sakura-san... Mako held her face in frustration. They hadn't even start a real conversation yet and she's already feeling tired. Somehow she wished Nana was here to get the topic straight. She cleared her throat.
“Now, can I have everyone attention?”Mako said in a stern tone, and the girls switched their eyes to her.
Finally... She let out her breath in relief, setting the broom on her hand aside.
“The reason I brought all of you here is because there's something I need to tell you all about.
Regarding what happened last night,
and what we are going to do from now on.”
The squad leader pulled two chairs for her and Enoki, while Sakura left the four girls by their own, fetching some more tea.
“Last night explosion has put Gekioko on their highest alert. Therefore it will be harder for us to proceed with our rescue operation.”
“ 'We'? Yer into this too, chief?” Mako gave Nagisa a nod.
“Yes. But of course, I'm keeping this a secret from the other Joshikou Keisatsu. I leave a record that says that you, me, and Ryouha are in a special mission out of town.”
“Whoa, way to go~ Nice going there chief, ha ha.”
“Now, the problem is, it seems that something has been going on even before we arrived. Do you know anything about this, Kimotama?”
Kimotama sighed and ruffled her hair.
“A lotsa students from Gekioko have been arrested lately. The reason varied, but most of 'em are non-active members of Kango-ka or shady bunches who rarely seen in school. The principal grew wary though, thinking that yer responsible for this, Seigi. Come to think of it, why did the principal think like that?”
“It's 'cause of Gakushu.” Enoki cut in.
“You saw it too, ain't ya Kimotama? The footage that showed Seigi's whereabouts. Kango-ka members are being arrested and their missing general is now part of the police. No wonder the principal thought that way.”
Mako nodded, seeing Nagisa starting to put a bored expression. About time to bring out her plan.
“The three of us are currently hunted by Gekioko so we can't move freely around their territory. That's why I asked Enoki to get information for us while we build our strategy here in Majisuka area.”
“Now that ya mention it.” Kimotama glanced at Enoki. “Why're ya wearing Majisuka uniform, mushroom-head?”
Enoki snickered, puffing her chest in pride.
“Heh. Well that's of course, as the new information broker and successor of Basset I'm enrolled in Majisuka, Gekioko, and Yabakune all together. That way I can retrieve info from all schools without being suspicious.”
Nagisa tilted her head at her. “I see. Then why're ya helping us? What're ya asking in payment?”
Enoki snickered, pulling out a cellphone from her pocket.
“There's something I wanna ask from the three of ya. Or more like, something that my other client need.”
She dialled a number and put the phone in the middle of the table, while the three girls waited, their eyes locked on the screen.
-- …
-- …
--”Good Afternoon, everyone.”Kimotama flinched while Nagisa smirked as she recognized the squeaky high-pitched voice.
“Long time no see,
Gakushu.”
Mako glanced at her fellow officer as she heard the name, before focusing her attention back to the phone.
--”Oh, it's Seigi-san. Hello. Long time no see, indeed.”“Cut with the formalities, Gakushu. Whaddya want?”
There was a few moments of silence on the other end before Gakushu continued.
--”I believe you all have learned about the multiple arresting that's been happening around here.”“Heard 'em. What about that?”
--”Those things... I am actually the one responsible behind it.”Kimotama froze as she heard it, while Mako and Nagisa kept her cool, listening intently.
--”I did that to create an uproar within Kango-ka. And not only Gekioko; Majisuka and Yabakune,
I've done the same things to them with Enoki's help.
Now the three schools have been suspecting each other.”“And then?” Mako asked. “What are you trying to achieve from doing that?”
--”...”“...”
--”A war.”The three girls narrowed her eyes as they heard the declaration, each of them wearing a different expression of their own.
--”I want to create another war, just like what happen two years ago, and destroy the current Kango-ka with it.”Nagisa chuckled as she heard that, while the other girls kept silent, didn't know what to say.
“Eeh, so ya wanna drag all of Osaka to yer rebellion? That's some grand plan, ha ha~”
Mako nudged her temple, trying to calm herself from the shocking information.
“So then, when do you need us in this plan of yours?”
--”Three days from now I will have a meeting with a member of Majisuka's Rappapa in their territory.
That moment, on my way to the meeting, I want the three of you to kidnap me.”The words brought Mako into another shock while Nagisa couldn't contain her laughter anymore.
--”I will tell the detail of the plan there.
And of course I will make sure that your friend is safe under the rebels' protection.
You can have my head if there's even a scratch in her face, Seigi.”“Gotcha~ I'll take ya on yer word, Gakushu.”
--”...”
--”Well then, I'll be waiting for you in the appointed place. Until then.”
--BEEP
--BEEP
--BEEP
“And there ya have it.”
Enoki put her phone back to her pocket, while Mako sighed loudly, crossing her arms. Nagisa raised her shoulders at the girl.
