Chapter 316: Open Up, It's Anti-Hollow Task Force 6!
Old man, my ghost-fire train is parked at your door. Is it safe?
"You must be the little brother Kenji that my daughter is always talking about. It's good to finally meet you."
"Thank you so much for resurrecting my wife."
Souichiro Hoshimi bowed, expressing his sincere gratitude.
"Mr. Souichiro, Miyabi and I have known each other for a long time. It was nothing." Kenji didn't dodge his 'father-in-law's' thanks.
"Father!"
Miyabi Hoshimi's face turned red. When did I 'always' talk about him?
I've decided. My next training... will be sparring practice with Souichiro Hoshimi.
(Souichiro: Huh? Readers, if I fight my 'Hollow Hunter' daughter... will I win?)
His daughter became a Hollow Hunter without a demon blade, and as for him... the blade wouldn't even look at him.
He couldn't beat his daughter in combat talent, so he had to choose another field.
"My Desk-Job Father and My Invincible Hollow Hunter Daughter"
"Just call me 'Uncle'," Souichiro said with a smile.
"Actually, 'Father-in-law' is also fine, you know," Mrs. Hoshimi said, enjoying the show.
The good ship 'Miyabi Hoshimi' has sunk. She blushed so hard she could have boiled a kettle, digging her toes into the floor in embarrassment.
Souichiro: "..."
Isn't this... a bit fast? But... he was looking forward to having grandchildren.
"Please, come in."
The Hoshimi residence was large. The garden layout gave off a feeling of peace and tranquility, allowing one to quickly calm their mind after martial arts practice.
Kenji saw the half-eaten melon and could already picture Miyabi's blissed-out expression as she ate it.
What flows in Miyabi's blood? Probably melon juice.
The four of them sat in the living room. The one who felt tortured wasn't Kenji, but Miyabi.
"Father, Mother, Kenji and I are going out for a bit!"
Miyabi grabbed Kenji's hand and bolted. Just thinking about what her parents might say made her ears burn.
Better get out of here first.
...
"So... this is the reason you, the Chief, are spending your vacation at my place?" At the Anti-Hollow Task Force 6, "Mama" Riu Tsukishiro pressed her forehead, exasperated.
"Your house is big, and I'm not used to the hotels outside," Miyabi Hoshimi said, perfectly justified.
It was the truth.
"Fine. And this is... the Hoshimi family's future son-in-law?" Riu Tsukishiro looked Kenji over curiously.
As New Eridu's most famous martial arts family, they were top-tier. The number of suitors who wanted to propose marriage, seeking a 'good match,' could have broken down their door, but all returned empty-handed.
Try to pressure them?
Heh. Never mind the Hoshimi family's own power... just Miyabi, that terrifying "six-bean sword-drawer" and current Hollow Hunter... anyone who dared try would just be "testing fate."
"My name is Kenji. It's a pleasure to meet you. This is a small gift."
Kenji took out a giant, human-sized hamburger. Soukaku's (Blue Horn's) mouth dropped open, drool trickling out.
It was the first time she'd seen a burger this big. It smelled amazing; it had to be delicious.
Kenji took out a few more items, until there was no more room. The house was only so big.
(Kenji: Tch. This house is so small.)
"Er..." Riu Tsukishiro's mouth twitched.
This was... a very novel housewarming gift.
(Kenji: It's the 'Toriko' specialty.)
In the Toriko world, gifts are ingredients. The rarer and more delicious the ingredient, the more it shows the visitor's sincerity.
"Sis Riu, Chief, and... Big Brother Kenji... can I eat this?" Soukaku asked, her eyes sparkling.
"You can. Just don't choke," Riu said in her gentle voice.
The corners of Kenji's mouth turned up. That voice was just too recognizable. If he pulled Raiden Ei and Raiden Mei over here, their expressions would be priceless.
"Yay! Do you guys want... 'congrats money'?"
Kenji: "?"
Miyabi Hoshimi: "?"
Riu Tsukishiro couldn't help but cough. "Soukaku... you're watching too many of those dramas."
Task Force 6 is a legitimate organization. They don't do that.
"But... didn't the video store owner say it was 'congrats money'?" Soukaku asked innocently.
"Hmm?"
"'Congrats money'?"
Riu Tsukishiro's mind instantly jumped to... unspoken rules. Her eyes sharpened.
Soukaku... she wasn't scammed, was she?
Kenji watched, amused. The "cereal" siblings (Video Store owners) were in for it now.
"Chief, let's take a walk. To Section 6."
Riu Tsukishiro pushed up her glasses. The white glare reflecting off them gave her an oppressive aura. She was going to ask them about this.
Miyabi Hoshimi, though confused, nodded.
...
Riu Tsukishiro drove, speeding all the way to Section 6, and stopped at the "cereal" siblings' video store.
Knock, knock, knock...
"Open up! Anti-Hollow Task Force 6!"
Inside, Tetsu and Rin watched the intimidating Riu Tsukishiro on their monitor, completely bewildered.
It wasn't a "peacekeeper" raid, but Task Force 6. What heavenly rule had they broken?
"Bro... brother... should... should we open the door?" Rin's hand, holding a water cup, was trembling.
It couldn't be helped. As "Stringers" (info brokers), they were naturally afraid of law enforcement.
Although they knew Riu Tsukishiro, she clearly wasn't here for a friendly visit. Had... something been exposed?
"I'll get it. It's probably just a misunderstanding," Tetsu said, much calmer.
He knew that if they were really here to arrest them, there was no escaping. Not with a Hollow Hunter present.
"A sniper?"
Miyabi Hoshimi's ears twitched. She turned her head toward a very well-hidden building.
The moment they stood in front of the video store, they were being watched. But... it didn't feel malicious.
"Don't worry about it. It's none of our business."
Kenji saw the masked woman. As expected of you, Trigger (Grace). It's almost dark and you're still playing 'peeping tom'.
"Can I help you, officers?"
Tetsu opened the door, a smile on his face, and led them inside.
"Soukaku said... your video store takes 'congrats money'?" Riu Tsukishiro asked, a half-smile on her face.
She wasn't 100% convinced, but since Soukaku mentioned it, she had to check.
Tetsu: "..."
Rin: "..."
The "cereal" siblings instantly knew what this was about. What rotten luck! Didn't we already explain this to Soukaku?
"It's all a misunderstanding! We are law-abiding, professional citizens! We would never engage in that kind of activity!" Rin said, patting her chest.
"Law-abiding?"
Except for Soukaku, the others were speechless. The "Stringer" profession... "law-abiding" wasn't exactly the first word that came to mind.
Section 6 was no ordinary place. It was full of "talents." Audio logs, drive disks, "spiked" ramen, etc.
The water in Section 6 runs deep. You could probably find some big shots just by "dynamite fishing" here.
"This was probably a false alarm. But please, don't teach Soukaku any more weird things. Otherwise... Task Force 6 can take the peacekeepers' place and... invite you for tea." Riu Tsukishiro's expression was dead serious.
The two siblings nodded frantically like chickens pecking rice.
Now was the time to be smart. "Tea" was one thing, but they preferred coffee.
If not for their past, they'd never have become Stringers. Cereal was their true passion.
"Do you... have that kind of 'video' here?" Kenji looked at Tetsu, wiggling his eyebrows.
"No. Everything on the shelves is legitimate."
Tetsu, as a man, instantly knew what Kenji meant. But if he admitted it now, Riu Tsukishiro would take them "for tea" on the spot.
Kenji smiled. He understood Tetsu's literal meaning. "Everything on the shelves is legitimate."
So... where's the 'illegitimate' stuff? It's so hard to guess~