13 A Person from the North

Takumi sighed and focused on how to respond to the radio. "komandir.. (командир..) " Takumi draws the radio closer to her. Then the person on the radio and Takumi started to talk in their language, Chiho tried to listen to them but couldn't catch up due to their long conversation, She just watched her. "Hey Chiho, Do you understand them?" Mariko whispered close. "No" Chiho shook her head. Takumi looked at them while speaking, then looked away. "It's the best to stay quiet until she's done" Chiho whispered. "Do you think we should get out of here?" Ayumi tugged on Chiho. She looked at Ayumi and shook her head. "I keep hearing Da.. What do you think?" Mariko asked. "I'm not sure.." Chiho listened to them. A few moments, Takumi pressed the radio, making a beep sound. She sighed and looked at Mariko. "I..It was the faction's leader" Takumi puts her hands on her forehead and sighed again. "Look.. She heard us this whole time.. And now She's suspicious of your voices" Takumi looked at the three. "W-What are you going to do?" Mariko asked. "I told her you're a new recruit" Takumi responded. "Huh?! I'm not joining you!" Mariko leaned closer. "It's just a lie, She said She'll come down here in five mikes" Takumi looked far behind them. "Mikes?" Mariko asked. "Minutes.. Five minutes" Takumi sighed. "Look, Chiho-san, Ayumi-chan.. Mariko will have to stay here, You should go or we'll get caught" Takumi told them to get away. "H-Hey! Why am i staying?!" Mariko shouted. "I told you that i lied, Now just stay here and I'll do my best to get out of this situation" Takumi responded. Mariko visibly gulped and looked at Chiho. "Look, I'll not put you on danger, Just stay quiet... Chiho, Mariko's going to be fine, Just go" Takumi told them.

Then Mariko suddenly toughens up. "Fine, Fine! I'm going to face her! Chiho, Get yourselves out of here" Mariko shouted at them. "A-Are you sure?" Chiho looked at her. "Yeah, I guess there's no other way.. I'm going to pretend i wanted to join them.. I'll.. I guess I'll be fine" Mariko smiled. "Hurry up" Takumi crossed her arms. "A-Alright, Be safe, Mariko-san" Chiho said as She jumps down from the wing. "Don't do anything stupid, Okay?" Ayumi gave Mariko a worried look. "Don't worry! If Takumi here fails me, I'll beat her in front of her boss!" Mariko grinned, making Ayumi giggles as She jumps down. The two looked back at her. Mariko nods at them and They proceed back to the village.

"Alright.." Takumi moved to her side a bit. "Go back inside, Pretend that you're learning" Takumi asked her to go inside. "Alright.." Mariko went back to the cockpit. As She sat on the cockpit, She looked up to Takumi. "You said Five minutes, right? She'll take a while, So why don't you tell me more?" Mariko asked. "Just take a look at something.. I might look calm, but i'm actually nervous as hell" Takumi gave her an irritated look. "Why are you nervous? I'm not even nervous!" Mariko laughed at her. Takumi ignored her and stayed quiet. "Fine.." Mariko instead, looked at the gauges. She used her fingers to feel the glasses covering them. Once She's done, She leaned back and looked at Takumi. "Hey.. Is this the same plane before? When i shot you down?" Mariko asked and quickly realized she forgot the gun she used. "Shit! The gun! I forgot about it! It was on the ground!" Mariko looked at right to look for it on the ground. Takumi giggled. "I took it with me back to the base" Takumi said. "Huh... I didn't even saw you pick it up" Mariko looked back to her. "I don't want you carrying that everywhere, Just where the hell did you get that?" Takumi opened the canopy behind the cockpit. "I got it from..W-Whoa! There's another one there?!" Mariko looked behind her, She saw an MG mounted on the end. Takumi went in and took the seat. "Hey! What can you do over there?! Hello!" Mariko looked at her and smiled. "Uh.. It's a rear gunner, Nothing special.. Just to protect yourselves from enemies behind you" Takumi explained and leaned her back. "But why not just fight back?" Mariko asked. "Alright, Listen. We have two types of planes, Fighters and Bombers.. This one you're riding is a Bomber.. Bomber planes are.. well, for bombing places and stuff.. The bombers are not agile as the Fighters, Specially when they are carrying bombs with them. The purpose of their cannons on their wings are to rain down the enemies on the ground. So the only hopes for the bombers to defend themselves are the rear gunners." Takumi explained.

