The group is preparing for the night. Asuga Rin prepared all her keychain weapons, Ryu Akimoto prepares his gadgets and stuffs, Shiro focuses on regaining his strength through meditation, whilst Eiji and Toki somehow shopped to a nearby mall.
"So, what should we actually wear?" Eiji asked Toki.
"Keep it plain and simple."
Eiji gasped, "Boring... I mean, look at me. I already looked boring, don't I?"
Toki got annoyed by his girly behavior, "Ugh! It doesn't matter! Just go pick a nice and simple outfit already."
So, Eiji immediately picked a plain black t-shirt. He then showed it to Toki for approval, "How about this?"
"Hmm... Why not go pick a black jacket? It's just weird to see you in this t-shirt."
"Ok..."
Eiji then took a sweatshirt with a hood and showed it to Toki, after.
Toki smiled sarcastically, "Perfect! Now you'll look like a stalker."
Eiji flattened his eyes in frustration, "You're just messing with me..."
Toki rolled her eyes down, "Ugh, move it! Go buy it already... It's my turn to buy. I don't want to get caught by the hoarders here."
So, Eiji immediately heads to the counter.
Toki then looked for a cloth. However, after a few seconds, Toki headed back to the counter with Eiji.
Eiji's eyebrows began to furrow as he looked at Toki, "That was fast. What did you get?"
"Nothing... I guess I'll just keep these clothes. Besides, I've been through many battles with these clothes already. These are tough clothes, just so you know."
Eiji sighed, "Then I guess I'll be the only one with a new look..."
As soon as Eiji finishes his transaction, they left the mall with haste. They both looked around back and forth as they leave the mall, making sure no hoarders or spy animals are following them.
Before Toki and Eiji went shopping. Ryu Akimoto warned them to be suspicious of their surroundings, so that their plan will not be sabotaged. Toki and Eiji planned to buy some new clothes and they even invited Shiro. However, Shiro is still trying to regain strength, so that he can be of use in the upcoming battle, tonight.
Back at the apartment, Rin was watching Shiro meditate. She has a curious question in her mind, so she couldn't help but to ask, "How does that help you?"
Shiro continued to meditate as he reply, "I'm basically resting. That's all."
"I thought meditating is when you want to clear your mind."
"I did. The only way for me to rest is to clear my mind..."
Rin nodded, then all of a sudden, she remembered someone from her past, "Shiro, huh? You know, your name reminds me of him."
Shiro opened his eyes as he looked at Rin, curiously, "Who?"
Rin smiled faintly, "No one. Don't bother asking."
"I answered your question, might at least return the favor?"
Rin sighed, "Hiro... The last person I loved... Who was of course taken and killed by the hoarders."
"Sorry. I guess I just brought up a painful past."
Rin smiled, "Nope. He's the reason why I'm still standing and a reason why I fight the hoarders. So, you don't have to say sorry. If anything, I should be thanking you for letting me remind of him."
"That's good to know then."
"What about you? What makes you want to fight the hoarders?"
Shiro looked down and remained silent.
Rin felt awkward, "Oh... It's no worries if you are embarrassed or don't want to bring it up. I'll just guess it on my own." She then looked away.
"They took my fiancè." Shiro replied.
Rin slowly opened her eyes widely in surprise as she looked back at Shiro, "I'm sorry... That's even worse than with me and Hiro... You guys are..?"
"Engaged, yes... Imagine one day left before an actual marriage, then things happened..."
Shiro began to produce tears from his eyes. Rin saw it, so she immediately took a tissue and gave it to Shiro, but Shiro refused. He wiped it out all by himself instead.
"How were you two involved?" Rin asked.
Shiro shook her head, "We weren't... It was my friend who has the keychain."
"Yeah, but how? How is she also involved when it was only between you and your friend?"
"My friend was killed in front of me. The hoarder who killed him says that everyone who is close to him will be hunted as well. So, he took the life of his parents, his wife and his kids. Since I was a witness who ran away from what happened, I too shall be hunted. But, I didn't know that he will take out my fiancè first..."
Shiro began to cry silently, tears in his eyes continued to drop like falls, "She was so innocent, only to die to a matter she doesn't even know. Her death is my fault. I know it was supposed to be my friend's fault, but it was me... I should've died along with my friend, so that she wouldn't get involved. I shouldn't have run by the time my friend got killed. It should've been me who is dead, not her..."
Rin tries to comfort Shiro, "It's the hoarder's fault. None of this would've happened if it weren't for them."
As Rin pats Shiro's back continuously, she asked him another question, "So, anyways? How did you get a keychain? Did you kill a hoarder with your bare hands?"
Shiro wiped his tears, "I didn't. I researched them on my own and bought my own keychain, so that they'll come for me."
Rin was astonished, "Wow..." She then asked another question, "--Then how did you meet Shoto?"
"Shoto rescued me... It was that time when I was about to find the lair of the hoarders. I was outnumbered, and cornered. I thought it was my time, that day, to finally achieve the peace I've always wanted, when suddenly, Shoto rushed in to save me."
