"Is that so... So that's your reason?"
After hearing her words, Gai revealed a knowing smile. He could understand that posture—the way she protected someone.
"What else would it be? Don't tell me you think I made it up. I'm not that bored."
The Shogun shot the man an annoyed look and casually folded her arms across her chest with a shrug.
"I see... If that's the case, then this becomes simple."
Gai nodded.
"Mio... maybe we shouldn't—"
Inori tried to stop her.
"My mind is made up. Do not bring it up again."
For once, the Shogun's tone carried a faint trace of irritation as she addressed the girl beside her.
"Mm..."
Inori paused mid-motion and quickly fell silent. Her eyes were complicated as she looked at the purple-haired beauty who was always thinking of her, then at the blond man on the other side. In the end, she bit her lip softly and chose to compromise.
"However... I have a question."
The Shogun turned her gaze back to Gai.
"What is it?"
He replied.
"This so-called Funeral Parlor—what exactly do you do on a daily basis? Just resist GHQ's actions, cause some trouble, rescue a few civilians, and then retreat in a sorry state if you get beaten? Ah... and make the news while you're at it?"
Her tone carried a trace of teasing mockery. Even her gentle voice held a faint hint of provocation.
"Heh... More or less. Funeral Parlor was founded as a resistance organization with the goal of overthrowing GHQ's rule and liberating Japan. Those actions align with our purpose, don't they?"
Gai simply shrugged and smiled, unangered.
"Do you have a headquarters?"
The Shogun glanced at the dilapidated ruins around them and asked flatly.
"We do. Roppongi Fortress. Not here."
He nodded in reply.
"I see..."
She did not press further. Instead, she sat back down on the stone platform and casually crossed her left leg over her right.
Beep—!
At that moment, a terminal call signal rang from Gai's pocket.
Click!
With practiced speed, Gai pulled out the terminal and flipped it open, projecting a display screen. A member of Funeral Parlor appeared on the other side.
"This is bad, Gai."
Argo reported anxiously.
"What happened?"
Gai asked calmly.
Bzz—
Tsugumi switched the camera feed from the Roppongi area onto the display, showing GHQ's current movements in the city.
"Those white-clad bastards have stormed into the underground parking lot in District 14."
Argo was lying prone on a rooftop, secretly observing the movements of the GHQ forces below through binoculars as he reported.
"An underground parking lot?"
Gai frowned.
"Yeah. It's a temporary shelter. Nearly a hundred people took refuge there. They've all been rounded up in one sweep by those bastards."
"A massacre?"
Gai immediately asked.
"Not yet. But judging by their usual behavior, I doubt it'll be long."
His tone turned furious, teeth clenched.
"I see..."
"..."
Meanwhile, the Shogun sat quietly to the side. Though she listened to Gai's conversation, her gaze drifted toward the shattered frame of a floor-to-ceiling window in the distance. Outside, the deep night was gradually giving way to dawn. Morning light slowly emerged along the eastern horizon of the ruined city, awakening this sleeping purgatory and bringing with it a rare trace of hope.
She felt a soft weight settle on her shoulders. Turning her head slightly, she saw that Inori was standing behind her, hands resting gently on her shoulders as they both watched the dawn-lit city.
"...It's beautiful."
The girl murmured.
"...Mm."
She responded softly.
It seemed Inori rarely had the chance to see something so fresh and tranquil. I wonder what she would think if she saw Inazuma's landscapes... Would she like them?
Perhaps not... She's lived in this advanced world for so long. She's probably grown used to it.
"Did you just say... Daryl Yan?"
Gai's voice cut in as he repeated the name.
"Yeah. The bastard who destroyed Ayase's new unit. He's called a killer—Daryl. He's troublesome."
Through Argo's binoculars, the blond man could be seen standing arrogantly below, a smug grin on his face. The sight made Argo itch to rush down and punch him.
"Daryl..."
Gai narrowed his eyes dangerously as he stared at the face on the terminal screen, murmuring the name in a low voice.
That Kaleidoscope...
Click!
He closed the terminal and turned toward the two women bathed in the golden veil of dawn. Then he walked over to them.
"Mio, Inori. We've got a mission. Assemble downstairs."
"Got it..."
Perhaps out of habit, Inori answered first.
The Shogun cast her an exasperated look before turning to Gai.
"I may have joined Funeral Parlor, but I never said I would follow your orders. So do not command me."
