The group chatted quite pleasantly at the dinner table.
Harumasa and Soukaku focused solely on eating, eating, and more eating.
Yanagi and Buyuan discussed many topics related to music, and she likewise dropped an in-person nudge for his next release.
Miyabi, for her part, was attempting to recruit Buyuan into Hollow Special Operations Section 6, though Buyuan flatly refused.
After the meal, he added everyone’s contact information.
Buyuan sent a safety confirmation to both Qingyi and Ellen, then headed home.
“Makoto, I’m back.” Buyuan loudly announced the moment he stepped through the door.
“Didn’t run into any danger, did you?” Makoto trotted over, broom in hand.
“How come every day I see you sweeping?
Rest a little more.
Didn’t I buy you a phone?” Buyuan had noticed that every day when he came home, Makoto was either doing housework or cooking.
“I just finished resting.
I was only just about to tidy up.
Since you’re back, I’ll go start on dinner.” Makoto set the broom down and walked into the kitchen.
“Tonight I want scrambled eggs with tomatoes.” Buyuan called out towards the kitchen, then retreated to his room to write.
Adding on from the last operation — the righteous Kamen Rider shedding his disguise before his companions, or something like that.
This kind of plot was definitely good for padding things out.
Sprinkle in some daily life on top…
…
“Time to eat.” Makoto tugged at the leg of Buyuan’s pants.
“I really do think I should get you a proper body.
Our dignified and graceful Raiden Shogun tugging at my pant leg is still a bit immersion-breaking.” Buyuan picked Makoto up and looked teasingly at the round little creature.
“No need.
At least, not right now.” Makoto refused once again.
As for why — at least for the moment — Buyuan couldn’t guess.
That evening, Buyuan went to the video store to check on their progress.
Belle told him they’d spent the whole day taking ordinary commissions, and that the Cunning Hares had taken some commission or other and gone into a Hollow.
Buyuan more or less understood the situation.
According to the data he’d looked up, the day after tomorrow was the scheduled demolition day for Vision’s old metro renovation project.
So tomorrow, Belle would just be taking a few more small commissions.
Tomorrow, he’d have a nice rest with Ellen.
The day after, he’d bring Ellen along and start bulldozing through the Dead End Hollow.
Damn Fox: Ellen, you there?
You there you there you there you there.
Sharkie: Speak.
Damn Fox: Don’t forget to come tomorrow.
I’ll fill you in on the commission stuff then too.
Sharkie: Fine.
Damn Fox: Come early.
Sharkie: ?????
Damn Fox: Then sleep early.
Goodnight.
Sharkie: Goodnight.
Just as he was about to go find Makoto and burrow under the covers for bed, his phone rang again.
Yanagi: Are you resting?
The higher-ups have indeed been very interested in you lately.
They’ve approached the chief about it many times, but she’s refused them every time.
Buyuan: What a pain.
Feels like I’ll have to be more careful when I make an appearence from now on.
Yanagi: If it really comes down to it, just join Section 6.
That way, even if they want to make trouble for you, they’ll have to think twice in front of the chief’s blade.
Buyuan: If I ever end up truly down and out on the streets, I’ll consider it.
Yanagi: Though it may sound strange to say this, I’m actually rather looking forward to that day.
But enough about that.
Could you help me convince the chief to attend this department meeting tomorrow?
I haven’t had red bean buns in so long.
If the chief skips out again, they’ll be sold out by the time the meeting ends.
Buyuan: I’d love to help, but from what little I know of Miyabi’s personality, I don’t think that’s very realistic.
I live on Sixth Street, and there’s a 141 convenience store here.
I’ll buy some for you tomorrow morning, and you can come pick them up when you’re free.
That way, you won’t have to worry about missing out tomorrow.
Yanagi: Then I’ll trouble you for that.
Buyuan: No problem.
Just then, Miyabi also sent him a message.
Crap.
Buyuan was starting to get a headache.
He’d forgotten that these guys were pretty much all in the situation of having hardly anyone to chat with.
Having added this many, he wasn’t even sure he could keep up with replies.
Miyabi: Tomorrow.
Spar?
Buyuan: Can’t.
Got stuff.
Miyabi: I’ll come find you.
Buyuan: Don’t worry.
I already talked with Yanagi.
She’ll attend the meeting tomorrow.
Miyabi: Thank you.
Then I won’t come find you tomorrow.
I’ll go train in Hollow Zero.
Buyuan: …
Miyabi: What’s wrong?
You want to come too?
Buyuan: Pass.
Miyabi: Mm.
If anything’s off or if there’s something you want to say, you can just tell me directly.
Yanagi says I’m not very good at chatting.
So if there’s anything, please tell me directly.
Buyuan: No problem.
Sleep early.
Miyabi: Mm.
Buyuan didn’t bid them all goodnight.
He wasn’t that close with them yet.
“Finally, I can sleep.” Buyuan knew that with Makoto’s personality, she wouldn’t come when called.
He’d have to go grab her.
“I need to charge!
Let go.” “Charge what?
Your battery’s the highest capacity there is.
You could go a week without charging and still might not shut down.
Sleep.” In the dead of night, everyone except the poor souls working overtime had already drifted into slumber.
At that moment, inside the PubSec station at Lumina Square: “Let me out.” A low, hoarse voice, filled with rage.
“Caused this much trouble and you still want out?” A middle-aged man’s voice carried a hint of amusement.
“The organization still needs me to gather funds.
Bringer!
Don’t think just because the higher-ups value you, you can act with impunity.
The organization still needs me.” The dark-eyed old man’s left arm was wrapped in bandages — clearly wounded.
“Impossible.