"Shoto treated my wound, and even treats me with foods and drinks, after. I found out he was living a life, while also fighting the hoarders at the same time. He began to be my source of inspiration, because of his way of living. Unlike me who is jobless, homeless, and seeks revenge against the hoarders without even thinking of a plan. He became my salvation in my darkest times. That's why I kept telling myself that I owe Shoto my life, a debt, and my loyalty."
Shiro paused for a moment, then continued, "Shoto changed my way of life. He taught me how to fight the hoarders, while also living the life I used to have. I don't know why that man is like that, but he surely inspired each and every one of us in the team. And I'm sure Toki and Eiji felt the same way, too..." He added it with a faint smile, after.
Rin was stunned for a second. She then took a deep breath as she sighed calmly, "I haven't met Shoto... But because of your story, I could only imagine how good he was as a team leader, and a good man as well. Hopefully, he will guide you all on the coming battle tonight. Even if he is already in the afterlife..."
Shiro agreed to Rin. Ryu on the other hand, heard their conversation while he was preparing his gadgets. As they finish their conversation, he then began seeing glimpses of Shoto from 6 years ago, 'He was indeed a very cheerful and joyful kid. Even though he had a cruel past, he never let hatred take over his feelings...' He then remembered Shoto, lying on the ground while soaked in blood, '--If only I was there... Maybe... Just maybe...' His fists began to clench tightly as his anger rises in his chest.
A few minutes later, Toki and Eiji successfully returned back to the apartment.
As the team finished their preparations, they began to plan on which location and how will they lure the hoarders into their trap.
"Ryu, I know a place where we can lure them." Rin says.
Ryu got curious, "Where?"
"There's a park, not too far from here. I sometimes go there, especially at night. At midnight, there are no people left there, even drunken people get to sleep there. The local police does not patrol at night, because the crime rate around here is low. Every bad thing that's happening around here are being done quietly. So... I think it would be a perfect place."
Ryu nodded, "True. Hopefully, we don't run into local civilians."
Rin smirked, "Hmp! If these local people sees us, I doubt the hoarders would let them get away." Her eyes began to narrow, "--Because otherwise, I'd kill them myself if the hoarders failed to shut them."
Everyone agreed, except Eiji. He was just in the back, frowning as he looks at them. It seems that he does not agree on taking care of the witnesses by themselves.
Before the time strike at 23:00, Ryu distributed the air pods first to the team, "These air pods will serve as our communication. We'll ask for your immediate backup whenever we needed to. You can also ask us for help through here if you needed a hand. Remember, communication is the key to win, so don't hesitate to ask for help. Understood?"
"That's right. If ever, ask me more. I am using a bow, which means I could help faster, because I'm range." Rin added.
Toki replied, "Same with you two. Don't hesitate to ask us for help. We could act as your shield and sword as you focus on those elite blood hoarders."
Everyone nods and agrees with each other. After that, they left the apartment...
At the Rinshi-no-Mori Park, Rin sat in one of the park benches, whilst Ryu took a walk around.
As Ryu walks, he is also hearing footsteps, coming from behind. He tried to look back to peek a little, only to find out it was her, the hooded girl he fought from Sapporo.
Meanwhile, Rin was also hearing footsteps coming towards to her. She noticed it was trying to make it obvious. So, she smirked as she asked, "So... Are you gonna keep walking there and stalk me? Or are we gonna start, yet?"
A voice suddenly whispered in her left ear, "Start? You mean your plan?"
Rin immediately opened her eyes widely in surprise. She followed it with a dodge roll and as she looked behind, there were 10 hoarders, charging right at her.
She gnashed angrily, "Now!"
However, when she shouted, she began to wonder why she didn't get a reply. She then tapped her ears and noticed that her air pods were gone. She then suddenly realized, that the one who whispered in her ears, must've been the one who took the air pods off without her noticing.
She was dumbfounded for a second, "How?" But then she shook her head and looked at the hoarders with fierce eyes, after, "--Hmp! Nevermind. I'll show you why they call me the lone wolf..."
As the hoarders charges at her, she immediately took as many keychain daggers as she can in her hand.
She then threw it at them and chanted,
"Flicker!"
As soon as the knives hit its target, she immediately followed it with a next chant, "Cold Snap!"
The hoarders that got hit by her knives, immediately turned into frozen statues. Rin immediately summoned her bow to shoot the frozen hoarders, when suddenly, she got attacked by another hoarder. However, with her fast reaction, she immediately parried it with her bow. As she parried it, she looked at the hoarder and saw a brushed hair woman with a mask.
The brushed hair, blood hoarder with a mask, looked at her with intense-fierce eyes, "There you are, lone wolf... I've been waiting for this. Your bow has no chance against my close range weapon..."
Rin smirked, "Who says I only use bow?"
As Rin parries all the flurry attacks of the blood hoarder, she immediately stepped back to unsummon her bow. As she unsummoned it, she followed it with summoning another weapon, a 'Naginata'. It was a long, glaive spear. Both useful in close and mid-range.