Mariko stayed silent to think about it. "But that's where the Fighters come in, They carry the stronger guns and ammunition for destroying planes, They are the escorts. When bombers are sent to a mission, There will be always some squadrons of fighter planes assigned to protect the bombers. They'll engage the enemies while the bombers remain still on their course. Of course they are still going to use their rear guns to support the fighters" Takumi explained further. "Damn, You could have just told me that it's used to defend" Mariko scratched her head. Takumi laughed quietly. Then silence between them has started. This led Mariko to think deep, Then She asked a question. "Hey... Tell me more about your organization" Mariko looked at the skies. "My organization.. huh.." Takumi closed her eyes and sighed heavily. "Of course, You're no ordinary military, That is made to protect a certain country" Takumi stayed silent to let her continue. "I mean.. Look at you, You easily chose to side with us, Like.. You can do whatever you want.. You were scared that your boss will kill you if She knew you're on a friendly terms with your enemies, Yet you still chose to keep your ties with us and hide it from her, or them.. No ordinary soldiers would do such things like that, you know?" Mariko's very curious. Takumi giggled and crossed her arms. "I don't know for your world here, But in our world, Those things are not uncommon.. The way i see it, There are no perfect countries, There'll be always some people who are willing to oppose their own government to put their own ideals to power" Takumi gave her thoughts. "I don't know.. That's my opinion at least.. I'm too young to think about those, to be honest" Takumi sighed. "What a world you're in.. I'm glad that it's not always like that here. The only rebellion happened was when we were at war. But once there's peace again, Nothing like those happened again" Mariko thought of Takumi's side. "Heh.. Peace formed after a war doesn't always guarantee a peaceful world, Doesn't always change people's mind. Sooner or later, Something bad will happen again" Takumi responded. Mariko remained silent.

"But, talking about my organization" Takumi fixed herself and sat properly. "Shichiro, The leader of the whole organization, The PTRD. have a crazy toleration for traitors when visiting other worlds like yours" Takumi started to explain. "Say what now? He tolerates traitors? What the hell.." Mariko became even more confused. "Yes, He have reasons behind that.. Most of the worlds we visit are on medieval eras, And He kinda wants those medieval people to get to know of modern technologies. So He lets some of his own troops to turn against him so those medieval people get to taste of the modern techs.. Basically, Showing off our modern techs to medieval people, disguised as a rebellion.. Get it?" Takumi asked. "Wait... Medieval is what you call the era where there's no crazy technologies like these, right? So you come to a medieval world, That Shichiro guy let his soldiers turn themselves against him, So He can show off..? Just why not try showing them without violence?" Mariko asked. "It's obviously technologies for war! How are they going to test it without an enemy? We also wanted to show them how dangerous they are too! Like, Really show them!" Takumi shouted. "A-Ah, I guess so.." Mariko just agreed. "Like i said before, Most of the one to fight against us are the one who's kind enough, like me" Takumi said. Mariko laughed at her. "Are you saying you are a kind person?". Takumi let go of her posture and slides down a bit on her seat. "I wouldn't be talking to you here right now if i'm not a good person" Takumi responded. "Hah, What a joke.. In the end, You're still one of them, No matter what you say" Mariko laughed. "I bet you still don't know the exact reason for us to go each world" Takumi sees if She knows. "For resources and for recruitment, right? You said so yourself!" Mariko responded. "Heh, Alright...Actually, There's one more reason of why he goes to war, to find who's going to be the hero of that world" Takumi giggled at her response. "What now?" Mariko asked, already tired of more things. "He'll make a war on a world, Then He'll see who's going to be the one going to stand up and fight. Then Once He saw one, He'll try his best to make a challenge out of that person by using his organization to take that person down. If that person managed to survive, He'll then face that person to test them himself" Takumi explained.

