Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Shiratori City

(OST: Funk Goes On-Yakuza Kiwami)

The Many Mob-chan’s Problems-Sukeban

“Hm?” Kiryu stopped to see the scene in front of him, that being a group of Sukeban being taken into a Valkyrie police van. The van itself was parked beside what looked like a yakiniku restaurant.

Walking towards the group, Kiryu raised his voice. “I hope whatever troubles happened here didn’t disrupt the other customers too much.”

One of the Valkyrie officers turned to him, shaking her head. “It’s all good here Sensei. Just a little disorderly conduct that happened outside. We’ll hold them until tomorrow, then we’ll give them a week of community service.” She turned to the group, watching the last of the group be pushed in. “Some of these girls are actually still wanted from when the Sanctum Tower went down. There’s still a lot of them at large, though.”

“It’s okay if you didn’t get them all. A group that large, you won’t be getting them all at once.”

“Maybe,” she nodded. “But it’d be preferable.”

Whatever words Kiryu was about to give her were halted as one of the Sukeban shoved an officer back, grabbing a set of keys out from her pocket. Before the rest of the Valkyrie officers could react, the delinquent started running, her handcuffs flying off as she freed herself.

Kiryu didn’t hesitate, chasing after the girl. Behind him, the Valkyrie officer shouted, surprised by Kiryu’s speed, but her voice was drowned out as Kiryu chased after the delinquent, who took one look behind her, before she started sprinting.

(OST: In The Groove-Lost Judgment)

“Leave me alone!” she shouted, shoving past a crowd of robots. While they stumbled back, Kiryu slipped through them, uttering a quick apology as he did so.

“Stop running! Don’t make this harder than it needs to be!” Kiryu shouted back, slipping past another group. In response, the girl picked up a can, and threw it right at him.

Kiryu saw this coming, and raised his arm, blocking the can in one smooth motion. The delinquent ducked into an alleyway, and Kiryu followed her inside. As he did, he noticed a trashcan was knocked over, likely by her in an attempt to stop him. Kiryu simply leapt over the fallen can, not breaking his stride as he continued the chase.

“Don’t you got something better to do?!” she shouted, exiting the alley and back onto the street, going through an open air market. Reaching down, she picked up a bucket, and threw it back at him.

Kiryu didn’t flinch as he caught the bucket, dropping it to the ground. “Hold on!” Spotting another bucket, Kiryu took one look at it, then at the girl running from him. Up ahead, he noticed a stack of plastic crates, not yet having been collected by their owner.

Offering a quick apology, Kiryu reared his leg back, and kicked the bucket, launching it right at the crates. As he expected, it impacted the crates, knocking the stack to the ground and over the delinquent’s feet, making her stumble. By the time she regained her balance, the distance between her and Kiryu shortened.

This close, Kiryu could see the exhaustion creeping in. She couldn’t keep this up. Kiryu simply needed to endure running for a while longer.

“Just go away!” she shouted, running through another crowd that sat between a dumpster and a parked car. Kiryu didn’t copy her actions, instead using the car as an improvised step, before reaching the ground again.

By this time, the girl was running out of breath. She was still pushing herself, but the chase was lasting longer than she expected. The distance kept shrinking, until finally, Kiryu reached out and grabbed her wrist, his grip firm. The delinquent tried to pull away, but she couldn’t muster the energy to do so, before she finally stopped, removing her mask as she did so. “Damn it old man… how the hell did you keep up…?” she panted, her free hand on her knee as she tried to catch her breath.

Kiryu waited until she stopped panting, before he spoke. “I’m an active man. It’s that simple.” He looked down on her as he held her wrist. “Now, are you done running?”

The girl glared at him, before reluctantly nodding. “Yeah… you win this time.’

Kiryu kept an eye on her for a moment, before letting go. Briefly, he saw her consider running again, before stopping herself. “So, you’re going to take me back to the police then?”

“I might, if you can’t give me a good enough reason not to do otherwise,” he said. “Come on, let’s find a bench.”

Punching in the numbers on a nearby vending machine, Kiryu watched as the machine gave him a sports drink bottle. Beside him, the delinquent sat on a bench, leaning back against it.

“You know, I was expecting a harsh lecture when you sat me down. Instead, you're giving me a drink?” she stated, taking the offered bottle, before drinking half of it in one go.

