A Wild Night Out / A Chill Night In

Samatoki laid his head on the back of his leather couch, inhaled on his cigarette, and blew smoke into the air above him. It swirled under the harsh lights of his office before dissipating. His duties as yakuza head were done for the day. Not a single skull had been kicked. Not a single fist had been thrown. Every issue he had come across, he had resolved easily. That was great for nurturing relationships with both locals and his subordinates, but it was shit for releasing tension. Samatoki was buzzing with restless energy. The air around him almost simmered as his restlessness rolled off him in waves. He appeared completely calm save for the scowl he directed at the ceiling, burning a hole into it; his agitation broiled under the surface like a rip current on a calm day threatening to pull one out to sea.

Clicking his tongue irritably, Samatoki whipped out his phone and punched in a number by heart. Jyuto was in his contacts, but he preferred to abuse his phone with every number. The minute the line picked up, he said, “Hey. Get out here.”

Jyuto’s voice sighed as papers shuffled on the other end. “I was just finishing up at the department.”

“Good. Get here, then.”

Samatoki could hear Jyuto’s half-lidded expression, even as he most assuredly held his phone between his shoulder and ear, reports in hand. “Are you bored?”

“Yeah I’m bored, so what?”

Jyuto withheld a sigh. Samatoki could hear that, too. “Your day went too smoothly, didn’t it?”

Samatoki barked a laugh. “You know it. So how’s about we wreak some havoc, huh?”

“You are so predictable.” Jyuto set down his casework with a heavy thud, metal scraping against metal as he shut a filing cabinet. Its lock clicked into place. “I’ll call Rio.”

“Good. See ya soon.” Samatoki hung up with a grin. He could let off some steam, and his team could strengthen their bonds and their hearts for their mics. They were gonna kick ass at the next Division Rap Battle.

Shortly, Jyuto and Samatoki were ducking under branches as they trudged through the forest that Rio called home. Samatoki growled, “Seriously, why can’t he meet us at my place?”

“I believe he said he was caught up with something,” Jyuto said with a grimace. The branch Samatoki had pushed to the side whipped back to smack Jyuto in the face. “Ack! Watch it!”

“I am watching it! Ya think I’m gonna just assume there ain’t a snare or a booby trap we could fall into?”

“Rio always disables his traps when we visit,” Jyuto snapped back. “Look in front of you, not at the ground.”

“Hey, who knows,” Samatoki said, grinning. “Maybe you’ll get caught in a snare an’ Rio’ll cook up some delicious rabbit.”

“Don’t even joke about that…” Jyuto said, turning green. “We’re not staying here long enough for a meal, anyway.”

“We’ve sure been searchin’ for him a while. How deep in is he this time? He keeps movin’ his damn camp.” Samatoki cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, “Hey, RIO!”

Samatoki’s voice boomed through a suddenly quiet wood, bouncing off the trees and echoing back to him. A flock of birds startled and flew into the setting sun. A branch snapped deeper in the forest. Chills ran up Jyuto’s and Samatoki’s spines.

“I am here,” Rio’s deep baritone called from further ahead.

“Show yourself sooner next time,” Samatoki growled, stomping onward.

Rio emerged from a pile of leaves just as Samatoki passed.

Samatoki yelped, “What the hell, man?!”

“I was hunting for ingredients for our dinner tonight,” Rio said, impressively straight-faced for a man who was hiding in a pile of leaves. “But I haven’t had much luck. Did I startle you?”

“Yeah, ya startled me! Damn…” Samatoki rolled his shoulders, readjusting his collar as he gathered himself together. “Is this what was holdin’ you up?”

Rio nodded. “I found some insects for taste, but it won’t fill our stomachs. I was hoping for some bat, since the sun is setting, but you frightened everything off.”

“Oh… Sorry about that.” Samatoki scrubbed the hair at the back of his head, gruffly apologetic even as he took a step back. That pile of leaves was definitely filled with bugs. He shuddered.

“It’s alright. I was hoping to check all of my traps before we left, though. Do you mind waiting for a little longer?”

“Nah, man, go for it.”

Jyuto paled. As Rio straightened, brushing leaves off his head and shoulders, Jyuto leaned in to subtly whisper in Samatoki’s ear, “What do we do if he finds something?”

