Fukuoka, Japan——
Omariro watched as the former Kaidanchō got into fighting stances. Atsushi formed a stone fist.
"You fools would strike against your own?"
Yuka closed her eyes. "We can't come back, Atsushi. Not like this."
"Then you'll be dragged back," Atsushi promised. "Gakuto! Kaoru! Cover the old man!"
Yuka sent an ice eagle flying at Atsushi, but Atsushi shattered it into pieces with a right hook before meeting her in the air and trading blows. She kicked him back and formed ice spider legs, slamming them into him again and again.
Meanwhile, Gakuto charged at Kōichi, who flipped over him. "Come on, rock-head. Let's not do this again."
"Sorry, kid! But I don't got a choice!"
"Jugen-Kōbisha: Fūin no Ami!"
A black web shot out, but Gakuto dodged it, throwing his helmet at Kōichi and knocking him to the ground. Before he could prepare another throw, Kōichi formed his tripwire gun and fired it, sending the helmet off course.
Nearby, Mizuki and Kaoru were pacing around each other, with Mizuki giving Kaoru a disappointed look. "Kaoru. You switched."
"Yeah, I did!" she admitted. "Sir Nyugawa helped me to realize something, pushing all the burden onto him isn't right! We've still got rookies and members who depend on us! He can be the spearhead, but we've gotta be the shaft!"
"No," Mizuki shot down. "He will be both."
In the blink of an eye, Mizuki appeared next to Kaoru, forcing her to dodge. "Gah! Jugen-Kaiseisha: Shinkei Fūji!"
Mizuki's body locked him, allowing Kaoru to knock her to the ground, but she rapidly vibrated her body, allowing her nerves to fire up as she pushed herself up.
Omariro watched as the Kaidanchō all dueled each other, with the crowd backing away and recording. Yuka pushed Atsushi back, her ice legs growing even more potent.
"Jugen-Mahōshi: Yukigumo Bukyaku—-Rampage!"
The legs repeatedly struck at Atsushi, who blocked with his stone forearms before swinging at her, but she formed an ice eagle and jumped on it, evading the attack.
"Is this what you want?" Atsushi questioned. "To run away while you leave all the fighting to an elderly man?"
"That elderly man is stronger than all of us combined, Sunahara," she replied. "You and I both know this."
"Even if that may be true, it doesn't justify you to abandon your position! You're sad? Tough shit. You feel guilt? Get over it. When you took this job it wasn't optional to fight even if it costs your life! And now you'd turn against the very organization trying to keep everyone safe?"
He pushed her back as she formed an ice eagle and sent it flying into him. "No! I'm done. The Kaitansha don't have the resources to deal with a threat this size. Mujinsha, Heralds, Endless. Do you really think we can stand against them? The world only has one champion, and he's standing behind you!"
Kōichi used his tripwire to send Gakuto slamming into a wall, before wiping the sweat off his face. "Natori's right! Only Nyugawa can handle the crap coming our way! As much as we all deny it, none of us can ever be like him!"
"Then don't!" Gakuto shot back. "Be what you can be, kid! Not what you can't!"
"I am, and that's a leader of this new movement! Nothing will change that!"
He used his tripwire to pull down a sign above Gakuto's head, but Gakuto headbutted it into a tree before charging at Kōichi once more, who formed a portal. "Jugen-Kōbisha: Noroi no Fūin!"
Gakuto side-stepped it, charging into Kōichi and sending them both tumbling into the ground. Kōichi tied Gakuto up in a web, but Gakuto slammed his way out of it.
Mizuki delivered a powerful kick to Kaoru's jaw. "Ow! What the hell, Mizuki?"
"Sorry, Kaoru. I won't go back."
"Fine! You made me do this. Jugen-Kaiseisha: Muryokuka Chōsei!"
She threw out her hand, and Mizuki immediately collapsed to the ground, confused. "What is this?"
"I had to render you paraplegic," Kaoru explained. "You might be stubborn, but I'm stubborn too!"
Mizuki's eyes began to glow. "Not stubborn enough."