“I’m giving you a chance first,” Kiryu answered, sitting down beside her, a bottle of water in his hand. “Did you hate the idea of community service that much?”

Sighing, the girl shook her head. “Not really, no. I just had something else planned with friends, and I didn’t want to miss it.” She scoffed out a laugh, taking another sip. “Look where that got me. Schale’s Sensei chased me down, no matter how hard I ran. If I had you as a trainer, maybe…”

“Trainer? Were you part of an athletics club?’

She nodded, turning to Kiryu. “Used to be in Gehenna, actually. We were a small club there, not really related to one of the bigger ones. Actually, we were one of the very few who had someone being an adviser to the club. Our adviser used to be some big shot a few years back, but then he retired.”

“Hm…” Kiryu grunted, listening to her story.

“So, when he brought us together, it was with me and my friends. We were already in trouble before for other stuff. Like, risk of expulsion stuff. When he brought us together, he promised to help us out. Said that if we worked together, we could prove that we were more than trouble makers.”

“How bad were your actions? What little I’ve heard of other clubs in Gehenna, they seem to be constantly rowdy in a way that implies at least one explosion a day.”

“Well, maybe we weren’t at that level,” she admitted. “But it’s a different story if it involves academic dishonesty. We uh…” she cleared her throat, suddenly nervous at Kiryu’s glare. “We might have… tried to cheat on one of the exams by finding the master documents.”

“That would do it,” Kiryu muttered. “How were you caught then? Was someone waiting for you?”

The girl shook her head. “Actually, the one we found was a trap specifically meant for cheaters. Whoever tried copying those answers were flagged immediately. The real documents were kept somewhere else. Regardless though, because we all used the answers that came from that document, we were given one more chance.”

“And the trainer you mentioned, he said he was going to help you?”

“He did. Said that if we studied honestly, and kept up our athletics training, we could doubly prove that we were hard workers.” She shook her head again. “It was a load of crock, honestly. That answer was the public one. Actually, he had something else in mind, and my friends and I were pissed.”

Kiryu was silent for a moment, before the realization struck. “He had you commit crimes.”

The delinquent nodded, her voice lowering. “We weren’t exactly in the right headspace. We just wanted to get back at the Prefect Club somehow. Among other things, we caused problems specifically for the Prefect Club, using the skills we were being taught to mess with them.”

“And I assume another trap was set for you?’ Kiryu asked, leaning back on the bench.

“Yeah. In our clubroom, specifically. They had their suspicions, so the room was bugged while we weren’t there one night. So when we tried to do another job against them, they were ready.” She pulled at her greyish blue uniform, before letting go of it. “Our trainer was arrested, and we were expelled. We had to hand over our Gehenna uniforms and wear these instead, the mark of a student who doesn’t have an academy.”

“And you all stuck together afterwards?”

“Kinda. A few of us joined the Sukeban. I think one went to the Kata Kata Helmet Gang. We still keep in touch though. Honor among thieves, plus we were all in the same preschool. We’re basically sisters.”

Kiryu nodded at her words. “It’s good you won’t abandon each other, but was meeting with them worth it to face worse punishment? Resisting arrest has likely been added to your charges.” he stated. The delinquent was silent for a moment, before she turned away. “You’ll have to go back eventually. You can’t run forever.”

“I know that,” she muttered, leaning forward to rest her elbows on her knees. “I just… didn’t want to flake on them. They’re my friends. We’re all we have. No one is in a hiring mood for a bunch of delinquents.”

Hiring, Kiryu thought to himself. Now that he was thinking about it, separating them definitely wasn’t a good idea. If this one ran from the police just to try and meet with her friends, then it’s clear to him that they’d find some way to break her out. Bonds like that, they were unbreakable. Maybe…

“So all you’d need is a job, right?” Kiryu asked, turning back to the delinquent.

She gave him a confused look, before awkwardly nodding. “I mean, it’d help. We might not technically be students in an official academy, but a job would at least mean we wouldn’t have to worry about money.”

“I’ll hire you then, you and your friends.”

The girl was silent for a moment, before she managed to speak. “W-what? What do you mean?”

“Exactly as I said. I’ll hire you all. Schale can always use more security, especially to prevent thieves from stealing from us.”

“You’re… you're actually serious?” She studied his face for a moment, stunned by his words. “What’s the catch? What aren’t you telling me?”

