“Yokohama Station”

It is a huge terminal station having the world’s fourth largest number of passengers per year. It was rumored to be inhabited by terrifying mysterious beings in its basement.

In fact, black shadows whispering “Ari…… Ari……” was seen several times by station staff who patrolled the area at night. According to the latest edition of the Urban Legend Guidebook, this is said to be the haunting of the Ari Ari Jizo that once existed in the area.

「Yokohama is all about Chinese food, Asaka-san! I know a place that serves great chili shrimp!」

「Kurenai-san, why don’t you take a break from chili shrimp for once?」

People passing in front of the station looked at him with a startled look. It was no wonder, for even though it was early spring in March, short-sleeved shorts and half-length trousers are beyond unusual and borderline insane.

Kurenai Retto, aka Victor Red in short sleeves, was returning from an early morning lecture at the Higashi-Kanagawa branch.

As can be seen from the forceful commendation, the Hero Headquarters is promoting a policy of using the Retto as its banner. Going around to branches in the Kanto area to issue proclamations is also part of the propaganda.

However, the content was all over the place.

『Umm, to begin with, justice is… being a warrior…! Huh? Did I skip a page of the script?』

Retto is the type of person who shows heroism in the field; he is not suited to acting as the hero in public.

After the lecture, Retto was feeling down, and his direct superior, Asaka, patted him on the shoulder. Asaka had suggested that Retto, who was not able to fully carry out his role, go out for a meal to cheer him up.

「If chili shrimp is no good… Uuuuuun… Chili shrimp is forbidden huh… gunuu…」

「……Is it something to be that confused about?」

Asaka wiped the lenses of her glasses and put them back on, then turned her attention to Retto, who was holding his head. She was already beginning to regret a little that she had invited him to lunch out of a sense of parental love.

…………

Yokohama Station in the afternoon on a weekday is crowded with businessmen and young people in suits. Rintaro and Kamiki were sitting across the table from each other, looking out the window of a coffee shop in front of the station.

At first glance, the confident, Hollywood star-like appearance of Kamiki stood out. His deep moat eyes, high nose, slightly long hair swept back, and even a slight stubble may be attractive to some people.

「Hahaha, everyone worked hard to make money. Thank you Death Green-sama for your hard work. Here is the reward you promised.」

「I’ll take it.」

Rintaro quickly tucked the thick envelope he was offered into his pocket.

「Oya oya, You don’t wanna check what’s inside?」

「Shi,,, Please take this as a sign of my trust in General Zazoma. Right, Mikarikki-san.」

「Hohoho, Zazoma-sama has a lot of trust in you. I myself have heard from my subordinates that you did more than enough.」

As he said this, Mikalicky, the amputation mysterious being known as Kamiki, smiled with satisfaction. One of the waitresses, who looked directly at his dandy smile, swooned behind the counter.

Rintaro brought his coffee to his lips and looked into Kamiki’s suspicious eyes and asked.

「Mikarikki-san, if you don’t mind, could you please tell me, SHIVA… Why is General Zazoma doing this over and over again?」

「……………………」

「He is taking risks that could put him in the crosshairs of the public security officer. It shouldn’t be just for the money.」

To this question, Kamiki answered with a smile on his face, not changing his expression at all.

「I cannot fathom Zazoma-sama’s deep planning. I beg your forgiveness.」

When he spoke in a lowered tone of voice, Kamiki stopped talking. It was as if to say that he had no intention of talking any further.

It’s not that he doesn’t intend to tell, but it seems that as the second-in-command, it was not something that he should speak about here and now. It is certainly no coincidence or mistake that the extremely secretive Strange Insects Army would “invite” the heinous legion into their top-secret bunker.

「I understand. Well then, I’ll see you soon.」

「Yes, thank you very much.」

The two men shook hands silently and stood up.

「Oh, right right. I forgot to tell you.」

As they were about to leave the restaurant to split up, Kamiki stopped Rintaro. At his deliberate gesture, Rintaro furrowed his brow and asked back.

