"Thank you~," Sora takes the bowl of ice cream from where he stands horizontally to Ari, on the wall. He then walks to the ceiling, where he starts walking upside down with his head pointing to the ground. Ari inhales and exhales deeply, before taking his own bowl of premium chocolate ice cream to the L-shaped sofa by the large television.
"Hey does this have alcohol in it?" Sora asks as he sits cross-legged above the couch with his hair hanging down. Ari rolls his eyes.
"No - and no you're not allowed to drink underage even when you cannot get drunk!"
Sora boos at him but hums in approval after having a spoonful of the ice cream.
The television is playing the news; where Abe Koukichi's safe retrieval from his kidnappers is being announced with the face of said heir displayed next to the news anchor. Koukichi can be seen winking to the camera as he walks in between the tall fence of the SWAT team. He looks fine.
"So did you save him?" Ari blurts.
"What? No. What made you think that?"
"Eh, he's your cousin, is he not?"
"Nephew. Not cousin," Sora corrects. As crazy as it sounds, 18-year-old Sora is the uncle of 19-year-old Koukichi; with the prior being siblings with Koukichi's mother. "And no. I knew Kichi would be fine on his own".
"Right," Ari huffs as he shoves the silver spoon down his throat.
"Like, why am I the one getting nagged to save Kichi? You should've nagged Rika. She's the fiancée".
Ari almost choked on the blatant reminder that the heir to the Abe family name and the underground crime syndicate princess - his two wards - are engaged. They've only announced it a month ago - and whether the decision is an act of rebelliousness against their parents or a power move to further cement their joint influence is a mystery to Ari. What he knows is that the engagement is not the decision of only the two engaged parties.
Instead, it was a decision made by Sora.
With a pout on his face, Sora does not cease to appear as a child. It's in how he carries himself and in how he puffs his cheeks in annoyance when things don't go his way.
But Ari has known Sora for too long.
"Tell me you didn't plan the kidnapping," Ari states.
Sora blinks at him. His tiny smile is hard to read. "I didn't plan the kidnapping".
Ari can't tell if he is telling the truth. What he knows is that it is not below Sora to plan a kidnapping on his own family member for a perceived greater purpose. This boy is one who can move people by words alone. It is how he got this whole organization tailored to his visions into his lap - fully funded by the government.
So, yes, while it's hard to see past Sora's childish facade, the fact is, that Sora never really is just a child. He is first and foremost a conspirator, and an avid politician second. Being an Esper, Ari supposes, is but a side gig.
"So..., Segawa Yasuo?" Sora questions as more clips of Koukichi are being shown on the news.
Ari takes a fat bite out of his ice cream, "Yep".
In a blink, Sora plops down to the spot right next to Ari. Ari comes eye to eye with the teen's face which is covered with the dark green of the luxurious seaweed mask Ari purchased just a week ago. The teen has also raided his closet for a matching white robe, the same exact kind Ari is currently donning. His wards - his kids he sometimes calls them - like to use his things whenever they come over. "You know, I still don't need a Guide," he told Ari.
"... in the team," Ari adds.
"Yes. In the team".
S-Class Espers need regular guiding more than any other Espers, but it is also widely known that being an S-Class means you wouldn't be able to find a Guide with a good enough match rate with you. Most S-Class require a whole team of Guides just to function close to normal.
So Ari can see why Sora considers it moot to recruit one single Guide into the team.
"He's very insistent," Ari states.
"Hmm".
"Not to mention, he brought up the fact that Matsuzaka Kei and your uncle are both interested in the Guide".
Sora purses his lips, "Y'know, I don't know about Kei, but I won't put it past Shuichirou. He's a bit of a creep".
Shuichirou is the Prime Minister's first name. "What do you mean?" Ari asks.
"Oh, you know what I mean," Sora's smile turns mischievous, "He's a shotacon".
When Ari deadpans at the answer, Sora sputters in laughter. "Could you believe he bought me this weird pumpkin costume when I was 6 months old and started calling me 'fat pumpkin' ever since? He stopped now, thank God. Well, more like he took out the 'fat'".
"I am being serious," Ari remarks.
"I am serious, too. Shuichirou is a weirdo".