Her body began to spin around rapidly, forming a massive tornado. "Jugen-Sōunsha: Gokuchōonsoku Senpū!"
Kaoru had to throw herself out of the way as the tornado nearly dragged her inside. Omariro watched it all, his expression unchanging. As the attacks began to grow and the resulting damage spread to the crowd, Omariro tapped his staff on the ground.
"Enough. Jugen-Kōbisha: Kamigami no Kōsoku."
Yuka, Mizuki, and Kōichi all got restrained by golden whips, and as they attempted to move, the whips only grew thicker.
"Mr. Nyugawa, stop this!" Mizuki pleaded.
"You don't understand!" Yuka implored.
"We can't go back, not ever!" Kōichi exclaimed.
Omariro tapped his staff on the ground, forming a portal above them all. "Rally is done."
They all flew into it.
"Appreciate the assist, Nyugawa," Atsushi told him. "What has become of them?"
"Kaidanchō dumped back at headquarters. Kaidanchō rebellion over."
"Then we should head back. Come, Gakuto."
The rally watched with awe, taking pictures of Omariro and whispering to themselves as he walked back into the gala.
"Children come," he ordered. "Gala done."
As he looked around for them, an arm wrapped around his shoulders, and a familiar voice leaned into his ear. "Master."
Omariro looked to his right, where he saw Mirei, sporting a happy look on her face. "Greetings, Master!"
"Woman. What has woman done with children?"
"They're safe, don't worry. At least most of them. What, am I not one of your children?"
"Woman will go back in cage."
As Omariro prepared to open a portal, Mirei raised her hands. "You wouldn't want to do that, Master. I'm attached to Han. If you banish me, you banish him."
"Hmm. Woman plot. Woman sick in head."
Mirei put a hand to her chest. "Master! That hurts. How could you say that about your own student?"
"Woman no student."
A brief look of rage crossed her face. "How dare you? After you banished us—-?"
She calmed herself with a deep breath. "It's fine. You'll see your mistake soon. All we've ever done is try to help you, Master. And the moment we didn't fit your needs, you threw us away."
Her eyes began to glow. "And now we'll do the same to you. You'll be back with us soon, Omariro. Very soon."
She handed him a plate of sushi, a bright smile on her face. "Here! Wanna try some?"
Omariro knocked the plate out of her hands.
"Fine. Be like that. I'll be seeing you around, Master."
Her form flickered, and with a burst of purple energy, she disappeared. Sōshin quickly caught up to Omariro. "Friend Omariro! Everyone's missing!"
"Woman dangerous, boy. Must be stopped."
Meanwhile, Mall—-
Rika was walking with Han through a nearby mall. "Han? You don't usually like to go shopping. Is everything okay?"
"Of course it is, Rika! Shopping is the new wave."
"The new…what?"
He handed her a purse. "You like this?"
"It's pretty, but I'm out of money."
Han handed her some. "Here. Go purchase it. It matches your dress."
"Thank you?"
As Rika bought the purse, Han waited outside the store before Rika walked back over to him. "Han. You look tired. Maybe we should go back?"
"No. I want to show you some more things first. What's your favorite color?"
"It's light blue, Han. You know this."
Han snapped his fingers. "Right, right. This way."
They arrived at a designer store, and Han picked out a bunch of clothes for her, piling them up in her arms. "Han! This is too much!"
"Nothing is too much for you, Lady Rika."
Rika's face turned red. "Han?"
Han quickly paid for the clothes and hurried Rika out of the store. "Rika. On a scale of one to ten, how much do you trust me?"
"Nine and a half? But it's dropping fast right now, because I think you're a little drunk!"
"That's pretty high," he noted. "Nice."
"Why? Is there something wrong?"
"Nothing. Just. Let me know one thing. Who do you trust more? Me, or Mr. Nyugawa?"
Rika paused. "Han. Are you…seriously doing this?"
"Just answer the question, Rika."
"Well. I'd have to put Master first, but you're a close second! Is that okay?"