"And if that person won?" Mariko asked. "Then Shichiro will bring back the peace that world once had and will try to invite that person to his organization" Takumi responded. "Hah! What an asshole! There's a proper way to recruit a person without spilling blood! He's just an idiot! People are losing their minds because of his bullshit!" Mariko shouted. "Yes, It's all like a game to him.." Takumi whispered on her own, But Mariko heard her but pretended that she didn't. "He said that We'll never know if that person is the real deal until We saw him in an actual war" Takumi said. "And That, Will most likely happen right now, in this world" Takumi looked at the skies. "Heh, I'll beat his ass and refuse him right away" Mariko joked with a laugh. Takumi giggled. "Are you going to be the main character of this world?" Takumi asked. "H-Huh? Main what?" Mariko looked behind her, Takumi giggled even more at her lack of response. "Nevermind, Something else you wanna know? This is the only opportunity you might have right now" Takumi was willing to tell her everything. "W-Well.. How if that person lose against him?" Mariko asked. "If the hero lost? Then He'll proceed to kill that person because they were too weak, If no one ever fought back again, He'll officially build a huge-ass base on that world and will assume control of that whole world" Takumi explained. "That's cruel... How if that hero won against him but still wanted to kill him?" Mariko asked. "If the hero won his challenge and yet still wants to kill him? Then the way He see that person will fade and will kill them for real this time" Takumi responded. "But what if that person, or that hero became like that because they can't accept his bullshit?" Mariko asked. "Shichiro doesn't give a damn, If that hero really wants him dead, Whether It's because They can't accept it or Just, REALLY wants him dead, Shichiro will just kill them either way.." Takumi responded. "How cruel..." Mariko thinks of something.

"Was there a hero who lost to his 'challenge'?" Mariko asked. "MOST of them! Since most of them failed, He made another way.. He and his girlfriend went to many more worlds and just invited some young people in exchange of keeping their family safe" Takumi responded. "There! He have found a way! Why is he still doing the other one?!" Mariko asked loudly. "He hates it, He doesn't know what those young people's capable of... Actually, I'm one of those young people.. But it was his girlfriend who got me.. She invited me to their organization. If i joined, They'll keep my family safe, No need for paying, just join.. And Here i am!" Takumi answered her question. "Did they keep their promise though?" Mariko asked with a smug. "Yeah, When i asked them if i can see my family, They allowed me to come back to my world, And my parents and my little brother is doing fine.. Even more, They are contented" Takumi responded, Her response led Mariko to scratch her head. "Now i really don't know if you're all bad people or not" Mariko complains, Takumi just giggled at her. "I guess I'll just call y'all an idiot" Mariko made a choice of calling them idiots. Takumi snickered on that one. "I wonder what's going to happen this time? Will you be the one going to put up a fight?" Takumi asked. "Yeah, I'll fight y'all back to your world, But i think Chiho will do most of the thing" Mariko responded. "Chiho-san?" Takumi recalled the name. "Yeah, She's actually a daughter of a famous hero who ended the great war. She might not look like one, But i think She'll be the one who'll rise up, She also plans on fighting y'all, She even asked me to train her. So i guess She'll be the one who y'all wants, I'll just be on her side" Mariko thinks of Chiho. "Chiho-san, huh.. We'll see.." Takumi also thinks of Chiho.