“Hell if I know,” Samatoki muttered back. “Suffer, I guess.”

Rio nodded seriously. “Alright. You can accompany me if you wish, but please try to remain quiet.”

“I don’t think Samatoki is capable of quiet,” Jyuto said, one eyebrow raised at Samatoki. “You’re the loudest thing in these woods.”

Samatoki grinned. “You bet your ass I am.”

“It wasn’t a compliment…”

Rio scoured the forest as he checked every trap. Miraculously, every snare, box, and trap was empty. With every trap, Jyuto and Samatoki breathed a little easier. The sun had completely set, and Rio was nearly done. Maybe they could get out of the woods with their stomachs intact afterall.

Finally, as Rio approached his last trap, he made a satisfied grunt. A bush shook with the animated frenzy of an animal desperately trying to escape. “Ah, it looks like we may eat tonight afterall.”

Jyuto and Samatoki blanched. They watched Rio part the dense bush to reveal whatever horrible delicacy they were going to be forced to swallow with smiles on their faces. Grimacing with dread, they both leaned down and peered over Rio’s broad shoulders.

It was a young rabbit caught in a snare. Its little hindleg was caught in the wire, the leg injured from its desperate flailing. Flecks of blood stood out on its pure white winter coat. It stopped moving and stared up at the three men with dewy, doe eyes.

Oh, no. It’s so cute… Jyuto and Samatoki thought in unison.

Samatoki gulped, staring down the rabbit’s innocent, pleading eyes. His mouth watered. Oh man. Rabbit tastes so good… He shook his head. But it’s so cute and innocent… That white fur, those eyes… It looks like Nemu. Can I really take out something that defenseless?

Jyuto, too, stared into those watery eyes. The rabbit stared back as though it knew that they were the same. Ugh… It’s a rabbit. But…it’s better than bats and bugs. Can I really end a rabbit’s life here and now? I know I could get the blood out of my uniform...

Jyuto and Samatoki struggled with their internal battles. They reasoned with their own emotions. They battled with their empathy--or what was left of it--even as their stomachs growled for good, lean, white meat. They could do this. Rio would kill it, butcher it, and then it would just be delicious, healthy meat. It wasn’t Nemu. It wasn’t a living symbol of Jyuto and his ambitions, his dreams. It was just business. It was a delicious rabbit caught in a snare. Predator and prey. Having triumphed over their individual struggles, Jyuto and Samatoki nodded simultaneously. They could do this. They could absolutely do this. Rabbit meat. Actual, normal meat made with Rio’s superb cooking skills. They could do this!

Rio reached down toward the snare. One strong hand took hold of the wire while another gently scruffed the rabbit, pressing it into the ground so it could not struggle. It stopped moving completely, frozen out of fear.

Then Rio undid the snare and released the rabbit. It shook itself and dashed into the underbrush, not even sparing the hunter a thank you.

“Hah?!”

“What?!”

“Why’d you let it go?!” Samatoki yelled.

Still crouched in the dirt, Rio looked back to his teammates. With a completely stone-faced, serious expression, his eyes glimmering with honesty, he said, “It was a friend.”

Jyuto and Samatoki stared at Rio, wide-eyed. They looked between their friend and the direction the rabbit escaped--Rio, the bushes, Rio, the bushes--back and forth, until finally, they both found their voices.

“What,” they flatly asked, once again in unison.

“It was a friend,” Rio repeated simply, as though that was all the reason he needed to free good, normal game. “I only hunt more common animals like bats, snakes, and insects. Deer, rabbits, foxes--they all gather around me when I am alone at my camp. They trust me. It would be wrong of me, as a hunter, to kill creatures that trust me so completely when I can hunt something else that will taste just as good.”

Samatoki slumped, sighing. “Man, and I had just psyched myself up to do it, too…”

Jyuto crossed his arms and sighed, two fingers pressing to the bridge of his glasses. “Same here…”

Rio stood, frowning with concern. “I’m sorry. It looks like I won’t be able to prepare you dinner quickly enough.”

Samatoki straightened with renewed energy. He slapped Rio’s back. “Don’t worry about it, man!”

