One week later. Shinkansen Train.
Conductor: Thank you for riding with us! We have just reached Kyoto on time, and we will reach our final stop at Shin Osaka in about ten minutes.
Huckle: ...Ryekie, wake up. We're already at Kyoto.
Ryekie: Whah...? O-oh! I guess I slept through most of the ride! I missed out on lunch!
Huckle: I-I guess I should have woken you up earlier...
Huckle puts his phone away. Ryekie is loud as usual.
Exio: ...
Exio is reading.
Danzo: Hmm hmm~
Danzo is listening to music while working a music production program.
Akashi: ...
Akashi is side eyeing Danzo.
MC: What's wrong?
Akashi: ...huh? N-nothing!
Exio: You seem rather displeased over "nothing." Does this have to do with the break you had to take from sports to come with us? (smiles like an ass)
Akashi: N-NO!?
MC: What'd they say anyway? / Why'd you wanna come all of a sudden?
Akashi: W-well...y'know, I got called and stuff...
MC has a flashback.
Huckle: ...so let me introduce him again. This is Yahiko Danzo, a hero from Neo Talents Production and our business trip escort.
Danzo: S'up! You can call me Dz. Ninja if you want! Nice to meet ya! (jangles bling)
Melide: ...wow. He's a hero too...?
Sui: I guess? I think I've heard of Dz. Ninja somewhere before...
Mokdai: That's the famous music producer who made a great song for Hitomi. He blends future and classical music as a cyborg ninja DJ and can even play himself! His hero codename is Weed Groover, and he's got a fan group with his flashy ninja aesthetics!
Akashi: Oh, so that's why he looks like that. But why a ninja...?
Yoshiori: Forget that, why's a musician of all things our guide? A GOVERNMENT guide!
Mokdai: I don't know...the ninja concept origin's been classified. There's rumors he's connected to a big government official but no one knows for sure. His profile looks like an SCP entry and his private life is almost totally unknown.
MC: What if he's a real ninja?
Danzo: That would be rude to ask, MC!
Danzo is suddenly standing behind MC and holding his finger up to their mouth!
Danzo: More mystery means more hero allure! Right?
Yoshiori: WHEN DID HE GET THERE!?
Exio: (surprised)
Monomasa: Exio, maybe you've thought of it already but...
Exio: ...yes. The client must be "him," so it should be safe to go.
Danzo stares at MC's face some more.
Danzo: ...damn, you're cute. I can't believe you're the same person talked about in all those rumors. This job is gonna be so good!
MC: W-what!? / (swoon)
Akashi: WAIT WHAT
Present
Akashi: N-N-NO that's got nothing to do with anything! I mean who cares!? We're almost there, so get your trash together to throw away!
Danzo: (stares)
Danzo: (Well he doesn't SEEM dangerous... Anyways...)
Huckle: Oh, I see Osaka. We're almost there. (points outside)
Osaka is even bigger than Orient City. The skyline is filled with skyscrapers and spaceships.
MC: That's Osaka!? It's like something out of a sci-fi world! Way different from the Osaka I know.
Ryekie: What, is this your first time coming to Osaka?
Akashi: But we had a school trip here in elementary school...which you don't remember, right. You've been surprised by like everything since you became an Observer, like phone holograms and spaceships. It's like you're from an older era.
Huckle: Oh yeah that reminds me, you got the date format wrong a lot in the beginning too. You seem different even for an Observer, so maybe your memories and viewpoints are mixed with a parallel self.
Exio: ...normal Observers don't get amnesia, temporal confusion, or consciousness mixing.
Ryekie: Did you say something?
Exio: No.
Danzo: Hmm...
The train slows down and finally stops.
Conductor: Shin Osaka Station! Transfer stop to the spaceport. Please don't forget anything...
The party gets off the train. It's been about an hour since leaving Orient City, and now the party heads to the car porch entrance.
Ryekie: Yeees, it feels good to stretch!
Akashi: Well we were in there for like an hour. I could stand to move my shoulders too.
Huckle: Ryekie, I think you feel the way you do because you slept funny. And when are you going to eat your lunch?
Ryekie: L-later, when we have some time! I need to eat too, you know!
Danzo: Hmm...I don't see our ride.
MC: Huh? Someone's coming to pick us up?
Danzo: Yep. My boss, the main guy who called y'all here. He said he's sent a car, but I can't reach him...
Exio: ...hmm? I sense something...
Exio stops moving.
Danzo: Whoa!
Danzo pulls MC close to him. Something metal hits.
MC: WHAT
Danzo opens his cyborg hand to reveal some needles.
Danzo: Tranq darts. Sloppy work.
Panic sets off in the station. Evil ninjas run up and surround the party!
Ryekie: WHOMST
Akashi: Danzo, you know these punks!?
