Hikari's grip on Sato's arm was firm, her eyes shining with an almost childlike excitement. Her bodyguards, Ren and Ryo, stared at Sato with expressions ranging from stern confusion to outright hostility. This is who she finds attractive? Ren thought, a flicker of doubt crossing his face. Clearly, it must be a mistake, but whatever makes her happy, I guess.
Sato's gaze was fixed on Hikari's hand clamped onto his arm. "No, you've got the wrong person. We haven't even met before," he said with a nervous smile, trying to wave it off as a simple misunderstanding.
Hikari's grin tightened slightly, and she stepped closer, her face flushed crimson. "I know we just met, and you're probably scared of me, but please, give me a chance. Be my boyfriend!"
Sato recoiled a step, clearly flustered. "Whoa now, this is moving way too fast!"
Hikari pressed on, oblivious to his discomfort, her words tumbling out in a rush of unrestrained excitement. "We could eat ice cream together! You came here, so that means you're interested in video games, and so am I, so let's play together! You can get to know me while I get to know you better!"
"I don't know what this is about, but I'm definitely not game," Sato stammered, feeling a mix of fear and utter bewilderment. "I can't even remember the last time I had a normal conversation with a girl!"
"The princess is offering an ice cream date, so you happily accept, or are you planning on turning her down?" Ryo interjected, his voice low and laced with a clear warning.
Sato's mind raced. If I turn her down, I'm dead. If I agree to this, there's a possibility I'm getting killed somehow, but the easiest way for now is for me to play along.
Hikari turned to Ryo, pouting. "Hey, stop threatening him! We don't want to make him run off as well!"
"I'll do it," Sato quickly blurted out, a forced calm in his voice.
Hikari spun back to him, her eyes wide with delight. "Really? You will?"
"Just an ice cream date, right? Sure, I guess I have time," Sato replied, his internal monologue a chaotic mess. Her bodyguards are staring daggers at me. If I refuse, it's my funeral. At least it's free ice cream for me while I play along.
Before he could process it, Hikari's body collided with his. She threw her arms around him, pulling him into a bone-crushing hug, his face pressed uncomfortably between her boobs. His eyes went wide and white from shock. What's happening? I don't like this, and at the same time, I don't want it to stop.
Meanwhile, deep inside the underground headquarter, Ryū sat in his office, his brow furrowed in thought. He was contemplating strategies to face this new threat and retain his reign as head Mafia boss when a sharp knock on the door snapped him back to his senses.
"Come in!" Ryū commanded.
Kenma rushed into his office, his usual composure gone, looking utterly worried, even forgetting to bow. "Sir, we have bad news!"
Ryū's frown deepened. "What is it?"
Kenma explained, "We did manage to locate one of their hideouts in Tokyo and secretly sent the bomb there, but somehow they knew and re-transferred it to one of our own hideouts. Our bomb killed more than two hundred of our members."
"Shit!" Ryū snarled, slamming his fist on his desk.
Kenma continued, "And that's not even close to all. Since we couldn't find where Jigoku actually stays, we just sent the locations of the hideouts we found to the cops, of course using an unknown number. But Kuro Ryū-kai was steps ahead! They used some kind of man-in-the-middle attack, changing our messages from their headquarters to one of ours. That's an extra forty people we've lost! And I know there isn't a traitor in our midst because the only two people that knew about our plan were me and you. This is just Jigoku's brain at work, outsmarting us."
Ryū listened, his anger building until he accidentally crushed the pen he was holding in his hand. "He's going to do everything he can to fuck with me, but I'm not backing down! I'm not going to give him what he wants!"
"It's not an option," Kenma immediately stated.
Ryū stared up at Kenma in confusion. "What do you mean?"
Kenma explained, "They delivered a card to us, and on that card, it said..." Kenma paused, taking a deep breath, and recited Jigoku's message with chilling accuracy: (Jigoku's voice:) "Hey, hey, hey, still trying to run away? Stop it, it doesn't suit you. Plus, it wouldn't end well for you either way, so stop making it look like I'm begging you and start the war already! And if you're scared, I have the perfect date: the 8th of October, just two weeks from now. Enough time for you to prepare for me. And of course, if you don't show, I know where your precious baby girl lives. Yours Fearly, Jigoku Akagi."
Ryū stood up in a surge of pure rage, grabbing Kenma by his collar. "Did that bastard really threaten my daughter?! Did he?!" Ryū roared, clearly losing his temper.