“If you mean my conditions, I only have one. Stop with the crimes. You can do better than that, and you know that deep down. You’re not a bad girl, you just need a leg up in life.”

She kept silent for a moment longer, gulping nervously. “You really… I mean… That’s all?”

“That’s all.” Kiryu stood up, before offering her his hand. “Come on. I’ll have a talk with Valkyrie, see if we can get resisting arrest off your charges.”

Shakily, the delinquent took his hand, letting herself be lifted off the bench. “You’re really doing this? I thought Schale doesn’t work this way.”

“It does when I’m in charge. I only ask that you promise to stop with the crimes, okay?”

The delinquent rubbed her eyes, before bowing her head. “T-thank you, Kiryu-Sensei. I promise I won’t get in… well, I can’t promise not getting in trouble, but I do promise to not give Schale trouble.”

“Good enough,” Kiryu responded, rubbing her head. She responded with a quiet giggle, but otherwise didn’t stop him.

Kiryu watched as she entered the van, head held high as she let herself be arrested. Beside him, the Valkyrie officer from before watched, hand held onto her pistol. “Are you sure this is a good idea, Sensei? The Sukeban are rather notorious for being anti authority.”

“I’m sure. Girls like her, they just need guidance. Most people aren’t inherently bad, and it’s up to people like me to help them see the light, so to speak.”

The officer nodded her head, watching as the van pulled away. “Well, I’ll trust you in that regard, Sensei. Thank you for helping us catch her.” Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a watch, and handed it to Kiryu. “Here. Consider it a gift for the help and everything.”

Kiryu inspected the watch, noting the high quality of it. “Are you sure you want to give me this? I didn’t do it for a reward.”

“That’s why I said gift, Sensei. Use it as a reminder to help more in the future, or something.” Bowing her head, she rejoined her squad. “Have a good day, Sensei.”

Kiryu watched as the Valkyrie officers dispersed, then turned back to where the van drove off. From the Shittim Chest, Arona spoke up. “No exceptions to your rules on helping others, huh?”

“No. People like that delinquent, they just need a reminder to look up from the rock bottom they’re in. After all, at rock bottom, the only direction you can go is up.”

Arona absorbed his words, before nodding. “I agree. Sometimes, all someone needs is a reminder that they’re not alone.”

Kiryu nodded, before he started walking down the street, joining the bustling crowds.

Chapter Text

Shiratori City

(OST: Funk Goes On-Yakuza Kiwami)

Dragon at the Dojo

“Oh, what to do…” the robot muttered to himself, pacing just in front of an Angel 24. Unlike many of the robotic citizens in Kivotos who wore suits or casual clothes, he walked around in a white training gi, fitting his role as a martial artist. “Of all the times to have an accident… who am I going to replace him with?”

Looking up, he took another look at the citizens around him, from the civilians to the students. A few of them did look promising, but they seemed to know what he was thinking, preferring to give the robot a wide berth.

Sighing again, he prepares to face the inevitability of cancelling his plans, when he spotted a possible lifeline. There, coming out of what looked like a Tiger Prawnshop, was Kivotos’ new Sensei, Kiryu Kazuma.

Some details were scattered about the hectic day he arrived in, but a few people mentioned how he had beaten a robot in hand to hand combat without taking a hit in the process. Maybe…

“Excuse me, Sensei!” He called out, walking over to Kiryu, who turned to him.

“Hm?” Kiryu asked, taking a look at the robot in front of him. “Can I help you with something?”

The robot nodded, glad he at least had Kiryu’s attention. “I’m hoping you can, Sensei. It’s a little hard to explain, but I run a dojo not far from here. Not for any particular style, but to allow anyone the experience of fighting others in a variety of conditions.”

“So something like a sparring dojo for volunteers?”

“In a sense.” The robot nodded. “Today’s match was to have three volunteers face a master from Shanghaijin. Unfortunately, on his way here, the train he was in was raided by the Hot Spring Department. Right now, Highlander Railway Academy is working on bringing the train back under their control, but by then, it’ll be too late. I was hoping you would replace him for today, if you have time I mean.”

“Replace him, huh?” Kiryu looked off to the side, considering his words. On paper, it certainly was an interesting proposition. A dojo that acts more as a fight club than actual training? It reminds him a little of the Coliseum in Purgatory.