Another minute has passed once a silence built between them. Then not too long ago when they heard an incoming vehicle. "Ah.. Hell, I became too comfortable" Takumi jolts up. Mariko looked behind her to see. "What the hell?" Mariko saw a vehicle coming towards them. "Best to maintain attitude, Mariko-san.. Don't do anything stupid" Takumi glanced at her. "I-I know.." Mariko gulped as She move her head outside the cockpit. She saw a jeep, A Gaz-67, approaching them. "Alright.." Takumi exhaled and left the rear gun. She stood on the wing to wait for them stop. "S-Should i stay here?" Mariko asked. "No, You'll have to come with me" Takumi responded. Then They waited until the jeep stopped near them. "Alright, Let's go" Takumi jumped down from the wing. "W-Wait!" Mariko hurriedly stood up and went out from the cockpit, Then She quickly jumped down and followed Takumi behind her. As Takumi stopped, Mariko moved to her side to see who's in the jeep. "She's the faction leader, on the left side" Takumi whispered. Mariko observed the one on the front passenger seat. It was as She remembers, An Eye patch with a star symbols and guns forming an X. She didn't remember Takumi telling them that She has long red hair. "Is..That her..?" Mariko tried to guess her age since Chiho looked older than her. She even saw her staring at her face. "Shit.." Mariko silently cursed as She stares back. The girl wears an emotionless look, Which makes Mariko even more terrified. "Why the hell am i getting scared of a kid..?" Mariko whispered to herself. "She might be a kid, But She's dangerous" Takumi whispered to her as the people on the jeep gets out.

The two silently watched them walk closer. The other soldiers stopped on half-way and the eye-patched girl walks and stopped in front of them. She stared at Mariko, She gave her a dead serious look and Mariko was so uncomfortable. Then Takumi lessens the tense. "k-komandir.. (к-командир..) .." Mariko looked at her as She talks to the girl. Then the girl responded, Once She was done, Takumi looked at Mariko. "She said you should kneel down.." Takumi asked her to kneel. "K-Kneel?!" Mariko slips and asked loudly. "J-Just do it!" Takumi shouted, almost stomping to the ground. "F-Fine, Fine!" Mariko kneeled before the girl. Then suddenly she took a revolver out and quickly points it at her forehead. Mariko gasped as her face flushed with terror. The girl asked something to her, But She didn't understand and was surprised at her soft voice. "W-What?" Mariko asked without actually meaning to ask. The girl poked Mariko on her forehead with the barrel of her revolver. "Как .. тебя.. зовут? (Kak .. tebya .. zovut?)" The girl slowly repeats her question. Then Takumi translated it for her. "S-She's asking your name..". Mariko looked at the corner of her eyes and looked back to the girl. "It's.. It's Mariko.. Sakitama.." Mariko shakes as She told her name to the girl. "Mariko... Sakitama" The girl repeated her name. She slightly pressed the trigger, Mariko clearly saw it and visibly gulped. "красивое.. имя (krasivoye.. imya)" The girl gently smiled and spoke slowly as to make her words clear for Mariko, Given the chance, Mariko burns the words onto her mind. "Ты.. к нам.. присоединишься? (Ty.. K'nam...)" Mariko didn't quite caught the last part, She then thinks of something. "Т-Tы.. к нам..?" Mariko repeated the words while giving the girl a curious look. The girl smiled even more and Mariko saw her lessen her grip on the gun. "Ты к нам.. присое..динишься. (Ty k'nam.. prisoye..dinish'sya)" The girl repeated the last part slowly, Mariko tried again. "присое..динишься" Mariko managed to say it, making the girl nod with a smile on her face. She moved the revolver away from Mariko. She quickly let go of the tension and breathes heavily while remaining on her knees.