“Whaddya say, chief? Yer buying this deal? If ya decline I'll just storm into the place and save Ryouha on my own.”
“THAT is the very thing I want to prevent. Just for your information, if I didn't come to save you yesterday you'd be dead from the explosion.”
“Now, now, stop dwelling in the past~ Ha ha~” Nagisa let out a playful laugh and turned to Kimotama.
“How 'bout cha, Kimotama?”
“Eh, I'll follow whatever ya choose. If yer stomping the place then I'll be right beside ya.”
The duo bumped their fists and Mako let out another sigh, glancing at Enoki. There's no other choice.
“Enoki, please send this word back to Gakushu.
'We're taking the deal.”=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=
The night wind howled loudly as a lone figure walked the empty road of Osaka, carrying a backpack with them. The figure walked cautiously, their eyes darting around as if to make sure that nobody was following them, and suddenly they broke into a run. They could hear footsteps from behind them and they quickened their pace, glancing to see some group of people running after them. They turned on the next fork road, running down the narrow alley with all their might.
A dead end. The figure stopped and turned, finding that they're already being surrounded, but their emotionless face stayed the same. The figure sighed.
“About time you show yourself,
Seigi.”
CRACK-- SMACK-- THUD--The pursuers fell to the ground one by one, and another figure in a red jacket jumped down the tree branches, revealing herself.
“Why're ya callin my name just now,
Gakushu? If they wake up later they'd know that I'm the one attacking them.”
“That's exactly what I'm doing. Shifting the blame to you.”
“Ya little...”
Nagisa cracked her fists, trying to stop herself from punching the girl on the face. Gakushu didn't seem to care though, proceeding to search through her pursuer and taking their wallets.
“I'm quite surprised you really come though. I thought you'll dismiss my secret message and stick to the back up plan.”
“I'm done running away...” Nagisa whispered quietly. “And ya better be grateful; it's hard wrestling out of Kimotama's bear hug, y'know.”
“Well, isn't she a handful? Should I tell your girfriend about it?”
THUD “That's my head you're stepping on, dear Seigi. Not like I mind it.”
“Tsk, yer disguting...”
Nagisa gave Gakushu a light kick on the head and the yankee stood, taking all the money she could get.
“But to think that the principal only send these small fries after me, is he mocking me? Or is it a trap?”
“Doesn't matter. ” Nagisa spat, burying her hands in her pockets.
“Spit out yer plan. It's not just a rebellion, ain't it? The reason why yer doin all these, are ya trying to smoke
them out?”
Gakushu smirked. “You can be quite sharp sometimes for an idiot, Seigi-san.”
Nagisa let a 'hmph', and Gakushu continued.
“You're correct. Nothing will change if we don't destroy them from the root, and I will sacrifice everything if necessary.”
She gave the girl a determined look, something that Nagisa never saw in her before, and the former Gekioko general sighed.
“Fine, I get it. I'll play along with ya. As long as you promise that you'll keep Ryouha safe.”
“Of course.
Because she'll also play a vital role in this plan.” “Gakushu, you bastard!” Nagisa grabbed the yankee by her collar. “Don't drag her into this!!”
“But it's already too late, Seigi-san. I've told her about them.
I've told her everything.”
CRACK CRUNCH--Gakushu gritted her teeth, holding in her scream as Nagisa clenched and broke her forearm. The former yankee pushed her away roughly, a cold blank stare in her eyes.
“As I thought, I really don't like ya.”
“That's too bad... Because I like you so much.”
Nagisa clicked her tongue, feeling a slight shiver running up her spine. She turned away.
“Eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.” Nagisa glanced at Gakushu, staring down at the squirming yankee.
“I'm taking yer right arm as promised. And if I find her hurt in any way, I'll make ya regret ever living in this world...”
“Don't worry. Like I said, I'm all ready to sacrifice anything.”
The former yankee let out another 'hmph', pulling her hood over her head as she leaned on the wall, waiting for her childhood friend to treat her broken bones.
“Why are ya doing this, Gakushu? Ya have nothing to do with them. And I've known ya long enough to know that ya don't even care about Kango-ka at all. So why?
For what reason ya wanna destroy 'them'? Just another form of yer entertainment?”
“Why, huh?"
Nagisa peek through her hood, seeing the yankee fastened her makeshift arm-sling over her neck. The girl put her good hand on her chin for a while, thinking.
"I'm doing all this for you, of course.”
Nagisa shivered as she saw the girl smiled. “Stop sayin' disgusting stuff or I'll rip off yer throat.”
"Now, don't be so hasty. Seigi-san."
Gakushu carried her backpack on one arm, walking side by side with the former yankee.
"Let's work together as a team. Just for the sake of old times."
Nagisa didn't answer, burying her hands deep in her pocket as she walked along the empty alley. She clenched her fists.
...
..
.
"Wait for me, Ryouha." __________________________________________________________
The Epitome of Justice : Chapter 07 // END