A part of him considered declining. His duties as Sensei meant that he didn’t have as much free time as he did back in Japan. And what free time he did have was spent preparing for the next day.

Then, he thought back to Arona’s worries. The few times he walked around at night, being accosted by thugs who thought he was an easy mark, left her concerned each time. Even with his assurances that he would be fine, she still worried for him.

Maybe a controlled environment would show her I’d be fine , he thought to himself. Turning back to the robot, Kiryu nodded. “I’ll spare some time for the dojo. Where is it located?”

The robot bowed his head. “Thank you Sensei. It’s over a block away from Kousagi Park. The dojo itself is in an empty lot, but there’s a sign telling you which door it is.”

“Alright. I’ll be there shortly. I need to head back to Schale first, however.”

The robot waved his hand. “Not a problem, Sensei. We’ll be waiting, and hopefully not for too long.” With that, he turned around and walked away, leaving Kiryu by himself.

“Kazuma-Sensei…” Arona’s voice popped up, the warning tone evident.

“I know what I’m doing Arona. I wouldn’t have agreed to such a request if I wasn’t confident.”

“Still, you need to be careful. I know you’re still healthy for your age, but that doesn’t make you invincible. Remember Chinatsu’s words about taking it easy?”

“I do remember. Trust me on this, Arona, I know what I’m doing in a fight.”

After a moment, she sighed in mild exasperation. “Okay, okay. But I’m serious, Sensei. Be careful.”

“I will, Arona. Trust me.”

Kiryu stood outside the dojo, nestled in an alleyway between some buildings. Behind him, a pair of delinquents sat at a bench in the lot, focused more on their cans of soda than Kiryu himself. For his part, Kiryu ignored them, knowing they’re not doing anything worth hassling over.

Reaching out, he knocked on the door of the dojo, hearing it echo inside. After a minute, the door opened, and the robot he met earlier met with him. “Ah, Sensei! Right on time. Please, come in,” he said, stepping aside to let Kiryu in.

“You did ask me to come. It’s only fair that I follow through on it,” he responded, looking around the dojo just inside. It wasn’t anything special. If anything, he could say he was almost disappointed by how plain the dojo is.

Standing at the far end of the room, he spotted three robots talking amongst each other. One reminded him of a biker, another dressed as a delinquent, and a third dressed as a salaryman. Their build was closer to an adult man, rather than that of a combat drone.

Behind him, the teacher walked towards the group, getting their attention. “Alright, gentlemen. I apologize for the delay, but we’re ready to begin.”

The delinquent robot looked at Kiryu, confusion in his LED eyes. “Our opponent is Schale’s Sensei? When did he agree to this?”

The biker nudged the delinquent’s shoulder, shaking his head. “Does it matter? He likely knows what goes on here. He wouldn’t have come otherwise.”

Kiryu watched them talk amongst themselves, waiting for the signal to begin. He felt the heat surging in his blood, the incoming battle bringing the familiar energy.

The teacher looked at the group, before nodding. “Alright. No killing, no dislocating limbs, and try not to break yourselves. You fight until you can’t anymore. Kiryu-Sensei’s victory condition is when the three of you are down. Your victory condition is if Kiryu-Sensei can’t fight anymore. Are we in agreement?” Seeing all four men nod at his words, the teacher rang a miniature gong. “Fight!”

The salaryman, surprisingly, was the first to charge at him, fist reared back as he aimed for Kiryu. In response, he deflected the punch, sending the salaryman to the side. The biker charged next, coming at him with a flying knee.

Kiryu rolled to the side, Arona’s worried gasps coming from the Shittim Chest at the sudden assault. As he shot to his feet, the delinquent came at him, tackling him and wrapping his arms around Kiryu’s chest.

When he tried to throw Kiryu to the side, Kiryu planted his feet, counteracting against the force. The delinquent was unprepared for this, as well as the sudden hammerblow to the back of his head, sending him to the ground.

The biker came back in for another hit, but Kiryu grabbed him, using the momentum to lift him onto his shoulders. With a grunt, he dropped the robot down on top of the delinquent, gasps of pain coming from both robots.

The salaryman came back, but Kiryu was ready for him this time. Sidestepping, he watched as the salaryman tried to compensate, following after Kiryu. He didn’t give him that chance, driving his fist when a human’s liver would be. The robot reacted in pain, telling Kiryu that the robots shared similar weaknesses to a human.