"S-She's asking you if you're joining us.." Takumi translates for her. "T-Takumi!" Mariko looked up at her. But Takumi just silently stared at her. Then Mariko tried her best to stay cool and thinks of something. "H-Hey, Tell her that i'm not sure of my decision and i'm afraid!" Mariko asked Takumi to say it to her. Takumi nods and talked to the girl. She immediately gave Mariko a serious look, Throwing some pressure towards her. The girl then asked Takumi, Then Takumi looked back at Mariko. "She's asking why are you afraid" Takumi asked. "J-Just tell her that i'm still going to think about it" Mariko answered. "...Make sure you know what you're saying.. " Takumi said something before turning back to the girl to translate her answer. The girl responded to Takumi's translation and walked away, Then Takumi looked back at Mariko. "You better not disappoint, She said.." She translated the girl's response. Mariko just watched them get in the jeep, Her eyes stopped at the girl who stood first to face them. She said something to Takumi. "Так точно (Tak tochno)" Takumi responded before the girl gets in the jeep. After that, The jeep accelerates to turn back to where they came from, The two watched the jeep gets far, then Mariko finally stood up. "Ow... What did she say before she was gone?" She asked to Takumi. "Oh, She wants me to come back immediately" Takumi looked at the Stuka. "I just remembered something, You said your leader.. Or your boss hates deserters right? Does that mean she disagree to your Shichiro's stupid idea?" Mariko asked. "Yeah, She talked to him about it, and as usual, He let her do what she wants with her own troops" Takumi responded.

"Oh... Oh yeah, You'll kill each other right? When they 'rebel'? How is He going to replace them?" Mariko asked. "When we die on the world we visited, We will be bought back to life back to the base where we were" Takumi walked towards the Stuka. "W-What?!" Mariko shouted, Takumi giggled. "I'll tell you more when we meet again" She said before climbing up to the cockpit. "Bought back to life, What the hell..." Mariko whispered as She listen to the starting engine. She saw the canopy slides open a little bit and Takumi puts out her hand to wave at Mariko before taking off. Mariko just watched the Stuka flies away. "Crazy..." Mariko started walking back to the village.

On the gate, It was open due to a carriage going out, Mariko was a little bit happy to have the gate already opened. Upon entering, She looked around if the two is nearby. They are not there. "Maybe in the inn.." She didn't have any places to go so She just chose to go to the inn. As She reached the inn, She opened the door and was greeted by the chatter of the people inside. "Welcome! My, Welcome back, Mariko-san!" Suzuka was on her usual spot and greeted Mariko. "Hey! Mariko!" Haruki waved at her. Mariko waved back at them, Then She walked towards Suzuka. "Hey, Is Chiho here?" She asked. "No, She's not here, nor Ayumi.. I thought you were with them?" Suzuka asked. "Yeah, Something happened and we were separated. Now i don't know where they went" Mariko responded. "I see.. Well, Want to go to your room? We have a spare key here if you want" Suzuka asked. "No, No.. I will look for them outside, Thanks" Mariko refused. "I see.. Well, See you later" Suzuka nodded and Mariko went outside. "Now, Where the hell are they?" She whispered as She closed the door behind her. "I hate going to their Capital.. So much people.." The last thing She can think of is going to the Center, Which she hated. "I rather lie down.." Mariko were about to open the door, But stopped once She held the knob. "Tsk... Fine" Mariko then walked to the Center.