Kenma nodded, fear etched on his face.
"DAMN IT!" Ryū seethed, releasing Kenma and shoving him back. "He wants a mafia war? Fine! Inform all Kuro-Kyoufu members—and when I say all, I mean ALL members—to meet me tomorrow at our main hideout. Anyone who misses that meeting, no matter what, will die. And find out where my daughter is immediately!"
Kenma, still reeling, quickly replied, "You are not going to like this, but her GPS shows she's at the Mega Mall. I called the home phone, and Kenji said she went there with two bodyguards."
Ryū's frown deepened further. "What?! Tell her to go back home and let everyone tighten their security on her! Use their lives to protect her! Go now!" he barked. Kenma nodded and quickly exited, leaving Ryū alone in his office. Ryū picked up a glass cup and hurled it at the wall, shattering it. "You crossed the line, and now I'm going to do it as well!"
Back at the Mega Mall, Sato sat at a table while Hikari enthusiastically made orders for ice cream. Her bodyguards saw this as a prime opportunity to confront Sato. They clustered around him, their intimidating presence making Sato feel small. He remained quiet, desperately trying to think of something to say.
Finally, he spoke, "Nice weather we're having, right?"
"Shut up," Ren fired back softly, his voice devoid of humor.
Sato immediately apologized, shutting his mouth.
Ryo warned him, "Look, we don't like you. And the only reason you're alive is because our princess, for some reason, has an interest in you. I don't know what your intentions may be, but she has been wanting this for a long time, and if you spoil it for her, we'll spoil your face for you. You understand us?"
Sato's mind screamed. Why? Why couldn't I have waited for the game to reach my side of town? I had to come all the way here, and now I've somehow gotten myself stuck in a place I can't come out of. And if the Mafia Princess stops liking me, these people wouldn't hesitate to kill me. I'm doomed!
Hikari returned with a large glass of ice cream. She set it on the table, shifting her seat closer to Sato. He looked at the ice cream and asked, "Are we sharing the same ice cream?"
Hikari smiled brightly. "Yeah, and spoon too! I only see people do it on TV and always wanted to try it. Why? Don't you want to share ice cream with me?" she asked, her expression turning slightly sad.
Sato looked up to see the bodyguards' death glares. He swallowed hard, looking back at Hikari. "No, I don't mind at all."
Hikari's smile returned. "Great! Now, feed me!"
Sato had no choice. He picked up the tiny spoon, scooped some ice cream, and brought it to Hikari's lips. She ate it, and Sato felt a blush creep up his neck. Even when she eats, she looks good, he thought.
Then, Hikari collected the spoon. "My turn!" she declared. She used the exact same spoon to scoop ice cream and stretched it out towards Sato.
Sato hesitated. "But wouldn't that be like an indirect kiss? And as a princess, don't you think you should do it with someone special?"
"You're someone special!" Hikari immediately responded, shocking Sato. She continued, "To me at least, so I don't mind."
Sato forced himself to take a bite. The moment his lips covered the spoon, he felt himself in heaven. His thoughts raced. Who knew ice cream could taste this good? This must be the power of an indirect kiss!
But his thoughts were interrupted as Ren spoke. "Excuse me, my princess, but your dad, I mean boss, said you should go for another lockdown again at home. There are mafias after you. This is important."
Hikari pouted. "But I'm on a date! I can't just go!" she argued.
Sato sighed, a wave of relief washing over him. Finally, this day can end!
Then Ren added, "Don't worry about it, he would have to come home to finish the date then."
Sato's smile vanished. "Say what?"
Ryo placed a heavy hand on Sato's shoulder. "Yeah, you're right. Wouldn't you like to come over to complete your date? We are even giving you the rest of today to finish your weekend work. We'll expect you tomorrow."
Hikari's smile returned. "That's a great idea! That way, we'd have less attention, so what do you say?"
Sato felt like crying. He forced a smile. "Sure, why not. I'd love to come to a mafia's house on a Sunday," he said sarcastically, but nobody seemed to read it.
Ren tossed an address to him. "Be by this place tomorrow." He then bent down and whispered to Sato, "Don't even think about skipping."
Hikari waved at Sato goodbye as she and her bodyguards exited the mall. Sato stood there, utterly confused about what had just happened. Almost every eye in the mall stared at him. What the hell just happened? he thought.