Rio’s eyes scanned their leader, catching the tautness of his shoulders, the edge to his smile. His own shoulders were subtly slumped, dejected, but he was not sure they would notice. ”Are you sure? It’s a long walk to the city, and a good meal would bring us closer.”

Jyuto smiled with tangible relief. “Really, Rio. Don’t worry. We can go to Chinatown for a good, bonding meal.”

“Yeah! Eating those meat buns together was so fun and great for the team. Granny Kimiko makes the best meat buns in town!”

Rio watched them both for a moment, then nodded. “Meat buns will suffice.”

Samatoki and Jyuto exhaled. Man, we really dodged a bullet there…

It looked like Samatoki’s luck was still going strong. As they ventured out of the forest and toward Chinatown, Jyuto wondered if that luck would continue.

Eventually, all three members of Mad Trigger Crew were back in Yokohama proper. Samatoki’s stomach growled as tempestuously as his mood, only causing his pent-up tension to grow. He clicked his tongue and began shaking out a fresh cigarette; a quick smoke would curb his appetite as well as temper his mood, if only until they got to Chinatown. It was a win-win.

Rio’s brow furrowed, a curious question that had already accepted the answer he had not yet been given. “Other than street food, what are our plans for the evening?”

“I doubt he has one,” Jyuto said long-sufferingly.

“Nope,” Samatoki declared shamelessly. “No plan. It’s Yokohama. We’ll come across something exciting eventually.”

Jyuto sighed, his arms crossed as he readjusted his glasses. Yet he couldn’t help a small, fond smile. “As predictable as always.”

“Aw, shut up,” Samatoki growled around his cigarette. As he lit up, he cupped his hands around his lighter, protecting it from the chill wind. Pocketing his light, he took a long drag before blowing up into the air. The breeze took the smoke down the street and away from them.

Jyuto cast a quick glance down the road behind them to ensure no one was enjoying Samatoki’s secondhand smoke. It was illegal to smoke in public save for designated smoking areas, but most importantly, it was rude. They both obliged when walking non-busy streets. As the coast was clear, Jyuto pulled out his own pack and gestured at Samatoki to share his spark. Jyuto placed a cigarette between his lips, and Samatoki stopped to lean in. They took a moment to touch cherry to unlit cherry, Samatoki inhaling to give his smoke more heat, Jyuto exhaling simultaneously. The moment lasted until Jyuto’s cigarette lit. It may have taken more time than strictly necessary.

Samatoki straightened with a smirk. Jyuto narrowed his eyes over his glasses. They would be finished with their cigarettes before they got to the busy downtown streets. Samatoki could be a crude sonuvabitch, but he wasn’t always an asshole.

Finally, Samatoki began stalking down the walkway, expecting his crew to follow. Instead, they walked beside him, comrades and equals. Jyuto looked to the dark evening sky. “I imagine the antique shops we frequent will be closed by the time we get there.”

“I’m not lookin’ for a good shirt tonight, Jyuto,'' Samatoki snapped. “I need some excitement!”

“Was the forest not exciting enough for you?” Jyuto asked.

Rio perked up like a lion hearing rustling in the bushes or a bird that spotted a worm. “We could return later tonight, if you like. Bats will be much easier to catch after moonrise.”

Samatoki and Jyuto blanched.

“No, no,” Jyuto said hurriedly, wearing a wan smile that remembered both Rio’s passion and the texture of water bugs. He raised gloved hands in surrender. “We would hate to intrude on you so suddenly. Isn’t that right, Samatoki?”

“Oh, yeah. Totally,” Samatoki scrambled to agree, nodding furiously. “We ain’t gonna put you out like that. Hey, yanno what I haven’t done in a while? Checked out a competitor’s underground gambling den. They’ve been enchroachin’ on my territory, an’ it’s been pissin’ me off. Whaddaya say we try our luck tonight?”

“Oh, now you suddenly have a plan?” Jyuto asked.

“Damn straight. A man knows what he wants.”

“Even though a man didn’t have a clue, earlier,” Jyuto teased. “Maybe your luck will run out tonight. Or would that be unlucky?”

“Fuck luck. I’ll make my own. There’s gotta be some heads to smack together on yakuza ground.”

“Are we preparing for battle, Samatoki?” Rio asked.