Kiryu then rushed forward, striking the robot with a left jab, then a right hook. The robot tried to make distance, but Kiryu drove his left fist into his gut, making him double over, and ended with a right cross. As the salaryman stumbled back, Kiryu continued with a right roundhouse kick, his boot impacting against his head. When his foot hit the ground, he followed it with a right side kick, nailing right under the salaryman’s chin, sending him sliding back to the far wall.

Before Kiryu could react, one of the robots attacked from behind, striking the back of his head. Stumbling forward, Kiryu held his head in pain for a moment, before ducking from the follow-up attack by the biker. Distracted as he was, he didn’t see the delinquent grabbing him from behind in a full nelson hold. The biker moved to punch Kiryu, but he gave a straight kick forward, knocking him back. Twisting his body, Kiryu managed to drive his elbow into the delinquent’s face, the sudden force making him release his hold. Then he grabbed his arm, yanking down with enough force to sprain the elbow. As the delinquent shouted in pain, Kiryu pulled again, throwing the robot over his shoulder and slamming him over his back.

Just off to the side, he saw the salaryman coming back up, ready to continue. Looking between him and the biker robot, Kiryu had an idea. Grabbing the biker, Kiryu waited until the salaryman was near him. Then, rotating on his feet, he grabbed the salaryman’s head, driving it right into the biker’s head. The force sent the biker back, falling limp to the ground, before Kiryu tossed the salaryman to the side, dazed from the blow.

Standing over all three robots, Kiryu watched them all for a moment, before leaving his stance. “That’s that then.”

The teacher began clapping as he walked forward, greatly impressed. “The battle is over. Kiryu Kazuma is the winner.”

Once all three robots recovered from their injuries, they sat to the side, nursing the damage to their bodies. The teacher walked in front of them, giving his thoughts on the fight. “You all had performed admirably, but as you can see, just because you have the advantage in numbers doesn’t mean victory is assured. Kiryu-Sensei won because of his skill and strength, and ability to adapt to the situation. Remember this, and next time, victory may be yours. Train well, and come back when you’re ready to try again.”

The robots nodded, before they got up. Taking one last now to Kiryu, they left the dojo, leaving Kiryu and the teacher alone.

“I’ll admit, I thought you would struggle there for a moment, Sensei,” the teacher said, turning towards him. “You are very experienced, much more than what I had initially assumed.”

Kiryu shrugged in response. “I had an active life. That’s all I’ll say about that.”

The teacher nodded, understanding his privacy. “Thank you again for helping. I know you’re a busy man, so I appreciate this.” After a beat, he continued speaking. “Have you considered taking on apprentices of your own, for martial arts? The skills you have shown, it would be a shame if they weren't taught to others.”

“Apprentices, huh?” Kiryu crossed his arms as he looked down. He never gave it serious thought before. While he certainly had a habit of helping others through his actions, he never once thought about taking an apprentice. The only ones he could think of were the students of Kivotos, and he wasn’t exactly sure if it would be a good idea to teach them that way.

On the other hand, self defense is an option for everyone. Maybe…

“I’ll have to think about it. It all depends on who I could trust to not use what I teach to cause problems.”

The teacher nodded, understanding what Kiryu means. “It’s just something to consider. Not like I can try and force you to choose. In any event, you’re free to go. Have a good afternoon, Sensei.”

“And you as well,” Kiryu responded, moving to the door. He had a lot to think about.

Chapter Text

Shiratori City

(OST: NRG FielD-Blue Archive)

Iron Hands Alliance- The First Raid

The only sounds in the warehouse came from the forklifts, each loaded with pallets. They moved with purpose towards the waiting trucks.

As they deposited their pallets inside, a gang member walked towards the foreman, FAMAS in hand. “How much longer until we’re done? We’re on a time table here.”

The foreman simply looked at him, his screen face showing his irritation. “It’ll be ready when it’s ready. Your boss specifically stated that the packages should be undamaged, and that’s what we’re doing. You can wait.”

“You know we can’t,” the gangster said, looking at the windows near the roof. Outside, the moon shown through, the night sky clear of any clouds. “We’re already cutting it close by going right under Valkyrie’s nose. But that new group, led by that Sensei of theirs, is already making rounds.”