Han thought to himself. "That's good. At least she'll still have Master after this."
Han nodded. "Peachy. We can stop and grab some food before we leave."
They continued walking, with Rika continuing to give Han confused looks. Han stopped near a bathroom, and Rika waited nearby.
"Wait here. I've got to use the restroom."
"Okay."
Rika waited for one minute. Then two. Then five. After ten, she opened the door. "Han?"
To her shock, Shion emerged from the door, walking up to her. "Sorry. No Han. Just me."
"Wait, what? AHH—-!"
But no one could hear, and Han waited in the bathroom nearby, wiping a tear from his face. "Zaria…Rika…I'm sorry."
Mirei manifested in front of him, putting a hand on his shoulder. "One more, Han. Deal with Nonoka, and then we can move forward with our plan."
"A—alright."
Shinkaidan Mansion—-
Nonoka woke up in her bed, rubbing her head. "Ugh. What the hell? How'd I get here?"
She put on her slippers and opened the door. "Sir? Zaria? Rika? Han?"
She noticed Han in his room, scrolling on his computer. "Dude. Did you get a makeover?"
He had his headphones on.
She tapped him on the shoulder. "Han. Han. Han."
He removed the headphones. "Yes, Nonoka?"
She sat in the seat next to him. "I'm like, so confused. I was just with Zaria, Master, and the girls. And now, I'm here. Did I have a massive hangover?"
Han continued scrolling as Nonoka rested her head on his shoulder. "Ugh. I can't think. You're the smart one. How do you think we should handle all this drama?"
"What do you mean?"
"Like, these Dokkōdan jerks. And the monsters. We still don't know where their leaders are. Plus that freaky slime is still hunting for Master."
"It is a lot," Han remarked. "I guess that's the price of being a Kaitansha."
Nonoka yawned. "I'll admit. I like being in this squad more than with my dad's. It's less crowded. More…friendly. And Master is way cooler than Dad."
Han began typing a code, sending a message to someone. "That's what's up."
She flicked his hair. "When did your hair get longer? Are you using some kinda magic shampoo or something?"
"I have my ways. Nonoka. Who would you say is your closest relationship?"
"Hmm? We talking everyone?"
"Among the kids, obviously."
She lifted her head to think. "I dunno. Rei and Sōshin are pretty alright. Rika, she's cute and all. It'd have to be Zaria. You're like, number two. Now if we're talking everyone, she's two and you're three."
"That's to be expected."
"Hah. Don't tell me you're jealous. Han Jisoo, jealous?"
"Nope. But do me a favor, Nonoka."
"Hmm? What's up?"
"Look up."
She did, and the moment she did so, a portal opened, dragging her inside. By the time Han turned back around, she was gone.
"And…that's all of them."
Sōshin came into the room, holding Emeru. "Friend Han, are you okay?"
"Look at him," Emeru teased. "He's about to blow up! Let me eat him! I promise I'll be gentle!"
"Sōshin…do you think the girls will forgive me for this?"
Sōshin nodded. "Of course! Friend Han had a reason, right?"
"Yeah. I had to keep them safe from Mirei, or she'd kill them all herself. And it's the only way to find out her plans. But…"
He wiped the tears from his face. "I used their feelings against them…and I don't think this can be fixed."
???—-
Zaria, Rika, and Nonoka all awoke in a locked cell, with the Seventh sitting in a chair nearby. "Ah. Good morning, girls."
Zaria banged on the door. "The hell? What is this?"
The Seventh stood up. "Your new home. Get used to it. I'm going to have a lot of fun with you three."
Nonoka clenched her fist. "Han, that jackass…"
"He lured you here too?" Rika questioned, heartbroken.
Zaria wiped the tears from her face before slamming on the bars. "I trusted him…I TRUSTED him!"
The Seventh chuckled. "Funny. It seems your trust is misplaced. Say hello to the Eighth of the Heralds."
Zaria and the others watched as an armored figure came in, dragging Shino and Rei into the room. When the mask dropped, they all saw a familiar face:
"Han…"
——