Japan, Ikebukuro Station.
Pedestrians hurried to and fro amidst the crowds.
Meanwhile, a group of young people who'd arranged to hang out during their holiday were whispering amongst themselves.
"Look, look - that girl by the pillar over there."
"Silver hair! Is she mixed-race?"
"Probably. She's really cute - should we try talking to her?"
"Not a chance, there are too many people around."
"What's there to fear? Someone's already approaching her."
As the youths murmured, several gold-haired, earring-wearing delinquents sidled up to the silver-haired girl by the pillar.
"Hey, little sister, got time to play with us big brothers for a while?"
"Play?" Kei Shirogane looked up, narrowing her eyes as she glared viciously at the three men before clicking her tongue. "Sure thing. You wouldn't mind if I pulled your intestines out through your belly and tied them in a bow around your necks, would you?"
"What did you say?" One of the blond thugs moved to strike, but was restrained by his companions.
"Hey, hey, Keita, don't act rashly - there's traffic police nearby. Besides, this woman's clearly a delinquent herself. Better not provoke her."
"If the police weren't here, I'd beat you up in seconds."
The blond-haired guy muttered as he walked away.
Kei Shirogane, who had been approached, sighed in relief after seeing him leave and whispered to herself:
"Ryūko-nee's yakuza sayings are actually quite useful. As expected of the Ryūju-gumi leader's daughter, I suppose?"
Thinking about the yakuza princess from the high school division who knew her brother, Miyuki Shirogane, Kei felt somewhat fortunate to have learned a few tricks from her.
Frowning, Kei then mused:
"Lately, haven't there been too many people hitting on me?"
"It used to be less than once a month, but now even at Ikebukuro Station's entrance, random guys approach me."
Something felt off to Kei, though she couldn't pinpoint why.
She was just a regular girl. Although her family had foreign ancestry generations back, that shouldn't make her such a magnet for attention.
Moreover, this never happened before - it only started in the past month.
Something definitely felt strange...
As Kei pondered this, a female voice called out.
"Kei-chan~"
With that sickly sweet tone, Kei turned to see a pink-haired koala emerging from the station exit, immediately pouncing on her. Chika Fujiwara hugged her tightly, rubbing her cheeks enthusiastically:
"Ahhh, Kei-chan looked so cool just now~~"
"Your eyes were like zapping electricity~ biu biu~"
Surprised by Chika's clinginess, Kei asked: "Chika-nee, were you nearby just now?"
"Maa~!"
Chika grinned, pointing at two patrolling officers pushing bicycles behind her:
"Looks like you didn't need those kind strangers' help after all."
"Eh?" Kei glanced at the approaching officers, feeling both exasperated and amused.
After thanking the officers profusely, Kei finally left Ikebukuro Station hand-in-hand with Chika.
"Speaking of which, Kei-chan seems to get hit on a lot recently? Moeha mentioned too that whenever she goes out with you, you always become the centre of attention..."
"That's not important."
Kei's expression turned complicated, remembering Moeha Fujiwara, who could effortlessly produce a stun baton, chilli powder, or execute perfect eye-gouging and crotch-kicking combos.
Though Moeha claimed her family hired martial arts tutors to teach her aikido for self-defence, the way she'd smile while watching perpetrators writhe in pain after being disabled was... unsettling.
"By the way, Kei-chan, what made you decide to go cosmetics shopping with me today?"
Hearing Chika's innocent question, Kei couldn't help mentally retorting:
'Because every time someone who hit on me gets hospitalised by Moeha, and I have to give statements at the police box, I absolutely hate seeing my brother's face when he comes to pick me up!'
That stupid "My useless little sister is actually a stunning beauty who gets constantly hit on?!" shocked expression pisses me off every time.
Truthfully, given recent events, Kei had chosen this shopping trip at Ikebukuro's department store precisely because the main roads and legitimate shops offered excellent security.
After all, what were the odds of encountering street robbers in broad daylight?
The thought made Kei chuckle at her own dark humour.
In her over ten years of life, she'd never encountered a street robbery case before. How could such a coincidence happen?
Of course, these inner thoughts absolutely couldn't be shared with Chika Fujiwara. Thus, Kei Shirogane merely brushed aside her hair and calmly said:
"It's just more convenient."
As for what exactly was convenient, Kei didn't elaborate.
"Ah, I see now!"
Chika Fujiwara held Kei's hand, skipping along like a child:
"Speaking of which, there are some cosmetics in Ikebukuro's drugstores that offer such amazing value you can't even get them online."
"Are you talking about these, Chika-nee?"
With a flourish, Kei produced several red-backed discount coupons from her hand.
Printed on them were the words: "Collect 7 for 30% off all items - MIK Drugstore."
"Eh? There's an additional discount?"
Chika had done thorough research beforehand and knew exactly how cheap the cosmetics Kei was eyeing were. Yet this price could be discounted by another 30%? This genuinely shocked her.
"Certain limited-edition cosmetics have quantity restrictions, but I managed to get two discount coupons from the bookstore manager where I work part-time."
Kei waved the coupons in her hand, then couldn't help glancing at Chika. At that moment, Chika's eyes followed the coupons before she grinned:
"What I want to buy aren't limited editions, but it feels like a waste not to get them..."
Chika tilted her head, then smiled:
"Kei-chan, could you buy the limited editions? I'll get the other items so we can share the discount."
Hearing this, Kei - who had initially planned to find someone to split the purchase and get an extra set of cheap limited-edition cosmetics - secretly sighed in relief before murmuring:
"If Chika-nee says so, then alright..."
As they conversed, the pair gradually approached an enormous MIK Drugstore.
...
At precisely the same moment...
Inside a slowly moving minivan by the roadside.
Luo Shu stared through the rearview mirror at Daichi Fujiwara, who was wearing black stockings with two holes cut out and wrapped tightly in a khaki trench coat, and fell into prolonged silence.