On the way to the Center, Her eyes are looking all around the places. "Come to think of it, I never noticed how beautiful it is here.." Mariko remembered her first time visit while looking everywhere. Her eyes stopped at a small alley, A man has pinned a woman on the corner. The woman looks so scared and Mariko can hear her begging. "Ah.. Someone's in trouble" Mariko whispered. Then She walked closer to hear them. "C'mon! Just give me the money! You Saijuns are all rich, right?!" The man shouted at the woman, It was a robbery. "I told you! I'm not carrying any money!" The woman whined. "Don't mess with me!" The thief shouted and Mariko saw him going through the woman's dress. The woman started to tears as the thief search her for money. After a few seconds, He stopped. "What the hell! You are not really carrying a money! Not even a coin!" The thief shouted at the woman. "I told you!" The woman cries. "Fine! Bring me where your money is! .. But!" The thief took out a knife. "Don't do anything stupid, honey. I will not hesitate to end your life in the middle of the crowd, So it's pointless to scream" He threatened the woman. "Fine! Fine! Just don't kill me!" She cried, Then He took her by her wrist and about to go out, until He saw Mariko standing on their way. "The hell? You listening on the whole thing?" He asked to Mariko. "A-Ah, no.." Mariko isn't actually bothered with the poor woman, But she thought of being recognized by the people. "Maybe.. This is my chance" Mariko whispered to herself. "Huh?! You said something?" He shouted at Mariko while he points his knife towards her. "Look, kid. Before i change my mind.. How about you step out of our way and we can forget about this, huh?!" He convinced Mariko. "Pointing that thing at me... Are you asking for a knife fight?" Mariko asked. "Yeah! If you are going to save this girl here! I'll have no choice but to cut you into pieces!" He shouted. "Well, Too bad.. I wanted to save her.. Am i going to be 'cut in pieces' now?" Mariko teasingly asked. "Yeah! I'll save your organs to sell them!" The thief laughed. The woman behind him moved forward a bit. "Please, Save me!" She begged Mariko.

She was surprised, It was the first time someone has ever asked for her help. Then everything everyone has said to her is all coming in her mind, making her laugh a bit. "Huh?! The hell are you laughing at?! I'm serious!" He shouted as He swings his knife. Mariko then looked at him directly at his eyes. "Hey... This will be your worse day" She said as She walks forward. "Worse day?! Stand back!" He swung his knife again. "It will be YOUR worse day, kid! You're going to regret this!" He shouted, Then Mariko stopped. "I hope you know of the risk of robbing someone... But.." She slowly took out her axe and held it beside her. "I hope you also know that you can die doing this..." She coldly stared at the thief, He gasped at her look. "The....The hell are you kid?!" He started to shake and grips his knife hard. "You..You don't know who i am! I moved from village to village to rob every rich people! No one gets to even touch me!" He shouted, His voice is also shaking. "Well, Not this time, No.. No..." Mariko responded without breaking her stare. "As soon as you threatened me, I already got a hold of your life..." She smiled at the thief, Who was lost of words. "You are crazy!" He shouted out of choice. "I bet no one even loved you..." Mariko showed him a sad look. "T-The fuck you know about me?!" He shouted, But this time He was pissed off. "If you die here right now, You die here alone.. If you die here right now, No one would care... If you die here right now, No one will ever mourn for you... If you die here right now... No one will remember you... If you die here right now... It'll be the most pointless death ever.." Mariko smiled again as She talks, The man didn't respond. "It's the worse right? Worse death ever to be fated on you.. You'll be butchered..butcher... Your face will be carved out, out of recognition!" Mariko shouted. "I'm sick of talking, Let's just do it.." She said softly. Then the thief laughed. "Heh... You might have scared me, But you'll never make me back off!" He shouted as He charges towards Mariko. "There we go!" Mariko became even excited. The thief saw her reaction at the second He applied strength to his arm to swing the knife to her neck.