“Yeah, somethin’ like that. Sorry if I drag you into it, Rio.”

Rio shook his head. “We are a team. Whatever happens, we shall combat it together.”

Samatoki grinned wide. “Hell yeah! We’re the best goddamn team around.”

“Yes, we are,” said Jyuto matter-of-factly. “So try not to drag us into something we can’t fight our way out of.”

“What’re you talkin’ about? We can fight our way outta anything.”

“Careful, Samatoki. That almost sounds sentimental,” Jyuto said.

“Aw, shut your fuckin’ mouth,” Samatoki growled around his cigarette.

With that sentiment held in their hearts, Mad Trigger Crew continued to walk their streets. Samatoki and Jyuto finished their cigarettes, properly disposed of the butts, and headed into a rival gang’s casino. Afterall, there wasn’t much point in winning or losing Samatoki’s money in his own casino, was there? If they were going to win anything, they might as well weaken a rival gang.

After a few rounds at the Blackjack table, that plan seemed to be working too well. No matter what Samatoki tried, he continued to win. Blackjack; the Roulette wheel; even Poker, which he disliked--every game paid him out. Samatoki was blowing fire on the far side of the casino, snapping at two male security guards while Jyuto and Rio watched. The dealer, a young girl, began to tear up. Samatoki immediately calmed down, apologizing to her as he tried to console her.

Jyuto sighed. “This is absolutely not my scene. Is there anything you’re interested in, Rio?”

“Gambling is not illegal in America, but I don’t have a great deal of experience,” Rio said. Practiced eyes scanned their surroundings. “Slots seem to not require much skill. Arisugawa speaks of them often.”

“Ah yes, that gambling friend of yours from Shibuya. Wouldn’t it be a coincidence if he was here now?”

Rio’s eyebrows rose with recognition. He nodded toward a table. “Look. There he is.”

“What?” Jyuto’s head whipped to the right. “Seriously?”

Jyuto almost expected a just kidding, but that wasn’t Rio’s style. Sure enough, Dice Arisugawa was wailing at a baccarat table, his earnings depleted. One guard regarded him with crossed arms and an intimidating glare, debating on throwing him out. Dice’s knees hit the floor as he clasped two hands together, begging for a second chance.

“I have to check on him,” Rio said to Jyuto. “I’ll either meet you at the slots or with Samatoki.”

Jyuto nodded, understanding. “Do what you have to do.”

Rio approached the scene as confidently as he ever approached anything, his built profile and military uniform already outclassing the security guard. “Good evening, Arisugawa. Are you alright?”

“Rio-san!” Dice leapt to his feet, a grin momentarily lighting up his face. “I’m sorry. I lost the money you lent me. I was gonna earn twice as much and pay you back!”

“That is a kind sentiment, but unnecessary.”

Jyuto stood back and watched his teammates with their personal struggles, deciding his next move. Samatoki had sat down at the tearful girl’s Poker table and was now grumbling to himself. He had won yet another hand. The dealer congratulated him, causing his brow to twitch with barely controlled fury. She stuttered an apology and continued with the next hand, which Samatoki also won. The guy next to Samatoki drunkenly asked him if he was counting cards, to which Samatoki answered with an infuriated, “HAH?!”

Jyuto sighed. “They’re going to kick us out at the rate he’s going…” He wasn’t sure how else Samatoki could let off some steam, but if they were kicked out, they’d have an even more riled up Samatoki on their hands with no immediate outlet. He might as well step in before that happened. Jyuto began walking that way.

Samatoki slammed both hands on the table and stood with such force, he knocked over his own chair. The newest target of Samatoki’s fury, completely sloshed, stood to challenge him, but instead lost his balance, tripping on his own chair and toppling to the ground.

The dealer begged, “Sir, please don’t fight…”

Samatoki rounded on her, glaring. She flinched. Of course, Samatoki didn’t take it any further; he wouldn’t hit a girl. As Jyuto approached from the opposite side of the casino, Samatoki’s face slipped from his view. He could not see what Samatoki had said, but his shoulders tensed, and suddenly, the young woman’s eyes widened with fear.