The foreman chuckled at the gangster's words, shaking his head. “You can’t be serious. They’re not even a week old, and Kiryu is an old man who looks more at home behind a desk.”

“He led the charge to retake the Schale Tower himself, jackass,” the gangster retorted. “Not only did he lead eight students into taking on a small army of Sukeban, but not even the Fox of Calamity was able to defeat them. They weren’t even official when that happened.”

“Well that’s why you and your men are here, right?” The foreman gestured to the rest of the warehouse, the Iron Hands gangsters standing guard throughout the building. “No matter where they strike, there’s going to be three overlapping fields of fire coming at them. We’ll be gone before they can come close to the bay doors.”

The gangster shook his head as he stepped away, muttering to himself. “You better be right.” Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a cigarette box, before noticing it was empty. With a growl, he tossed it over his shoulder, hearing the packet crinkle as a shield automaton stepped on it during its patrol.

Before he could say a word, another gangster came to him, a fresh faced recruit. In his hand was an unopened packet and a lighter. “Here, sir.”

Mumbling a thanks, he opened the pack and pulled out a cigarette, holding it just long enough for the recruit to light. Raising it to his mouth, he looked back out the window, before freezing.

Outside, just barely visible, was a small drone with a camera. And it was aimed right towards him.

“They’re here!” He shouted, but it was too late. The far wall detonated in a shower of metal and concrete, scattering the gangsters.

“We’re under attack!” One of the gangsters shouted, picking himself up with his shotgun. “Valkyrie?!”

“It’s Schale!” The leader answered, taking aim at the hole in the wall. “They found us!”

As the gangsters moved to intercept, two girls immediately rushed forward, blonde and white hair flowing behind them as they took aim. They were followed by a violet haired girl, shield forming around her as she took the lead. “Schale, you’re under arrest! Stand down, or face the consequences!”

There was a split second of silence before the gangsters began firing, not intimidated by Yuuka’s declaration. “Get the rest of the stuff on the truck!”

Suzumi, sharing cover with Asuna, disengaged the safety of her rifle. “Ready for your first official mission with Schale, Asuna?”

“Yes I am!” Asuna chirped, readying her Surprise Party. “Remember what Sensei said about our battle buddies?”

“Not what he said, but yes. Kotori and Serina should be here soon, along with Kirino and Chinatsu.” Looking over their cover, Suzumi squinted as bullets impacted the concrete barrier they were hiding behind. “Natsu and Tsubaki should be coming through the side entrances.”

Peering over their cover, Asuna returned fire, knocking down a thug in one quick burst. “Master really went all out for this. Usually it’s supposed to be at least four being sent, right?”

Behind them, Kirino, Chinatsu, Kotori and Serina reached them. As they did, Kotori immediately got to work, generating a shield around the girls. “We said the same, but Sensei said he wanted to test our limits first.” Stepping out of cover, Kotori began firing, her minigun punching right through the shield of a shield automaton. 

“Don’t worry, Sensei knows what he’s doing. He’s prepared to lead this time, unlike before,” Kirino said, peeking out to fire at a nearby gangster. The fact that he didn’t fall exasperated Suzumi slightly, but she didn’t comment. “Now that he’s got the right equipment, this should go easier.”

The conversation died between them as the girls focused fire on the gangsters. The shield automatons had formed a wall by then, preventing the girls from making headway into the warehouses. Yuuka, shield deactivated, moved behind a forklift. With both Logic and Reason in hand, she began firing at the gangsters, unloading both magazines into a shield automaton.

“I’ll admit, it’ll be nice to see what Sensei can do now that he’s fully prepared,” Yuuka said, returning to cover to reload. Next to her, bullets bounced off the forklift, punching right through the seat. “But I still disagree on principle about him being on the front lines with us.”

Her earpiece crackled to life as Kiryu’s voice came through. “We’ve been over this, Yuuka. How can I expect you all to trust me if I’m not there with you?”

“It’s not a matter of trust, Sensei. It’s…” Yuuka faltered for a moment, struggling to find the right words.

“It’s your advanced age, Sensei,” Serina responded, her medical bag open. “You’re incredibly healthy for someone of your age, but you’re not young like the rest of us. We’re just worried for you, that’s all.”

The line was silent for a moment, before Kiryu spoke again. “I appreciate that, truly. But you don’t need to worry about me. I know how to be careful.” Before anyone could respond, he spoke again. “Natsu and Tsubaki are in position. They’re waiting on your go, Suzumi. Throw when ready.”