The news in the background announces that the Abe heir is rescued sporting a non-life-threatening injury and is still scheduled to return to Neo Japan in 2 days. Ari, however, maintains his gaze on his younger companion, who is in the middle of cringing at one of Koukichi's pictures on the screen,
"Eww, they have to pick that picture of him? He hates that picture!"
"Guide Segawa demands that you talk to him. He is offering his second son".
Sora puts his empty bowl of ice cream on the coffee table. "We don't need 2 of the Segawa's".
"Yes, but I'm sure Rika has told you that the Guide is convinced his second son has the ability you could use in Shun-En".
"Eeeehhhh? Really!?" Sora makes a comical surprised noise, which is mostly another one of his antics. The boy is never surprised. And when he truly is surprised, he usually hides it well.
"Sora, please be serious. I think the Guide has something to say. You and I know Guide Segawa was adamant that he doesn't want more Espers in his household. For that man to actually offer not 1, but 2 of his children to your team? Maybe Segawa Yasuo knows something. Something big enough to change his mind".
"Yeah, but why my team? Why not just put the Guide in Green Circle or his Guide Agency? Why not the Legion? If this F-Class Guide is so 'special'," Sora makes a quotation mark with his hands, "Then why cage him in a team and not have him as a freelance Guide?"
"It's for his sons," Ari says, "He's convinced it's only when the Guide is in your team along with his sons that they can have access to this Guide".
"So he wants his sons to have a contract with this Guide through my Team?" Sora snorts, "Ah, so I'm being used after all". Sora does not like being used as a mere stepping stone. "I don't understand why he has to go the long way and involve YES in his master plan - ooh, look at that guy's suit. I always want a blue suit".
"Oh yeah, that looks pretty good. You should get one - you know that suit shop at the mall near the tower?"
"Yea, yea. You've been there?"
"Yea it's pretty good. You should go there," they continue watching the news reporter in the blue suit reporting about a nationwide protest in America regarding recent reforms they made to support an unpopular bill related to their counter-mutant strategies.
"There's something more to it," Ari continues where they left on the matter of Segawa Yasuo's proposal, "Or so he implied to me. He's not willing to share what it is until you come to him. He's giving you a week to think about it".
"Pffh, why a week?"
"I assume it's because he will have to leave Japan for a while. There's a conference he has to attend".
Sora throws himself to the backrest of the lush couch in defeat. He then groans loudly. "Yeah. You don't need to worry. I might have to listen to Segawa Yasuo this time because I don't have anything to negotiate against him," He glimpses at Ari, "Hide changed his mind. He's no longer interested in joining YES".
Now that is surprising. "What about that one time he said he's waiting until he's 18 to be able to join without requiring a parent permit".
Sora shrugs, "He said he's going to make his own Esper Team".
Ari laughs absently, "Oh, we'll see him try".
Sora hums, "Yeah, but I can't wait until he does and regrets it. I need him in the team as soon as I can get him," a heavy sigh, "I will have to listen to his Father's whims don't I? So that I can get him to convince Hide otherwise".
Right. If there is anything that could get Sora to listen to Segawa Yasuo, it is not his uncle, it is not a fellow top Esper; it is his interest in the son Segawa Yasuo has with a renowned South Korean S-Class Esper, Kwon Seo Yeon; Segawa Hide.
"It's funny. I've never seen Segawa Yasuo's second son. Have you, Ari?"
"Uh... no," in fact, Ari thought that it was just a rumor. What he has heard about Segawa Yasuo is that at his prime, the Guide was always in such high demand and was close to many high-ranking Espers. He was rumored to be a master seducer, and there are many other unsavory rumors surrounding the Guide related to his many flings.
His ex-wife, who was a top S-Class Esper in Korea, was said to be driven to insanity thanks to her husband's cheating ways. She is currently still locked in a mental facility in her home country. Not a lot is known about the circumstances of their divorce, but one strong rumor said that it was because Guide Segawa had a child born out of his affair with an American Esper.
Ari only learned of these rumors when he was faced with the inevitability of having to work with someone as influential as Segawa Yasuo. Still, he at first didn't put his money on the secret child rumor. After all, S-Class Espers are simply prone to mental instabilities thanks to their power. But with the man himself confirming the existence of a second son, perhaps there is more truth to the rumor than he originally thought.
"Which is weird," Sora chimes, "because if Segawa Hide has a sibling, I would know"
"You would?"