Samatoki rounded on the two security guards still flanking him and screamed in their faces. His booming voice carried across the hall, but the words themselves were drowned out by the din of the slots and the crowd. Jyuto could not read Samatoki’s lips from this angle, but the young woman looked downright terrified. Jyuto’s eyes narrowed. Samatoki was not the type of guy who would scare a woman without reason. He quickened his pace, intent on investigating as he strode down an aisle of slot machines in order to reach his leader.

“Ohh, Iruma!” a sneering voice called from a machine. “Fancy seeing you here.”

Jyuto turned to see a familiar face. Two inferior officers in street clothes stepped into the aisle, effectively blocking Jyuto’s path to Samatoki. This, if nothing else, marked them as his enemy. Their appearances were as forgettable as their talents--or lack thereof--but Jyuto had taken care to memorize the faces of every person in his department. Having dirt on people was useless without being able to recognize who that dirt belonged to, both in and out of the office.

“Ah,” Jyuto said with an easy, condescending smile. “Souma. Watanabe. I’d greet you properly, titles and all, but I don’t think that would go over well here. What brings you to an illegal gambling den?”

“That’s our line!” Souma said, grinning confidently. “We’re here on a sting operation.”

“Yeah, we’re gonna blow this gang sky-high,” chuckled Watanabe lowly.

“And who do we find but the untouchable Iruma? We’re bringing you in.”

A cruel grin stretched across Jyuto’s handsome face. “Oh, excellent idea. Let’s go to the department together, where I can check on your paperwork. I don’t remember a sting operation in the investigations I put together for the team. I must have overlooked something.”

“Uhhh…” Watanabe looked around nervously. Already, nearby patrons were quietly slinking away from their machines and disappearing into the crowd. Unease rose between the two officers.

“Unless you came here to gamble illegally. But that couldn’t be the case, could it?” Jyuto readjusted his glasses and smirked down at the two men. They were the same height, but his confident, commanding aura made him appear twice as tall and thrice as threatening. It was clear that he drew true glee from this part of his job. “Here, I’ll do you a favor. Leave quietly today. I’ll put your paperwork through correctly, and you can interrupt the VIP poker game they hold here. You’ll testify on all paperwork and in every interview that I organized, led, and booked every arrest.”

“But you--!” Souma took one aggressive step forward.

Jyuto raised one hand and tugged down on his glove as though he were preparing for a fight that would hardly scuff his cuffs. He lifted his chin arrogantly, looking down his nose at them. “And you both get to keep your jobs. Sounds like a good deal, right?”

The two officers grit their teeth. Finally, Watanabe sighed and put his hand on Souma’s shoulder. “Let’s just go, man.”

Souma glowered at Jyuto like a dog refusing to back down.

“Oh? Are you turning down my generous offer? I could always bring you in, if you’d prefer. I’m sure Sara wouldn’t mind tending to your empty apartment for a couple months. She probably wouldn’t leave you...unless she were to hear about the affair you’ve been having here, Officer Souma.”

“Tch.” Souma stepped back, stepping down “We’ll get you next time, Iruma.”

“Try me,” Jyuto said amicably, his cold eyes glinting. “See where it gets you.”

The two officers slunk down the aisle and out the door. Jyuto allowed himself a small, frustrated exhale. Finally, now he could help Samatoki with the bigger problem at hand. As he suspected, when he approached the Poker table and an exploding Samatoki, the young girl did not appear relieved to see a calm and collected individual come to collect a delinquent. If anything, she looked even more frightened, wide eyes darting about the casino. No other dealer would catch her eyes. Every single dealer was a scantily clad young woman; their uniforms better suited an adult magazine than a casino. A line of men in suits were standing at the back wall, waiting to see if they needed to intervene. They were definitely packing.

Jyuto took his place beside Samatoki and regarded the two security guards. “Can I help you with anything, gentlemen?”

“Yeah,” the buffer one said gruffly. “This punk was hasslin’ one of our girls. We’re about to kick him out.”

“Well, Samatoki, that doesn’t sound like you,” Jyuto commented reasonably. “What’s really going on?”

Samatoki growled, his teeth grit, “I’m gonna kick these guys’ asses after I burn this whole damn place to the ground.”

“That is a plan, not an explanation. Though I didn’t exactly plan arson into my evening… Of course, I don’t have a problem with altering those plans.”