“Right,” she nodded. Pulling out a flashbang, she turned to her fellow Schale clubmates, who all nodded at her. Pulling the pin, she sent it flying in the air, reaching halfway to the roof. “Flashbang!”

Prepared for the signal, Yuuka immediately covered her ears, anticipating the detonation. With a bang, the gunfire was cut off as several gangsters were deafened by the blast. The rest, having heard Suzumi shout, took cover. Once the grenade detonated, they took aim again, ready for the incoming charge.

Said charge never came. Two doors on either side of the building shattered, having been kicked off their hinges by boots. Their owners immediately stepped in, belonging to Natsu and Tsubaki. With their shields and submachine guns in hand, both girls opened fire at the distracted gangsters, cutting down several before they realized where the bullets were coming from.

The second the gangsters turned, the girls made their move. Suzumi, Kotori and Serina moved left, while Asuna, Kirino and Chinatsu moved right to a set of stairs, climbing up two steps at a time.

Looking back to the hole in the wall where they entered, Suzumi saw Kiryu walk in, flanked by two of their newest members of Schale, Chise and Pina. Pina immediately planted her machinegun on its bipod, adding to the killzone, while Chise waited beside Kiryu, grenade launcher at the ready for her part.

With the thugs distracted by Yuuka, Natsu, Tsubaki and Pina, Suzumi turned to Kotori and Serina. “Alright, let’s go to the truck. It can’t leave the warehouse.” Both girls nodded at Suzumi, before they began moving, taking down any gangsters that got in their way.

As the first team made their way to the truck, the second team of Asuna, Kirino and Chinatsu moved to the offices upstairs. One gangster tried to block their path, but a kick from Asuna sent him crashing against the railing. Kirino followed with a set of handcuffs, binding his hands against the railing, before kicking his rifle away.

“Master said we had to find their transport logs, right?” Asuna asked, standing by the door. Kirino stood on the other side, and with a mutual nod, Kirino tossed a smoke grenade inside.

“He did. Anything that can be used to find the suppliers and recipients is priority,” Kirino answered, rushing into the cloud of smoke. As Asuna and Chinatsu followed her inside, they could hear a gangster being thrown onto a desk, followed by the click of another pair of handcuffs. “Stay down, you’re under arrest.”

Walking past her, Chinatsu began opening filing cabinets, waving away the dust in the air. “They only moved here recently. I doubt they planned to stay here, if they managed to avoid Valkyrie for so long.” Pulling out a file, she began rifling through its contents, setting a few aside for later inspection.

Asuna walked to the windows, watching the firefight below as the gangsters were steadily overwhelmed. Chise, standing by Kiryu’s side, began launching grenades at the feet of the shield automatons, scattering the wall they created.

“Chise really adds to our firepower, doesn’t she?” Asuna mused, walking back over to Chinatsu and Kirino as they pulled out more files. Watching them, she stowed away her rifle, before moving to another filing cabinet to begin her own search.

As they searched, Suzumi led her group to the truck, Kotori’s shields covering the three of them from the suppressive fire against them. As they charged, they passed by Natsu, who gave them a quick greeting before returning to her own work.

In front of them, a gangster jumped from behind the truck, shotgun in hand as he fired at the team. Suzumi grunted as she took the hits, the shield breaking on the second shot. Then, she used a nearby crate to vault over the gangster, kicking at his head.

Dazed, the gangster tried to turn to fire at her, but Suzumi used her rifle to grab his arm in an arm bar, bending it backwards. “Drop it,” she commanded, adding extra pressure.

With a pained nod, the gangster dropped his shotgun, which Serina immediately moved away. Once it was clear, Suzumi released the gangster, before cuffing his good arm to a pipe. Once she finished, Serina moved to her, bag in hand. “Are you okay, Suzumi?”

At her concerned words, Suzumi nodded, Kotori moving past the both of them to the truck. “Shield took the shots. I only took the force. I’ll be fine.”

Serina bit her lip, before nodding, putting her bag away. “If you’re sure. But do be careful next time. If he fired again before you reached him, you would have paid for it.”

“I know, and I promise.” Patting Serina’s shoulder, both girls joined Kotori at the truck, having already secured it from escaping.