Mariko evaded by moving her head back a bit, She smiled as the knife missed her neck, The thief gasped. "Come on.. Is that all you can do?" Mariko asked. "Don't mess with me!" This time, He aims for a stab towards her stomach, He lunges, But Mariko swiftly moved to his side and quickly grabbed his arm wielding the knife. She kicked his stomach with the support of pulling his arm, He lost his balance and is only hanging on her knees. Mariko swung her axe at his nape. But She held back, Only wounding his nape a little bit, If it were a full swing, She could easily penetrated his spine.. Completely shocked, The thief can't struggle out of her. She then pushed him into the wall and swung her axe into the wall near his neck, The thief whimpers as He thought it's going to hit him. Her axe got stuck on the wall, Then She held his head and pushed it into the axe's blade. But She held back again and He only got wounded a little bit. But it was enough to make him choke. She pulled his head away back and took out the axe easily. Then She pushed him towards the woman's direction, He had no balance and was thrown into the ground instead. Mariko walked near him and picked up his head and gave a horrifying look. "If you were really my enemy, I could have finished you off in the first swing" She said at him, His arrogant look completely changed into fear, Mariko smiled."I have killed tons of bandits outside of my village, to protect myself... They are more tougher than a low-life thief like you.." She scared the thief, then sighed. "It wasn't fun, But i didn't come here to have fun.." Mariko looked over the woman, Who was so frightened. "I will not hand you over the soldiers, I will let you go..." Mariko made his fate, Which surprised him. "But if i ever saw you doing this again, I'll not hold back anymore, Got it?" Mariko asked. "Y-You got it! I'll never show my face around here!" He desperately agreed. "Good, You better keep your words" Mariko let go of his head with a throw, Then She faced the woman. "Miss.. Let's get out of here" She said to her. "O-Okay.." The woman quietly responded and they walked out of the alley.

They stopped once they got out, They faced each other and Mariko spoke first. "Do you know who that man is?" She asked. "Yes, He's a notorious thief who goes around village to village. What amazes me is how he can get in without getting recognized" The woman responded. "So, He's famous or something?" Mariko asked. "Yes, He's known to target rich families with a higher standing on the government... " The woman responded. "T-Then you're a...!" Mariko observed the woman, She indeed looked rich. "Yes, My name is Haruna Akuzawa, of the Akuzawa Family. My family is the closest to the leader, Gentaro-sama... I thank you for saving me from that man.." The woman who have a name of Haruna bowed to her. Mariko couldn't respond. "May i know your name?" She asked. "I.. My name is Mariko Sakitama, Nice to meet you.." Mariko also bowed. "Oh my.. You are so different now!" Haruna smiled. "Eh?" Mariko raised her head, curious. Then They saw the thief ran away from the alley. "I thought you were a crazy person before, Now you look so different!" Haruna looked below Mariko. "Now i'm starting to think that you're actually not a northern person, Just a battle crazed girl.." She thinks while looking at how she was dressed, As soon as Mariko heard the northern word, She immediately spoke. "I'm actually a Northern!" She said with a smile. "O-Oh, is that so?" Haruna became worried, Mariko noticed her and also wore a worried look. "A-Are you..." Mariko's about to ask something. "No! Actually.. To think a Northern is willing to save a person from a rich family surprises me.." Haruna smiled. "D-Do we hate Rich people that much?" Mariko asked. "Yes, Northern hates the rich people, They think that the rich are all so arrogant and thinks that we hate the poor ones.. That's not true.." Haruna sighed. "That's..a bit true, to be honest.." Mariko shyly and lightly scratched her cheeks. "Huh..?" Her words made Haruna immediately looked at her. "I mean... I got to face a son of a rich family once, He treated me like a worthless person.. Ever since that day, I learned that rich people hates the poor ones.." Mariko told Haruna her bits of story.