Samatoki aggressively jerked his thumb at the young woman, but his glare never once left the two guards. “Took me a minute, but I recognized her. Family’s been lookin’ for her. She answered an ad hiring actors and vanished a couple o’ weeks ago.”

“That’s exactly what I suspected.” Jyuto smiled like a blade. “It looks like I’ll be moving a little higher up the ladder tonight.”

Samatoki took one, deep inhale before belting out, “OI, RIO!”

Rio turned, Dice tucked under his arm like a bag of rice or a stray cat he was saving from a pack of wild dogs. He set down his friend at the exit and bid him farewell. Dice took one look at the situation with cool, pensive eyes before quietly slipping out the door with a heartfelt good luck.

Rio jogged over to his teammates and stood at their side. “I’m here. What’s the situation?”

“Human trafficking,” Jyuto said simply.

“Ah. No prisoners?”

Samatoki cracked his knuckles, grinning ecstatically. “None.”

All three members of Mad Trigger Crew geared up to beat every last gangster in that building. Patrons scrambled toward the exits. The young dealer scurried over to a nearby girl, more terrified of the promise of violence than her current reality.

Samatoki gleefully drew back his fist.

If his annoyingly good luck had continued throughout the night, the two security guards would have caved and pleaded for a shorter sentence, giving up their bosses and allowing for multiple easy arrests. It would end Jyuto’s short bout of bad luck for the evening, as well.

Fortunately for Samatoki, that was not how the evening went. All three members of MTC beat the hell out of every gangster in that room. Rio was coldly efficient, knocking out each man with one movement a piece. Each gangster passed out before they even hit the ground. Jyuto was far more elegant, kicking with his long legs as well as punching just as hard as his yakuza friend. Jyuto dodged punches with grace, and Rio maneuvered around each blow with the practice only awarded through training and years of experience on the battlefield. Samatoki, of course, fought like a man who grew up fighting on the streets with thugs and scumbags: brutal and dirty. The few men left who were packing heat rushed into an inconspicuous door, no doubt to protect their leader.

While Rio and Jyuto dealt with the trash in the lobby, Samatoki burst into the back room. “HEY, FUCKERS!”

The rival gang’s greasy leader shrieked like a housewife who had just spotted a mouse. A few other men in suits had been lounging on leather couches with him, completely confident their hired guns would deal with the problem before they had to dirty their perfectly manicured hands. The women who had been sitting with them leapt up and scattered. Samatoki stepped to the side to allow them to rush out of the room, his expression twisted with cold fury.

The mob boss wiped at his sweaty, greasy brow. “Wh-wh-who let you in here?? This room is off-limits!”

Samatoki’s grin belonged to the reaper himself. “Hidin’ back here like a fuckin’ coward, huh? You’re gonna miss all the fun!”

“You can’t do this! This is my building, my territory! Do you want a war?!”

“This is my fucking territory,” Samatoki seethed, his eyes black holes. “Fuck yeah, I want a war.”

“Though it looks like you won’t be able to bring one,” Jyuto said calmly, slipping into the room behind Samatoki. “We’ve taken out all your goons. I called for some squad cars to take out the trash.”

Rio stepped in beside his teammates, a body hanging from his arm in much the same way that Dice had been moments before. It was unclear whether the body was breathing or not. Rio dropped it in the doorway. “We have no major casualties.”

“Can’t promise the same for these guys,” Samatoki growled with glee, cracking his knuckles.

“Y-you think you can take us down just like that?!” The mob boss swept his arm to the side, gesturing to his men. Three yakuza retrieved illegal mics from their suit jackets.

Samatoki snorted derisively before whipping out his mic. “Fuck yeah! I was hopin’ for a showdown.”

“I guess it can’t be helped.” Jyuto unholstered his mic. “We’ll finish this quickly and take you all in.”

Rio pulled out his mic, his expression stoic. “We’ll decimate your defense with one verse.”

Their hypnosis mics activated, and Jyuto’s and Rio’s speakers dropped heavily into the room behind them. A coffin slammed into the floor behind Samatoki, and the doors creaked open as a massive skeleton creeped out, blasting Samatoki’s next words.