Back at the entrance, Kiryu nodded as he watched the assault, the gangsters becoming overwhelmed by the firepower directed at them.

Turning his gaze to Chise, he watched as the absentminded girl fired into the crowd of gangsters, giving them no time to breathe under the constant assault.

Behind him, he heard running feet as one of them had managed to sneak behind Schale. With a crack of his neck, he waited until the gangster was close enough, before twisting his body, his palm aimed right at the robot’s  face. The combined force caused the gangster to cartwheel, flipping backwards as his body kept moving forward, before hitting the ground face first.

Pina, having heard him running, watched with glowing eyes as Kiryu counterattacked. “That was so cool! You have got to teach me how to do that, Boss!”

“Focus Pina!” Yuuka shouted, both submachine guns out. “Fangirl later!”

The firefight didn’t last much longer. One by one, the gangsters were knocked unconscious, before the last robot fell. Silence fell across the warehouse as the fight ended.

“That should be everyone,” Yuuka stated, stepping out into the open, Logic held at rest. “Alright everyone, let’s gather everyone up for Valkyrie-”

“Master, we found it!” Asuna shouted from the second floor, a green binder in her hand as she waved at Kiryu. Behind her, Kirino and Chinatsu led a gangster down the stairs, arms cuffed behind him.

Behind him, Chise hummed as she absentmindedly poked at the gangster that attempted to sneak up on them. “Strange… Many members of the Iron Hands here, but the foreman is missing…”

“Searching for him now,” Arona said, flying the drone into the warehouse. “I’ll keep an eye out for him. Do what you need to do, Kazuma-Sensei.”

“Thanks Arona.” Kiryu started making his way to the loading bay, being joined by Pina and Yuuka.

As he walked, he felt Pina’s eyes on him, filled with admiration and excitement. The young girls admiration about the Yakuza life was a surprise, especially since she has a romanticized idea of the lifestyle.

But… well, it would be rather hypocritical of him to mention that. He was guilty of the same mindset she has. He was more subdued about it, maybe, but even now, he’d admit to having rose tinted glasses when thinking back to what he’s done.

Reaching the truck, he watched as Suzumi and Kotori pushed a crate out, letting it fall and crash open against the ground. Several items that looked like bottles rolled out, and Kiryu picked one up, turning it in his hand. “Volt? What is this?’

Walking over, Serina reached out a hand for the bottle, and Kiryu handed it to her. “It’s a type of drug, specifically made for robots. From what I’ve read about it, the effects are similar to that of crystal meth’s effects on organics.”

“That right?” Kiryu muttered to himself, looking back down to the crate. “I assume it’s just as hard to manufacture as meth?”

“It is,” Chinatsu answered behind him, joining him and Serina. “And the fact that they have an entire crate full of this tells me they have a production line somewhere in Shiratori. It doesn’t have a long shelf life, so it needs to be sold immediately for maximum effect.”

Asuna stepped past her, binder in hand. “Here, Master. Maybe this could help.”

Reaching out, Kiryu took the binder in hand, opening it to inspect the contents. “Looks like we have a few suppliers. No addresses, but it seems there’s a few dead drop sites for the deliveries.” Closing the binder, Kiryu nodded. “Good work everyone. You all did fantastic tonight, and thank you for coming out when I asked. I know you all have busy schedules of your own.”

The girls straightened at his words, smiles on their faces as he praised them. Then, Arona flew the drone between them, grabbing everyone’s attention. “I found the foreman. He hid inside a crate. That one, specifically.” She activated a laser pointer on the drone, pointing out the crate.

Walking over to the crate, Kiryu lifted the lid, and was met with a screwdriver aimed right to his eye. Grabbing the arm, he heard the shocked gasps of the students, before he bent the foreman’s elbow against the crate, breaking it. The foreman screamed as he held his broken elbow, before Kiryu slammed his fist down on his face, knocking him out.

“Sensei!” Yuuka shouted, rushing over to him. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. I was prepared for the possibility of a surprise attack.” Closing the lid, he shut the latches, and nodded to the rest of the girls. Outside, the red and blue lights of patrol cars flashed. “Valkyrie’s here. You’re all dismissed for the night.”

The girls nodded at his words before they filed out, leaving Kiryu and Arona alone in the warehouse. Rolling his neck, Kiryu moved to meet with the officers, already mentally preparing for a long night of questions.