"Well, Not all rich families are like that.." Haruna rests her palm on Mariko's head. "There are some that really only thinks of themselves and their power. But I'm pretty sure there are some rich families that is kind enough" Haruna smiled, Mariko couldn't answer. "By the way, Let's not stand here too long.. How about you visit our home? That's the least i can do for you..." Haruna invited her to their home. "Uh..." This is that one thing Mariko thought of when saving someone, Being invited to their place as their gratitude. "N-No.. I guess being kind towards me is enough!" Mariko instead smiled brightly, Haruna was surprised and smiled as She does. "A-Are you sure? We have a lot to offer you.." Haruna insisted. "It's fine, Really!" Mariko shakes her hand. "And i was looking for my friends and i just happened to walk by" Mariko pointed behind her using her thumb. "Oh, Is that so? Can you tell me how your friend looks like? I might have seen them.." Haruna asked. "Oh.." Mariko remembered that Chiho was popular, So She gave her her name instead. "She's... Her name is Chiho Hasegawa.. You know.." Mariko responded. Haruna gasped upon hearing the name. "Chiho-san? Like, The daughter of Yagano-san?!" She asked covering her mouth. "Y-Yes.. Orange hair? She's always with a kid with a white hair" Mariko puts her hand on her side to resemble Ayumi's height. "My, To think Chiho-san have a Northern friend!" Haruna thought of having a good friend from a dangerous region. "U-Uh.. Yeah.." Mariko was curious that she can't believe it. "What a coincidence! To Think i would be able to talk to one of her friends!" Haruna smiled. "W-Wait.. You haven't talked to her yet?" Mariko asked. "Yes.. I wanted to talk to her since i heard from Gentaro-sama that She's staying here at Saiju.." Haruna looked at the sky. "Well, Right now, She's somewhere in this village.. I can't believe you still haven't bumped into her.." Mariko looked around, Then Haruna jolted. "Oh no! I'm getting late!" She said. "Say Hi for me to Chiho-san, Alright?" Haruna waved and started to ran away, Mariko waved back. She just noticed that people are all looking at them, She thought it was because of Haruna, But on the second thought, It was that She's still carrying an axe with bloods on it. "Goddamn it.." She whispered as She hid her axe.

"Now.. Where to.." Mariko looked around, choosing a way to go. "That happened, So now i'm tired as hell.." She thought of walking back to the inn. "Just where the hell did they go?" She whispered to herself as She walked back to the inn. On the way there, She saw the two also heading to the same direction. "Chiho! Ayumi" Mariko shouted as She ran towards them. The two looked back and saw Mariko running. "Mariko-san!" "Mariko!" They both called her. "Man! I have a lot to tell you!" Mariko smiled at them as She reacher them. "Did they hurt you?!" Ayumi asked. "Wha... Who..? A-Ah.. No, They didn't" Mariko thinks back at meeting Takumi's leader. "You met their leader, right?! How did she looks like?" Ayumi asked. "Sh-She's just a kid.. She's older than you, Ayumi" Mariko describes the girl before. "O-Oh.." Ayumi looked to the ground. "But younger than you, Chiho" Mariko looked at her. "R-Really?" Chiho asked. "And It's just like that Takumi idiot said, She wears a patch.. Even though she looked like a kid, She have this strong presence i couldn't handle.. I was literally shaking!" Mariko thinks of the girl's face again. "If she's no older than Onee-chan, I will beat her up!" Ayumi raised her fist, making the two giggle. "I don't think you can, Ayumi.. She is wielding a gun.." Mariko touched her forehead. "That's why you'll train us right?!" Ayumi shouted. "Y-Yeah.. But i don't think you can use my skills to avoid a very fast thing like their guns.." Mariko scratched her head. "It's fine! I trust you!" Ayumi clenched her fists. "Ahaha...." Mariko weakly laughed. "Okay then, How about we head back to our room in the inn.. I really have a lot to talk about.." Mariko walked in front of them. "Yes! Let's go!" Ayumi walked beside Mariko, Chiho did the same. "This will be interesting.." Chiho smiled. "I bet it is!" Mariko winked at her.

Once they got into the Inn, As Usual, Suzuka and Haruki greeted them. The three walked towards Suzuka's usual spot. "Mariko-san was looking for you two" Suzuka told Chiho. "Y-Yeah, We just found her on our way here.." Chiho responded and Suzuka nodded. "Are you going back to your room?" She asked. "Yeah, I have something amazing to tell them" Mariko answered. "Is that so.. See you later then" Suzuka waved, Then They went up to their room. They closed the door behind them. Ayumi threw herself into the two-person bed, While Mariko slowly laid down. Chiho went into her bed and also laid down. Then Ayumi excitedly faced Mariko. "Now! Now! Tell me everything happened!" Ayumi asked her to tell them while swaying both of her legs. "Hmm.. Where would i start..?" Mariko thinks where to begin.