Her tone was cool and detached.
"Is that so... Then I'll 'ask' you to follow Inori. Inori, bring her downstairs."
Gai merely shrugged and paid it no mind. After speaking, he turned and left.
"..."
She rolled her eyes at his departing back.
"Mio... shall we go?"
Inori withdrew her gaze from Gai and looked back at the woman beside her, asking gently. She even reached out and stroked her smooth hair.
"I don't want to~"
She puffed her cheeks slightly, deliberately acting petulant.
"Pfft... then let's just go home. Don't join Funeral Parlor. I'll come back tonight—"
Inori reacted quickly, seizing the opportunity to voice what she had always wanted—to keep her from getting involved. But her little trick was immediately exposed. At the same time, she felt a faint sting on her thigh.
"Don't even think about sending me back~"
Squeeze~
She gently pinched the girl's thigh peeking beneath her skirt, shot her a glare, and stood up, signaling for her to lead the way.
"...Haa."
Watching the woman pass by her, breathing in her familiar fragrance, Inori sighed softly. She rubbed the spot on her thigh that had just been pinched, then obediently turned and led her downstairs.
...
Following Inori down into the room, they found many members already gathered. Most of them were present—the wheelchair-bound girl Ayase, the computer girl Tsugumi, and a large number of Funeral Parlor members assembled around the conference table.
At this moment, everyone had gathered here, waiting for Gai's arrival. The two of them naturally blended into the crowd as well. She wanted to find a corner, but Inori, still holding her wrist, pulled her toward a more central position instead. The people here were not too densely packed, and Ayase and Tsugumi were nearby as well.
The two of them had come down along the stairs from the other end of the conference room, while Gai stepped down from the opposite side.
"Gai, this is a sudden incident."
As the strategist and chief of staff, Segai turned at the sound of footsteps behind him and looked at his leader.
"Given the current disparity in combat power, a rescue operation carries significant risk. I recommend withdrawal."
He adjusted his glasses with a somewhat dark expression as he spoke, eyes fixed on the information displayed above.
"No. We can't just stand by and do nothing."
Gai rejected the suggestion, a confident smile forming on his lips.
"This isn't a sudden incident at all. On the contrary... it's a blessing in disguise."
"...?" ×N
The crowd looked at him in confusion, unable to guess what he was planning.
"..."
The Shogun averted her gaze and looked at Inori beside her instead. The girl seemed to sense her stare and glanced back.
She silently shook the wrist that was still being held, a subtle reminder.
"...!"
Instead of letting go, Inori tightened her grip and even pulled her slightly closer to her side.
"All units, listen up!! We're going to annihilate the Special Virus Countermeasure Force—Anti-Bodies! And rescue the civilians inside the enemy stronghold!"
"!" ×N
Everyone was stunned.
"Furthermore, this operation will not be a covert one like before. At this very moment, we will announce the existence of Funeral Parlor to the entire world!"
Standing at the highest step, Gai glanced toward the center—at the Shogun and Inori—and smiled confidently as he spoke.
The time had come. They now possessed that strength.
Back then... he hadn't been mistaken.
This woman named Raiden Mio undoubtedly possessed extraordinary power. And when paired with Inori's Void Genome... it was the perfect match.
"Fight to your hearts' content!!"
"O!!!" ×N
With that, morale was ignited. The crowd roared in unison, their fighting spirit rising.
"Hey~ Little Inori and this big sister will fight alongside us too!"
Tsugumi walked over to the two of them and said cheerfully.
"Mm..."
Inori nodded quietly.
"Let me see more of that power you showed back then, new~bie?"
Ayase maneuvered her wheelchair past the Shogun and winked at her teasingly.
"...Back then?"
She asked.
"Yeah... The strength that kicked a mech flying with one strike, and the power Inori used to slice one in half with a single blow."
"Gai..."
Tap, tap...
Hearing Segai's voice, Gai looked over.
"What is it?"
"Are you confident?"
He asked.
"Mm... I never fight a battle without preparation. Besides... this battle also serves to welcome our newcomer—with the most magnificent 'fireworks.'"
He looked toward the purple-haired woman beside Inori and spoke with a mysterious smile.
"You have that much confidence in her?"
Segai glanced at the Shogun in the distance and asked.
"Yes..."
Gai replied.
"Then... what's your plan?"
—
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