“Hey, motherfuckers, ya think ya got me good? I’m MC Hardcore. This is my hood! You’re ‘bout to die so don’t try to lie and run away. We’ll beat ya to a fuckin’ pulp for gettin’ in my way! Welcome to hell ya fuckin’ corpse, ENJOY YOUR STAY!”

Jyuto’s sirens joined Samatoki’s beat as he jumped in, his strong voice barking orders into his police radio-style mic. “Stop right there! You’re under arrest! Think you’ll grime up my city with crime? Let’s put you to the test! Our flow will have your knees on the ground. You hear that sound?”

As Jyuto’s siren blared, all three members chanted, “Whoop! Whoop!”

Jyuto continued, “You best put your hands up and kneel before our rhymes make you keel over!”

“Crazy M took out all your men today. We’re MTC, and we aren’t here to play. You can’t fight a battle with an army of none. We’ve already won. Your base is defenseless. Fight a soldier? That’s senseless. I’m an army of one--I’m a gun--but this is my team, and you’re right in my sights. Ready?”

Samatoki, Jyuto, and Rio aimed finger-guns at the mobsters before all shouting, “Bang!”

MTC’s combo hit the mobster and his three goons in one final, powerful wave. They screamed and hit their knees, then toppled over. They were out cold.

“Ha! Didn’t even have the balls to last one goddamn round,” Samatoki sniped, grinning toothily.

“And they got down on their knees afterall,” Jyuto said. “Nice to see criminals cooperate. Of course, I’m still tacking on resisting arrest to their record.”

“Ha! Why stop there? Anythin’ else we can throw in?”

Jyuto hummed thoughtfully, gloved fingers curling under his lips. “Oh, I’m sure I can think of something… Possession of illegal mics, for one.”

Sirens blared from the street outside, zoning in on the casino. Jyuto and Samatoki shared one look.

“Guess that’s my cue,” Samatoki said, grinning. He was in a much better mood now that he was able to let loose. “See ya later.”

Jyuto readjusted his gloves. “Guess I better get to work. This paperwork will take all night.”

Rio stepped in. “I’ll help with whatever you need.”

Jyuto allowed a small smile. “Thanks, Rio.”

Thanks to Jyuto’s foresight to call ahead, Rio was able to carefully lead the women out of the building and to the safety of waiting patrol cars. Jyuto took all of the credit for bringing down the gambling den and rescuing the women; naturally, he did not forget to cite Watanabe and Souma as the ones who had tipped him off to the casino’s suspicious dealings. How else could he thank them for cooperating? He gave them a reason to be at an illegal gambling den while simultaneously reminding them he knew exactly why they were there and what he could do with that information. They wouldn’t prove to be a problem again.

It took quite a few hours for Jyuto to wrap everything up at the department. It was late, late at night when he finally left. He checked the watch on his right wrist. “Well past midnight, huh…” He sighed. “So much for Chinatown meat buns…”

As he exited the building, he was met with Samatoki and Rio. In their hands were bags and bags of steaming hot meat buns. Jyuto’s eyes widened. For once, he was entirely caught off guard. “What’s this?”

“While you were escorting the women to the station, Samatoki and I finished up at the casino,” Rio explained. “Someone from the neighborhood came up and thanked us, in tears.”

Samatoki grinned. “It was Granny Kimiko. That girl I recognized? She was her niece. Small world, huh?”

“Small world,” Jyuto agreed, a small smile playing across his lips.

“So she thanked us with her best recipe. Come on! We’ll finish up at my place. Get a nightcap.”

“Heh. Might as well,” Jyuto said, a corner of his lips quirking into a smirk. “I didn’t have any other plans for the rest of the night.”

“That’s the spirit!” Samatoki slapped Jyuto’s back affectionately. “The day’s already been so damn full, may as well make it an all-nighter.”

The team retired to Samatoki’s office where they drank, ate, and laughed together late into the early morning. At the end of the night, Samatoki and Jyuto found themselves collapsed on the sofa together, leaning against each other for support, even in sleep. Rio took extra care to cover them with a blanket, smiling softly. Rather than hopelessly attempt to sleep indoors, he grabbed his gear and headed out into the early morning chill. He had just enough time to catch and prepare their breakfast.