"Still not awake? Should we take her to a hospital?"
Suguru Geto eyed the unconscious Riko Amanai, suggesting.
"If only we could use Reverse Cursed Technique like Shoko!"
"No way—Shoko's explanations are gibberish!"
"Fine, let's hit the hospital. If her brain's rattled and it messes up the assimilation, we're the ones in trouble!"
Satoru Gojo scooped Riko up, ready to go, when her eyes fluttered open.
"Huh, she's awake?"
Riko blinked twice, then swung a hand.
"Take that!"
SLAP!
Satoru, not yet able to run Limitless 24/7, took a stinging smack to the face.
"Ow?!"
Sawa Gojo, prepared, whipped out a magenta camera, snapping Satoru's mortified expression from an unnoticed corner.
Riko jumped up, hands on hips, yelling at Satoru, "You brazen thief, daring to harm this lady!"
Satoru growled, "You little brat! We're not with the jerks who attacked you!"
Suguru clarified, "We're here to protect you, by order!"
Riko squinted suspiciously. "With that conman face, weird bangs, and man-bun? And those two white-hairs look like delinquents!"
Sawa, caught in the crossfire, blinked. "Born with white hair—my fault?"
"Born white? Sure it's not premature aging? You three scream bad news!"
The trio's faces darkened.
Satoru and Suguru grabbed Riko's arms and legs, hoisting her up.
In sync, they twisted her like wringing a towel.
Sawa, wielding a feather duster, mercilessly tickled her armpits.
"Hahaha… jerks… hahaha… stop…"
Ding!
The elevator opened, revealing Misato Kuroi astride her cursed spirit "Rhinoceros Beetle."
Seeing the scene, Misato gasped, "P-please, stop!"
Riko, spotting Misato, teared up. "Misato, save me!"
The trio let go, and Riko thudded to the floor, rubbing her butt as she stood, pouting.
Misato explained, "Miss, these three are your assigned protectors!"
"What? Why'd they pick these scumbags as my bodyguards?"
Riko protested, then her eyes lit up, pointing at Misato's cursed spirit. "What's this cute-ugly little thing?"
Misato smiled. "Ask… uh… Bangs Guy!"
Suguru's eye twitched, but he held back, explaining patiently, "That's my technique, Cursed Spirit Manipulation."
"Can you summon Angewomon?"
"That's Digimon, not a cursed spirit!"
"What about the mythical Nine-Tailed Fox?"
"Nope!"
"Yamata no Orochi?"
"No way!"
"Ugh, what a useless power!"
Suguru smiled tightly, veins pulsing on his forehead.
To prove himself, he waved a hand, summoning a cute kitten from the shadows.
Riko's eyes sparkled, scooping it up to pet it furiously.
"What's that?"
Sawa whispered, skeptical Suguru would keep such a flashy cursed spirit.
"Shapeshifter. Its true form… better left unsaid."
"…Nice."
Satoru watched Riko pet the cat, musing, "She's so lively. I figured knowing she'll assimilate with Tengen would make her mopey."
Riko stood, scoffing. "Typical scumbag thinking! Listen up!"
She puffed out her chest, pride radiating.
"After I [assimilate], my consciousness, heart, and soul will join Lord Tengen's. In other words, I am Tengen, and Tengen is me!"
"Yo, you changed your wallpaper?"
"Yup, Waka Inoue!"
"Not bad taste, otouto, but Akina Nakamori's the ultimate!"
"Hey! Are you three even listening to me, you jerks?"
Riko exploded, but the trio just rolled their eyes.
"With that attitude, she probably has no friends."
"Agreed."
"Jerks! I talk normal at school… School! Oh no, I'm late!"
Misato urged, "Miss, it's dangerous out there. Skip school for now!"
The trio nodded—schools were trouble magnets.
But Riko wouldn't budge, so they let her go.
The mission's side condition was to fulfill the Vessel's wishes within reason.
Sawa turned to Misato. "Miss Kuroi, stick with us from now on."
"Huh? Why?"
Sawa explained, "You and Riko are tight, like family, right?"
Misato nodded, eyes misty.
Her family had raised Star Plasma Vessels for generations.
Since Riko's parents died young, Misato had cared for her, their bond closer than blood.
Knowing Riko's fate with Tengen, Misato was torn with grief and frustration.
Sawa sighed. "Since you're so close, assassins might grab you as a hostage.
Even if that fails, it'd distract us. Stay with us for safety."
Misato nodded. "Got it."
At a horse-racing track, Shiu Kong spoke into a phone.
"We've talked terms. Happy with the price?"
A chilling voice replied, creasing Toji's brow.
"Two Six Eyes and a rare Cursed Spirit Manipulator—three hundred million."
Toji chuckled. "Last I checked, those Six Eyes kids had hundred-million bounties each as tots. Years later, no raise?"
"You mean…"
"Add more."
"…"
Silence on the line.
Toji popped a takoyaki ball into his mouth, mumbling, "Don't play dumb. The Pan-Star Cult may lack Q's fighters, but you've got cash."
"Heh, fine. Succeed, and we'll bump it to five hundred million."
"Deal."
"Pleasure doing business, Mr. Zenin!"
"Not Zenin. Fushiguro. I married in. My name's Toji Fushiguro now."
Toji sneered. "I killed plenty of Zenins back then. If they still let me use their name, I'd be shocked."
"And I don't care to."