「……What is it?」

「We have sent back the heroes that were defeated by the heinous legion with a stamp. Please do not worry……」

「……Haa, understood……?」

The report did not seem that important, and Rintaro left the place with a shrug of his shoulders.

…………

Basking in the gentle spring sunshine, Rintaro rubbed his jaw, which still throbbed with pain. But every time he felt the pain, an image of a voluptuous body that was anything but calm flashed through his mind.

「Ugh…… Stop it stop it, reason reason. Nnnnnngh!!」

Rintaro stretched out as if to shake off his worries and got into a black luxury sedan parked in the parking space. In the passenger seat sat Samecchi, who had been waiting in the car playing a game the whole time.

「Aniki, welcome back, ssu. Did we get the money, ssuka?」

「Yeah, I got them all. But what a parking fee! They charged me 1200 yen for just one hour!」

「1-1200 yen, ssuka! That’s enough to buy 12 Uma Uma Sticks, ssu!」

「It’s 120 sticks. Well, we got our share of the harvest. If we include the ones we got from General Bearion, we should be able to get more than enough for about 2 months……」

He started the engine, set the navigation system, released the handbrake, and stepped on the accelerator. The sedan took off silently, gliding down the road.

Rintaro chuckled as he gripped the steering wheel, thinking that it was a very nice car, he had a vague feeling about it when they were headed to Minato Mirai.

Driving a car was one of Rintaro’s many skills, and one in which he received particularly high praise during his time at Hero School. Although he ended up in second place in front of those with natural talent, everyone is attached to the skills they have acquired as a result of their blood-soaked efforts.

But before he even got attached to cars, Rintaro simply loved driving.

「It’s a great car as usual. It has light handling, but the feeling of the ground is solid and transmitted to the palm of your hand. And the powerful vibration of the V8 engine that you can feel faintly around your waist… It’s the best experience you can get because of the multi-link suspension, not with a cheap strut suspension…」

「Aniki, Properly look ahead, ssu! It’s dangerous, ssu!」

Rintaro came to his senses and hit the brakes in a panic. He almost hit a couple crossing the street.

「……Oh, that was a close one…… Thanks Samecchi.」

「This is the rumored near miss, ssune. Samecchi remembers it, ssu.」

He looked over at the couple and saw that the woman wasn’t moving at all. However, the man had fallen on his bottom, probably due to some contact while trying to protect the woman.

Rintaro opened the driver’s door and ran up to the man sitting flat on the crosswalk.

「I’m sorry, I was spacing out! Are you hurt?」

「Yes, I’m fine! I may look like this, but I’m pretty sturdy!」

For some reason, Rintaro stopped just as he was about to take the man’s hand, who was wearing short sleeves, out of season.

He wore a red short-sleeved shirt, with healthy brown skin, short black hair, and a slightly childish face.

He was his former colleague (Kurenai Retto), whom he had grown tired of seeing.

「Ah, onee-chan, ssu.」

「Saya……?」

「Uooooooo!! You are Death Green!!!?」

「Ugee!」

When Rintaro let go of the hand he was trying to pull up, Retto fell spectacularly on his butt. Rintaro used the opportunity to get into the driver’s seat and put the car into drive.

「Let’s get out of here, Samecchi!　Hold on tight!」

「Aniki! Seatbelt, ssu!」

「おうともさ！」

The side brake was released and the accelerator was pushed in with the force of his foot. The luxury sedan transferred all its horsepower to the tires and took off at a breakneck pace.

「Please get out of the way, Kurenai-san! It’s dangerous!」

「Asaka-san, please stay away! I’ll stop them!」

「No way, that’s reckless!」

「I’m a hero! I can’t let the mysterious being pass by! Victory change!!」

Retto shouted his usual line and tried to ready his Victory Transformation Gear. But his hand was holding nothing.

「Huuuuuuuuuh!?」

「Kurenai-san! The suit will arrive tomorrow!」

Doga!!

「Aaaaaaaaaaaaaa…………」

Red short sleeves flew in the air.

---

<165: Knocking on the Gates of Paradise
167: Tagaraak’s Request>