Danzo: Nah, I don't know any groups of half-assed cosplayers. But I think these guys are...
Evil Red: ...hand them over.
Danzo: I knew it. The answer goes from "no" to "hell no."
Evil Red: ...force it is then.
The evil ninjas pull out fluorescent shining swords!
Exio: ...they seem to be after MC. And they're already transformed, so they clearly plan to take them by force.
MC: What!? Why!?
Akashi: Dunno, but we can't let them have you!
Ryekie: Exio, MC! Transform us! Huckle, you ready!?
Huckle: Right, we have to do this. Parallel Weapon against Parallel Weapon.
Exio and MC transform the party!
Exio: Fine, I'll take charge of the battle. MC, you focus on staying safe.
MC: Okay, this is kinda scary!
Danzo: It's cool! I'll handle your protection, so focus on the battle! (makes eye contact with Exio)
Exio: ...I'm counting on you.
Exio seems confused at first, but he seems to get it and nods. Camera drone has been deployed and is running.
Huckle: We're ready! Let's go!
BATTLE START (more happens after)
Evil Green: AAAGH
Evil Yellow: Out of the way!
Akashi: NO YOU! Batter Smash!
Evil Yellow: OW
Ryekie: Hey! Behind you!
Danzo: It's cool, I got it! (picks up MC and dodges an incoming slash)
Evil Purple: Not again! He's not even transformed!
Danzo: You know that one expression about weapons? It's that!
Danzo keeps dodging attacks without breaking a sweat while carrying MC.
Huckle: I-I can't believe he can fend off all those attacks without having transformed.
Evil Purple: Goddamn punk!
Danzo: Sad! Have you even SEEN a real ninja before? You swing like a baby and haven't used any ninja tools!
Evil Purple: S-shut up!
Evil Green: How dare you mock us like this!
Akashi: Loser says WHAT
Evil Green: WHAT (bonk) OW, get lost kid! We gotta get the target, no matter what!
Danzo: Man, haters getting in too deep in the hate-o-rade. My bad, drone!
Danzo throws a flashbang!
MC: MY EYEEEES
Once the light fades, MC and Danzo are gone.
Akashi: Where'd they go!?
Ryekie: They must have hid after the flash... But where!?
Later, MC realizes they are somewhere else. Somewhere Else being some old dim tunnel. Danzo is still carrying them and walking along.
MC: H-huh? What happened?
Danzo: ...secret. It okay, we'll meet up with everyone later. Now where is the Big Bo--oh.
Evil Red: THERE THEY ARE!
Danzo: Oh, they had another squad. Maybe I should have run further.
Danzo's phone boots up!
???: Danzo? Transform and deal with them.
Danzo: Boss, you finally called! Right, I'll get it done in a flash!
Danzo puts MC down and takes a Stereotypical Ninja Pose.
Danzo: YEEAAAAHHHH (transforms)
Danzo: Weed Grover is on the scene, baby!
MC: That's your hero suit!? / Very ninja, and very colorful / AWESOME
Danzo: Okay now! Off to send these guys to the cleaners! Take care of the rest, Milord.
Seiichirou: (walks up and pulls MC close) Right. Go get them.
MC: WHOMST
Seiichirou whispers into MC's ear.
Seiichirou: Relax, I'm working with him. And cover your ears, he's going to make more noise and light.
A bright flash shines and intensifies! Also loud noise that rattles eardrums starts sounding off.
MC: WHAT
Danzo: Ninja Art "Floor Killing Player"! YEEAAAAAHHH!
The light gets even brighter as the loud still pushes past MC's hands. MC closes their eyes and the next time they open, there's a bunch of twitching bodies on the ground as the villains revert out one by one.
Danzo: ...aw man, you're late Boss. We were getting pressed there.
Danzo also reverts out.
Seiichirou: Sorry, I got news that the enemy was on the lookout. I had to search everywhere.
MC turns to look at Seiichirou.
MC: Um...who are you? / Hot...
Seiichirou: I'm sorry you suddenly met with danger. You're okay now. I promise you your safety.
Ryekie: There you are! Guys, over here!
Ryekie walks in, followed by the rest of the party.
Exio: !! (look at Seiichirou in surprise)
Exio: ...I suspected as much. So you're the client, Seiichirou.
Seiichirou: Long time no see, Exio. I heard you were hurt, but I'm glad you seem fine.
Akashi: You know that old dude?
Exio: Well...it was a really long time ago.
Huckle: So, are you UEHA's...?
Seiichirou: I apologize for the late pickup. I am Japan's Defense Bureau Parliamentary Secretary and UEHA Japan's Chief Operator Tenma Seiichirou. I am the one who called you to Osaka. It'd be a problem if pursuers came, so we should talk more inside the car.
End of Episode
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