"Yeah, I mean... I'm making sure we have an eye watching Hide, always".
Ari has a bad feeling, "Are you... are you saying you're stalking him?" When Sora does not answer, Ari continues, "Is that where you've been while you're gone? Stalking Segawa's kid??"
"No! I was busy doing something else!"
"Yeah, like what?" Segawa Yasuo would not be happy if he ever found out his son was being stalked by one of Neo Japan's strongest. Moreover, this can be a lawsuit.
"I've been making friends with the whales! Jeez".
"Making friends with the - like I would believe that! Sora, you can't just stalk someone's kid!"
"I'm telling you I'm not! Look, Ari," Sora lands a hand on Ari's upper arm and gives him a straight look, "I'm not stalking Segawa Hide".
Ari is seeking signs of lying in those dark orbs. He finds none. "Okay. Good".
"Rika is".
"... what?"
***
"You'll be away," It is rare to hear any emotion from Hinata Ren. Yet at the moment, he seems more than just a little bothered by the news of Segawa Yasuo's coming departure.
"Only for five days. I will be back before you know it".
The boy doesn't do much except just standing there in front of the Guide. Yet from observing him alone, one can see how much the news is affecting him. He seems.... lonely.
"Okay," is the only thing he says, despite having a lot more in his mind.
Segawa Yasuo lands a hand atop the boy's head and uses his fingers to brush through the dark brown strands. "I'll see you as soon as I return. It's a promise".
Segawa Yasuo then leaves room 207 without any further words. His assistant, a woman in her late twenties, follows him closely by his side. "Sir, we have received the patient admission form to this wing from The Security Police. The patient will arrive in Narita tomorrow and will be admitted as soon as you authorize it".
Segawa Yasuo takes the form and inspects its content. It's another entitled rich kid dragging the Security Police by the leash. Considering the latest incident, he is not surprised the Government is feeling a little too protective of the brat. Segawa Yasuo couldn't care less, but as an official, he has to play along. "Fine. Make sure he's admitted under a false name. I don't want this getting out to the press. I suppose Ren could make do with a company".
He signs the digital form on the tablet. As he hands the tablet back to his assistant, he adds, "Oh, but make sure to watch their interaction. I want them to be close but not too close. You never know with these S-Class types. Next you know they get obsessed and I don't need another S-Class brat on my plate".
He quickens his steps on the way out of the hospital with his long coat flowing behind him like a tail. Outside the hospital's automatic door, a black Audi is waiting. The driver opens the back door for him, and the Guide enters his car.
With the traffic, it takes his driver 40 minutes to get him to a trendy gated community west to Shintokyo. The houses are white and flat, spread across green manicured lawns with minimal plantations and tall eccentric modern statues. The Guide's car takes a turn to one particular house similar to the rest; glass walls, flat roof, white paint, and wood accents.
The car stops inside the large garage, in which the driver rushes to open the door to the back passenger seat to allow the Guide out. And so Segawa Yasuo arrives home with the same swagger of one who just arrived at work. He enters the side entrance to his house and, already, a middle-aged woman is waiting for him inside.
"Welcome home, Yasuo-sama. You're home quite late today," the woman bows and smiles warmly. Segawa Yasuo looks a tad guilty for arriving late, but he had to stay behind longer at the hospital thanks to multiple unexpected matters.
"There were things I had to attend to. Dinner?"
"Will be reheated for you, Yasuo-sama. I will prepare the table". She takes his coat with her to the kitchen.
"I notice the motorbike is gone".
"Yes. Hide-sama and Felix-sama are out".
That is unexpected. "Together?"
"No. Felix-sama took the cab".
That makes more sense. Segawa Yasuo checks his watch and makes a displeased noise. His boys are going to get an earful once they're home.
Meanwhile, deep in the folds of Shinjuku, the district of Kabukicho has just started bustling with energy. Club Sugarfoot, hidden in the alleyways of Golden Gai, has gathered quite the crowd in front of its small door. It is also where a young group of bikers are crowding with their hands tucked in the pockets of their leather jacket.
One of them, a tall young man with hair parted in the middle, is wearing a kitsune mask over his face. One needs to only see his body language and how the rest follows to recognize him as the leader of the pack. To the people of Kabukicho, he is a renowned figure only known under the alias Kitsune.