"Sorry, but I counter all kinds of weapons. Spear is one of the best weapon against yours." She added it with narrowed eyes.
As the two clashes, the blood hoarder couldn't even get close to Rin with her claw keychains, so instead, she calls for more hoarders to aid her. But as soon as her backup arrives, Ryu also arrived on the scene, along with the hooded, blood hoarder girl.
Ryu immediately took out his flash bang to use against the hooded blood hoarder and aided Rin against the coming hoarders.
Ryu then asked Rin, "Why didn't you use the air pod for help?"
Rin gnashed, "Tch! Really? Do I look too much of a lone wolf to you? They had my air pod, ok?"
As soon as Ryu noticed, he immediately calls Toki's squad for help, "Now!"
Toki showed up first. She rushed into the battle with her dual katana and quickly took four hoarders within five seconds, as she swiftly move from one spot to another.
More and more hoarders began to show up to charge at them, but Shiro immediately blocked them with his 'Nōdachi' and killed 7 guys in just one swing. The surviving hoarder, opened his eyes widely in surprise. He then ran and cowered in fear, but Eiji immediately goes after him.
Ryu focused his fight on the hooded girl. Whilst, Rin focuses on the brushed hair, blood hoarder. A sound of clanging metals is heard as they began to clash with one another.
Ryu was dodging the swing attacks of the hooded girl, when suddenly, he threw smoke bombs at her. The hooded hoarder began to randomly swing her scythe around, so that Ryu won't be able to get close. Ryu, then threw different kinds of knives at her to keep her busy, while waiting for the right chance to get close to her.
As soon as the gas started to fade away, and at the same time, parrying the last thrown knife, Ryu suddenly showed up from behind. However, with the hooded girl's fast reaction, she immediately dashed to the left side, evading Ryu's sneak attack.
Ryu almost tripped himself. He then began to think his next move, when suddenly, his foot got hooked by the sycthe of the hooded girl, making him to literally trip himself down. Ryu fell, but he immediately rolled away from her to evade her continuous attacks.
Asuga Rin on the other hand, smirks as she swings her glaive on the brushed hair hoarder. The brushed hair hoarder immediately backs away, and as soon as she did, she started to disappear.
Toki warned Rin, "Watch out! That could be her thousand rupture!"
Rin grinned widely and immediately chants, "Whirlwind!"
She began to swing her glaive and spin in 360° as if she is performing a tornado. The brushed hair hoarder eventually backs away.
After spinning 2-3 times, she stopped and immediately unsummoned her glaive, only to summon a common spear instead. As soon as she sees the blood hoarder on sight, she immediately javelin throw her spear towards the hoarder, while chanting, "Glacial Spike!"
The brushed hair hoarder immediately dodged it, making the spear hit the ground. However, since Rin chanted 'Glacial Spike' on the spear, the spear immediately turned the floor around into ice.
The brushed hair woman got her feet stuck in an ice. Around her is also an iced floor. So, It'll be difficult for her to get away even if she managed to break the ice around her feet.
She then soon realized that Rin will come after her. However, before she even did, Rin already had her bow summoned. She was pulling her bowstring as she aims into the sky, while chanting, "Shrapnel!"
As she releases her bowstring, the brushed hair hoarder looked into the sky and got immediately hit by hundreds of invisible arrows, after. Rin then followed it with a next chant, "Explosion!"
The brushed hair, blood hoarder, opened her eyes widely and was shocked the whole time as arrows that hit her began to explode. She started to spill blood, all over the ground. Falling on her knees, after. Although the brushed hair woman fell on her knees, she still breathes. She was just concussed.
As soon as Rin defeats the brushed hair hoarder, she immediately helped Ryu.
Ryu, kept dodging the attacks of the hooded girl. When Rin saw him, she immediately shouted, "Step back, Ryu! I'll shoot her!"
Ryu, immediately falls back and lets Rin do the job. As soon as Ryu left the range, she then chanted, "Wind missile!"
Dozens of arrows, shoots the hooded hoarder. Rin then followed it with a next chant, "Explosion!"
Each and every arrow that she shoots against the hooded blood hoarder, began to explode one by one. Loud thundering explosive sounds began to rumble the once peaceful and quiet park.
Ryu was so shocked, he reacted angrily, "No! What are you doing? You're making a noise."
The explosions began to produce smoke, covering the entire area of effect, after. Ryu, realizing it's his chance to sneak attack, began to head into the smoke to finish it, once and for all.
Clanging metals was heard inside the white, misty smoke. As soon as the smoke started to fade, Ryu and the hooded girl was seen clashing blades with one another.
While Rin and Ryu are dealing with the hooded blood hoarder, Toki headed to the brushed hair hoarder. She looked at her with an angry glare and readied her sword to kill her.
"This is for Shoto..." She muttered.
As Toki was about to thrust her sword on to the blood hoarder, another hoarder appeared and immediately parried her sword.
She then backs away. However, her eyes opened widely when she saw it was the black haired girl with red eyes. Along with her black katana with its edges coated in red.
She was shocked as she flustered, "Si-Sister!?"