Sato took a deep breath, approaching the mansion gates. "Should I knock or ring the bell?" he pondered, deciding on the latter. Before he could touch it, the gate sprang to life, multiple weapons emerging and red dots covering his body. Terrified, Sato stumbled backward, accidentally dropping the baked pie he was holding, his eyes locked on the guns. "Oh God, I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die!" he whimpered, scrambling away.
A voice boomed from the gate's speaker. "Who are you and state your reason for being here?"
Sato, initially confused, quickly bowed. "My name is Tanaka Sato, and the princess invited me."
"The princess never mentioned anyone named Tanaka Sato," the voice retorted. Sato's eyes widened in realization—he hadn't told Hikari his name. The voice continued, "If you think we're so gullible, I'll shoot you down where you stand!"
"So this is how I'll end," Sato thought, despairing. "I never really thought I'd go out like this. Oh, who am I kidding? I always knew it would end up like this." He closed his eyes, bracing himself.
"Hey, stop!" a voice cried out. Sato opened his eyes to see Hikari running toward the gate, wearing a tiny crop top and bum shorts, her boobs bouncing with each step. Confused and flustered, Sato turned his head away but his eyes remained fixed on her. She reached the gate, catching her breath. "Sorry about that, I never really got your name or number, did I? I guess I was caught up in the moment."
"My princess, you know this guy?" the voice from the gate asked.
Hikari frowned at the men pointing guns at Sato. "Yes, I do. He's my boyfriend. Tell all your men to lower their guns." Immediately, the weapons lowered, and the men bowed.
"You must be joking, my princess, I..." the voice began, but Hikari cut him off.
"Can you just open the gate already? I said it was fine," she insisted. After a brief silence, the gate finally opened.
Sato picked up the pie from the ground and handed it to Hikari. "I was going to get you a pie, but I accidentally dropped it."
Hikari blushed. "Really? Not only did you come, you brought me a gift! How thoughtful of you!" She pulled him into a hug, pressing his head into her chest. Sato struggled to breathe until she finally released him.
"Come, let's go," Hikari said, grabbing his arm and leading him inside. "So, this is where the garden is, and that other place is, I guess, the second garden," she said, looking a little confused herself.
Sato looked around. "You really live here? Why do you still go out? You literally have everything here," he said, quickly adding, "Not like I'm judging or anything, just saying."
Hikari giggled. "Yeah, I guess you're right. And to answer that, I guess I'd say it's not just the same. You have to explore and meet new people. That's how I met you."
Sato looked sad. "Hooray to exploring," he murmured. Hikari smiled. "And oh, this isn't my house."
"It's not?" Sato asked, shocked.
"Yeah, this is more like a meet-up area. My house is way far from here. We can't give you the real address to my house, so instead, we gave you the address to this place, then take you all the way to my house. But there's only one bad condition," Hikari explained.
"What is it?" Sato asked.
"Well, you have to be tied to a chair, and they'll block out all your sensing parts. They don't want to take their chances with you, but don't worry, I trust you wholeheartedly," Hikari said.
Sato stared at her in complete shock. "You must be joking," he said with a smile.
Minutes later, Sato was indeed chained and blind folded to the car's back seat, with Hikari beside him, as Hikari's bodyguard drives them towards Hikari's place. "I guess she wasn't joking," Sato muttered.
Meanwhile, at the main hideout, the building buzzed with Kuro-Kyoufu members. Above them, High-Ranking members and the Rokushin murmured, all ready for the meeting.
"Sir, I believe all members of Kuro-Kyoufu are here. We are ready to start," Kenma told Ryū.
Hearing this, Ryū immediately jumped onto the iron rail on the top floor. The sound silenced everyone, and all eyes turned to him. "Most of you already know why we are having this meeting," Ryū began, squatting on the rail. "This is every member of Kuro-Kyoufu we have in Japan, and this is all we need. As you know, we are being attacked and disrespected by Kuro Ryū-kai."
At the mention of Kuro Ryū-kai, everyone's faces twisted in anger, and murmurs intensified. But as soon as Ryū raised his hand, they fell silent. "We don't have much time. The enemies have given us until October 8 to start a mafia war, so we have to be ready in two weeks. No more hiding and ignoring. They have crossed the line by threatening our princess, and they would pay that price!" Ryū declared, and the members roared in unison.
Ryū was shocked to hear a slight laugh from the Rokushin area. He looked down to see Jiro with a wide smile on his face. Ryū frowned at him. "What do you find funny, huh Jiro?"
Jiro stepped up to the rail, easily pulling himself onto it, and sat with his legs crossed. "You never wanted to go on a mafia war, even though people kept on dying—your people, to say. But just immediately he threatens Hikari, that's when you lose control. She isn't even..."
Before Jiro could finish, Ryū pointed a gun at him. "The next thing you say might lead to the end of your life. Think wisely. I don't wanna lose a man of your caliber."
Jiro smiled. "Hey, all I'm trying to say is, we don't have to fight them. Instead, we can make an agreement."
Ryū and the other members looked confused. "What are you getting at?" Ryū asked.
"Jigoku wants to rule, you want to rule and protect your daughter. Then how about Jigoku marries Hikari?" Jiro suggested.
Everyone gasped. Ryū stared at Jiro, seething. "Do you want me to kill you?"
But Jiro continued, "You don't see things the way I do. I'm a type of guy to avoid fighting to kill but use other ways. If Jigoku agrees and signs to marry Hikari, that would automatically bring Kuro Ryū-kai and Kuro-Kyoufu together once more—the top two gangs finally reuniting. And once you rule and become too old to rule, Jigoku would take over, or you both can rule at the same time, whatever fits you both. There is no reason for him to oppose, plus if he gets married to Hikari, that's extra protection for her. Get what I mean?" Jiro looked at Ryū.
The whole membership was genuinely shocked by the plan. Ryū slowly lowered his gun. "That's great, but what if they refuse?"
"Which is most indefinite," Jiro answered, "but just in case, we take as many members as we can, and if they refuse, then we have no other choice but to come to a mafia war. Let's just hope that doesn't happen. Either way, we win," Jiro said, giggling evilly.
Ryū smiled at him. "Nice." He then turned his attention to the crowd. "As you heard, guys, Jiro has thought of a brilliant way to try and stop this. Go back home and take some rest. We would send them a note saying we are willing to meet them on their planned date if they stop attacking you guys, so don't worry about any more attacks."
Everyone cheered. Ryū announced, "This meeting is dismissed."
As he watched everyone leave, he looked at Jiro. "So, care to join us on October 8?"
Jiro's smile widened even more. "Wouldn't miss it."
Ryū stepped down from the rail. "Good," he said, exiting the building.
Jiro thought to himself, "You couldn't even get permission from your daughter yet, and you agreed without hesitation. You are just like that Jigoku guy. Whether you bend it any way, it's the truth. But what do I have to say? I'm a nobody in all this." He came down from the rail, heading out with a smile. "But I do find this engaging," he mused.
Back at Hikari's car...