Kitsune points to the door of Club Sugarfoot with a thumb; signaling his followers to go inside without him. And with that order, they enter the building, leaving the leader standing in the midst of moving bodies stinking of perfumes.
"Where is he going?" Asks one of the bikers to another member of their little pack. From where they are, they can see Kitsune walking against the crowd to approach a hostess in a scantily clad angel costume.
He stops in front of the attractive woman and caresses her face.
"Woah you know what, I'd rather not stand around and see this!" The biker sputters before scurrying into the depths of Club Sugarfoot.
But the biker he just spoke to stays there to watch. His name is Mirai Takeda. And he has been acquainted with Kitsune long enough to know the man - no, boy - under the mask.
Kitsune, or the boy he knows as Segawa Hide, does not mingle with women he just met on the street. He is especially not the type to make a bold approach on women. With that knowledge alone, Mirai Takeda sees through the illusion and witnesses Segawa Hide pulling the hair of not a woman, but a boy in a bright pink hoodie.
Having visited the Segawa household several times, Mirai recognizes the boy as Segawa Felix; the younger of the two Segawa siblings, and one with the power to manipulate what eyes can and cannot see.
"What the fuck is a bum like you doing here in Kabukicho at night?" Segawa Hide growls under the kitsune mask with his fist pulling his younger brother's head up by the hair.
"Ouch! Shitty Hide, you make me lose a round!!" The boy with the blonde hair shouts as the defeated theme plays on his handheld console, "Damn it! Now I gotta restart the level - oh, there's this chick stalking you".
"What?"
"She's right there," Segawa Felix has his eyes on the screen of his console, but he points his chin to a certain spot behind Hide. Hide follows the direction and sees a girl with strawberry blonde hair standing between two men in a black suit. The girl looks rather unbothered just staring back at him, but the two men next to her are dropping their gaze as their cheeks flush.
"What are you making them see that those two men blush like children?"
"Hmm? Right now they're seeing you putting your hands under the skirt of a prostitute".
"Huh".
"That chick doesn't seem to mind though. What is she? An ex?"
Segawa Hide cringes in disgust.
"Okay, from your expression, she's not. So what? A creepy fan?"
"No. She's much worse," Hide says. His eyes are now meeting her eyes. Her name is Kurozaya Rika. That family name alone is enough to send people scouring away. But Hide believes she is not sent to follow him around by her family. She is sent by someone else.
Kurozaya Rika returns the stare with an equal amount of heat. Maybe she is creepy enough to ogle the sight of a man getting it on with a prostitute in the middle of a crowded street. Or maybe she has been focusing on him long enough to not be tricked by Felix's web of illusions. After all, Felix's ability is not as simple as layering one's sight with an alternate version. As a mentalist, Felix has to work with the psyche of the people he is tricking. The people of Kabukicho have always considered Kitsune as the bad boy type which makes it easier for them to accept the illusion of him soliciting a prostitute.
But those who know Kitsune well would not buy such a lie easily and hence would break through the illusion.
Hide honestly has no idea in which category she falls into. But that is none of Felix's business.
"Oi, Shitty Hide, stop fisting on my hair!" The blonde teen protests, "You're ruining my concentration on the game!"
"I don't care about your video game. Go. The fuck. Home," Segawa Hide's tone is icy cold as he grits every word. He lets go of his brother's golden strands, causing Felix to hiss in pain. Convinced that Felix would listen, Segawa Hide makes his way back to Club Sugarfoot.
"Just letting you know, Yasuo has been meeting with a kid in secret!"
Hide stops in his tracks.
"Apparently, he's also 16!"
Hide turns around to make sure Felix is not pulling his leg, only to find nothing where Felix was previously standing. He rakes the area with his eyes, trying to find that sneaky little illusionist, only to stop after two taps to his shoulder.
"Yo," Mirai greets, "the MC is calling you. It's your turn".
Hide nods. Together with Mirai, he enters the club through its narrow stairways deep into the underground. At the end of the dark hallway, they hear the loud roar of a large crowd that keeps getting louder and louder the deeper they go. And when they both reach the light at the end of that hallway, the crowd cheers his name.
"KITSUNE! KITSUNE!"
The MC stands at the center of a fighting ring. "Here he is, today's challenger!! The unbeatable and the mysterious; KITSUNE!"
***
To be Continued.