Yanagi: "Is this the one?"
Rikoche: "You saw what she did."
Yanagi: "That was a simulation."
Rikoche: "Do you know what a simulation is? I thought you were homeless."
Yanagi: "I know more about this city than you do."
Rikoche: "Not about the technology, it seems. That simulation is 100% accurate."
Yanagi: "Is she a Level 6 or 7?"
Rikoche: "Nope. Just a pure specimen of years of training."
Mihara: "Still, she used a special 7-Up."
Rikoche: "She's the most prominent specimen. Not only did she survive the 7-Ex test, she even managed to use it in her final moments!"
Yanagi: "How? Is the question."
Yuna: "Have I been kidnapped...?"
She looked around. She was held upside down by a special chain, above a vat of molten metal. The place looked like a factory.
There were three people looking at her.
Yanagi: A young girl, wearing a ragged shirt; her hair was brown, messy and long; her eyes were green and tired.
Mihara: Another young girl; medium-length blonde hair; red gym clothes with white stripes.
Rikoche: A tall, muscular man; short black hair and eyes; shirtless.
Yuna: "Rikoche...? What is he doing here? He looks stronger..."
He was one of the scientists in YV's laboratory.
Rikoche: "I presume you remember me, my fine specimen."
Yuna: "How did you..."
Rikoche: "It was easy to find you. My boss fired me after he discovered your little trick."
Yuna tried to break free from the chains, but they drained her power.
Rikoche: "Remember my little gadgets? You become useless when I want you to."
Yuna: "What do you want?"
Rikoche: "Show my little friend how you activated your 7-Ex."
Yanagi took a step forward and looked into her eyes.
Yuna: "What answer do you expect?"
Yanagi: "The truth."
Yuna: "Alright. It works when someone I love kisses me."
Rikoche took out his cell phone. A strong shock hit Yuna.
Rikoche: "We're not joking around. You know, I could be using your friends as hostages, but that would be too troublesome. Just spare us both some time and tell the truth, okay?"
Yuna: "I don't know! It was activated automatically!"
Rikoche: "That may be true. But we have to test it, right?"
Yuna: "How? I just told you there's no way to predict it!"
Rikoche: "You were about to die when suddenly there was a surge of power."
Mihara: "A last stand?"
Rikoche: "Close enough. Like adrenaline, but much stronger. Almost like plot armor."
Yanagi: "Plot... what?"
Yuna: "Are you saying you're going to kill me?"
Rikoche: "To keep it simple, yeah."
He picked up a minigun from the ground and pointed it at her. He started firing at miraculous speeds, but the bullets didn't hurt much. They were like airsoft bullets. However, they bounced off her body and then off other surfaces.
When the ammunition ran out, there was a hail of bullets everywhere, impossible to dodge. He and his friends, however, remained standing as if nothing was happening.
Rikoche: "Realocator, take me out."
Mihara: "And the camera?"
He showed her a holographic screen. They both teleported out of the factory, to a port warehouse. He handed her the screen, turned and walked away, waving to her.
Mihara: "Where are you going?"
Rikoche: "None of your business. Call me if she survives or activates her 7-Ex."
At Ria's office...
Mitone: "Please, help us! Unizard said you were taking care of Yuna!"
Ria: "Unizard?"
Unizard walks in the room.
Unizard: "Ah, my bad. They asked for my help since I'm their teacher."
Ria: "You're leaking some valuable info."
Unizard: "And you're letting Yuto's daughter die for nothing."
Ria: "She's not dead yet."
Eraser: "She will be in a few hours if we just wait."
Ria: "Did the kidnappers send you a location?"
Mitone: "Well, they did, but..."
Ria: "You know where to head to."
Eraser: "It's obviously a trap."
Ria: "You want to be heroes, don't you? You can solve this on your own."
Unizard: "Come on, they're just kids."
Ria: "Then help them."
Unizard: "Ah..."
Ria: "What are you sparing mana for? It won't cost that much to clean up a factory."
Unizard: "You know what? You're right. We're a bit overkill for this operation..."
Mitone: "What? Are you going to let your student die because you're overqualified?"
Unizard: "Ria, I'm sending Kiseki with them. Is that alright with you?"
Ria: "She knows them and is better suited for this."
Eraser: "A scapegoat...?"
Unizard: "We can only observe from here for now. There's a secret association forming, and we can't risk them discovering our weaknesses."
At night...
Mitone: "Why waste so much time?"
Eraser: "The kidnapper said they would kill her if we didn't wait until now. It's not wasted time."
Mitone: "I know! But Ria and Unizard could solve this in an instant!"
Kiseki: "Um... I-I'm sorry to interrupt you, but I trust them... they would take action if she really was about to die..."
Mitone: "Them sending you must mean something..."
Kiseki: "Y-Yes! I can ease her pain instantly!"
Eraser: "What's the plan? They said only Mitone and I can enter."
Mitone: "Kiseki, your power passes through walls, right?"
Kiseki: "Um, yes. I'm working on increasing its range, though..."
Mitone: "Perfect. They'll obviously trap us there as hostages if we just comply."
Eraser: "What's in your mind?"
Mitone: "You'll see..."
Eraser went to the factory and was greeted by Yanagi, who was leaning against the wall outside.
Yanagi: "Where's the other?"
Eraser: "He gave up."
Yanagi: "Hmph, whatever. It's not like you can do anything by yourself."
They entered the cauldron room. Eraser immediately smelled a strange smell. A faint white gas weakened his powers. Yuna was still upside down, nearly dead this time. She was unconscious, her body marked with bruises.
Eraser ran up to her and tried to hack the controls.
Yanagi: "It's useless. We have the power of technology on our side."
Eraser: "How can you do this?! She's our friend!"
Yanagi: "I don't care. She has a power I want."
Eraser: "This is cruel! Please let her go!"
While he distracted her, Mitone made his way underground. Beneath the factory floor, he swung his axe to clear the dirt from his path, while Kiseki followed behind him.
Mitone: "Do you think this is close enough?"
Kiseki: "It's more than enough, thank you very much!"
Yuna's body began to slowly heal.
Eraser: "You do care about this! Think of all the lives you could be saving right now!"
Yanagi: "Shut up."
Eraser: "It's not your fault you were raised in poor conditions. We can change that!"
Yanagi: "SHUT UP!"
Suddenly, he was pushed against the wall by a mysterious force coming from her. The intensity increased, shattering the factory walls, until he vansihed from existence.
Yanagi: "Huh?"
She looked at Yuna. She was also gone.
Yanagi: "Mihara."
Mihara was watching everything through the cameras.
Mihara: "What happened...?"
Yanagi began to breathe more heavily, ready to explode in rage.
Kiseki returned to the association's dorms. She held a robotic finger.
Kiseki: "It's about time they..."
The three suddenly reappeared beside her.
Mitone: "It worked!"
Kiseki held an object from Eraser, who held a part of Yuna and Mitone. That way, the stronger end would attract the others when they reappeared.
It would be risky to leave Mitone there, even if he was hiding underground. Kiseki finished the job by taking everyone home.
In an alley...
Gaz: "You owe me something."
Rikoche: "Do I?"
His body suddenly paralyzed.
Gaz: "The gas bullets, grenades and many more. Do you have the money?"
Rikoche: "W-Wait, I can explain..."
Gaz left. Rikoche died slowly and painfully.