The city council elections are imminent.
You openly exposed the organization’s existence, and now you want me to let you out?!
Do you have any idea how much trouble that would cause me!” Bringer, angered by the old man, slammed the iron bars forcefully.
“Then what do you want!” “What do I want?
Hah.
You’re nothing but a traitor to the Ravenlock family.
If not for your petty moneymaking tricks, did you really think the organization valued you?” Bringer’s tone dripped with disdain.
“Let me be blunt with you.
If I succeed in this city council election, bringing whatever wealth I want to the organization won’t even be a question.
Sarah has already taken control of Vision Industries and is preparing to ascend into TOPS.
Your Ravenlock family has long since begun cooperating with the organization as well.
Those meager profits of yours are becoming rather unimpressive.
Keeping you locked up here can also reduce the number of eyes the higher-ups have trained on me.” Bringer’s expression was arrogant, his tone unbridled.
“You bastard!
You, you..!” The old man’s face flushed crimson with rage.
“Hmph.
Jorg, just sit tight and behave.
As colleagues, I’ll take care of that whatever-it’s-called Kamen Rider.” Having said his piece, Bringer ignored this now utterly useless piece of trash and turned to leave.
“Bastards!
All of you, bastards!
Hahahaha, you’ll regret this!” Jorg’s expression was manic.
“Then don’t blame me for what comes next.
Hahaha!
May the Creator guide us!” Jorg reached into his own mouth and pulled out a tooth.
On its base was a concealed button.
“Come extract me.
Those spineless cowards really do intend to lock me up.
Hmph.
Nothing but a bunch of cowards who only dare rely on the Creator’s genes.
Just wait, once the plan succeeds, once the Creator descends once more — all of New Eridu!
No!
The entire world will be ours.” The old man’s expression was wild and unbridled.
What he didn’t know, however, was that Bringer was at that very moment in his office, watching everything he was doing alongside Sarah.
“Brainless waste.
Truly no better than swine.” Sarah’s voice came through the communication device.”Heh, let him go when the time comes.” Sarah seemed to have thought of something amusing.
“Hmph!
Letting him go is out of the question.
It would severely impact the city council elections.” Bringer’s expression was troubled.
“What of it?
He’s merely an insignificant nobody.
Let him go.
Let him deal with that troublesome red insect.
Him clashing with them and both sides coming out battered serves your plans no benefit either.” Sarah’s tone was calm.
…
“Ah, that was a terribly uncomfortable sleep!
Makoto!
Did you beat me up while I was sleeping?!” Buyuan woke up to find his entire body aching.
“You’d have to be pretty impressive yourself, not waking up even while being beaten.” Makoto acknowledged the madman who needed to start every morning with some kind of antics.
“Hm?” Makoto noticed something off about Buyuan.
“What is it?” Buyuan caught Makoto staring at his rear?
“What’s wrong with my rear?
What the…” Buyuan looked back and saw his second tail.
But it was somewhat different — it looked almost like a projection.
Buyuan reached out and touched it.
Sure enough, it was illusory.
The scattered particles coalesced into a ball of light and surged straight towards Buyuan’s chest.
Plop— Buyuan collapsed back into sleep.
“So it’s finally beginning to recover?
A man who can split his soul into nine parts…
I’ve never seen anything like it.” Mentally prepared, Makoto got out of bed and went to prepare breakfast.
It wasn’t long.
Roughly half an hour later, Buyuan showed signs of stirring.
“I…
I’m such an idiot.” Buyuan propped himself up, holding his head.
His tone was somewhat rueful.
Through this episode, he now understood many things.
For some reason, he’d blown up his tails.
With no other choice, he’d been forced to split his soul into nine parts and merge them into his tails before recovery would be possible.
His second tail was for storage.
It was still unstable now.
Once it fully recovered, he’d be able to retrieve treasures from within — provided his soul’s strength could withstand them.
Worth mentioning was that due to the increase in his soul’s strength, both his body and spirit had received partial enhancement.
He had, in a sense, returned to the status of a youkai.
“So?
The first ability I awaken is…
turning into a fox?” Buyuan was dumbfounded.
When he’d discovered he’d been reclassified as a youkai, he’d assumed he’d awaken some kind of great divine power.
But what he got was, goddammit, essentially reverting to monke.
“You awake?
How much did you remember?” Makoto came over, carrying a plate.
“Didn’t remember a damn thing.
Other than gaining a profound understanding of what kind of creature I am, the only thing I got was the ability to turn into a harmless, innocent fox.” Buyuan helplessly bit into his sandwich.
“Oh?
So now you know you’re a fox spirit.” Makoto’s electronic eyes curved into a smiling face.
“Yep.
That much, I now know.
No wonder Ellen was so easy to lure in.
Being a fox spirit isn’t so bad after all.” Buyuan took a sip of milk and gave a mental nod of approval to his own charm.
“Oh, right.
I invited Ellen over today, so lunch is on you~” Buyuan picked Makoto up, his tone a bit awkward.
“I thought you’d say that without the slightest bit of pressure.
Forget it.
It’s not like I haven’t already been lured in by you.” Makoto spread her little Bangboo hands in a shrug.
“Ehehe.
It’s not that I’m a scumbag.
I’m simply helping the nine-tailed fox clan flourish and spread its branches.” Buyuan’s gaze was resolute, as if he were about to fulfil his lifelong duty.
“Based on what you’ve told me in the past, I think in your previous life, you were probably one of the dragonkind.” Makoto wriggled free of Buyuan’s hands and headed out the door to buy groceries.
“Now that’s just mean.
Who’s to say I’m not a dragon-fox hybrid?” Buyuan scratched his nose.
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